Frédéric Magnien, Chambertin Clos de Beze, Grand Cru 2014

Truly, there are times when only the best will do. The next time you get that feeling, we have the ideal bottle of Burgundy for you, a fine offering from Frédéric Magnien. The history of this storied vineyard is too charming not to share. Around 630 A.D., the Duke of Southern Burgundy, endowed the Abbey of Beze with some land in Gevrey, where the Cistercian nuns of Notre Dame de Tart first cultivated the land into a vineyard. Who doesn’t love Sisters laying the foundation for vinous greatness? About 600 years later, the field next to the abbey was bought by a peasant named Bertin and was called the Champs de Bertin, or "Bertin’s field". Before long the name was soon shortened to Chambertin. Fast forward to 1702, when vigneron Claude Jobert acquired both vineyards uniting both Chambertin and Clos de Beze. It has been recognized as a vineyard of the highest possible quality in not only Burgundy, but also the world, ever since.

Frédéric is a fifth-generation winemaker who learned the craft first from his father, Michel Magnien (of Domaine Michel Magnien), but who also studied and worked in California and Australia to hone his talents. Magnien knows every nook and cranny of Burgundy by heart. As a child, he used these vineyards as his off-road bicycle course, riding through premier and grand cru plots.  As a winemaker, Magnien still rides his bike through the fields to greet growers at first light; his are long-lasting partnerships based on trust and respect. Hand-harvested. This special wine was fermented on indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks. 20% new oak is employed, and the wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Highly perfumed aromas of ripe red cherries, crushed rocks and wild roses dominate the bouquet. A deep, resonant and structured core is the star of the palate, with a savory-spice element supporting the lush fruit. Pinot Noir at its absolute finest.