Domaine Denis Berthaut
Les Arvelets Fixin 1er Cru Pinot Noir
Fixin, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France
I think Denis Berthaut's impact on Fixin is invaluable. He showed how an often overlooked terrior can produce truly elegant and transparent wines. This mantra and his mantle has been passed down to his very capable daughter, Amelie, and it's been up, up, up ever since. I'm a big fan of Amelie's wines!
2013 is Amelie's first vintage and her changes are clear - more oak, stems, and supposedly warmer ferments resulted in deeper, more complex wines. And it's constantly changing as she finds her stride. This is especially obvious in this cuvee.
The 13' Les Arvelets is a little richer than their newer iterations, which is reasonable given the difficult vintage - it was a late harvest due to the rain. Darker fruit, but crystal clear. The palate's really crunchy, pure fruit, herbal elements... think cincau... deep minerality, fine fine texture, lovely acidity. In a way like Serena Williams... There's a strong nearly brutal element, yet undeniably feminine (cliché I know but oh so true) and elegant. I do prefer more recent vintages of this vineyard, but this was excellent... Such a balanced wine!
I said it before and I'll say it again... Amelie's the next big thing, if not already one. The viti is more thoughtful than ever... Winemaking so detailed and smart. The sheer potential here... Especially with her mother's Gevry, Chambolle, and Vosne vineyards now under her sleeves... And her incredibly talented fiancé, Nicolas Faure, managing the domaine's vineyeards 🔝🔝🔝
I think Denis Berthaut's impact on Fixin is invaluable. He showed how an often overlooked terrior can produce truly elegant and transparent wines. This mantra and his mantle has been passed down to his very capable daughter, Amelie, and it's been up, up, up ever since. I'm a big fan of Amelie's wines!
2013 is Amelie's first vintage and her changes are clear - more oak, stems, and supposedly warmer ferments resulted in deeper, more complex wines. And it's constantly changing as she finds her stride. This is especially obvious in this cuvee.
The 13' Les Arvelets is a little richer than their newer iterations, which is reasonable given the difficult vintage - it was a late harvest due to the rain. Darker fruit, but crystal clear. The palate's really crunchy, pure fruit, herbal elements... think cincau... deep minerality, fine fine texture, lovely acidity. In a way like Serena Williams... There's a strong nearly brutal element, yet undeniably feminine (cliché I know but oh so true) and elegant. I do prefer more recent vintages of this vineyard, but this was excellent... Such a balanced wine!
I said it before and I'll say it again... Amelie's the next big thing, if not already one. The viti is more thoughtful than ever... Winemaking so detailed and smart. The sheer potential here... Especially with her mother's Gevry, Chambolle, and Vosne vineyards now under her sleeves... And her incredibly talented fiancé, Nicolas Faure, managing the domaine's vineyeards 🔝🔝🔝
