Discover the article in Hotellerie Gastronomie Hebdo about David BIRAUD (MOF Sommellerie) and his expertise in confidential Burgundy wines that he selects for Clos Selection.
There are men who speak of wine as a living language. David Biraud is one of them.
Best Sommelier of France 2002, Meilleur Ouvrier de France 2004, Vice World Champion Sommelier in 2016 — David Biraud's journey is that of a passionate individual who has never stopped learning. Today, alongside Clos Sélection, he applies this expertise to a Burgundy he himself describes as "a little secret": lesser-known communal appellations, winemakers reclaiming their wine, terroirs that tell stories that grand labels no longer convey.
Exploring Burgundy, glass in hand
For David Biraud, the selection begins in the field. He cycles through the appellations, shakes hands, negotiates quantities, identifies climatic boundaries and the nuances of each clay or limestone. This is how he discovers Yannick Cadiou's work on less than a hectare — "a great man on a small area" — or falls under the spell of a 2023 Chassagne Morgeot 1er Cru from Vincent Latour, whose nose evokes root and undergrowth.
His conviction: today's winemakers have become true wine artisans. Less new oak, more attention to the terroir, absolute vigilance in the face of climatic hazards. The 2023 vintage perfectly illustrates this — quality far outweighs volume.
An approach rooted in cuisine
What distinguishes David Biraud is also his chef's perspective. Before pairing a wine, he tastes the dish. Always. He visits market stalls, decides based on the product. It is this sensibility — both sensory and technical — that he brings to Clos Sélection: a vision of food and wine pairing that starts with the raw material, not the label.
For him, Chardonnay is "sensual, delicate, pastry-like, vegetal"; Pinot Noir must be judged by the quality of its tannins and its length on the palate. Precise criteria, serving an uncompromising selection.
Burgundy according to Clos Sélection
This is the demanding standard we share. At Clos Sélection, we don't look for wines everyone knows — we look for those that the best sommeliers choose for themselves. Bottles that carry a story, a place, a man.
David Biraud embodies this philosophy. And with him, Burgundy has never seemed so close.
