PRIMA Notes:  We’ve long been fans of this small property now in its third generation.  Patrice’s father, Daniel, was a tremendous winemaker and his wonderful offerings from Nuits St. Georges were fixtures here at PRIMA for many, many years.  I still remember fondly the 1996 Nuits Argillieres, one of the first real ‘a-ha’ wines from the appellation.  Patrice still makes this cuvee, along with several other family heirloom wines in Nuits and Chambolle.  Patrice and Michele’s son Maxime has joined the family business now too and their wines are still known for a precise and laser-like focus one rarely finds even in the most exalted cuvees much less cuvees like this ‘simple’ Bourgogne Chardonnay from 30-year old vines that are grown in Hautes Cotes de Beaune. This fabulous Chardonnay drinks, we think, with the Beaune’s very top appellations.  Since it’s the only white produced at Rion, it gets an awful lot of love!  Hand harvested and whole-cluster crushed, it’s aged in neutral wood for a year to preserve its freshness and very pure fruit.  Like a lot of 2020 whites, it’s surprisingly rich for a wine from this appellation and very aromatic too.  We found, in addition to the Cotes de Beaune’s usual skinned nuts, Asian pears and spice, there are notes of gingerbread, lilac flower and dry honey- notes we usually find in wines like Chassagne and Meursault!  And there is considerable depth too.  The palate is nice and rich with plenty of zing and plenty of mineral to keep it lithe and elegant enough for all kinds of Chardonnay-friendly fare.  Crab on the menu for your Super Bowl soiree?  Add a warm sourdough loaf and a glass of this and you’re all set.  Just remember not to serve it too cold to allow for all that loveliness to show its best.  And keep a few bottles for down the road too.  It’s going to age well.