Domaine Boris Champy 2021 Beaune 1er Cru Vignes Franches

The Domaine Boris Champy 2021 Beaune 1er Cru Vignes Franches is a refined and elegant Premier Cru Burgundy that highlights the vibrancy and precision of the 2021 vintage. The "Vignes Franches" climat, located in the heart of Beaune's Premier Cru vineyards, is known for producing wines of finesse and depth, and this bottling is a beautiful testament to the site’s potential.

The nose opens with a captivating array of aromas: ripe red cherries, raspberries, and wild strawberries are complemented by floral notes of violets and a touch of spice, with hints of earth and a delicate oak influence adding complexity. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with silky tannins and a fresh, lively acidity. The fruit flavors are pure and precise, framed by a subtle minerality that adds elegance and length. The finish is harmonious and persistent, leaving an impression of finesse and balance.

This Premier Cru pairs wonderfully with roasted duck, lamb, or mushroom-based dishes, and its structure and complexity suggest excellent aging potential, allowing it to evolve beautifully over the next 8–12 years.

"Farming a small parcel not far from Champy's vineyard myself, I can attest that the 2021 Beaune 1er Cru Vignes Franches was one of very few plots in the vicinity that benefited from frost protection in this challenging year, as we both ignited our smudge pots at around the same time. This early-ripening site performed very well in this cooler year, delivering notes of plums, rose petals, red berries, orange zest and licorice, followed by a medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping palate that's fleshy and textural, framed by sweet, powdery tannins.

Since his acquisition of Didier Montchovet's eponymous domaine in 2019, Boris Champy is fast establishing himself as the reference point for the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, showing just what these cooler, later-ripening, higher-altitude sites are capable of. Long farming biodynamically, with holdings in the commune of Nantoux (one of the most promising sectors of the Hautes-Côtes, as evidenced by investments here from the likes of Domaine Leflaive and Vincent Dancer), Champy cultivates his soils mechanically, with a green harvest and picks by hand. In the winery, reds often see some whole bunch fermentation, followed by basket pressing and élevage in carefully chosen barrels. In 2021, some of the production was declassified to produce Crémant de Bourgogne, leaving the best, ripest fruit for the still cuvées." Robert Parker 93 Points