René Bouvier - Gevrey-Chambertin Les Jeunes Rois 2017

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

The wine had finished malolactic fermentation very early on and was beginning to develop a more complex aromatic profile. Superb, ready to drink, it will keep well. But why bother, when the delicious nuances of a Gevrey that has been aged for a few years are already there?

About the estate:

Bernard Bouvier is one of the very best winemakers in Marsannay, showcasing the rich heritage of this commune. A staunch advocate of infusion, breaking with the heavy extraction methods that Burgundy used in the past, he loves wines with body, good when young and good when aged, harvested at peak ripeness, and intervenes as little as possible. He is guided in his choices by emotion and touch. The estate offers a warm welcome, an organic approach, and a range of benchmark Gevrey, Marsannay, and Fixin wines that are affordable and highly consistent. This is a place that never disappoints, with wines that are as close as possible to their terroir of origin, thanks to the tactful winemaking that characterizes the estate's production.

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

About wine:

A beautiful nose of crushed strawberries and a voluptuous, invigorating texture in the excellent Gevrey Les Jeunes Rois: an early and sensual wine.

About the estate:

This family estate, which has been in the same family for three generations, boasts a rare heritage of old vines, with an average age of around 50 years. Bernard Bouvier, 52, produced his first vintage in 1986 and is part of a generation of winemakers who have brought new blood to Burgundy. After succumbing, like many others, to the siren call of modern, highly extracted wines, he corrected his course to produce finer vintages. 2009 marked the transition to organic farming and 2010 the beginning of the use of whole bunches, on average 50% across all wines. More moderate use of new wood and more precise ripeness choices have recently resulted in much more accomplished wines, which were rewarded last year with a first star. Organic certification was lost in 2016 but is currently in the process of being reapproved.