Tasting Notes
The Roc Breïa Pinot Noir vines are a touch younger than the Chardonnay vines and were planted between 1970 and 1985. This wine is vinified with some 50% whole bunch, followed by maturation in used 500-litre barrels. As for the white, Dancer makes a rigorous barrel selection, eliminating anything he doesn’t like from the final blend. Only 4,000 bottles were produced in 2021.
This is also a bright, juicy, pretty wine; full of redcurrant, raspberry and amaro-scented fruit, complexed by nettle and all kinds of spice. It’s a wonderfully elegant Pinot and a great reminder of what the Mâconnais can deliver from this variety. And why not? It’s Burgundy after all, with clay-limestone soils. This is already drinking well, yet it nonetheless benefits from plenty of air. Decant, serve, and fall in love. - Importer Note
There can’t be many young growers in Burgundy creating more hype than Théo Dancer. Théo is the son of Vincent Dancer, whose small Chassagne-based domaine has been releasing some of the Côte de Beaune’s most fought-over whites for many years. To the surprise of many—his father is very much in his prime—Théo took the keys of the domaine from the 2020 vintage. It speaks volumes that Vincent felt his son was ready to carry such responsibility on young shoulders. And he has already repaid the faith. In addition to his work with his family domaine, this inquisitive and ambitious winemaker now also works with a very exciting new project in the Mâconnais (called Roc Breïa) and has also started his own micro-négoce, sourcing fruit from several exciting vineyards across France.
Dancer assumed management of the Roc Breïa vineyard just before the start of the 2021 harvest. With the help of full-time vigneron Bastien Cubillé, he immediately began raising the vineyard work to his exacting standards. As good as his 2021 releases were, they are not a patch on the 2022s: a consequence of both progression in the vines and a great Burgundy vintage. The wines are very much in his domaine’s pure, racy, earth-to-glass style, albeit with their own regional personalities.
Théo Dancer’s excellent négoce range is compact in every sense; the largest cuvée runs to a total of 300 cases—which, with the name Dancer on the label, does not stretch far. Our allocation this year comprises a Savagnin from Jura and a beautifully perfumed Grenache from vines near Cairanne. Yes, you read it correctly: a Dancer making Grenache! And a damn good one at that. Théo Dancer is increasingly recognised as one of Burgundy’s most exciting young talents—these wines explain why.
| Product Type | Wine Red Pinot Noir |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | France |
| Region | Burgundy |
| Sub Region | Bourgogne |
| Winemaking Practices | Minimal Intervention |
| Vineyard Practices | Organic/Biodynamic |