The Beautiful 2023 Burgundies of Céline Perrin
8/22/25 -
We're very happy to offer the 2023 Burgundies (and the 2022 Aloxe-Corton "Les Bouttières") from Domaine Céline Perrin in Ladoix, which converted to organic agriculture in 2003 and received Ecocert certification in 2008. The 2023 vintage in the Côte de Beaune brought periods of heat, good ripeness and generous yields, and the quality at Domain Perrin is uniformly excellent due to the long-time organic farming and experienced winemaking, with minimal extraction and new oak. The wines display the generosity and more forward fruit of the vintage in Burgundy, but retain the firm minerality, fragrance and purity typical of these lighter-bodied somewhat old-fashioned wines. The 2023 Ladoix whites of Domain Perrin are extremely terroir expressive, with firm acidity, showcasing the limestone bedrock and thin stony topsoils in and around the ancient quarries.
Céline Perrin took over the estate from her father Christian in 2015 and is the fifth generation at this 9 hectare domain, with vineyards in 10 different appellations. The estate sells most of their small production to local clients and restaurants, so we're fortunate to have another allocation from this overachieving, yet unknown estate. "Our viticulture is based on respect for the soil and the rhythm of the seasons, letting nature and the terroir express themselves. In the vineyard weed control is done mechanically (with a blade along the base of the vine) as well as manually with hoes. Our wines taste very little of new oak, as we prefer the taste of wine to the taste of wood! The 'regional' wines, Aligoté and Bourgogne, age in barrels averaging 5 - 7 years old. The others age in barrels averaging 3 - 5 years of age, with about 5% new, as we buy a few new barrels each year as we retire the old ones."
(Pictured above, the Perrin "Clos des Fourches," a tiny parcel above Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru "Clos de la Maréchale.")
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A few Highlights:
The 2023 Bourgogne Aligoté comes from vines that are over 80 years-old, thus a bit more dense and full-bodied than most Aligoté - it's the perfect aperitif!
2023 Ladoix "Sur les Vris" is Chardonnay from an east-facing slope in the north part of Ladoix abutting ancient quarries and just below the 1er Cru "Les Gréchons."
2023 Ladoix 1er Cru "Les Gréchons" is just to the northeast of the Grand Cru Corton-Mourottes, on the north side of the hill of Corton. The slope is covered with limestone scree and pebbles - tailings from ancient limestone quarries.
2023 Meursault "Sous la Velle" is from a parcel just south of the village, giving wines that tend to be quite round and full-bodied, ideal for drinking as young wines, or for 5 to 8 years of cellaring.
2023 Bourgogne Rouge - a delightful wine from a parcel of 70 year-old Pinot Noir vines. Hold this lovely wine for three to five years if possible...
2023 Hautes-Côtes de Nuits is from vines in and around Ladoix, including the "Clos des Fourches," a tiny parcel above Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru "Clos de la Maréchale."
2023 Ladoix "Briquottes" is from another part of the quarries that used to cover this slope, just below the 1er Cru "Les Gréchons" - the stone was cut into "briques" that were heated, wrapped in paper and put between the bed covers in the winter.
2023 Ladoix 1er Cru "Les Joyeuses" - This excellent parcel is a continuation of the Corton hill, adjacent to the Corton 1er Crus. Best after 4 to 6 years in the cellar, but delicious now as well...
2022 Aloxe-Corton "Les Boutières" is from a parcel at the southern tip of Aloxe-Corton, bordering Chorey and Savigny-les-Beaune. The name refers to an ancient road that continued up though Savigny and Pernand-Vergelesses used by mule-drivers carrying "boutes' - goat-skins filled with wine (sometimes from Etruria and Campania (!) as early as the 2nd century BC).
