Audoin, Charles 2017 Marsannay Blanc Cuvée Charlie

Billaud, Samuel 2016 Chablis

Samuel Billaud's 2016 is a classically styled Chablis. White flowers, ground oyster shells, and sea spray on the nose. Flinty, mineral with salty and citrus notes on the precisely detailed, layered palate. This is a fine Chablis to grace the table. Give this a touch of air and enjoy with a plate of oysters, pan-roasted scallops, or better still, skate wings with brown butter, ramps, and capers. John McIlwain

Billaud, Samuel 2016 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos

Billaud, Samuel 2016 Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir

Billaud-Simon 2014 Chablis Grand Cru Vaudesir

Bongran (Jean Thevenet) 2005 Viré-Clessé Cuvée Tradition 1.5 L

Bongran (Jean Thevenet) 2008 Viré-Clessé Cuvée Tradition 1.5 L

Bonneau du Martray 1996 Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru

Champs de l'Abbaye 2017 Monthélie Les Sous Roches Blanc

Champs de l'Abbaye 2017 Rully Les Cailloux

Chavy, Philippe 2016 Bourgogne Chardonnay

Fresh and cool-toned aromatically, the 2016 Philippe Chavy Bourgogne Blanc balances charm and  energy at a civilized (for white Burgundy) price point. Meyer lemon, white flower and stone fruit aromas dominate the nose. The briskly fresh palate displays citrus peel, white apricot, and stony flavors on a succulent and zesty finish with good mineral detail. A fine aperitif, but with enough depth to grace the table with shellfish, sea bass, and milder cheeses. John McIlwain

Chavy, Philippe 2016 Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes

Chazelles (Domaine des) 2017 Vire-Clesse Vieilles Vignes

Colin-Morey, Pierre-Yves 2017 Saint-Aubin Le Banc

De Montille 2014 Bourgogne Blanc

Domaine Ballorin & F 2015 Bourgogne Chardonnay

Gilles Ballorin makes this beautiful Bourgogne Chardonnay from young vines in the lieu-dit "Le Chapitre" in Chenove, above Marsannay. Biodynamic farming and minimal SO2. The wine needs decantin or two hours open, then shows complex aromas of pear, apricot, citrus, almond and stone with a bit of oak and herbal notes. The palate is dense and sapid with ripe pear, almond, wet stone and mineral flavors that continue in the long, opulent but firm finish. This shows the ripeness of the 2015 vintage, balanced by good acidity and earthy flavors. This will cellar nicely for another 5 years or so. Lovely wine. David Lillie

Duplessis, Gérard 2013 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons 1.5L

Fery, Jean 2017 Meursault Les Narvaux

Guillot, Julien (Vignes du Maynes) 2016 Macon Chardonnay Clos Fourneau

A new wine from Julien Guillot at the Clos des Vignes du Maynes, the 2016 Macon "Clos Fourneau" is 85% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Gris. The wine shows floral, honeyed aromas of pear, white peach and candied citrus. Ripe stone fruits on the palate are wrapped in bright citrusy acids with chalky mineral flavors that continue in the finish with  lemon and stone. Try this with melon and prosciutto or a full flavored fish such as halibut or monkfish. This will improve with a long decant or three to five years in the cellar.

Guillot, Julien (Vignes du Maynes) 2017 Bourgogne Aligote Aligo-Rythm

"Aligo-Rythm" is 100% Aligote from our friend Julien Guillot in the Mâcon. This low S02 (1g!), bone-dry, saline treat is the perfect match for oysters. The 2017 shows a bit hazy in the glass and offers aromas of lime blossom, green pear, and funky seaweed. The palate is bracingly dry with flavors of lime zest, sea salt, and Granny Smith apple. A fun wine to help you keep cool as the weather warms up! Amanda Bowman

Jacqueson, Paul et Marie 2017 Rully Blanc 1er Cru Grésigny

Lafouge 2016 Auxey-Duresses Les Boutonniers

"Les Boutonniers" is contiguous with Meursault "Meix Chavaux" on shallow soils of clay, high in iron, over the limestone bedrock, usually giving a somewhat lean and very "mineral" white Burgundy, but still with a bit more fat and fruit expression than the Lafouge  "Les Hautés."  The 2016 shows very floral aromas with pear, citrus and stone. The palate is crystalline, supple and dense, with nice weight on the palate, with pretty white fruits leading to a long finish with citrus peel, spice and mineral flavors. This is a lovely, very refreshing Burgundy to enjoy with grilled fish, roast chicken and goat cheeses. It's delicious now and will cellar nicely for eight to ten years. DL

Lafouge 2016 Auxey-Duresses Les Hautés Blanc

From a north-facing parcel fairly high on the slope next to Meursault Les Vireuils. The Lafouge "Les Hautés" is a beautifully dense and well-structured Burgundy in this low-yielding vintage. The wine shows a bright gold color with aromas of spiced pear and apple, melon, honeysuckle, stone, flint and lemon zest. The palate is dense and well structured with ripe white fruits, toasted almond, citrus and flinty mineral flavors - quite ripe but with firm citrusy acids and fabulous length.  Serve now with sole meunier, turbot and cod - this will be a beautiful wine with 5 to 8 years of cellaring. David Lillie

