Wine Advocate (96)

Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2014 tasting, Faiveley's 2014 Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru has a ravishing, pure and sensual bouquet with red cherries and crushed strawberry fruit laced with minerals. It needs another two or three years to fully assimilate. The palate is beautifully balanced with fine tannin, very focused and tensile with shimmering, effervescent red fruit fanning out on the finish. Stunning—but it is unquestionably built for the long-term. Tasted September 2017.

Vinous (94-96)

The 2017 Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru comes from two parcels. It has a charming bouquet of ebullient raspberry and wild strawberry aromas; hints of vanilla pod and rose petal lend complexity. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, gentle grip and a saline, oyster-shell-tinged finish that lingers in the mouth. This is one of Faiveley’s most impressive offerings in 2017. Superb.

Decanter (96)

Les Ouvrées Rodin is a small cuvée of Clos de Bèze, selected from vines that are more than 60 years old. It's worth trading up from the regular release, assuming you have the funds, because this is altogether richer, more complex and more concentrated. The 40% new oak is very well done, adding some cinnamon spice to the dense black cherry and blueberry fruit.

Vinous (92-94)

(Faiveley vinified the old vines separately but then assembled them with the rest): Bright ruby-red. Alluring floral nose combines blackberry, black raspberry, violet and licorice. A savory and rather refined young Clos Vougeot, offering subtle notes of dark berries, flowers and earth rather than this grand cru's more typical black cherry and herb qualities. Nothing rustic about this highly promising Clos Vougeot!

Decanter (96)

You're almost always assured of a great Corton from this 2.7ha monopole, which has performed especially well in the warmer conditions of 2017, retaining acidity and freshness. Fine tannins, chalky minerality and beautifully judged oak all support savoury raspberry, red cherry and pomegranate fruit flavours.

Vinous (86-88)

The 2019 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes has an earthy, undergrowth-scented bouquet of dark berry fruit, touches of tar coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a little chewy on the midpalate, with candied red fruit toward the slightly monotone and bitter finish. It's a bit "Faiveley of old" for my liking, big-boned and missing some finesse.

Vinous (89-91)

Bright lemon-yellow color. Restrained aromas of mirabelle, yellow flowers and clove. Brisk but not hard, offering a lovely sugar/acid balance to its intense lemon zest and spice flavors. Finishes with good cut but a touch of youthful rigidity. These vines were originally planted in the 1950s but a lot of them have been replaced through the years.

Vinous (90)

The 2019 Chassagne-Montrachet Maltroye 1er Cru has a fragrant, chalk dust scented bouquet that opens nicely with aeration. The palate is well balanced with a lightly spiced opening, touches of orange rind and marmalade lending a welcome tanginess. It might not be a long-term Chassagne, though it is thoroughly enjoyable. 14.10% alcohol.

Vinous (92)

The 2020 Chassagne-Montrachet Maltroye 1er Cru has a finely tuned nose, the 30% new oak neatly integrated. The palate is well balanced with good depth, honeycomb and orange rind, slightly waxy in texture towards the finish. Good extract here and fine length, this should drink well for 15-20 years.

Vinous (94)

The 2020 Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeots 1er Cru, over towards the Santenay side, usually takes longer to ripen. The nose is well balanced with fine delineation, touches of honeysuckle and pressed white flowers. The palate is well balanced with a lovely white peach and white chocolate opening, fine salinity, very poised and tensile towards the finish. Superb.

Presenting the Fougeray Beauclair Bonnes Mares Grand Cru 2017, an epitome of French viticulture. Originating from the prestigious vineyards of Burgundy, this remarkable wine captures the essence of its prestigious terroir. Crafted by Patrice and Cathy Beauclair, known for their traditional approach to winemaking, this revered couple meticulously handpick their grapes. They then adopt a gentle extraction process, ageing the wine in oak barrels for a time-honoured flavour profile.

This particular vintage exhibits a complex, robust palate, with hints of ripe berries, alluring spice notes and velvety tannins. Its ruby hue is as inviting as its rich aroma, forming an alluring marriage of sight, smell and taste. The Fougeray Beauclair Bonnes Mares Grand Cru 2017 surpasses expectations of even the most discerning wine enthusiasts, promising a sublime tasting experience. A quintessential addition to any fine wine collection, it stands as a testament to the Beauclair's commitment to excellence.

Vinous (84-86)

From purchased grapes in the Côte de Nuits, the 2018 Bourgogne Rouge has a slightly tarry bouquet of ripe summer fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins, fine acidity and a slightly compact finish. Give it a year once in bottle.

Wine Advocate (92-94)

The 2017 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes unwinds in the glass with aromas of pastry cream, crisp orchard fruit, honeycomb and white flowers. On the palate, it's full-bodied, broad shouldered and powerful, with a dense, blocky profile that is classic Combettes. When I tasted it, the wine was quite reserved and less advanced in its élevage than most of Carillon's other cuvées, but its potential is clearly considerable.

