2020 Domaine Jean-Marc Pavelot La Dominode 1er Cru Magnum 1.5L, Savigny-les-Beaune

An extremely ripe yet again, still fresh nose offers up its aromas of mocha, poached plum and black cherry jam. The rich, round and quite supple medium-bodied flavors immediately firm up on the youthfully austere, palate coating and lightly mineral infused finale. This firmly structured effort is going to need at least some patience as it's presently quite tightly wound.

91-93 points Allen Meadows burghound.com Drink 2032+ Outstanding

Domaine Jean Marc Pavelot La Dominode is a quietly thrilling expression of Savigny lès Beaune at its most refined and age worthy, a premier cru that insiders love for its mix of perfume, structure and understated authority. La Dominode is one of Savigny’s best regarded vineyards, sitting on the Beaune side of the appellation with excellent exposure and well drained limestone and clay soils. It consistently produces Pinot Noir with more depth and tension than many expect from Savigny, while retaining elegance and freshness.

Domaine Jean Marc Pavelot is a benchmark producer for the appellation. This is a family estate with generations of deep connection to Savigny lès Beaune, and today the wines are known for their purity, restraint and ability to age gracefully. Viticulture is meticulous, yields are kept low, and the winemaking is classical and sensitive. Nothing is rushed, nothing is overworked. The goal is always to let vineyard and vintage speak clearly rather than impose a house style.

La Dominode shows its class immediately, but it rewards patience. Aromatically, it opens with red cherry, wild strawberry and raspberry, then moves into rose petal, dried violet and subtle spice. With air, more savoury complexity emerges. Forest floor, tea leaf, gentle earth and a faint mineral note that grounds the wine firmly in Burgundy rather than sweetness or gloss.

On the palate, the wine is finely structured and beautifully balanced. Red fruit leads, bright and precise, followed by savoury herbal notes and a gentle ironstone nuance. The tannins are fine grained and persistent, giving shape without weight, and the acidity is fresh and integrated, carrying the wine effortlessly through the palate. Oak is discreet and well judged, adding texture and quiet complexity rather than flavour. The finish is long, composed and quietly confident, lingering with red fruit, spice and earthy nuance.

This is a wine that excels at the table. Roast duck, chicken with herbs, pork, mushroom dishes or lighter game all pair beautifully. While approachable with decanting in its youth, Domaine Jean Marc Pavelot La Dominode really comes into its own with time, evolving over ten to fifteen years into something more savoury, layered and complex while retaining its freshness and line.

Domaine Jean Marc Pavelot La Dominode is a reminder of why Savigny lès Beaune remains one of Burgundy’s great value premier cru villages. Elegant, soulful and deeply expressive, it is Burgundy for those who appreciate nuance, balance and quiet confidence.