Comfortably situated between the renowned hill of Corton and Burgundy’s wine capital of Beaune lies Savigny-lès-Beanue, one of the region’s largest and most prolific wine producing communes. In fact, only Beaune, Gevrey-Chambertin and Meursault produce more wine per annum than this understated town.
Located in the northern stretch of the Côte de Beaune sub-region,Savigny-lès-Beaune comes by its noble-sounding name honestly: its vineyards can be traced back to the Romans, and the land’s subsequent sovereigns included Dukes of Bourgogne, influential religious orders and perhaps most famously, the Knights of Malta, who regularly held court in the town during the Middle Ages.The village’s history is further evidenced by the 14th century château that graces the property, securing its longstanding ties to the aristocracy.
Savigny-lès-Beaune’s 345+ hectaresare divided north from south by the Rhoin, a narrow and unassuming river that is more akin to a fishing stream; however, the river helps to form a sub-valley which provides the village with ample southern exposure for exceptional growth. Expansive for a Burgundian wine-growing commune, Savigny-lès-Beaune is densely planted versus densely populated, appearing to have more vineyards than people calling it home.Most of its 22 Premier Cru climats are located in the north and southwest, with eastern plots primarily reserved for village level vines. There are no Grand Cru vineyards in the town.
While both red and white wines fall under the Savigny-lès-Beaune appellation, which has been in place since 1937, nearly 90% of the almost 2 million bottles of wine produced annually are Pinot Noir, with the remaining 10% dedicated to Chardonnay.The Pinot Noir is characteristically deep in color, and dominated by a dark fruit bouquet that evokes hints of blackcurrant, raspberry and cherry. Floral notes, most notably violet,are also found, complementing both the fruit-forward profile and moderate tannins. Full-bodied, assertive and perfectly balanced, these reds are exceptionally popular for their consistency and power, and can age quite nicely for a decade or more.
Much like the regal color of the village’s Pinot Noir, its Chardonnay also features a noble golden cast with touches of emerald. Floral and bright, it is nonetheless a straightforward wine, with appealing notes of lemon, grapefruit and butter. Some vintages even offer up an additional surprise of a subtle yet welcomed presence of spice while others feature a pleasing minerality due to the village’s limestone-laden soil. Unlike its Pinot Noir, however, Chardonnay from Savigny-lès-Beaune is best enjoyed early on. While the appellation allows small amounts of Pinot blanc to be blended into its Chardonnay as well as Chardonnay, Pinot blanc and Pinot gris in its Pinot Noir, producers rarely indulge the practice and instead opt for single varietal wines.
There is an engraved stone set in the town’s famous château that reads, “The wines of Savigny are nourishing, theological and keep death at bay.” This much-quoted sentiment certainly represents the consistent beauty and popularity of Savigny-lès-Beaune’s lovely wines.
