Le Grappin Beaune Boucherottes Premier Cru 2020

"Andrew and Emma Nielsen are an absolute treat. Their energy is intoxicating, often equal parts rowdy and thoughtful. They split their time between the UK and Burgundy, taking care of their sales and cellar simultaneously. They’re certainly clocking more miles than most each vintage.

Their focus is on sustainably farmed fruit from vineyards with true character. As each cuvée comes from a single site they try to capture the individuality mesoclimate, aspect, and soil can impart. They mostly resort to old-school techniques in the cellar, opting for minimal sulphur and a wide variety of maceration times. They are located in Beaune, but choose to make cuvées from the Mâcon, Beaujolais, and even the Rhône to round out their portfolio.

Their other obsession is packaging. They have been huge embracers of bag-in-box and refillable kegs, both of which are much better for the environment than glass bottles. Their bottled wines don’t have capsules, and, in the UK, they even pick-up and re-use the cardboard boxes their wines are shipped in. It’s this level of commitment we really admire." -Importer notes