As an exemplar of fine Burgundy Pinot Noir, the Frederic Esmonin Mazis Chambertin 2017 is a real triumph. An esteemed viticulturist based in the Gevrey-Chambertin region, Frederic Esmonin continues a family legacy, producing wines renowned for their depth and complexity. Showcasing excellence of the Mazis Chambertin terroir, Esmonin’s 2017 vintage is made meticulously, with manually-harvested grapes undergoing primary fermentation in open oak vat, before being aged for nearly two years in French oak barrels.

Bountiful fruit aromas with impressive ripeness and concentration are evident on the nose, mirrored on the palate with distinct savoury undertones of spice, tobacco and wild herbs. The tensile tannins and perfectly resonating acidity result in a wine of stunningly balanced harmony. Its longevity is equally impressive, ensuring it remains a delightful drinking experience for years post-uncorking. For true lovers of premium Burgundy, Frederic Esmonin Mazis Chambertin 2017 is a standout choice.

Experience the majestic wonder of Genot-Boulanger Puligny-Montrachet Au Paupillot 2018, an exceptional embodiment of elite French viticulture. This prominent white was delicately crafted amid the hallowed terrain of Puligny-Montrachet, a revered wine-growing village in the heart of Burgundy. Lean and focused, this vintage exhibits energetic citrus flavours harmoniously balanced by an intricate minerality, bearing testimony to its prestigious limestone and clay soil origin. The notable finish flaunts a gentle toast, a signature of the producer's deft use of oak aging.

The respected Genot-Boulanger family vignerons meticulously hand-harvest and select each Chardonnay grape, ensuring the highest quality. Their exemplary wine-making practices seamlessly combine traditional methods with contemporary innovations, yielding an invigorating wine that truly reflects its terroir. Indulge in the Genot-Boulanger Puligny-Montrachet Au Paupillot 2018 – a grand marriage of time-honoured tradition and unyielding commitment to excellence.

Vinous (89-91)

(25% new oak): Palish bright medium red. Nose dominated by musky, rocky, smoky calcaire. A step up in silkiness, sweetness and depth from the village Morey but a bit reduced, displaying very good intensity to its flavors of redcurrant, tobacco, spices and saline minerality. Finishes with very good spine and length, with a lingering note of dried flowers. This wine comes from vines on very poor subsoil below Clos de la Roche; Stehly notes that it is always strict when young and poor in color.

Vinous (94+)

(from a yield of about 28 hectoliters per hectare, according to Ghislaine Barthod): Good bright, full red. Very closed yet delicate nose offers scents of black cherry, licorice, fresh herbs and minerals. Soil-driven, saline and sweet, with powerful minerality accentuating the wine's superb concentration. Wonderfully tactile yet light on its feet, this taut, vibrant wine saturates the entire mouth and stains the front teeth. As with Barthod's other 2010s, the tannins are extremely refined. Barthod notes that the 1999 version of this wine is still young, and she believes that this 2010 will take even longer to reach full maturity.

Wine Advocate (90)

The 2016 Viré-Clessé wafts from the glass with notes of musky peach and dried white flowers, framed by sublet reduction. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, tense and racy, with good depth at the core and an attractive sense of completeness. It will need some time in the cellar to unwind after bottling, but it's an elegant, vibrant interpretation of the appellation that ranks as one of Lafon's best cuvées this year.

Wine Advocate (90)

From vines in Corgoloin, the 2017 Côte de Nuits-Villages unfurls in the glass with a lovely bouquet of cherries, dark berries, rose petals, orange rind and cedar. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated for the vintage, with a fleshy core of fruit, finer-grained tannins than those found in the domaine's bottlings from the Hautes Côtes, and juicy balancing acids, concluding with an elegantly chalky finish. This is showing very well and is worth seeking out.

Wine Advocate (90-93)

The 2009 Charmes-Chambertin (from vines in Mazoyeres) shows gorgeous density and depth in a round, engaging style. This is a highly engaging, textured wine but it is also remarkably open for a grand cru, even in 2009. I am not sure it will make old bones, but it should drink nicely for a handful of years. The Charmes is made from partially purchased fruit that is used to augment the estate’s small holdings. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (92-95)

Distinctly darker red-ruby color. Floral, highly perfumed aromas of strawberry, raspberry, spearmint and sappy spices. Big, rich and silky, but very fresh and delineated, with terrific cut. Very subtle, expanding aftertaste, with slow-building, very persistent fruit and completely enrobed tannins. Concentrated, classy and complete; a thoroughly ripe Musigny that has benefitted from the late harvesting.

Burghound (86-88)

Moderate reduction knocks down the fruit though there is good vibrancy and detail to the delicious flavors that exude a refreshing salinity on the focused and lingering finish. This is carrying enough structure to suggest that it will need a year or two to unwind and develop better depth.

Wine Advocate (88-90)

Offering up aromas of cherries and cassis, deftly framed by a touch of new oak, the 2018 Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune is medium to full-bodied, deep and fleshy, with a rich core of fruit, powdery tannins and lively acids. Still primary and youthful, it had yet to be bottled when I tasted it.

Burghound (86-89)

A pretty and very fresh nose combines notes of both red and dark cherry with an airy array of floral nuances. Once again there is good intensity and vibrancy to the slightly bigger and richer flavors that possess a bit better depth and persistence on the mildly more structured finale. This is very good for its level and is worth considering provided you can allow it at least a few years of cellar time.