Wines Beaune Jean-Claude Boisset - 1er Cru Les Grèves - 2018

Viniou Reviews

The 2018 Beaune 1er Cru Les Grèves from Jean-Claude Boisset is a textbook example of the elegance and finesse that Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune can offer. Crafted exclusively from Pinot Noir, this Premier Cru benefits from an exceptional vineyard site: Les Grèves is prized for its well-drained, stony soils that sit on a gentle slope, aiding in optimal ripeness and imparting the wine with a nuanced minerality. The 2018 vintage was marked by a warm, sunny growing season, allowing for full grape maturation, which lends this wine a striking combination of ripe red fruit – think cherry and raspberry – and subtle notes of violet, sweet spice, and earth. Jean-Claude Boisset’s approach highlights purity and precision, with careful vinification using minimal intervention, gentle extraction, and judicious ageing in French oak, enhancing texture without overwhelming the delicate aromatics.

The Côte de Beaune, part of Burgundy’s storied wine region, is renowned worldwide for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The vineyard soils here are a complex mixture of clay, limestone, and scree, contributing to the unique character of each cru. The semi-continental climate, with warm summers and cool, often misty autumns, encourages long, slow maturation of the grapes, ideal for creating wines of depth and complexity. The historical roots of winemaking in the region go back centuries, with monks and noble families curating terroirs such as Les Grèves, whose name refers to its gravelly soils.

This refined red Burgundy excels alongside classic dishes such as coq au vin or duck breast with cherry sauce, both of which highlight the wine’s fruit and elegance. For a regional touch, consider pairing it with a fine boeuf bourguignon, where the savoury, earthy elements of the dish are echoed in the wine. Mushroom dishes, game birds, or a mature Comté cheese would also make for harmonious companions.

To appreciate the full spectrum of aromas and textures, serve this wine at 16-18°C. Decanting for about an hour before serving can help open up its aromatic complexity. The wine is enjoyable now, given the accessible fruit of the 2018 vintage, but it also holds excellent potential for ageing over the next decade.