2022 Domaine du Chancelier Beaune 1er Cru Les Bessandes

The 2022 Domaine du Chancelier Beaune 1er Cru Les Bressandes comes from winemaker Clément Perseval, one of Burgundy's most closely watched young producers, working the premier cru vineyards of Beaune without the historic domaine markup. Les Bressandes sits high on the Beaune mountain, where shallow stony clay-limestone soils and dense 10,000 plant-per-hectare vineyards force the vines to dig deep and concentrate their energy into smaller, more expressive fruit. Perseval vinifies this Pinot Noir completely without sulfur in 500-liter oak barrels, then ages it on the lees for around twelve months, preserving the purity and lift that define the 2022 vintage across the Côte de Beaune. Domaine du Chancelier farms organically with Ecocert certification, and Perseval's approach reflects a commitment to transparency over power. The 2022 vintage delivered bright acidity and tension after a hot, dry summer moderated by crucial late-season rain, and at just 12.5 percent alcohol, this wine shows restraint rather than extraction. The lack of added sulfur during fermentation preserves the terroir's voice without the heavy oak or reduction issues that can plague low-intervention winemaking. The result is classic Beaune premier cru expression, where the limestone beneath the fruit speaks as clearly as the fruit itself. The wine shows red cherry and raspberry layered with earthy minerality and subtle spice, the kind of transparent Pinot Noir that lets you taste the geology. The texture is silky but structured, with fine-grained tannins that give it enough grip for roast duck, mushroom risotto, or a simple roast chicken with root vegetables. It's approachable now if you decant it for an hour, but it will also reward a few years in the cellar if you're patient. This is premier cru Burgundy that doesn't require a second mortgage, small production from a location that's been growing great Pinot Noir for centuries. In stock at Off Premise in Lincoln Park.