Philippe Pacalet Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Argillas 2015
- Region
- France » Burgundy » Côte d'Or » Côte de Nuits » Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC
- Type
- red still, dry
- Producer
- Vintage
- 2015
- Grapes
- Pinot Noir
- Alcohol
- 13.5
- Volume
- 750 mL
- Cellar
- not available
- Find at
Ratings
True to Pacalet's repertoire, this wine greets you with understated fruit and delicate finesse. Yet, there's an expected twist—a bold dash of wild dill that punctuates the aroma and leaves a trace of bitterness on the finish. A gentle bouquet of floral nuances and earthy undertones provides a comforting backdrop, while well-integrated tannins assert themselves early before yielding to a rich, almost jammy yet elegant midsection. And, well, a subtle wisp of smoke in the finish ties it all together, leaving me both intrigued by its evolving character and thoroughly satisfied tonight.
About Producer
Philippe Pacalet, a distinguished figure in the natural wine movement, has made a profound impact on Burgundian winemaking. Despite his winemaking lineage dating back to 1780, Pacalet did not inherit land. Instead, he became a 'micro-négociant', renting vineyards in the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits, crafting wines in a facility acquired from the De Montille family in Beaune. Influenced by his uncle, Marcel Lapierre, and the teachings of Jules Chauvet, Pacalet has been a passionate advocate for natural wine, managing Domaine Prieuré Roch and crafting wines in Château Rayas and Domaine Leroy.
Pacalet's philosophy is grounded in minimal intervention, focusing on expressing each terroir's unique characteristics. He eschews industrial yeasts and minimizes sulphur use, opting for whole bunch fermentation and believing that the stems' ripeness is integral to the grapes' readiness. His meticulous approach includes hand harvesting and fermenting with natural yeasts on the grape skin, wooden vat fermentation, and low new oak usage to maintain the wine's delicate fruit and floral characters. His wines are unfiltered and unfined, bottled manually, emphasizing authenticity and a vivid expression of each plot.