Billaud, Samuel 2019 Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre

Champs de l'Abbaye 2019 Bourgogne Blanc Chardonnay

The Hasard’s Bourgogne Blanc is made from hand-harvested and certified organic Chardonnay grown on a limestone/clay parcel in Aluze, next to Mercurey. The native-yeast fermentation lasts 10 months in barrel and only minimal SO2 is added at bottling. The 2019 is more fruit-forward on the nose, with aromas of dried mango, pear followed by ripe yellow fruits and river rocks. The palate is mineral, saline, and layered with notes of dried apricot, fennel, white flowers, and stone on a very generous finish. An excellent value white Burgundy that would pair well with oysters, cheeses, or roast chicken with herbs.

Chandon de Briailles 2018 Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Ile de Vergelesses Blanc

Chantal Lescure 2019 Côte de Beaune Clos des Topes Bizot Blanc

"Le Clos des Topes Bizot" is a unique spot, high on the slope in Beaune just above the 1er Cru "L'Ecu," facing east, in a terroir of clay and pebbles over limestone. Harvested by hand into small crates, slow fermentation (4 to 8 months) with wild yeasts, 15 month élevage in barrel without battonage, 10% new. Showing a brilliant gold in the glass, the nose is redolent of baked golden  apples, hay and white oak. The palate offers up apples, lemon curd, white oak and rocks with a hint of white pepper. Fuller bodied yet taut with high acid, structured, underpinned by vein of stony minerality with a long, persistent finish. Extremely elegant and balanced. For lovers of higher priced appellations such as Meursault and Puligny Montrachet for a fraction of the price. Pair with roasted white meats and  shellfish such as scallops or lobster in a beurre blanc sauce. Giselle Hamburg

Chantal Lescure 2020 Bourgogne Blanc La Rente Giron

Chantal Lescure, along with De Villaine and a few others, have begun a project to rejuvenate the coteaux around Dijon, known for great quality Burgundies up until the late 19th century. With organic farming, Francois Chaveriat of Chantal Lescure aims to bring the soils back to life to honor these superb marnes blanche terroirs.  On a famous parcel formerly called "Le Bas des Marcs d'Or"  at 340 meters in altitude, the parcel is now called "La Rente Giron" (sorry, don't know why) and  was considered equal to Meursault from the 14th to the 19th centuries. The vines here are quite young and there isn't quite the mineral spine that these wines will have as the site ages, but it is quite delicious, with juicy and exuberant citrus and pear fruit and a bit of spiciness, almost like white pepper. The acidity is ample and adds plenty of  freshness as the wine arrives at a snappy finish. Sam Ehrlich

Chantal Lescure 2019 Meursault

The Chantal Lescure Meursault is from a tiny parcel called "les Pellands" on deep sandy clay soils over limestone  below "Charmes Dessous." The wine is fermented and aged in barrel with no batonnage. This is a nice example of '19 Meursault,  quite buoyant and full with lemon pith, apricot and white peach, and a bit of South Indian spice in the mid-palate. The finish is stony and cool and there is very good length. This is lovely right now and will be even better as it settles into itself in a year or two. Sam Ehrlich

Chazelles (Domaine des) 2019 Viré-Clessé Vieilles Vignes

Viré Classé is a privileged location in the Macon that enjoys a fantastic exposure to the sun on a slight slope. This yields wines that have an added weight and complexity compared to your run-of-the-mill Macon-Villages. At Chazelles, organic vines with over 50 years of age broadcast dense flavors of golden apple and stone fruit with an invigorating touch of acid. This is a great Chardonnay with concentration and freshness that could age beautifully for years.

Confuron, JJ 2019 Bourgogne Aligote

Dangin, Bruno NV Crémant de Bourgogne Blanc de Noirs

What a difference 2 kilometers makes! Bruno Dangin's Crémant de Bourgogne is made from 100% Pinot Noir from organically farmed vines in Molesme, located just beneath the southern border of Champagne's Aube.The limestone rich soils are the same as those of their pricier neighbor to the north.  Boasting a fine bead and soft mousse and aromas of red fruits and autolyse, one would be hard pressed to spot the difference. The palate offers great depth, pure pinot fruit, and a suave, layered, persistent finish. This is a great value in bubbles and will grace the holiday table nicely. John McIlwain

