DOMAINE DE BELLENE BOURGOGNE ROUGE 2022

Style: Savoury & Detailed

Nicolas Potel is a bit of enigma. he is both Burgundy royalty (the son of the legendary Gerard Potel) and at the same time he's been an iconoclast in his own career, always pushing the prevailing (and often entrenched) beliefs and methodologies of the day, so often being validated in ensuing years. In his winemaking and wine philosophy too, he is both revolutionary and conservative. Philosophically, he believes in making Burgundy that people can still afford to buy (he dropped his pricing back 10% in 2022 as the quantity returned to normal after a meagre 2021). Sacre bleu! That's not the norm by any means in a region that has come into such stratospheric wealth over the past 60 years. There's more than a few Gordon Geckos parading about the Cote.

Then there's his wine growing philosophy; one of the first to embrace biodynamics in the 1980s and now one of the first to see the value in training his vines higher in a warming climate, just a couple of examples. He believes passionately in only using old vine fruit and has been heavily involved in vine DNA research with the university in Dijon. Contrasting that is his work in the cellars, he doesn't take risks; fermentations and elevage are pretty standard practice with the only real change in more recent years being the use of less small and new wood than he ever did in the past - the aim being more freshness and transparency. MICHAEL MCNAMARA

Ripe deeply pitched aromas include those of pungent earth, various dark berries and whiff of spice. The delicious, caressing and supple middleweight flavors possess a relatively refined texture for what this is though it contrasts with the slightly rustic finale...it is a quality Bourgogne. BURGHOUND

Region: Burgundy, FRANCE

Variety: Pinot Noir

ABV: 12.5%

Liquor Act 2007. It is against the law to sell or supply alcohol to, or to obtain alcohol on behalf of a person under the age of 18 years. Lic No. LIQP770016424

*We endeavour to ensure the correct vintage is displayed, however some variations may occur in store and for delivered bottles.