Mandelot "Croix Simone" Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Rouge '23

Domaine de Mandelot is a rising Hautes-Côtes de Beaune estate founded by François Grangé—formerly the long-time régisseur at Chandon de Briailles (9 years)—who released his first full vintage in 2023. François moved his family to the small village of Mavilly-Mandelot, his only intentions to find a quiet place to raise his family, as well as take care of his herd of Mangalitsa pigs. It was a chance encounter with a new neighbor that had recently purchased a prominent group of vineyards in the village, that he got involved in this new and exciting venture. With 6 hectares planted on various parcels around the village at an altitude of roughly 450 meters, his team of 4 along with his horse named Gamin, got to work. They converted the domaine’s vineyards to organic, low-intervention farming. Working mainly on clay-rich, higher-altitude soils, Grangé employs horse ploughing, minimal treatments (sometimes even skimmed milk in place of sulphur), and additive-free vinification with whole-cluster harvesting and little to no new oak.

This cuvée is 100% Pinot Noir from 40–80-year-old vines—the estate’s finest parcels—set on south-facing hillsides of clay, limestone, and streaks of grey clay. Farmed by horse and hand-worked, the vineyards have been in organic conversion for three years. Vinified entirely with whole clusters in wooden vats and aged in a mix of 228-liter barrels and 10-hectoliter tuns with less than 10% new oak, it’s bottled unfiltered and without additives. The wine is deep and brooding, packed with dark fruit, delicious now with something from the grill, yet clearly built to age beautifully.