2002 Domaine Pavelot, Savigny-lès-Beaune, Premier Cru “La Dominode” Red Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, France.
The enticing, dark ruby/brick hued and fully mature 2002 Domaine Jean-Marc & Hugues Pavelot Savigny-lès-Beaune “La Dominode” 1er Cru is a beautiful and delicate Pinot Noir with loads of character, charm and subtle earthiness. Tasted blind with an excellent array of wines, this Pavelot was a widely admired for its depth and balance with only hints of dried fruit and peak evolution, it showed pretty black cherry, cranberry, blood orange and Turkish dried fig fruits, some briar, black tea and bergamot as well as wilted rose, stony/mineral and a light dusting of spice. The palate was heavenly silken and subtle, while still vibrant and nicely structured, impressively clear and absolutely terroir driven. The Premier Cru La Dominode, which is Dominus in Latin, and used to owed by the “Lord” of Savigny. is an eastern facing vineyard with moderately ripe exposures and the Pavelot’s blocks up up to about 5 and half acres, which allows for about 600 to 800 cases depending on the years crop.
The Savigny-lès-Beaune may not get the attention of Burgundy collectors, like its neighbors Volnay or Pommard do, but there’s a fabulous collection of Premier Crus here and there’s some incredible wines, that sometimes way over perform for the price, with Pavelot, Guillemot and Camus-Bruchon all doing outstanding stuff from here. This may have been the first time for me having a wine made from this particular site, so it was a thrill to taste this La Dominode 1er Cru from Pavelot, who’s plot is mostly from all organic vines planted pre-war in the 1930s, along with parcels planted in the 1970s, as well as 1990s, all with good maturity on classic chalky limestone and clay underneath a sandy top soil. For this wine, typically the Pavelot’s use 5 to 15% whole cluster and native yeasts in the fermentation with a 2 to 3 week maceration and only a 6 day punch down regiment before pressing to barrel. The Premier Crus normally see about 35% new wood, and the elevage is pretty much about 12 months in the oak, which feels excellent in this aged 2002, and I am excited to try some of the more modern expressions for here!
($60-90 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive