Domaine de Bellene Beaune Blanches Fleurs 2020

A reminder that the late-great Nicolas Potel’s ‘Bellene’ is indeed ‘Beaune,’ a what’s in a name that dates to the first century as per the Sun God ‘Belena’ or ‘Belenos,’ then ‘Beaulne’ and finally Beaune. This lieux-dit ‘Blanches Fleures’ is classically derived out of calcareous clay and like the 2019 this 2020 is curiously nebbiolo-like, though this time more Barolo than Barbaresco. Still the character and temperament are of course unfailingly pinot noir and there is a sharp intensity about this vintage. Full of dark fruit in waves and swells, poised to become unabashedly ready to please. Drink 2026-2029. Tasted January 2026. Score – 93. (Michael Godel, winealign.com)