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Simon Bize - Savigny Les Beaune Aux Grands Liards 2020

Savigny-lès-Beaune wine is produced in the commune of Savigny-lès-Beaune in Côte de Beaune of Burgundy. The Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) Savigny-lès-Beaune may be used for red and white wine with respectively Pinot noir and Chardonnay as the main grape variety. The name of the appellation is sometimes written simply as Savigny, without the -lès-Beaune suffix. The production consists of slightly over 85 per cent red wine, and slightly less than 15 per cent white wine. There are no Grand Cru vineyards within Savigny-lès-Beaune.

In 2008, there was 347.82 hectares (859.5 acres) of vineyard surface in production for Savigny-lès-Beaune wine at village and Premier Cru level, and 13,359 hectoliter of wine was produced, of which 11,443 hectoliter red wine and 1,916 hectoliter white wine. Some 249.96 hectares (617.7 acres) of this area was used for the red wines in 2007. The total amount produced corresponds to almost 1.8 million bottles, of which slightly over 1.5 million bottles of red wine and a little over 250,000 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 is 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.

Aux Grands Liards sits just below Les Lavieres, a premier cru site. The vines were planted in stages between 1938 and 1979 on limestone soil, marked by reddish clay gravel. The wine has more backbone and tends to be more of a masculine expression of Pinot Noir. It is a 1.60 hectare parcel.

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.

Decanter: 93 Points

The grapes are fermented as mostly whole clusters and aged using little new wood, to produce this wine with a lovely, singing fruit and floral notes up front. The texture is silky and fine; this is among the most approachable in the cellar during its youth. From 1.6ha on a shallow slope below Les Lavières, with more clay in the soil. 

A View from the Cellar: 90 Points

By John Gilman
Nov/Dec 2021, Issue #96, The Ripe, Stylistically-Varied and Often, Very Fine 2020 Vintage In Burgundy 90+ points

(Savigny-lès-Beaune “les Grands Liards”- Domaine Simon Bize et Fils) The 2020 Grands Liards is a very good bottle in the making, and the 13.9 percent octane does not come accompanied by any sense of sur maturité on either the nose or palate, just a rock solid core of fruit and plenty of structural conviction. The bouquet is really very lovely, offering up scents of cassis, dark berries, roasted pigeon, dark chocolate, Savigny spice tones and a topnote of bonfire. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and concentrated at the core, with firm tannins, tangy acids and lovely purity on the long, chewy finish. This will need a full decade or so before it even starts to blossom. (Drink between 2030-2070)

 
DEC
93
JG
90

Price: $77.99

In Mixed Case: $66.29

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The following items are in stock:
Producer Simon Bize
Country France
Region Burgundy
Subregion Savigny-les-Beaune
Varietal Pinot Noir
Vintage 2020
Sku 16400
Size 750ml
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