Irancy, Burgundy: 10 Best Wines to Buy, Vineyards, Terroir

by Anthony Zhang

Irancy is a picturesque village in the Grand Auxerrois region and one of Burgundy's hidden gems.

This red wine region has lived in the shadow of the more famous Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards in Burgundy.

For a long time, this region still had a regional appellation with a ‘Bourgogne Irancy’ label. But since Irancy earned its village appellation in 1999, its wines have increased in quality and are known for their unique taste profile.

Today, Irancy wines present an exciting expression of the Pinot Noir grape varietal. The best ones can be an affordable alternative even to renowned Burgundy wine bottles from Côte de Nuits.

In this article, we’ll discover all about Irancy, including the region’s winemaking practices, terroir, and its 10 best wines.

Irancy Wines: A Quick Intro to Burgundy’s Undiscovered Gem

Here are some quick facts about the Irancy wine region:

Where Is The Irancy Wine Region?

Irancy is a small village in Northern Burgundy, France. The red wine region is 15 kilometers southwest from the famous Chablis wine region.

What Grape Variety Is Used In Irancy?

Irancy wines are mainly made from the Pinot Noir grape variety. The Irancy appellation also permits 10% of Cesar grapes, a local grape variety.

What Is The Irancy Wine Region Size?

The Irancy appellation covers 315 hectares of vineyard lands in Northern Burgundy. However, only 156 hectares are planted with red grape varieties (of which only 5 hectares are planted with Cesar grapes.)

A few meters beyond the village boundary, the wine label changes to Bourgogne Côte d’Auxerre. Irancy’s rose and white wine is marketed under this label.

How Does Irancy Wine Taste?

Irancy wines have a vibrant crimson colour. They feature blackcurrant, Morello cherry, raspberry, blackberry fruit aromas.

The wines are fruity and floral on the palate, with a subtle tasting note of pepper.

Who Are The Top Wine Producers In Irancy?

While every winemaker in Irancy produces quality wines, the top producers include Domaine des Remparts, Domaine Thierry Richoux, Domaine Verret, and Domaine David Renaud.

What’s Irancy's Terroir Like?

Soil: The Irancy vineyard lands benefit from Kimmeridgian marls, which are credited for making wines distinctively mineral.Soils in an Irancy vineyard are composed of clay and brown limestone, with an abundance of fossilized seashells that reflect the sun's rays on the vine.
Climate: Irancy witnesses snow in winter and regular spring frosts, making it a cool-climate region. The finest vineyards are located on Irancy’s low slopes that are covered by cherry trees and have better sun exposure.
Altitude: Irancy vineyards are usually located at a height of 130-150 meters.

How Much Alcohol Does A Bottle of Irancy Wine Have?

A bottle of Irancy wine has an alcohol content of 13-14% ABV.

What Food Pairs Best With An Irancy Wine?

Here are some suitable dishes you can consume with Irancy wines:

Red meat, including:
- Roast or grilled pork
- Pork spare ribs
- Fried or roast veal
- Grilled and roast lamb
- Roast beef spare ribs
- Braised lamb

Cheese, such as:
- Camembert
- Coulommiers
- Brie de Meaux
- Cantal
- Chaource
- Langres
- Époisses

What Is The Ideal Serving Temperature For Irancy Wines?

The ideal serving temperature for a bottle of Irancy wine is 15-18°C.

What Is The Aging Potential Of An Irancy Wine?

Irancy wines are usually best consumed between 3-4 years, with some excellent vintages having a cellaring potential of up to 10 years.

Let’s now look at the most sought-after wines from this region.

10 Magnificent Irancy Wines to Buy Today

These are some of the best wines from the Irancy wine region:

2012 Thierry Richoux Irancy Veaupessiot ($58)
2019 Rene et Vincent Dauvissat-Camus Irancy ($61)
2017 Vini Viti Vinci Irancy ' Les Vieilles' ($43)
2018 Vini Viti Vinci Irancy La Croix Buteix ($41)
2017 Thierry Richoux Irancy ($32)
2016 Guilhem & Jean-Hugues Goisot Irancy Les Mazelots ($34)
2018 Simonnet-Febvre Irancy ($26)
2015 Clotilde Davenne Irancy ($34)
2017 Thierry Richoux Irancy Veaupessiot ($27)
2014 Rene et Vincent Dauvissat-Camus Irancy ($42)

1. 2012 Thierry Richoux Irancy Veaupessiot ($58)

This red wine by Domaine Thierry Richoux has a lovely spiced nose of gouache and red berry aromas. The wine features a silky tannin texture with sour cherry, blackcurrant, succulent acids, and balsamic flavors.

2. 2019 Rene et Vincent Dauvissat-Camus Irancy ($61)

Here we have an Irancy wine with strawberry and black pepper aromas, accompanied by limestone flavors and a cacao beans tasting note.

3. 2017 Vini Viti Vinci Irancy ' Les Vieilles' ($43)

This organic wine by winemaker Nicolas Vauthier has fresh fruit aromas, accompanied by cranberry and cinnamon flavors.

4. 2018 Vini Viti Vinci Irancy La Croix Buteix ($41)

irancy-2018 Vini Viti Vinci Irancy La Croix Buteix.jpg

Here’s a red wine with fresh dark fruit aromas. This light wine features a smooth palate of leather and spice notes.

5. 2017 Thierry Richoux Irancy ($32)

This red wine offers spicy cherry fruit and rich soil aromas. The palate has raspberry and blackcurrant flavors.

This 2017 red wine has a score of 91 points by the Wine Advocate.

6. 2016 Guilhem & Jean-Hugues Goisot Irancy Les Mazelots ($34)

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This 2016 Les Mazelots red wine has aromas of red fruit, fresh herbs, and Kimmeridgean marl minerality. On the palate, it features chilled red fruit flavors.

7. 2018 Simonnet-Febvre Irancy ($26)

This light-bodied wine features smoky aromas of tobacco and spices, accompanied by sour raspberry, cherry fruit flavors, and virile tannins.

8. 2015 Clotilde Davenne Irancy ($34)

Made with approximately 10% Cesar and 90% Pinot Noir grape varieties, this red wine has earthy and smoky aromas. The palate has strawberry and herb flavors.