Farewell Nicolas Potel
We received some tragic news this Summer that our friend and colleague, Nicolas Potel had passed away. We will continue to share his wines and remember the sense of fun and energy he brought to things that was truly unique.
Born ON the Pousse d'Or winery in the Vote de Beaune - wine was in Noico's blood. He spent his childhood years running up and down the along the rows vines in Pommard and Volnay. He later established an eponymous label which is still going (Nicolas Potel Wines) before setting up his Negociant label Maison Roche de Bellene and his Domaine label Domaine de Bellene. He worked every terroir, and favoured old vines. He was one of the first proponents of bio-dynamics. He recently set up P&A with Stephane Aviron, a line of high quality wines aimed at delivering affordable wines for the massses. His energy was unmatched.
I have shared thoughts from from former colleagues as well as from the major press and some wine reviews below. Miss you Nico. RORY, WINE STATION
Potel is now an old hand in the Côte and it shows as the quality is excellent. Stylistically, if you've enjoyed the Potel wines in the past, there is no reason that you would not enjoy either variation of the Bellene wines as they are classic in the best sense of the term. BURGHOUND
Born ON the Pousse d'Or winery in the Vote de Beaune - wine was in Noico's blood. He spent his childhood years running up and down the along the rows vines in Pommard and Volnay. He later established an eponymous label which is still going (Nicolas Potel Wines) before setting up his Negociant label Maison Roche de Bellene and his Domaine label Domaine de Bellene. He worked every terroir, and favoured old vines. He was one of the first proponents of bio-dynamics. He recently set up P&A with Stephane Aviron, a line of high quality wines aimed at delivering affordable wines for the massses. His energy was unmatched.
I have shared thoughts from from former colleagues as well as from the major press and some wine reviews below. Miss you Nico. RORY, WINE STATION
Potel is now an old hand in the Côte and it shows as the quality is excellent. Stylistically, if you've enjoyed the Potel wines in the past, there is no reason that you would not enjoy either variation of the Bellene wines as they are classic in the best sense of the term. BURGHOUND
Nicolas Potel was a bit of enigma. he was both Burgundy royalty (the son of the legendary Gerard Potel) and at the same time he's been an iconoclast in his own career, always pushing the prevailing (and often entrenched) beliefs and methodologies of the day, so often being validated in ensuing years. In his winemaking and wine philosophy too, he is both revolutionary and conservative. Philosophically, he believes in making Burgundy that people can still afford to buy (he dropped his pricing back 10% in 2022 as the quantity returned to normal after a meagre 2021). Sacre bleu! That's not the norm by any means in a region that has come into such stratospheric wealth over the past 60 years. There's more than a few Gordon Geckos parading about the Cote.
Then there's his wine growing philosophy; one of the first to embrace biodynamics in the 1980s and now one of the first to see the value in training his vines higher in a warming climate, just a couple of examples. He believes passionately in only using old vine fruit and has been heavily involved in vine DNA research with the university in Dijon. Contrasting that is his work in the cellars, he doesn't take risks; fermentations and elevage are pretty standard practice with the only real change in more recent years being the use of less small and new wood than he ever did in the past - the aim being more freshness and transparency. MICHAEL MCNAMARA, PRINCE WINE
There is a great article on Nico published by wine Spectator that can be viewed HERE
Then there's his wine growing philosophy; one of the first to embrace biodynamics in the 1980s and now one of the first to see the value in training his vines higher in a warming climate, just a couple of examples. He believes passionately in only using old vine fruit and has been heavily involved in vine DNA research with the university in Dijon. Contrasting that is his work in the cellars, he doesn't take risks; fermentations and elevage are pretty standard practice with the only real change in more recent years being the use of less small and new wood than he ever did in the past - the aim being more freshness and transparency. MICHAEL MCNAMARA, PRINCE WINE
There is a great article on Nico published by wine Spectator that can be viewed HERE
I reconnected with him a couple of years ago to get his wines into Ireland. They have never been sold here, so this represented a real coup for us, and also a huge bit of excitement personally that I get to drink them again. The Maison Dieu Bourgogne and the St Romain Blanc are a big part of the reason I Love Burgundy!
