FRANÇOIS DE NICOLAY
Savigny-Les-Beaune
Burgundy
The name François de Nicolay commands a great deal of respect in Burgundy. Currently managing the Chandon des Briailles estate with his sister Claude, François can put his name on some of the finest wines to be found in the Côte D’Or.
To boot, he is a pioneer of sustainability in the region, being the first to use alternative treatments such as milk to treat powdery mildew. Recently Nicolas began his own négoce project, which sources organic and biodynamic fruit from trusted and reputable growers.
The quality of François’ wines can be attributed to his painstakingly selective approach when purchasing grapes. Clusters are carefully inspected during véraison and harvest to ensure they are healthy enough to produce wine without the use of additives.
Vinification and élevage take place in his ancient cellar in Savigny-Lès-Beaune and is non-interventionist in every respect: no pumpovers, no filtration, and no sulfur additions. Demand for his wines grows with every passing vintage, but this seems to only strengthen François’ resolve to remain a true artisanal winemaker.
BulleDog Pétillant
Vintage NV
Style Sparkling
Region Macônnais, Burgundy
Varieties Aligoté
ABV
Soils Clay, Limestone
Farming Organic
Winemaking Average age of the vines is 30 years old. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Maturation for 8 months in stainless steel. Sparkling produced by using the ancestral method, with no disgorgement. No sulphur added.
Tasting Note Aromas of apricots, ripe citrus, white flowers and a hint of honey. Refreshing with a lovely length and roundness on the palate.
Chardog
Vintage 2022
Style White
Region Pays d’Hérault, Languedoc
Varieties Chardonnay
ABV
Soils Chalk, Limestone, Blue Marl
Farming Organic
Winemaking Average age of the vines is 20 years old. Fermentation with native yeasts. Maturation for 10 months. Fermented and matured in 500L oak barrels. Unfiltered and no S02 added.
Tasting Note Lemon peel, orchard fruits, a hint of blossom and a flinty smokiness. Refreshing, saline, mineral.
Coteaux de Champlitte
Vintage 2020
Style White
Region
Varieties Chardonnay
ABV
Soils
Farming Organic
Winemaking
Tasting Note
Chablis
Vintage 2018
Style White
Region Chablis, Burgundy
Varieties Chardonnay
ABV
Soils Kimmeridgian Limestone
Farming Organic
Winemaking Average age of the vines is 30 years old. Fermentation in oak barrels with indigenous yeasts. Maturation in used oak barrels, that have seen 3 to 15 vintages. No filtration, no additives, no pump overs or sulfur additions.
Tasting Note Yellow apple, ripe citrus, a cream note with a hint of popcorn and nutmeg. Round and juicy with subtle oak and white pepper spice.
Côte d’Auxerre
Vintage 2020
Style White
Region Yonne, Burgundy
Varieties Chardonnay
ABV
Soils Kimmeridgian Limestone
Farming Organic
Winemaking Average age of the vines is 30 years old. Vines are east and south-west facing and grown in Saint-Bris at 210 to 250m of altitude. The wines is fermented in used oak barrels for 1 to 12 months. This is followed by maturation in oak barrels for one year. No sulfur is added at any point.
Tasting Note Electric citrus notes are matched by fresh cream, quince and hay aromas. Great tension and precision.
Rully, Les Maiziéres
Vintage 2019
Style White
Region Rully, Burgundy
Varieties Chardonnay
ABV 13.5%
Soils Clay, Limestone
Farming Organic
Winemaking Chardonnay from 10 year old vines. Alcoholic fermentation for 1 to 6 months is 500L barrels. Maturation for 12 months in 500L used barrels. No added sulphites.
Tasting Note Reductive, salty and minerally driven with a flinty nose that is balanced by the riper notes of apple cider, white peaches and a touch of nuttiness. Vertical, nicely textured and really long on the finish.
