1978 Henri Boillot Savigny Les Beaune Les Vergelesses

Maison Henri Boillot is owned and operated by Henri Boillot, a fifth-generation vigneron in the Côte d’Or and the proprietor of one of Burgundy’s most impressive estates. In 1984 Henri left the family estate to start his own negociant business. He later rejoined the estate and bought out his brother and sister, changing the name of the estate to reflect his sole ownership. His brother owns the similarly-named Domaine Jean-Marc Boillot. Maison Henri Boillot owns a total of 35 acres, mostly in premier cru vineyards in Volnay, Beaune, Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet. Boillot does not use pesticides or chemicals in his vineyards, and vines are heavily pruned for low yields. The vineyards are evenly split between Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Wine Advocate has noted that Boillot wines are “excellent representatives of the fundamental character one has come to expect” from the legendary premier cru vineyards of Volnay, Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet.

Savigny-lès-Beaune is the third largest producing appellation in the Côte de Beaune and has 1,343 vineyard acres. Located three miles north of Beaune, the commune of Savigny-lès-Beaune is one of Burgundy’s largest communes with early 1,500 inhabitants. Some 97% of the vineyards are planted to Pinot Noir, with the remainder planted to Chardonnay. And though there are no Grands Crus, there are 22 Premiers Crus in whole or part. The appellation is divided into vineyards that are either on the hillsides to the north of the highway and river, or on the hillsides to the south. Many reviewers believe that the best vineyards are to the north of the highway, and they include Aux Serpentieres, Aux Vergelesses, and Les Lavieres, among others. The northern vineyards have some of the best southern exposure in Burgundy, which accounts for the quality of the wines from those vineyards. The wines of Savigny-lès-Beaune are considered lighter than many other Burgundy reds. However Robert M. Parker Jr. has noted that the “top wines are usually ready to drink young and are very fruity and stylish…”

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.