CLOS SAINT DENIS

2021 Grand Cru Domaine Stéphane Magnien

EN PRIMEUR

A keener sort of wine than the Charmes, it's as fat (well nearly), but it's more about energy. There's a taut structure and a fruit which is even wilder, then picking up sweetness in a completely different moment to the Charmes - blackcurrant? blackberry - all in tension and movement. It starts finely elegant and then spreads its wings - at once elegant and rich. Drinking range: 2030 - 2040L&S (Oct 2022)

75cl bottles (case of 6)

* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.

(from Clos St. Denis proper). A spicy, elegant and pure nose freely offers up its aromas of red and dark pinot fruit, violet and exotic tea. There is even better refinement to the rich and energetic medium-bodied flavors that flash a touch of minerality on the complex and sneaky long finale. This is also sufficiently firm to need extended keeping yet if you’re impatient, it could reasonably be enjoyed after 7 to 8 years. Classy and stylish. Drinking range: 2033 - Rating: 91-94 Allen Meadows, www.Burghound.com (Jan 2023)

Rich purple, an exuberant powerful nose. Mostly about the fruit, maybe a hint of something wilder, then a stylish core of sweet red cherry fruit, before the peppery touch of the vintage. Medium plus bodied, should be delicious in the medium term. Correct acidity. Drinking range: 2028 - 2035 Rating: 92-95 Jasper Morris - Inside Burgundy  (Nov 2022)

Stéphane's is a small domaine, a mere 4.5 hectares, with one full hectare of that in regional wine - Passetoutgrains and Bourgogne - but it is blessed with two Grands Crus and also a long history of not messing with nature. No pesticides have ever been used on this land, and the plants are nearly all the old 'Pinot tordu' - twisted Pinot with its gnarly stems which are less vigorous than the modern clones and said by many to make wines with more finesse.

Stéphane chaptalizes only to extend fermentations - these are wines which his father Jean-Paul used to describe as 'sage en alcool' - from 12 to 13% - the old vines do not make much alcohol. Wood use is also discreet, even though Stéphane has increased the proportion, he does not exceed 50% new wood on the Grands Crus, 25% on the Premiers Crus and on the village appellations, 15% new wood for one year only, then all into older barrels.

Stéphane says that he aims to make wines with more richness than his father's, 'but not black angular wines which have less relief. Wines which leave your mouth clean and clear, refreshed and revived and, above all, wanting another glass'. He destems 100%, gives the grapes a six-day maceration, then a classical fermentation with just two pigeages, and a little remontage (pumping over) at the end.

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STORAGE OPTIONS:

Wines bought en primeur are scheduled to arrive in the UK over the course of the next eighteen months. If you do not wish to take home delivery, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our primeurs team for more information.

While helpful, we do not require a firm commitment on delivery destination to process your primeur order at this stage. Our team will be in contact with you when your wines arrive in the UK to confirm the necessary delivery details.

BURGUNDY EN PRIMEUR FAQ

OFFER: All wines are offered subject to availability and final confirmation.

PRICING: All prices are quoted IN BOND ex-VAT, by the case size stated. Please double check that the desired case size does match what is being offered as wines are variously listed in threes, sixes, dozens, halves and larger formats.

DELIVERY - TIMING: This is a primeur offer so the wines are not yet physically available for delivery. They will be shipped to the UK over the next eighteen months. Generally, wines are shipped to your nominated location once the whole order has landed in our London City Bond account. If you require wines to be delivered by a certain date, please advise us at the time of ordering.

DELIVERY - FEES: In bond delivery to an Elephant Storage account (for more information see 'Storage Options' opposite) is free of charge. Transfer of wines to any third-party bond (i.e. not Elephant Storage) will incur an administration charge of £16.50 + VAT for all orders under £1,000. Please indicate if you would like the wine duty paid and a duty & VAT invoice will be raised once all the wines on your order are available for shipment. Once the relevant duty & VAT has been settled, we will ship the wines to your nominated address as per our normal duty paid Delivery Terms.

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