Red Burgundy Verticals
Drinking multiple vintages of the same wine is an excellent way to get to know a wine. In Burgundy, vintages play an important role in the character of a wine, and tasting the same wine in vertical be an educational (and delicious) experience.
Of course there are two vintage variables with every bottle: the time elapsed from the harvest year, and the patterns of that particular vintage itself. In other words, it’s impossible simultaneously to drink two wines at the same age from different vintages. But in our eyes that only adds another variable of intrigue.
So we’ve collected some red Burgundy vertical trios — the same wine in 3 vintages. Quantities are limited.
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 | VINOUS 93-95 points
Bright violet. High-pitched, mineral-accented aromas of… (+) VINOUS 93-95 points
Bright violet. High-pitched, mineral-accented aromas of black raspberry, cherry pie and violet are complemented by a suave suggestion of exotic Asian spices. Sappy, pliant and alluringly sweet, offering palate-staining black and blue fruit and spicecake flavors and a subtle hint of mocha. Finishes sweet, focused and extremely long, displaying impressively delineated mineral and floral pastille notes and silky, harmonious tannins. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
 | Burghound 90
"A dollop of wood can be found… (+) Burghound 90
"A dollop of wood can be found on the aromas that consist primarily of plum, violet along with hints of herbal tea and the sauvage. The energetic and velvet-textured middle weight flavors display slightly better complexity and length on the ever-so-mildly warm and grippy finish. This firm effort will definitely need at least some patience as it's presently relatively closed." (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
 | As the name suggests, Amiot’s Morey-St-Denis 1er cru… (+) As the name suggests, Amiot’s Morey-St-Denis 1er cru “Aux Charmes” is charming. Large volume wine this is not -- Amiot’s plot is just one acre, and their 50 year old vines produce only 200 cases per year. But the quality is simply exceptional.
Charmes is usually the first of Amiot’s premier crus to drink well, and though this should age gracefully for a decade or two, it’s already beautiful. Today the nose is very expressive, showing earthy tones mixed with woodsmoke and briary fruit. The mouth is long, silky, and very rich -- the tannins are young but perfectly sculpted, with no dryness or bitterness. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
 | Named for winemaker Philippe Chautard’s grandfather, the cuvée JB… (+) Named for winemaker Philippe Chautard’s grandfather, the cuvée JB Chautard is as close to Champagne as we’ve had outside the region. It’s an 80/20 blend of chardonnay and aligoté, fermented in barrels then left on the lees for a remarkable five years.
The Wine Advocate’s resident Champagne expert calls the 2013 JB Chautard cuvée “a persuasive case for taking [Crémant de Bourgogne] more seriously.” He awarded 90 points, finding “an elegantly fine mousse, good cut and texture and a sapid, complex finish.” The nose shows brioche, nuts, and buttered bread. The mouth is fine, delicate, and very long. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
 | Bohrmann doesn’t sound very French, and it isn’t… (+) Bohrmann doesn’t sound very French, and it isn’t — Sofie Borhmann is Belgian, and splits her time between Belgium and Burgundy. We’re not sure where she’s been hiding, or why no other American importers have found her. But her wines simply blew us away.
The fruit is like that of the Bourgogne rouge but there’s considerably more substance, depth and intensity that will serve the wine well. The nose is perfumed and smoky, with gorgeous floral notes; the mouth is very fine, with chalky tannins and a really attractive texture. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
| Vinous’s Josh Raynolds called Bonnefond's 2018s “the single… (+) Vinous’s Josh Raynolds called Bonnefond's 2018s “the single most impressive set of bottlings I have had here since I started annual visits in 2005.” The 2018 Rozier is very concentrated and intense, with sweetly lush dark fruit blended with a violet floral side, exotic spices and smoky minerality.
Josh Raynolds, 95 pts: “impressively concentrated but surprisingly energetic, courtesy of its spine of smoky minerality;” (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
 | Made from 100% pinot noir, the Cuvée Kimmeridgienne … (+) Made from 100% pinot noir, the Cuvée Kimmeridgienne spends 7+ years on the lees, and the payoff in depth and complexity is immediately evident. The nose on the 2011 is gorgeous and refined, showing notes of cream, brioche, creme brulee, coffee, and hazelnut; the mouth is dry and very long, with notes of candied fruit, chalk, and butter. Vintage grower champagne of this caliber can easily cost twice this or more (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
 | At the village level, the Gevrey-Chambertin Clos du Meix… (+) At the village level, the Gevrey-Chambertin Clos du Meix des Ouches is particularly excellent this year — its ripe dark fruit imparts a certain sweetness, and while it is showing its structure at the moment, we expect it to round out and begin drinking well before long. Burghound praised its “ripe and pretty aromas … composed by notes of plum, red currant, raspberry and discreet earth influences.” We think this has near-premier-cru intensity in 2018.
