Summer wines: 5 reds from Burgundy
Burgundy reds, made from Pinot Noir alone, offer superlative finesse. They generally go through several distinct phases. When young, Pinot Noir reveals fresh, appetizing fruit, before becoming more complex and floral with age. For summer, we recommend young Burgundies with this fruit vigor. Give preference to generic Burgundies, and leave your bottles from prestigious villages like Pommard or Gevrey-Chambertin in the cellar.
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Domaine Arnoux Père et Fils (1)
Chorey-lès-beaune
2019
Red
This beautiful red from Chorey opens with notes of red fruit, morello cherry, with a pleasant fruit brandy character. On the palate, the wine is greedy, full-bodied and perfectly ready to drink today. Don't wait any longer and serve it slightly chilled.
http://www.arnoux-pereetfils.com
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Domaine des Verchères (2)
Burgundy pinot noir
2018
Red
With a nose more blackcurrant than raspberry, slightly smoky and lardy notes, we're getting closer to southern Burgundy in spirit. A gourmet, finely tannic wine to be enjoyed chilled with a few slices of Grisons meat, rolled around a fresh goat's cheese with herbs.
https://www.bourgogne-vigne-verre.com/fr/30-domaine-des-vercheres
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Domaine des Gandines (3)
Burgundy pinot noir
2019
Red
A straightforward, silky, fruity Burgundy that opens up perfectly today. Low in sulfur, this wine offers immediate pleasure with red fruits, fresh flowers and good structure. Enjoy it chilled as an aperitif this summer.
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Domaine Rapet (4)
Pernand-vergelesses
Cuvée "Les Belles Filles
2020
Red
The nose opens with blackberry, cherry and raspberry notes, sweet but not jammy. On the palate, Pinot is silky, rich and greedy. Drink now for immediate pleasure.
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Domaine Sylvain Pataille (5)
Marsannay
2020
Red
A young red burgundy, with a powerful, slightly smoky nose and notes of red fruit so ripe that it gently tugs towards black fruit. The palate is round and greedy, but precise and never jammy. Add little tannin, but plenty of presence, and you've got a fine wine to open on any occasion at the table.
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Should we trust the medals on the bottles?
On a supermarket shelf, similar-looking bottles of wine are lined up at slightly contrasting prices. Without a salesperson, in a time-constrained food shopping area, a sticker placed like a jewel cuts through the act of purchasing. Gold, silver or bronze medals flash more brightly than a label that's not always easy to decipher. Award-winning wine, featured wine An award-winning wine is one that has been presented by the winery at one of the 127 competitions that award these precious badges (in 2024, according to the DGCCRF). The famous Concours Général Agricole, founded in 1870, the world's best Chardonnay or Sauvignon competitions, the Brittany or Mâcon wine competitions, the Millésime Bio challenge... There's an embarrassment of riches to choose from, with no limit on participation, but not without a heavy hand in the wallet. For each cuvée entered, you'll need to pay between 10 and 150 euros, depending on the competition, not including postage and packaging costs and the purchase of macaroons in the event of victory. Attractive spin-offs A potentially interesting calculation, given the commercial visibility these awards bring. In the year following the award, sales of the vintage tend to increase by between 20% and 40%. A boon for the estate, event organizers and supermarkets alike. All the more so as the medals are pouring in. In 2025, at the Concours Général Agricole, of the 12129 wines entered, 3361 were awarded medals, almost half of them gold. French legislation prohibits the awarding of more than a third of the samples presented. A quota with which most competitions flirt. Amateur jury Who awards these accolades? A volunteer jury, at their own expense. Mostly amateurs. The great need for people leaves little room for rigor or traceability. In 2025, at the Concours Général Agricole, over 7,000 people were needed to taste charcuterie, cheeses, jams and wines. At this year's Chardonnay du Monde competition, more than 300 jurors took part, with a limit of 20 samples per person. The most famous estates, which don't need to boost their sales, tend to neglect these competitions. Artisanal wineries, on the other hand, may shy away from these competitions as a matter of distinction, since the shiny stickers are associated with supermarkets. A place where it takes the place of good professional advice. A wine merchant, for example, capable of selling the uniqueness of a cuvée he has followed over the years.
Fabrice Pouillon: his champagne method
Fabrice Pouillon is the third generation to run the family domaine at Mareuil-sur-Aÿ in the Marne region of France, and he has an intrinsic respect for the heritage he has inherited: respect for the vines and for fine work. Constantly questioning himself, curious and eager to experiment, the Champenois celebrates his 26th harvest this September.
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