If pleasure is more important than prestige, Savigny-les-Beaune is an excellent hunting ground for both red and white Burgundy lovers, who appreciate value and quality! For the same reasons the interest for the appellation has increased since the finansial crisis in 2008. The village sits between two hillsides at the entrance to Combe de Fontaine-Froide, and the small river Rhoin splits it into two. The finest wines consistently come from the north bank (Aux Vergelesses, Serpentiéres, Les Laviéres (See above) and Aux Guettes). The village has several outstanding domains like Simon-Bize, Guyon, Jean-Marc Pavelot, Chandon de Briailles and Maurice Ecard (run by his son Michel), where we have been clients previously, but prices have increased significantly since we started more than 30 years ago. Off the track we came across Domaine Michel Gay et Fils in Chorey-les-Beaune (Link), who makes excellent examples of balanced Savigny with a decidedly black fruity signature over a deep and complex base, at that time offering extraordinary value in the world of Burgundy pricing! Similar examples can still be found in Savigny-les-Beaune, one of which is Domaine Camus-Brucon run by Guillaume Camus, a middle-aged man, who kindly shares his knowledge on what great Burgundy is all about.

Guillaume Camus has been working at the domaine since 1997. First with his father, but since 2010 on his own. According to Burgundian standards, Domaine Camus-Bruchon is a young domaine created by his grandmother, who despite limited resources managed to buy more land in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Today, the domaine includes nine hectares owned and en fermage. Savigny 1er Cru’s include Les Laviéres (0.32 ha), Gravains (0.38 ha), and Narbantons (0.47 ha), the average vine age of which are some 70, 50 and 70 years, respectively. He also makes Beaune 1er Cru Clos du Roi from 0.19ha and Pommard 1er Cru Arvelets. Savigny village includes three bottlings: a straight and lovely cuvée Reine Joly, named after Guillaumes grandmother, and two lieux-dits cuvées: Les Pimentiers planted in 1929 and Aux Grands Liards, which is just east of the village, below the premier cru Les Laviéres, next to Simon Bize, planted in 1913 and 1920. Savigny village blanc includes Les Goudelettes. The vines in Gravains and Arvelets are more than 50 years old. Finally, Camus makes an excellent Chorey-les-Beaune, a great bargain in the world of red Burgundy.

Guillaume Camus is a meticulous and talented winemaker, who spends the lion’s share of his time in the vineyards tending his vines. Vinification is traditional, including selection of grapes, 20-50% stems retained, cold extraction, a fermentation temperature allowed to rise to 35°C, and 20-25% new oak. As a result, his wines are elegant, seductive and very fruity, but also balanced, deep and complex, reflecting their underlying terroir. They can be drunk young, but they also keep very well. So far we have enjoyed his Goudelettes, Aux Grands Liards, Laviéres, Narbantons and Clos du Roi. A highly recommendable domaine, somewhat under the radar, but offering great bargains.