Maison Roche de Bellene

Medium red, this has a slightly inky nose and a bit of graphite. Good, ripe, red fruit on the palate becomes quite succulent in the glass with attractive, dark fruit and some length. This wine has avoided the dry tannins which can result from too much extraction.

“A vintage of pure happiness,” enthuses Nicolas Potel. He rightly retains enthusiasm for Burgundy as a whole and his own wines in particular, though his life has been made more difficult by the explosion of prices for grapes on the open market. However these cuvées make sense to us: we tasted a wide range and picked out the plums.

Dense, ripe purple with an exuberant nose, this offers a full, richly fruited mouthful, with attractive detail, weight and good length. The oak is integrating nicely. A very pretty, floral style of Echézeaux.

“A vintage of pure happiness,” enthuses Nicolas Potel. He rightly retains enthusiasm for Burgundy as a whole and his own wines in particular, though his life has been made more difficult by the explosion of prices for grapes on the open market. However these cuvées make sense to us: we tasted a wide range and picked out the plums.

Glowing purple, with vigorous raspberry fruit, there is lots of energy here; the result of smart winemaking on fine terroir. There is good fruit-to-acid balance, and the wine is certainly very lively at the finish, with excellent fruit weight.

“A vintage of pure happiness,” enthuses Nicolas Potel. He rightly retains enthusiasm for Burgundy as a whole and his own wines in particular, though his life has been made more difficult by the explosion of prices for grapes on the open market. However these cuvées make sense to us: we tasted a wide range and picked out the plums.

This was our pick between the Clos de Bèze and the Chambertin this year. Middleweight, this has bright, elegant fruit on its refined nose. The wine is attractive, floral, graceful through the middle, then comes up nicely behind. Notably floral, and very persistent.

“A vintage of pure happiness,” enthuses Nicolas Potel. He rightly retains enthusiasm for Burgundy as a whole and his own wines in particular, though his life has been made more difficult by the explosion of prices for grapes on the open market. However these cuvées make sense to us: we tasted a wide range and picked out the plums.

Les Malconsorts is a wonderful wine from this great Premier Cru vineyard, and has very pretty Vosne-Romanée aromatics, fabulously pure fruit and a refreshingly cleansing minerality.

Weighty and ripe with a touch of verbena adding spice to the nose, this is smart wine for the money. The fruit steadily grows in the mouth before the impressive finish that shows hints of lemon grass.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

Production has recently moved to a new facility on the outskirts of Beaune, which is making life much easier for the Roche de Bellene team. The philosophy stays the same: work with excellent grape sources and get the wines out into the market at competitive prices. The reds have had an excellent following for many a year now, while recently the whites have shown the same impressive price to quality ratio that makes this such a good address.

We have exclusive access to this Gevrey-Chambertin and it is a brilliant mid purple colour with a really stylish nose. Good density on the palate is followed by a finale that has perfect balance between fruit, acidity and tannin. Brilliant texture is in evidence once again.
Jasper Morris MW, Berrys' Burgundy Director

Maison Roche de Bellene Production has recently moved to a new facility on the outskirts of Beaune, which is making life much easier for the Roche de Bellene team. The philosophy stays the same: work with excellent grape sources and get the wines out into the market at competitive prices. The reds have had an excellent following for many a year now, while recently the whites have shown the same impressive price to quality ratio that makes this such a good address.
 

Lively and gracious, pleasing cherry fruit greets the nose here. Particularly fine boned and really persistent it is terrific value Gevrey-Chambertin wine from an outstanding vineyard.
Jasper Morris MW, Berrys' Burgundy Director

Maison Roche de Bellene Production has recently moved to a new facility on the outskirts of Beaune, which is making life much easier for the Roche de Bellene team. The philosophy stays the same: work with excellent grape sources and get the wines out into the market at competitive prices. The reds have had an excellent following for many a year now, while recently the whites have shown the same impressive price to quality ratio that makes this such a good address.

