Author: Thomas Wilcox

In recent years the profile of Chablis has changed a bit. Most cuvées still show the terroir’s classic stony, mineral intensity; but warm summers have added a bit of extra flesh to the wines. Our favorites still taste like Chablis, but are often a bit easier to approach young or on their own.

Winemaker Romain Collet has deftly steered his family’s domaine through this new climate, and we’re not alone in this conclusion. Wine Critics Allen Meadows (Burghound) and William Kelley (Wine Advocate) have noted a “higher level of refinement” and a “significant upsurge in quality.” Jasper Morris MW writes that Romain Collet “is moving towards joining the pantheon” in Chablis.

Collet’s 2023 Chablis 1er cru “Forets” is a delicious, classy Chablis. It’s raised mostly in cement eggs, which add depth and texture to the crisp minerals and fruit, without loosing zip. This is delightful, complete white Burgundy on its own, but also a terrific match with food. A dry, mouthfilling texture cut by a lime zest and saline – this is a triumph of modern Chablis.

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Collet Chablis 1er cru “Forêts” 2023
bottle price: $45

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The Maconnais has long been one of our favorite sources for white Burgundy. This southern sub-region produces wines with an often friendlier character than those of the famous Côte d’Or to the north. Maconnais whites typically have low or no oak, they’re more affordable, and require less cellaring.

One of our original sources here is Nicolas Maillet, an energetic, friendly winemaker bursting with enthusiasm for his craft. Jasper Morris MW calls Maillet “an excellent winemaker;” William Kelley calls his wines “elegantly textural and enveloping…pure and precise” with “immediate charm.” Maillet relies on indigenous yeasts for spontaneous fermentation, and never rushes the process, allowing it to proceed for months if the slow fermentation in his cool cuverie so requires.

Maillet’s 2023 Macon-Verzé is magnificent. It’s lush and plump from the hot growing season, but shot through with energy and tension. Neal Martin of Vinous calls it “a worthy follow-up to the delicious ’22,” and we agree. The nose shows an exquisite array of beeswax, pineapple, and lemon verbena; the mouth is vibrant and mouthfilling, with notes of apricot, tangerine, green tea, and a brisk freshness. Serve on its own as a delicious and dynamic aperitif.

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Maillet Macon-Verzé 2023
bottle price: $36

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Look up “Thomas Morey” in the proverbial Ansonia winemaker dictionary, and you’ll find words like “deliberate,” “thoughtful,” “minimalist,” “precise.” You won’t find “opulent,” “generous” or “showy.” Morey’s cellar style is as clean and detailed as his wire rimmed glasses and his Zalto stemware. He’ll only agree to tasting appointments in the morning, and our visits are full of long contemplative silences.

Morey’s white Burgundies are quietly extraordinary. They’re concentrated but perfectly channeled, long but refined – immaculate fruit and stones join the merest whisper of oak. Morey makes terrific wine at every level, but today we’re focused on his simplest: Bourgogne blanc.

This cuvée shows all of the meticulous concentration of all of Morey’s wines, but without the site-specific terroir shining through. It’s not about the chiseled stoniness of Puligny, or the shimmering golden energy of Chassagne; this is about winemaker style. And boy, what a style it is.

Morey’s Bourgogne blanc usually evaporates in Futures, but this year we’ve got a bit extra. Open last night alongside a roast chicken and fall weather, this was simply delicious. The nose shows lime zest and white flowers, the mouth shows yellow plum and earth. Burghound called this “lovely,” and we think you will too.

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Thomas Morey Bourgogne blanc 2023
bottle price: $48

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Together with his son Remi, Christophe Mestre continues to make delicious, old-school Châteauneuf-du-Pape year in and year out. We have trouble keeping this wine in stock – it hits the perfect sweet spot for value, accessibility, food matching ability and crowd-pleasing popularity.

Lots of Chateauneuf-du-Pape is built for the long haul, and somewhat inaccessible young – not Mestre’s. It’s middleweight and delicious with gorgeous young fruit and friendly tannins. It ages for 5-8 years with ease, but drinks well from the moment it is in the bottle. The 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is terrific – 50% grenache, 25% mourvèdre, 20% syrah, and 5% cinsault. The nose is focused and beautiful, with lovely deep sappy fruit bursting from the glass.

