Producer Insight: Domaine Michéle et Patrice Rion

This is a new format on winehog presenting, new, unknown, forgotten or overlooked producers. It’s a short presentation, reminder and recommadation of the producer. I will use these articles to inspire the discovery of the lesser known Burgundy producers. We all know the big names – but tend to forget the less hyped but fine producers.

Domaine Michéle et Patrice Rion

As in many cases when there is more than one Domaine using the name … in this case Rion, there is often a confusion and a branding issues involved – is this the good Rion?, are all the Rions good?

Patrice Rion is making very good wines, and he has a very nice selection of vineyards – including a very overlooked momopole in Premeaux.

Photo: Patrice Rion at the Diva tasting – March 2016

I got to know Domaine Michéle et Patrice Rion via Blair Pethel of Domaine Dublere – who knows Patrice Rion very well. It’s perhaps a strong word to say that Patrice Rion has been a mentor for Blair, but i clearly find a style recemblence between Domaine Dublere and Domaine Patrice Rion. Not saying they are identical stylewise – but they share some vital qualities.

Domaine Michéle et Patrice Rion is run by Patrice Rion and he produces the following wines (from the Domaine website):

The domaine was established in 1990 by Patrice Rion and his wife Michéle, and expanded in 2000 when Patrice left Domaine Daniel Rion (his fathers estate). Since 2000 the estate has been expanded with further vineyards in Chambolle (presumably metayage) including Les Amoureuses, Les Fuées and Les Cras.

The style is quite refined and fruit driven with a lovely expression of terroir. The wines offer fine energy and are very pure. The top wines show very fine definition and focus … but I need to taste more to establish more “data” on the different cuvees.

As it can be seen the estate owns and runs a monopole Nuits-Saint-Georges Clos St. Marc located below Les Argillieres and just south of Aux Corvées in Premeaux. It’s a very interesting vineyard – with a special terroir – offering a rich and generous side of Premeaux – lovely depth and midpalate weight.

It’s a quite special wine with quite some recemblence to Aux Corvées – yet it seems richer on the midpalate. It’s perhaps more refined than Les Argillieres with a more finely grained minerality. Clos St. Marc was formerly made by Bouchard Pere et Fils – first vintage for Patrice Rion was 2006.