Savour the exquisite Esprit Leflaive Pouilly-Fuisse Le Clos Reyssier 2019, an exemplary expression of craftmanship from the iconic estate of Domaine Leflaive. Hailing from Macon region in Burgundy, this wine is cultivated on a unique limestone and clay terroir in Le Clos Reyssier. The 2019 vintage captures the essence of the vineyard, with meticulous bio-dynamic farming and traditional vinification in oak barrels lending depth and complexity to this Chardonnay.

Under the visionary leadership of Brice de La Morandière and the winemaking prowess of Pierre Vincent, Esprit Leflaive Pouilly-Fuisse Le Clos Reyssier 2019 offers a harmonious blend of floral notes, stone fruit accents, and minerality. The palate presents a vibrant acidity balanced gracefully with a rich texture and a long, luxurious finish. Esprit Leflaive continues the Leflaive heritage of producing world-class wines, and this vintage is no exception. A heavenly experience undeniably awaits with each sip of the Esprit Leflaive Pouilly-Fuisse Le Clos Reyssier 2019.

Vinous (93-95)

The 2019 Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes 1er Cru has a tightly wound bouquet, less expressive than the other cuvées, but a few swirls reveal intense mineral-driven malic fruit. Like the aromatics, the palate is beautifully defined and reminds me of Domaine Leflaive in style. The spiciness hits the back palate, hints of lemongrass linger in the mouth after this Les Combettes has departed. Classy but compact at the moment, so do not begrudge cellaring this for 3-5 years.

Wine Advocate (94)

The 2020 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes is excellent, offering up aromas of stone fruits, pear, pastry cream, white flowers and fresh croissants, followed by a full-bodied, rich and textural palate, with a broad attack that segues into a layered, multidimensional palate. Powerful and broad shouldered, but nicely balanced, this is a compelling wine from Sauzet.

Vinous (95)

(25 hectoliters per hectare): Full, dark red. Tight, primary, slightly reduced aromas of blackberry, blueberry, licorice and minerals. Densely packed, rich and broad; a distinctly horizontal, pliant style of Clos Vougeot, no doubt a function of the very warm, sunny vintage. Today this is sweeter and more open-knit than the Grands-Echézeaux but both of these wines should easily age for two decades or more. (Mallard noted that on some days this wine comes across as stricter, more Cistercian.) Finishes with spicy, ripe tannins and terrific energy and length.

Vinous (94)

The 2017 Clos Vougeot Grand Cru is well defined and precise, with cranberry, raspberry and vibrant red cherry scents that soar from the glass. The oak here is very well assimilated. The well-balanced palate offers fine but firm tannins that frame the black cherry and raspberry fruit. Lovely tension and mineralité on the finish, which delivers just the right amount of spice and length. Excellent. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2017 tasting.

Wine Advocate (92-94+)

The 2017 Grands Echézeaux Grand Cru is a great success, unfurling in the glass with aromas of blackberries, wild berries, rich soil tones and espresso roast, framed by a lavish but nicely integrated touch of toasty new oak. On the palate, it's full-bodied, ample and layered, with a generous core of ripe but juicy fruit, concluding with an expansive, saline finish. While this is quite giving and charming by the standards of the appellation, it's the most concentrated wine in the Eugénie portfolio this year, and will likely prove the longest lived.

The Fabien Coche Meursault 1er Cru Charmes 2022 is a testament to the exceptional winemaking prowess of Fabien Coche, a scion of the renowned Coche family in Burgundy, France. This dazzling white wine is produced from sustainably cultivated Chardonnay grapes in the lauded terroir of Meursault's Premier Cru vineyards, with Charmes applauded for its prestigious climats.

The 2022 Charmes embodies the precise oenological craftsmanship of Coche, with a meticulous manual harvest and traditional vinification in oak barrels, dignifying its exalted quality. An exquisite embodiment of Meursault's hallmark minerality, intermingled with nuanced notes of ripe fruit and honey, this wine offers an elaborate, vibrant palate and a persistently elegant finish.

With its distinguished genealogy and breathtaking purity, the Fabien Coche Meursault 1er Cru Charmes 2022 validates its place among the pantheon of eminent Burgundy whites. An iconic choicely-curated cellar addition for discerning oenophiles.

Vinous (92-94)

The 2021 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is more backward and surly than the Bienvenues at this stage, less "welcoming". The palate is well balanced with a tangy entry, orange rind and lemon peel, touches of grapefruit towards the finish, though the Bienvenues has more cohesion. Still commendable given the season.

James Suckling (97-98)

Mind-blowingly deep and subtle nose of stone fruit with citrusy nuances. All the density of Batard, but with such elegance at the extremely long, focused finish. Great potential! From old vines purchased in 2008.

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.