Dauvissat, Jean 2019 Chablis

Domaine de l'Enclos 2019 Chablis

Domaine des Croix 2019 Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru

Famille Paquet 2020 Bourgogne Chardonnay

The Paquet family is based in the Maconnais. They have nearly thirty hectares across a dozen appellations, all farmed organically and on the way to certification. This is their entry-level Chardonnay and it is delightful, full of lime and green herbs, with clear mineral tones and good freshness. There is no oak influence at all and no funny business. This is just tasty Chardonnay grown in limestone soils, perfect as we emerge from the ice and snow into  Spring.  Sam Ehrlich

Fichet 2019 Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Referts

Frantz Chagnoleau 2020 Macon-Villages Clos Saint Pancras

Frantz Chagnoleau's wines are store favorites these days. The "Clos Saint Pancras" is a single parcel of vines averaging 30 years, in lightly chalky soils with a lot of small stones. This is juicy and bright, with lime, crisp white peach fruit and white flowers. The back end is distinctly stony and fresh. Aged in a combination of older barrels and tank, this shows no trace of oak. Really, this is so appealing and tasty - a classic bistro wine in the best sense. Sam Ehrlich

Génot-Boulanger 2018 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru La Garenne

Goisot, Guilhem & Jean-Hugues 2020 Sauvignon de Saint-Bris Exogyra Virgula

Guillemot-Michel 2018 Viré-Clessé Une Bulle

The Guillemot-Michel "Une Bulle" comes from a tiny parcel of old vines on limestone with red clay, high in iron. The wine is a Pet-Nat (Methode Ancestrale) that is bottled after a short period of fermentation, leaving enough sugar in the wine for the fermentation to continue and create the desired bubbles. The wine is aged in bottle on the lees for around 18 months, then riddled and disgorged and re-bottled with a bit more "Une Bulle."  The result is a very delicious aged Pet-Nat showing honeyed aromas of pear and white peach with hints of almond, marzipan and brioche. On the palate the mousse is soft and creamy with flavors of peach and quince  with lime-flower and minerals and a long finish of white fruits, citrus peel and firm acidity. This is a delightful wine to sip by itself or pair with mild cheeses, patés and terrines, fruit desserts..  David Lillie

Guillemot-Michel 2019 Viré-Clessé Retour a la Terre

Created in 2017, this cuvee is issued from grapes in the "Champ-Rond" vineyard, vinified in amphora of 800 liters. The 65 year-old vines are grafted on "Riparia Gloire de Montpellier" an old root-stock obtained in 1880, giving very low yields with magnificent small grapes, of a deep gold color. The Retour a la Terre presents the exotic notes typical of the domaine with an extra dimension of expression due to the respiration of the amphora. The small grapes of "Champ-Rond" ripen beautifully without a high degree of alcohol -  they are picked on the last day of the harvest, and the elevage in amphora gives the wine a great purity.  The wine shows elegant floral, white fruit, apricot, lemon and stone aromas. The palate is round, dense and silky with fabulous length. This is a superb white Burgundy that is delicious now and will cellar beatifully for fifteen to twenty years. Highly recommended!

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.Subtle, rather delicate aromas of lime-flower and citrus, with white fruits, stone and honeysuckle. The palate is fresh and bright with mineral flavors predominating, with pear, lemon peel and herbal notes, quite pure and refreshing, and beginning to show some notes of maturity. The opposite of an oaky fruit-bomb, this is beautifully showing the terroir and benefits from the years in bottle - it will accompany shellfish, sole, flounder, cod, white meats and young goat cheeses. 

Lafouge 2019 Auxey-Duresses Les Hautés Blanc

The 2019 Lafouge Auxey-Duresses "Les Hautés" is from a north-facing parcel fairly high on the slope next to Meursault Les Vireuils.  Thia is a beautifully structured, firm and balanced  Chardonnay, even though the vintage was makrked by heat and drought. 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.

Lafouge 2020 Bourgogne Aligoté

The 2020 Lafouge Aligoté is bright and vibrant with citrus, green apple, quince, floral, herbal and mineral notes, with a racy palate showing white fruits, spice, citrus and a very firm mineral/acid core to the long finish, really refreshing!  Bring on the oysters, sole and cod and keep some for delightful thirst-quenching next summer...

