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.


2020 Burgundy Bonanza!


Henri Gouges

It hard to talk about Nuits-Saint-Georges without talking about Henri Gouges. For near a century the Domaine has quietly been working away to expand their holding and continually improve their wines. "A more deeply pitched and brooding nose only grudgingly reveals its aromas of cassis plum liqueur and pungent earth where the latter is also found on the vibrant and well-detailed big-bodied and tautly muscular flavors that deliver excellent depth and persistence. This is not as dense as the bes
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Mongeard-Mugneret

About Mongeard-Mugneret The Mongeard family arrived in Vosne-Romanée in the 1620, with records showing a Mongeard working as vigneron for Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in 1786. Their legacy now spans over eight generations, however they continue to produce wine with the utmost respect for tradition. In 1945, Jean Mongeard, whose mother was a Mugneret, found […]
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About Mongeard-Mugneret The Mongeard family arrived in Vosne-Romanée in the 1620, with records showing a Mongeard working as vigneron for Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in 1786. Their legacy now spans over eight generations, however they continue to produce wine with the utmost respect for tradition. In 1945, Jean Mongeard, whose mother was a Mugneret, found […]
$417
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Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Echézeaux Grand Cru 2019

Pinot Noir | Vosne-Romanée, France

Mocha, black cherry and floral-infused aromas introduce less concentrated but sleeker middle weight flavors that possess a beguiling textured are shaped by more polished and finer-grained tannins on the more complex and persistent finish. This is quite pretty and should also age well.  Allen Meadows, Burghound 91-93 Points  Mongeard-Mugneret hold 4 plots of the Grand Cru Echézeaux, in the climats Les Rouges du Bas, Echézeaux du dessus, 2 in Les Treux (including a Vielles Vignes parcel)
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"Matured in 300-liter barrels made from oak that Mongeard selects and seasons himself, the 2019 Echézeaux Grand Cru La Grande Complication is a special cuvée that derives from vines planted in 1945 with the family's massal selections, located in the lieu-dit of Les Treux. Unwinding in the glass with notes of orange rind, rose petals, exotic spices, cherries and berries, it's full-bodied, deep and layered, with a concentrated, tightly wound core that shows considerable promise for long-term cel
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Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Richebourg Grand Cru 2019

Pinot Noir | Vosne-Romanée, France

"The 2019 Richebourg Grand Cru has turned out brilliantly, offering up a complex bouquet of cherries, berries and plums mingled with oriental spices, rich soil tones, rose petals and blood orange. Full-bodied, velvety and layered, it's muscular and concentrated, with huge reserves of fruit that largely conceal its broad-shouldered chassis of ripe, velvety tannins. Long and penetrating, this is the high point of Vincent Mongeard's portfolio this year." William Kelley, The Wine Advocate &nbs

Domaine de la Vougeraie

'Reduction masks everything but subtle floral nuances. More interesting are the notably finer and more mineral-driven middle weight flavors that possess both a lovely texture and underlying tension while delivering fine length on the youthfully austere finale. This too is an excellent Gevrey villages that is firm enough to reward a decade of keeping.' Drink 2030+ Outstanding ♥ Allen Meadows, Burghound 90-92 Points
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An ultra-floral inflected nose speaks of spicy dark berry fruit aromas laced with hints of earth, game and again, a smoky hint. The sleek, intense and beautifully refined larger-scaled flavors possess a beguiling texture while exuding a bracing salinity on the firm, youthfully austere and well-balanced finale. This too needs better depth, but more should develop if it's allowed at least 6 to 8 years of cellar time. Drink 2032+ Allen Meadows, Burghound 91-94 Points
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Domaine de Montille

