“It would be easy to mistake this for a Northern Rhône wine, given its salty character and raw meat notes. But with a little aeration, notes of ripe plum and violet also emerge. Concentrated, with a multitude of fine, velvety tannins on the powerful, concentrated palate. The finish is very mineral and tannic. Ready to drink now, but will be at its best starting in 2024.” (James Suckling 2022). A distinguished wine you’re going to love!
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Eye
Ruby color with purplish hues
Nose
Floral and fruity, with notes of blackberry, white pepper, cinnamon, and peony
Palate
Long-lasting, well-balanced, with smooth tannins
Serve
Between 13° et 15°C
Drink from
2023
Drink before
2031
Guard
10 years
Food and Wine Pairings
Pairs perfectly with hare pâté, Maître d'Hôtel steak, thrushes in juniper, hare à la Royale, Bleu de Bresse, Chaource, goat cheeses...
Bettane & Desseauve
Wine rated (2022 guide) 89/100
Rated estate (2023 guide): 2*Stars (A solid, recommendable production, though slightly more consistent and uniform than the previous one)
About the wine:
True to its terroir, with a noticeable granitic minerality, this wine is well-structured and lively—a style that will appeal to lovers of easy-drinking Gamay.
About the estate:
Pascal Aufranc began his career as a winemaker with just 1.6 hectares, located on the steep hillside of En-Rémont, at an elevation of 350 meters. It is here that he renovated an old farmhouse surrounded by vineyards planted in the 1930s. These vineyards, bordered by oak trees (the name “Chénas” comes from these woods, which were planted before the vines), now make up the estate’s vineyard: 10 hectares, including 7 in Juliénas, 2 in Chénas, and 1 in Fleurie. This lush, secluded setting—hidden from view yet offering a panoramic vista—produces wines with a rich, spicy body perfectly balanced by their granite-based terroir. The 2016 vintage is outstanding, particularly the estate’s flagship cuvée, Probus. Connoisseurs will prefer the Chénas and Fleurie crus from the 2017 vintage.
Bourgogne Aujourd'hui
Wine rated (2022 guide) 16/20
Estate Rated "Safe Bet"
About the wine:
Intense, brilliant color. Complex, well-defined aromas of cherries and sweet spices... Well-structured on the palate, with fresh fruit, firm tannins, and a lovely finish. The wine is still closed, dense, taut, and promising!
About the estate:
Pascal Aufranc began his career in 1993, and our tasting of old vintages featured in this issue demonstrates that he has been producing excellent wines for quite some time. His estate covers 9.5 hectares, half in Chénas and half in Juliénas. The estate’s two flagship wines received the “highest” rating among the 2013 vintages in their respective appellations. His Chénas Vigne de 1939 (the year of planting), grown on pure pink granite, comes from two plots adjacent to the estate (known as Rémont), totaling two hectares. The wine is dense, though arguably a bit more refined and rounded than the Probus cuvée. The latter is the “essence of Juliénas”—a robust wine, structured for aging, made from 50- to 55-year-old vines and three plots in the Les Crots and En Capitans climats on sandy-loam soils. Both wines are vinified in the same way, using whole clusters, “à la Beaujolaise,” and in toasty vats; a wooden grid placed over the grapes keeps them submerged in the juice. As for the Juliénas Les Cerisiers cuvée, it is anything but a mere foil. The vines may be a bit younger and the maceration times slightly shorter, but it remains a full-bodied, dense Juliénas. “There’s fruit, but that’s not all,” explains Pascal Aufranc. (5 vintages awarded by Bourgogne Aujourd’hui)
Wine Enthusiast
Wine rated (2022 guide) 91/100
Estate rated "Recommended" (Wine producer recommended by Wine Enthusiast)
About the wine:
This aromatic wine comes from vines planted in 1939. It displays great depth, with notes of black cherry and spices blending with its structure to impart a sense of maturity. Best enjoyed starting in 2023.
James Suckling
Wine rated (2022 guide) 94/100
Rated "Recommended"
About the wine:
It would be easy to mistake this for a Northern Rhône wine, given its salty character and raw, meaty notes. But with a little aeration, notes of ripe plum and violet also emerge. Concentrated, with a multitude of fine, velvety tannins on the powerful, concentrated palate. The finish is very mineral and tannic. Ready to drink now, but will be at its best starting in 2024.