Lafouge 2019 Meursault Les Meix Chavaux

Les Meix Chavaux is located beneath Les Luchets and adjacent to Les Chevalières. Lafouge's vines are 80 years old, planted in calcareous clay producing Meursault with  textbook richness and minerality. The 2019 Meix Chavaux shows elegant pear, lemon, lime and floral aromas. The palate is rich and ripe with white fruits and exotic citrus covering the chalky core, with firm acidity and mineral flavors in the finish. Serve with full-flavored fish dishes, poultry and white meats, mild cheeses. This is a beautiful young Meursault that is delicious now and over the next ten years. (12 btls only)

Michel Lafarge 2019 Bourgogne Aligoté Raisins Dorés

Morey-Blanc 2019 Saint Romain Sous le Chateau

Muzard, Lucien 2020 Meursault Les Meix Chavaux

Rapet, Père et Fils 2017 Pernand-Vergelesses Combottes 375ml

Rateau 2020 Côte de Beaune Grande Chatelaine

About a kilometer or two northwest of the Beaune 1er Crus, La Grande Chatelain is a cooler site with soils comprised of clay over limestone. The 2020 Clos de la Grande Chatelain has fresh cool-toned aromatics of white flowers,  nectarine, rainwater,  and pear skin. The medium-bodied palate is a little warmer toned  offering flavors of nectarine, white peach, and crushed herb with a fairly savory finish.  The 2020 vintage was hot and dry and the harvest was very early, but Rateau's whites retain good acidity and crispness, especially from this  cooler high-altitude climat.  This is generous and makes for a lovely quaffer, as well as a beautiful partner with shellfish or milder cheeses.

Rateau 2020 Hautes-Côtes 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.  In the 2020 vintage,  the wine is quite round and lucious showing floral aromas with almond, ripe pear, apple and spice with hints of citrus. The palate is silky and supple and more ripe than usual, but perfectly balanced with pear, citrus and stone flavors, with terrific length and firm acidity. This food friendly wine will accompany everything from oysters and grilled seafood to roast chicken and mild cheeses. Delicious now or cellar for 5 to 8 years. This is a delightful Burgundy and a great value! 

Roblet-Monnot 2017 Haute-Cotes de Beaune Blanc Nerthus

From a parcel in the Hautes Côtes on the plateau above Maranges. Fermented in barrel for twelve months, then racked to tank for a further six months to tighten it up and preserve freshness. This was bottled with no sulfur at all. I found this wine incredibly appealing, open and expressive on the nose, full of crisp yellow apple and apricot, followed by cracked walnuts on the palate, with little hints of lemon pith and lemon sherbet. There is lovely breadth in the mid-palate (I suspect there is a good amount of clay in the soil here along with the limestone) and a spiciness that lends a Jura-like character. There is good length and the finish is fine and racy. I think this is great fun and terrifically expressive. Sam Ehrlich

Tripoz 2018 Pouilly-Loché 1er Reserve

From vines just outside Pouilly itself, this sees nearly two years in oak. Apparently in 2019, they had to fight to get AOC status for this. The authorities found "oxidative"notes that they felt rendered it unworthy of an appellation designation. After tasting this wine, I am baffled. This is superb, full fruited with tropical and citrus notes and an incredible mineral thread. There is great intensity and beautiful acidity. Honestly, when we at the store tasted this we were all flattened by it. Don't miss out. Sam Ehrlich

Tripoz 2019 Macon-Loché Cuvée du Clocher - Sans Soufre

In 2019 Laurent and Celine bottled a portion of their signature still wine without sulfur and we are so glad. The difference is most noticeable in the first hour, as the wine jumps out of the glass with more exotic fruit notes than the sulfured version, as well as intense floral notes. The bright juicy Meyer lemon-stained palate that made the 2018 so enjoyable is on full display here and the acidity is bright and racy. This is excellent. The evening I spent drinking this side by side with its sibling was not just fun but fascinating as the the two bottles drew closer together the longer they sat in the glass. Sam Ehrlich

Bize, Simon 2019 Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er Cru Aux Vergelesses

