2023 Bitouzet Prieur

In today’s Burgundy world, it's easy to spend a lot of money, open the wine and then spend commensurate psychic energy convincing yourself it was worth it. That psychic cost is like a tariff on bad, expensive wine. Bringing my customers the opposite experience is why I’m always on the lookout for wines that drink above their price point. A good number of those have come from the Cote de Beaune, and in particular Volnay.

I’ve been writing about Bitouzet Prieur for a number of years now. My entire perception of the domaine changed after a visit in 2018, when I saw first hand one of the most impressive modern winemaking facilities… ever. The epitome of a dream winery!

This new facility has allowed Francois the space to work, not only more efficiently, but also more precisely. This has completely transformed the style of the wines being produced today. What was once known for old school, rustic wines is now turning out wines with polish and class, expressing a sleeker, modern feel. At the same time, they retain the structure and tannin that you get from old vine Volnay vineyards.

Every producer has that one wine in the lineup that stands out; for me it’s the Clos de Chenes. It’s not hard to understand why. Clos de Chenes is the best vineyard in Volany. It sits at the top of the slope on the Meursault side of the village facing east. Its thinner soils are rich in limestone but also contain a significant amount of iron rich clay, which is where the wine gets its depth and structure.

I’ve had numerous examples of this wine over the years and it checks all the boxes. It's powerful with plenty of depth and concentration, great mouth feel, perfectly balanced, with saliva inducing length that makes you crave another sip. This is a wine I'm looking to buy every year, but in years past I’ve sold this wine for around $100. This year, I bought it very early and am able to offer it for $79, which is an absolutely incredible price! Do yourself a favor and grab some of this one - you will be glad you did!