Domaine Boris Champy 2021 Beaune 1er Cru Vignes Franches

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2021 Vignes Franches is a vibrant, terroir-driven Burgundy: ripe red fruits, fine tannins, precise acidity, and mineral poise. Balanced and refined, it offers elegant drinking now and will reward patience over the next decade with graceful development. 🍇 Terroir & Techniques Sourced from a biodynamically farmed, frost-protected 1er Cru parcel within Beaune’s renowned “Vignes Franches” climat, recently brought into Champy’s estate holdings with meticulous care. Fermented with a portion of whole clusters, gently pressed in traditional basket presses, aged for around 12 months in a mix of new and used French oak—resulting in both finesse and structure. 👃 Aromatics The nose reveals focused red and black fruit notes—cherry, raspberry, and blackberry—accented by violet florals, subtle spice, and earthy-root complexity. French reviews note hints of black cherry, blackberry, violet, pepper, and a touch of cocoa with an elegant woody vanillin sheen. 👅 Palate & Texture Medium-bodied with silky, powdery tannins and bright, precise acidity. Fruit is vivid and pure—red berries with plum undertones—anchored by fresh citrus zest and delicate mineral tension that keeps things lively. 🔁 Finish & Personality The finish is polished and lingering, with a saline-mineral lift and chalky grip. While powerful for its class, it maintains balance and elegance, signaling both immediate appeal and aging potential. 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

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