Julien Bouchard Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru les Peuillets is classic expression of one of Burgundy’s most underrated villages. It hails from the lauded 2019 vintage, and is just entering its peak drinking window, delivering generous fresh and baked fruit flavors accented by subtle oak spice and floral overtones. And, because it comes from Julien Bouchard, it also offers phenomenal value.

An Underdog Sensation, A Sensational Vintage: The fruit for this selection was sourced from a valley set within Burgundy’s Côte d’Or escarpment, dissected by the Rhoin river and (as its name implies) surrounding the town of Beaune. Shadowed by the ultra-famous villages of Volnay and Pommard, Savigny-lès-Beaune’s wines often fly under the radar, but are easily some of Burgundy’s most delicious.

They’re Goldilocks-like selections: a confluence of ripeness and restraint, rich and layered, yet focused and mineral-driven, delicious on their own or alongside a meal. They’re just right.

This wine—from 2019, considered widely to be one of the best vintages for Burgundy in recent years—typifies the category perfectly. A swirl in the glass will welcome you with dense red cherry aromas laced with peony and spice accents. A sip, meanwhile, will unveil a depth of corresponding red and black fruit flavors underscored by that hallmark mineral note, all hugged by well-integrated oak characteristics and fine tannins.

A Dream Partnership: In Burgundy, the house of Albert Bichot is legendary, having owned land there since the 14th century and produced wine since the early 1800s. Today, it remains a family-run company that owns its own vineyards. However, Bichot is also a négociant-éleveur, which means it can supplement its own fruit with purchased grapes, freshly crushed juice or unfinished wine from a network of small growers.

The approach allows access to an enviable collection of vineyards—including the Premier Cru plot from which this wine was made—and has enabled them to produce premium wines without premium price tags. This is part of the reason Decanter has called Albert Bichot “one of the region’s most dynamic, quality-focused” estates.

For 50 years, Julien Bouchard dedicated himself to making some of the finest wines in Burgundy. In 1955, without anyone to leave his winery and vineyards to, he selected the team at Albert Bichot to become stewards of his life’s work and continue his legacy. Today, we are happy to bring the Bouchard range to the U.S.

We were allocated just 240 cases of this beautiful bottling, and have very few remaining. Order soon if you hope to secure any.