An elegant, beautifully approachable Premier Cru Beaune, combining generous red fruit with floral perfume, silky texture, and fine, velvety tannins.
The excellent 2022 vintage gives Cent-Vignes particularly attractive ripeness and generosity. Red cherry, raspberry and redcurrant are joined by violet, subtle spice and earthy complexity, while fresh acidity keeps the wine poised and energetic.
Less muscular than many Côte de Beaune Premier Crus, this is a wonderfully graceful expression of Pinot Noir that can already be enjoyed while retaining excellent potential for further development.
Region: Burgundy, France
Subregion: Côte de Beaune
Appellation: Beaune Premier Cru AOC
Premier Cru: Cent-Vignes
Vintage: 2022
Producer: Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur
Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
Style: Dry Red Burgundy
Cent-Vignes lies at the foot of the slope in the northern sector of Beaune.
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur owns 1.26 hectares here, with vines planted in 1987 and 1988.
The relatively light clay-limestone soils, with a sandy component and stony subsoil, contribute to the wine's characteristic finesse and aromatic expression.
It is also an important wine within the domaine: Cent-Vignes is Bitouzet-Prieur's only red Premier Cru outside its home territory of Volnay.
The grapes are hand-harvested and carefully sorted before being completely destemmed.
Following a cool pre-fermentation maceration, fermentation begins naturally with indigenous yeasts.
The wine is subsequently matured in French oak barrels for approximately 12–16 months, allowing the tannins to soften while preserving the purity of the Pinot Noir fruit.
Nose:
Red cherry, raspberry and redcurrant with violet, subtle spice and hints of tea leaf.
Palate:
Generous and beautifully balanced, with ripe red fruit framed by fresh acidity and supple, velvety tannins. Floral and savory notes gradually emerge with air.
Structure:
Medium-bodied, elegant and finely structured. The tannins provide definition without overwhelming the fruit, giving the wine a particularly graceful texture.
Finish:
Long and balanced, with lingering red berries, violet, gentle spice and subtle earthy notes.
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Beaune Premier Cru Cent-Vignes 2022 is an elegant and immediately appealing expression of Premier Cru Pinot Noir from the Côte de Beaune.
The warmth of the 2022 vintage has given the wine generous fruit and beautifully ripe tannins, while the lighter soils of Cent-Vignes contribute finesse and aromatic lift.
It is already highly enjoyable but has sufficient structure and freshness to develop greater savory complexity over the coming decade.
Red Cherry · Raspberry · Redcurrant · Violet · Tea Leaf · Spice · Earth
Drink: Now–2037
Preferred Window: 2027–2034
The 2022 is already approachable, particularly for those who enjoy Burgundy with youthful fruit and freshness.
Another 1–3 years in the bottle should bring greater integration and allow the floral, savory, and earthy characteristics to become more pronounced.
If opening now, allow approximately 30–45 minutes in the glass or open bottle.
With bottle age, expect:
Dried Cherry · Rose Petal · Tea Leaf · Forest Floor · Mushroom · Savoury Spice
Serving Temperature: 16–17°C
Recommended Pairings:
Duck Breast · Roast Chicken · Pigeon · Quail · Veal · Pork Tenderloin · Lamb · Beef · Mushroom Risotto · Porcini · Morels · Époisses · Comté
A particularly attractive choice for customers looking for Premier Cru Burgundy that combines pedigree with accessibility.
Cent-Vignes shows a softer, more immediately charming side of Bitouzet-Prieur than some of the domaine's more structured Volnay Premier Crus.
Pair with duck breast, roast chicken with mushrooms, or veal with morels.
Serve at approximately 16°C in a Burgundy glass.
