Nicolas Potel’s tribute cuvée honours Barolo traditionalist Bartolo Mascarello, but the voice here is pure Côte de Beaune Pinot Noir. Drawn from mature Savigny-lès-Beaune premier-cru parcels, it channels the village’s red-fruited elegance and earthy nuance: wild strawberry and red cherry lifted by rose and sweet spice, with gentle forest-floor, tea-leaf and a cool, stony thread. It’s poised rather than showy—silk over sinew—true to both Savigny and the Bellene style.
Winemaking is restrained and vineyard-first. Hand-picked fruit, careful sorting, mostly destemmed berries (with a touch of whole bunch when stems are ripe), and gentle extraction to keep tannins fine-grained. Élevage in French oak is measured so wood reads as texture and length, not flavour. The result is a wine that feels transparent to place: ripe yet taut, fragrant yet precise, finishing long and savoury.
On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with a tight weave of red cherry, cranberry and blood orange over graphite and subtle anise. Air teases out peony, sous-bois and a hint of cocoa nib; the acidity is bright but integrated, giving a mouth-watering close that invites another sip. It’s a classic food Burgundy—supple enough for the table, structured enough for the cellar.
Serve at 16–18 °C in large Burgundy stems; young bottles benefit from a 30–45 minute decant to relax the mid-palate and lift perfume. Pair with roast duck or guinea fowl, mushroom dishes (girolles, morels), herb-crusted lamb, or aged Comté—the wine’s freshness and fine tannins sit comfortably with richness and umami.
Enjoy on release for purity and lift, or cellar 5–10 years to gain silk, autumnal spice and deeper sous-bois while the Savigny line stays clear. If you’re searching for it, include the full cue—“Domaine de Bellene Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru Hommage à Bartolo Mascarello”—to surface the right bottling.