More from Varoilles (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
 | Michel Gros’s Nuits-St-Georges is a blend of four… (+) Michel Gros’s Nuits-St-Georges is a blend of four parcels, all near the northern Nuits-St-Georges border with Vosne-Romanée. This location translates into a lovely expression of both towns: a splash of the violets and spice for which Vosne is so prized, but beneath that nose a classic meaty Nuits mouth.
Vinous: It has a perfumed bouquet of bilberry and wild strawberry infused with violets notes; a touch of kirsch develops with aeration. The harmonious palate is medium-bodied with sappy red berry fruit, nicely judged acidity and a pastille-like finish that lingers in the mouth. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
 | Christophe Mestre makes a single red Châteauneuf du… (+) Christophe Mestre makes a single red Châteauneuf du Pape each year, vinfiying the different grapes separately and carefully combining them to come up with each year’s vintage. We have been buying there for five years now, and have watched him consistently craft delicious wine from the varied elements each vintage offers. The 2018 rouge is about 40% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre, 25% Grenache, and 5% Cinsault, raised for a total of 18 months, half in cement vats and half in large foudres.
It is delicious. There is plum, licorice, and maybe a touch of chocolate in the nose. In the mouth, the wine is rich and round, with plenty of support and no feeling of heat. The finish is plenty long. Its peak drinking window will arrive in the fourth or fifth year after the vintage, but it will likely drink well for well more than a decade. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
| 2019 was the fifth in a string of… (+) 2019 was the fifth in a string of wonderful vintages in the Northern Rhône. As Vinous’s Josh Raynolds reported, “2019 was a hot and dry year, but the wines look extremely promising and show an uncanny blend of depth and vivacity.”
Côte Rozier is particularly complex – a mineral line mingles with the fruit – and super intense. Raynolds found it “chewy and subtly sweet, offering concentrated dark berry preserve, licorice pastille and spice cake flavors that show noteworthy energy and tension.” This wine shows a lighter touch than Colline de Couzou or Rochins, sporting elegance and poise on par with a Chambolle-Musigny. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
 | 2019 was the fifth in a string of… (+) 2019 was the fifth in a string of wonderful vintages in the Northern Rhône. As Vinous’s Josh Raynolds reported, “2019 was a hot and dry year, but the wines look extremely promising and show an uncanny blend of depth and vivacity.”
“Les Rochins” is at the same level as Rozier (V 94-96), but in a different mode. The wine is very dense and chewy right now, promising a long life. Vinous praised its “powerful spice- and mineral- accented cherry and blackberry scents, along with suggestions of smoked meat, incense, licorice and exotic flowers.” (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
 | The 2019 vintage at Michel Gros is dazzling… (+) The 2019 vintage at Michel Gros is dazzling and delicious. Like much else in 2019, the reds show exceptional concentration. A cool spring delayed flowering to mid-June (once considered normal) and after a warm, dry summer, the domaine harvested perfectly clean fruit under sunny mid-September conditions.
Gros's second Nuits cuvée comes from the center of the appellation, in the “Chaliots” vineyard. The nose is a bit darker and woodsier, and the tannins a beat more rustic and masculine. In both cases the oak is handled beautifully, supporting the fruit without getting in the way. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
 | Pascal’s newest cuvée, called “Reserve 2012,” is essentially… (+) Pascal’s newest cuvée, called “Reserve 2012,” is essentially the Brut Traditionnel cuvée, but left on the lees for an extra half-decade; the base cuvée comes from the 2012 vintage. Champagne, you’ll remember, undergoes two fermentations – a first in tanks (like any other wine), and then a second in bottle under bottlecap. After the second fermentation is complete, the winemaker may choose to disgorge (remove yeast and insert a cork) promptly, or hold for longer “on the lees.”
