Audoin, Charles 2017 Marsannay Blanc Cuvée Charlie

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

Catherine et Gilles Vergé 2013 Viré Le Balaise

La Balaise is a full on sous voile oxidative Chardonnay from the Macon. Gilles and Catherine Vergé are the founders of the natural wine group S.A.I.N.S. which stands for: Sans Aucun Intrant ni Sulfite (ajouté), and insist on never using sulfites in their winemaking.

Champs de l'Abbaye 2017 Bourgogne Blanc Chardonnay

From Chardonnay grown on an excellent limestone/clay parcel in Aluze, next to Mercurey. Certified organic, hand-harvested, low yields, very long (10 month) wild-yeast fermentation in barrel. The 2017 shows lovely aromas of dried pear, melon, fines herbes, wet stone, and lemon peel—showing Chardonnay's relation to the Melon de Bourgogne of Muscadet!  The palate shows very firm acidity underneath lime flower, citrus rind, and  ripe white fruits with a touch of oak, almond and mineral flavors. The finish is long and bracing, with white fruits and citrus, very much in the stye of De Moor in Chablis. This is an elegant racy, stylish white Burgundy that is a great value as well. David Lillie

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 Narvaux

The 2016 Meursault Les Narvaux is a vibrant and mineral expression of the clay limestone terroir. The nose offers a fine combination of white flowers, citrus peel, and wet stone aromas framed by a touch of oak, while the palate offers a good tension between concentrated yellow fruit flavors and an overt minerality carrying over to the long, detailed finish. This is displaying nascent complexity and should reveal even more layers with a couple of years in the cellar. Superb Narvaux! John McIlwain

Chavy, Philippe 2016 Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes

Chazelles (Domaine des) 2017 Vire-Clesse Vieilles Vignes

Dangin, Bruno NV Crémant de Bourgogne Rosé Brut

Located a mere 2 kilometers from the Aube, organic vigneron Bruno Dangin is one of our new favorite producers of Cremant de Bourgogne. The rosé is made from 30-year-old pinot noir vines planted in clay-limestone soils from the Upper Jurassic. The robe is a pale salmon color and there is a fine bead and soft mousse. The nose is an intriguing melange of wild strawberries, spices, and sea spray. The palate is salty and red-fruited, with layers of pinot fruit and a briny minerality. John McIlwain

De Montille 2014 Bourgogne Blanc

De Moor (Vendangeur Masqué) 2016 VDF Compagnie Meridionale

The De Moors suffered terrible loses due to frost and hail in 2016 and 2017 - They have been aided by friends in the south and have made delicious "Vendangeurs Maqué" wines, this one with Grenache Blanc from Julie Brosselin and Eric Pfifferling, Viogniers from Gérald Oustric and Gramenon, Roussanne from Eric Texier and Clairete from Pierre Pradel.

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

Duplessis, Gérard 2015 Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu

Fery, Jean 2015 Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Abbaye de Morgeot

Fery, Jean 2017 Bourgogne Blanc

Fery, Jean 2017 Meursault Les Narvaux

Fichet 2016 Meursault Les Chevalières

Shallow limestone clay soils with limestone substrate. The 2016 Chevalières is positively incandescent. Lemon blossom, Meyer lemon peel, orange oil, sea spray on the nose. Great driving surf saline minerality and impeccable ripeness offering an array of citrus and stone fruit flavors on the palate. Pungently earthy and surgically precise. Incisively stony on the attack, with mouthwatering acidity and minerality, evolving into an expansive and galloping finish. Clearly young, and a bit coltish, but this has the nascent sophistication, complexity and pent-up energy to age for years. Absolutely delicious and a stellar Chevalières! Bravo, Jean-Philippe Fichet! John McIlwain

Fichet 2016 Meursault Les Tessons

One of my favorites wines from the vintage and if anyone is thinking of a great gift for the Burgundy lover, this is a fine selection. The 2016 Fichet Meursault Les Tessons has a gold-green robe. Upon opening there’s a fair amount of reduction with aromas of citrus, ripe apple, and stone, which give way after a couple of hours to ripe orchard fruit, hazelnut, wet stones, and lemon curd. The mid-weight palate offers a firm core of minerality with fine density and pure, vibrant ripe fruit that offers a perfect balance of richness to accompany a deeply stony, palate-staining finish. This is a truly beautiful Tessons that should age effortlessly. I love Fichet’s wines, but this is truly beautiful and emotionally satisfying. I’d lay this down for 5-8 years and enjoy for the next 15-20. A truly fantastic Tessons and shows just how adept Jean-Philippe Fichet is in even hugely difficult vintages. John McIlwain

