Vinous (89-91)

The 2020 Volnay Village is completely aged in used barrel. It has a transparent nose with lifted red cherry and crushed strawberry fruit with an underlying tertiary scent. The palate is more expressive than the aromatics with juicy ripe tart red cherries, quite citric in style with orange rind and a touch of bitter lemon enlivening the finish. This should drink well for up to 15 years, possibly more.

Vinous (89-91)

The 2018 Volnay "Vendage Sélectionée" is a selection from four parcels below Echards, Pluchots, Jeotte and Grand Champs that is matured in a little new oak. It has a high-toned bouquet of blueberry and raspberry fruit, and little cassis emerges with time in the glass. The palate is sweet and succulent on the entry and very supple in the mouth, delivering black cherries and blueberry toward the finish. Very fine.

Burghound (90-93)

Outstanding Top value. This is aromatically similar to the straight Volnay but with more evidence spice and floral elements. There is outstanding intensity to the dense and powerful flavors that coat the palate with dry extract on the impressively long, balanced and firmly structured finale. This is absolutely terrific for its level and easily boxes above its weight.

The Michel Magnien Chamboll-Musigny Argillieres 2016 is a masterwork cultivated in Burgundy's prestigious Côte d'Or. It speaks of the expertise of its producer, Michel Magnien, a fourth-generation wine-grower dedicated to bio-dynamic viticulture. Crafted from Pinot Noir, this wine reveals the profound relationship between grape and terroir, reflecting its clay-limestone (Argillieres) soil origins. Artisanally matured for 18 months in French oak barrels, the wine’s evolution nurtures an expressive bouquet, highlighting ripe cherries, spice, and subtle earthiness.

On the palate, it offers a remarkably balanced, refined structure, affluent in fruit intensity, harmonised with supple tannins and elegant acidity. The Michel Magnien Chambolle-Musigny Argillieres 2016 presents an ethereal journey through the Burgundian countryside, encapsulating the essence of its revered vineyard pedigree. This exceptional wine showcases the potential of meticulously crafted, earth-conscious wines - a grand testament to Michel Magnien's holistic approach to winemaking.

Introducing the Michel Mallard Corton Grand Cru Renardes 2020, a premium creation from the prestigious vineyards of Michel Mallard. Nestled in Ladoix-Serrigny at the heart of Burgundy, Mallard's Corton Grand Cru vineyard captures the essence of its distinct terroir. The Corton Renardes benefits from the region's well-drained limestone-rich soil and slightly cooler climate, augmenting its complexity of flavours.

Maintaining the Burgundy tradition, this exceptional wine is crafted from 100% Pinot Noir grapes and ages wonderfully in French oak barrels. The Michel Mallard Corton Grand Cru Renardes 2020 is robust and full-bodied, with enchanting notes of wild berries, truffle, and savoury spices, which are complemented by an extended finish.

Mallard's dedication to sustainable farming and meticulous winemaking techniques are evident in each sip, producing wines with depth, elegance, and longevity. Experience the quintessence of Burgundy with Michel Mallard Corton Grand Cru Renardes 2020.

The Michel Mallard Corton Rognet 2020 is an exquisite showcase of Burgundy's terroir at its finest. Handcrafted in the esteemed Ladoix commune by the talented Michel Mallard, a third-generation winemaker, it stands as a testament to the vitality of the region.

Produced from the Grand Cru vineyard in Corton’s Rognet climat, this Pinot Noir oozes elegance and finesse. Immaculate harvest and fermentation techniques couple with a nuanced 18-month maturation in oak barrels to create a wine of remarkable complexity.

The 2020 vintage perfectly encapsulates the Mallard savoir-faire; it brims with luscious red-fruit and earthen notes, overlaid with a tantalising spice profile. It's robust yet silky, with formidable ageing potential. Indeed, the Michel Mallard Corton Rognet 2020 takes you on a journey through Burgundy, with every sip promising an adventure in flavour and sensation.

Vinous (88)

The 2020 Chambolle-Musigny Village, matured in 30% new oak, is vibrant and fresh on the nose: black cherries, strawberry pastille and just a touch of violet petal. The palate is a little oaky on the entry. Good depth, quite dense for a Chambolle, touches of blood orange and pain d'épices towards the finish. Give it a couple of years in bottle.

