2011 René Bouvier Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Fontenys

Domaine Rene Bouvier has owned vineyards in the village of Marsannay in the Côte de Nuits for the last four generations. These days,Bernard Bouvier (the son of Rene) runs the 12 hectare estate, a man who is keen to combine the traditions of Burgundy to the technological advances of modern viticulture. He is considered one of the most promising young winemakers in Burgundy today. His first vintage was in 1986. Chemical treatments are banned and yields are held to a minimum.

The domaine currently produces wine from around 13 different appellations, and all are tended to organically, without fertilisers and with minimal amounts of sulphur and other treatments. All the grapes are hand-harvested meticulously, and the harvest is followed by fermentation in barrel and then aging in small oak casks for 12 to 18 months, with around one-third of the barrels having new wood. The end product of this process is a wine that is both easily accessible and yet excellent aged, fruity and deep with a real sense of power.