Clos de la Perrière Fixin Premier Cru, Albert Bichot, 2020
Clos de la Perrière Fixin Premier Cru, Albert Bichot, 2020
- 75cl
- 13.5%
- Red Still
- Pinot Noir
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Optimal drinking window: Now - 2031
Producer/négociant Maison Albert Bichot was founded in Beaune in 1831 and remains family-owned, with Albéric Bichot currently at the helm.
Despite being a significant player in Burgundy (it’s the leading buyer at the celebrated Hospices de Beaune auction), Maison AB leads the way in sustainability and manages to maintain the ethos and accessibility of a much smaller artisanal grower.
Very bright colour, high-toned cherry and cedar and whiff of woodsmoke. Supple but rich attack, mostly red berries and red plums: pleasingly aerien, the wine drifts to cheekbones, showing off mild spice and a little woodsmoke, with plum skin tannins and blood orange acidity. This is pretty sophisticated and lively - shows the quality of the this once fabled terroirs.
Tom Harrow, Wine Guru
Currently showing its primary fruit beautifully, with the cherry and plum flavours still vibrant and the oak well-integrated but present. Over the next 2-3 years, we expect the woodsmoke and spice elements to become more prominent whilst the fruit moves from bright red to deeper, more savoury notes.
What the critics say:
"The nose has quite a creamy veneer of oak over the ripe red-black fruit and some charming floral touches. The attack is juicy and rich with red berries, sour cherry, plum, hints of leather, and game. Finishes with a concentration of tannin and body seldom seen in Fixin. *Gold* (2022)"
"A classy red, with supple cherry, strawberry, floral and mineral flavors underscored by a deft touch of new oak. Balanced, with the refined structure exerting itself as this winds down on the lingering, spicy finish. Impressively elegant. Best from 2024 through 2040."
Tasting Notes
AppearanceBright ruby red with good depth and clarity.
NoseHigh-toned cherry and cedar dominate, with an appealing whiff of woodsmoke underneath. There's a creamy veneer from the oak treatment, but it doesn't mask the ripe red-black fruit core. Charming floral touches emerge with time in the glass.
PalateSupple but rich attack showing mostly red berries and red plums, with the wine feeling pleasingly airy as it moves across the palate. Mild spice and woodsmoke build through the mid-palate, supported by plum skin tannins that provide structure without heaviness. Blood orange acidity keeps everything lifted and precise.
FinishLingering and spicy, with a concentration of tannin and body that's impressive for Fixin.
Overall impressionSophisticated and lively, showing the quality that made this terroir once fabled.
Food Pairings
In Burgundy, this would be the natural partner for coq au vin made with the same wine, or perhaps a classic boeuf bourguignon where the wine's spice and acidity cut through the rich, slow-braised beef. Locals might also serve it alongside jambon persillé, the traditional Easter terrine of ham and parsley, or with époisses cheese towards the end of a meal. The wine's elegance makes it perfect with roasted guinea fowl or pigeon, dishes that celebrate the sophisticated rusticity of Burgundian cooking.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at 16-17°C to preserve the wine's lifted aromatics and elegant structure. A brief decant of 30 minutes will help integrate the oak and open up the floral notes, though it's not essential. Use Burgundy bowls rather than Bordeaux glasses to concentrate the delicate aromatics. If you're opening a bottle that's been lying down, let it stand upright for a few hours before serving to allow any sediment to settle.
Clos de la Perrière sits on the slopes of Fixin, where limestone-rich soils and eastern exposure create ideal conditions for Pinot Noir. The vineyard's elevation and well-draining calcareous clay provide the mineral backbone that defines great Côte de Nuits wines. The cooler microclimate of Fixin preserves acidity whilst allowing for complete ripening, creating wines with both elegance and concentration. This terroir was once highly celebrated and is now showing why it earned that historic reputation.
Fixin Premier Cru represents the northernmost appellation of the Côte de Nuits, often overshadowed by its famous neighbours Gevrey-Chambertin and Chambolle-Musigny. The appellation produces exclusively red wines from Pinot Noir, with stricter yield limits and higher minimum alcohol requirements than the village level. Fixin's Premier Crus, including Clos de la Perrière, were historically highly regarded but have been somewhat forgotten in recent decades. The appellation's cooler climate produces wines with distinctive lift and spice, showing a different side of Burgundian Pinot Noir.
We'll be honest: 2020 in Burgundy was a vintage that kept everyone on their toes. A warm, dry spring brought early budbreak, then summer turned properly scorching with temperatures hitting 40°C in August. The saving grace came from perfectly timed August rains that rescued the vines from serious drought stress, followed by ideal September weather that allowed for unhurried picking. Yields were mercifully normal after several years of frost-ravaged harvests, and crucially, the heat never tipped into the jammy territory that can plague warmer vintages here.
What emerged were wines with surprising freshness despite the heat, showing ripe fruit balanced by good acidity and lovely mineral precision. The reds have more immediate charm than the structured 2019s, with silky tannins and generous Pinot Noir character, whilst the whites display beautiful richness without losing that crystalline Burgundian tension we adore. This isn't a legendary vintage like 2005 or 2010, but it's thoroughly delicious and more approachable in youth than many Burgundy vintages. The village wines are drinking beautifully now, Premier Crus are just hitting their stride, and the Grands Crus will reward patience for another five to ten years.
FAQs
What does this Fixin Premier Cru taste like?
Supple and sophisticated, with bright cherry and red plum fruit, cedar spice, and a distinctive lift that shows real elegance for the appellation.
When should I drink this wine?
It's drinking beautifully now but will reward patience.
What food pairs well with this Burgundy?
Classic matches include coq au vin, roasted guinea fowl, or duck breast. The wine's acidity and spice also work brilliantly with aged Burgundian cheeses like époisses.
Should I decant this wine?
A brief 30-minute decant will help, but it's not essential. Serve at 16-17°C in Burgundy bowls to capture the delicate aromatics.
Is this wine worth cellaring?
Absolutely. This has the concentration and structure to develop beautifully over 10 years, with secondary complexity emerging from the late 2020s onwards.
How does Fixin compare to other Burgundy villages?
Fixin is the northernmost village of the Côte de Nuits, producing wines with distinctive lift and spice. It's often overshadowed by famous neighbours but offers excellent value for serious Burgundy character.
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