Domaine Tollot-Beaut, Chorey-les-Beaune 2018

All their Pinot Noir is destemmed and fermented in stainless-steel tanks. Fermentation typically lasts for 10 to 12 days and pigeage takes place twice a day. Over the years, the use of oak has become much subtler, intended to season the wines and amplify their delicate fruit character. The wines typically stay in barrel for 16 to 18 months with up to 20% new oak used for the village and regional wines and 50% new oak for the Grand Crus. Their cellars are cooler than most in Burgundy after they installed an air-conditioning system 20 years ago; they keep the temperature at 14°C, whereas it used to be 18°C. This lower temperature helps preserve the fresh fruit that characterises these wines.

Tollot-Beaut is a domaine known for consistently delicious, lesser-known appellations in the northern Cotes de Beaune. It is Family-owned and run, currently managed by the lovely Nathalie Tollot. The estate comprises 24 hectares of vines spread over a number of different sites in Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune, Chorey-lès-Beaune, Aloxe-Corton and Corton.