DUE FEB 2023
"There is a vague hint of the exotic suffusing the aromas of essence of pear, passion fruit and citrus confit. There is again a really lovely texture to the vibrant middle weight flavors that exude much more obvious mineral nuances on the bone-dry, slightly austere and lingering finale." Allen Meadows, Burghound 90-92 Points
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"This is also quite firmly reduced and revealing nothing at present. On the palate though the slightly bigger flavors possess only a bit more volume but notably more power and particularly so on the even longer though not necessarily more complex finale. This is very classy juice with that sense of poise that all great wines seem to have. Very promising. Drink: 2036+ Don't miss! Outstanding ♥" Allen Meadows, Burghound
DUE FEB 2023
"An overtly floral and spice-suffused nose is a bit more deeply pitched with mostly notes of poached plum and black cherry liqueur. There is better vibrancy to the precise and attractively textured medium-bodied flavors that display fine length on the dusty, even chalky, and youthfully austere finish that is notably firmer. Fine quality here." Allen Meadows, Burghound 90-92 Points
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DUE FEB 2023

Domaine de Montille Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru ‘Aux Thorey’ 2020

Pinot Noir | Nuits-Saint-Georges, Burgundy

"A more elegant, cooler and spicier nose reflects notes of the pretty essence of red currant, rose petal and a floral top note. The elegance continues on the palate of the nicely textured and quite punchy flavors that exude evident minerality on the sneaky long and moderately structured finish. As is usually the case, this is a Nuits 1er of refinement and even a certain finesse." Drink 2030+ Outstanding ♥ Allen Meadows, Burghound 91-93 Points
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DUE FEB 2023
"Here too moderate reduction renders the nose difficult to assess. The relatively delicate and refined middle weight flavors possess no lack of punch that carries over to the youthfully austere, complex and sneaky long finish that is quite tightly wound so patience advised." Outstanding ♥ Allen Meadows, Burghound 91-94 Points
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2020 Benjamin Leroux


The vines here are owned by one of Leroux’s close friends and are sited in the heart of the 1er Cru, on the east-facing, Beaune side of Savigny. This is the area from where the most elegant Savigny wines tend to derive—so perfect for powerful years. Like most of the terrain in the Côte d’Or, the soils here are clay/limestone, but the clay here is light and sandy. So, although there’s more flesh here than in the villages cuvée—there is also greater finesse. The 2020 was fermented with
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Benjamin Leroux Volnay 1er Cru Les Mitans 2020

Pinot Noir | Volnay, Côte du Beaune

‘Mitans’ derives from the old French for centre, and this is likely the source of the name as this Cru lies at the heart of the appellation (on the slopes beneath the village). This 0.65-hectare parcel is close to the Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Barre and encroaches into the Mitans l’Ormeau lieu-dit. The soil here is fine clay shot through with limestone, and the vines are, on average, 50 years old. Just a pinch of whole bunch this year. Les Mitans is considered one of the most elegan
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Benjamin Leroux Volnay 1er Cru Santenots 2020

Pinot Noir | Volnay, Côte du Beaune

Les Santenots is one of the top 1er Cru sites of Volnay. Here, the clay-rich soils gift wines of perfumed depth and silken structure. To give you some idea of the site’s quality, many years ago we asked Benjamin Leroux if there was one vineyard in Volnay he would like to work with, and he replied Santenots without hesitation, mentioning that he buys the wine of this vineyard from his friend Dominique Lafon each year. Of course, he then went on to speak about Rugiens and Caillerets (the most re
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A wine that was rarely seen before Leroux started bottling this site One of the signature cuvées of the Leroux stable, Clos de la Cave des Ducs is a 0.64-hectare monopole vineyard owned by the family of Leroux’s right-hand man, Jean-Charles Carré. It’s a wine that was rarely seen before Leroux started bottling this site in 2007. It’s the highest 1er Cru of Volnay and the vines sit on fine, light soils. The vines are up to 80 years old (with an average age of 50 years) and include some 20
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Pommad - From the Pommard Master!

Benjamin Leroux Pommard 2020

Pinot Noir | Pommard, Côte du Beaune

Given his experience in Pommard, home turf, if he'll have handle on any fruit this will be it! As with last year, this is a blend of Les Vaumuriens (high on the slope) and Les Cras (on the lower slope), both vineyards lying on the Volnay side of the village. Leroux notes the cooler, hillside fruit from Les Vaumuriens brings freshness and balance to the blend. This was crafted from 100% de-stemmed berries and raised with roughly 20% new oak. We have very little. “The village Pommard is a suc
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Notwithstanding the Clos des Epeneaux, Leroux has always said that if there was one 1er Cru that would tempt him back to Pommard it would be Les Rugiens. A new long-term contract with the same owner as the Volnay Caillerets brought Leroux back to his old stomping ground in 2017 and so, once again he is working with the same iron-rich red clay soils that he did, so famously, at Comte Armand.. “A brooding and reticent nose features liqueur-like aromas of poached plum, cassis and cool eart
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Check out all of Ben’s Wines!


