DOMAINE DE MANDELOT, HAUTES-COTES DE BEAUNE, BURGUNDY SELECTION.

Three wines from the first vintage of an exciting new estate in Burgundy

François Grangé has spent 15 years working at the local biodynamic estate Chandon de Brialles, whilst in the latter years of that journey starting his own small family mangalitza pig farm, where he lives. The huge chateau near his home had recently been bought and he invited his new neighbours for aperitif where he learnt that the rental of the 6 hectares of vines that came with the chateau was coming to an and and they were looking for a new steward. They offered it to Francois that night. 

As soon as he took over the six hectares he started converting to organics, this was 2021. In 2022 he sold all of the grapes, just making a few experimental vinifications for himself. 2023 is his first proper vintage. For 4.5 hectares, the vines are plowed by horse. In addition to organic treatment, they use skimmed milk to fight against powdery mildew instead of sulfur in the vines. 

The soil is mainly clay, with very little limestone, some plots have a little sand. They use plant cover, to increase the microbiology of the soils. For example fava is planted to help with nitrogen levels. The project is well planned and already very impressive, the sopils already looking incredibly healthy from the hard work of the horses and the humans. 

Blessed with some beautiful soils planted with Aligote, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gamay & a tiny plot of Pinot Blanc there is a lot of beautiful wine being created here and bright future ahead. The vinification, aging and bottling of the 2023 wines are completely without inputs.

Bourgogne Aligote 2023

100% Aligote from vines on average 60 years old. Francois gave the grapes a slow whole bunch press giving structure and length to the wine, ageing in 2 large oak tuns. It's already showing beautifully, benefiting from air, with texture, peachy fruit and a lovely line of acidity.

La Bottiere Rose 2023

The Coteaux Bourguignon Rosé comes from 80% old Gamay vines, and 20% Pinot Noir on clay-sandy soils. The Gamays were pressed and vinified in vats, the hand-stemmed Pinots were macerated in the Gamay throughout the fermentation period. The wine was bottled at the end of April 2023. Pouring a beautiful pale pink, this is brimming with pretty fruit, with a distinct minerality and lovely length.

Hautes Cotes De Beaune 2023

The Hautes Côtes Pinot come from plots aged 35 to 45 years, planted in predominantly clay soils, exposed to the South. 2023 gave a generous yield of just over 45HL/ha for these plots. 70% whole bunch maceration and aging in barrels (5% new barrels). Bottled last June. Lovely, expressive fruit, this is fine, elegant and long, enjoyable now, but will be a wonder with a little bottle age.