Jaffelin Beaune Premier Cru Les Marconnets 2023

If you love red Burgundy for its perfume, detail and quiet confidence, this is very much in your lane.

Les Marconnets sits right on the edge of Savigny-lès-Beaune, just a stone’s throw from the ancient walled city of Beaune. It sits a little higher in the valley too, where the air is cooler and the wines tend to carry more lift, shape and delicacy.

That cooler position matters. In Burgundy, a few metres can change everything - the feel of the wine, the reputation of the site, and yes, the price. Les Marconnets has long been one of the more approachable Beaune 1er Cru vineyards, known less for muscle and more for elegance.

We haven’t seen this site since early 2022, but this Jaffelin release brought those memories straight back. The fruit has the same DNA as wines you’ll find under the Domaine Chanson label, with Chanson working directly with Jaffelin to supply their portion of the vineyard’s fruit.

And here’s the fun bit. Chanson’s Les Marconnets can sit closer to $129, while most 1er Cru Burgundy now starts well north of $200. At $89, this is the kind of Burgundy buy that doesn’t come around often.

Elegant, fragrant, gently shaped and seriously good buying. This is one for Burgundy lovers, and for anyone who wants to know what all the fuss is about without spending a small fortune.