The extra time on the lees has transformed the wine into something extraordinary, far closer to his vintage champagne than the more humble Traditionnel. The wine shows an exquisite array of chalk, fruit, earth and toast. The mouth is subtle and long, with a delicious, vinous finish. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
 | The Gerard Thomas 2021s show neither the concentration… (+) The Gerard Thomas 2021s show neither the concentration nor the ripeness of the last three scorching years, but instead carry a daintiness and precision that some (including us) find a welcome relief.
The 2021 vintage, with its modest ripeness and concentration, has allowed Puligny’s true character to shine through once again, and Thomas’s Puligny 1er cru “La Garenne” is a lovely example. The nose is chalky and precise with delicate white flowers and lime zest. The mouth is terrific, an honest, graceful Puligny free to be itself. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
 | After three vintages characterized by extraordinary heat and… (+) After three vintages characterized by extraordinary heat and historically early harvests, 2021 is a return to typical in terms of weight, ripeness and richness. It is what the French like to call “classique” and its virtue is in approachability and elegance rather than boldness.
The Maison Lestimé Chassagne-Montrachet 2021 is from down in the village, at a much lower elevation than the Hautes Côtes, and the wine shows the difference: the fruit is darker, with the intensity of wild strawberries, and the texture more that of a typical Burgundy vintage before the hot years. It is really quite lovely, with good precision and enough material to support some evolution over the next five years or so. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
 | The regular Cornas is a blend from fifteen… (+) The regular Cornas is a blend from fifteen different parcels, and is raised for 14 months in four-year old barrels. Jeb Dunnuck awarded 92-94, finding “more ripeness and texture than just about every other Cornas out there.” He went on to find notes of “ripe blackberries, mulberries, spicy herbs and earth,” with “terrific mid-palate depth and ripe tannins.” (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
 | Thomas Morey makes the most precise, elegant, understated… (+) Thomas Morey makes the most precise, elegant, understated white Burgundies in our cellar. His style is one of restraint and precision. We think of them as “minimalist” white wines — what’s not there (oak, butter, heaviness) is as important as what is there.
Morey channels his historic family’s superb terroir in Chassagne-Montrachet - a town known for its lush, mouth filling whites — into sleek, ethereal, extraordinary wine. The 2021 vintage was a return to classically shaped wines in Burgundy, and the year fit Morey’s style perfectly. His 2021 Chassagne (the only wine to survive our Futures issue) is outstanding.
Jasper Morris found it “Quite floral for Chassagne… very stylish, very precise.” Exquisite wine from a master winemaker. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
 | Sofie Bohrmann typically makes three St-Aubin premier cru… (+) Sofie Bohrmann typically makes three St-Aubin premier cru cuvées, but the dramatic loss (on average 85% down across her whole domaine) meant she only had enough for a single cuvée. The blend of three of St. Aubin’s best vineyards – Le Puits, En Remilly, and Murgers des Dents de Chien – is very impressive. We certainly wouldn’t wish it on her every year, but we applaud what she managed to turn in.
The 2021 St-Aubin 1er cru is sophisticated and gorgeous. It’s low on sucrocité, that sense of sweet young fruit often found in young white Burgundy – instead there’s a beautiful savoriness that mixes with dry lemon and pear notes. The signature 2021 freshness joins a smooth, waxy texture to create a wine of real elegance and precision. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
 | “Beautiful and bountiful,” writes Jasper Morris of the… (+) “Beautiful and bountiful,” writes Jasper Morris of the 2022 red Burgundies; “very good wines and plenty of them.” William Kelley calls them “succulent, suave and charming”, “offering excellence in both colors and in a wide variety of styles.” Roger Belland's reds are entirely classic, with ripe modern fruit but traditional, low-alcohol textures.
The Chassagne 1er cru Clos Pitois is the family's monopole vineyard. The red delivers a dense, tightly packed structure and exceedingly fine grained, very ripe tannins. Its dark, beautifully ripe fruit unfolds slowly in the glass, hinting at fine things to come as the wine evolves. We expect this wine to age beautifully, hitting its stride in four or five years (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
 | Free East Coast Shipping | $75 | |
| The Ruchots vineyard lies a mere 10 feet… (+) The Ruchots vineyard lies a mere 10 feet from the Clos de Tart, an iconic Grand Cru vineyard in production for nearly a thousand years. While you wouldn’t mistake one wine for the other, it’s easy to see why many consider Ruchots the best premier cru in the town. It’s a wine of unusual depth and intensity for its class. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $78 | |
 | The Domaine Pierre Amiot is an old school… (+) The Domaine Pierre Amiot is an old school Burgundy estate based in Morey-St-Denis. They’ve just welcomed the 6th generation into the business, and year after year turn out humbly delicious red Burgundies. Their 2019s are terrific, with gorgeous textures and excellent aging potential.
