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

I generally have a slight preference for Dauvissat's Les Preuses, a preference I suspect Vincent Dauvissat shares, but the 2020 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos, at least at this early stage, gets my nod as the king of the cellar—and the wine of the vintage. Wafting from the glass with aromas of citrus oil, fresh bread, oyster shell, white flowers and wet stones, it's full-bodied, layered and textural, with huge concentration, racy acids and a long, resonant finish.William Kelley, The Wine Advoc
An agreeably discreet application of wood sets off the attractively fresh and markedly floral aromas of black cherry, plum and abundant earth scents. There is a subtle minerality and vibrancy to the sleek and intense middle weight flavors that possess a caressing mouthfeel that contrasts somewhat with a mildly austere finale that exhibits fine depth and persistence. This is both stylish and pretty and like the Griotte, could be approached with pleasure on the younger side if that's your preferen
$1,260
$1240ea in any 3+
$1220ea in any 6+
There is ample earth character to the markedly floral-scented nose of various red berries, soft wood and a hint of smoked game. The beautifully textured, if not particularly concentrated middleweight flavors possess excellent vibrancy as well as focused power that seems to build on the beautifully long finish that really tightens up as it sits on the palate. This is a deceptive wine in that it seems a bit light but delivers superb flavor authority. (from a .70 ha parcel of vines near the Morey b
$1,260
$1240ea in any 3+
$1220ea in any 6+

Domaine de la Vougeraie Grand Cru ‘Bâtard-Montrachet’ 2022

Chardonnay | Puligny-Montrachet, Burgundy

Generous but not dominant wood sets off intensely floral-suffused aromas of white peach, spice, acacia and citrus confit. The palate impression of the medium-bodied flavors is not as dense, mineral-driven or powerful but they are still impressive, especially in the context of having even better depth and persistence. This is a stylish and ageworthy Bâtard. (from a .38 ha holding divided into 3 parcels, two of which are on the Chassagne side and the remainder on the Puligny side of the divide) 2
$1,260
$1240ea in any 3+
$1220ea in any 6+
This is spicier still with its broad-ranging nose of red and dark pinot fruit, violet and herbal tea, all of which is trimmed by soft wood influence. There is a bit more minerality present on the vibrant and lavishly rich medium weight flavors that possess excellent power that carries over to the firm and tautly muscular finish that is balanced and long plus it’s less austere than usual. Lovely. 2032+ ♥ OutstandingAllen Meadows, Burghound (91-94) Points JM 96It hard to talk about
$1,279
$1259ea in any 3+
$1239ea in any 6+
"Here too there is just enough wood present to remark upon mingling with the equally spicy nose that features notes of plum, various dark berries, exotic tea and hints of game. The sleek, cool and restrained larger-scaled flavors are finer still while flashing no lack of power and drive that really builds toward the intensely saline-suffused finish. This is very classy juice that should age effortlessly for the next two decades."Allen Meadows, Burghound
$1,290
$1270ea in any 3+
$1250ea in any 6+
Here the elegant nose is cooler and more restrained with a much more discreet application of wood framing the layered spicy aromas of honeysuckle, white peach and a variety of floral nuances. The notably more refined and beautifully textured flavors possess excellent mid-palate concentration before terminating in a persistent, balanced and markedly dry finale that is unusually powerful. This BBM is terrific and classy, indeed it’s impressively poised for such a young wine. (from a .46 ha holdi
$1,315
$1295ea in any 3+
$1275ea in any 6+
Moderately generous wood and menthol fight somewhat with the exuberantly spicy black cherry liqueur-like aromas that are cut with lovely floral wisps. There is excellent concentration to the bigger-bodied and more powerful flavors that are blessed with ample amounts of sappy dry extract that does a fine job of buffering the firm tannic spine shaping the complex, balanced and hugely long finale. Excellent. 2035+Allen Meadows, Burghound
$1,320
$1300ea in any 3+
$1280ea in any 6+

Maison Ponsot Grand Cru Corton-Charlemagne 2020

Chardonnay | Côte du Beaune, Aloxe-Corton

First produced in 2009, Ponsot’s Corton-Charlemagne is drawn from two parcels, both in Aloxe: one on the Pernand border in Le Charlemagne and the second in Les Languettes. As you can see from the notes below, this is a deep, fleshy yet energetic and vibrant Charlemagne. A great success!“Split equally between fruit from Les Languettes and Le Charlemagne on the Aloxe side, this was a slow fermenter. It didn't finish its alcoholic fermentation until July 2021! As they say, good things c
The 2022 Grands-Echézeaux Grand Cru is the maiden vintage under the Anne Gros label, the parcel having previously been vinified by Bernard Gros (Gros Frère & Soeur) under a fermage. It has a very well-defined bouquet, dark berry fruit intermixed with crushed limestone and wilted rose petals, understated at first and only gradually gaining intensity. The medium-bodied palate has filigree tannins, tensile from the start, with a keen thread of acidity. It fans out wonderfully towards the fin
$1,355
$1335ea in any 3+
$1315ea in any 6+
The barest hint of exotic fruit floats in the background of the elegant, pure and layered aromas of orange peel, passion fruit, white peach, acacia blossom and a whiff of jasmine tea. There is outstanding volume and power for such young vines to the medium weight plus flavors that deliver impressive persistence on the agreeably dry and beautifully well-balanced finale. This also needs better depth though again, that should simply be a question of allowing sufficient time. This too is excellent
Domaine Ponsot Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru 2014
Beautifully Complex & Seamless!

Domaine Ponsot Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru 2014

Pinot Noir | Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy

A super elegant nose, ultra-pure essence of red berries, violet, plum, spice & floral nuances. Excellent volume & serious punch. a caressing mouth feel on the lightly mineral-inflected finish. Our first allocation of Ponsot’s Chapelle-Chambertin outside of his famous ‘mixed box’. The stats are similar to the Griotte Grand Cru; a small parcel (60ha in this instance) of vines planted in 1990. The first Domaine bottling dates back to 1970, so this is a site well known to the Ponsot clan. In p