Flavour of the Year 2024 – Candidate No. 3

I find it extremely gratifying to promote new, talented people and estates. This is also what many buyers and collectors are looking for in a world of ever-increasing prices. This is why one of the primary goals of the Winehog is to explore new producers.

To explain this initiative a bit more, while I find the work of young vignerons like Charles Lachaux truly admirable, these well-known producers already have the complete attention of the wine world and, furthermore, often plenty of great vineyards with which to express themselves.

Young, small, negociants and estates do not have the same exposure or access to noble terroirs, although their efforts are as admirable and enjoyable.

The Winehog Flavour of the Year award is for these young and/or new talents in Burgundy.

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Flavour of the Year winners

Bastian Wolber of Laisse Tomber in 2023

Les Horées in 2022

Domaine Cassiopée in 2021

Marthe Henri in 2019

Domaine Pierre-Olivier Garcia in 2018

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Domaine Chanterêves (2017)

Domaine Nicolas Faure (2016)

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Before Flavour of the Year

Before I created Flavour of the Year, I also had strong candidates. In 2017, I would have pointed at Maison – now Domaine – Chanterêves, who still holds a strong place in my Burgundy heart. Great aligotés, and great wines in general.

I got the idea in 2016 when I first tasted the fabulous wines of Nicolas Faure, the Henry Jayer of lesser terroirs, and the Henri Roch of the manual vertical press. Mostly, Nicolas Faure is simply himself, making no-fuss vins d’émotion.

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A change for 2024: three candidates

Three candidates will be selected, and the final selection will, as in previous years, happen in the spring/summer of 2024.

Candidate No. 3

Benjamin Benoit – Le Cellier Saint-Benoit

The third candidate is from Pupillin … dare I say it … in Jura!!

Has the Hog lost it?

No!! Global warming and very talented vignerons have created opportunities to produce wines in new areas and to make new and very interesting wines in some of the more classical areas like Jura.

Benjamin Benoit is in my view. A brilliant winemaker, making both very interesting whites and some extremely hedonistic reds from Pinot Noir and the other local grape varieties: Ploussard and Trousseau. Mark my words … this is a legendary winemaker in spe.

These reds blew my socks off with their charming and hedonistic style … very complex … not really … but hedonistic wines to the core, and a strong reminder that vinous joy can be had without the grand cru stamp of Burgundy along with the matching 500 EUR price tag.

You can rightly say that I am too poor to drink Burgundy these days … but there is also a serious problem when “normal” people … can’t engage in exploring the mysteries of Burgundy.

It is therefore a blessing to enjoy the hedonistic treat of a simple Ploussard from Benjamin Benoit … It might be simple, but the emotion is there … and this is true vin d’émotion to the core.

I thank you Benjamin Benoit for reviving my passion for wine and vin d’émotion.

This is candidate no 3!