Sylvain Pataille Bourgogne Rouge

Vintage: 2023

Origin: Burgundy, France

Grapes: Pinot Noir

Alcohol: 13.5%

Sylvain Pataille built his domaine from the ground up, and he treats this entry-level red with the same obsession as an elite cru. Sourced from three hectares of 50-year-old, biodynamically tended vines, the grapes undergo three weeks of skin contact before a slow, gentle stint in older oak barrels. Fermented purely with wild yeasts and bottled with minimal sulphur, it shows off just how good regional Pinot Noir can be when crafted by a master.

Up front, you get a vibrant burst of bramble berries and dark plums, backed by a subtle touch of autumn forest floor earthiness as it breathes. The tannins are wonderfully soft and velvety, giving the wine a silky texture and a long, graceful finish that punches well above its price tag. Uncork it with roast duck, lamb chops, an earthy mushroom risotto, or a generous board of cured meats.