Domaine Edmond Cornu Savigny-lès-Beaune Rouge 2021

Domaine Edmond Cornu is a historic family estate based in Ladoix-Serrigny at the northern end of the Côte de Beaune. The Cornu family settled in Ladoix in 1870 and established the domaine in 1875; Edmond Cornu took over in 1956 and began estate bottling in 1959. Today, Pierre Cornu runs the property with his wife Edith, cousin Emmanuel Boireau and daughter Lucie. The domaine farms roughly 16 hectares, overwhelmingly planted to pinot noir, with holdings in Ladoix, Aloxe-Corton, Chorey-lès-Beaune and Savigny-lès-Beaune.

The estate has long followed sustainable, low input farming, earning Agriculture Raisonnée status in 2007 and HVE Level 3 certification in 2019. Green cover crops, measured vineyard treatments and attention to biodiversity are central to the approach, with recent efforts also including hedgerows and trees around vineyard parcels. Grapes are harvested by hand in small containers, carefully sorted and generally destemmed before fermentation.

The 2021 Savigny-lès-Beaune Rouge is 100% pinot noir from the domaine’s holdings in Savigny-lès-Beaune. Fermentation follows the estate’s traditional approach in tank, with remontage and pigeage used during extraction. The red wines are then transferred to oak barrels for élevage; the domaine describes barrel aging of roughly 12 to 18 months depending on cuvée and vintage, while importer information gives a broader range of 15 to 20 months. The wines are rarely fined and only occasionally filtered. Specific new oak percentages for the 2021 Savigny have not been published, suggesting the emphasis is on élevage rather than overt oak flavor.

The 2021 is fresh and precise, with red cherry, redcurrant and darker berry fruit joined by violet, subtle spice and a mineral edge. The palate is juicy and energetic, with supple tannins, bright acidity and a slightly savory, sappy character. It is a relatively elegant expression of Savigny, balancing the cooler structure of the 2021 vintage with surprisingly generous fruit.