SMALL PRODUCER SERIES:
DECELLE & FILS
BURGUNDY, FRANCE
Why Buy: Savvy collectors know: Burgundy still hides liquid gold. Case in point: Decelle & Fils, where Olivier Decelle — famed for resurrecting Roussillon's Mas Amiel and Saint-Émilion's Château Jean-Faure — now weaves magic from 8 hectares near Nuits-Saint-Georges. These wines are the real deal: gloriously nuanced, complex, and, for most, as scarce as winter sunlight. But folks, we have an inside edge: our director of fine wine in Bordeaux and Burgundy, Pierre-Yves, is good friends with Decelle, and that means privileged access for you to these small-production gems before they disappear onto France's most coveted wine lists — a chance to secure future cult classics while they're still gettable.
The Story: Olivier Decelle's path to Burgundian brilliance is as unconventional as it is inspiring. In 1999, at the age of 45, he pivoted from a successful career in the frozen food industry to pursue a new passion: wine. His first conquest? The 155-hectare Mas Amiel in Roussillon's Maury. Under Decelle's stewardship, this historic property — once known primarily for fortified wines — became a standard-bearer for the region's dry reds, garnering critical acclaim and a devoted following among sommeliers and collectors alike. Next, Decelle set his sights on Bordeaux, acquiring Château Jean-Faure in Saint-Émilion. Long regarded as an underachiever, under Decelle it began to turn out Cabernet Franc-driven wines of haunting perfume and grace — the type of "insider" Saint-Émilion that savvy buyers snap up before Parker scores send prices skyward. But it was Burgundy that would prove Decelle's ultimate siren call. In 2008, he established what was then known as Domaine Decelle-Villa, later rechristened Decelle & Fils. Far from a mere hobbyist or absentee owner, Decelle, a winemaker’s winemaker, threw himself into the work, relying on intuition, gut feeling, and a contrarian streak that has him perpetually "swimming upstream" against convention. This approach translates to every aspect of Decelle & Fils.
The Method: Biodynamic viticulture underpins everything here. The vines, rooted in some of the Côte d'Or's most promising terroirs, carry a crystalline purity. In the cellar, Decelle employs partial whole-cluster fermentation judiciously, aiming to amplify each terroir's voice without overwhelming it. New oak is applied with a feather-light touch, ensuring that wood never masks the fruit's subtle inflections.
Our Tasting Notes: From the tensile, high-toned Hautes Côtes offerings to the more sculpted village wines, a common thread emerges: precision, energy, and that ineffable sense of "somewhereness" that makes great Burgundy so compelling. The Savigny-lès-Beaune trio, in particular, stands out for its ability to pivot seamlessly from silken reds to a mineral-driven blanc. In the Nuits-Saint-Georges and Pommard, you’ll thrill to find archetypal characteristics — structure, depth — rendered with unexpected finesse. These are wines that whisper rather than shout, yet leave an indelible impression nonetheless.
Fun Fact: Before delving into wine, Olivier Decelle made his mark in the frozen food industry. It's a fitting metaphor for his winemaking philosophy: preserving the essence of exceptional raw materials and making them accessible without compromising on quality.
Our Guarantee: As with all our offerings, these wines come directly from the estate. Your bottles will arrive in pristine condition, ready for your cellar—or your glass. Act now to secure yours!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Fall 2024. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NY & TN. This offer will expire on Sunday, September 1st, 2024, or until items are sold out.
