Domaine Philippe Rossignol Gevrey-Chambertin ‘Les Evocelles’ Vieilles Vignes 2014

If you know Burgundy, then the name Rossignol is one that you’ve probably heard before. There is a rich history of Rossignol winemakers in the region dating back centuries.

Philippe Rossignol is the latest in a long line, and he had a wine education that most wine lovers could only dream about. Growing up in the vineyards of Gevrey-Chambertin, he was like a sponge, taking every bit of information that he could from his gifted winemaking family.

At the ripe age of 21, he started his own thing and has been at it for the last 30+ years, adding to his family’s legacy. Nowadays, he works alongside his son Sylvain at their small seven-hectare property. Yields are tiny and all the work is done by hand, but the results are nothing short of incredible.

The secret to Philippe’s tightly wound, complex Pinot Noir is a combo of ancient vines, natural farming techniques, and low yields. Philippe is a strong believer of whole cluster fermentation, a traditional practice only possible with the ripest of bunches. Stem inclusion helps create more expressive wines, with jump-out-of-the-glass aromatics and more depth, complexity, and longevity. The wines are built to age, with incredible tension and length.

Today, we have a special treat, one that I tasted two weeks ago on my trip to France. To the best of my recollection, it’s the finest 2014 Red Burg I have ever tasted. It’s the ‘Les Evocelles’ old-vine single vineyard from Rossignol, and it will blow you away.