If Côte d’Or Pinot Noir is a sophisticated, well-dressed gentleman with a long resume, Gamay from Beaujolais is a free-spirited artist: unruly, unpredictable, and often way more fun. Nearly all reds from Burgundy are unblended – all classy Pinot, or all untamed Gamay.
But in rare cases – around one percent – winemakers will blend these two grapes into a fascinating and delicious cuvée, usually bottled under the appellation Coteaux-Bourguignons. The resulting wine is a charming blend of Burgundian polish and Beaujolais joie-de-vivre. Our friends the Amiot family in Morey-St-Denis make such a cuvée, and in 2023 it’s flat out delicious.
Grown from a single plot of 60 year old vines of both varietals in Morey-St-Denis, for decades the family reserved this cuvée all to themselves. The nose shows delicate red fruited Pinot Noir (think wild cherries and roses), but in the mouth the Gamay appears, adding dark muscly texture to the delicate Pinot fruit.
This won’t win any awards for longevity or detail, but it’s a traditional and delightful blend of two of Burgundy’s diverse characters.
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Amiot Coteaux-Bourguignons 2023
bottle price: $29
