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

Ben does such a great job in the Côtes-de-Beaune. There's a certain harmony that comes across in the reds he makes here. It makes sense given his familiarity with the region following his time at Comte-Armand. He talks of his efforts to shift the styles of the Pommards from rustic and super tannic to more perfumed and supple. He's succeeded in achieving that with the Pommards not only at Comte-Armand, but, at his own Domaine too!The 1er Cru Rugiens-Hauts is an impeccable site
$425
$410ea in any 3+
$395ea in any 6+
Ben does such a great job in the Côtes-de-Beaune. There's a certain harmony that comes across in the reds he makes here. It makes sense given his familiarity with the region following his time at Comte-Armand. He talks of his efforts to shift the styles of the Pommards from rustic and super tannic to more perfumed and supple. He's succeeded in achieving that with the Pommards not only at Comte-Armand, but, at his own Domaine too!The 1er Cru Rugiens-Hauts is an impeccable site
$425
$410ea in any 3+
$395ea in any 6+
An overtly floral nose reflects notes of rose petal, lavender, acacia and violet along with nuances of red and black fruit, earth and a whiff of forest floor. There is excellent intensity, size, weight and power to the attractively textured big-bodied flavors that brim with minerality on the caressing but punchy finale. This beautifully balanced effort is in the classic mold of this wine as it's very clearly built for the long haul and again, I would suggest not touching this wine for at least a
$425
$410ea in any 3+
$395ea in any 6+
Domaine Nicole Lamarche 'Echezeaux' Grand Cru 2018
🦄The Unicorns Are Here!!🦄

Domaine Nicole Lamarche ‘Echezeaux’ Grand Cru 2018

Pinot Noir | Vosne-Romanée, France

Sometimes when your vineyard is surround that's OK especially when it's surrounded by DRC! I've had the pleasure of drinking La Grande Rue a couple of times. It's the benchmark wine of the estate that sits across a tiny laneway from LaTâche. La Grande Rue is sensual, feminine, with an incredible perfume, and silky texture. A special wine indeed.Vosne-Romanée tensd to be a bit of mixed bag of the haves and have nots. Lamarche is a have!Nicole, François' daughter has been in charge of t
$435
$420ea in any 3+
$405ea in any 6+
"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
$435
$420ea in any 3+
$405ea in any 6+
A more deeply pitched and somewhat less elegant nose combines notes of spiced plum, dark raspberry and touches of earth, tea and sandalwood. The succulent and beguilingly textured medium-bodied flavors brim with dry extract that helps to buffer the firm tannins that flirt with rusticity on the lingering finish that also reflects a note of bitter cherry pit.Allen Meadows, Burghound 89-92 Points For the first time—at the instigation of her son, Clément—Barthod elected to vinify a
$440
$430ea in any 3+
$420ea in any 6+
The 2022 was the  most profound Clos des Forêts I've had from Arlot! I can't wait to try their benchmark Nuits from 2023.Paul Kaan, Wine Deocded“The 2023 Nuits Saint-Georges Clos des Forêts Saint Georges 1er Cru has a detailed and complex bouquet with a mixture of red and black fruit, a subtle estuarine influence and light graphite scents that surface with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with dark berry fruit. This is the most opulent and richest of the cuvées from the Do
$442
$422ea in any 3+
$402ea in any 6+
“The 2023 Nuits Saint-Georges Clos de l'Arlot ler Cru has a vibrant bouquet that one might mistake for containing some stems-slightly darker fruit, with a touch of seaweed The palate is medium-bodied with a saline entry, very well balanced and elegant in style, with a harmonious and persistent finish. Quite seductive.”Neal Martin, Vinous 92-94 Points
$442
$422ea in any 3+
$402ea in any 6+
A more discreet if still easily perceptible dollop of wood can be found on the more deeply pitched aromas of poached plum, forest floor and a more subtle hint of the sauvage. The supersleek, intense and beautifully textured medium weight flavors exude evident minerality on the powerful, youthfully austere and beautifully balanced finale that displays excellent length. One to look for. Drink: 2034+Allen Meadows, Burghound 92-95 Points Sweet spot OutstandingThe 2022 Gevrey-Chambertin 1
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
$445
$430ea in any 3+
$415ea in any 6+
A perfumed and strikingly pretty nose is at once wonderfully floral and spicy with its fresh essence of red pinot fruit. The fleshy and round yet decidedly powerful, intense and tautly muscular flavors exude a subtle minerality on the compact, youthfully austere and sneaky long finish. 2032"Allen Meadows, Burghound ♥ Outstanding
$445
$430ea in any 3+
$415ea in any 6+
A discreet but not invisible hint of volatile acidity adds lift to the well-layered nose of black cherry, violet, lavender and subtle earth and spice hints. The muscular and energetic broad-shouldered flavors offer excellent punch and depth on the driving and firmly structured finish. Assuming that the VA remains at its current level, it shouldn't be more than a background element.Allen Meadows, Burghound
$450
$435ea in any 3+
$420ea in any 6+