Vinous (89)

The 2018 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru is quite deep in colour. It has a slightly reduced bouquet with ample blackberry and raspberry fruit, well integrated oak, though it is missing the Pinoté character I look for. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and pleasant dark berry fruit laced with brown spices. It feels just a little short on the finish, overall a decent Clos de Vougeot that would show more finesse in a cooler growing season. - Neal Martin

Vinous (91)

The 2020 Echézeaux Grand Cru has a rich and quite exotic bouquet that, for me, is just missing a bit of Pinoté. The palate is medium-bodied with lithe and fleshy tannins. Soft and caressing, nicely balanced, richer than the 2021 (no surprise there) with black pepper and a touch of spice on the finish.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-95)

A fine glowing mid purple. There is a good weight of fruit and some elegance, a little nuance in a pretty red berry fruit manner. A density of strawberry and raspberry, with again a little cover of oak vanillin, fair length. Drink from 2028-2035.

Very bright, precise and open knit on the nose. The fruit is fresh, sweet and friendly for a Nuits-Saint-Georges. Round and finessed this is a definite buy for lovers of Vosne Romanee but with a touch more tannic firmness and earthiness.

Vinous (90)

The 2020 Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots 1er Cru has an exotic bouquet with hints of prune filtering through the red cherry and cassis notes. Very opulent. The palate is rounded and caressing, plush and quite decadent. The 40-50% new oak is nicely integrated, though I would like to see more precision on the finish.

Vinous (89)

The 2020 Vosne-Romanée Village has a lively bouquet with dark cherry fruit, hints of fig and damson, though I would never describe it as over-ripe. There might be just touch of brettanomyces here. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins, quite rounded and voluminous in the mouth with a soft landing on the finish. Packed full of flavour, this will be easy to drink in its youth.

Vinous (90)

The 2018 Barolo Cerequio is an attractive mid-weight wine. Dark red/cherry plum fruit, mocha, leather, spice and incense all grace this supple, silky Barolo. There's lovely creaminess and plenty of allure in this tasty Barolo from Michele Chiarlo.

Vinous (91+)

The 2015 Nuits Saint-Georges Clos St Marc 1er Cru is showing some reduction on the nose, like many of its NSG compadres. This seems to dissipate with aeration, although the nuance and detail of Gouges's Les Pruliers tasted alongside do not materialize. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity, a little chewiness on the entry and good grip. There is a firmness here, a little obduracy that should be tamed with bottle age, so give it five years in the cellar, because there is potential. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting.

Jancis Robinson (17.5)

Lean and fragrant, very slightly meaty in a light-touch way, rooibos tea, fynbos, biltong, nectarine skin. A slightly crazy collision of flavours but it works. And then, in the mouth, held, the spices begin to build. Fine spice. The tannins hum with spice. It tastes like rain and it tastes like red apples and it tastes a little like a lick of rust and its savoury with driftwood tannins. Ultra-elegant. The tannins fill my mouth like a suspension bridge in the mist. This Sam Lambson makes wine … VGV

Jancis Robinson (17.5)

It may have been a hard vintage, but damn, this is beautiful. Soaring, floral, sweet and salty and saturated with blood and juice and pulse and thrum. Bacon and cello. Tannins like rose petals. Rose harissa and baharat. Dark cherry and damson fruit. Soaring and glorious. A triumph.

Greg Sherwood MW (96)

A 100% pure Syrah red, the 2020 once again reveals a piercing black berry fruit aromatic profile that shares so much with the greatest Syrah examples from the Northern Rhone and Cote Rotie in particular. With the complex melange of black berry fruits come nuances of dried violets, potpourri and lavender together with dried herbs, garrigue, peppercorns and pithy cherry spice. The palate shows wonderful poise and precision, real intensity of fruit together with purity, minerality and telltale coastal salinity expressed with a kelpy, oyster shell reductive hint. Still tightly coiled and full of tension, this will be a fine Syrah to bury in the cellar for 5+ years but can be coaxed to display some of its finery with an hour or so in a decanter. A truly splendid wine that builds on the successes of the previous two drought affected vintages.

