2012 Seguin Manuel Beaune Champimonts

Domaine Seguin-Manuel is on Beaune property that has been planted to vineyards for nearly 200 years. But in 2004 the domaine was purchased by Thibaut Marion, a career vigneron whose family has been in the wine business for ten generations. Marion rejuvenated the domaine, which is also a negociant, and built a new winery. He also started growing organically and now all his holdings, both estate owned and leased, are organic. The estate produces about 80,000 bottles annually. Although estate vineyards were once located only in Savigny-lès-Beaune, today there are parcels in the villages of Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet, Pommard, Meursault and Vosne-Romanée. Seguin-Manuel makes a broad portfolio of red and white wines. Wine Advocate’s reviewer noted that “I have long been a supporter of Thibaut. He is a very considered winemaker, never pushing things too much, gradually building an admirable portfolio of both domaine and contracted bottlings…”

Beaune is the heart, soul and capital of Burgundy. A walled, medieval city of ancient buildings and cobble-stoned streets, Beaune is home to the annual Hospices de Beaune wine auction, a charity auction dating to the 15th century. Beaune has always been a natural crossroads, and it was a commercial center as far back as the Roman era. Today Beaune is home to many of Burgundy’s most famous negociants, including Drouhin, Jadot, Latour and Bouchard Pere et Fils. The Beaune appellation includes 1,620 acres of vineyards, of which 95% are planted to Pinot Noir, with the remainder to Chardonnay. Although there are no Grands Crus, there are 44 Premier Cru vineyards which account for nearly half the appellation’s vineyard acreage. The best vineyards are on the upper slopes around the town, and Beaune is especially known for its “clos,” or small, walled vineyards that are often parcels of larger vineyards. There are also Beaune village wines. Robert M. Parker Jr. wrote that the primary traits of Beaune reds in the best vintages are “an intense bouquet of berry fruit, principally black cherries and strawberries. The wines are rarely massive or large scaled, relying more on their smooth, silky, berry fruitiness and harmony to seduce…”

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.