Domaine Derain Bourgogne 'Les Riaux' Rouge 2022
The Wine
The label now bears the name Domaine Derain, and upon close inspection, you'll find the names Carole and Julien from Sextant in the black strip at the bottom, indicating their new ownership.
This entry-level Bourgogne red benefits from the fertile plains of Puligny-Montrachet, neighboring the Aligoté vines.
Harvested from the diminutive Les Riaux vineyard, situated near the village of Saint-Aubin, just south of Beaune's central city, the vineyard yields are notably low at only 30 hectolitres per hectare, promising a red with robust fruit flavors and solid structure.
In the winemaking process, the majority of the grapes are destemmed, with a select few whole bunches included. Following pressing, the juice and skins undergo maceration in large wooden vats for a fortnight, after which the juice ages in old oak barrels for six months.
This showcases a beautiful aromatic expression - possesses great drinkability with remarkable depth!
The Details
Variety - Pinot Noir
Country - France
Region - Burgundy
Extra - Cork
Year - 2022
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
Dominique Derain has been a trailblazer of biodynamic viticulture in Burgundy and is cherished by Parisian bistros. Perched in Saint-Aubin, Derain has devoted over twenty years to biodynamically nurturing his vineyards, deeply honoring the earth and nature. Their approach is hands-off, yet he honed to craft wines with unique characters that are sought after globally
"Pinot Noir is a fragile varietal; preserving its delicacy is crucial. A superior wine is one that can naturally retain and convey this finesse without pretense," Dominique Derain remarked. "I favor a wine that leads with fruit, offers freshness, aromatic intensity, and body. But most importantly, it must be well-balanced. Wines that are overly heavy, sweet, or acidic quickly become unappealing. A good wine invites you to return to it."
In 2019, Dominique stepped aside for a deserved respite. His protégé, the skilled Julien Altaber, took over the reins with competence. Dominique had previously hinted, "Julien is an even better rejuvenator than I am!" While it's not our place to assess, the vintages of 2017 and 2018 crafted by Julien certainly indicate he was aptly mentored.
Having retired, the grounded winemaker from Saint-Aubin, a bastion of biodynamic and free-spirited winemaking, can be at peace. Julien has proven himself as one of the most reliable vintners in the Côte de Beaune. Consistently, whether at Domaine Derain or with his Sextant label, he continues the tradition, all the while adding his distinctive touch.
