François Millet et fils


— Portfolio —

BOURGOGNE ROUGE ‘LES RUES’ 2021
Bottle Shot

Situated on the other side of the highway, beside the village of Chambolle. Francois believes you still get the typicity of Chambolle. Key part of why is that it is at the end of the ‘fan’ of the Combe that divides Chambolle, benefiting from the breeze + lots of alluvial rocks deposited in the vineyard from the alluvial wash. This gives the vineyard a rockier soil than many Bourgogne sites and excellent drainage. Vineyard planted in 1973, 49 years old.

 

VOLNAY 1ER CRU ‘LES ANGLES’ 2020
Bottle Shot

Les Angles, The ‘triangle’, Francois loves the elegance offered by this 1er Cru. East exposition, lots of Limestone near the surface. ‘Bottled in May 2021.

“Here too the nose is quite fresh with its array of riper aromas of plum, mocha and dark berry liqueur that are liberally laced with spice elements. I very much like the texture to the velvety and palate coating medium weight flavors that offers just a bit more depth and persistence.” – 89 – 92 pts – Burghound

 

BEAUNE 1ER CRU ‘CHAMPS PIMONT’ 2020
Bottle Shot

Francois is passionate as many Burgundian producers are about the quality of the Beaune appellation, particularly some of the more regarded sites such as Clos de Mouches, Les Montrevenots and this 1er Cru, Champs Pimont. With a wry smile over the zoom call he remarked that ”the Cote de Nuit is not a Monopole on Pinot Noir in Burgundy”. The exposition of Francois’s grower is East but the 1er Cru does rotate round to the South in parts He did use punch downs during ferment in 2019 and 2020 as he feels it cans sustain/benefit from more extraction than Chambolle, Volnay and the Bourgogne. Mix of Clay and Limestone in the soil, 50 year old vines. He commented on the ‘crunchiness about the fruit in this wine’ as part of its personality. Bottled in May 2021.

“Ripe and nicely fresh aromas include those of black cherry, plum, violet and a pretty array of spice nuances, and in particular anise. The rich, vibrant and solidly concentrated medium-bodied flavors also coat the palate before terminating in a powerful, serious and youthfully austere finale. This will need at least a few years of keeping before it’s ready for prime time.” – 90-92 pts – Burghound

 

GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN ‘LE FOURNEAU’ 2021
Bottle Shot

As you drive from Morey in the south there is a small valley at the start of the Gevry appellation where the Combe is, then you rise up on to the plateau.

Le Fourneau sits on the right hand side of the road on this plateau. East facing. Same latitude as Clos de Beze. Apparently in the past there was a furnace in the area, people bringing iron to the site to melt hence the name. Le Fourneau means Furnace, pronounced ‘Four-No’.

Vineyard planted in 1963, now 59 years old. Bottled in May 2021.

Francois wanted to make this Gevrey as way of making a contrast with Chambolle and Volnay. Different ‘attitude’, he talks about the grapes needing ‘contact’ during winemaking, thus he needs to pieage that he doesn’t do with Chambolle Musigny or Volnay. If you don’t do pieage he believes it doesn’t get the full expression of the site.

 

” A slightly more deeply pitched nose freely reveals its aromas of plum, dark currant, humus and smoked meat. The medium-bodied flavors possess better volume and very fine punch that carries over to the youthfully austere, lightly stony and notably longer finale where only a trace of austere slowly emerges. This is an excellent Gevrey villages that will need at least a few years of patience.” 89 – 92 pts – Burghound

 

CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY ‘LES FOUCHERES’ 2021
Bottle Shot

In Chambolle there is a natural amphitheatre at the top of the slope from the lieu dit of Les Danguerrins that circles north around Les Porlottes to Les Clos that starts with North facing vineyards and follows around the hill, making the predominant exposition East facing. Les Foucheres sits at the bottom of the hill of this amphitheatre, also East facing. The name Fouchères comes from the old French word “fayard” meaning beechwood, of course nothing left of these trees but they were originally planted there long ago.

A compromise between the amphitheatre (freshness) and the good fruit maturity given by the 1er Cru Les Borniques below on the mid slope. Lots of rocks in the site. As Francois comments “Limestone. Pure, Tension”. Francois is very cautious with his intervention on this wine, very gentle. He likes the tension and elegance this site offers. Chambolle-Musigny les Fouchères was planted in 1970. Bottled in May 2020.

 

“A super-fresh nose exhibits notes of exuberantly spicy purple fruit and pretty floral wisps. The precise and almost painfully intense middleweight flavors exude evident minerality on the lacy and mineral-driven finish where the barest hint of sweetness can be discerned. This is interesting as the finish suggests that a touch of austerity will appear, but it confounds expectations (mine anyway) and doesn’t. Either way, this is a lovely Chambolle villages.” ♥ Outstanding Top value – 89 – 92 pts – Burghound