2021 Petit-Roy Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune pinot noir - Burgundy FRANCE 750ml
Seiichi Saito has established himself as one of the most exciting new winemakers in Burgundy. After rave reviews from Neil Martin for his 2020 vintage, his wines are now highly sought after and tightly allocated across the globe. I'm very proud to represent him here in Australia - this being the 4th vintage I have had the pleasure to import.Seiichi's resume is rather impressive. He studied soil science in Japan, before coming to Beaune in 2006 to study winemaking. He loved it so much, he moved to Beaune in 2008 to start a new life and follow his dream. Since then, he has had stints at Simon-Bize, Leflaive, J-F Mugnier and Armand Rousseau. He is also quite famous in Beaune for the beautiful small Japanese restaurant that he created, La Lune. He has since moved on to focus solely on winemaking, officially creating his own estate in 2016.Based in Chorey-lès-Beaune, he produces finely detailed and elegant wines with a mix of grapes from his own Biodynamically farmed vineyards (he has around 2ha now), as well as grapes that he purchases from friends. His newly renovated cellar is highly organised, and every step in his winemaking is carefully considered. Even from 'lesser' appellations, he somehow manages to create complex wines of finesse, that will stop you in your tracks. - RYAN LARKIN
Pinot Noir from a 0.8ha plot in Nantoux, near Pommard. Planted in 1982, he loves this vineyard as it looks like paradise! Lots of hard limestone here. 3 day cold soak and then 3-4 week whole bunch maceration. Aged in used barrels for 12 months, then left to settle in tank for 8 months. Not fined or filtered. Minimal SO2.Amazing fragrant perfume that becomes quite intoxicating after a while. Pungent crushed strawberry, cacao, star anise, milk chocolate and red roses. Salt in the back ground. Silky elegant palate, laced with fine-detailed red fruit and spice. Light, with a lovely mouthfeel and texture. A little savoury twist at the end rounds things out perfectly. Caught me off-guard this one!
