A concentrated yet elegant Beaune Pinot Noir produced from old vines in the Les Prévoles vineyard, immediately south of the town of Beaune.
The 2023 Les Prévoles combines ripe cherry, raspberry and plum with violet, savory herbs, spice and subtle earthy notes. The palate is rounded and relatively generous for village-level Beaune, balanced by fresh acidity, fine-grained tannins and a mineral finish.
The old vines and deeper clay-limestone soils give this wine more depth and structure than Domaine Poulleau’s lighter Pinot Noir bottlings.
Region: Burgundy, France
Appellation: Beaune AOC
Vineyard: Les Prévoles
Vintage: 2023
Producer: Domaine Poulleau Père & Fils
Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
Vineyard Area: 1.26 Hectares
Vine Age: 70+ Years
Oldest Parcel: 0.14 ha, planted in 1929
Soils: Clay-Limestone & Marl
Harvest: Hand-Harvested
Aging: Approximately 12 Months in Oak
New Oak: Approximately 20%
Style: Dry Red Burgundy
Les Prévoles lies toward the bottom of the Beaune slope, immediately beneath the Premier Cru vineyards and south of the town itself.
Domaine Poulleau farms approximately 1.26 hectares here.
The vines average more than 70 years of age, with a small 0.14-hectare section dating to 1929.
At this lower position on the slope, the calcareous soils become deeper, with a combination of clay, limestone and marl. This contributes greater fruit concentration and breadth while retaining the freshness associated with Pinot Noir from the Côte de Beaune.
The grapes are harvested entirely by hand and carefully selected before fermentation.
The wine matures for about one year in oak barrels, around 20% of which are new.
The oak is therefore used primarily to develop texture and support the fruit rather than dominate the aromatic profile.
Nose:
Ripe red cherry, raspberry and strawberry, accompanied by darker notes of blackberry and plum. Violet, savory herbs and gentle spice emerge with air.
Palate:
Rounded and relatively generous, with ripe cherry, raspberry and plum through the center of the palate. Fine-grained tannins provide structure, while fresh acidity prevents the wine from becoming heavy.
Structure:
Medium-bodied, with good fruit concentration, fine tannins and fresh acidity. The old vines provide more depth than you might ordinarily expect from a village-level Beaune.
Finish:
Persistent and balanced, with red fruit, subtle spice, savory herbs and a mineral note.
Les Prévoles is one of the more interesting red wines in Domaine Poulleau’s range because of its vine the.
The 1.26-hectare vineyard includes vines averaging more than 70 years old, with a small section planted as far back as 1929.
These old vines, combined with the deeper clay-limestone soils found toward the bottom of the Beaune slope, produce a Pinot Noir with greater concentration and structure than the domaine's lighter red wines.
The 2023 shows ripe cherry, raspberry and plum supported by violet, spice and savory notes.
Approximately one year in oak, with only around 20% new barrels, adds texture without obscuring the fruit.
The result is a relatively generous Beaune with sufficient freshness and tannic structure for medium-term development.
The 2023 Burgundy vintage produced Pinot Noir with attractive fruit, good ripeness and generally approachable tannins.
In Les Prévoles, the old vines and deeper soils give the wine additional concentration.
The fruit is currently quite expressive, with cherry, raspberry, strawberry, and plum, while the structural elements remain fine rather than severe.
This makes the 2023 approachable relatively early while still providing enough acidity and tannin for further bottle development.
Drink: Now–2034
Preferred Window: 2027–2032
The 2023 can be enjoyed now, particularly for those who prefer Burgundy with youthful red fruit and freshness.
At present, expect cherry, raspberry, and plum to dominate, supported by fine tannins and subtle oak-derived spice.
Another one to three years should allow the oak, tannins and fruit to integrate more completely.
From approximately 2027 onward, the wine should begin to show a more settled balance between primary fruit and emerging secondary characteristics.
With further bottle age, expect dried cherry, violet, forest floor, mushroom, savory herbs and gentle spice to become increasingly apparent.
The old vines give the wine sufficient concentration for medium-term cellaring, but I would not regard this as a Burgundy that needs extended aging.
Serving Temperature: 15–16°C
If opening now, allow approximately 30–45 minutes in the bottle or a Burgundy glass. Aggressive decanting is unnecessary.
In practical terms: drink now for bright fruit and freshness; hold another 2–4 years for greater integration and savory complexity.
The combination of red fruit, acidity and fine tannins makes Les Prévoles particularly versatile at the table.
Recommended Pairings:
Duck Breast · Duck Confit · Roast Chicken · Quail · Veal · Lamb · Beef Tenderloin · Game Birds · Mushroom Risotto · Porcini · Comté · Époisses
Pair with duck breast, roast chicken or veal with mushrooms.
The wine's cherry and raspberry fruit works naturally with poultry, while its old-vine concentration gives it sufficient structure for lamb or a simply prepared beef tenderloin.
With a few additional years in the bottle, mushroom and more savory dishes should become particularly suitable as the wine develops secondary earthy characteristics.
Compared with Les Mondes Rondes, Les Prévoles is the more substantial wine. Les Mondes Rondes emphasizes freshness and immediate Pinot Noir fruit; Les Prévoles brings older vines, deeper soils, greater concentration and more pronounced structure.
For guests wanting more depth without moving into Premier Cru pricing, Les Prévoles is a particularly useful wine in the Domaine Poulleau range.