Nicolas Potel joked that "the 2022 growing season was so much easier than what we faced in 2021 that it almost seems anticlimactic, but I'll take it! We picked from the 1st of September and brought in ripe and super-clean fruit with good yields of around 35 hl/ha across all of our appellations, including the regional wines though they were higher for the négociant wines. We used between 20 and 100% whole clusters for the vinifications though the average was more in the 20 to 25% range. We also once again reduced the percentage of new wood and most wines saw no more than 10% though a few where we have limited quantities were more like 30%. As to the wines, it's interesting because the acidities are only average yet they drink like there's plenty of acidity as there is excellent vibrancy and freshness. BURGHOUND
They’re all old vine, and they’re all biodynamic. The wines even look good, wax top, super classic. More info is below after the list of wines available.
Domaine de Bellene Maison Dieu Bougogne Rouge 2022
Ripe deeply pitched aromas include those of pungent earth, various dark berries and whiff of spice. The delicious, caressing and supple middleweight flavors possess a relatively refined texture for what this is though it contrasts with the slightly rustic finale...it is a quality Bourgogne. BURGHOUND - OUTSTANDING TOP VALUE
Domaine de Bellene Maison Clos Chapelle Chardonnay 2022
No pro review, tasted on ground at Paris wine show, deadly little white Burg. High density planting, 50 year old vines - a very Nicolas Chardy! WS
Domaine de Bellene St. Romain Blanc 2022
This is a very fine, linear, tight and delicious chardonnay from a Cote de Beaune village relatively off-the-radar, thus very well priced. The nose is well lifted, a touch reductive, flinty and mineral driven, with pear, lemon, hazelnut, nutmeg and subtle coffee roast. It is medium bodied, tightly wound but not austere. The length is excellent, exuding great acidity and minerality on the finish. 94 POINTS, WINE ALIGN
Domaine de Bellene St. Romain Rouge 2022
Relatively new in the range, and absolutely gorgeous. Red St. Romain is becoming more common now and thank god as its bloody amazing! 60 year old vines, of a banking, sunbaked slope, i loved this. WS
Domaine de Bellene Cote de Nuits Village 2022
I always love this wine and the 2022 is one of the best I've seen. Mostly the fruit comes from a couple of choice blocks in Comblacien, both old vine and organically farmed. Plum and cherry tinged with violets and a hint of spice on the nose. This wine doesn't see a huge amount of oak and that show; pure fruited effusive aromatic is disarming. On the palate it's suave and supple but not without some enlivening acidity. The combination of that supple ripe blue and red fruit, spice and then the saliva inducing acidity makes this wine hard to stop drinking. The kind of wine that restores your faith in value for money red Burg. MICHAEL MCNAMARA, PWS
Domaine de Bellene Beaune Blanche Fleur 2022
This is the first wine to display much wood influence and there is a mentholated top note to the peppery red and dark pinot fruit aromas. Once again there is very good volume and excellent vibrancy to the sleek and delicious medium weight flavors that display good balance on the sappy and dusty finish. This has enough development potential to reward up to a decade of cellaring. BURGHOUND
Maison Roche de Bellene MONOPOLE
The special 6-Pack to celebrate Nico's winemaking that we offering in August on Monopole:
Roche de Bellene Cuvee Reserve Bourgogne Blanc Chardonnay 2022 - terrfic entry level Chardonnay offering that will appeal to all Chardonnay lovers, great acidity, body, twist of spicines. Love. WINE STATION
