Vinous (93)

The 2018 Volnay Les Caillerets 1er Cru has a gorgeous fragrant floral bouquet with bunches of roses complementing the vibrant red fruit. Wonderful intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with gently grippy tannins, quite spicy towards the finish with a slightly confit towards the end. This is destined to age very well. Superb.

Vinous (93)

The 2018 Volnay Les Champans 1er Cru offers attractive black fruit mixed with briary, crushed rock and sea cave aromas on the nose that is all quite captivating. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, good depth and grip with a saline finish that gets the saliva flowing. Classy, old school Volnay.

Wine Advocate (92-94)

The 2015 Volnay 1er Cru les Fremiets has an elegant bouquet with scents of briary, woodland and red berry fruit. There is lovely purity of fruit here, great transparency. The palate is well balanced with fine structure, quite firm tannin, superb focus with red merging with black fruit towards the slightly saline finish. This is a great wine from Jean-Pierre Chalot.

Discover the sublime taste of Jules Desjourneys Pouilly Fuisse Vignes De La Cote 2020, an exquisite white wine produced in France's Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. As a true connoisseur's delight, this particular vintage encapsulates a vivid expression of the renowned Pouilly-Fuisse terroir, boasting a distinct mineral edge with harmonious floral undertones.

Having meticulously committed to manual harvesting and biodynamic principles, the respected producer, Jules Desjourneys, ensures a wine of superior quality and integrity. The vines are aged between 40 to 60 years old and meticulously grow on southeast-orientated slopes on limestone soil. After being harvested, the grapes undergo a rigorous sorting process before a long and slow fermentation in oak barrels, imbuing this velvety wine with subtle complexity.

Unparalleled in depth and character, the Jules Desjourneys Pouilly Fuisse Vignes De La Cote 2020 offers an exquisite sensory experience with its high acidic structure, robust palate, and elegant finish. Perfect for any wine aficionados seeking a refined imbibe.

Vinous (98)

The 2020 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru has an expressive bouquet with fine delineation, redcurrant and raspberry fruit, hints of candied orange peel and just a little camphor. Yet there is a discreetness that I admire, and it unfolds wonderfully in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, nicely detailed, fresh and marine-influenced. It is very harmonious; there's a very grandiose finish that lingers seductively. One of the best wines that I have ever tasted from the Domaine. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting.

Envelop yourself in the rich complexity of the Lafouge Jean & Gilles Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru Les Duresses 2022. Hailing from the sophisticated wine region of Burgundy, France, this Pinot Noir has been cultivated under the expert supervision of the Lafouge family, highly esteemed vignerons. Their traditional, organic farming methods result in full-bodied grapes that imbue the wine with intense varietal character.

Once harvested, the grapes undergo a lengthy fermentation period in wooden barrels, yielding layers of nuanced flavours and a well-rounded tannic structure. The Lafouge Jean & Gilles Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru Les Duresses 2022 rewards the palate with notes of ripe red fruit complemented by subtle hints of spice and earthiness, a testament to its terroir. It's an exceptional wine that perfectly encapsulates the skill, tradition, and passion of its producers. It's an unrivalled choice for connoisseurs seeking the authentic taste of Burgundy's boutique vineyards.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-94)

A little more depth of cherry red colour here and a delicate but charming bouquet. Builds to the back, a little smokiness and a touch of pepper, a gracious and quite delicate Echezeaux of middling intensity but some length.

Vinous (95)

The 2016 La Grande Rue Grand Cru has a very pure, almost pastille-like bouquet with copious red cherry fruit mixed with crushed strawberry and a little cassis. La Grande Rue? [Post script: Bingo!] The palate is very pretty with fine-grain tannin. This is surfeit with freshness and vitality, although it does not quite have the depth and structure of other Grand Crus from the appellation. It does fan out towards the finish. The persistence, and the saline aftertaste are very appealing. Excellent. Tasted blind at the 2016 Burgfest tasting.

