Domaine Rollin, Pinot Noir, Bourgogne Rouge, Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, Burgundy, France 2021

The vineyards for this spicy and aromatic Hautes-Côtes de Beaune from Domaine Rollin are situated in Pernand Vergelesses and Echevronne (about 2 hectares or so). An energetic wine that captures the essence of the Cote de Beaune with its red cherry flavors and ebullient floral bouquet. Aged in small barrel (no new oak) but bottled a few months earlier than the other more substantial reds of the domaine to emphasize its fruitiness.

In its present state, the Rollin domaine covers twelve hectares of vineyards, eight of which are owned with the other four being rented via the system of metayage or fermage. The vineyards are spread over five separate communes (Pernand Vergelesses, Savigny les Beaune, Echevronne, Aloxe Corton and Chorey les Beaune). The estate produces approximately 60,000 bottles per year across fourteen separate appellations.

The vineyard work is meticulous and, although not certified organic, the methodology in practice is applied in a manner designed to maximize the expression of terroir by eliminating (or reducing to an absolute minimum) any treatments in the vineyards. All grapes are harvested manually and fermentations proceed with indigenous yeasts. The white wines are pressed gently and undergo long fermentations in barrel (except for the Aligoté which is raised in stainless steel tanks) and are aged on the fine lees for twelve to fifteen months.

The reds are hand-sorted in both the vineyard and at the cellar before being pressed. The maceration is long and the elevage is in small barrel with the malolactic fermentation occurring therein. In almost every instance, neither the white wines nor the red wines are fined or filtered.