Lafouge 2016 Meursault Les Meix Chavaux

Lamy, Hubert 2016 Santenay 1er Cru Gravières

Lamy, Hubert 2016 St Aubin 1er Cru Les Frionnes 375ml

The 2016 Hubet Lamy St Aubin Les Frionnes 1er cru is a stellar expression of the vintage. Again there's the kaleidoscopic array of white fruit and citrus aromas giving way to almost briny sea spray notes. The palate displays a galloping drive that has one struggling for synonyms for energy. This has pure white fruit flavors and a geologist's textbook worth of stoniness and with a few years in the cellar this ought to flesh out into a truly lovely wine. John McIlwain

Latour, Louis 1996 Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru

Lignier, Hubert 2015 St. Romain Blanc

Moreau, Bernard 2016 St. Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly

Morey, Pierre 2016 Bourgogne Blanc

From multiple parcels in limestone clay soils (Les Millerands, En Monatine, Les Herbeux, Les Malpoiriers, per the importer). Biodynamically farmed and fermented with indigenous yeasts. There's a bit of reduction on opening—a splash decant helps it blow off, revealing a perfumed nose with aromas of honeysuckle, lemon blossom, citrus peel, ripe pear, and spice. The palate is bright and racy with notes of lemon curd, green apple, and wet stone. There’s a fine bit of the electricity, vibrancy, and precision of the 2016 vintage present and plenty of charm to this snappy Bourgogne. John McIlwain

Morey, Pierre 2016 Meursault

From biodynamically-farmed vines averaging 33 years in age, in 3 parcels across Meursault. Fermented with native yeasts, aged in barrel, 20% new oak. Always a benchmark expression of Meursault, sourced from the lieux-dits Les Forges, Les Pellans, and Les Chaumes (per Becky Wasserman). It balances floral and wet stone aromas with overt minerality and orchard fruit flavors to give a beautiful overview of village character. 2016 delivers this along with aromas of lemon blossom, acacia, and discreet wood on the nose. The palate is racy and lithe, with a salty minerality and rainwater freshness enrobed by ripe stone fruit and citrus flavors on a long, expansive finish. John McIlwain

Morot, Albert 2016 Beaune 1er Cru Les Aigrots Blanc

Les Aigrots is a 1er cru located next to the famed Clos des Mouches on the center of the slope on the Pommard side of the village. The 2016 has a pale gold robe. Orange blossom, white apricot, short crust, a touch of tropical fruit on the nose. The mid-weight palate offers an assortment of stone fruit, green apple, and yellow fruit flavors with a good balance between ripe Chardonnay fruit and a broad, salty minerality. This skews more Corton than Puligny in character with a broadness on the palate, but has nice drive on the finely layered finish. The suppleness calls for richer dishes, standing up quite nicely to Anson Mills polenta (finished with plenty of butter and Parmigiano Reggiano) with porcini ragu and should work quite nicely with monkfish, lobster, or even blanquette de veau.  John McIlwain

Pernot 2016 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles

Pernot, Paul 2016 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

Rateau 2017 Beaune 1er Cru Les Coucherias

Beaune 1er Cru "Les Coucherias" is high on the slope on the site of an old quarry and much of the sub-soil is limestone tailings, permitting root penetration and drainage, with a topsoil of mixed clay and limestone "marnes blanches." In biodynamic agriculture since 1979, the vineyard is a south-facing semi-circle—a very warm spot. The 2017 has a pale green gold robe. The nose offers an array of stone fruit and citrus peel aromas with a hint of mineral spice. The mid-weight, punchy palate shows a melange of stone fruit and green apple flavors with a pungent sense of minerality driving the long, concentrated finish. There's plenty going on here with ripe fruit and floral overtones vying with an overt stoniness for attention. Just cracking with a wild mushroom risotto, and a natural match for chicken, roasted cod, or even blanquette de veau. Give a quick decant now or better still in 2-3 years and beyond. John McIlwain

Rateau 2017 Beaune Clos des Mariages Blanc

Located toward the bottom of the slope beneath Beaune Grèves and adjacent to Les Cents Vignes, Clos des Mariages is a mix of young and very old vines planted in clay and limestone soils. The lovely 2017 Blanc shows high-toned aromas of lime-flower, melon, pear, wet stone and honeysuckle. The palate is light and silky with pear, apple and citrus flavors with chalky minerals and herbal notes in the refreshing finish. Serve with fish in sauce, scallop crudo, Asian foods and mild cheeses. David Lillie

Rateau 2017 Hautes Cotes de Beaune Blanc (Chardonnay)

Jean-Claude Rateau makes lovely Biodynamic wines in the Hautes Côtes de Beaune in his east-facing vineyard of clay/limestone and marne soils.  Quite racy and bright even in 2017, the wine shows subtle aromas of lemon, almond, stone, spiced pear and apple. Intense, very mineral palate with pear, citrus and stone flavors and terrific length. The antithesis of fat, oaky Chardonnays, this food friendly wine will accompany everything from oysters and grilled seafoods to roast chicken and mild cheeses. Delicious now or cellar for 5 to 8 years. This is a real Chardonnay of terroir and a great value!  David Lillie

Rateau 2017 Hautes Cotes de Beaune Pinot Blanc

Permitted in Burgundy, but rarely seen on it's own, Pinot Blanc grown by Jean-Claude Rateau in the Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune makes this lovely and versatile wine. The aromas are subtle and pleasant, with apple and pear, lemon zest, almond and herbal notes. The palate is silky and pure with white fruits and hints of anise and verbena, light but round and pretty.  This is a perfect aperitif wine, and will accompany any fish or chicken dish, Asian foods and mild cheeses.