Chantal Lescure 2018 Beaune 1er Cru Les Chouacheux

From a 1.5 hectare parcel of 50+ year-old massale selection vines on clay/limestone soils rich in iron, in this excellent 1er cru vineyard at the foot of the slope in Beaune. (Near Pommard and below "Les Vignes Franches" and the "Clos des Mouches") 2018 is a great vintage for the Chantal Lescure "Chouacheux" which  shows very floral aromas of ripe, fresh red and black fruits, with hints of brown spice, citrus zest and earth. There is ripe, sappy, chalky fruit on the palate which is silky and elegant with raspberry, red currant and cherry fruit, really lovely and very long - backed by firm acidity and the ever-present core of minerality found in the Chantal Lescure wines. Quite delicious now, this beautiful Chouacheux is highly recommended and should be best 2024 - 2035+.  David Lillie

Chantal Lescure 2019 Bourgogne Rouge Les Verduns

The Chantal Lescure Bourgogne Rouge "Les Verduns" is from 45 year-old vines on a soil of "marnes blanches"  in this unusual southwest-facing parcel at the top of the slope adjacent to Pommard "Les Vignots." Vinification is 100% with whole-clusters giving a firm structure to this very classy Bourgogne Rouge. No SO2 added during vinification, small amount added before bottling, minimal extraction, aged in old barrels for 14 months. The wine shows elegant high-toned  quite floral aromas of earthy Morello cherry and strawberry with hints of spice, mint and rose petal. The palate is earthy and mineral with saline acidity underlying ripe wild strawberry and red currant fruit. The finish is long and sappy, dominated by mineral and red currant  flavors that linger on the palate. This is not a fruit bomb, but is a very satisfying red Burgundy that will benefit from many hours of aeration or cellaring for 5 to 8  years.

Chantal Lescure 2019 Côte de Beaune Clos des Topes Bizot Rouge

"Le Clos des Topes Bizot" is a unique spot with vines planted in 1960,  high on the slope in Beaune just above the 1er Cru "L'Ecu," facing east, in a terroir of clay and pebbles over limestone. The grapes from this high elevation vineyard are harvested late and undergo a short pre-fermentation maceration, aging is in two and three year-old barrels. This is a wine for tonight if I've ever seen one, tasty and accessible. There is a considerable amount of red fruit here, ripe raspberry and confit cherries and the overall weight of the wine at opening is quite fullish, with the barest touch of wood spice. However the wine firms up a lot with some air - the fruit tapers back and the acid structure becomes much more prominent, with some stoniness poking its head out. This is quite satisfying and while it will likely improve in the bottle, I would find trouble waiting. Sam Ehrlich

Chantal Lescure 2019 Volnay

The Chantal Lescure Volnay is from 50+ year-old vines on sandy clay soils over limestone. There is a long, slow fermentation with wild yeasts in cuve inox followed by 18 months in barrel, approximately 20% of which are new (500L), bottled without fining or filtration. The wine shows a deep red/garnet color with black cherry, blackberry and red currant aromas, quite floral and elegant with complex hints of earth,  brown spice and tea. With aeration, the palate shows a velvety, chalky texture backed by firm acidity with complex black fruits, mint, bitter chocolate and earth that continue in the long, sappy finish. This is a lovely "village" Volnay that is delicious, if a bit intense in its youth - decant if drinking now, this will really sing in three to five years and until 2035.

Chantal Lescure 2018 Pommard Les Vignots

From south-facing vines situated on the right hill of Pommard, on the Beaune side, in a terroir of marnes blanches. These 35 year-old vines grow in high elevation, about 330 meters above sea-level. The grapes are hand harvested and undergo a long, slow fermentation in stainless steel tanks, punched-down and vatted for 18-25 days. The wine ages in a cold cellar on lees in barrels, 30% of which are new. Medium dark ruby, verging on purple robe. The nose offers attractive aromas of plum skin, violets, loamy earth, and a whisper of cocoa nib. The palate is ripe as befits the solar vintage, but there’s nothing hot or roasted about this—black and blue fruits, a bit of chalk, and spice. The tannins are firm but ripe and there’s fine acidity for the vintage and good succulence to the finish. This has fine brio and length and dodges the torrid nature of the vintage with plenty of energy rather than weight. Pommard of pretty persuasion. John McIlwain

Domaine des Croix 2019 Beaune

Domaine Des Croix 2019 Beaune 1er Cru Bressandes

Domaine des Croix 2019 Beaune 1er Cru Cents Vignes

Domaine des Croix 2019 Beaune 1er Cru Greves

Domaine des Croix 2019 Beaune 1er Cru Les Tuvilains

Domaine des Croix 2019 Beaune 1er Cru Pertuisots

Domaine des Croix 2019 Corton Grand Cru Greves

Domaine des Croix 2019 Corton Grand Cru La Vigne au Saint

Ludovic Bonnardot 2018 Maranges 'Sur le Bois'

