Jean-Marc et Hughes Pavelot

The family Domaine, based in the village of Savigny-les-Beaune, has been handed down from father to son for generations. Today the custodian is Hugues who works alongside his father Jean-Marc. This is a seriously fine Domaine and one of the leading Domaines’ in Savigny. The Domaine consists of 13 hectares with most of their vineyards in Savigny and with small parcels in Aloxe Corton and Beaune. Their multiple parcels of vineyard in the Savigny Village Appellation gives a varied terroir, with different soils and exposures, that adds to the complexity of the final wine. The Premier Cru wines have situation with the added advantage of old vines planted up to 85 years ago that gives the wine extra depth and weight.

Winemaking is traditional with modern influences to ensure the best aromatic profile for the Pinot. The vines are handpicked with a careful sorting to ensure only the healthiest grapes make into the fermenters. The alcoholic fermentation takes on average 15 days for the Village and 15 to 19 days for the Premier Crus. The wines are aged in 10-30% new oak barrels for 10 to 12 months for the village and 12 to 14 months for the Premier Crus.

 The 2013 was a heartbreaking vintage because of the severe hail damage that occurred  through Savigny prior to the harvest. The Domaine was able through careful sorting to find healthy grapes to produce a fine range of wines albeit in much smaller quantities than usual. The wines arrived late last year and are beginning to open up. They have continued to settle in bottle and have really started to come into balance. JON OSBEISTON