BOUCHARD PERE & FILS - Beaune 1er Cru Vigne de l’Enfant Jésus 2017

The Burgundy red wine presented originates from the Beaune 1er cru "Vigne de L'Enfant Jésus" appellation. Produced by the Maison Bouchard Père & Fils from the 2017 vintage, this 100% Pinot Noir wine comes from a historic 4-hectare plot cultivated on a terroir facing east / south-east with a very gravelly clay-limestone soil, held as a monopole by the house since 1791. Harvested manually, the grapes undergo a rigorous sorting with 15% whole bunches (or total or partial destemming depending on the vintage). Fermentation takes place in small containers, followed by a gentle pressing and a vatting period of 15 to 20 days. Aging is carried out for 12 to 14 months in French oak barrels (including 30% to 50% new barrels) within the cellars of the Bastions of the old Castle of Beaune.

WINE TASTING NOTES

• Color: The color is a beautiful ruby hue.
• Nose: Intense, aromatic, and remarkably floral. It mingles savory fruity (black fruits, prune, black cherry, blackberry, smoky cherry) and animal fragrances, complemented by nuances of incense, sweet spices, toasted oak, and pastry chocolate. Experts' opinions diverge: William Kelley (Robert Parker) finds it expressive, while Neal Martin (Vinous) notes a slight lack of complexity and pedigree, and Decanter reports notes of toasted oak.
• On the palate: Rich, juicy, dense, and vibrant, it seduces with its power, freshness, and its structure supported by tannins and a balancing acidity. The wine is medium to full-bodied, velvety, supple, and yielding, offering a beautifully concentrated core of sapid fruit (notably juicy and ripe red fruit on the finish). The texture is remarkably smooth, where the tannin is described as a true caress, long and flavorful. The finish is quite long, harmonious, and substantial. Wine Enthusiast highlights a still very young profile, tense and structured by well-present tannins with considerable potential.

SERVICE & STORAGE

• Serving temperature: For optimal tasting, serve between 17°C and 18°C.
• Storage advice: Accessible today (to drink now according to Decanter, or from 2024 according to Wine Enthusiast). This Burgundy wine can wait in the cellar until around 2027 to reveal its full aromatic palette, up to 2030 (Decanter), or even reveal its longevity and ease in twenty years (Bettane+Desseauve).
• Grape variety: 100% Pinot Noir.
• Scores and production: 93/100 (Decanter), 89/100 (Vinous - Neal Martin), 18/20 (Bettane+Desseauve), 94/100 (Wine Enthusiast - Roger Voss), 92/100 (Robert Parker Wine Advocate - William Kelley). A volume of 150 cases was imported.

FOOD & WINE PAIRINGS

• Recommended pairings: This wine pairs perfectly with feathered game, fattened hen in cream sauce (poularde à la crème), or Burgundy cheeses