“Aux Charmes” is usually the leanest of the Amiots’ premier crus, but in 2019 it offers both density and intensity. Ripe fruit aromas dominate the nose and the dark black currant fruit persists on the palate. There’s an earthiness in there too, and good underlying structure. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $78 | |
 | They began making wine in Chambolle-Musigny back in… (+) They began making wine in Chambolle-Musigny back in 1550, and nearly five centuries later they’re still farming many of the same soils. The most recent generation has upgraded the facilities and the focus, and their wines have begun to gain substantial critical interest.
Martin calls the 2019 Chambolle Nazoires “generous and nicely defined, perhaps quite Vosne-like in style.” Writer Bill Nanson called it “elegant… delicious, complex, proper Chambolle.” A high toned silky precision wafts from the nose of this wine, with notes of red currants, roses, and stones. The mouth is concentrated and precise, with cinnamon, wild cherries, and cassis all channeled into a polished, regal form. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $78 | |
 | Whatever the cause, we can confirm that nearly… (+) Whatever the cause, we can confirm that nearly every 2020 white Burgundy we’ve tasted has been thrillingly good. And the 2020 white lineup from Domaine Ravaut is no exception. Ravaut’s style of low oak, fine minerality, and focused freshness now plays host to abundant ripeness, and the resulting wines are exciting and delightful.
All the elements of a great white Burgundy are here in the Ladoix 1er cru from "Basses Maurottes" – careful oak, tons of concentration, and soaring aromatics of gardenia, pear, almond, and toast. It may not be a bargain, but at nearly half the price of the Grand Cru it provides real value. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $78 | |
| Christophe and his daughter Léa Bonnefond make two… (+) Christophe and his daughter Léa Bonnefond make two site-specific bottlings, both of which border the famous La Landonne vineyard in Côte Rôtie. Both cuvées -- Rozier and Rochins -- are terrific in 2020.
Rochins is the more powerful of the two, with bigger shoulders and a longer finish. The Côte Rôtie Rochins 2020 is beautifully balanced Syrah -- the one third new oak provides careful guardrails for the lush fruit, and is perfectly integrated. The nose shows cassis, blackberries, toast, smoke and spice. The mouth is extremely long, but without an ounce of heaviness. Raynolds awarded 95 points, finding "candied flowers [that] take on a smoky mineral nuance with aeration," calling the mouth "velvety and round" with notes of "cherry-cola, olive paste, and spicecake."
(-) Free East Coast Shipping | $78 | |
| Bonnefond's 2020s are magnificent. Josh Raynolds of Vinous… (+) Bonnefond's 2020s are magnificent. Josh Raynolds of Vinous writes “the 2020s are shaping up to be as impressive, especially in terms of elegance, as any bottlings I have experienced here.” Having bought here for nearly 20 years, we agree — the wines have never been better.
Vinous 96. "Dark, brilliant ruby. Blackberry, cherry liqueur, licorice, olive paste and vanilla qualities on the smoke-accented nose. Offers primary dark berry, mocha, fruitcake and bitter chocolate flavors that show very good depth as well as energy and pick up a spicy nuance with air. The mineral and floral notes recur on a wonderfully long, youthfully tannic finish that features a hints of salty olive and mocha." (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $78 | |
 | The 2019 vintage at Michel Gros is dazzling… (+) The 2019 vintage at Michel Gros is dazzling and delicious. Like much else in 2019, the reds show exceptional concentration.
Perched above the famous Grand Cru Clos de Tart, Michel’s vines in “En la Rue de Vergy” are just coming of age, and seem to produce better wine each year. There’s more than village-level intensity here, and a smooth texture and serious concentration. The nose shows roses and stones, with plum fruit and cassis. The mouth is softer and less rustic than the Nuits cuvées, and finishes longer and fuller. This is Morey precision in a muscular package – Burghound found “unusually good volume and richness,” calling it “already quite pretty.” (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $79 | |
| Morey St. Denis “Les Ruchots” lies on the other side… (+) Morey St. Denis “Les Ruchots” lies on the other side of the village, next to Chambolle-Musigny and the Grand Cru Clos de Tart. It’s usually considered Morey-St-Denis’s best premier cru, and in 2018 it is a thoroughbred racehorse, classy and elegant. It has particularly nice balance and the promise of many years of pleasure.
