At a glance

Producer

Rene Bouvier

Region

Fixin, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France

Grape variety

Pinot Noir

Wine type

Red

Body

Medium-bodied and Earthy

Sweetness

Dry

Typical price

$50-$70 USD

Tasting profile

Red cherry and raspberry fruit, subtle earth and underbrush, violet, fresh acidity, mineral inflection, moderately firm structure.

Evolution: Fruit softens over time, deeper earthy and savory notes emerge, tannins round out, gaining silkiness and complexity.

At peak: At peak, expect a bouquet of dried cherry, truffle, forest floor, spice, and supple texture with persistent minerality.

Structure

Acidity

Medium+

Tannins

Medium, fine-grained

Alcohol

13.0%

Aging potential

10-15 years from vintage, likely to evolve gracefully for at least another decade

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2025 to 2037

Optimal window

2023 to 2040

Current status

Entering prime drinking window, will improve further

Current condition

Structured, youthful fruit and minerality, beginning to show complexity

2018 was a ripe, balanced vintage in Fixin allowing excellent fruit expression and structure. Crais de Chêne is among Rene Bouvier’s top lieu-dits with fine-tuned élevage supporting longer aging. This wine's pedigree, producer track record, and vintage quality support a window of 10-15 years. Expect a long plateau of maturity, especially with proper storage.

Food pairing

Roast duck breast, grilled quail, rabbit with mustard sauce, mushroom risotto, aged Comté, roasted root vegetables.

Serving

Serving temperature

16-18°C / 61-64°F

Decant

Yes (30-60 minutes) — Decanting softens youthful structure and opens aromatic complexity.

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 7/10

Rene Bouvier practices lutte raisonnée (sustainable viticulture): low-intervention farming, reduced synthetic inputs, biodiversity preservation, hand-harvesting. Extensive grass cover between rows for erosion control and insect habitat. Winery employs gravity-flow processes and energy-efficient lighting.

Rene Bouvier is recognized for environmentally responsible vine management and pursuit of HVE certification, emphasizing wildlife-friendly, low-input viticulture. They avoid systematic treatments, have greatly reduced herbicide/pesticide use, and focus on vineyard longevity and soil health. While not formally organic or biodynamic, their approach exceeds legal sustainability requirements in Burgundy, and ongoing efforts continue to lower their environmental impact. Potential for improvement in packaging and carbon-neutral initiatives.