Arnaud Baillot : Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune 2023

Tasting Notes and Serving Recommendations for the Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune 2023 from Arnaud Baillot

Tasting

Nose
The nose opens with vibrant aromas of red berries and cherries, which gradually unfold into deeper, spiced, and balsamic nuances as the wine gains some bottle age.

Palate
The palate shows a structured yet supple profile, carried by fine, well-integrated tannins. The finish lingers on juicy, ripe cherries, giving the wine both freshness and a sense of generosity.

Food and wine pairings

This red pairs naturally as an aperitif and also shows well alongside poultry, light meat dishes, or simple mushroom preparations. It is equally at ease with red meats, grilled sausages, or pasta dishes dressed with meat-based sauces.

Serving and cellaring

The Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune 2023 can be enjoyed in its youth to appreciate its fresh fruit character, or cellared for 5 to 8 years, during which it will gain depth and complexity.

Other characteristics

This red carries an alcohol content of around 13 % ABV, consistent with the freshness typical of the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune.

Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Rouge 2023: a pinot noir shaped by the cool, elevated terroir of the Côte de Beaune

The Estate

Arnaud Baillot founded his eponymous estate in 2015 in Beaune, at the heart of Burgundy's Côte de Beaune, alongside his wife Laure, who comes from the Hudelot-Noëllat winemaking family of Chambolle-Musigny. Today the couple leads a domaine of roughly 10 hectares spread across several prestigious Côte de Beaune appellations. Arnaud Baillot built his project on a background in wine trading, which helped him secure access to outstanding parcels across Burgundy, while steadily shifting the estate toward wines produced mainly from its own vineyards.

The Vineyard

The fruit for this Burgundy red comes from the Les Rouards plot, a high-altitude site bordering Pommard within the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune. The vines are farmed organically, certified under FR-BIO-01, and the grapes are harvested by hand. Each parcel is closely monitored throughout the growing season to ensure the fruit reaches optimal ripeness before picking.

Winemaking and aging

For the Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune 2023, about 30 % of the clusters are vinified whole, with fermentation carried out in stainless steel tanks without any added sulfur. No punch-downs are performed; instead, gentle pump-overs are carried out twice a day until fermentation is complete. The wine is then aged in Burgundian oak barrels, of which around 10 % are new, for roughly 12 to 15 months, adding depth and finesse without overshadowing the fruit.

Grape Variety

This red is produced from 100 % pinot noir.