Operatives with a traditional side, this one is for you! Last weeks massive French hit was a $15.99 – gulp – bottle of great Village level Red Burgundy. Many of you were kind enough to double with us to assure that it was not a half-bottle offer, such drastic deals are ultra-rare within today’s overblown Burgundy pricing, for this justifiably overhyped region that the world’s most stunning examples of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir originate from. In search of another unicorn we came across this next astounding relative bargain. Bring back the loudest drum roll… a TOP 1er Cru under $40… that is HALF OFF an originally $80 proposal!

To bring things into perspective, please see the map below. This prized ancient vineyard is a stone’s throw away from the Grand Crus of Corton, where the world’s wine wealth (including the venerable DRC - Domaine de la Romanée-Conti AND the owners of Screaming Eagle!) have been investing in. From such idyllic 1er Crus of Savigny-lès-Beaune prices for comparable current vintages by famous producers soar over $1,000 a bottle.

Pastel while saturated crimson radiating a brick orange glow towards the edges, as inviting as the deepest shade of dark cherry, reminiscent of a sunset sky at twilight time. Brambly and wild, a well-defined perfume with bright red fruits, toasted brown spices, and herbs, ethereal aromas of fresh raspberry, red plum, spearmint, violet and forest floor. Juicy cranberry, tart cherry, and exotic spices meld with savory and sweet spices, bursting with strawberry tart and juicy pomegranate, all enveloped in a frame of vivid acidity. Complex and long with an ultrafine silky mouthfeel, stern ‘1er Cru’ focus and grip, layers, and layers of beautifully ripe tannins unfold in an undeniably elegant, refreshing finish. This monument to finesse calls for equally fine fare, roast whole pasture-raised chicken, a game bird dish such as Duck à l’Orange, or think multiple course Michelin star meals.

Whew! Did not mean to wax poetic, but it’s near impossible to stop raving about this wine! Onto the last bit of pertinent trivia…

Jane Eyre is an Australian that fell so deeply in love with Burgundy that she was ‘allowed’ into this tightly conservative region as a producer. Having the right strategy to permeate, she paid her edifying dues, collaborating with some of the most important visionaries in Burgundy from Dominique Lafon to Benjamin Leroux to Hubert de Montille to Frederic Mugnier before starting her own with the 2011 vintage, which by the way was this same exact vineyard, that gave her the ideal grapes for proving her deft hand at making sublime Burgundy.

Quoting foremost Burgundy expert critic Stephen Tanzer, “the outstanding 2016 vintage is studded with hauntingly beautiful reds” which is exactly what we are looking at here. The delicacy and complexity will continue to haunt you even after each sip, and of course for long after each bottle, so pile up accordingly. There were only 3 barrels made to begin with, sadly with just a few cases allocated once gone, it’s GONE!.

Here’s what the wine press has to say:

Nick Stock, JamesSuckling.com - “Eyre is a thoughtful and determined winemaker, with clear ideas about the style of pinot noir she likes. She prizes fragrance and delicacy over artifact and ripeness and structurally her preference is for wines that are not over ambitious. Modesty, approachability and a sense of restraint are common threads… These are definitely wines to watch.”

91 Points – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate - “The 2016 Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Aux Vergelesses was hit by frost (as you would expect) so there are just three barrels. It includes 10% whole bunch and no new oak having undergone a gentle extraction. It has a delightful bouquet with black cherries and raspberry fruit complemented by a hint of cranberry leaf. I love the purity here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, well-judged acidity with just a deft touch of cracked black pepper toward the linear finish that suggests a year in bottle will do this Savigny no harm at all. I met Jane Eyre during my final week in Burgundy at her base at Château de Bligny, where I tasted her four reds. I was impressed by these wines: crisp and fresh with delicious, crunchy, brambly red fruit and commendable complexity. They come highly recommended.”

16.5 Points – Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com - “ Three barrels, none new. Approximately 10% whole bunch. The age of the vines varies between 15 and 50 years. Eyre notes: ‘This was the first cuvée I started the négociant business with in 2011. The 2015 was 25% new oak and 20% whole bunch. 2016 was a very different vintage and the wines have a delicate, transparency to them which is why I opted for no new oak and also did not work the ferments too hard. Racked after harvest.’ That same fruit brightness as on the Gevrey with just a touch of herbal (stemmy not green) freshness and a little bit of spice and pepper. Super-fine tannins with fluid red fruit on the palate. More chewy in texture but with the fruit to balance the firmer texture. Elegant restraint. Spicy, mouth-watering finish. ”