Regnaudot’s Maranges 1er Cru ‘La Fussière’ 2023 is a vibrant and beautifully expressive Burgundy from the southernmost edge of the Côte d’Or. The steep, south- and southeast-facing slopes of La Fussière give naturally concentrated fruit, producing a Pinot Noir that bridges elegance and generosity. The 2023 vintage brings lifted aromatics, vivid red fruit and fine, supple tannins — a wonderfully balanced expression of this increasingly celebrated appellation. Farming here is precise and hands-on, with careful work in the vineyards ensuring purity and tension in the finished wine.

In the glass, the wine opens with aromas of wild strawberry, raspberry, peony and gentle spice. The palate is bright yet silky, delivering a core of juicy red fruit layered with subtle earthy notes and a chalky mineral thread. Fresh acidity carries the wine through to a clean, persistent finish that reflects both site and vintage. Approachable in youth but capable of rewarding short- to mid-term cellaring, Regnaudot’s 2023 ‘La Fussière’ is an outstanding value in Premier Cru Burgundy — refined, characterful and full of charm.

Didier Regnaudot is the type of vigneron we always dream of finding in the Côte d’Or. Alas, there aren’t many like him left. Didier is the fourth generation to manage his family’s 6.5 ha property in the beautiful little town of Dézize-les-Maranges, which is on the southernmost edge of the Côte d’Or, up in the hills just west of Santenay. The village is located at 1300 feet above sea level and its terroir is cooler and later ripening than the villages further north, and its vines are more resistant to rot. This is all good.

Historically, red wine from Maranges was known to be the darkest wine of the Côte d’Or, a tannic wine not made to drink immediately, and would keep its colour forever. As time goes by, more and more Chardonnay is planted here. Meanwhile, those still making red Burgundy here keep trying formulas to render it more accessible in its youth.

Like his father Jean-Claude and his other ancestors before him, Didier sticks to tradition. He works old Pinot Noir vines mostly planted right after World War II (some before!) on the steep hillsides just to the east of Dézize. The vines are cordon trained, and planted in the middle saddle of the hillside in deep clay and fossilized limestone. His prized holdings are one hectare in a great premier cru site, 'La Fussière,' and a small premier cru parcel just below called '
Les Clos Roussots.' His formula is pretty simple: gorgeous, expertly managed vineyards, manual harvest, fermentation in concrete tank, long cuvaison, twelve months in oak, bottling without fining or filtration. The Regnaudots long ago understood what makes Maranges special and are dedicating to preserving that tradition, as unglamorous as it may be to some.

Pinot Noir (100%)

Pinot Noir is one of the world’s most revered and expressive grape varieties, prized for its elegance, complexity, and ability to reflect terroir like no other. Native to Burgundy, it thrives in cool to moderate climates and is notoriously thin-skinned and finicky to grow, requiring careful vineyard management. In the glass, Pinot Noir typically offers delicate aromas of red berries—such as cherry, raspberry, and strawberry—alongside floral notes, forest floor, and subtle spice. Its light to medium body, gentle tannins, and bright acidity make it both graceful and food-friendly. Whether from the limestone slopes of Burgundy, the coastal vineyards of California, the hills of Oregon, or New Zealand’s Central Otago, Pinot Noir captivates with its finesse, transparency, and the ability to age gracefully, making it a favourite among both winemakers and wine lovers alike.

Burgundy - in eastern France, is one of the world’s most revered wine regions, celebrated for its deep-rooted history, complex terroirs, and single-varietal expressions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Unlike Bordeaux's grand blends, Burgundy focuses on purity and place, with wines that reflect the nuances of individual vineyards—sometimes just a few rows of vines. The region is divided into key subregions: Chablis in the north (crisp, mineral whites), the Côte de Nuits (prestigious reds like Gevrey-Chambertin and Vosne-Romanée), the Côte de Beaune (home to legendary whites like Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet), as well as the Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais. With a mosaic of limestone-rich soils and a cool continental climate, Burgundy produces wines of finesse, elegance, and remarkable aging potential. Its system of classifications—from regional to village, premier cru, and grand cru—is rooted in centuries of tradition and terroir-driven philosophy.