Description
A true Renaissance story makes Edouard Delaunay a Phoenix in Burgundy.
Founded in 1893, Edouard Delaunay is an old House with a rich and singular history that contributed significantly to the development of Burgundy throughout the 20th century. Unfortunately, the company had to be sold in 1992 much to the disappointment of Laurent, founder’s great-grandson who had recently joined his father in the business.
Determined to rebuild the estate, he created Badet-Clement in 1995 specialising in wines from the South of France, before returning to Burgundy in 2003 as a distributor.
Finally, in 2017 he was able to buy it back, with the aim of restoring its position among the great names of Burgundy.
Starting with the 2017 vintage, Maison Edouard Delaunay offers a selection of around thirty vintages concentrated on the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits, ranging from regional appellations to Grands Crus.
Recognition followed suit being awarded IWC winemaker of the year in 2020 & 2021, a mere 3 years after its revival!
Precise, subtle, well-balanced wines, without excess, for the most demanding wine lovers and enthusiasts throughout the world.
Septembre Pinot Noir is A contemporary Pinot Noir that brings together all of the elegance and subtlety of this Burgundian varietal, at a reasonable price. A cuvée that allies balance, freshness and fruit through which we affirm our expertise in terms of the vinification, blending and knowledge of Burgundy’s terroirs.
Thanks to our unique network, we buy grapes of the finest quality from Burgundy’s top growers. As much as possible, we select those grown from vineyards that are managed in a sustainable and ecologically responsible manner, privileging organic viticulture. We work in conjunction with growers throughout the entire year, decide on the harvest date and we pick our grapes ourselves.
With pragmatism and without any pre-established formulas, we adapt our vinification and ageing processes to the potential of each terroir, plot, grape variety and vintage. We do not want our wines to be masked by oak, so we use it judiciously to give the wine just what it needs so that during the ageing process all of its potential and expression can shine through. Ageing a great wine requires patient, gentle work.
TERROIR
More than 80% of the grapes for this cuvée come from the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits. The remaining wines come from the Couchois area (northwestern Côte Chalonnaise), sought after for their freshness. The final blend also incorporates some Pinot Noir from the calcareous clay soil of the Beaujolais as a complement for the colour and fruit it lends to the blend.
VINIFICATION AND AGEING
The majority of the grapes were handpicked and sorted once they arrived at the winery. A short period of cold pre-fermentation maceration was conducted to emphasize the fresh fruit aromas and flavours. The wines sourced from the Côte d’Or and Hautes-Côtes were aged in oak barrels (50%), to lend structure and complexity to the blend. The others were aged in stainless steel for freshness and fruitiness. The final blend bears the hallmark of our House.
Lovely vivid red in colour reminiscent of sour cherries. The nose is very fresh and expressive with balsamic and spicy aromas (cumin, wild thyme) along with fruity notes of cherry and sour cherry, rounded out by sweet scents of sugar-coated almonds and marzipan. Starts of wonderfully velvety on the palate with a touch of fresh acidity and some wild flavours underscored by nuances of brambles, bay leaves and bark, evocative of fallow land. The palate, which reveals some minerality and rather firm tannins that will become integrated over the coming months, is remarkably pure and boasts pleasing length.
Decanter – 92 points
A blend of Pinot Noir from both the Côte d’Or and Côte Chalonnaise, this has deep colour in the glass with depth and concentration on the palate. Good definition with lots to enjoy. Dark fruit characters, blackberry and raspberry, with fine tannins and a hint of oak to add subtle layers of flavour. Will drink well for several years.
IWC – 93 points
Wine Enthusiast – 87 points
While subtle on the nose, this wine offers elegantly concentrated black-plum and cherry flavors accented by a smoky hint of sandalwood. The fruit profile is a touch roasted, but it’s a briskly balanced, approachably priced Pinot Noir at peak through 2024.
Jancis Robinson – 15 / 20
Smelling strangely sweet and confected, lollipop-like, even. Violet sweeties and Brighton rock.