New Name: Visit to Domaine Françoise André – Tasting the White 2022s

One of the most positive surprises I had this summer was my first visit to Domaine Françoise André in Beaune, a new name to me, although the estate is apparently well-known to at least one other wine writer. That’s the name of the game in Burgundy: We can’t all know and visit all the domaines.

Domaine Françoise André

While Domaine Françoise André is new to me, it is a mature estate founded in 1983. Françoise André is the mother-in-law of the domaine’s current manager, Lauriane André, who has been running – and reviving – the estate since 2010.

This is a surprising domaine that has been working hard and is now organic, having found its style with both red and white wines. Finding a natural style and working to perfect it is difficult, and many never reach this stage. Domaine Françoise André has done so, and the whites are already there: tremendous wines. The reds, with seven days of pre-fermentation cold soak, set the future path; very exciting wines.

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Domaine Françoise André wines

• Corton Renardes Rouge Grand Cru 
• Corton-Charlemagne Blanc Grand Cru 
• Beaune 1er Cru Blanc Belissand 
• Beaune 1er Cru Rouge Les Reversées 
• Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Blanc Sous Frétille 
• Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er Cru Rouge Les Narbantons 
• Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er Cru Rouge Les Jarrons 
• Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er Cru Blanc Les Hauts Jarrons 
• Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er Cru Blanc Les Vergelesses 
• Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er Cru Rouge Les Vergelesses 
• Pommard Rouge Les Vaumuriens 
• Pernand-Vergelesses Blanc Les Pins 
• Chorey-les-Beaune Blanc Tue Boeuf 
• Chorey-les-Beaune Rouge Tue Boeuf 
• Beaune Rouge Montée Rouge 
• Beaune Rouge Les Bons Feuvres 
• Savigny-Les-Beaune Rouge Ez Connardises 
• Bourgogne Côte d’Or Blanc 
• Bourgogne Côte d’Or Rouge

 VINS BIOLOGIQUES

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The whites

The white wines are fresh and lively, with a vivid, energetic style. They drink well and are enjoyable; stylish wines. Pure and lively, they reflect the fine terroirs the estate has. These are truly lovely wines.

Domaine Françoise André has some exciting terroirs, and while some of those of Savigny-les-Beaune and Pernand-Vergelesses might be relatively unknown, they produce terrific wines. Do names like Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Sous Frétille and Pernand-Vergelesses Les Pins ring a bell? It’s an estate worth knowing.

Let’s taste!

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Domaine Françoise André Bourgogne Côte d’Or Blanc 2022

The Bourgogne Côte d’Or is vivid and lively, coming from Chorey-les–Beaune. It’s a delightful entry-level wine that sets an excellent benchmark for the rest of the white line-up. The acidity is sufficient, and the balance is impeccable. A lovely glass.

(Drink from 2024) – Good (87p) – Tasted 12/07/2023

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Domaine Françoise André Chorey-les-Beaune Tue Boeuf 2022

The next step up is the Chorey Tue Boeuf, located below the RD 974 main road. This is fresh, vivid, and another enjoyable entry-level wine. Chorey often surprises with its liveliness. A vin de soif.

(Drink from 2024) – Very Good (88p) – Tasted 12/07/2023

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Domaine Françoise André Pernand-Vergelesses Les Pins 2022

This vineyard is on the back of the Corton hill north of Pernand. The wine has a cooler style and, while quite reduced, is saline, pure, and vivid. What a delicate glass; I’m thinking pasta with lobster, as the acidity and reduction will refresh the dish. A relatively unknown terroir, but a magnificent wine. Burgundy has so many secrets and surprises.

(Drink from 2028) – Very Good (89p) – Tasted 12/07/2023 –

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Domaine Françoise André Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru Les Vergelesses 2022

The Vergelesses is rich, with a sweet honeyed note coming from the 90-year-old vines. It has a refined saline note and is big and intense. This is a special wine coming from the very old vines that started the Françoise Andre estate.

(Drink from 2033) – Fine (91p) – Tasted 12/07/2023 –

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Domaine Françoise André Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er Cru Les Hauts Jarrons 2022

This is another interesting terroir located on the southern side of the valley just below the motorway. It’s more vivid and quite reduced, yet still is an elegant wine with salinity and delicate fruitiness. I truly adore these white Savignys, which really shine. From a parcel acquired in 2019.

(Drink from 2033) – Fine (91p) – Tasted 12/07/2023 –  

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Domaine Françoise André Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Sous Frétille 2022

Pernand Sous Frétille is on the northern side of the village of Pernand on a very steep slope. This was a terroir unknown to me, but it is very exciting. It’s a cooler location, and the wine matches this in 2022 – a delightful glass. The vines are 50 years old and the intensity is impressive. There is a strong hint of Corton to it, and structurally it recalls Nicolas Faure’s Aligote. Wow, an intense wine; the saline note is unusually refined.

(Drink from 2033) – Fine (92p) – Tasted 12/07/2023 –

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