Rontets 2015 Pouilly-Fuissé Pierrefolle

"The Pouilly-Fuissé cuvée Pierrefolle is made from the only vineyard situated outside the Clos at Rontets: this plot is set only 500 meters south and is warmer because of its plain East exposure and the sheltered position from the North wind. This climat has older geological origins, preceding the Jurassic era: it sits on a granitic bedrock and its soil has no clay or limestone. This is why at the beginning of the 1970s it was planted using the Riparia rootstock, which has low vigor and guarantees limited yields and very good quality grapes. All these characteristics produce wines with lower acid, compared to those produced within our Clos. Although larger and somehow more generous, Pierrefolle is always sustained by a precise mineral expression and citrus aromatic note." In the warm 2015 vintage, the Pierrefolle shows ripe aomas of white and exotic fruits with a bit of spice and earth. The palate, however, remains very mineral with firm saline acidity underlying the pear and citrus fruit. The finish is long with mineral flavors lingering on the palate. This is a beautiful Burgundy and a great food pairing - drinking well now, but five to ten years of aging will be very interesting. Highly recommended. David Lillie

Rontets 2017 Pouilly-Fuissé Clos Varambon

Saint Denis (Hubert Laferrère) 2015 Mâcon Lugny

Sainte Barbe 2017 Viré-Clessé La Perriére

 Jean-Marie Chaland owns two estates in Viré (Macon), Domaine Sainte Barbe and Domaine des Chazelles, both certified organic since 2006. The Sainte Barbe "la Perriere" is made from 35 year-old grapes from a half-hectare parcel near Viré on clay/limestone soils, never treated with herbicides. The grapes are hand-harvested and vinified with wild yeasts, the wine ages for 18 months, half in barrel, have in cuve inox. The 2016 shows pretty aromas of pear, apricot, lime flower and stone. There is nice richness on the palate, which is supple and elegant with chalky white fruits, a bit of nectarine, verbena and a hint of oak, with firm acidity, silky fruit and mineral notes in the long finish. This is a stylish white Burgundy that will accompany  any full-flavored fish dish, chicken in sauce and mild cheeses, and it will age nicely for 5 to 8 years.

Vignes du Maynes 2016 Macon-Cruzille Aragonite

From 40 to 80 year-old massale-selection Chardonnay vines high on the slope in Cruzille on limestone with a great deal of calcium carbonate crystal (aragonite) with thin topsoils of clay and silica, never treated with chemicals, certified biodynamic. Fermentation is in 600 liter barrels with wild yeasts, aged 10 months sur-lie without racking, no SO2 until a small dosage (10 - 20 mg/l) before bottling. The 2016 "Aragonite" is a superb, well structured white Burgundy that will age beautifully. The wine shows elegant aromas of pear, lemon confit, lime-flower, toasted almond and stone, really lovely. The palate is intensely mineral and framed in firm acidity, with white fruits, citrus, spice and stone flavors. The living soils of the Clos give this wine an extra dimension of acidity and saline minerals that will contribute to a long life for this lovely wine, perhaps best 2025-2035, but it's delicious as a young wine as well. Highly recommended.  David Lillie

Bize 2015 Savigny les Beaune 1er Cru Les Talmettes

Bize, Simon 2015 Savigny-les-Beaune 1er cru Aux Guettes

Bize, Simon 2016 Aloxe Corton Le Suchot

Bize, Simon 2016 Savigny les Beaune 1er Cru Marconnets

Bize, Simon 2016 Savigny les Beaunes Aux Fourneaux 1er Cru

Bize, Simon 2016 Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er Cru Aux Vergelesses

Chandon de Briailles 2017 Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru Les Lavières Sans Souffre

Comte Armand 2016 Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epeneaux

In the decidedly difficult 2016 Comte Armand's Clos des Epeneaux is a lovely wine in the making, though with a more lifted and energetic character, rather than a stern one. The nose offers aromas of black and red cherries, with cool herbal aromas and hints of oak and spice. The midweight palate is supple, rather than sinewy with loads of black and red fruits, savory earth notes and a cool, yet pungent sense of minerality on a  deceptively long finish. John McIlwain

De Montille 2015 Beaune 1er Cru Grèves 1.5L

From a 1.26 ha parcel just south of the famed Vigne de l'Enfant Jésus from Bouchard. 100% whole cluster. While I’ll concede to not being a big believer in the 2015 hype, the De Montille Beaune Grèves certainly piques my interest. Dark berry fruit, brambles, a touch of orange oil, and stone on the nose, some sous-bois and a bit of oak. The palate is a mélange of hedge fruits, black cherry, black tea, and notes of blood orange, wrapped around a vibrant cherry pit and a salty mineral core. This has subtle tannins and poised ripeness (nothing overripe, or stewed here, thank you very much!) and delightful freshness given the vintage; all propelling a bright, succulent finish. And if I’m typically no fan of overtly stemmy Burgundy, this makes a compelling argument for the suaveness that can be accomplished by stem inclusion in a solar vintage. This is a lovely Beaune Grèves and a truly enjoyable and expressive wine from the vintage. This should gain in focus and complexity in the mid-term and is a sensational expression of the terroir. Kudos to Etienne De Montille! John McIlwain