Grenache makes up only half this wine, but it’s the star of the show this year – luxurious red fruit of wild cherries, raspberries and hints of provencal thyme combine to make an explosive and seductive palate. This is accessible, popular, cozy wine that will perfectly match the wintery weather outside.

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Mestre Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2023
bottle price: $36

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The Northern Rhône is a tiny region. With just ten thousand acres of vines, it’s one sixteenth the size of the Southern Rhône Valley. And yet it’s home to the world’s finest expressions of Syrah. Iconic and ageworthy wines from Hermitage, Côte Rôtie and Cornas get much of the attention, but the lesser-known appellation of Crozes-Hermitage provides tremendous value.

Our source there for many years has been Denis Basset’s Domaine Saint Clair. Basset’s family has grown grapes (and flowers) in the town of Beaumont-Monteux for generations; but more than a decade ago, after a near-death experience with a high voltage line, he resolved to take over the family’s vines and to create his own domaine.

The 2023 vintage was hot and dry for just about everywhere in France, and growing conditions were also exemplary in the Northern Rhône. Basset’s 2023 Etincelle has ample freshness and very good ripeness of fruit. Aromatically, there’s a pleasant note of clove mixing with Syrah’s dark fruit and graphite. It’s middleweight, fresh, and very clean – perfect for a weeknight glass while you throw together dinner.

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Saint-Clair Crozes-Hermitage “Etincelle” 2023
bottle price: $25

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Burgundy is a comparatively small region in size of production, but it covers an enormous range of terroirs. From Chablis in the north to Beaujolais in the south, Burgundy stretches over 150 miles – from just a few unblended grape varietals, the Burgundians produce an extraordinary range of wine.

Today’s wine will be just about the southernmost Burgundy you’ve ever had. Beaujolais blanc is offered by some but not all winemakers in the region. Dupré-Goujon bought some Chardonnay vines in 2019, and in the last few years has made a beaujolais blanc that is strikingly good. Raised half in tank and half in wood, the Clos des Muriers 2023 has beautiful balance: just a touch of oak, good freshness and an attractive weight.

James Suckling’s reviewer effuses: “Not only is this the first great chardonnay from Beaujolais we’ve encountered, but it is also an incredibly joyful expression of the grape, brimming with stone-fruit, lemon-curd and white-flower aromas. The super-elegant, medium-bodied palate has breathtaking purity and precision. Great energy in the very long, chalky finish.”

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Dupré-Goujon Beaujolais blanc “Clos des Mûriers” 2023
bottle price: $35

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The pricing frenzy that hit Burgundy and Bordeaux in the last decade has largely been absent in the Northern Rhône. We think the wines made here – unblended syrah at the pinnacle of its potential – are suddenly among the best values in our store. We’re delighted to have a healthy selection of Côte Rôties from Bonnefond with a few years in the bottle.

Bonnefond’s style combines dark richness with tremendous tension, achieving balance and subtlety that’s rarely found outside the world of Pinot Noir. Today we’re suggesting his 2019 Côte Rôtie “Collline de Couzou,” a wine that was tasty when it arrived five years ago, but that’s flat out delicious today.

Tasting back in 2022, Vinous’s Josh Raynolds noted the wine’s “sappy red and blue fruit liqueur” with an “Expansive finish, which shows fine definition and velvety, even tannins.” This cuvée matures more quickly than the other two (Rochins and Rozier) and we think it’s just about at peak maturity. Look for notes of cassis, tapenade, violets, and pepper.

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Bonnefond Côte Rôtie 2019
bottle price: $59
3-bottle price: $150 (use code SYRAH)

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Sofie Bohrmann is a first generation winemaker from Belgium – hardly a recipe for success in the insular world of Burgundian vignerons where most inherit vines, and people even from the Maconnais (an hour south) are considered out of towners. And yet she’s cracked into the elite world of Côte d’Or winemaking. She’s a real winemaking talent, of course, but we’re betting her charming smile and disarmingly friendly demeanor go a long way.

Her wines are outstanding. Each year they get more refined and more impressive, and her 2023s are full of hidden gems with terrific pricing. Sofie’s domaine is in Meursault, and most of her vines are from the surrounding Côte de Beaune towns. Her style is clear and juicy – the wines are packed with flavor, limited oak, and flat-out delicious textures.

