Domaine Prieure Roch Savigny-les-Beaune Dessus les Gollardes Rouge 2018, Burgundy 750ml

Domaine Prieure-Roch was established in 1988 when Henry-Frédéric Roch exercised the right of first refusal on a few acres of famous vineyards in Romanee Saint-Vivant and purchased the land. As with so much in Burgundy, the story of these vineyards is intertwined with famous domaines and legendary winemaking families. Henry-Frédéric Roch is the nephew of Lalou Bize-Leroy, one of Burgundy’s most successful and colorful winemakers, and Roch is also a co-director of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. Roch enlarged his holdings and today he has 35 acres of Grand Cru, Premier Cru and villages parcels in Clos de Vougeot, Chambertin, Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-Saints-Georges. 

Winemaker Yannick Champ describes the 2018 harvest as one marked by several events most notably the warmth of the vintage and the drought conditions. Unlike many producers in the region who produced abundant crops, the yields were low in many plots for Prieuré Roch with little juice due to evaporation.

Despite these challenges and an increase in natural alcohol levels in some plots Yannick is extremely happy with the quality and the wines are showing good acidity and freshness. He suggests the wines be served at a temperature of 14 to 15 degrees to enhance the freshness and vitality for the ideal drinking experience.

A notable exception is the Domaine chose not to produce any white or rose wines from 2018 due to musts not showing the balance Yannick expects – 2018 is truly a red wine vintage at Domaine Prieuré Roch.