2022 BOURGOGNE ROUGE. Les Ursulines, Jean-Claude Boisset, Burgundy

Today, Grégory makes 45 wines from across most appellations in the Côte d’Or. His thinking is simple and consistent: source fruit from old vines and be as non-interventionist as possible in the cellar with oak very much in the background for both whites and reds.

Les Ursulines is made from Pinot Noir sourced mostly from vineyards on clay limestone soils in the Côte de Nuits. Vine age is between 35 to 40 years old and yields are low.

100% Pinot Noir

Jean-Claude Boisset is a modern, still family owned, Burgundy Domaine-Négociant founded in 1961.

They are based in Les Ursulines, a former convent in Nuits-Saint-Georges and is run by brother and sister Jean-Charles and Nathalie Boisset. The modern day epoch for Boisset started in 2002 when they appointed the rising star winemaker and viticulturist Grégory Patriat (from the legendary Domaine Leroy), invested heavily in new vineyards, and moved decisively to reduced yields and higher quality. This period was completed when in 2018, they opened a new state-of-the-art winery.

Jean-Claude Boisset is rightly recognised now as one of the finest larger scale producers, reflected in the fact that they have won no fewer than 74 medals and 13 trophies from prestigious competitions over the past eight years, including the International Wine Challenge “Clos de la Roche” Trophy.

2022 was the antidote year to 2021, with a long, dry, hot summer with some refreshing rains in August. The grapes were harvested in perfect conditions and yields were good.

Grapes were hand harvested and destemmed, followed but cold maceration for four days. Fermentation took place with indigenous yeasts with traditional punching down of the cap. The wine was aged on lees for seven months in lightly toasted French oak barrels of which 10% were new.

This is an above average Bourgogne Rouge which is both elegant, delicate, and full of bright cherry fruit, with balancing acidity and a touch of earthiness. No more than medium bodied, the tannic framework is gentle and the finish clean and precise, with oak notes firmly in the background.

Drink now and over the next 2-3 years – serve cool (especially in the summer) in large Burgundy glasses.