Bohrmann’s Bourgogne Côte d’Or Blanc “Les Belles Goutes” is a core presence in many of our customer’s cellars, priced for regular drinking but showing the fine quality of Chardonnay from the Côte d’Or. The vines are from Meursault, and some of the storied village’s opulence seems to find its way into the glass. With alcohol at 13% in the 2023 vintage, the wine is generous, and its rich lemon curd fruit benefits from just the right amount of oak. It’s an excellent house Bourgogne blanc, and one that matches with everything and nothing.

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Bohrmann Bourgogne Côte d’Or blanc 2023
bottle price: $38

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The Domaine Dupré-Goujon is quietly becoming a leading domaine in the Beaujolais. Winemaker Sebastien Dupré and Guillaume Goujon are crafting outstanding wines that elevate the potential of the gamay grape. We’ve gotten emails from customers with comments like “had no idea Beaujolais could be that good,” and “best Gamay I’ve ever had, by a lot.” Wine writers describe their wines as “hypnotically beautiful” and “astonishing.”

We agree, and often find ourselves reaching for these vibrant organic wines. Part of the Dupré-Goujon recipe is an extended elevage (for their reds) of over two years, first in barrels, and then in tanks. This is nearly unheard-of patience in the Beaujolais, but the results speak for themselves. Their Pavé cuvée is perhaps the best they’ve made. Its interplay of red and black berry fruit, minerals, and earth well justifies the presence of a musical score on its label. The many elements play against each other across a broad, persistent palate.

There is a lacy character to the tannins and a glass of this wine will pair beautifully with many fine dishes. Look for notes of peony, chalk and wild cherries. James Suckling’s reviewer writes: “A hypnotically beautiful Cote-de-Brouilly. Mouth-filling red and black berries are almost perfectly interwoven with concentrated fine tannins on the medium-bodied palate. Expands dramatically in the extremely long finish without losing its delicacy or precision. And even these words don’t quite grasp what makes this wine so great.”

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Dupré-Goujon Côte de Brouilly “Pavé” 2022
bottle price: $39

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Last year we introduced Nicolas Ragot’s terrific Givrys to our portfolio, and they’ve been a real hit. Ragot is a thoughtful winemaker with an innovative streak – he’s constantly refining his techniques, experimenting with amphoras, whole clusters, and even lighter weight bottles. He’s part of an exciting wave of winemakers pushing the limits on what’s possible from once humble appellations in the Côte Chalonnaise.

Ragot’s best wine is his Givry 1er cru Clos Jus, from perhaps the best known vineyard in Givry. The soil here has excellent drainage and unusually high iron oxide content. The resulting wines show a lovely balance of charming aromatics and refined mouthfeels. Ragot’s 2023 Clos Jus is terrific – 85% raised in barrel (40% new) and the rest in amphora, with 25% whole cluster. This recipe makes for a serious red Burgundy, and the wine has the presence and texture of a village-level Gevrey-Chambertin.

The nose is dark and sappy with impressively complex layers of spice, blackberry, cherry and stones. The mouth is rich and dense but with exceptional tension and freshness – it’s a dynamic wine in a way that much sub-$50 red Burgundy is not. Neal Martin of Vinous gave it 91 points, finding a “bouquet of crushed strawberry, cranberry and lightly pressed flower.” In the mouth he noted “fine tannins, well balanced and refined,” concluding “this is another delicious Givry from Nicolas Ragot.”

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Ragot Givry 1er “Clos Jus” 2023
bottle price: $49

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White Burgundy is synonymous with Chardonnay. But in fact one of every ten white vines is Aligoté. This less prestigious varietal generally produces simple, refreshing wines meant for enjoyment rather than contemplation or cellaring. However, with demand for white Burgundy increasing, and warm summers producing riper grapes, growers have been turning out really impressive cuvées from this humble grape.

Today we’re excited to suggest the 2023 Aligoté from Domaine Ravaut. Is it the most profound white Burgundy in our cellar? No. Does it live up to its $25 pricetag? Completely – and more. The Ravaut’s Aligoté is from a particularly well placed plot, just north of the famous Hill of Corton. Winemaker Vincent Ravaut uses malolactic fermentation and a year of aging on lees to add complexity and depth

The 2023 in particular is just lovely. The scorching hot vintage has added a bit of flesh to the refreshing aligoté energy, and the resulting wine is unusually good. Look for soft fruit and a white flower nose, with brisk freshness and notes of lemon pulp and straw in the mouth. It’s a lovely everyday white Burgundy at a very attractive price.

