Maison Chanzy Bourgogne Pinot Noir ‘Les Fortunes’ 2018

Fermentation in stainless steel tanks, followed by 7 months in 2-5 year French oak, where it undergoes malolactic fermentation. Bourgogne Pinot Noir is from vineyards in the Côte Chalonnaise. Grown in typical clay and limestone soils with an average vine age of 35 years, Bourgogne Pinot Noir receives a seven-day pre-fermentation cold maceration and is then aged in used 450-liter barrels for ten months before bottling.

Gorgeous ruby red colour, the nose gives up ripe strawberry, summer cherry, earth, brine, and a sweet creaminess, not unlike blackberry pie.  The palate is perfectly French, you don’t get this flavour in new world pinot.  It has a balanced stemmy/fruit sweet flavour profile, resting atop well-structured red and black fruit.  The acidity is in chorus with the rest of the aspects of the wine, and the length is very good.  It doesn’t have the depth or complexity of the higher appellations, but it is pound for pound a beautiful wine and speaks of purity and freshness.  Plush, satisfying and polished.  A big yes here.

93/100

$26 at Lamont’s Wine Store Cottesloe