# Bourgogne Pinot Noir "Élégance" (2023)

- **Producer:** Maxime Crotet
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Pinot Noir
- **Region:** Burgundy, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 12.5%
- **Average price:** €35
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, raspberry, strawberry, violet, redcurrant, cloves, smoke

## About this wine

Maxime Crotet is a rising star micro-négociant based in Beaune, Burgundy. After working closely with natural wine pioneers, Crotet established his own négociant-vinificateur project, sourcing organically farmed grapes from select parcels across Burgundy. The 2023 Bourgogne Pinot Noir 'Élégance' is crafted from a single parcel in Cheilly-les-Maranges, located in the southern Côte de Beaune. Crotet's philosophy focuses on minimal intervention, showcasing the pure, vibrant expression of Burgundy's terroir through meticulous hand-harvesting and natural vinification.

## Interesting facts

- Maxime Crotet's name is often misread as 'Grotet' on labels due to the stylized gothic font used by the estate.
- The grapes for this cuvée are sourced from a single parcel in Cheilly-les-Maranges, a village known for its steep, sun-drenched slopes.
- Crotet released a 'Trifecta' of three distinct cuvées in 2023, all made from the exact same Pinot Noir parcel but vinified differently.

## Food pairing

The bright acidity and delicate tannins of this natural Pinot Noir pair beautifully with earthy flavors like mushrooms and gamey meats like duck. Its fresh red fruit profile cuts through rich, fatty textures without overwhelming the dish.

## Wine making process

The grapes are hand-harvested and undergo spontaneous fermentation using indigenous yeasts. Vinification is carried out with whole-cluster inclusion to enhance aromatic complexity and structure. The wine is aged in neutral French oak barrels to preserve the fresh fruit profile without imparting heavy oak flavors. Bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal to no added sulfur, maintaining the wine's natural energy and purity.