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Ravaut Aligoté 2023
bottle price: $25

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It’s a familiar story in Burgundy: a new generation arrives at the family property with ambition, innovation, and renewed energy. It can go wrong – (see: overoaking, overextraction, price hikes) – but more often it goes right. And nowhere has it been more successful than at the Domaine Boursot in Chambolle Musigny.

The Boursot estate has been handed down over 500 years in the tiny town of Chambolle-Musigny. The current winemakers, brothers Romaric and Romuald, have transformed the humble property into an exciting source for well-priced Burgundies. Bill Nanson (Burgundy Report) calls them “delicious, consistently excellent;” Steen Öhman (Winehog) finds them “forward, quite vivid…truly exciting.”

We’ve never offered Boursot’s white before, but this year’s was too good to pass up. From vines in Chambolle near the RN-74, this is beautiful everyday white Burgundy. The oak treatment is extremely light and well integrated, and the wine is mostly a fruit-and-stone play. The nose shows clean lemon fruit with a hint of floral perfume and dry grape skin. The mouth is pretty, fresh, middleweight and pretty. A perfect aperitif white Burgundy.

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Boursot Bourgogne blanc 2023
bottle price: $35

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Stephane Robert of the Domaine du Tunnel is one of the brightest stars in Cornas. He’s humble and quiet in person, but his wines are bold, assertive, and charming. Robert farms an envious collection of old Syrah vines around the tiny appellation, and his wines are well worthy of their hype. Vinous calls Tunnel “among the top producers of Cornas.”

Stephane also produces an excellent cuvée from St-Joseph, a large appellation that stretches from Cornas in the south to Côte Rôtie in the north. This enormous span covers a wide range of terroirs, and makes the character of St-Joseph hard to pin down. Tunnels vines are all in the south, and we think it’s best considered a JV version of his iconic Cornas.

Drawn from 40+ year old vines and clocking in at a cool 13% alcohol, this is vibrant, intense, Syrah with Tunnel’s signature polish and class. There is a pleasant nose of dark fruit supported by exceedingly fine-grained tannins, and also excellent length. Vinous’s reviewer reported that “Vivid red and black cherry, violets and leafy subtleties rise up from the glass….polished and concentrated.”

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Tunnel St-Joseph 2022
bottle price: $59

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The 2022 red Burgundies are quickly becoming one our favorite recent vintages. From the warmest, driest year in recent memory, winemakers managed to craft vibrant and beautifully balanced wines, sporting low alcohol and classic Burgundian finesse. They’re modern in their sunny polish, but traditional in their middleweight, elegant textures. If this is the future of Burgundy, sign us up.

Philippe Cheron’s had some of his 2022 Bourgogne left when we made our purchase from him this year, and we snapped up more of this terrific entry-level wine. This is even better than a year ago, and easily the most impressive Bourgogne rouge we stock. From vines near Gevrey-Chambertin, this wine transcends the genre in a way few other Bourgognes do: humble in appellation, but striking in taste. Cheron used 100% whole clusters, adding definition to the dark fruit.

Don’t think of this like a regional wine – picture an extremely well-priced village level red. The nose is deep and beautiful with intense dark fruit but excellent lift – there’s a stony earthiness behind the plums that’s balanced and enticing. The mouth is clear, long, and nimble, bouncing from wild cherries to anise to black pepper and back to cassis. Burghound praised its “racy, delicious, well detailed flavors.” After a year in the bottle this is flat out delicious.

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Couvent Bourgogne Côte d’Or 2022
bottle price: $45

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Poggerino is often cited as a reference point for Chianti Classico. Vinous writes of their Poggerino’s “remarkable purity and nuance,” and Rajat Parr calls their wines “excellent” and “some of the purest expressions of the grape in Italy.” Their organic vines from Radda-in-Chianti produced exquisitely balanced wines, full of depth and richness but also tension and lift.

Poggerino’s finest wine is their Chianti Classico “Riserva,” a magnificent cvuée we’ve enjoyed both young and with 15+ years in the bottle. Their 2020 Riserva is a masterpiece – bold and rich with power and intensity, but a gorgeous finesse and freshness as well.

Sangiovese in the hands of an inexperienced winemaker can be rough and aggressive. Piero Lanza is masterful in the cellar, extracting just enough for smooth richness, but never too much. Serve this with homemade pizza.

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Poggerino Chianti Classico Riserva 2020
bottle price: $45

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