New 2019 Olivier Leflaive


Slightly more apparent wood surrounds the overtly floral aromas of white and yellow peach and fennel. There is excellent intensity to the concentrated and unusually powerful flavors that culminate in a clean, very dry and impressively long finale. This too is a very fine villages level wine and one that will age. Outstanding ♥ Allen Meadows, Burghound
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Sept 2023 It's always fascinating to read reviews of a wine on release a few years down the track with a glass of the wine in hand. Devoured over 2 nights. Generosity has built along with the depth Burghound was looking to develop over time.  Any oak that may have been present on release has melded seamlessly in. Graced by an entrancing perfume, a little baking spice and lemon curd amongst an array of ripe fruits. The mouthfeel caresses through the full length of a very long palate wit
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The 2019's


Click the winery to see all of their available wines

Primary base village indicated although most in the Côte d’Or have wines from other villages.

Ballot-Millot Meursault, Bernard Moreau Chassagne, Billaud-Simon Chablis

Bruno Colin Chassagne, Blain-Gagnard Chassagne, Bouchard,

Clos des Tarts Morey, Comte Armand Pommard, Confuron-Contetidot Vosne

David Duband Nuits, Fabien Coche Meursault, Faiveley Côte d’Or, Guillard Gevrey

Lavantureux Chablis, Leroux Côte d’Or, Louis Jadot Côte d’Or

Marc-Antonin Blain Chassagne, Montille, Moreau-Naudet Chablis

Thierry Laffay Chablis, Trapet Gevrey, Vourgeraie Nuits, William Fèvre Chablis

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Showing 493 Delicious Wines!

Tasting this I reflected back on Allen Meadows note, couldn't put it better myself. Loads of fun to be had here! Now the 3rd white I've tried from Javillier the thread has been delicacy, transluscence with wonderfully weighted flavours. From Les Clous and Crotots. “Once again, the nose is cool and restrained with its aromas of green fruit, mineral reduction, citrus peel and an interesting hint of quinine. There is fine richness to the enveloping medium weight flavors that exhibit focused po
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This has long been one of Olivier Lamy’s finest reds, year in, year out. It comes from just under a hectare of vines on the lower slope of Derrière chez Edouard where the soils have more clay. The vines here are more than 50 years old and gift very small, ripe and intensely flavoured bunches that produce a deep and layered wine with pure, dark cherry fruit and plenty of spice. Again, Lamy worked with roughly 50% whole bunches and did not sulphur the wines at all until bottling. Another barg
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Vincent Dancer Beaune ‘1er Les Montrevenots’ 2020

Pinot Noir | Côte du Beaune, Beaune

This vineyard sits high on the edge of Pommard above Clos des Mouches. It’s a south-facing, cool, rocky slope and Dancer’s parcel was planted in 1996. The white clay and rocky soils here brings this red more lift and structure. It's well worth exploring Vincent's website, a photo blog, that captures the life of a vigneron.
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This has long been one of Olivier Lamy’s finest reds, year in, year out. It comes from just under a hectare of vines on the lower slope of Derrière chez Edouard where the soils have more clay. The vines here are more than 50 years old and gift very small, ripe and intensely flavoured bunches that produce a deep and layered wine with pure, dark cherry fruit and plenty of spice. Again, Lamy worked with roughly 50% whole bunches and did not sulphur the wines at all until bottling. Another barg
$235
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Divine Wine!
The origins of the appellation’s name are not entirely clear. It could be an ancient word for “poiriers” (meaning pear tree). It is situated in the South of the village in the “Les Porêts” climat and its rustic style is similar to that of the “Les Saint-Georges”. In 1855 this area was stated by Dr […]
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Domaine Hubert Lignier Gevrey-Chambertin ‘Regnard’ 2020