Just three barrels made this year, and although it is raised in new wood this does not show, thanks to the concentration of the wine. A rich purple colour with very lively red fruit and some raspberry notes, filling out the middle palate vey well, good weight, attractive acid balance. Another excellent Corton, as in recent years. 
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

Nicholas feels that the saving grace of the 2013 vintage was the amount of small berries caused by millerandage. He has opted for minimum extraction but longish cuvaison. The white wines have not been stirred because they were rich enough naturally. They are expected to be bottled in December and will all be under DIAM corks, apart from the Grands Crus. The reds will be bottled during February.

Two barrels were made of this vigorous purple red wine. It has ripe cherry notes and is not heavyweight, but is very appealing. There is a good middle to this, then the structure comes up behind, to confirm that it is going to need time. Happily the ripe cherry fruit returns at the back. 
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

Nicholas feels that the saving grace of the 2013 vintage was the amount of small berries caused by millerandage. He has opted for minimum extraction but longish cuvaison. The white wines have not been stirred because they were rich enough naturally. They are expected to be bottled in December and will all be under DIAM corks, apart from the Grands Crus. The reds will be bottled during February.
 

Taking the place of our usual Vieilles Vignes bottling is this Réserve Spéciale. It is, in fact, a cuvée of Premier Cru Volnay Santenots but cunningly secured at a Village wine price. Do not hesitate! It is marvellously succulent; a terrific wine for the price.

Medium bright red in colour, this has a little touch of bacon fat on the nose. This has rounded out beautifully on the palate, the initial acidity becoming integrated into the fruit and body. Allow time in the glass and the more perfumed nose of classic Volnay will start to come out, and the palate soon adds a layer of velvet.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director

The very intense nose of this wine promises much to come. In the mouth, it is sublime: some cream from the barrel is evident and the fruit bursts through with a spice or two at the edges. It combines a lovely balance of fresh fruit and acidity, and the finish is very long indeed.
Jasper Morris MW, Berrys' Burgundy Director Nicolas Potel has installed the négociant arm of his business on the Savigny side of town which gives him plenty of space for making and maturing the wines, along with logistics and office needs, while keeping his Domaine de Bellene operation completely separate in Beaune itself. The selling point here is consistent competence mixed with attractive pricing.

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This has been a star selection in the cellar since the first vintage (2009). It is a beautiful wine: not too deep and dense with a little touch of oak and a fresh finish. Very stylish, this is a great wine at an amazing price.
Jasper Morris MW, Berrys' Burgundy Director Nicolas Potel has installed the négociant arm of his business on the Savigny side of town which gives him plenty of space for making and maturing the wines, along with logistics and office needs, while keeping his Domaine de Bellene operation completely separate in Beaune itself. The selling point here is consistent competence mixed with attractive pricing.

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A beautifully heady nose of wild strawberries announces this wine. The enormous fruit through the middle is pure velvet, and is followed by a fabulous finish with balancing tannins.
Jasper Morris MW, Berrys' Burgundy Director Nicolas Potel has installed the négociant arm of his business on the Savigny side of town which gives him plenty of space for making and maturing the wines, along with logistics and office needs, while keeping his Domaine de Bellene operation completely separate in Beaune itself. The selling point here is consistent competence mixed with attractive pricing.

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With its lifted nose, this is an ethereal Vosne with a touch of briars and strawberry notes coming from the whole bunch fermentation. It is graceful and gentle, and quite long.
Jasper Morris MW, Berrys' Burgundy Director Nicolas Potel has installed the négociant arm of his business on the Savigny side of town which gives him plenty of space for making and maturing the wines, along with logistics and office needs, while keeping his Domaine de Bellene operation completely separate in Beaune itself. The selling point here is consistent competence mixed with attractive pricing.

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This Vosne-Romanée, Les Malconsorts from Roche de Bellene is a combination of two cuvées producing a wine greater than the sum of its parts, which is deep and dense with an exquisite finish.

