2012 Domaine Aurelien Verdet Morey Saint Denis Rouge 750 ml

“An Exciting, If Not Widely Known Burgundy Producer”

No less of an authority than Jancis Robinson hails Domaine Aurélien Verdet as “an exciting, if not widely known Burgundy producer.” The 2012 Domaine Aurélien Verdet Morey-Saint-Denis Rouge backs up this ringing endorsement. The maestro behind its brilliance is Aurélien Verdet, the gregarious emerging talent who blends his father’s pioneering biodynamic tactics with the skills nurtured under Côte de Nuits Grand Cru master David Durband. He’s turned his attention to the Pinot Noir grown on the estate’s sacred 3.7-acre slice of Morey-Saint-Denis and cajoles every nuance possible into the label’s soul. The combination of acclaim, talent, and grape location could push these wines toward near-triple-digit price tags, but not here. Elsewhere: $80 — or hit “Buy” and at $40 per bottle — 50% off — here at Wine Access.

Aurélien Verdet’s surname roughly translates to “green,” which is remarkably apropos. His father Alain was a major force behind Burgundy’s important biodynamic movement in the 1970s, and Aurélien has ensured dad’s philosophies thrive in the next generation. He’s also infused his viticultural bloodline with the tutelage he received from the acclaimed Durband. He’s taken the lessons learned from inside and outside the family to create wines that capture the pure essence of Burgundy’s globally desirable terroir.

Mother Nature slugged the region in 2012. Yet as Vinous founder Antonio Galloni notes, “The best 2012s are undeniably thrilling.” The 2012 Domaine Aurélien Verdet Morey-Saint-Denis Rouge is a thrill ride that highlights Aurélien’s patient approach. The hand-harvested estate grapes he collects are allowed to find footing at their own pace. The results of this gentle tactic is a label that flourishes into vibrant expression of Burgundian fruit essence, one that drinks well above its affordable price point.