Germain, Henri 2016 Meursault 1er cru Charmes

Germain, Henri 2016 Meursault 1er cru Poruzots

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) 2016 Macon-Villages

Julien Guillot of the Clos des Vignes du Maynes, makes this lovely Mâcon-Villages from certified organic parcels - 50% from Viré-Clessé, the rest from Chardonnay and Montbellet, on Bathonian limestone with clay, rich in silica. The 2016 Mâcon-Villages shows a lovely pale gold color, with aromas of pear, almond, grapefruit and green apple. The palate is refreshing and elegant with refreshing acidity and flavors of pear, stone, almond and creamy lemon. The finish is silky and long with ripe white fruits and wet stone flavors. This is a superb white Burgundy and a far cry from the normal negoce Macon wines. This versatile and delicious Chardonnay will accompany almost anything from the sea as well as white meats, Asian foods and mild cheeses.  Julien compares this vintage to 2010, which he opened for us last winter (Jan 2018) The wine was vibrant and delicious with terrific length, showing that cellaring this wine is a great option.  David Lillie

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

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

Lafarge 2013 Bourgogne Aligoté Raisins Dorés

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 Casses-Têtes

The Meursault  lieu-dit Les Casses Têtes is located on the hillside above the premier cru Les Gouttes d'Or and next to Le Tesson. The soils are thin and rocky producing wines of great energy and lift.Green-gold robe. White flowers, honeysuckle, lemon blossom, faint creaminess on the nose with aromas of wet stone, citrus peel and pith following. This is bright and cool-toned aromatically, and not just a bit reticent on opening. The palate is nervy and electric on the attack with a salty mineral cast, followed by flavors of orchard fruit, lemon curd, and hints of green tea on a lean, albeit concentrated mid-palate with a pleasing bit of bitterness on the succulent, rising finish. This is mouth-watering and has a coiled tension that hints at greater complexity to accompany the vibrant, juicy character at the moment. I like the energy and suspect this will put on weight and benefit from short to mid-term aging and beyond. On day 2 the wine has picked up weight and gras with more stone fruit flavors and still more mineral spice notes and layered complexity. The aromatics have taken on more dimension as well with richer fruit, a touch of toast, and a hint of sea spray. There is far more here than meets the eye, so I'd decant if enjoying now or age for a few years to allow the elements to knit. Perhaps not cut from the same cloth as the excellent 2014, but fantastic energy and surprising depth the longer it's open. Paired with pan-roasted scallops, braised leeks, and Sea Island grits. Would likely be a splendid pairing with sautéed flounder and brown butter or poulet à la creme. For lovers of well-priced, pure Burgundies, Lafouge is always worth investigating. John McIlwain

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

Leflaive 2016 Bourgogne Blanc

Lignier, Hubert 2015 St. Romain Blanc

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

Moreau, Bernard 2016 Bourgogne Blanc

Moreau, Bernard 2016 Chassagne-Montrachet

Moreau-Naudet 2016 Chablis 375ml

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 (Wines arrive 1/11)

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

Morey, Pierre 2016 Meursault Les Tessons

Tessons is one of the great "deuxième" crus (as coined by Clive Coates) of Meursault. The biodynamically-farmed vines date from 1975. The 2016 is more effusive than the village Meursault and displays greater florality to the nose than the Bourgogne with aromas of linden blossoms, Meyer lemon peel, and a dusty bit of chalk. The mid-weight palate is layered with concentrated orchard fruits, citrus peel, and a zesty, pungent sense of stoniness giving way to a long, articulate, rising finish. The after-aromas are fresh and spring-like. This is a lovely Tessons and should really shine in 5-7 years and beyond. Pierre Morey has been on a roll the last few years with Anne Morey deftly handling the vagaries of each year; and every vintage Tessons seems like a sure bet. John McIlwain (wine arrives 1/11)

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

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 Cote de Beaune La Grande Chatelaine

About a kilometer or two northwest of the Beaune 1er Crus, La Grande Châtelaine is a cooler site with soils comprised of clay over limestone. The 2014 Clos de la Grande Châtelaine has fresh, cool-toned aromatics of white flowers,  nectarine, rainwater,  almond and pear skin. The medium-bodied palate is a little warmer toned  offering flavors of nectarine, white peach, almond, wet stone and crushed herb with a fairly savory finish.  The ripeness of the vintage makes this a little more giving than one would typically expect for the cooler high-altitude climat. This is generous and makes for a lovely quaffer, as well as a beautiful partner with shellfish, fish in sauce, white meats  and milder cheeses. Lovely wine!  John McIlwain

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.

Roally (Gautier Thevenet) 2016 Roally Vire Clesse

Domaine de Roally is one of the great estates of the Macon. The original owner/grower was Henri Goyard, who made old-fashioned Chardonnays with a bit of residual sugar, from his superb organically-tended estate on a limestone ridge overlooking the Saone Valley. Gautier Thevenet of Domaine Bongran took over in 2000 and has happily kept up the quality and style of Goyard. The 2016 is a beautiful wine, with a truly stunning citrusy, lime-flower nose that is fast out of the gates upon opening but improves the longer the bottle is open. A fantastic scid backbone gives this wine taught structure but doesn't intrude upon the ecstatic fruit on the palate. Texturally subtle, with rigid structure but also a touch of saponic fullness. Drink now or let it age for upwards of ten years. Andrew FarquharThe 2016 is a fabulous white Burgundy, showing beautiful aromas of ripe pear and apple, lime-flower, lemon zest and honeysuckle, really lovely! There is fabulous density on the palate with pear, citrus, butter and exotic fruit backed by very firm acidity and saline minerals. Gorgeous now, it will age beautifully, perhaps best in 2026?

