2005 Mischief and Mayhem Red Burgundy Pinot Noir

Mischief and Mayhem is a whimsical name for a Burgundy wine venture that began in the early aughts. It was founded by Michael Ragg, a UK fine wine merchant, and his wife Fiona Traill-Stevenson, who, like her husband, also worked for a time at Berry Bros. & Rudd wine merchants. In 2003 the pair opened a wine consultancy and brokering business in Aloxe-Corton, and a year later they started making wine from sourced grapes under their own Mischief and Mayhem label. Michael Twelftree, owner of Australia’s Two Hands Wines, was also involved initially, though no longer. In 2012 Mischief and Mayhem purchased a small plot in Aloxe-Corton, and added a second plot in 2013. Burghound.com has noted that the house style is “definitely modern.” The couple say that one of their goals is to demystify fine Burgundy wines by describing the provenance of the grapes for each bottle on the back label, along with information about the vintage and production details.

Burgundy in eastern France is, if not the most famous and storied wine region in the world, certainly one of the top two or three. Its winemaking history dates from the Roman era, and its relatively small size and reputation for outstanding wines means that the best wines of Burgundy are generally among the world’s most prized – and costly – wines. At about 110,000 vineyards acres, Burgundy is only 40% as big as Bordeaux, and its system of dividing up vineyards into small, family-owned parcels makes understanding the wines of Burgundy a life-long pursuit for Burgundy enthusiasts. The three main grapes of Burgundy are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gamay. Burgundy is a long, narrow, north-south running region consisting of five main areas. They are Chablis in the north, Côte D’Or, Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais and Beaujolais, which is just above the Rhone Valley. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are grown throughout most of Burgundy but Gamay is grown primarily in Beaujolais. The appellation system and rules about labeling can be confusing and the system classifies regions, villages and even individual vineyards. Grand Cru is the most prestigious appellation category, followed by Premier Cru and many village and regional appellations.

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.