Vinous (96)

The 2017 La Grande Rue has a deep, introspective bouquet, offering more black fruit than red; touches of oyster shell and seaweed percolate through with time. The palate is where the quality shines through, in the filigreed tannins and the wonderful sense of symmetry. Fresh as a daisy without compromising intensity, especially on the pixelated finish, which seems to go on forever. Brilliant. This far exceeded my expectations. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2017 tasting.

Vinous (96)

The 2017 La Grande Rue has a deep, introspective bouquet, offering more black fruit than red; touches of oyster shell and seaweed percolate through with time. The palate is where the quality shines through, in the filigreed tannins and the wonderful sense of symmetry. Fresh as a daisy without compromising intensity, especially on the pixelated finish, which seems to go on forever. Brilliant. This far exceeded my expectations. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2017 tasting.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (94-98)

Perfect fresh mid red to purple in colour. There is an extra distinction to the bouquet, with a touch of spice and a little bit of blood orange. Very nuanced this year. Sweetly harmonious across the middle of the palate, iron-rich at the finish, supple and extremely persistent. Long, harmonious, with a silky touch.

Tim Atkin MW (97)

Nicole is thrilled that La Grande Rue is producing at 80% of its capacity, even in this dry vintage. Of course, much less is made of this old vine cuv e – only two barrels. This has a touch more blush in its color than its counterpart. It's also showing some reduction so less perfumed at the moment. There's a strong flint note followed by pretty rose petals then sweet strawberries. The texture is marvellous, feeling of pure silk. Medium-bodied with integrated lift and soign  tannins, this is seriously stylish. 2022-40

Wine Advocate (85)

The 2015 Vosne Romanee 1er Cru les Suchots offers up aromas of plums, cassis and spice, followed by a medium-bodied, rather inscrutable palate without any real discernible concentration or depth. Perhaps the wine is simply closed down after bottling and will emerge from its shell with age?

Wine Advocate (95)

The 2015 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru continues to show very well, unfurling in the glass with a rich bouquet of ripe plums, blackberries, dark chocolate and forest floor. On the palate, it's full-bodied, satiny and powerful, with an ample chassis of fine structuring tannins and a deep core of fruit, but the wine is shutting down and is more inscrutable than it was six months earlier. Readers with bottles in their cellars are sitting on a great example of Clos des Lambrays, one of the best produced since the 1970s, but a decade's patience is advised.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Transparent garnet – one of the lightest wines so far. Very pretty and extremely fragrant and winning. Gentle with resolved tannins and perhaps a little more freshness than some but a real charmer. After some raspberry fruit there is an undertow of structure and perhaps a note of orange peel? Lots of juicy fruit but with real delicacy. Quite deceptive because you could drink this straight away but it clearly has the structure for a long life.

Jancis Robinson (18)

60 m difference in height between the top and the bottom of the Clos. 50% new and 50% second-use barrel. 90% whole bunch (some years 100%). Will be racked to tank at the end of December. Once in cuve it is stable so there is no hurry to bottle. Must have at least a month in tank to stabilise so they will bottle February –April. Bottling best in March or October – never too cold or hot. No filtration. They bottle with descending moon when the wine is more still. Beautifully, darkly aromatic with plenty of peppery spice. Woody rather than oaky. There’s freshness from the tannins as well as from the acidity and the texture is so silky on the mid palate yet with power on the finish. Refined, flowing, dry and long. Handsome beauty and so easy to taste even with the underlying intensity and power. There’s just a very slight hint of stems but not OTT. Dark elegance.

