Superb 2016 Burgundies from Stéphane Magnien!
9/16/18 -
We're proud to offer the 2016s from Stéphane Magnien, a young man who is producing superb old-fashioned Burgundies at his 4.5 hectare domain in Morey-Saint-Denis. 2016 is perhaps the greatest vintage we have encountered at this over-achieving estate - a difficult year in the vines and with very low yields, but the results are outstanding. The wines show beautiful, deep red and black fruit and floral aromatics, quite complex and pretty; on the palate the wines are classically structured (12.5 - 13% alcohol) with medium-bodied dense, deep, sappy fruit and show fabulous expression of each terroir, with terrific length. And although the beauty of these wines will make them enjoyable young, they are built to last. This is the only shipment of 2016s we will receive from Stéphane, as our allocation was down by 50% from previous years. Only a few cases of each premier cru are available and please, 6-bottle maximum on the rare and beautiful Chambolle Vieilles Vignes.
Changes in 2016 include a new cuvee called "Pur Pinot Noir" in the appellation "Côteaux Bourguignons." Made from a mix of young and quite old vines below the village of Morey-Saint-Denis, it's a vibrant and surprisingly deep and structured Burgundy that will drink beautifully over the next five to eight years - and at $19.95, it's a sensational value! Also for the first time, there are two cuvees of village Morey-Saint-Denis: "Grains Fins" is made from selections of Pinot Fin on gravelly soils in "Bas-Chenevery" and "Crais-Gillons" - it's beautifully aromatic, fresh and bright, for lovely drinking over the next seven to ten years; "Vieilles Vignes" is from 45 to 65 year-old vines in "Clos Solon" and "Cognes" on clay soils, giving a dense, darker-fruited wine that needs decanting and will drink well through 2030 and beyond.
The domaine is proud to say that for four generations they have not used herbicides, plowing by horse and tractor to preserve the microbial life of the soil and force the vine's roots to descend more deeply, pulling great typicity from the terroir. There is a high percentage of old vines in their parcels, including a great deal of Pinot Tordu, a small-berried, aromatic old version of Pinot Noir. Minimal new oak is used, about 10% for the premier cru wines, and the wines are bottled without fining or filtration. Hand harvesting, of course, and long, wild-yeast fermentations, with organic treatments in the vineyards, not certified. "Far from 'vins médiatique' you will find in our bottles a subtle wine, well-structured, respecting the terroir and the vintage, with great length on the palate... all in finesse." Stéphane Magnien is a young star of Burgundy - if you haven't tried these lovely wines, we urge you to do so in this excellent vintage! (All wines arrive by Wednesday, Sept. 19th)
