Dom de La Monette 2023 Bourgogne Rouge Terroirs de Mellecey

The Wine

Subtle (almost stingy) aromas of fresh red fruits like cranberry, cherry and strawberry, with some floral notes and a subtle thread of tempting spices. On the palate, the wine is approachable in its tannins, ready to drink now and notable for flavors that weave in an out as the wine opens over the course of the evening. A wine worthy of contemplation that overdelivers for the money.

The domaine farms parcels around the town of Mellecey, within the Cote Chalonnaise. They use sustainable ag practices such as natural ground cover between the rows, minimal treatments, and low-intervention vinification. Grapes are hand-harvested and sorted, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and only subjected to gentle extraction, no pigeage, to avoid harsher tannins. Aged only in stainless steel and older barrels for nine months. 

Pairings: the usual pinot suspects - roast chicken with thyme and lemon, duck with cherry sauce, a good duck pate or pork rillettes, mushroom risotto, and coq au vin. Cheese-wise, reach for Brillat Savarin, Tomme de Savoie, Reblochon or other washed rind cheeses like Teleggio and goat cheeses with ash such as Humboldt Fog.

The Winery

The winery has been around for many, many years, but experienced a bit of a tempestuous history more recently. Owned by a family from Lyon for many generations, but production stopped in 1993 and the estate laid sad and dormant until 2008 when a vacationing Dutch couple fell in love with Burgundy and decided to resurrect the old estate. They replanted, rebuilt, modernized and at the same time converted the vineyards to organic farming (certified in 2013), resurrecting its reputation for terroir-driven wines.  

In 2022 a young Burgundian couple took over the estate, expanded to a total of about 30 acres and became two of the new faces of Cote Chalonnaise.