De Montille 2015 Pommard 1er Cru Pèzerolles

From 1.35 hectares of organically-farmed vines. The 2015 vintage is 50% whole cluster fermentation aged in 30% new barrels. Pèzerolles is always one of the silkier and suppler expressions of Pommard, with a fine core of stoniness within. In 2015 De Montille has released a beautiful example. The nose is exuberantly perfumed with intriguing aromas of violets, tea roses, and crunchy red berry fruit. The palate is bright and suffused with ripe red and black fruit flavors, notes of black tea, and spices with a discreet framing of some new oak. The vibrant fruit seems to dance over a deeply mineral core that integrates with time in the glass and culminates in a long, succulent, fresh finish. There's none of the roasted character of some of the 2015s, and this is deeply satisfying in its poise, energy, and balance. Bravo! John McIlwain

De Montille 2015 Pommard 1er Cru Pèzerolles 1.5L

From 1.35 hectares of organically-farmed vines. The 2015 vintage is 50% whole cluster fermentation aged in 30% new barrels. Pèzerolles is always one of the silkier and suppler expressions of Pommard, with a fine core of stoniness within. In 2015 De Montille has released a beautiful example. The nose is exuberantly perfumed with intriguing aromas of violets, tea roses, and crunchy red berry fruit. The palate is bright and suffused with ripe red and black fruit flavors, notes of black tea, and spices with a discreet framing of some new oak. The vibrant fruit seems to dance over a deeply mineral core that integrates with time in the glass and culminates in a long, succulent, fresh finish. There's none of the roasted character of some of the 2015s, and this is deeply satisfying in its poise, energy, and balance. Bravo! John McIlwain

De Montille 2015 Volnay 1er Cru Les Mitans

100% whole cluster. The 2015 train keeps a rollin'. A couple of caveats: I've never been one to believe all the 2015 hype—there was sun, more sun,crazy heat, and short-pruning in a number of vineyards that saw terrible hail over the preceding three years. And I am ambivalent at best when it comes to stem inclusion in Burgundy (I mean, Jayer hated stems, right?). So I find myself at a loss to describe how fresh and bright and vibrant the De Montilles are. There's an inspiring florality in a number of the red with a corresponding lift to the palate (and this is in solar 2015!). The Volnay Mitans shows more of this restrained, elegant vintage character. Aromatically reticent at first with notes of black tea, blood orange peel, spice box, and some pomegranate and red currant floating fruit above a chalky mineral core. The palate is similarly circumspect, but opens and expands over a few hours to offer red cherry, cherry stone, iron, and hibiscus flavors with an incisively tangy, stony succulence. The Mitans offers the most overt whole cluster character, yet remains fresh and vibrant and compelling with its bright acidity and wild berry charm balanced by a deep sense of mineral character. This is lovely and energetic and outperforms the sometimes roasted character of the vintage. Give this 5-7 years and drink for the next decade, and this should dazzle. A fine bottle with magret of duck with lentils, where the soil notes complement the earthiness of the lentils and the savory meatiness of the duck, and this would shine with coq au vin, or any dish with wild mushrooms. De Montille really nailed the 2015s and this Mitans is no exception. John McIlwain

Des Croix 2016 Corton Greves Grand Cru

Faiveley 2016 Corton Clos des Cortons Faiveley Grand Cru

Ripe, perfumed, and dark-fruited on the nose with a mélange of floral and spice notes and a discreet touch of oak, the 2016 Clos des Cortons has a sensational sense of brightness and complexity. The palate offers a dramatic combination of pure fruit, supple tannins, and vigorous minerality on a layered, harmonious, classy finish. This is lovely and should age effortlessly. Beautiful Corton, indeed. John McIlwain

Germain, Henri 2016 Chassagne Montrachet Rouge

Lafouge 2016 Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru La Chapelle

La Chapelle is a "climat" in Auxey-Duresses within Les Breterins and Reugne, on the steep slope of la Montagne de Bourdon, facing south/southeast. The vines are well-placed in mid-slope and are mostly sixty years-old, giving the most "generous" of the three Lafouge premier crus. The soils here are partially "marnes blanches"which seems to contribute to the more supple and elegant style of wines from this site.  In this vintage of low yields and "classic" structure, the "La Chapelle"is a paticularly serious wine, showing a deep garnet/black color and aromas of tart morello cherry, plum and black raspberry with earth, violet and herbal notes, quite elegant. The palate shows a lovely texture of chalky fruit with dense black raspberry and wild strawberry, licorice and earth, finishing with sappy fruit and saline minerals. Please decant or open well in advance if drinking now, best perhaps 2023 - 2030+.  David Lillie

Lafouge 2016 Auxey-Duresses Rouge

Lafouge 2016 Pommard 1er Cru Les Chanlins

Lignier, Hubert 2015 Pommard En Brescul

Maréchal, Catherine et Claude 2015 Ladoix Les Chaillots

Dark ruby robe, translucent. A touch reduced and stemmy-seeming upon opening. Given a bit of air, the nose unfolds to offer aromas of brambly black fruit—wild blackberry, black currant, sloe berry, cassis, and underbrush. The mid-weight palate is similarly dark-fruited with wild berry and plum flavors and an intriguing bosky, sauvage element. Deeply-pitched hedge fruits are framed by ripe tannins and a salty (iodine) minerality and a dark forest herbaceousness. This is captivating in a wild woods sort of way, and for what it lacks in polish it makes up in frank earthiness and brambly piquancy. This needs a bit of air or time in the cellar, but I find it compelling in its rustic charm. A lovely pairing with polenta and sausage ragu, and mouth-watering with a plate of cheese. Apparently Ladoix is where the wild things are. John McIlwain

