The best red Burgundy wines are often in beautiful wine bottles, predominantly made from the Pinot Noir grape and known for their elegance and complexity. It can sometimes be difficult to explain why you pay more for an elegant wine than for one with a variety of bold flavors. Here, the saying "less is more" is a perfect example. The art of leaving out elements and allowing only a few to shine—that is the essence of Burgundy. A winery that has managed to make this art affordable is Domaine de la Luolle from the Givry area. Their red Burgundies are tongue-tingling, light, and fresh with crisp red fruit, making this a winery to keep an eye on.
What is red Burgundy wine made from? Primarily from the Pinot Noir grape. This grape is the main red variety in Burgundy and is known for producing elegant, complex wines with flavors of red fruits like cherries and raspberries, complemented by earthy and sometimes floral notes. Pinot Noir is a sensitive grape that responds strongly to its terroir, meaning that wines from different parts of Burgundy often have unique characteristics. In some southern parts of Burgundy, such as the Mâconnais, red wines are also made from the Gamay grape, although this is less common than Pinot Noir.
What different styles are there in Burgundy? For powerful and meaty Burgundy Pinot Noir, we head to a region starting at Dijon, France, known as the Côte de Nuits. For the most sought-after but also the most expensive red Burgundy wine, we visit the Côte de Beaune, or go a bit further south to the more affordable wine region of Côte Chalonnaise. For more mineral freshness, we head inland to the Côte Auxerrois. Here, you can purchase affordable red Burgundy wine and have it delivered to your home with ease. Our selection is predominantly organic red wine, and it's good to know that most practical Burgundy winemakers have been working organically for years but don’t necessarily pay to have inspectors nosing around their cellars for a bio label on their bottles, which would drive up the price further. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us, or visit one of our monthly wine tastings.