Burgundy 2009 Best Buys – Grand Cru Wines
The mad genius that can produce such a comprehensive range of wines, all with their own distinctive character, is something to celebrate. Nicolas Potel has proved in 2009 that his Clos St Denis is no exception; poise and precision are all wrapped up in this brooding, yet beguiling, wine.
(Stuart Rae, Cellar Plan Account Manager)

Only two barrels of this thrilling, delicious Grand Cru were made. It has a beautiful, full purple colour with a heavenly, hedonistic nose and abundantly rich, sensual fruit.
(Jasper Morris MW, BBR Buyer)

This was sufficiently reduced to hide everything but the wood though its influence on the palate was considerably less if not invisible. The rich, minerally and utterly delicious medium-bodied flavors possess a subtle minerality that continues onto the mouth coating finish where the wood resurfaces. I suspect that this reasonably well-balanced effort will always display some wood influence but not enough to affect the finishing texture.
Allen Meadows - burghound.com - May 2011

Bright purple, the fruit on the nose is immediately charming, continuing with intensity on the palate, linear and detailed, just ripe enough. Good fruit acid balance and persistent. Really classic for this year, elegant yet focussed. 
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

Nicholas feels that the saving grace of the 2013 vintage was the amount of small berries caused by millerandage. He has opted for minimum extraction but longish cuvaison. The white wines have not been stirred because they were rich enough naturally. They are expected to be bottled in December and will all be under DIAM corks, apart from the Grands Crus. The reds will be bottled during February.

Imperial purple robe. The nose stands up to be counted, with some intense raspberry notes. Statuesque but light on its feet, easily in balance with the final tannins.
Jasper Morris MW, Berrys' Burgundy Director

Maison Roche de Bellene Production has recently moved to a new facility on the outskirts of Beaune, which is making life much easier for the Roche de Bellene team. The philosophy stays the same: work with excellent grape sources and get the wines out into the market at competitive prices. The reds have had an excellent following for many a year now, while recently the whites have shown the same impressive price to quality ratio that makes this such a good address.

Robust, vibrant mid purple, this is pretty powerful stuff with marvellous density to it. It exhibits a concentrated extract of ripe red fruits, tightly-knit but impressive, clearly needing more time. The finish is lovely nonetheless.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director

Nicolas Potel has retained the majority of his regular contracts in 2012, though a couple are missing after the hail. Like everybody else, he has had to pay more for his grapes though, especially at the top end of the hierarchy. But as ever there are some delicious wines in the range, and at the lower end the prices are thoroughly competitive.

Medium purple with a stylish, this has an elegant nose, some lifted raspberry notes, and is very elegant. There is a lovely steely core behind, with some toast from the wood, but plenty of energy at the back and excellent length.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director

Nicolas Potel has retained the majority of his regular contracts in 2012, though a couple are missing after the hail. Like everybody else, he has had to pay more for his grapes though, especially at the top end of the hierarchy. But as ever there are some delicious wines in the range, and at the lower end the prices are thoroughly competitive.

This cuvée comprises old vine village Volnay, blended with Premiers Crus Santenots and Carelle. Mid-purple in colour, there are flowers and fine red fruit through the middle with a touch of barrel toast. This is not an over concentrated Volnay, as some are this year.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director

Nicolas Potel has retained the majority of his regular contracts in 2012, though a couple are missing after the hail. Like everybody else, he has had to pay more for his grapes though, especially at the top end of the hierarchy. But as ever there are some delicious wines in the range, and at the lower end the prices are thoroughly competitive.

Fine brisk, glowing purple, a really enticing colour before you get on to the nose, a touch of blackberry though otherwise predominantly red fruit notes. Soft and suave and succulent but with presence and structure. Very long finish. A great result.
(Jasper Morris MW, BBR Buyer)

This Vosne-Romane from Roche de Bellene has a lovely ethereal bouquet and is a quintessentially elegant Burgundy. There is a beautifully fragrant and graceful thread running through the palate with a delicate scent of rose petals.

Fine bright red; some plums, some deep red fruit, a little tannin. There’s enough to attract now but it should really have a little more time.
(Jasper Morris MW, BBR Buyer)

What a beautiful perfume! Layers of highly detailed blue and red fruits reveal a deep rooted sweet spice. This is effortlessly echoed on the palate, where further fruit complexity of Damsons and Plums show a darker side.
Gary Owen, Private Account Manager