The wines of Frederic Cossard, Domaine de Chassorney, Burgundy

The wines of Frédéric Cossard, Domaine de Chassorney, Burgundy
Serious natural expressions of Burgundy

Website: www.chassorney.com

Fred Cossard is a natural wine guy who started his domaine in 1996, and now farms 7 hectares (all rented), making his wine in Saint-Romain. He began his career in the milk trade and then worked for a while as a wine merchant before deciding to switch to making the stuff.

He began with a rented facility in Saint Romain, then bought a house with a cellar in the village in 1998, where he made his wines until he moved to the current winery, also in the village.

Vinification is without any sulfur dioxide at all. Cossard uses a long maceration of five to six weeks, and malolactic fermentation occurs while the wine is still on the skins. The barrels he uses are cleaned by ozone – not sulfur dioxide.

The natural fermentations of the whites can take up to 6 months: there is no stirring of the lees at all.

His range is divided into the wines sold under his name (higher end) and those of Domaine de Chassorney. UK retail prices are given in brackets (the UK agent is Les Caves de Pyrene).

See also: an excellent article on Fred at www.wineterroirs.com

Frédéric Cossard Meursault ‘Narvaux’ 2007
Amazing depth and concentration to this wine: nutty, intense, broad, quite evolved nose. The palate is concentrated and intense with lovely breadth. A lovely wine. 93/100 (£42)

Frédéric Cossard Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru ‘Abbeye d Morgeot’ 2007
Open, slightly volatile, herby nose. The palate is appley, herby and lemony with some hints of reduction? Hard to judge. 90/100 (£55)

Frédéric Cossard Puligny Montrachet ‘Les Rechaux’ 2007
Dense, fresh, lively mineralic nose. Bold and rich with beautiful aromatics. The palate is dense yet really elegant. A beautiful wine. 94/100 (£48)

Frédéric Cossard Volnay 2007
Super-elegant with a beautiful sappy edge to the sweet cherry fruit nose. Lovely freshness on the palate. A really lovely wine. 92/100 (£26)

Frédéric Cossard Beaune 1er Cru Rouge 2007
Aromatic, herby, sappy, sweet cherry fruit nose. Spicy, earthy structure under the pure cherry fruit on the palate. A nice expressive style. 93/100 (£29)

Domaine de Chassorney Bourgogne Blanc ‘Bigotes’ 2007
Taut, dense and herby with lovely intensity. Quite savoury and dense with great depth. 91/100 (£16)

Domaine Chassorney Saint-Romain Blanc ‘Combe Bazin’ 2007
Complex, bold, rich nutty nose with fresh fruit. The palate is focused with dense, spicy minerality. Super concentration; a reductive style. 93/100 (£19)

Domaine Chassorney Bourgogne Rouge ‘Bedeau’ 2007
Super-elegant, herby, intense focused cherry fruit. Light-bodied but concentrated at the same time. Lovely minerality. 92/100 (£18)

Domaine Chassorney Saint-Romain Rouge ‘Sous Roche’ 2007
Complex, minerally, earthy and spicy with lovely purity and freshness to the cherry and berry fruit. Lovely wine. 93/100 (£20)

Domaine Chassorney Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Argillieres 2007
Pale colour. Beautifully delicate aromatics. Pure and sweet with lovely earthy, spicy density on the palate. Mouthfilling and dense yet light and elegant at the same time. Nice structure, too. 94/100 (£46)