Domaine Francois Mikulski Monthelie Rouge 'Les Toisières' 2023 750mL

FRANCE : BURGUNDY : MONTHELIEORGANIC : Pinot NoirMED-BODIED, RED CHERRY, RASPBERRY, PEPPERY SPICE, VIOLET, NEUTRAL OAKLes Toisières sits at the entrance to Monthélie village on a south-west-facing slope once quarried for roofing stone — the vines here are 40 years old, rooted in clay-limestone that gives the wine its fine, precise tannin. Domaine François Mikulski built its name on white Meursault; this red is one of a handful the estate makes, vinified in vat for two weeks then aged at least 18 months in barrel with a restrained 20% new oak.2023 was a return to a more classically balanced Côte de Beaune vintage — riper than a cool year, fresher than the recent hot ones — and it shows here as red cherry and raspberry with a peppery, saline finish that a Burgundy specialist scored 92-93.PAIRINGS : Beef tartare the producer's own pairing — saline finish plays against raw beef Duck breast with cherries echoes the wine's red-fruit register, pepper cuts the fat Roast chicken with peas classic Burgundian match, fine tannin doesn't overwhelm poultry