2018 Domaine de Bellene Beaune Les Teurons

Domaine de Bellene was started in 2005 by Nicolas Potel, a rising star in Burgundy and the son of the late, legendary Gerard Potel of the highly respected Domaine de la Pousse d’Or in Volnay. After his father’s death in 1997 Nicolas became a negociant, and started Maison Nicolas Potel. His wines earned praise from such writers as Clive Coates, but a falling out with his business partners led to Potel’s departure from the firm that still bears his name. After only one vintage as Domaine Nicolas Potel, Potel was forced to stop using his name for his new domaine. He changed the name to Domaine de Bellene and also started the negociant Maison Roche de Bellene. Nicolas makes wines biodynamically and is considered a rising star in Burgundy.

Les Bas des Teurons is a 15.7-acre Premier Cru vineyard located in the central part the Beaune appellation, in Burgundy’s Cote de Beaune. Though Beaune has no Grand Cru vineyards, it has 44 vineyards that are either partly or completely Premier Cru. Clive Coates has written that in the central section of the Beaune appellation is “where you will find the finest examples of premier cru in Beaune.”

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.