Morey, Pierre 2016 Bourgogne Rouge

Morey, Pierre 2016 Volnay 1er Cru Santenots

From 48-year-old biodynamically-farmed vines from the lieu-dit Les Pétures. The grapes are destemmed and fermented with native yeasts. The 2016 has a dark ruby robe. A mélange of red and black fruits, sous-bois, and freshly-turned earth on the nose with a faint hint of spice. The mid-weight and supple palate offers sour cherry, pomegranate, and game flavors, underlain with a deeply mineral core and a long mouthwatering, moderately tannic, expansive finish.  This is beautiful Santenots and should age effortlessly as the elements integrate. Every year this is one of my favorite Santenots and a sure bet for cellaring. John McIlwain

Morot, Albert 2016 Beaune 1er Cru les Teurons

Cool-toned and spicy on the nose; aromas of violets, blackberry, brown spice, black tea, underbrush,and iron feature with hints of bramble on the edges. The palate offers flavors of ripe black cherry, iron, animale, and plum skin, with a distinct and frank earthiness framing the pure fruit. The structure offers a nice balance and while not as generous as the Bressandes, it is by no means stern or foreboding. There is plenty of concentration here and while there is a fair amount of charm, the underlying material should integrate with a couple of years of cellaring and shine for 5-10 years and beyond. There’s more energy and flair to these Morots than I recall and while I love the vintage 2016, I suspect that the switch to organic farming is really driving this. I’m eager to see where this goes. On Day 2, more hedge fruits and cassis notes emerge and the wine gains a suppleness underlain by a simple, long earthiness, still youthful, but this has a lot of character and dare I say it, soul. John McIlwain

Morot, Albert 2016 Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru Bataillere aux Vergelesses

From la Bataillère lieu-dit Monopole located within Les Vergelesses and above Ile des Vergelesses. Medium dark ruby robe. Dark berry fruit and black cherry, loamy earth, and hint of wood smoke on the nose. Heady spice aromas follow. Earthy, stony flavors vie with black fruits, iron, blackberry seed, for attention. Punchy minerality and brambly fruit close out the long, lingering sapid finish. This has great counterpoint between savory and pure fruit notes and would pair beautifully with squab, braised duck legs, or veal with morels. I'd give this a couple years for the elements to knit. This is very Savigny in character. I like the tension and frank minerality here and can’t wait for this to grace the table with rustic autumnal fare. John McIlwain

Rateau 2016 Beaune 1er Cru Les Bressandes

Dark forest and hedge fruits on nose, earthy and brooding with game aromas. Taut and mineral, with a core of pungent soil notes of black tea, cherry pit, spice and stone on a dense mid-weight palate. Tightly wound, energetic, on the attack; savory and dark-fruited on the finish. This is a bit reserved at the  moment and benefits from a substantial decant or 5-10 years in the cellar. John McIlwain

Rateau 2016 Beaune Cuvée Ronde

When life gives you lemons (or the worst frost in decades) you make a cuvée from your lieux-dits most devastated by Mother Nature, which is exactly what Jean-Claude Rateau did with the 2016 vintage. Fortunately the resulting Cuvée  Ronde is delicious! Strawberry, pomegranate, crushed herbs and beetroot on the nose. On the racy, lithe palate flavors of wild strawberry, red currant, chalk, and raspberry seed, vie for attention with savory notes of thyme, freshly turned soil, and black tea on a lifted, fresh, cool-toned succulent finish. Not a bruiser, but there’s loads of charm, sap, and detail here. Old-fashioned in the best sense and a vibrant expression of 2016. Try this with grilled salmon or roasted chicken. John McIlwain

Rateau 2017 Beaune Les Prevoles

Jean-Claude Rateau's domaine has been Biodynamic since 1979 and produces lovely, light-bodied, old fashioned Burgundies. The 2017 Beaune Les Prévoles (a lieu-dit below 1er Cru Chouacheux and les Tuvilains) shows beautiful aromas of tart cherry and red currant fruit with rose, orange peel and earth.  The palate is chalky, ripe and sapid while remaining light and fresh with earthy cherry and raspberry liqueur, silky and fresh with a long finish of mineral flavors, citrusy acids and berry fruits. Serve this delicious wine a bit cool with any mild chicken or white meat dish and goat cheeses, morbier, tomme de savoie. It's lovely now and will develop nicely over the next five to eight years.  David LIllie

Rossignol, Nicholas 2015 Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds

Rossignol, Nicholas 2016 Volnay 1er Cru Caillerets

Voillot, Joseph 2015 Volnay 1er Cru Les Fremiets

Voillot, Joseph 2016 Pommard 1er Cru Les Pézerolles

Arlaud 2016 Chambolle-Musigny

From 45+year-old vines from four lieux-dits. The 2016 Chambolle-Musigny is bright, floral, perfumed with aromas of luminous red fruits and spice notes. Supple, racy on the palate, with good concentration, bright acidity, detail and freshness. Lifted finish with earthy, limestone notes peeking from beneath dry extract-persistent. This is truly lovely Chambolle! John McIlwain

