2023 Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Les Narbantons, Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret

• Style: Refined, medium-bodied Pinot Noir with silky tannins
• Taste: Red cherry, subtle herbs, mineral precision, fine-grained structure
• Food: Roast dinners, duck, aged cheese, game, braised beef
• Occasion: Cellar worthy; gifting for patient collectors
• Serve: 13% ABV; drink now or age 10+ years

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

This 2023 Savigny-lès-Beaune opens with restrained power and immediate appeal. Red cherry and subtle herb notes flow across the palate, backed by fine-grained tannins that slip through without demanding attention. Yet structure lies beneath: given a decade in bottle, this wine will deepen into something altogether more profound. The 94-point score reflects both present drinkability and rare ageing potential, a hallmark of thoughtful winemaking and site quality.

The Winery — Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret

Now in its ninth generation, this quietly consistent Burgundy house sits in the heart of the Côte de Nuits, where winemaker Alexandre brings personal precision to every vintage. The Narbantons vineyard climbs 250 metres up limestone slopes with sixty-year-old vines drawing mineral depth from sandy-marl soils. Green harvesting, careful debudding, hand-sorting, and cold maceration before fermentation all prioritise concentration without overextraction. For the 2023, despite July hail damage across Burgundy, the domaine captured generous ripeness and balanced aromatics. Alexandre personally selects oak from Nièvre and the Tronçais forest, curing it on-site for 18–24 months before a local cooper assembles the barrels; thirty to forty per cent new oak adds subtle backbone without masking fruit.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Serve alongside roasted chicken, duck, or a board of aged Gruyère and soft-rind cheeses—pairings where silky tannins and red-fruit core shine. The 13% alcohol and measured extraction mean it won't overwhelm delicate dishes, yet there's enough presence for braised beef or game and venison. This is a wine to explore now for its refinement or cellar for a decade-plus reward. If you're seeking Pinot Noir with real character and staying power, this sits among the finest examples from France's Côte de Beaune. Discover more depth in our Medium Bodied Red Wine collection.