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.

PHILOSOPHY

Niched beneath the Musigny plots, between Clos-de-Vougeot and “Les Amoureuses” (no less!), the Vougeot Premier Cru vines represent by far the smallest surface area of Premier Cru vines in the entire Côte de Nuits (11.68 ha). They are therefore extremely rare and difficult to find.

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

The grapes for this cuvée come from a plot located at the top of the “Les Petits Vougeots” climat, at altitudes of between 260 and 280 metres, adjacent to the highly famed Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru “Les Amoureuses”. The soil is both clayey and stony (due to a nearby old quarry), which lends delicateness and depth to the wine.

VINIFICATION AND AGEING

The grapes are handpicked and approximately 20% of the harvest is not destemmed. Maceration lasts approximately two and a half weeks, after which the wine is transferred to oak barrels (one and two-year-old barrels) in which it is aged for 15 months.

Lovely cherry red colour, limpid in aspect. Endowed with an elegant, airy, fine nose that is subtle and delicate, boasting floral scents (peony, rose), a slight touch of freshly cut cherry wood, warm notes of light tobacco along with aromas of red berries (redcurrant, pomegranate) and ripe cherry. These aromas then open up to notes of vanilla and clafoutis with nuances of almond and sugared almonds. On the palate, this wine boasts a very soft, supple, silky, velvety texture that nevertheless finishes on a note of peppery tannins, leaving an impression of freshness. Flavours are reminiscent of alcohol-preserved fruit, plums, a hint of chocolate and notes of cinnamon.This is a complex, delicate wine that will require some time in its youth (opening the bottle shortly before serving) in order for it to reveal all of its depth.

Nathalie McLean – 93 points

The 2018 Edouard Delaunay “Les Petits Vougeots” is a charismatic pinot noir. Its collection of aromas is what I
particularly like about this wine. They evoke red berries, pressed flowers, sweet spices and nuttiness and they don’t run for the exits. They linger. Delightful. This red Bourgogne has supple texture with light touch tannins on a medium bodied frame. Its gorgeous flavours suggest warm but not jammy red berries, cinnamon as well as a spice and woodsy character. This wine is a beautiful creation from the team leading Edouard Delaunay’s rebirth in Bourgogne.

IWC – 93 points

Real Burgundian typicity with dark cherry berries. Hints of autumn leaves and gorgeous oak.

Wine Enthusiast – 92 points

This delicately textured, spicy red is sourced from vines at the top of the premier cru Les Petits Vougeots at elevations of 850 to 920 feet and adjacent to Chambolle-Musigny. Accented by smoke and licorice, the sultry Pinot Noir highlights fleshy notes of preserved black plum and brandy-soaked cherries. Fine in tannins and freshly balanced, it’s approachable young but should hold through 2026.