France

Burgundy

Burgundy, the mythical home of wines made from Pinot Noir & Chardonnay … don’t forget AligotéGammay too!

Located in the middle of France on the eastern side. There is no other wine region that has been defined in such incredible detail. Each vineyard has been named and classified. Within these vineyards their are also Lieux Dits  referring to a specific part of a vineyard or region recognized for its own topographic or historical specificities.

This detailed definition allows for the equally detailed exploration of terroir. Hereditary tittle law in France has seen vineyards split between siblings generation after generation. Many incredibly small parcels producing only enough grapes to yield a single barrel of wine exist. This further extends our ability to see terroir in action vs the hand of the maker with many of the great vineyards having dozens of owners each producing minuscule volumes of wine.

The opportunity to taste them side by side is becoming increasingly difficult as scarcity drives prices up!

The most famous and coveted wines are the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay of the Côte de Nuits and Côte du Beaune. Together they form a narrow escarpment running north-south over a distances of less than 50kms.

Much further north the Chardonnay from Chablis stands comfortably on it’s own two feet with some delicious mineral, fine wines with insane ability to age.

To the south excellent wines are produced in the Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais, home to Chardonnays of exceptional value & personality.

Further again the Gammay from Beaujolais represents some of the beast value wines from Burgundy.

We’ve shared a series of articles in the Wine Bites Mag “Getting Your Head Around Burgundy” deep diving into the region.

Where marginal climate saw a high proportion of tough vintages in Burgundy. In ability to rippen grapes is less often a problem today. Catastrophic frosts and hail storms more of an issue.

Filters & Sorting

Domaine des Croix Beaune Rouge 2022

Pinot Noir | France, Beaune

A stunning introduction to Domaine des Croix. The first time tasting David Croix's wines for me. The Beaune village shows the energy and freshness true across the range. Expressive and composed with a sense of harmony.Red fruits with refined even tannins flowing across the palate. Slightly, slatey tannins. A lovely spice and a gentle grip from stalk use. Superb at this level, even and long. Delicious drinking.Paul Kaan, Wine Decoded“The 2022 Beaune Village has turned out nicel
$152
$145ea in any 3+
$138ea in any 6+
Domaine SC Guillard Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 'Aux Corvées' 2018
Benchmark Villages Gevrey
Layers of concentrated fruit and a refined texture this is a superb effort full of personality! Very deep color. The is more new oak here to be seen of first impressions that elevate the overall complexity and class of the aromas, it is amply carried by the depth of fruit, wild strawberry, black cherry, blackberry and plum with a brooding background. The palate is suitably concentrated with ample extract and structure that has layers of fruit and texture. Very classy effort. The finish long and
$153
$148ea in any 3+
$143ea in any 6+
Stéphane Moreau called Forêts “…one of the greatest terroirs of Chablis.” It’s a historical sub-plot within the 1er Cru Montmains, located high up the slope and facing southeast. It can certainly produce Chablis of the highest order, as both Dauvissat and Moreau have shown many times (Raveneau also has a small parcel). Moreau farms two plots of vines here, over a total of just under two hectares. The first is alongside the vineyard of Vincent Dauvissat, and the vines are the s
$153
$148ea in any 3+
$143ea in any 6+
The reds of Chassagne a little secret that's slowly making its way out of the bag. I had one of Alex's red the 1978 monopole Morgeot 'La Cardeuse' in September 2020. In a word stunning. Ask Alex and he'll tell you the soil profile is very similar to Chambolle in that neck of the woods.Offering up notes of peonies, rose petals, red berries and spices, the 2021 Chassagne-Montrachet Vieilles Vignes is medium-bodied, satiny and perfumed, with lively acids and a saline finish.William Kelley,
$154
$149ea in any 3+
$144ea in any 6+

Benjamin Leroux Savigny-lès-Beaune 2022

Pinot Noir | Savigny-lès-Beaune, Burgundy

The lion’s share of this release comes from the outstanding Aux Fourneaux lieu-dit in the north of the village. Leroux works with lots of Pinot Fin here (a high-quality, low-yielding Pinot Noir cultivar), giving low yields and great concentration. The fruit from these vines fermented with 15% bunches. A fully destemmed parcel of Les Conardises was also included this year. The wine, half of which was raised without sulphur, matured exclusively in large cask—half in foudre and half in 600-litr
$154
$147ea in any 3+
$140ea in any 6+
Pavelot's Top wine rates as one of the few remaining bargains in Burgundy! An extremely ripe yet again, still fresh nose offers up its aromas of mocha, poached plum and black cherry jam. The rich, round and quite supple medium-bodied flavors immediately firm up on the youthfully austere, palate coating and lightly mineral infused finale. This firmly structured effort is going to need at least some patience as it's presently quite tightly wound. Drink: 2036+ ♥ OutstandingBurghoundAlso
$156
$151ea in any 3+
$146ea in any 6+
La Digoine is a site at the foot of a slope, known for centuries to provide the deep soil and growing conditions necessary for excellent red wine.Our vineyard here is planted in moderate-yield Pinot Noir.La Digoine can be drunk very young. Within two or three months of bottling, it demonstrates immediate appeal with red berry fruit and a balance of roundness, structure, and lenght on the palate. However, this is another versatil wine which benefits from bottle aging.After 18 to 24 mo
$159
$152ea in any 3+
$145ea in any 6+
This Climat is almost an extension of the slopes where the Grands Crus grow, with only a small path separating them. Sitting directly alongside Les Preuses, the proximity to its illustrious neighbours results in powerful, mineral wines.This could be from nowhere else but Chablis with its equally cool, elegant and airy aromas of white-fleshed fruit, floral, iodine and subtle passion fruit-scanted nose. The super-sleek, refined and energetic medium weight flavors possess both ample mineral
$160
$155ea in any 3+
$150ea in any 6+
Wow! Initially a little spritz that swirled of quickly, the protective nature of dissolved CO2 goes some way to explaining why this wine looks younger than the “2020 Retour a Terre”.  Bottling with a little CO2 is a sign that they see this as a wine for the longer haul. It is obsolete to repeat many of Kelley’s remarks. It’s clear that the fruit is exceptional, the mid-palate weight, always a sign of quality Chardonnay, is impressive, along with the flow, shape and texture. Incred
$160
$153ea in any 3+
$146ea in any 6+
A slightly cooler if still ripe nose reflects notes of white pepper, plenty of citrus influence and discreet shellfish nuances. Here too the palate impression of the middleweight flavors is one of richness and generosity yet the supporting acidity is both a little firmer and a bit brighter as well. This delicious effort could use better depth but more should reasonably develop with a few years of aging. Allen Meadows, Burghound 90-92 Points
$160
$153ea in any 3+
$146ea in any 6+
A slightly riper if still agreeably fresh nose freely offer up its array of white and yellow orchard fruit, citrus rind, apple and tidal pool hints. The palate impression of the medium weight flavors possesses more volume still with a lovely sense of richness and minerality that adds a sense of lift to the very dry but not really austere finale. A few years of cellaring should see this drinking well. Allen Meadows, Burghound 89-92 Points
$160
$153ea in any 3+
$146ea in any 6+
The reds of Chassagne a little secret that's slowly making its way out of the bag. I had one of Alex's red the 1978 monopole Morgeot 'La Cardeuse' in September 2020. In a word stunning. Ask Alex and he'll tell you the soil profile is very similar to Chambolle in that neck of the woods. Here too there is a peppery character lurking in the background of the rich and generous if not especially dense flavors that conclude in a balanced, mildly rustic and lingering finale that is fir
$160
$153ea in any 3+
$146ea in any 6+