Louis Boillot Beaune Epenottes 2018

For those who follow the quiet, steady ascent of Louis Boillot, the 2018 “Les Epenottes” is a textbook example of why this domaine has become one of our favorites. Louis (and now his son, Clément) manages some of the most enviable old-vine parcels in the Côte d’Or, and this Premier Cru—situated right on the border of Pommard—benefits from that deep-rooted history.

The 2018 vintage in Beaune was one of generosity and warmth, yet Boillot’s touch remains characteristically light and transparent. While some 2018s can lean toward the muscular, this Epenottes stays remarkably pure and fleet-of-foot. On the nose, it offers a beautiful contrast of bright red cherries and a deeper, brambly fruit profile, accented by the subtle, earthy spice that only old vines seem to pull from these clay and limestone soils.

On the palate, it’s a wine of incredible finesse and structural integrity. The tannins are silky—a hallmark of the Boillot style—but they possess a chiseled persistence that suggests this bottle will only grow more expressive with a few years in the cellar. It’s a sophisticated, savory expression of Pinot Noir that eschews flash in favor of soul.