That Guy!

Per Wine Advocate, “since 1989, Guy Amiot has catapulted to the top echelon of quality.”

We know, fell in love with one of his whites for the last marathon and have been aching for more since. His reds today present INSANE value from said “top echelon of quality,” in the $35-49 range.

First, from his home base in Beaune. Per the Domaine, “this plot, planted in the woods west of Beaune, was included in our vineyard in 2014 and became the focus of our attention in order to revive the vines and bring out the best in the Pinot grape.” And boy, are we glad they revived this hidden gem lieu dit. It falls just outside the Premier Cru corridor; in a way, it’s Champs Pimont growing into the dense forest.

Hence the name Longbois, literally the long woods. Naturally, all the pure red fruits are accentuated by earthy forest floor nuances. For those who fall for purity over intensity, this is a memorable red that will pair effortlessly with pretty much anything cheesy, mushroomy, or meaty you throw its way.

The family Domaine dates back to the 1920s, established by Flavie and Arsene Amiot, to be then handed down to their son Pierre and subsequently to his son Guy; the winery remains a true family affair. Today, Guy’s sons Thierry and Fabrice are at the helm, with Thierry behind the winemaking and Fabrice guiding their international reach.

Per Kermit Lynch, “Domaine Guy Amiot in Chassagne-Montrachet possesses a lineup of Crus that are enviable. Founder Arsène Amiot started acquiring parcels in Chassagne, including several Premier Crus and a few rows of Le Montrachet. Under his direction, Domaine Amiot became one of the first to begin estate-bottling their production. Their work springs from a long tradition begun in the 1920s under the direction of founder Arsène Amiot… By the time Guy Amiot took over in 1985, the Domaine had built up very impressive holdings and had passed the knowledge of how to best care for the vines down from generation to generation. There was a continuity of work in the vineyards that led to solid consistency in the wines.”

No scores, just a Burghound barrel tasting that insists it’s “to enjoy on the younger side for its fruit” but with time in the bottle we see this getting even more enjoyable in a few years. Hard to resist now; it truly is one of the best Red Burgundies money can buy under $50.

Barrel Note – Burghound “Fabrice Amiot simply noted that 2021 ‘had its fair share of challenges, both with the April frost and with the difficult growing season. The wines, though, have turned out better than we thought. They’re classic Burgundies with better acidities than we’ve had in several years, perhaps not since 2014.’ A bright and ultra-fresh nose freely offers up its aromas of red pinot and discreet spice whiffs. The sleeker and finer flavors possess a bit more volume while delivering better depth on the linear finish that is also slightly lean. To enjoy on the younger side for its fruit.”