François Grangé presents his new domaine in the Hautes Côtes de Beaune. First vintage in 2024.

It's always a real pleasure to meet the winemakers. It gets us out of Beaune and, incidentally, out of the cellar where we spend so much time, but above all, it gives us a chance to get some fresh air and fully embrace this region, which is frankly hard to get enough of. It has to be said that from the north to the south of Burgundy, the landscapes are constantly changing. But if there's one area we particularly like to visit, it's the Hautes Côtes de Beaune. It's hilly, still quite rural, very quiet, bewitching. So when François Grangé invited us to discover his brand-new estate, we jumped right into the car.

François Grangé. Does the name ring a bell? François was the vineyard manager at Domaine Chandon de Briailles in Savigny. It was he, in particular, who introduced biodynamics, herbal teas and all those original and highly effective ways of combating disease without using junk food. Drop by Savigny one day to see the estate's vineyards, and you'll understand the man's talent.

After many years of long and loyal service, François was looking for independence, a little more freedom and the chance to get into winemaking. So, when the opportunity arose to take over the vineyards of Chateau de Mandelot, he jumped at it. Welcome to Domaine de Mandelot!

On visiting the premises, we were charmed. Everything is in place to produce top-quality work. The work has been extensive, but the tools are now in place to produce a top-flight first vintage. Tasting confirms this impression. We tasted an excellent rosé, an Aligoté, an Aligoté de Macération, a Pinot Blanc, a Chardonnay and two Pinot Noir, all from vines not far from the château, some of which are worked entirely with horses.

The wines are vinified without any inputs. François' experience and rigor shine through in these lively, deep, airy, yet earthy wines. The two Pinots really blew us away, so perfectly do they match the pleasure we seek in today's terroir-driven wines. The whole harvest is perfectly mastered, allowing the juices to develop an intoxicating energy. We're won over.

For this first encounter with François' wines, we offer you 3 cuvées (the others are still being matured, but should be ready soon): the juicy, thirst-quenching "La Bottière" rosé, a delicious Aligoté de presse and a Hautes Côtes de Beaune, bottled last May. A must-try!