Pinot Noir | Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy

The 2020 Gevrey-Chambertin Regnard (négoce) bursts with aromas of plums, peonies, warm spices and soil tones. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and concentrated, it's charming and vibrant, with powdery tannins and a long, sapid finish. William Kelley, The Wine Advocate 89-91 Points
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Domaine Hubert Lignier Chambolle-Musigny Vielles Vignes 2017

Pinot Noir | Chambolle-Musigny, France

A more elegant if not fresher nose reflects notes of dark cherry, earth and a touch of humus, all of which is trimmed in just enough wood to notice. As one would expect given the old vines, the medium weight flavors possess both more volume and concentration before concluding in a firm, compact and lingering finish that also flashes a touch of rusticity. Burghound
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'Pungent notes of petrol and resin add breadth to the very ripe aromas of both yellow and white orchard fruit citrus and floral-suffused nose that is also trimmed in just enough wood to merit mentioning. There is impressive volume to the muscular, powerful and tension-filled middle weight plus flavors that possess a highly textured, even mildly creamy, mouthfeel where the citrus-tinged acid spine maintains the balance.' Allen Meadows, Burghound
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The 2018 Volnay Les Santenots 1er Cru has a well-defined but stubbornly backward bouquet; perhaps this cuvée is beginning to close down as Moreau’s cellar cools in the winter. The palate is more expressive, offering chunky black fruit and even more peppery than the La Cardeuse due to the 50% whole bunch, although personally I might have dialed that down a little, as I find the finish a bit too stemmy at the moment. Neal Martin
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Aromas of orange rind, plums, peonies and sweet spices preface the 2019 Volnay 1er Cru Les Santenots, a medium to full-bodied, velvety and sumptuous wine that's deep and sapid, underpinned by lively acids and powdery tannins. William Kelley
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Rounder, plusher than the 2016. A lovely differentiation between vintage that still sees the qualities of clearly very fine house at play. None of the reduction Meadows noted on first release is present now. A little more time is needed for this to show it’s full colours at the moment. A little more savoury with the same fruit energy at play. As seems to be the case for the Domaine there is a harmony that you don’t always see in Burgundy. Superb drinking.
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A mildly toasty nose is comprised by notes of red and dark cherry, raspberry and newly turned earth. The rich and caressing medium weight flavors are at once succulent but powerful while delivering fine length on the decidedly firm but not really austere finale. This too offers very fine quality in a built-to-age package. Allen Meadows, Burghound
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Fascinating drinking here. More down the strawberry line. With excellent harmony. This is divine, violets and underlying savoury notes. Another excercise in textural difference. Arvelet so even fine and plush, derrière building in structure, Fremier super high quality tannins with a very slight mid-palate prominence and wonderful length of tannin. Drinking these wines side by side is a demonstration in the diversity of Pommard, a celebration of the differences between vineyards.
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A cooler and quite pretty nose combines notes of plum, red and dark raspberry along with spice and floral top notes. The finer and more seductively textured medium-bodied flavors that possess a lovely sense of underlying tension, all wrapped in a bitter pit fruit-inflected finish. This firmly structured effort could use a bit more depth, but more will almost certainly develop over the course of time. Good stuff here. ♥ Sweet spot Outstanding Drink 2030+ Burghound, 92 Points
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A brooding and still very primary nose offers up liqueur-like notes of dark cherry, raspberry, anise and a hint of wood. There is excellent verve to the utterly delicious flavors that also possess excellent delineation before concluding in a mineral-laden and sneaky long finale. This is lovely and worth a look. ♥ Outstanding Drink 2028+ Burghound, 91 Points
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Boillot has always done a remarkable job with this vineyard and 2016 will only add to that track record. There is gorgeous complexity to the fresh and notably ripe red berry fruit, humus and pungent earth scented nose. The succulent, dense and powerful broad-shouldered flavors brim with copious dry extract that mostly manages to buffer the very firm tannic spine on the superbly long finish that flashes just a trace of Nuits style rusticity. This very serious and built-to-age effort is breathtaki
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