There are the same aromas of plum, dark cherries and violets, but they seem particularly well integrated. Burghound (88-91) found it “sleek, delicious and appealingly textured,” and we think he is right. This is top level Morey-St-Denis from an excellent vintage — a winning combination. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $82 | |
 | Since 2013, a hundred years after the birth… (+) Since 2013, a hundred years after the birth of winemaker Nicolas Serrette’s grandfather Henri, the domaine has produced a barrel or two of a second cuvée of Cornas. This wine, called “Henri,” is made from 100% whole clusters and spends 22 months in new oak. It is even inkier and more dense than the traditional cuvée, and needs even more time in the bottle. The length and depth of this wine is extraordinary — look for notes of black pepper, beef jerky, plums, blackberry jam, and graphite. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $82 | |
 | Philippe Cheron is the winemaker at the newly… (+) Philippe Cheron is the winemaker at the newly created Domaine du Couvent. The new domaine combines the holdings of the shuttered Domaine des Varoilles and Cheron’s family vineyards, including several plots his grandfather planted in the 1930s. Burghound calls Couvent "a domaine to watch," and Martin writes "It is definitely a grower that I will keep an eye on." We agree, and we're thrilled to have them on board.
Couvent’s 2019 Chambolle Musigny “Les 40 Ouvrées” is blend of a dozen tiny plots from across the appellation. It’s open and accessible, showing deep strawberry fruit and the silky texture for which the town is known. Neal Martin of Vinous awarded 90-92 points, finding it “delicate but precise,” “smooth and succulent, very lush in style, but maintains good balance and freshness,” concluding “very sensual.” Jancis Robinson found it “luxurious” and “delicious.” (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $82 | |
| WA 93
"Hints of smoke accent black cherries and… (+) WA 93
"Hints of smoke accent black cherries and cassis on the nose of the 2017 Cornas Vin Noir. It's full-bodied and velvety on the palate, with rosemary and mint notes on the long, chewy finish. I suppose that it's too clean and plush for traditionalists, but it's one delicious Cornas." (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $82 | |
| The Boursots began making wine in Chambolle-Musigny in… (+) The Boursots began making wine in Chambolle-Musigny in 1550; for centuries, like many Burgundy domaines, they sold their entire production each year to the negociants of Beaune. Today it’s brothers Romauld and Romaric making the wines as the 15th generation of Boursots. Vinous’s Neal Martin describes Boursot’s wines as “superb,” “excellent,” “very fine,” and “worth seeking out.”
Chambolle-Musigny is one of Burgundy’s greatest terroirs, and it is here that the Boursots’ wines really shine. The village level Chambolle “Les Nazoires” 2020 offers pleasant freshness in a silky smooth package. Given the sheer amount of flavor packed into this village-level wine, it may take a few years until it fully hits its stride, but can be counted on to provide much pleasure over the next decade. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $82 | |
 | Michel Chauvet and his son are the winemakers… (+) Michel Chauvet and his son are the winemakers at the Domaine Lancelot-Royer, a tiny house in Cramant in the heart of the Côtes des Blancs. All of their wines come from grapes they grow themselves, and their vineyards are 100% Chardonnay from exclusively Grand Cru vineyards. Everything here is done by hand, from harvesting and riddling to disgorging, dosing and labeling.
This “Dualisme” is Extra Brut, and comes from 40 year old vines in the two famous towns of Chouilly and Avize. This cuvée is equal parts 2017 and 2015 base, with 15% coming from reserve barrels. With 5 years on the lees, this is prettier and more savory than the “Chevaliers” cuvée. There’s less dosage (4g instead of 9g) and the character is more serious. This wine shows spring flowers and lemon zest in the nose, with excellent tension and tons of length in the mouth. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $82 | |
 | At the Domaine Michel Gros, 2020 brings another… (+) At the Domaine Michel Gros, 2020 brings another stellar lineup of beautiful red Burgundies, very much in the style of the superb 2019s. The 2020 growing season in the Côte de Nuits was much like 2019: hot, sunny, dry, and very early.
