Winemaker Notes
Delicate bouquet with notes of berries. At the palate, it seduces by the subtle intensity of its aromas and its tenderness. Good aging potential.
Pair with white meats in sauce and game birds (quail, pigeon).
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
The youthful nose with black raspberries and delicate smoky notes leads into the rather sleek but concentrated and creamy palate that’s supported by generous, polished tannins. Lively acidity drives the spicy and mineral finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Aromas of peonies, orange rind, wild plums, cherries and wintergreen introduce Bouchard's 2019 Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Les Lavières, a medium to full-bodied, supple and perfumed wine that's lively and enveloping. Routinely one of the most underrated wines in the portfolio, this is always a sumptuous yet lively wine that ages very well.
Range: 91-93 -
Wine Spectator
Discreet but not imperceptible wood sets off ripe and distinctly earthy aromas of poached plum, spice and a hint of violet. The generously proportioned but nicely detailed middle weight flavors exude a subtle minerality on the dusty, youthfully austere and firm finale. This is really quite good and a wine that should easily reward a decade plus of cellaring.
Range: 90-93 -
Jasper Morris
Glowing mid purple, deeper centre. There is a wealth of fruit on the nose here, and though its ripe it delivers a fresher appeal. Frédéric finds Les Lavières a very regular site whatever the vintage conditions. This delivers exceptionally well with a powerful weight of fruit, plum and raspberry, and well managed tannins.
Range: 89-92 -
Decanter
The vineyards of Savigny-lès-Beaune lie on either side of the Rhoin and cold air streams in from higher elevations. The vineyards on the north side, including Les Lavières where Bouchard has nearly 4ha, benefit from an almost due-south exposure. The resulting fruit gives a wine that is ethereal and scented with rose petals and ripe red fruits. Not as intense as some nearby appellations, it is nonetheless approachable, easy to understand, and pleasant to drink.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
Savigny-lès-Beaune is a small village near Beaune that produces delightful red and white wines under its own appellation name. Cut by a river, the vineyards on its southern side have sandy soils that result in charming, floral reds. Premiers Crus vineyards on this side include Les Peuillets, Les Narbantons, Les Rouvrettes and Les Marconnets.
On Savigny’s northern side, bordering Pernand-Vergelles, vineyards are planted on rocky soils and produce juicy and spicy Pinot Noir. The village’s best whites, all made of Chardonnay, are full on the palate and abound in texture, complexity and freshness.