Simon Bize - Aloxe-Corton Le Suchot 2018

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Aloxe-Corton wine is produced in the communes of Aloxe-Corton and Ladoix-Serrigny in Côte de Beaune of Burgundy. The appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) Aloxe-Corton may be used for red and white wine with respectively Pinot noir and Chardonnay as the main grape variety. The production consists of almost only red wine, around 98 percent, and only around two percent white wine. The southern and eastern side of the Corton hill is located in the commune of Aloxe-Corton, including vineyards of all three Grand Cru AOCs of the hill; Corton, Corton-Charlemagne and Charlemagne, and its northeastern part in the commune of Ladoix-Serrigny. The major part of the Corton hill is located within Aloxe-Corton. The AOC was created in 1938.

In 2008, there was 117.78 hectares (291.0 acres) of vineyard surface in production for Aloxe-Corton wine at village and Premier Cru level, and 4,382 hectoliter of wine was produced, of which 4,301 hectoliter red wine and 81 hectoliter white wine. Only some 1.40 hectares (3.5 acres) of this area was used for the white wines in 2007. The total amount produced corresponds to close to 600,000 bottles, of which around 10,000 bottles of white wine.

For white wines, the AOC regulations allow both Chardonnay and Pinot blanc to be used, but most wines are 100% Chardonnay. The AOC regulations also allow up to 15 per cent total of Chardonnay, Pinot blanc and Pinot gris as accessory grapes in the red wines, but this not very often practiced. The allowed base yield is 40 hectoliter per hectare of red wine and 45 hectoliter per hectare for white wine. The grapes must reach a maturity of at least 10.5 per cent potential alcohol for village-level red wine, 11.0 per cent for village-level white wine and Premier Cru red wine, and 11.5 per cent for Premier Cru white wine.

Aloxe-Corton is featured in the Fawlty Towers episode The Hotel Inspectors.

Vines planted in 1985; Surface: 1 hectare. This vineyard sits below the hill of Corton. Le Suchot, which roughly translates to “the little mound”, faces the Château of Corton. The soil here is mainly comprised of clay and pebbles. This terroir highlights the richness and strength of the wine but also its finesse and generosity. Well suited for cellaring, this wine conveys the soul of Savigny-les-Beaune.

Simon Bize Description

There are a handful of domaines in Burgundy that we think of as almost being synonymous with their village - Domaine Simon Bize is one of them.

“Is there a more under-appreciated great Burgundy domaine these days than Domaine Simon Bize et Fils? Both the red and the white wines here are absolutely stellar (and have been for generations), and yet, I always get the sense that the Simon Bize wines remain some of the best-kept secrets in all of Burgundy.” — JOHN GILMAN

The domaine has a long history, having been founded in 1890, and farms 22 hectares of vines. Their holdings are a laundry list of Savigny-les-Beaune's best sites, from perfectly situated lieux-dits to the best premier cru parcels of the appellation. Their house style is one partial to whole cluster fermentation for the reds and little to no new oak on both whites and reds.

The domaine was founded in 1890 by Simon Bize who embarked on viticulture with a few hectares of vines in the middle of the phylloxera crisis. The estate was then passed to his son in 1918 (another Simon) who increased their holdings and then to his son (also, Simon) in 1950, who built up a portfolio of customers. But it was his son, Patrick Bize, who from 1972 took the quality of the wines to the top.

Patrick passionately defended a more classic vision of Burgundy far from what was fashionable at the time. It was this energy and fervor that attracted Becky Wasserman to his work from early in her career. After his sudden death in 2013, his wife, Chisa Bize and his sister, Marielle Grivot-Bize. His son Hugo has also recently joined the domaine.

A View from the Cellar

The 2018 Aloxe-Corton from Chisa Bize is also fairly ripe in personality, but it is a bit more vibrant and sappier than the Perrières above, and hence, shows more of its underlying terroir. The bouquet is bright and expressive, offering up scents of black cherries, sweet dark berries, woodsmoke, venison, stony soil tones and a touch of chocolate. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and quite shapely, with a good core, impressive soil signature, fine focus and grip and a long, suavely tannic finish. Good juice. (Drink between 2023-2045)