2024 Louis Mathieu "Les Echalais" - Fixin - 2 Bottles (0.75L)

A new exciting project in Burgundy: 2 bottles, out of 888 produced, from Fixin Les Echalais by Louis Mathieu!

Louis Mathieu wasn’t born among the vines, but he fell into them very early. Native to Clamart, he took his first steps at 6 years old in the family micro-vineyard of the Nargilets, in Aluze, north of Mercurey, in the Côte Chalonnaise. Less than 20 ares of Pinot Noir on clay-limestone soils, and already an intuition: winemaking. At 14, he signed his first vintage, still confidential, long kept within the close circle. The turning point came later, between Dijon, Meursault at Jacques Prieur and especially Germany at Klaus-Peter Keller, where he refined a more vertical vision of wine. In 2021, a tasting tipped his project: his Pinot Noir drew attention and his first vintages sold out in a few hours.

A PROJECT BUILT WITH RIGOR AND FREEDOM

Today, Louis Mathieu develops his cuvées with his wife Lucile, supported by the Athenaeum in Beaune, which assists him in his early days by financing the purchase of grapes and the structure. The model remains deliberately light: a demanding micro-negociant, based on a rigorous selection of grapes from old vines (over 30 years old), grown biodynamically, with very controlled yields. The terroirs now stretch from the Côte de Beaune to the Côte de Nuits — Fixin, Pommard, Beaune 1er Cru — with the same idea: multiply the lieux to feed a single voice of the wine.

INFUSION-STYLE WINEMAKING, PRECISE AND ASSERTIVE

In the cellar, everything is designed to preserve the fruit brightness and tension. The reds are vinified with whole clusters or partially crushed, with short macerations of 10 to 15 days, no pigeage, only gentle remontages with a bucket. An infusion-leaning approach, where the stem hrále (stems) plays a central role, bringing lift and length. The élevage lasts about 16 months in old barrels, often from Riesling or Aligoté, with a marked presence of lees to enhance freshness and precision. Inputs are kept to the absolute minimum: indigenous yeasts and measured sulfur, around 18 mg/l, added in several stages to preserve balance without settling the wine.

A SIGNATURE OF ELEGANCE, BETWEEN BURGUNDY AND GERMAN INFLUENCE

Louis Mathieu’s wines seek less power than line. They are Pinot Noir that look light at first glance but are deeply structured, driven by a crisp acidity and true terroir clarity. The German influence is felt in this search for purity, tension, almost verticality.

On the cuvée: On the Echalais climat, in Fixin, the calcareous and stony soils give Pinot Noir a defined structure and natural tension. The wine expresses a ripe red fruit profile — cherry, raspberry — with a slightly spicy touch and a mineral finish. On the palate, the texture is straight, structured, with tannins present yet fine, carried by a freshness that balances the natural power of the appellation. The finish is long and persistent, with good staying power. It will pair very well with duck breast or a grilled beef steak.

Delivery possible later in case of high heat upon request.

Delivery in Europe, insulated package.

Bottles intact, kept in ideal conditions.