Vinelights
Horse-ploughed. Whole-bunched. Holy smokes…
Les Creux-Baissants might mean “the lower hollows,” but this wine soars. A single, north-facing parcel tucked just above the village, it sits in a cool, rocky depression just five feet below the road, up against the forest. Adrien treats it like sacred ground – worked entirely by hand, ploughed by horse, and fermented with 100% whole bunches. The result is jaw-droppingly elegant: light red fruits, violets, smoke, spice and salinity in a wine that’s airy, detailed and utterly seductive. 80% new oak (lightly toasted for just 15 minutes) adds polish, never weight. Adrien calls it his favourite. We get why.
📍 The Plot
This is a single parcel cuvée from one of the most unique terroirs in Chambolle. ‘Les Creux-Baissants’ is a small, rocky, clay-limestone vineyard that sits in a natural hollow above the village. Facing north and pressed up against the woods, it stays cooler, giving the wine its delicate aromatics and beautiful lift. The vines are 85 years old and still worked exclusively by hand, with a horse used for ploughing due to the slope and soil. Adrien’s connection to this site runs deep, and it shows in every sip.
🍇 Technical
100% Pinot Noir from the single-site ‘Les Creux-Baissants’ in Chambolle-Musigny. 85-year-old vines on clay-limestone, rocky soils. 100% whole bunch fermentation. Aged in French oak barrels (80% new, light toast for 15 mins). Bottled unfined and unfiltered.