Vinous (97)

The 2018 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru does not quite have the amplitude of Magnien's Clos Saint-Denis, but it displays more vivacious red fruit, clarifying with aeration and eventually develops quite an ethereal quality. The palate is beautifully balanced with sappy red fruit laced with white pepper, sage and graphite notes. Superb structure on the finish - quintessentially Morey-Saint-Denis with wonderful sappiness. Bon vin! Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 red tasting.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (96-98)

(5-Star Wine) I tasted five of the 11 individual parcellaire cuvées – everything makes it in to the final blend except for the young vine block notes in the Morey 1er Cru. Jacques is adamant that the final wine should respect the totality of the Clos. Then we tried the blend: already, this seems to have taken on a deeper colour than any of the individual cuvees. Deep dense dark fruit, with a powerful underlying dark raspberry with some more lifted rose petal notes. Probably 85% whole bunch overall but the power of the fruit stops this taking the lead. It does underpin the whole though, especially on the palate, while there is also a crystalline limestone purity behind the sweetly ripe red berry fruit. The 2020 Lambrays has more heart to it than most vintages I have tasted in barrel. There is a fine long finish, a little liquorice touch, a complex and ageworthy Lambrays. Delicacy with a strong tensile thread. Tannins by analysis are very significant but you don’t see them. From now on, the wine will spend a second winter in barrel each year. I toyed with not giving the wine 5 stars, to leave the new team something to aim at, but the wine merits the top classification. Tasted: December 2021

Decanter (2027-2050)

It is hard to overstate my enthusiasm for this wine, with its impressive ripeness, plump, plummy fruit with notes of black cherry and liquorice. The texture is densely structured, firm but not hard, and long but not heavy. There is still the freshness and finesse to make this among the best wines of the vintage. This is the reunion of all the old-vine parcels in the Clos and a pretty convincing argument for director Jacques Devauges’ assertion that Lambrays is the pinnacle of Morey-St-Denis.

Decanter (2027-2050)

It is hard to overstate my enthusiasm for this wine, with its impressive ripeness, plump, plummy fruit with notes of black cherry and liquorice. The texture is densely structured, firm but not hard, and long but not heavy. There is still the freshness and finesse to make this among the best wines of the vintage. This is the reunion of all the old-vine parcels in the Clos and a pretty convincing argument for director Jacques Devauges’ assertion that Lambrays is the pinnacle of Morey-St-Denis.

Decanter (2027-2050)

It is hard to overstate my enthusiasm for this wine, with its impressive ripeness, plump, plummy fruit with notes of black cherry and liquorice. The texture is densely structured, firm but not hard, and long but not heavy. There is still the freshness and finesse to make this among the best wines of the vintage. This is the reunion of all the old-vine parcels in the Clos and a pretty convincing argument for director Jacques Devauges’ assertion that Lambrays is the pinnacle of Morey-St-Denis.

Vinous - Neal Martin (96-98)

Eleven different cuvées combine to form the 2023 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru, with every square meter contributing to the blend, to quote Jacques Devauges verbatim (as an aside, this is the same philosophy at Cheval Blanc, which is also on LVMH's mantelpiece). This vintage includes 80% whole bunch and was raised in 60% new oak. The bouquet is very expressive with ebullient red berry fruit, tobacco, forest floor and subtle aromas of ceps. The palate is medium-bodied with fine yet firm tannins that lend backbone and gentle grip. This fans out with style on the sapid finish with a liberal sprinkling of black pepper. The 2023 ranks alongside the 2022 and may even surpass it. Prices have skyrocketed in recent years and priced out many Lambrays-lovers, but one cannot deny the quality.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93-96)

Mid yellow, with a really beautiful succulent nose, picked at perfect ripeness, and not hiding the delicacy and detail of fine Genevrières. Some lime, some verbena, delicate fresh apples, back to the lime blossom, then a really fine boned framework on the palate. Tingles the tastebuds in the most delicious way. A beautifully crafted 2023 Genevrières. Drink from 2029-2037. Tasted Oct 2024.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-95)

Raised in 30% new wood and 70% 1 year old. Solid purple with medium depth. The nose starts on the oak and soon moves to the fruit. Very succulent again, smoothly balanced with a firm grip to the tannins. Yet it is suavely put together. High class, and it certainly has the length. Tasted: October 2019

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91-93)

A fine mid ruby colour. The bouquet has both charm and density in a very happy balance. A lovely aftertaste of soft strawberry and fresh raspberry, the graceful side of Pommard with the tannins nicely covered. Drink from 2030-2037. Tasted: November 2023.