Frederic Cossard: Iconic Natural Wines with Classic Character

If you’re looking for wines that truly showcase the essence of Burgundy and embody the natural wine movement, here it is. Frederic Cossard is quite an icon of the natural wine scene, producing wines naturally without losing its classic Burgundy character. Think of Frederic’s wines as a meeting point between the classic and natural wine worlds, much like Prieuré Roch. His wines are appealing and expressive, delivering a high dose of drinking pleasure.

Cossard wasn’t born into a family of vigneron, he started his journey as a “courtier” in Burgundy, serving as the intermediary between winegrowers and négociants. Fuelled by his dissatisfaction with seeing exceptional grapes transformed into subpar wines due to cellar practices, Domaine de Chassorney was born in 1996. Starting humbly with just a few hectares of rented vines in Saint Romain and Auxey Duresses, the estate has since flourished and now spans ten hectares across multiple villages. He also acts as a négociant, which gives him access to fruit from some of Burgundy’s most prestigious vineyards. Frederic Cossard presents these extraordinary wines under his own name, ‘Frederic Cossard’, a testament to their premium quality.

The vinification process remains consistent across his entire range. For reds, whole clusters are pressed directly that undergo a long but gentle maceration in large open wooden barrels, without temperature control, for up to 42 days. Subsequently, they are stored in cement eggs. This meticulous approach produces wines that are vibrant, unmanipulated, and exude a juicy character. Notably, they are enjoyable in their youth and possess excellent aging potential.