Arlaud 2016 Morey St Denis 1er Cru Les Ruchots

60+year-old vines planted in a walled clos on Chambolle side of Morey beneath Bonnes Mares and Clos de Tart.  15% new oak. More structured, deeper-pitched, and masculine than Les Millandes. Pure plummy black cherry fruit with sauvage/animale elements and a  frank, ferrous minerality within. Great density and agility. You can taste the proximity to Sentiers and Bonnes Mares. This is dynamite! Nearly painfully long, stony, palate-staining finish. This isn't a wine to enjoy in its callow youth, but will reward with 12-15+ years in the cellar. Patience is a virtue here. John McIlwain

Arnoux Lachaux 2016 Vosne Romanée

Bachelet, Denis 2016 Bourgogne Rouge

Bachelet, Denis 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes

Boillot, Louis 2016 Gevrey Chambertin

From 8 lieux-dits across Gevrey-Chambertin. Considering the escalation in prices at all levels in Burgundy, Louis Boillot's Gevrey-Chambertin remains a fantastic value, brimming with Gevrey character, while remaining affordable. The 2016 is heady, fresh, and cool-toned on the nose offering black cherry, plum skin, raspberry, game and wood smoke aromas. Dark-fruited and savory flavors intermingle on the medium-bodied palate, with ripe notes of black cherry, hedge fruit, cherry pit, and crushed herbs. There is good mineral detail to this lending a sapid counterpoint to the fruit. Nice freshness here with fine structure lending an earthy, masculine Gevrey character. This punches above its weight and should shine with 5-7 years of cellaring and drink beautifully for the next decade. John McIlwain

Boillot, Louis 2016 Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Champonnets

Burguet, Alain 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Champeaux

Cathiard, Sylvain 2014 Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Aux Thorey

Cathiard, Sylvain 2016 Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Aux Thorey

Cathiard, Sylvain 2016 Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Murgers

Chauvenet 2014 Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Perrieres

From .23 hectare of vines dating back to 1948 between the parcels farmed by Gouges and Regis Forey. Les Perrières is located high on the slope between Les Poulettes and Les Poirets. As Clive Coates has noted, somewhat atypically for Nuits St. Georges, the wines from this climat are more floral and feminine, though certainly displaying great minerality. The shallow soil contains many stones, which retain heat and Christophe Drag says this is the first vineyard harvested after the Bourgogne. Perennially one of my favorite wines from Chauvenet (and the village, as a whole) the 2014 Les Perrières is effusively floral with cherry blossoms and white flowers giving way to bright, pure cherry aromas with notes of spice box and wet stone. In the mouth it shows pretty wild cherry flavors, herbs, and minerals on a medium-bodied, but fine, palate with good sap and excellent energy following through on the succulent, persistent, dancing finish. This is a beautiful Les Perrières and should age effortlessly. John McIlwain 

Chauvenet 2014 Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Vaucrains

From a .41 hectare parcel planted in 1940 and 1984. Les Vaucrains is situated upslope of the premier crus Les St. Georges and Les Cailles in the middle portion of Nuits St. Georges. The soils are a blend of brown clay, limestone, sand, and rock producing vigorous, powerful, and elegant wines of great ageablity. Vigneron Christoph Drag says of the climat, “the fat clays make it hard to work the earth.” Domaine Chauvenet’s 2014 Vaucrains has a darker robe than Les Perrières. The nose is effusive, offering a kaleidoscopic mélange of black fruit aromas, cassis, brown spices, game and iron; over time notes of crushed blackberry, grilled meat, and wet stone emerge. On the palate the wine is medium-bodied and supple, offering flavors of ripe blackberry, Italian plum, iodine, game, and wood smoke on a long, layered, and mouth-watering finish. There is plenty of power and intensity here, without a sense of weight; deft acidity offers a sense of lift and freshness. This is a beautiful and complex Vaucrains and exciting wine in the making, with a sensational interplay of pure, ripe fruit and savory minerality. While one could enjoy this now, it has the structure and balance to age harmoniously for years. John McIlwain

Clavelier, Bruno 2014 Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts VV

Collotte 2018 Marsannay Rosé

This delicious Pinot Noir rosé is made from 30 to 60 year-old vines on classic clay/limestone soils in Marsannay. With a floral and deeply red-fruited nose, the 2018 Domaine Collotte Marsannay rosé is exuberant, verging on effusive. Wild cherry and rose petals give way to a cool citrus peel aromas. Somewhat rich, the racy, medium weight palate shows hints of cherry, herbs, and a hint of mineral funk. It's long and savory with a pleasing hint of cherry pit on the lively finish. This should be wonderful on warm summer evenings with a variety of lighter dishes.

Drouhin 2001 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

Esmonin, Sylvie 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin

From 30-35+  year-old vines from 4 hectares in many parcels. 40% whole cluster fermentation, aged in 20% new oak.

Faiveley 2016 Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

The 2016 Faiveley Clos de Bèze already offers a dazzling array of dark and red fruits, wild berries, pure cherry, and turned earth on the nose. The concentrated palate offers spicy cherry and plum flavors with notes of game, mustard seed, and black tea over a layered and dense mineral core of impressive length and complexity giving way to a long, detailed, stony finish. This will take the better part of a decade to integrate all of its elements, but should provide rewarding drinking for the patient. Excellent Clos de Bèze. John McIlwain

Faiveley, Hospices de Nuits 1998 Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Les St Georges 3L Cracked Wax

Fourrier 2014 Griotte Chambertin Grand Cru

Fourrier 2015 Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Goulots

Fourrier 2013 Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Combes aux Moines

Fourrier 2015 Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Combes aux Moines

