Based in Beaune, Nicolas Potel runs a successful négociant, a winery, his own grape-growing operation, and is widely respected for his unrivalled local network, savvy salesmanship, and winemaking genius. He is also the son of the late Gérard Potel, an iconoclastic winemaker from Volnay. All the wines in this offer came from Nicolas' vineyards, that he made and bottled under the Domaine de Bellene label – Bellene being a pre-Medieval name for Beaune, where Nicolas is based. The wines from this collection is fine, firm, and totally irresistible.
About the vintage: The 2020 vintage is absolutely excellent, lauded as 'almost a dream vintage' by top UK wine buyers and something that you should snap up while you can – especially since it’s clear that there’s going to be very little wine coming out of Burgundy next year (and at much higher prices!)
It is abundantly clear that 2020 produced some magnificent wines, with exceptional balance, freshness and full fruit maturity, yet that also remain very Burgundian in style. There is very little not to like.
Now, the time is yours to journey through the most original expressions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from some of Burgundy's finest climats – the region's most exceptional vineyard sites.
*This product is part of a special LCBO Offer. Pre-order now to receive your wines in August*
13 products
13 products
- Red Wine
- Pinot Noir
- Sustainable
- Dry
- Residual Sugar: 2 g/l
- 750ml
- 13.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Groupe Bellene
Led by Nicolas Potel in Beaune, Groupe Bellene is composed of the négociant arm Maison Roche de Bellene, the winery arm Domaine de Bellene, and a special back-vintage series under the Collection Bellenum label.
- Maison Roche de Bellene offers a complete range of wines, with an emphasis on individual terroirs from old vines of more than 40 years. All of the growers that Nicolas works with are either organic certified or sustainably farmed.
- Domaine de Bellene represents the wines that are produced and bottled from Nicolas Potel's private vineyard holdings.
- Collection Bellenum is a back vintage series that Nicolas Potel sourced from his friends in the region, offering a magnificent selection of bottled history. The wines have moved only twice in their lives, from the original cellar to Potel's and now to yours!
Nicolas Potel grew up at Volnay's Domaine Pousse d'Or, where his father worked. He trained abroad and returned home in 1996 to build a négociant business and started Maison Nicolas Potel, where he sourced grapes from good parcels, often working with the growers to improve the quality. By 2002, he was making 120 wines from 50 different appellations, and the rest is history!
Press Reviews
Wine Align - Michael Godel
92 points
Never ignore high density planting and 70 year-old vines when it comes to Bourgogne. Nicolas Potel cares deeply about his old vines cuvée, as if on a mission from God, to celebrate the house from a pinot noir aptly named, likely in reference to small stone chapels dotting the Côte d’Or. If labelled as a ubiquitous AOC Bourgogne that is to be looked past and beyond because this fruit means serious and higher caste business. Usually aged six months in wood and the same amount of time in bottle, coming out concentrated and densely layered, compacted and formidable, far more impressive than what it could have settled to be. Hard not feel the excitement of 2020 acids, the rolling thunder of tannins and the depth all parts conspire to create. Quite the wow factor, weather extreme vintage be damned and price to boot. Drink 2023-2027. Tasted May 2022.