Marquis Sauvage is one of those unforgettable characters. He relishes hearty food, blasting heavy metal, and immersing himself in the grand wines of Burgundy. In short, he's a quirky, entertaining, and utterly charming individual.
His journey with wine began at university in Colorado, from where he ventured into the wine world. He opened Denver's first wine bar and embarked on a career in distribution. However, everything changed during a trip with his wife Dianne to Central Otago, New Zealand. They fell in love with the landscapes and the wines, and almost without realizing it, they ended up purchasing a highly sought-after vineyard. Thus, Burn Cottage was born, along with one of the most genuine and authentic pinot noirs you could ever taste.
The vineyard is situated in Bannockburn, beneath hills that once concealed gold and are now covered in wild thyme and rosehip. The land and climate are ideal for pinot noir, and each cluster is meticulously tended to following biodynamic principles. In the winery, the fruit is double sorted, ferments with indigenous yeasts, and is handled as minimally as possible. The wines are racked only once, and the malolactic fermentation is allowed to occur naturally. Over 12 months, the elegance of French barrels is married with a touch of stainless steel to preserve the fruit's freshness and maintain the perfect structure.
If you're seeking a wine that tells a story without uttering a word, Burn Cottage Pinot Noir is the one. Direct, honest, and brimming with personality… precisely like its creator.