Morey, Pierre 2019 Monthelie 1er Cru

Seguin-Manuel 2019 Bourgogne Rouge

Seguin-Manuel has flown under the radar for many years, making really pretty elegant Burgundies in both colors. They farm organically, use a minimum of new oak and produce wines tate spak of their origins. This is an excellent Bourgogne, with understated red and black cherry skin and fruit, a touch of eucalyptus and an intensely chalky, dusty mineral finish, with a little touch of red sherbert.  -SE

Arlaud 2019 Bourgogne Rouge Roncevie

Chantal Lescure 2019 Nuits-Saint-Georges

The Chantal Lescure Nuits-Saint-Georges is assembled from three parcels at the foot of the slope near Vosne-Romanée, averaging 30 years old on sandy clay over limestone. This is quite approachable now, with an appealing nose of raspberry and ripe strawberry fruit, accented by smoky and gamey notes - a real meat over an open flame vibe. On the palate there is more red fruit, along with musky sandalwood-y tones and a bit of savory saltiness that is a reminder how close to Vosne these vines are. The finish is mineral-driven, with a river stone bitterness that I like. A very nice village wine and good value. Sam Ehrlich

Chantal Lescure 2019 Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Damodes

From the village portion of Les Damodes on the Vosne side of Nuits St. Georges, at 320 metres, on a slab of hard pink limestone with shallow clay soils. Long-time organic farming, minimal use of SO2. 30% new barrels by Francis Miquel. Chantal-Lescure is a domaine blessed with a range of crus—all farmed organically, thank you—and imbued with more energy than mass in my experience. And what Burgundy! Les Damodes is a village level lieu-dit that sits astride the 1er Cru of the same name on the Vosne side of Nuits-St-Georges, so things are more perfumed and high-toned than backwards and foreboding. The robe is a dark ruby inching toward purple-hued. The nose is more plummy and boysenberry and violet inflected than red-fruited and crunchy. There are some exotic spicebox and blood orange zest aromas that vie with deep soil notes for attention, as well as a whisper of sweet barrel character. The palate is concentrated—not extracted—and offers a pebbly, firmness that is balanced by the ripe fruit. A young wine, the acidity and still-resolving tannic structure bode well for medium to just-shy-of longer term aging. Lovely with loads of upside for the patient. Dynamite for village wine and pleasurable in current iterations. Well worth seeking out. John McIlwain

Chantal Lescure 2019 Chambolle-Musigny Les Mombies

 The lieu-dit "Les Mombies" has limestone clay soils washed down from higher on the slope, the vines average 40 years of age. The vinification is in tronconic wooden vats, aging is for 18 months in 30% new barrels, the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered. On the nose, the wine is dense with rich aromas  of cocoa and ripe black cherry. Hints of healthy earth and black pepper and violets add enticing complexity. Dark flavors of  plum and blackberry are supported by the zing of fresh bitter greens and an  excellent mineral core. Lovely, powerful acidity balance this Pinot's surprisingly concentrated structure. A great wine, brimming with energy, that tastes complete today but will definitely gain layers over the next decade. David Hatzopoulos! 

Confuron, JJ 2019 Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Les Chaboeufs

Lignier-Michelot 2019 Morey Saint Denis 1er Cru Les Faconnières

Lignier-Michelot 2019 Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Les Murgers

Meo-Camuzet 1988 Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Cros Parantoux

Remoissenet 1959 Richebourg Grand Cru

Chantal Lescure 2018 Bourgogne Passetoutgrains

I'm a sucker for Passetoutgrains and this one is a corker, especially for twenty dollars.  50% destemmed fruit and no sulphur until bottling. According to Virginie at the domaine, the Gamay is especially vibrant in this vintage, adding plenty of freshness. The nose is very pretty, teetering between strawberry and cherry, with a touch of red plum. Despite the warmth of '18, on the palate this wine is lithe, juicy rather than heavy. There is the telltale note of cracked pepper at the back end, emblematic of Gamay on limestone. I drank this with matzoh ball soup but honestly you could have it with anything. Sam Ehrlich