domaine simon bize

 

Domaine Simon Bize

Patrick Bize is one of the best winemakers in Burgundy. Were he working with a more well-known appellation he would have a reputation on a par with his friends Christophe Roumier, Jean-Marie Raveneau and Dominique Lafon. His wines have that rare quality that when you drink them you think they must cost twice as much.

Full wine selection

History

Winemaking philosophy

Notes by John Armit

 

patrick bize

History

Simon Bize purchased his land in Savigny at the end of the 19th Century. Since then the Domaine has passed to his son, Simon, then grandson, another Simon, and fi nally to Patrick, greatgrandson of the original Simon Bize.

Originally from the Savoie, the Bize family has produced wines in Savigny-les-Beaune since 1880. More than a century later, following the footsteps of his ancestors, Patrick Bize took over the estate in 1988.

Without any formal training, and overcoming an initial reluctance to work in the vineyards or the cellar, he gradually came to love his work. Over the years the Bize family have built up the finest Domaine in Savigny-les-Beaune. With the assistance of talented winemaker, Guillaume Bott, previously of Domaine Etienne Sauzet in Puligny, they now share the running of the estate.

 

Winemaking philosophy

He is careful in his use of oak in order to preserve the inherent elegance and balance of fruit in his wines. He maintains a flexible approach when determining how long to age each wine in barrel, meticulously following the evolution of each wine and adjusting the maturation according to the richness and weight of each cuvée.

patrick bize

Notes by John Armit

Patrick Bize is one of the best winemakers in Burgundy. Were he working with a more well-known appellation he would have a reputation on a par with his friends Christophe Roumier, Jean-Marie Raveneau and Dominique Lafon. His wines have that rare quality that when you drink them you think they must cost twice as much.

Ten years ago Patrick was still a bachelor and whenever I went to Burgundy we’d go out to dinner together. One day I arrived and suggested we went to ‘La Bouzerotte’ as usual and he suggested that I might like to come to his house for dinner instead. I expressed my astonishment and said that as far as I knew his house was like a monk’s cell and that I imagined that he didn’t even have a kettle! He said there was someone that he wanted me to meet and that he needed my advice.

I arrived at the house to be introduced to this very beautiful Japanese girl called Tissa who worked in a bank in Tokyo and had been Patrick’s translator while he was in Japan. I encouraged the relationship and I’m delighted that they are now living happily in Savigny with their two children.

Patrick’s wines have become more harmonious and generous since his marriage. Patrick is a modest man of few words but strong opinions and he has a nice sense of humour. In the past he was a better red winemaker than white but intelligently decided to take on Guillaume Bott who is a brilliant white winemaker, the result is that both the reds and the whites have improved even more over the last few years.

In summary, Patrick is not only a very close friend but a great winemaker whose wines merit your close attention.

 

patrick bize note

“I think of my great-grandfather Simon in 1880 the date the Domaine was founded, would he have imagined the evolution of work on the vines, the wine and the sales of his product today?” - Patrick Bize