2022 Pierre Gelin Fixin

Earthy aromas of red berries, herbal tea, and damp humus lead into notes of dark plum, tobacco, and warm spices. The medium-bodied palate is structured and savory, carrying flavors of tart cherry and black currants against a firm structural frame of stony minerality. Integrated, rustic tannins give the wine a rugged weight, balancing nicely with a refreshing salinity on a clean finish.

Following an organic approach in the vineyards, the hand-harvested Pinot Noir grapes are completely destemmed before undergoing a traditional fermentation in temperature-controlled vats. The fruit goes through an extended maceration period of roughly 19 days, including twice-daily punch-downs to optimize flavor extraction. The wine is then transferred to French oak barrels where it ages for 20 to 22 months, utilizing a small percentage of new wood to add complexity without overpowering the primary fruit.

Fruit is sourced from three hectares of estate-owned parcels located towards the southern end of Fixin, a village sitting at the northern edge of the Côte de Nuits region in Burgundy, France. The vineyards average nearly 40 years of age and are planted on lower-slope sites characterized by deep, heavy beds of clay mixed with brown limestone marl. This specific soil composition naturally limits yields and imparts a classic, muscular structure to the grapes.