Grivot, Jean 2016 Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

Jane et Sylvain 2015 Côte de Nuits Villages Queue de Hareng

The vines are in the lieu-dit "Queue de Hareng" below an old quarry at the top of the slope in Brochon, next to Fixin 1er Cru "la Perrière," on shallow red/brown soils of mountain silt and limestone pebbles over the limestone bedrock. Organic farming, wild-yeast fermentations with minimal SO2. The 2015 Jane et Sylvain Côte de Nuits-Villages is a superb and unusual Burgundy showing intense aromas of ripe strawberry and cherry with rose leaf, brown spice and herbal notes as well as dusty stone and mineral smells which are typical of this vineyard. With aeration the aromas become more pure and fruit-driven and the palate shows lovely black cherry, strawberry and red currant fruit, quite dense and ripe, with a finish that's extraordinarily long and pure. Decant 4 to 6 hours in advance if drinking now, or cellar for 3 to 5 years and drink till 2027. Highly recommended for those who enjoy some minerals in their Burgundy!

Lienhardt, Antoine 2016 Côte de Nuits Villages Les Essards

Lignier-Michelot 2016 Morey Saint Denis 1er Cru Les Faconnières

Les Faconnières, planted in 1948, is located beneath Clos St. Denis. 50% whole cluster. This is always the most stylish of Virgile Lignier's premier crus with a good deal of the class of the grand crus. The 2016 is effusively perfumed with aromas of black and red hedge fruits, red plum, cassis, spicebox, and freshly turned soil. The mid-weight, concentrated palate is distinctly stony, with a ferrous minerality under-girding perfectly ripe, supple fruit and proceeding to an impeccably balanced and persistent finish. This is a satisfying, serious, albeit lovely Faconnières, which should reward cellaring for 8-10 years and drinking well beyond. John McIlwain

Lignier-Michelot 2016 Morey St. Denis Grand Cru Clos de la Roche

Like the rest of the lineup, the 2016 Clos de la Roche from Lignier-Michelot is a wine of nearly startling intensity and purity. The nose is redolent of spicy red fruits, violets and roses, and earthy game aromas with layer after layer of soil notes. The perfectly ripe palate is a mélange of sweet, ripe, pure fruit dancing above a deeply-pitched mineral core of fantastically articulate detail. I love the balance of shimmering energy and mineral intensity here that carries through on the long, sophisticated, rising finish. This has great class and will benefit from 10-12 years in the cellar and beyond. A truly beautiful Clos de la Roche! John McIlwain

Mortet, Denis 2016 Bourgogne Rouge Cuvée de Noble Souche

From organically framed vines in Daix, a village to the west of Dijon. Like most villages in Burgundy, there were significant losses from the frost in April. The robe is a dark ruby. The nose begins with a fair whack of reduction. With time in the decanter this blows off, revealing aromas of red fruits, brambles, slices, wild strawberry, and forest floor. The palate similarly begins lean and a bit backwards, but with air gains in weight, complexity, and generosity, revealing red and black hedge fruit, black tea, and salty mineral character on a coltish attack that gains complexity on the finish. The pure wild strawberry and red currant fruit dances across the supple and vibrant mid-palate with notes of black tea and spice giving way to an array of stony and savory notes on the long detailed finish. Delicious with pan-roasted veal medallions and a morel sauce and quite satisfactory with Langres and a bit of younger Comté. While this is certainly dear for a Bourgogne Rouge; with a decant this over delivers for its class and is certainly the equivalent to most Marsannays or Fixins and offers surprising sophistication and aplomb. I’d give this an hour or two of air depending on your tolerance for reduction or hold for 3-7 years and drink beyond that. There’s great purity here and it’s worth the tariff if you’ve got a bit of time. John McIlwain

Mortet, Denis 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru Les Champeaux

Rateau 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin

From two small parcels in "Aux Eletois" (below Grand Cru Griottes)  and "les Epointures" (below 1er Cru Clos Prieur) on the more fine and aromatic side of Gevrey. The midweight palate is lithe, racy, and offers up vibrant flavors of dark fruits, crushed herbs, game, and salty soil notes. Great lifted acidity and core of minerality overlain by an assortment of wild berry fruits. This is another great example of the combination of perfume, pure fruit, and detailed earthiness that is a hallmark of the 2016 vintage. Great tension and verve and a bargain at the price. Wonderful with veau aux champignons. John McIlwain

Rousseau 2013 Clos de la Roche Grand cru

Tardy, Jean 2016 Nuits St Georges Au Bas du Combe Vieilles Vigne

Tardy, Jean et Fils 2016 Echezeaux Grand Cru Les Treux Vieilles Vignes

Tardy, Jean et Fils 2016 Fixin La Place

Trapet 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin

The 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin from biodynamic vigneron Jean-Louis Trapet displays the vibrant character of the vintage. The wine has a medium dark ruby robe. The nose is dark-toned in character with aromas of red plum, dark cherry, cherry pit, game, and forest floor. It is dense and dark-fruited on the mid-weight palate with flavors of wild raspberry, wild cherry, black tea, blood orange peel, and mustard seed, with a ferrous, salty, mineral core. There is plenty of ripe pretty fruit, tempered by ripe tannins and fresh mouthwatering acidity and a savory, sauvage character. While not hugely structured, this is tightly wound and should take a few years to unfurl and drink beautifully for a decade or more. This is a fabulous Gevrey-Chambertin of nerve and lift, rather than sheer mass and an intriguing blend of earthy complexity and floral intensity. Highly recommended! John McIlwain