This rich wine offers ripe yellow fruits and touches of vanilla. Along with its warm feeling and light acidity, it has a perfumed character that makes it exciting as well as drinkable. WINE ENTHUSIAST
Roche de Bellene Rully Blanc 2023 - Village level white from Rully, showing more brauin and power from theis the new 2023 vintage. Nico was a champion of the lesser known Villages for Chardonnay as offering amazing soul and value (indeed, he was the largest holder in St. Romain). Give this a decant or save a while, this might get a bit special. WINE STATION
Roche de Bellene Haute Cote de Beaune Bourgogne Rouge Pinot Noir 2023 - Brimful with silky charm and bright berry fruit, Roche de Bellene Cuvée Réserve is a real treasure from acclaimed Burgundy winemaker and négociant Nicolas Potel. Made in a generous vintage, it’s a superb, berry-scented introduction to his wines. LAITHWAITES
Roche de Bellene Haute Cote de Beaune Bourgogne Rouge Pinot Noir 2023 - Brimful with silky charm and bright berry fruit, Roche de Bellene Cuvée Réserve is a real treasure from acclaimed Burgundy winemaker and négociant Nicolas Potel. Made in a generous vintage, it’s a superb, berry-scented introduction to his wines. LAITHWAITES
Roche de Bellene Cuvee Reserve Bourgogne Rouge Pinot Noir 2022 - Nico in a bottle - supple, silky and bright, sourced from 35 to 80 year old vines, grpaes sourced from the Nuits and Beaune areas. This is gone 40 minutes after opening! WINE STATION
This looks great in 2022! A heady mix of red and black cherry, some ground sweet spice and bit of black pepper, savoury elements winking at you behind the plush fruit profile. Lovely drive of fruit that rushes your palate slowly fading away revealing a little savoury goodness in some darker spice and fresh crushed herb notes. A great combo of freshness, soft juicy fruits and fine boned structural elements woven in. MICHAEL MCNAMARA, PWS
Roche de Bellene Cote de Nuits Village Veilles Vignes 2021 - I love these wines, floral and peppery, great crunchy fruit with loads of damsen and cherry flavour, just a hell of a lot of fun to drink. Fruit comes from around Corgoloin and Nuits St. George. WINE STATION
Roche de Bellene Santenay Premier Cru La Comme 2022 - Santenay is a terrific jump off point for Premier Cru drinking as the natural power of the appellation allows you to see more depth, detail and concentration. This particular plot, La Comme gets morning sun and all day for extra ripeness. WINE STATION
Potel & Aviron Chardonnay
€19,00
Potel & Aviron Chardonnay
From the dream team of Nicolas Potel of Burgundy and Stephane Aviron of Beuajolais, the P&A range meshes great wine making with key varieties. Read more about Chardonnay on our blog HERE
€19,00
Potel & Aviron Grenache/Syrah
From the dream team of Nicolas Potel of Burgundy and Stephane Aviron of Beuajolais, the P&A range meshes great wine making with key varieties. Read more about Syrah on our blog HERE
€19,00
Potel & Aviron Pinot Noir Cuvee Reserve
From the dream team of Nicolas Potel of Burgundy and Stephane Aviron of Beuajolais, the P&A range meshes great wine making with key varieties.
€19,00
Roche de Bellene Coteaux Bourguignon Chardonnay
Entry level Chardonnay and great introduction to white Burgundy from the newish and versatile appellation of Coteaux Bourguignon.Get initiated at BURGUNDY WINE SCHOOL on our blog HERE
€22,00
Roche de Bellene Macon Villages 2022
Banger of a wine from Nicolas Potel negociant operation. Nice bit of Macon fatness, but not too much - great acidity.Get initiated at BURGUNDY WINE SCHOOL on our blog HERE
€26,00
Roche de Bellene Chablis
€31,00
Roche de Bellene Chablis
Chablis becoming more expensive because of erratic weather conditions routinely taking out full harvests, shop the producer if in doubt - shop Bellene!Get initiated at BURGUNDY WINE SCHOOL on our blog HERE
€31,00