Chanson Père & Fils - Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Marconnets 2017

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

A great success for the house in this vintage, Beaune is full-bodied, subtly spicy, ample, fleshy, without heaviness, and the terroir may be a little more earthy but more energetic in its response than Grèves and even Clos des Mouches.

About the estate:

Founded in 1750 by Simon Verry and acquired by the Bollinger group in the late 1990s, the oldest of the Beaune houses owns 45 hectares of vineyards located in the benchmark crus on both sides of the river. The négociant reds are mainly sourced from purchased grapes, vinified by the house to preserve the unity of style with the estate. Brilliantly managed on a technical level by Jean-Pierre Confuron (since 2001), this estate has become a model of viticulture, with the introduction of plowing, the abandonment of soil amendments, and the adoption of organic viticulture. Chanson wines preserve a very high proportion of stems during vinification, both for whites and reds. The watchword is balance in tension. The whites are fermented with a maximum amount of lees to ensure a reductive aspect throughout the 14 to 20 months of aging in barrels (20% new wood). The reds, whose Pinot maturity is pushed to the optimum, preserve a tannic structure and vibrant acidity and are adorned with fleshy fruit with underlying notes of sweet spices and licorice. These are wines that deserve a few years of patience in both colors.

Decanter

About wine:

A high-quality Premier Cru, with notes of autumn leaves and an enchanting aroma. Brilliant acidity, precise tannins and finesse, flavors of blackberry and blueberry followed by appealing spices on the finish. Class and length. Les Marconnets is located at the northern end of the Beaune appellation, on limestone and marl soils. Chanson owns 4 hectares (40% of the vineyard).

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Founded in 1750 and owned by Bollinger since 1999, this classic Beaune-based house has now fully found its feet and its style. It rivals the best thanks to its precise and pure white and red wines. Vincent Avenel has taken over the reins of the house, succeeding Gilles de Courcel, who was responsible for its revitalization. State-of-the-art winemaking facilities and the expert advice provided until June 2020 by Jean-Pierre Confuron, both in the vineyard and in the winery, explain the clarity of expression of the estate's wide range up to the 2019 vintage, a vintage in which we perceive subtle aging in certain cuvées, a tone below previous vintages. We will wait to taste the 2020s in bottle to judge whether this great estate is moving in the right direction with its new team.

Wine Spectator

Burghound

Jancis Robinson

James Suckling

About wine:

A big, rather robust Beaune with dark plums, followed by a generous palate with full, supple tannins that develop into a bold finish with notes of licorice and earth. Best from 2020 onwards.