Vinous (96)

The 2022 Stars in the Dark comes from Cape Agulhas, stomped underfoot with one-third whole bunches, aged in 3rd and 4th fill French oak. The red fruit on the nose seems to "hug" the olfactory senses, very pure and beautifully delineated, an underlying mineralité gaining momentum with aeration. The medium-bodied palate has fine-grained tannins, extremely well-balanced with a precise, edgy finish, black pepper and black tea lingering temptingly. This continues Lambson's strong run of form and comes highly recommended.

Immerse yourself in the sublime intricacy of the Mischief & Mayhem Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Brulees 2012. This revolutionary creation hails from the illustrious vineyards of Vosne-Romanée, located in the heart of France's revered Burgundy region. Handcrafted by Mischief and Mayhem, a well-established and respected multinational team of wine experts, this 2012 vintage exemplifies the pinnacle of their passion for Viticulture and arbiters of sensual delight.

The wine is artfully assembled from hand-harvested, carefully selected 100% Pinot Noir grapes. The Mischief & Mayhem Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Brulees 2012 presents a mélange of luscious dark fruit aromas, delicately laced with enchanting earthy, smoky notes, beautifully balanced by fine-grained tannins and elegant acidity. Its sumptuous taste and lavish bouquet finish impeccably with a persistent, textured finish.

Enrich your collection with Mischief & Mayhem Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Brulees 2012: a quintessentially French expression of peerless wine craftsmanship.

Immerse in the aromatic symphony of the Mischief Mayhem Chambolle Musigny Cras 2015. Produced in the acclaimed vineyards of Chambolle Musigny in the Burgundy region of France, this exceptional wine mirrors the in-depth knowledge and passion of its creators, Mischief and Mayhem. This superior vintage, gloriously resonates the quintessential characteristics of this revered terroir.

Perfected over time, the Pinot Noir grapes were hand-harvested at optimal ripeness and underwent careful cold maceration to enhance flavour depth. The wine was matured in French oak barrels for 18 months, contributing to an elegant, balanced structure with fine-grained tannins.

Mischief Mayhem Chambolle Musigny Cras 2015 offers an enticing bouquet of red cherries interspersed with violet undertones. The palate is intriguing, with a pleasant acidity prolonging a nuanced finish of earthy mineral notes. Celebrate this tour de force of winemaking innovation - Mischief Mayhem Chambolle Musigny Cras 2015, the epitome of Burgundian finesse and terroir expression.

Vinous (90)

Inky ruby. Vibrant cherry and cassis aromas are complemented by a spicy overtone. Juicy and precise in the mouth, offering bitter cherry and cassis flavors and a sweetening touch of vanilla. The spicy note comes back on the nicely persistent finish, which is framed by supple, even tannins.

Wine Advocate (95)

More high-toned and red-fruited, the cherry-scented 2018 Savitar Shiraz also hints at vanilla, cedar and dried spices (from the oak), plus some slightly darker berry notes. It's full-bodied but tighter and more age-worthy than the GAM or Angela, with a taut, lingering finish.

Halliday Wine Companion (94)

Sourced from the proprietary Lopresti vineyard, known as the 'Chinese Block'. Near Wilunga, this is a warmer zone. Hand picked and placed in drying crates to undergo appassimento; this elevates tannins while concentrating fruit in a shift of the phenolic makeup, imparting a firm, ferrous savouriness. Unabashedly big, yet far from jammy, as a welcome result. Asian spice, blood stone, bitter amaro and cherry pith, with a verdant echo of cabernet in the background.

Wine Advocate (92)

Once you taste a few of a producer's wines side by side, you really start to get a feel for stylistic preference between warm vintages and cool ones. I surprise myself by saying here that I prefer the warmer vintages at Mollydooker (this does not make it right) because the sunshine and ease with which ripening can occur in a warmer year really seems to suit the plush, high-octane style being proliferated here. So, this 2021 Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz is far more on the blue fruit spectrum than the 2020, which has a complex array of sweet/savory/spice characters. The detail here errs to blackberry, blood plum and resin—a spicy, full-bodied Shiraz. Not for the faint of heart.