Domaine de Bellene, Cote de Nuits-Villages 2014

Region

Burgundy & Chablis, France

Burgundy has always fascinated and frustrated in equal measure. For every eulogising, life-changing proclamation from someone realising wine nirvana, there is some poor soul somewhere bashing their head in perplexity. At its best, Burgundy can provide the ultimate- the transcendental, mystifying, unexplainable pleasure that only truly great wine can bring. But at its worst, it can be an expensive mistake, bring disillusion and even provoke anger.

For sure, Burgundy is not the region of choice for the unadventurous or risk averse! How then to navigate the minefield? Our advice has always been, and still is, to get to know the growers. It sounds like simple advice but with so many producers, from powerful négociant houses to the new breed of micro négociants, from large, historic estates to tiny family domaines, you need to know where to turn and who can be relied upon.

At Armit Wines we work with growers who we count amongst our friends who are by definition, people who won’t let you down. These are personal contacts gleaned from years of visiting, talking, tasting and building relationships. Some friendships grow whilst others fade of course but the great ones endure: legendary, ground-breaking growers such as Anne-Claude Leflaive…

and Guillaume d’Angerville; superstars such as Pascal Lachaux, Christophe Roumier, Jean-Marc Roulot and the Raveneau brothers; under-appreciated talents such as Patrick Bize and Richard Fontaine.