Burgundy’s Côte d’Or produces most of the region’s iconic red wines. They can exquisite, other worldly expressions of Pinot Noir, but they often come pricetags to match their famous appellations. In recent years we’ve found ourselves spending more time in Burgundy’s other corners, in particular the Côte Chalonnaise and the Maconnais – the names are less recognizable, but the bills are much friendlier.
Our latest discovery in this category is Nicolas Ragot, an 8th generation winemaker in the Côte Chalonnaise town of Givry. His pure pinot noir wines are classic and delicious, bursting with inky fruit and beautiful tension. Ragot uses amphora to give his wines an appealing patina and terrific freshness. William Kelley reports “supple, flavorful reds… that still fly under the radar.”
Ragot’s village-level 2022 Givry Vieilles Vignes comes from a small plot with an average vine age of 50 years. Ragot uses 20% whole clusters, and the density of the old vine fruit is apparent and attractive. This is a beautiful introduction to the Ragot style: a deeply perfumed and spiced nose, with perfectly coated tannins and excellent freshness. Serve this all summer long.
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Ragot Givry Vieilles Vignes 2022
bottle price: $39
