Burgundy Week at Home

Burgundy Week is looking a little different this year. A celebration of all the good and great wines from this famed French region, the second week of January is often dedicated to elaborate tastings of the new vintage, alongside top labels and emerging stars. And while winegrowers, négociants and importers are pushing ahead with the unveiling of the 2019 vintage, there's one key difference - this year's edition is all digital.

We love Burgundy here at Bibendum, and we thought there was no better way to mark the occasion than to ask some of our esteemed sales force what they'd be drinking this week, from the safety of their own living rooms and kitchens. Read on to find out what they chose...

Julian Bicknell - Chambolle-Musigny 2014, Domaine de la Pousse d'Or

"The storied Domaine de la Pousse d'Or produces wines of typicity and brilliance. Winemaker Benoit Landanger has taken the raw materials provided by the excellent 2014 vintage, and produced a real gem at village level. Biodynamic and sustainably made, this Chambolle-Musigny is captivating and drinking at its peak right now."

"Ripe cherry and dried bramble fruit intermingle with wood spice and wild earth, all tied together by an irresistible freshness typical of the vintage. Superbly balanced with fine, elegant, almost chalky tannins. Get it, drink it, bask in it."

About Julian: After five thrilling years as Head Sommelier at a raucous central London restaurant, Julian joined the Bibendum sales force in 2017. He was attracted to Bibendum for its dynamism in the market and its rich, varied portfolio, as well as its having a friendly, relaxed, yet knowledgeable approach to the On Trade wine community.

Sara Cope - Viré-Clessé  En Chatelaine 2017, Domaine Robert Denogent 

"Located in the heart of the Pouilly-Fuisse appellation, Domaine Robert Denogent has been run by Robert's grandsons, Nicolas and Antoine, since 2007. With a focus on terroir-driven wines, they are in the end stages of converting the estate to organic farming, and have also been practicing biodynamic techniques  since 2019. Every aspect of their vineyard management is conducted by hand, to ensure that the land and soil ecology are preserved." 

"Approximately 50% of the vines in the vineyard are over 100 years old, and the parcel used for this wine is planted with an old clone called Chardonnay Muscat. Natural fermentation with indigenous yeasts and maturation take place in the same concrete tank, and the wine sees no filtration and minimal sulphur intervention. Bursting with apples, lemon, and white stone fruit, this mineral-fresh wine is a brilliant alternative to some of the more expensive white Burgundys found further north."

About Sara: Hailing from the Scottish Highlands, Sara's passion for wine started whilst working in Australia over a decade ago. After returning home, Sara realised that wine was her vocation - especially since she was spending more time focused on her part-time wine shop role, rather than her oil and gas career! Moving down to London in 2014, and working her way up from Bibendum's Customer Ordering team, Sara finally joined our amazing, energetic London Sales team in 2016. Whilst wine is her passion, whisky also holds a special place in her heart.

Ed McGreavy - Chablis Grand Cru Chateau Les Grenouilles 2016, La Chablisienne

"Although La Chablisienne was founded in 1923, it was during the 1950s - when it broke new ground and became the first co-operative winery in Chablis - that its story truly began. With a dedication to creating a unique style focused on quality, winemaker Vincent Bartement (IWC White Winemaker of the Year 2020) now oversees the grapes from 300 growers in the region, and his decision to deliver the harvest in the form of musts is a particularity that has become the trademark of the house, giving it total control over the winemaking process."

"Amongst the rarest Chablis Grand Crus, the domaine of Chateau Grenouilles is a super 7.2ha property that is unique in Chablis, located on the rolling emerald hillsides of a plot known as 'Grenouilles' in the heart of the Grand Crus. Pale gold in colour, this wine is fine, fresh, elegant and likely oaked, with delicate notes of white flowers. With aeration, these flavours become more intense, as well as gaining a fine mineral freshness. Full and complex, the Les Grenouilles has outstanding volume, and a palate of dried, ripe fruits with earthy hints of nuts, mushrooms, and bread."

About Ed: Ed started his wine journey with Majestic on a placement year, and after jumping headfirst into his WSET Level 3, he soon realised the world of wine was for him. After travelling through the U.S. 5 years ago, he started working in the Bibendum Customer Ordering Team, and now finds himself in the Sales Team, overlooking Central and West London. He has a real passion for everything regarding wine, spirits and beers! 

Christian Robertson - Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2017, Domaine Nicolas Rossignol 

"One of the newest additions to the Bibendum Burgundy portfolio, Nicolas Rossignol is a fifth (!) generation winemaker, who in 1997 started his own domaine in the Cote de Beaune region of Burgundy. Today, the domaine has holdings covering over 16 hectares dedicated to red wines, focused on the Volnay-Pommard plain with some dabs in Beaune, Savigny, and Pernand-Vergellesses."

"Nicolas' wines are a great expression of the diverse styles that can be attained through Pinot Noir in this region, by focusing on site-specific winemaking. Hasty generalisations would characterise Cote de Beaune Pinot Noir as soft and subtle, but Nico's Volnays and Pommards are anything but typical, and are built to highlight the clay and iron soil structure of some plots, in contrast to the chalkier, rocky soils of others. For a red Burgundy, that only uses the Pinot Noir grape, the secret to great wine is great soil and a winemaker who knows how to get the best expression from it. The Bourgogne Rouge is a fantastic blend of different Pinot Noir vineyards from around the villages of Volnay and Pommard. With silky tannins and bright fruit, it has an almost saline finish that is lip-smackingly drinkable. A great example of what entry level Burgundy can be, in the care of a great winemaker."

About Christian: Christian has been involved in the wine trade for most of his life. His family back in the States are winemakers and importers, and he has dabbled in all aspects of the trade for most of his professional career. An early interest in winemaking had him picking grapes and racking barrels in Oregon and Chile, before he arrived in France and had winemaking adventures in the Loire Valley and Burgundy. He has since packed up his refractometer, and has been slinging bottles of wine for the Bibendum Sales team for the past 5 years. In his spare time - which there is a lot of lately - he likes to drink Burgundy with his French Bulldog Boise, and take long walks (as authorised under Tier Five COVID restrictions).