Domaine Denis Carré - Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Beaune "La Perriere", 2016
Most Burgundian growers inherited the land from their ancestors. Not all though. Denis Carres started from nothing. In 1975 he bought his first parcel of vines using his savings. Now, after 40 years, the Carres family owns 13 hectares. Most of the land is located in the Hautes Côtes de Beaune appellation.
Hautes Côtes de Beaune is an extensive regional appellation found in Côtes de Beaune. This territory sits between 300 and 500 metres – a higher elevation (Hautes Côtes actually means “high slopes”) than the more prestigious ACs. As a result, the climate is slightly colder. The wines from this appellation are fresh and zippy, though they normally lack the concentration of the higher quality ACs.
In the glass, the wine appears a pale light ruby. To the nose, the intensity of flavours is medium. Crunchy red fruit notes are at its core: red cherry, strawberry, raspberry. On the edges, there is a touch of peppery and toast spices.
Crunchy, fresh red fruit dominates the palate. The acidity is decisively high, making a fresh and quaffable wine which is light to medium in body. The finish is medium in length, with a reminiscence of earth noticeable. Although this is not a complex or intense wine, it is fresh and pleasant.