Vinous (94-97)

(made from same plot of 60+-year-old vines on the Chambertin side of this grand cru as in the past; 100% destemmed): Bright dark red. Raspberry and a touch of reduction on the nose. Then dense, sappy and high-pitched in the mouth, with terrific intensity and saline complexity to the intense red berry flavors. Notes of menthol and crushed stone contribute to an impression of youthful tightness. Harder to taste today than the classic Clos de Bèze, which is showing more energy and salty minerality in the early going. But this is subtler and longer on the aftertaste, with a distinctly floral, feminine character that reminded me of a great Chambolle-Musigny. Very different in style from Faiveley's basic Clos de Bèze, but is it better?

Vinous (95-97)

The 2020 Chambertin Clos-de-Bèze Grand Cru has a very delineated, quite floral bouquet with rose petal infusing the mixture of red and black fruit. There is a touch of sous-bois that become accentuated with time. The palate is fleshy and almost confit-like on the entry, but the acidity keeps this on an even keel. Plush, luxuriant...almost sexy (I dislike the word apropos Burgundy) but there is something very sensual about this wine. Very long in terms of length. Superb.

Super precision on the nose, charming bright red and black fruits and that characteristic deftness of flavour from Chambolle-Musigny. An elegance on the palate, the tannins, acidity and alcohol all in perfect balance and bright, seductive notes of cranberry, redcurrant, touches of violets and soft subtle spices from the oak, with a line of minerality running through.

Jancis Robinson (17.5)

Barrel sample. Mid crimson. Less sweet-smelling than the Clos de Vougeot, with plenty of open, dark-red fruit and also a light herbal note, which lifts it and adds freshness. Firm and dry on the palate, dry yet elegant, the fruit filling out the core. Chalk-fine texture. A little constrained at the moment.

Wine Advocate (93-95)

Aromas of cassis, orange rind, smoked meats and loamy soil introduce Faiveley's 2019 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru, a medium to full-bodied, layered and demonstrative wine that's concentrated and succulent, with an ample core of ripe fruit framed by velvety tannins and lively acids. This is another especially fine cuvée this year.

Vinous (93-95)

The 2019 Clos Vougeot Grand Cru comes from Faiveley’s 1.27-hectare parcel. It has a floral nose with potpourri and light lavender aromas that partially occlude the fruit expression. The palate is lithe on the entry with modest depth and quite tertiary in style, and a keen thread of acidity lends freshness on the finish. A little austere in style, it opens with aeration to offer a very minerally finish. Here, it put the Echézeaux 2019 in its place.

Decanter (96)

The wine has an inky dark colour and pronounced aromas of blackberry, fig, smoke and spice. The texture is lush, yet there are firm tannins and the wine never seems overbearing or aggressive - everything is kept in elegant balance. Faiveley is the proprietor of three parcels that total 1.27ha in the Clos de Vougeot, including a portion in Grand Maupertuis and two parcels nearer the bottom. The fruit was picked very ripe (14.5%) and partially destemmed before fermentation, with a very careful extraction and ageing in cask (half new).

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93-96)

Pale but pretty colour. Light fruit on the nose. Spared from the frost, and as is typical of such cuvees in 2021, the wine feels more complete – in fact, displaying a particularly long finish. This avoids also the blocky side of Clos Vougeot, showing instead a rather fine fresh but light strawberry fruit. One could almost suggest that it is ethereal for this appellation! Drink from 2030-2038.

James Suckling (97)

I'm amazed! This is extremely fresh with orange zest and smoky notes, as well as intense cherry aromas. With its stunning concentration and vitality, this could wake the dead! A great and dynamic expression of this unique terroir that could be drunk now, but it also has a huge future ahead of it.

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.

Wine Advocate (93-95+)

The 2019 Corton Grand Cru Clos des Cortons Faiveley opens in the glass with notes of cassis, wild berries, warm spices, orange rind, rose petals, espresso roast and sweet soil tones. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's vibrant and lively, marrying notable concentration with fine-boned structure. Long and mineral, it's more ethereal than its rich, muscular 2018 counterpart.

Decanter (97)

The grapes are vinified partly as whole clusters and punched down each day before ageing for 18 months in cask (half new). Despite the fairly aggressive vinification, the wine has an enchantingly lovely, forward fruit character and a delightful, silky approachability. From my experience, this will continue to improve for decades. The Clos des Cortons Faiveley has been a monopole of the house since 1874. They have 2.77ha planted to Pinot Noir here, north of Renardes in this distinctly separate climat of the lieu-dit Le Rognet.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-95)

A pretty fresh ruby crimson. The nose is elegant for Corton, fruit enhanced by a floral top note. Very good. Crisp, mineral, vertical, somewhat raw but with a fine quality of fruit, reasonable persistence. The new wood is not marking in flavour but does help to make the structure. Drink from 2028-2036.