Domaine du Château Philippe le Hardi Pressonnier Rouge 2020

Pressonnier comes from the southern Côte de Beaune, where Domaine du Château Philippe le Hardi farms vineyards around Santenay and the neighbouring villages. The domaine takes its name from Philippe le Hardi, the Duke of Burgundy whose famous 1395 decree favoured Pinot Noir over Gamay in the vineyards of Burgundy. The estate combines this historic identity with a modern approach to vineyard work, seeking wines that express the character of their individual sites rather than relying on heavy extraction or oak.

The 2020 vintage gives Pressonnier an appealing combination of ripe fruit and savoury structure. Bright cherry and raspberry sit alongside blackcurrant, violet, liquorice and subtle earthy spice, while the palate has a generous texture supported by fine tannins and fresh acidity. There is a pleasing savoury depth beneath the fruit, with a gentle mineral edge emerging towards the finish. Approachable already but capable of developing further, this is a characterful Burgundy that offers considerably more depth than its regional positioning suggests.