Jane Eyre is originally from Melbourne. Formerly a hairdresser in one of the city’s top salons, Jane “fell in love” with Burgundy while doing work experience at Domaine Chevrot in 1998. Back in Australia, she studied winemaking at Charles Sturt University and worked vintages at Cullen in the Margaret River, and Felton Road and Ata Rangi in New Zealand. She returned to Europe in 2003. Following a three-month spell with Ernie Loosen in the Mosel, she subsequently made Burgundy her home, working first at Domaine des Comtes Lafon and then as assistant winemaker at Domaine Newman. She has gradually developed her own négociant business since 2011 and was delighted to move from the rented space she shared with Dominique Lafon into her own premises in Cissey just before the 2021 harvest.

In the 2021 edition of Le Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France, Jane Eyre was awarded two stars, one of only 26 producers in the whole of France to be recognised at this level. She was also named ‘Négociant of the Year’ in the Revue des Vins de France 2021, the first woman to be awarded the title. Both accolades are a phenomenal achievement for a relative newcomer to Burgundy.

The ‘Cents Vignes’ vineyard is located towards the northern end of Beaune’s belt of Premier Cru vineyards, near the commune boundary with Savigny-lès-Beaune. The wine boasts bright, red fruit on the nose, perfumed with violet flowers and steely graphite notes. The Pinot Noir for Jane’s Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru ‘Les Corbeaux’ comes from vines which are over 50 years old. It offers aromas of violets and mulberry on the nose, with racy acidity, savoury tannin and structured, red berry flavours, which all come together on the palate for a superbly balanced wine. Her Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru ‘Aux Vergelesses’ is beautifully perfumed, with a bouquet of red cherries, violets and raspberries. It has a superb structure, meaning the wine will continue to develop in bottle. Jane knows the ‘Avaux’ vineyard well from her time at Domaine Newman, so jumped at the chance to source fruit from this Beaune Premier Cru. The vines are located on the Pommard side of Beaune and produce a perfumed and elegant example of this appellation. The other recent addition to Jane’s range is a Santenay Blanc. The views from this vineyard took her breath away when she first visited. The position, looking over Maranges, gives the wine excellent freshness which is balanced by expressive citrus fruit.