Jean-Claude Rateau Rouge Les Beaux & Bons 2020

Jean-Claude first started discovering the joys of biodynamic farming in his backyard, growing food. So when he decided to become a winegrower in 1979 taking over his family’s holdings there was no question about making the change to biodynamic practices. He, therefore, has the honour of being the very first wine grower in Burgundy to work under biodynamic principles. His part of the walled vineyard “Clos des Mariages” is the first and therefore oldest biodynamic parcel of vines in all of the Cote d’Or.

Jean-Claude says this wine, sourced from lieux-dits Beaux Fougets (clay soils) and Bons Feuvres (iron-rich soils) on the Pommard side of Beaune, always shows aromas of "cerises noires" (black cherries).  2020 has a dark ruby, verging on a purple robe. The ripe, lush nose offers plummy dark fruit aromas with notes of violet, cassis, and spice box. The palate also tends towards black fruits (there's that black cherry!), savoury herbal notes, and a brooding earthiness beneath the ripe, exuberant fruit. There’s a lot to sort out here, but this has nice flair and concentration - give this a bit of aeration and it will be a very satisfying bottle with coq au vin or braised duck legs.