7/6/26 - 

Naïma and David Didon are the husband and wife team behind Domaine Didon. Based in Chassey-le-Camp, a hamlet at the northern edge of the Côte Chalonnaise near Bouzeron, they are making a beautiful range of wines from their vines and purchased fruit from neighbors and friends in Beaujolais. David began studying biodynamics in the 1990s before spending years in organic farms in Alsace. He found his way to Michel Goujot's domaine in Lorraine where he really began to dive into the world of wine. This lead him to study at Lycee Viticole in Beaune where he met his now wife Naïma. In 2001, David was hired by Etienne de Montille to help convert the family's vineyards to organic and bodynamic farming. Over the years he made many friends in the winemaking community in Burgundy and it was those friends who helped convince him to find vineyards and make his own wines. In 2017, David and Naïma found the perfect place to start their own project: a 2 hectare plot of the steepest slope on the southeast-facing in Chassey-le-Camp called Les Vignes Blanches. This contains old-vine Aligote, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Noir on clay-limestone soils. They have since expanded, and now farm 5 hectares in Chassey-le-Camp.

As expected, farming is very hands-on. Horse-plowing is used wherever possible, and manual everywhere else. Biodynamic preparations are used to treat vineyards as a living system. When they do decide to purchase grapes, they do so from trusted friends whose principals follow the same ideology as their own. Once in the cellar they limit intervention with slow pressings, indigenous yeast fermentations and the use of neutral oak, steel, cement, and fiberglass. Sulfur is used in very low amounts.

Three of today's featured wines come from that first vineyard site that David and Naïma purchased: Les Vignes Blanches, the first of which is the 2024 Bourgogne Aligote Les Vignes Blanches, from 80-year-old vines on clay-limestone soils. Aged for 12 months in used barrels with racking just before bottling. The wine has great notes of yellow apple with lemon curd and a touch of florals, it is textural with a slight waxiness balanced with excellent fresh acidity. This is a really delicious Aligote! Next comes 2023 Bourgogne Blanc Les Vignes Blanches which  is a blend of 80-year-old Pinot Blanc and younf vine Chardonnayon clay-limestone soils with marly subsoil. It is fermented then aged for 12 months in used barrels with an additional 12 months in tank before bottling. This ia an incredibly textural wine with an elegant and smooth palette. Notes of lemon zest move towards a floral perfume making a really pretty aroma. Next are their reds, we have their 2023 Bourgogne Rouge Les Vignes Blanches which is made using whole cluster fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Aged 10 months in concrete eggs tanks and 10 months in fiberglass tanks. It has beautiful cherry aromas with a touch of spice and earthy tones. The wine has a really lovely lift, and energy with a long fresh finish. In addition to these fantastic wines from Les Vignes Blanches we have their 2024 Coteaux Bourguignons Gamay which comes from in the vineyard les Peteurs. They are 70-year-old Gamay vines on clay-limestone soils at the foot of the hills. Vinified with whole cluster in tank with indigenous yeasts. Afterwards the wine is aged for 10 months in concrete tanks. Beautiful notes of raspberry and wild strawberries. This wine is very pretty! It's light, fresh, and very easy drinking. Last is their 2023 Bourgogne Rouge, made with purchased fruit from neighbors in Chassey‑le‑Camp, from 37-year-old vines on clay-limestone soil on a hillside with an eastern exposure. Fermented whole cluster with indegenous yeast in concrete tanks. Aged 10 months in neutral barrel. This is a very elegant and pretty Pinot Noir with notes of cherry, cranberry, and red florals. A fresh, pure easy drinking style of Bourgogne Rouge.

Across the board the white wines are textural and concentrated with elegance and finesse. The reds have great bright red fruits with energy and freshness. All five wines today are drinking great right now, perfect for casual summer drinking well above their price point!

-Hanna Krilov Cohen

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