Tasting Notes
The single red this year is drawn from a friend’s vineyard in Lancié on pink granitic soils near Fleurie. In fact, Lancié is bordered by Morgon, Moulin-a-Vent and Fleurie, but Dancer’s source lies closest to the latter. The fruit was entirely destemmed as 2021 was a cool year and Dancer did not want to make a wine that was too stemmy. The wine was aged in amphora and old cask.
The resulting wine is a superb example of Beaujolais: fine, pretty, red-fruited, long, complex and very easy to drink. Imagine a medium-bodied Fleurie, but with the complexity that amphora aging can bring - 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 Gamay & Beaujolais |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | France |
| Region | Beaujolais |
| Sub Region | Lancie |
| Winemaking Practices | Minimal Intervention |
| Vineyard Practices | Minimal Intervention |