Sebastien Magnien

The Clos de la Perrière is one of the outstanding sites of the Hautes Côtes de Beaune, facing south on stony and shallow soil. The nose has a lovely, lifted perfume which leads on to a textured palate packed with pure red-cherry fruit and dense tannins. This will truly hit its stride with a few years in bottle. Drink 2020-2024.

A short tour of one of Sébastien Magnien’s vineyards tells all you need to know about his philosophy; each vine is perfectly manicured, with not a leaf out of place.  This attention to detail is reflected in his wines, which are precise, steely and mineral. Sébastien’s choice of picking date is guided by acidity rather than sugar levels, putting the emphasis on freshness. He declared himself very happy with 2017, comparing the white wines to 2014 but with perhaps a touch more flavour ripeness, and praising the accessible, moreish character of the reds.

This is a sunny, south-facing location which is situated at a relatively high 300 metres’ altitude and subject to cooling winds. These elements combine to give aromas of perfectly ripe red and black cherry fruit intertwined with lifted, floral aromas and sweet spice. Initially fleshy, the palate finishes with fresh, chalky tannins and vivacious acidity. Drink 2021-2027.

A short tour of one of Sébastien Magnien’s vineyards tells all you need to know about his philosophy; each vine is perfectly manicured, with not a leaf out of place.  This attention to detail is reflected in his wines, which are precise, steely and mineral. Sébastien’s choice of picking date is guided by acidity rather than sugar levels, putting the emphasis on freshness. He declared himself very happy with 2017, comparing the white wines to 2014 but with perhaps a touch more flavour ripeness, and praising the accessible, moreish character of the reds.

From vines planted in 1954 grown on classic claylimestone soil this has a brilliant mid-purple colour with a totally alluring dark raspberry bouquet. It has beautifully even fruit throughout, good concentration and structure with both tannin and acidity, and an immensely long finish.

Sébastien professes himself to be very agreeably surprised by the 2014s. He notes good phenolic maturity so could extract the Pinot fruit well, and riper flavours than 2013. Sadly he had yet another vintage of low yields for his whites, especially in Meursault. The wines are concentrated but should be attractive very young.

This tightly wound, nutty, and spiced apple-flavoured Meursault wine offers hints of white flowers and peaches. It is lush, soft and appealing. Drink it over the next 4 years. The quality shows in the persistent finish.
(Jasper Morris MW, BBR Buyer)

Located just above Premier Cru Les Charmots, les Petits Noizons is a superbly sited south-facing vineyard. Lovely deep purple, stylish dark red fruits with some black notes. Generous, clearly ripe, with more black fruit on the palate. Really lovely wine with Pommard weight but still with a sense of vivacity.
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

Sébastien picked his white wines at the end of September then waited a week for the reds to finish ripening. In both cases the grapes remained in healthy condition. Clearly his 2013s are his best yet in white and very good indeed in red. Take this opportunity to discover a really promising young grower who is still ‘under the radar’.

Burgundy 2012 En Primeur - Best Value
Far more serious than any Hautes Côtes de Beaune wine I have tasted, there is a fantastic core of black fruit here. Very well poised and fresh.
Fergus Stewart, Fine Wine

Red earth on limestone provides the backdrop to this excellent vineyard. Rich and bright purple in colour, this has an absolutely beautiful first nose, almost Côte de Nuits-like in character. The flavours sit on the cusp of red and black fruits yet with a delicious freshness. There is really impressive weight and length, given the lowly appellation.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director

Young Sébastien made an interesting comment while we tasted: “My training as an oenologist has persuaded me to work even harder in the vines”. This is becoming a very impressive address, even if the appellations are not the grandest. The whites are now in tank, awaiting bottling in the early spring. The reds receive longish macerations with not much punching down and a maximum of 25% new wood. Don’t let your eyes slide straight on to more established names before taking a good look at these, from the cracking Hautes Côtes de Beaune, Clos de la Perrière upwards. Across the cellar the yield in 2012 was a meagre 26 hl/ha.

From old vines around Meloisey, the village where Sébastien grew up, this gorgeous cuvée is characterised by subtle floral aromas and, on the palate, a core of cool red fruit. Look out for Sébastien’s equally deft and delicious Hautes Côtes de Beaune Blanc. Drink now to 2023.
Will Heslop, Burgundy Buying Assistant (summer 2019)

This is a stony vineyard, with an impactful nose, filled with lovely aromatics and fine tension. Transferring to the palate, this is longer and deeper in flavour than anticipated. Only three barrels were made, against a more usual nine. This is a really impressive, assertive and confident wine. Drink 2019-2023.
Adam Bruntlett, Burgundy Buyer

No relation to the many Magniens of the Côte de Nuits, young Sébastien comes instead from Meloisey in the Hautes Côtes de Beaune – a village whose wines were as well thought of as those of Volnay in the 14th century, and were served at the coronation of King Philip II Augustus in 1180. However, to be in the thick of things, Sébastien has transferred headquarters to revamped cellars in the middle of Meursault. He is equally adept at making red and white wines. Sitting (relatively) modestly on Sébastien’s shelf in his tasting area is a trophy: for the Jeunes Talents Côte de Beaune 2016. Sébastien’s star is certainly rising, and fully deserved. Everything here is precise and considered. His vineyards in Beaune, Puligny and St Romain were not frosted, but there are significant reductions elsewhere throughout his range. Much of Sébastien’s focus is in the vineyard, where he tries to capture the spirit of each of his wines. The difficulties of the spring aside, he is very happy with his results this year. He has also been paying particular attention to the toast levels of his barrels, with an even more discreet, integrated result.

Petits Noizons is exceptionally well situated on a south-east facing hillside above Pommard. The colour is impressively full, with rich plummy fruit on the nose. This is surprisingly graceful for Pommard with a very long finish.
(Jasper Morris MW, BBR Buyer)