2022 Jean-Marc Pavelot Aux Guettes Premier Cru, Burgundy

The 2022 Savigny-lès-Beaune Aux Guettes 1er Cru has a lovely bouquet that blossoms in the glass: an enticing mélange of red and black fruit, light loamy aromas, and a hint of morels. The palate is medium-bodied with a lively, forward entry. There is good acidity and a sense of energy in this Savigny, though it needs a little more depth and grip on the finish, but that may well develop in the barrel during the second winter. Drink: 2026 - 2038.

90-92 points Neal Martin, Vinous Nov 2023

Aux Guettes is one of the standout Premier Cru sites of Savigny lès Beaune, perched on higher slopes where limestone rich soils and cooler exposures bring lift, tension and beautifully defined fruit. Jean Marc Pavelot has built a quiet cult following through wines that remain deeply traditional yet wonderfully pure, allowing Savigny’s earthy charm and perfume to shine without heavy handed winemaking. Domaine Pavelot has been family run for generations, and few producers understand the nuances of these vineyards better.

The 2022 vintage is vibrant and finely detailed, opening with aromas of wild cherry, cranberry and red currant layered with rose petals, crushed herbs and gentle spice. There is a freshness and energy here that immediately sets Aux Guettes apart, though underneath sits enough concentration to remind you this is serious Premier Cru Burgundy. Notes of forest floor, tea leaf and subtle smoky oak slowly emerge as the wine breathes, while the tannins remain silky and finely woven through a long mineral finish.

This is a beautiful match for elegant, earthy dishes. Roast duck with thyme, mushroom pappardelle or herb roasted guinea fowl would all work brilliantly. It would also shine beside a simple board of charcuterie and aged comté while the wine slowly opens over the course of an evening. There is a lovely sense of balance here between youthful brightness and deeper savoury complexity, making it delicious now with a decant yet capable of evolving gracefully for another decade or more.