Bourgogne Epineuil Hauts Dannots 2012

Organic wine, natural wine, low sulphites, soft texture, medium body, supreme poise and balance, our pick over expensive Cotes de Beaune any day. The town of Epineuil lies just north of Tonnere, actually not that far from the southern tip of the Champagne region. This is pretty far north for Pinot Noir so the wines tend to have a crunch to them, rather than the soft fleshiness of the Cote d'Or further south.

But when I taste these wines from Athenais, they are always generous, in fruit, in zing and in texture. They are very low in sulphites and you taste that in Pinot Noir, it renders the wine very lively and just a touch earthy. This is simply beautiful red wine, the 18 vintage was generous and for early drinking so this Epineuil is already singing.