2023 Sylvain Pataille - Bourgogne Rouge (750ml)

Sylvain Pataille is one of the defining voices of Marsannay, a village long overshadowed by its more famous Côte de Nuits neighbors until growers like him began proving its potential. He started with a single hectare in 1999 and has since built the domaine to seventeen hectares spread across Marsannay and Chenôve, where he acquired a winery in 2004 alongside an older vaulted cellar used for barrel aging. Pataille has farmed biodynamically since 2008, favoring manual harvests and gentle, hands-off vinification throughout.

This Bourgogne Rouge draws on parcels scattered outside Marsannay's classified boundaries, some planted with notably old vines, on soils dominated by limestone and clay. Grapes are hand-picked and undergo whole-cluster fermentation with native yeasts, spending roughly three weeks on the skins before the wine moves to barrel for further aging. Little sulfur is used at any stage, a hallmark of Pataille's minimal-intervention style and one that lets the fruit and terroir speak clearly.

The wine shows red berries, cherry, orange zest, and a touch of cinnamon, with floral peony notes threaded throughout. On the palate it is medium-bodied and vibrant, with fine tannins and a mineral edge on the finish. Try it with roasted duck, lentil stew, or a semi-soft cheese like Morbier.