Albert Bichot and its top brand, Clos Frantin, are large portfolios, and regardless of the restraint shown by Philippe de Marcilly (Bichot’s commercial director), its tastings always go beyond 30 wines – more than I can integrate into one article.
I will therefore break them up, starting out with the wines from Domaine du Clos Frantin. The rest I’ll attack in one or more separate articles. And these are also interesting wines in their own right.
Domaine du Clos Frantin is Bichot’s premium brand, producing high-level reds from the Cote de Nuits. The winemaker is the talented Cyrille Jacquelin.
Bichot’s other wine brands include Domaine du Pavillion, the top Beaune wines; Chateau Gris, the Nuits-Saint-Georges wines from Chateau Gris just south of the town; and finally the Maison Bichot wines, the negociant branch of the group.
And make no mistake: There are many very good wines to be found under these labels.
Tasting notes for Domaine du Clos Frantin
Domaine du Clos Frantin Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2019
Starting with the generic pinot noir is a good place to begin. This is quite precise and energetic, and there is plenty of forward liveliness from the 2019 vintage. It is quite dense; there were 5,000 bottles made. Thanks to the energetic character of the vintage, this is drinking well.
(Drink from 2023) – Good – (87p) – Tasted 15/03/2021 – 
Domaine du Clos Frantin Gevrey-Chambertin Les Murots 2019
Next up is Gevrey, with the Les Murots village – a vineyard located below the road near the train station. This is an interesting area geologically, with plenty of material from the alluvial fan of the Combe l’Arlot. The nose is vivid and ripe with energetic red fruit – variations of cherries – and a genuinely nice minerality. On the palate, lively and generous fruit – good glou-glou material – without being simple. A lovely, juicy wine, with the 2019 kick spicing things up.
(Drink from 2025) – Very Good – (89-90p) – Tasted 15/03/2021 – 
Domaine du Clos Frantin Nuits-Saint-Georges 2019
The Nuits-Saint-Georges village is showing well (although admittedly I have a NSG bias), coming from the vineyards Les Brulees (relatively hot, south of the town) and Les Charmois (cooler, and west of Nuits). It has good balance without the hot notes sometimes associated with the southern end of NSG. Violets, hints of lilacs, and vivid mid-palate fruit will definitely ensure this wine a good life. Deep and rather complex; not bad at all – 2019 is showing very well!
(Drink from 2027) – Good+ – (88-89p) – Tasted 15/03/2021
Domaine du Clos Frantin Vosne-Romanee 2019
The Vosne-Romanee village is a big wine; as usual, one could say. It’s from the two Maizieres plots on the border with Echezeaux, and the village part of Les Damaudes, above Malconsorts. This is spicy, with violets and lilac. It is classic Vosne, deeply concentrated, yet in contrast to the 2015 this has an extra liveliness from 2019. It’s deep, with layers of fruit, and in 10 years’ time will definitely unfold. If it wasn’t 2019, I would say it’s borderline over the top. Instead, I will lean back and enjoy the show.
(Drink from 2031) – Very Good – (89-91p) – Tasted 15/03/2021 –
Domaine du Clos Frantin Vosne-Romanee Les Rouges 2019
The Vosne Les Rouges is an expressive, rather light-footed terroir above Echezeaux. This wine is intense and very energetic, with a delightfully spicy nose showing notes of lilac and violets. While airy and effortless, it will need some time to unfold. But nonetheless an exciting 2019.
(Drink from 2030) – Very Good – (90-91p) – Tasted 15/03/2021 –
Domaine du Clos Frantin Vosne-Romanee Les Malconsorts 2019
The Malconsorts is a big wine, and despite the alcohol reaching 14.4%, there is good balance in the 2019. It is very expressive and floral, with variations of cherries and some lovely notes of violets, lilacs, and some sweet (pink) rose and peony hints. Rich? Yes. Too rich? No, not with 2019’s freshness.
(Drink from 2032) – Very Fine – (93-94p) – Tasted 15/03/2021 – 
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- A true vin d’émotion – a Burgundy of passion