Wines Beaune Hospices de Beaune - Cuvée Guigone de Salins 1er Cru - 2015

The 2015 Hospices de Beaune "Cuvée Guigone de Salins" 1er Cru is a remarkable red wine from the prestigious Beaune AOC in Burgundy's Côte de Beaune. This cuvée is crafted primarily from Pinot Noir, the emblematic grape of the region, cultivated from select Premier Cru vineyards. The 2015 vintage was marked by a warm, dry growing season, resulting in concentrated grapes, excellent ripeness, and refined tannins. Traditional Burgundian winemaking methods are employed, with careful attention to gentle extraction and maturation, typically in French oak barrels, lending complexity and subtle structure to the wine. On the palate, you can expect an alluring bouquet of ripe red berries, black cherry, floral notes such as violet, and a delicate underpinning of spice and earth, with a promising balance of depth and finesse.

The Côte de Beaune is celebrated for its limestone-rich soils interspersed with marl and clay, providing the perfect terroir for cultivating Pinot Noir of great aromatic purity and elegance. The region benefits from a temperate continental climate, with warm summers and cool nights that preserve acidity and promote slow, graceful ripening. Beaune, the commercial and historical heart of Burgundy, boasts centuries of winemaking tradition, with the Hospices de Beaune estate standing as an iconic figure. Their annual charity wine auction has helped propel the appellation's international reputation for quality.

Pairing this fine Beaune Premier Cru with food highlights the wine's graceful structure and complexity. Local Burgundian dishes offer ideal synergy—think coq au vin, roasted duck breast with cherry sauce, or a traditional boeuf bourguignon. The wine also complements earthy mushroom dishes, grilled lamb, or delicate game birds. For cheese, opt for mature Comté or Époisses.

For optimal enjoyment, serve this wine at a temperature of 16-18°C. Decanting an hour before serving allows the wine to fully reveal its aromatic depth and silken texture. The wine is drinking beautifully now but could also develop further complexity with a few more years of cellaring.