New to the lineup this year is the domaine’s new Gevrey-Chambertin cuvée, an addition that completes the list of famous Côte de Nuits towns in the family portfolio. The vines are all from “la Platière,” a village level plot east of the RN-74, and the wine combines Gevrey’s typical burly, masculine terroir with Michel’s signature polish. We found it unusually floral for a Gevrey, and Burghound agreed, finding it “relatively elegant” for the appellation, with a nicely persistent, balanced and complex finale. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $82 | |
 | Most consider Puligny-Montrachet to be white Burgundy’s highest… (+) Most consider Puligny-Montrachet to be white Burgundy’s highest form. The chiseled, stony intensity found in its wines make them well suited to balance a ripe vintage, and the 2020s we’ve tasted from Puligny have been even more attractive than usual. Vincent Boyer's village-level “Reuchaux” comes from vines just north of the village, not far from the Meursault border.
The domaine’s signature sophistication and charm are in effect here, but in a more detailed and fine-tuned package. Boyer’s extended aging in eggs makes Reuchaux more approachable young than it used to be, but we still think it’s at its best after a year in the cellar. In short, this is regal, refined, and lovely white Burgundy. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $82 | |
| Free East Coast Shipping | $82 | |
| Pascal’s newest cuvée, called “Reserve 2014,” is essentially… (+) Pascal’s newest cuvée, called “Reserve 2014,” is essentially the Brut Traditionnel cuvée, but left on the lees for an extra half-decade; the base cuvée comes from the 2014 vintage. Champagne, you’ll remember, undergoes two fermentations – a first in tanks (like any other wine), and then a second in bottle under bottlecap. After the second fermentation is complete, the winemaker may choose to disgorge (remove yeast and insert a cork) promptly, or hold for longer “on the lees.”
The extra time on the lees has transformed the wine into something extraordinary, far closer to his vintage champagne than the more humble Traditionnel. The wine shows an exquisite array of chalk, fruit, earth and toast. The mouth is subtle and long, with a delicious, vinous finish. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $82 | |
 | Thirtysomething Justine Clerget (Christian’s daughter) is now in… (+) Thirtysomething Justine Clerget (Christian’s daughter) is now in charge of this tiny gem of a domaine in Vougeot. She's brought renewed energy, refined techniques, and a passion for organic viticulture. The Clerget wines were always classical, terroir-transparent, old school red Burgundy; Justine has maintained this spirit but added polish and class.
The Chambolle is a blend from six different plots around the town, and shows the village’s classic silky, seductive nature. Neal Martin gave 90-92 points, praising its “sense of vibrancy and tension” on a “very well-controlled and persistent finish,” concluding “this is worth seeking out.” This is a wine of perfume, elegance, and grace, but with real density from the hot, dry summer – we think it punches above its village weight. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $82 | |
| Free East Coast Shipping | $82 | |
 | Several readers are already hooked on our newest… (+) Several readers are already hooked on our newest Champagne producer, RH Coutier. Coutier has been a favorite of Vinous founder Antonio Galloni “for years;” he calls their wines “gorgeous… showing the natural richness of Ambonnay.” The Coutier style is open and accessible – the non-vintage “Traditionnel” is expressive, captivating wine at an exceptional price – today we’re introducing their finest cuvée.
We opened Coutier’s 2015 vintage champagne at a private tasting last week and it blew everyone (including the author of this post) away. It’s 75/25 Pinot Noir/Chardonnay, and has spent 96 months on the lees, gaining astounding complexity and depth. At 3g of dosage, this is dry, sophisticated and simply extraordinary. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $82 | |
 | The Grand Cru of Corton is massive. Stretching… (+) The Grand Cru of Corton is massive. Stretching across a prominent hill just north of Beaune, the vineyard covers 236 acres, just 40 less than the entire appellation of Morey-St-Denis. The terroirs vary widely across the giant vineyard, and so it’s further divided into dozens of smaller “climats.” The finest of these are the three farthest north in the middle of the slope:Bressandes, Clos du Roi, and Renardes.
