Fixin Albert Bichot

Fixin has for a long time been hiding in the shadows of it’s prestigious neighbours. Recently, though, it has been making more noise and Burgundy afficionados have finally spotted this delightful little gem. It offers great value for money, is less pricey than the usual suspects Gevrey-Chambertain and Nuits-St-Georges, which need a bit of time to open up their full potential. The smart neighbour, Fixin, offers instant gratification with further ageing potential to boot too. It is a true terroir Pinot from the Cotes de Nuits.

Located between Dijon in the north and Gevrey-Chambertain in the south, Fixin (pronounced Fiss-in) offers red Burgundy at an affordable price. It may not have the same prestige or longevity of the pricier, more famous Nuits-St-Georges or Gevrey-Chambertain but this 2013 over-delivers on quality therefore holding great value for money.

2013 was not the easiest of vintages for the vignerons of Burgundy, however, the Cote de Nuits faired better than it’s southerly neighbour, the Cote de Beaune, which was hit by severe hail storms. The hauntingly expressive and noble Pinot Noir is carefully maintained on the gentle slopes around the village of Fixin. The winemaker, Alain Serveau, since joining Bichot in 1995, maintains a philosophy that respects the terroir. Viticulture is highly sustainable with minimal human intervention and the employment of organic farming techniques, thus, helping to further the pure expression of this ethereal variety. All of the wines that bear the Albert Bichot signature benefit from the same know-how and meticulousness. It is a stamp of quality and assurance that we at Soho Wine have relied upon since 1948. Alain and the Estate of Albert Bichot nurture long standing relationships, both from growers to merchants and the relationship between terrior and Man.

Slow fermentation in temperature controlled conical oak vats followed by 14-16 months ageing in 100% French oak barrels, of which, 15-20% is new oak from the traditional forests of Allier, Troncais and Limousin. Each barrel has different levels of toasting in order to bring out multiple nuances in the finished wine.

For the drinking, this wine shows great maturity, depth and complexity, enough to rival its Cote de Nuits neighbours. Expect lots of graphite, meat, smoke, tobacco, truffle and forest floor alongside gentle toast and spice. This is backed-up nicely by hedgerow berries, hyacinths and rose nuances. It is smooth, structured with elegant velvety tannins and a deep, long finish. Wonderfully complex and delicious.