Chablis 1er Cru, Vau de Vey
Vintage 2019
Style
Region Chablis, Burgundy
Varieties Chardonnay
ABV
Soils Calcareous Marls
Farming Organic
Winemaking Vines are grown in a Climat that is particularly cool and steep providing freshness but also great sunlight exposure. The average of the vines is 30 years old. Spontaneous fermentation takes place in barrel. Ageing continues as well oak barrels for 14 months.
Tasting Note Warm stone fruit, spiced citrus blend in with notes of cedar and hints of nutmeg. The finish is round and nutty with beautiful length and concentration.
Beaujolais-Villages, Cuvée des Beaux Jours
Vintage 2020
Style Red
Region Lancié, Beaujolais
Varieties Gamay
ABV 13%
Soils Decomposed granite, Sand
Farming Organic
Winemaking Whole-cluster fermented in concrete for just over 2 weeks. Eight months ageing in stainless steel vats before bottling. Free from filtration, fining and any addition of sulphur.
Tasting Note Blueberry, violet and lavender on the nose. On the palate it shows more raspberry fruit and soft pink peppercorn. Fine grained tannins follow through on the palate. A juicy and playful Gamay.
Pinosheim
Vintage 2020
Style Red
Region Châtenois, Alsace
Varieties Pinot Noir
ABV 14%
Soils Marl, Sandstone
Farming Organic
Winemaking Hand picked and fermented for 1/3 using whole clusters and 2/3 de-stemmed. Maceration in tank and sugars are finished in foudre over the course of 12 months. Bottled sulphur-free at the estate, in Alsace.
Tasting Note Deeply coloured, bursting with bright black and red fruit on the nose. On the palate it is rich
with a good structure, yet perfectly balanced by a moderate mineral acidity.
Ladoix, Les Briquottes
Vintage 2018
Style Red
Region Ladoix, Burgundy
Tasting Note
Varieties Pinot Noir
ABV
Soils Clay, Limestone, Chalk
Farming Organic
Winemaking Whole cluster harvest from 30 year old vines plante don the chalky soils of Les Briquottes lieu dit. Fermented in concrete tanks and aged in used oak barrels for 18 months.
Tasting Note The chalky soils give this Pinot a fine aromatic complexity and floral nose. An ethereally light-ish wine with attractive red cherry, rose petals and a crystalline mineral edge.
Bourgogne Rouge
Vintage 2020
Style Red
Region
Tasting Note
Varieties Pinot Noir
ABV
Soils Clay, Limestone
Farming Organic
Winemaking
Tasting Note
Pernand Vergelesses
Vintage 2020
Style Red
Region Pernand Vergelesses, Côte de Beaune
Tasting Note
Varieties Pinot Noir
ABV
Soils Clay, Limestone
Farming Organic
Winemaking Grapes sourced from two climats. Les Fichots, located in the lower part of the hillside is characterised by its clayey-ferrous soils. The second climat, Les Creux de la Net, is situated more mid slope and the soils are predominately more calcareous. Vines are an average age of 30 years old. Alcoholic fermentation of the whole bunches takes place in large Tronconique vats. The wine is then matured for 16 months in used oak barrels. No sulfur added at any point.
Tasting Note Refined notes of red cherry and blackcurrant lend on to warm rose and sandalwood. The palate is long and fine grained. Lovely elevated classic Pinot.
Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er Cru
Vintage 2018
Style Red
Region Savigny-les-Beaune, Côte de Beaune
Tasting Note
Varieties Pinot Noir
ABV 12.5%
Soils Clay, Limestone
Farming Organic
Winemaking Fruit here comes from a couple of vineyards in Savigny, precisely Les Peuillets for approximately 1/3 and Lavières for the remaining 2/3. The high density of plantation and advanced aged of the vines mean for rather low yields but exceptional concentration. Fermented whole bunch in wooden cuve and aged in barrels for 16 months.
Tasting Note Aromas of savoury black cherry fruit, redcurrant, dried rose and wild herbs on the nose. Floral tones on the palate matched by a meaty quality and peppery finish.