The humble family domaine of Gaston and Pierre Ravaut has made wine from the hill of Corton for generations. Longtime local customers account for the majority of their business, and there’s barely a sign on the front door. The Ravauts make excellent whites and reds from the towns surrounding the hill, but the jewel of their collection is their plot of Grand Cru Corton-Bressandes. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $85 | |
| The 2017 Meix des Ouches, it showed particularly… (+) The 2017 Meix des Ouches, it showed particularly well eary, with deep, dark fruit in the nose and on the palate. Burghound praised its “delicious middle-weight flavors” and found “notes of poached plum, forest floor, and a whisper of oak in the nose.” Meix des Ouches 2017 is rich and mouthfilling, and will easily provide pleasure for a decade. It’s more serious than the Couvent, and seemed closer to a premier cru than to a village wine. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $85 | |
 | Made from 100% pinot noir, this shines an… (+) Made from 100% pinot noir, this shines an attractive dark salmon in the glass. The Robins allow some of the grapes to soak on the skins, and press others for clear juice; then they combine the lots and vinify together. The resulting wine is approachable, well-priced, and delightful. The nose shows strawberry, raspberry, lime zest, and cassis — indeed tasted blind we might have guessed it already a kir. The mouth is dry and beautifully textured, with clean fruit and just a shadow of tannin. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $85 | |
 | Michel Gros’s 2016 Chambolle-Musigny is smooth, elegant, and… (+) Michel Gros’s 2016 Chambolle-Musigny is smooth, elegant, and sleek. Now six years on from the harvest, this has begun to shed its youthful awkwardness, and has matured into a seriously impressive wine. Look for notes of plum, licorice, cherry and stones; the mouth is dense and firm but with velvety texture and a clean, very precise finish.
Burghound calls this wine “outstanding” with “refined tannins” and “impressively persistent finish,” concluding “a lovely Chambolle villages worth checking out.” (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $85 | |
 | The Gros family has made wine in Vosne… (+) The Gros family has made wine in Vosne for nearly 200 years, and for a long time his mother was the town’s mayor. Today Michel’s domaine is world famous as a top source for red Burgundy, and the wines from Vosne are at the heart of his lineup.
The 2016 Vosne-Romanée is subtly exquisite. The nose shows violets and dried roses, redcurrants and a bit of spice. The mouth is intense and lively but smoothed, with silky ripe tannins in perfect balance with the dark pinot noir fruit. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $85 | |
| Vinous: "an attractive blueberry, iodine and violet-scented bouquet… (+) Vinous: "an attractive blueberry, iodine and violet-scented bouquet that is showy but translates its terroir. The palate is medium-bodied with finer tannin than the Nuits Saint-Georges Village and a chalky finish that leaves the mouth tingling"
Burghound: "an attractively ripe and exuberantly fresh nose offers up notes of red cherry, plum, dark raspberry and a variety of spice nuances. Once again the barely middle weight flavors are not particularly dense but I like both the texture and vibrancy of the sneaky long finish where a hint of wood surfaces. This is very Vosne in character and should drink well young or with age." (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $85 | |
 | Michel Chauvet and his son are the winemakers… (+) Michel Chauvet and his son are the winemakers at the Domaine Lancelot-Royer, a tiny house in Cramant in the heart of the Côtes des Blancs. All of their wines come from grapes they grow themselves, and their vineyards are 100% Chardonnay from exclusively Grand Cru vineyards. Everything here is done by hand, from harvesting and riddling to disgorging, dosing and labeling.
From 60 year old vines, with 9 grams of sugar, and now nearing a decade on the lees, this wine is tremendous. The nose shows toasted apples, honeysuckle, white flowers, and brioche. The mouth is smooth and mature but with terrific tension and cut amid a long, silky finish. Chauvet suggested something with truffles as a pairing, and we’d hardly turn down the match. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $85 | |
| Robin’s vintage cuvée is called Kimmerdigienne, a nod… (+) Robin’s vintage cuvée is called Kimmerdigienne, a nod to the famous limestone in the local soil. We bought their 2011 for three consecutive years, and it was a revelation to anyone who tried it. The 2012 has just arrived and is more than worthy successor, and from one of the top vintages in the last decade.
The nose is a stunner, with notes of almonds, apricots, praline, and chalk. The mouth is delicious and complex, with notes of seashell, lemon zest, kiwi, brioche and vanilla. The 2012 has 6g dosage (vs 8 with the 2011), and is richer and bolder than last year’s – the mouthfeel is concentrated and chewy, and we think will impress just about anyone. (-) Free East Coast Shipping | $85 | |
| Free East Coast Shipping | $85 |