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

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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This is the largest and most famous Grand Cru; its fame based on its history as one of Chablis’ first vineyards. The appellation enjoys a southerly aspect with very white, dense and deep clay soil, resting on a limestone bed 80 cm below the ground, which brings to the wine those spicy notes so typical of this terroir.Note: from 4 separate parcels totaling 4.11 ha, 3 of which are all at the top of the slope.A cool, restrained and airy nose grudgingly divulges its combination of lemo
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Revisited in bottle, the 2019 Pommard 1er Cru Les Epenots is already very expressive, bursting with aromas of plums and raspberries mingled with peonies, rose petals, sweet spices and orange rind. Medium to full-bodied, melting and sensual, it's charming and enveloping, with an ample core of fruit and a long, saline finish. It's so giving out of the gates that it wouldn't be a crime to open a bottle now. Drink 2021-2039William Kelley, 94 PointsAnne Parent describes 'Les Épenots' as
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The 2019 Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens has also turned out very well in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of plums, orange rind, peonies, exotic spices, loamy soil and cinnamon. Medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy, it's rich and textural, with lively acids and an ample core of fruit framed by ripe, powdery tannins. It, too, is very expressive out of the gates, to the point that readers shouldn't be afraid to try one young.William Kelley, 95 PointsAnne Parent describes 'L
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I had Faiveley's 2015 Latricières Chambertin recently, delicious, perfumed elegant and refined. Along with the 2015, I devoured a brace of 2016's from across the appellations. They are really stepping up their game, the investments in the vineyard and winery are a testament to this.The 2020 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Charmes is perfumed and elegant, soaring from the glass with scents of roses, peonies, orange rind and sweet red berries. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and sensual, with me
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Faiveley is definitely a Domaine on the Ascention The “Petite Chapelle” parcel is situated just below the “Chapelle du Dessus” now named “Chapelle-Chambertin” Grand Cru. Exposition East Soil Pebbly Surface area 0 ha 17 a 08 ca (0,42 Acres) Years the vines were planted 1987 The grapes are harvested and sorted by hand. The proportion of de-stemmed grapes and whole clusters varies depending on the vintage. […]
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Benoît Moreau Volnay 1er Cru Santenots 2022

Pinot Noir | Volnay, Burgundy

About In the Vineyard In the Winery The **** Vintage at Where in the World is ****?
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This is also suffering from post-bottling reduction so some air would be helpful if you're going to crack a bottle young. More interesting are the slightly sleeker middleweight flavors that also possess a seductive mouthfeel while delivering solid depth and persistence on the balanced finale. This should also repay up to a decade of keeping though unlike the Chenevottes, it's a wine that will need at least a few years of bottle aging first. Drink: 2029+Allen Meadows, Burghound 91 Points �
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 The 2023 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Chenevottes 1er Cru has impressive purity on the nose, with very well-defined scents of lemon, orange pith and apple blossom. The palate has a powerful, weighty opening. This has a lot of concentration, with tropical notes coming through toward the finish, though the previous vintage had a little more tension. Give this a couple of years in bottle to be tamed.Neal Martin, Vinous 89-91 PointsThe 2022 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chenev
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Discreet wood influence sets off ripe and expressive aromas of petrol, acacia blossom and hazelnut. The bigger-bodied and more powerful medium weight flavors possess reasonably good mid-palate density while exhibiting a taut muscularity on the youthfully austere, firm and serious finale that also flirts with rusticity. This is classic Poruzots though one that should be approachable after only 5-ish years. Drink: 2030+ ♥ OutstandingAllen Meadows, Burghound 90-93 Points
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“This site can sometimes deliver rather fat wines in ripe vintages, but the 2022 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot Les Fairendes is terrific, unwinding in the glass with aromas of pear, orange zest, white flowers and vanilla pod. It's medium to full-bodied, glossy and enveloping, with racy acids and a penetrating finish.”William Kelly, The Wine Advocate 91-93 Points“The 2022 Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot Les Fairendes 1er Cru comes from 0.5 hectares of vines and is matured in
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Lamy has 2.4-hectares in the 1er Cru Les Frionnes, with vines planted in 1935, 1960 and 1985. It’s a southeast-facing site with old, decomposed limestone/clay soils and a plethora of small rocks in the topsoil. The vines are adjacent to the Derrière chez Edouard, but this is a slightly warmer site and is therefore picked earlier. Frionnes gives both pulpy fruit and vibrant, saline freshness along with a compact, rocky close.“The 2023 Saint-Aubin Les Frionnes 1er Cru comes from var
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