Régnard Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2023 Review: A €25 Burgundy with More Grace Than Muscle
Finding a decent Burgundy for €25 has become something of a treasure hunt. The famous villages have long escaped the reach of everyday drinking, and even regional Pinot Noir can command prices that its quality struggles to justify. Régnard Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2023 offers a welcome change: a light, fragrant red with lively acidity, delicate tannins and a charmingly uncomplicated personality.
There is nothing particularly grand about it, and that is part of its appeal. The wine favours freshness over concentration, with a floral perfume, a gentle peppery accent and a clean, savoury finish. It has enough character to be interesting, although the relatively slender palate reveals its limitations.
This is Burgundy for the dinner table rather than the cellar. At €25, the distinction matters.
The Basics
- Producer: Maison Régnard
- Wine: Bourgogne Pinot Noir
- Vintage: 2023
- Appellation: Bourgogne AOC
- Region: Burgundy, France
- Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
- Grape origin: Selected vineyards in the Côte de Beaune
- Soils: Chalky limestone
- Harvest: Manual
- Vinification: Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in stainless-steel tanks
- Alcohol: 12.5% ABV
- Bottle size: 750 ml
- Serving temperature: 14–16°C
Maison Régnard: A Chablis Producer with a Taste for Red Burgundy
Maison Régnard was founded in Chablis in 1860 by Zéphir Régnard, making it one of the historic names of northern Burgundy. Its reputation rests primarily on Chardonnay, particularly its range of Chablis Premier Cru and Grand Cru wines.
In 1984, the house was acquired by Baron Patrick de Ladoucette, already associated with the great Sauvignon Blanc wines of Pouilly-Fumé. Under his ownership, Régnard maintained its traditional identity while developing a broader selection of Burgundian wines.
Its Bourgogne Pinot Noir is an interesting departure from the whites that made the house famous. The grapes are sourced from the Côte de Beaune, a region better known for distinguished village appellations than for inexpensive bottles.
The difference between a regional Bourgogne and a prestigious village wine is not merely a question of reputation. The broader appellation allows producers to select grapes from several vineyards, creating a consistent house style rather than expressing the character of a single site.
That approach can produce anonymous wines, particularly when inexpensive fruit is overwhelmed by aggressive extraction or oak. Régnard takes a more restrained direction, emphasising the delicacy of Pinot Noir.
The result belongs to the lighter, more accessible side of Burgundy, far removed from the muscular tannins associated with some of the region’s most celebrated reds. Our guide to Pommard provides a useful picture of just how different the grape can become within the Côte de Beaune.
The 2023 Vintage and Winemaking
The 2023 growing season was generous across much of Burgundy, although warmth, intermittent rain and variable ripening conditions required careful decisions in the vineyards. The resulting reds often combine attractive fruit maturity with an approachable structure.
For Régnard, the grapes are harvested by hand and fermented in stainless-steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation also takes place in steel, softening the wine’s sharper acidity before clarification and light filtration.
This relatively straightforward process suits the character of the cuvée. There is no need to manufacture additional weight or disguise the fruit beneath an elaborate barrel programme.
Instead, the emphasis remains on a clean aromatic profile and the natural balance between acidity and tannins.
The use of stainless steel is particularly important in a wine of this style. It preserves the delicate floral character of the grapes and avoids adding the toasted notes that can make modest Pinot Noir taste more expensive without making it more interesting.
The approach contrasts with that of producers such as Frédéric Cossard, whose Bourgogne Rouge Bedeau 2021 pursues a considerably more ambitious expression of regional Burgundy.
Régnard’s objective is simpler: a well-balanced red that can be enjoyed while its fruit remains youthful.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Bright ruby red, moderately transparent, with lively crimson reflections.
Bouquet: The nose is delicate but expressive, opening with redcurrant, a suggestion of sour cherry and a fragrant floral note reminiscent of rose petals. A little white pepper introduces a pleasant contrast, followed by an understated earthy nuance.
What makes the perfume attractive is its restraint. There is no heavy sweetness, no intrusive vanilla and no attempt to give the impression of greater concentration through exaggerated ripeness.
It develops gradually in the glass, although the aromatic range remains relatively narrow. The floral character is more distinctive than the fruit itself.
Palate: Light to medium-bodied, supple on entry and immediately refreshing. The acidity gives the wine definition without becoming sharp, while the tannins are fine and discreet.
There is enough fruit to provide a satisfying opening, followed by a faint herbal note and a dry, gently spicy progression. The texture is pleasant, almost silky, although it lacks the density and depth of more ambitious Burgundy reds.
The middle palate is where the limitations become apparent. The wine has freshness and balance, but not enough concentration to sustain a particularly complex development. Its elegance is genuine, though relatively simple.
A subtle savoury bitterness adds interest towards the finish, preventing the soft fruit from becoming monotonous.
Finish: Moderately persistent, with a delicate peppery accent, lingering floral notes and a clean, dry conclusion. The acidity remains lively, leaving the palate refreshed rather than exhausted.
Our Verdict
Régnard Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2023 is an appealing introduction to the lighter side of red Burgundy. It has a fragrant nose, fine tannins and an admirably restrained character, with none of the excessive extraction that can make inexpensive Pinot Noir clumsy.
Its weakness is depth. The aromatic profile is attractive but not especially complex, and the palate loses some intensity after its promising opening. Those shortcomings become more noticeable when the wine is tasted analytically than when it accompanies a meal.
At €25, it faces competition from other European Pinot Noirs offering greater concentration or a more distinctive identity. Yet Burgundy’s appeal has never depended entirely on power.
Régnard understands that a modest Pinot Noir can be satisfying without pretending to be a Premier Cru. It delivers elegance and freshness at a price that remains relatively reasonable for the region.
A good everyday Burgundy, not an extraordinary bargain. Buy it for its delicacy and ease of drinking, rather than for complexity or long-term ageing.
Price
€24.90 for a 750 ml bottle.
Food Pairings
Paella, vitello tonnato, chicken curry, pulled pork, empanadas, hamburgers.
