Size: 22 hectares in Savigny, 1 ha Aloxe Corton, 1ha Pernand Vergelesses, 1/3 ha Latricières Chambertin.

History: This old family Domaine dates back to at least 1868, when records describe Patrick Bize’s great grandfather, Simon, purchasing vineyards: he was a butcher and sometimes bills were settled with vineyards (worth almost nothing in those days) rather than money. When he died in 1920, Simon’s son, also Simon, took over the estate, also a butcher by trade but committed enough to begin domaine bottling. His death in 1940, left the estate victim to the war for 5 years, until the third generation of Simons took over in 1945, this time as a full-time wine grower. The estate flourished and grew over the next decades, Simon purchasing notable plots such as Grands Liards, Vergelesses and Guettes. Patrick, the fourth generation or Bizes, joined his father in 1972, after a 3 year stint in the French navy and then experience with some of Burgundy’s greatest names: Jacques Seysses (Dujac), Hubert de Montille, Aubert de Villaine and Pierre Ramonet. He has been in charge since 1988 and is now assisted by Guillaume Bott, previously with Domaine Sauzet for 7 years.

The Bize holdings are almost entirely within the Savigny AC, a mix of Premier Cru sites, village wines and some vineyards destined for generic Bourgogne (see vineyards). 

Methods: Yields are kept to 25-40hl/ha for reds and 40-50hl/ha for whites. For reds, only bunches from vines younger than 20 years are destemmed, and fermentation takes place over 15-18 days in large oak vats. The wine is matured in barrel for 16-18 months and new oak is used sparingly, generally about 10%, though Premier Crus can be up to 50%. Bott has made several changes to the vinification process of the whites, including settling of the juice pre-fermentation, fermented in a mixture of stainless steel and oak and regular lees stirring. In general, Bott has encouraged more varied methods in both vineyards and cellar, depending on the nature of each vintage. Particular care in the vineyards often results in quite precocious ripening and relatively early picking. He has also establish an analytical laboratory at the Domaine.

Style: The reds are delicious medium drinking wines, elegant and not over masculine. In recent years, the estate white wines have had a greater minerality and poise, partly due maybe to Bott’s increased use of stainless steel. 

Vineyards:
- White
Bourgogne ‘Les Perrières’: 1 hectare, one third planted 1953, the rest in 1987. Faces south east, with a very stony subsoil giving mineral wines.
Bourgogne ‘Les Champlains’: 4 hectares, planted in 1991. Both Champlains and Perrières are Bourgogne lieu dits, situated high up about the village with limestone soils. Champlains soil is particularly deep, giving aromatic wines. The vineyard (and cuvée) contains a tiny proportion of Pinot Beurot: ancient Burgundian synonym for Pinot Gris.
Savigny-lès-Beaune Villages Blanc: 2 hectares, planted in 1991, covering several parcels with varying expositions but all with the same ‘terres blanches’ (limestone?)
Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru “Aux Vergelesses”: 1/3 hectare, planted in 1992 with a south easterly exposition. Produces aromatic wines of great purity and charm.
Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru: just under 1/3 hectare, planted in 1952, facing West on white marl, rich in clay. The wines are fine, mineral and opulent.
- Red
Bourgogne ‘Les Perrières’: 2 hectares, half of which was planted in 1971 and half in 1981. Clay soils, producing fleshy wines with good tannic backbone.
Savigny-lès-Beaune Village ‘Les Bourgeots’: 5 hectares, planted in 1963 and 1974 and situated between the two premier cru hillsides.
Savigny-lès-Beaune ‘Aux Grands-Liards’: 1.5 hectares, planted in 1939, 1948, 1955 and 1979. South facing, producing well structured, well integrated, masculine wines.
Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru ‘Aux Guettes’: 0.5 hectares, planted in 1963 and south facing. The soils are rich in clay, giving powerful, well structured, meaty wines.
Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru ‘Aux Vergelesses’: 3 hectares of south east facing slopes, one hectare each planted in 1946, 1968 and 1978. Probably the finest Savigny vineyard, giving reds (and whites) that combine power and finesse.
Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru ‘Les Serpentières’: 8 ouvrées {HL 1 ouvrée = 428m2}, planted in 1959 and facing South East. The wines are soft, tender, elegant.
Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Aux Fourneaux: 1 hectare, facing East, planted in 1961. The wines are similar in style to those of “Aux Vergelesses”, elegant and long lived.
Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Les Marconnets: 0.6 hectares, planted in 1973, facing East. Very stony soil, giving rich, supple, gamey wines.
Savigny-lès-Beaune ‘Champlains’: ???
Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Aux Fourneaux: ??? plump and attractive wine