Simon Bize
A meticulous Burgundy producer crafting elegant, mineral-driven Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays from the slopes of Savigny-lès-Beaune with obsessive attention to terroir expression.
Simon Bize is a fourth-generation family domaine in Savigny-lès-Beaune, Burgundy, founded in 1947 by Simon Bize and Patrick Bize managed the domaine from approximately the early 1980s until his untimely death in 2013. Since then, the domaine has been managed by his wife Chisa Bize. with remarkable precision and low-intervention winemaking philosophy. The domaine operates approximately 14 hectares of vineyard across multiple Premier and Grand Cru parcels, with a reputation for producing some of Burgundy's most transparent, age-worthy expressions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Their wines exemplify the Côte de Beaune's potential for elegance and complexity without extraction or manipulation.
- Founded in 1880 by Simon Bize (the great-grandfather); Patrick Bize took over management in the early 1980s. Patrick Bize passed away in 2013, and the domaine is now managed by his wife Chisa Bize and his sister Marielle Grivot-Bize.; now a 14-hectare domaine under Patrick Bize's stewardship since the 1980s
- Savigny-lès-Beaune based, with key holdings in Savigny Premier Crus including Les Marconnets, Les Pieurots, and À l'Écu
- Practices organic viticulture and minimal intervention winemaking; uses natural yeasts and minimal new oak (typically 20-30% depending on cuvée)
- Known for distinctive terroir-driven style: lean, mineral, and built for cellaring—2012 Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Marconnets still showing excellence in 2024
- Produces both rouge (Pinot Noir) and blanc (Chardonnay) with equal philosophical commitment to authenticity
- Small production: typically 40,000-50,000 bottles annually across all cuvées
- Recognized by critics including Burghound (consistently 90+ ratings) and Jancis Robinson as a producer of exceptional value and purity
Definition & Origin
Simon Bize is a family-operated domaine (not a négociant) in Savigny-lès-Beaune, a historic commune in the Côte de Beaune, Burgundy. Founded immediately post-World War II by Simon Bize, the domaine represents a continuity of Burgundian winemaking philosophy centered on minimal intervention and maximum terroir expression. The domaine is now helmed by Patrick Bize, who inherited vineyards and refined the house style toward even greater precision and transparency.
- Classification: Family domaine (Domaine Simon Bize & Fils)
- Village: Savigny-lès-Beaune, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy
- Current proprietor: Patrick Bize (since ~1988)
- Vineyard size: ~14 hectares total
Why It Matters
Simon Bize exemplifies the possibility of authentic, age-worthy Burgundy produced without commercial compromise or excessive extraction. In an era when some producers chase ripeness and oak, Simon Bize remains devoted to pure varietal expression, mineral character, and food-friendly acidity. For collectors and students of wine, the domaine demonstrates that restraint and precision—not manipulation—create wines of lasting elegance and investment potential.
- Pioneer of low-intervention Burgundy production philosophy
- Consistent critical recognition without major international marketing
- Strong secondary market demand and price appreciation, particularly for aged releases
- Model for sustainable viticulture and minimal sulfite usage in Burgundy
How to Identify It in Wine
Simon Bize wines are immediately recognizable by their pale ruby color (even in youth), silky texture, and prominent mineral/earthy note on the nose—never jammy or over-extracted. Pinot Noirs show red cherry, wild strawberry, forest floor, and white pepper; Chardonnays display green apple, hazelnut, and limestone minerality with notable acidity. The wines are deliberately understated and require air and proper serving temperature to fully express themselves; they reward patience in the bottle and are built for 15-30 year aging curves.
- Pale, translucent ruby color with low tannin grip on palate
- Bright acidity (pH typically 3.3-3.5) and mineral-driven aromatics
- Subtle new oak integration; fruit remains primary focus
- White label with black lettering; distinctive narrow-neck Burgundy bottles
Vineyard Portfolio & Terroir
The domaine holds parcels across multiple Premier Crus in Savigny-lès-Beaune, including some of the appellation's finest slopes. Les Marconnets, on the warmer eastern aspect, yields deeper, more structured Pinot Noir; Les Pieurots and À l'Écu show greater mineral precision and nuance. Savigny's cool microclimate and iron-rich soils (containing oolitic limestone) produce wines of particular transparency and food-friendliness compared to warmer Côte de Beaune communes.
- Premier Crus: Les Marconnets, Les Pieurots, À l'Écu, La Serpentière, and others
- Soil: Oolitic limestone with iron-rich clay; excellent drainage
- Aspect: Mixed easterly and southeasterly slopes; moderate altitude (250-300m)
- Organic viticulture certification (conversion completed early 2010s)
Winemaking Philosophy & Key Releases
Patrick Bize employs whole-cluster fermentation (70-80%), native yeast fermentation, and minimal sulfite additions—a methodology that requires meticulous fruit quality and barrel management. The wines are aged 12-16 months in used Burgundy barrels (20-30% new oak) with minimal racking, preserving natural aromatics. Landmark releases include the 2012 and 2015 Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Marconnets (90+ point scores globally), which demonstrate the domaine's consistency across different vintage characters.
- Whole-cluster fermentation at temperature control (20-22°C)
- Native Burgundy yeasts; no commercial additives
- 12-16 months barrel aging; minimal racking; sulfite added only pre-bottling
- Signature releases: Les Marconnets, Savigny Rouge (village level), Savigny Blanc
Critical Reception & Collecting
Simon Bize has earned consistent recognition from serious wine critics, particularly Allen Meadows (Burghound), who has repeatedly scored the top cuvées in the 92-95 range. The domaine's wines show exceptional secondary market strength, with 2009 and 2015 vintage Marconnets appreciating significantly since release. Despite this recognition, Simon Bize remains relatively under-hyped compared to prestigious names, offering remarkable value for collectors seeking classic, age-worthy Burgundy.
- Burghound ratings: typically 90-95 for Premier Cru wines; 87-90 for village wines
- Jancis Robinson: consistent 16-17 point scores (Burgundy reference)
- Secondary market: strong appreciation, particularly 2012, 2015, 2018 vintages
- Price point: €40-70 retail (Premier Cru); €20-30 (village level)—exceptional value
Simon Bize Pinot Noirs display elegant, transparent fruit presentation with prominent mineral, earthy, and savory characteristics. Expect red cherry, wild strawberry, and white pepper aromatics with white-edged tannins and bright, refreshing acidity (never heavy or over-ripe). The wines show distinct earth and forest-floor notes, subtle white oak influence, and a silky, food-friendly texture that evolves gracefully over 15-20 years. Chardonnays offer green apple, white peach, hazelnut, and limestone minerality with comparable elegance and remarkable precision.