Trapet 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Alea

Trapet 2016 Marsannay Rouge

Tight upon opening. Black tea, vine smoke, dark berry fruit, and wet iron aromas  on the nose. With air, earthy notes, cherry pit and Italian plum skin aromas appear. The palate is similarly circumspect out of the gate, but with time in the decanter offers a melange of flavors of black fruit, Earl Grey tea, mustard seed, cherry pit and a pungent, ferrous, mineral core, with hints of anise. There’s a lot coiled within, with the balance currently veering toward earthy rather than fruiy, but this has nice tension and over the course of the evening gains in weight and overt fruit. Trapet makes beautiful, age-worthy Burgundies and the 2016 shows best with a long decant now, and will shine brightly with 3-5 years in the cellar and beyond. A fine pairing with roasted sausages with grapes and better still with cheeses afterward. John McIlwain

Champs de l'Abbaye 2017 Bourgogne Pinot Noir

From 10 to 50 year-old vines grown on limestone soils (Middle Jurassic!) in the commune of Aluze, Côtes Chalonnaise, certified organic since 1999. This is a lovely Pinot Noir, a bit rounder and riper than previous vintages - the 2017 shows aromas of ripe black cherry, earth, roast meat and violets. The palate is bright but lush with ripe raspberry and cherry fruit, earth and mineral flavors with ripe, sappy fruit in the finish. It's a great value in Red Burgundy - serve cool with chicken and pork dishes, mild cow cheeses. Decant if possible or hold two to five years. David Lillie

Champs de l'Abbaye 2017 Mercurey Les Marcoeurs

Dangin, Bruno NV Crémant de Bourgogne Blanc de Noirs

Domaine d'Edouard 2017 Côtes d'Auxerre Pinot Noir

Domaine Parent 2016 Pommard 1er cru Les Epenots

40% whole cluster, from parcels in Grands and Petits Epenots. The 2016 Les Epenots from organic Domaine Parent has a dark ruby robe. The nose is a touch reticent on opening; with air, lovely black fruit and soil aromas emerge with plum, iron, and crushed herbs giving way to game notes. The palate is densely concentrated with flavors of black cherry, plum skin, black tea, and spice over a vibrant and deeply-pitched mineral core, framed by ripe tannins and leading to an admirably long, detailed finish. This has great purity and energy and should age effortlessly. A beautiful Epenots! John McIlwain

Guillot Broux 2017 Bourgogne Marisa

Marie and Isabel are two young aspiring winemakers from France and the US respectively. They've been working together at Domaine Guillot Broux and this year had the opportunity to make their own special cuvee! 85% Gamay and 15% Pinot Noir, with nice pleasing acidity and fine ripe berry fruit. No oak, just pure varietal and terroir expression! Eben Lillie

Jacqueson, Paul et Marie 2017 Mercurey 1er cru Les Champs Martin

Tripoz 2016 Bourgogne Rouge Chant de la Tour 1.5L

Vignes du Maynes (Julien Guillot) 2016 Mâcon-Cruzille Rouge Cuvée 910 1.5 L (Jan 21)

Vignes du Maynes (Julien Guillot) 2017 Mâcon Rouge Cuvée 910

The Cuvee 910 is back! This special cuvée is a commemoration of eleven hundred years of winemaking, the vineyards in the Clos des Vignes du Maynes having been planted around AD 900 and wine first produced for the Abbey of Cluny around 910. This "medieval" wine is a field blend of Chardonnay, Gamay and Pinot Noir, including the old varieties Gamay Petit Grain and Pinot Fin. The grapes were transported in carts pulled by Charolais bulls, then pressed by foot, vinified and aged without sulfur and bottled by hand in the spring.   In 2016, Cuvee 910 was about 50% Chardonnay (it's normally around 25%) because the Guillots had no Gamay due to frost and hail. Now the Gamay has returned to the party and we couldn't be happier! The palate is light but loaded with ripe, pure berry fruit backed by citrusy acids. Zippy, refreshing and very gulpable, with subtle notes of hibiscus tea, and tart berries. Due to some fluke, we unfortunately didn't get mags this time around, so we'd recommend stocking up on this gleeful wine! Although this is always a light, delicate wine, the 2017 weighs in at a whopping 12% alcohol - it's a gorgeous wine that should gain complexity with time, perhaps three to five years (or more?) but it's much too delicious right now to consider cellaring. Zero added SO2.

Vignes du Maynes 2017 Mâcon-Cruzille Manganite

Made from massale-selection Gamay Petit Grains planted in 1953, grown on a limestone/clay parcel high in magnesium, in the Clos des Vignes du Maynes in Cruzille, organic since 900 AD, now certified Biodynamic. The energetic Julien Guillot vinifies his reds without sulfur or additives of any kind, producing complex, mineral, elegant wines that transcend their appellation.  The 2017s here are lovely, showing the elegance, purity and balance typical of the estate with the wonderful ripeness of the vintage. The wine shows gorgeous red and black fruit aromas with cranberry, raspberry, earth, stone and musk with hints of mint and spice. The palate is bright and sappy,  beautifully balanced with black raspberry, tart strawberry, citrus, stone and earthy flavors, that continue on the very long finish with chalky red fruits and refreshing acidity. Always one of the greatest Gamays produced anywhere, the 2017 Manganite is a young wine that will benefit from decanting or five to fifteen years in the cellar. Highly recommended! DL