Rollin 2015 Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Sous Frétille

Domaine Rollin's Pernand-Vergelesses Sous-Frétille 1er cru is a perennial favorite, especially in warm vintages, where the morning shadow of the hill of Corton is mitigated by heat later in the day. The 2015 offers aromas of white flowers, ripe stone fruit (nectarine, white peach), golden apple, and Meyer lemon peel. The mid-weight, verging on rich, palate displays ripe orchard fruit flavors overlaying a deep-seated minerality, with a tactile stoniness lending drive, energy and mid-palate depth on a pungent, concentrated, nearly muscular finish. Sous Frétille always has a degree of gravitas that reminds me of Corton-Charlemagne, especially in solar vintages, where the ripeness aligns with the mineral concentration. This is a fabulous example and should be singing in 5-8 years and beyond. Gorgeous baby Corton! Fabulous with schnitzel and would be glorious with pan-roasted cod or grilled sole. Lovely Burgundy that is still accessibly priced (relatively speaking). John McIlwain

Rollin 2015 Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 1.5L

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.

Tripoz 2016 Pouilly Loche Blanc 1.5 L

Tripoz NV Crémant de Bourgogne Nature Prestige 1.5 L

Also made from 100% Chardonnay with zero dosage, this wine spends a full 27 months on the lees before disgorgement. The result is a broad and powerful wine with tropical fruit, green apple, pineapple stalk, orange peel, and a hint of spearmint and lime blossom on the nose. The palate is rich and lush with mango, mandarin orange, and a hint of spicy green walnut coming forward, balanced by a dense mineral core. In fact, it actually reminds me of some of my favorite Champagnes (but for half the price). Céline and Laurent don’t make much of this wine and we are thrilled to have it in magnum size! An elegant but no-fuss wine that should always have a place on your dinner table or at your New Year's Eve party, it would pair well with creamy poultry dishes, whole-roasted fish, or soft, tangy cheeses. Tim Gagnon

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

Armand, Comtes 2014 Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epeneaux

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

Bize, Simon 2016 Savigny-les-Beaune Aux Grands Liards

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

Chevrot 2016 Bourgogne Rouge

High-toned, floral and fresh with bright red fruit notes and zesty acidity. A wine of energy and lift rather than mass, this racy Bourgogne shows the buoyant nature of the difficult, but excellent 2016 vintage. Pablo Chevrot and his family make beautiful and fairly-priced Burgundy in every vintage, and are a great domaine for value.  Enjoy with roasted chicken, fricasséed mushrooms, tempura, or milder cheeses. John McIlwain

Chevrot 2016 Santenay 1er Cru Clos Rousseau

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 1996 Pommard 1er Cru Rugiens

De Montille 2015 Beaune 1er Cru Grèves

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 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 Corton Clos du Roi Grand Cru

De Montille 2015 Pommard 1er Cru Pèzerolles

From 1.35 hectare of organically-farmed vines. The 2015 vintage is 50% whole cluster fermentation aged with 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 hectare of organically-farmed vines. The 2015 vintage is 50% whole cluster fermentation aged with 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 Champans

Dark ruby verging on purple robe. A bit backward on opening. Mostly notes of turned earth, reduction, and black tea. Some dark fruits. One hour in the decanter makes a world of difference. Aromas of wild raspberry, exotic spices, wild thyme, and plum skin emerge. The palate also gains suppleness and complexity—the pinched tautness loosens revealing wild berry fruit (red currant, wild raspberry, cherry pit, and cranberry) as animale and game flavors and exotic spice notes come to the fore. There is a zesty mineral character running through this, and not insignificant structure, though the elements are balanced and should knit with aplomb. One senses this will need time to integrate, but there’s great poise between the fruit, earthiness, and structure with punchy energy lending lift. This is a sensational Champans, though it will take the better part of a decade to reach its apogee. De Montille handled the ripeness of 2015 deftly and this has the balance to age beautifully.  John McIlwain

De Montille 2015 Volnay 1er Cru Les Mitans

De Montille 2015 Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds

De Montille 2015 Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds 1.5L

Des Croix 2016 Corton Greves Grand Cru

Drouhin 2005 Beaune Greves

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 Beaune Bressandes 1er

Germain, Henri 2016 Chassagne Montrachet Rouge

Girardin, Vincent 2003 Corton Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes

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 2014 Chorey-les-Beaune Burgundy

Ripest red cherry and wild strawberry on the nose. Silken with ripe red fruits on a medium-weight palate, with a long, bright chalky finish. Simply lovely. Drink and hold. John McIlwain

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

Moreau, Bernard 2016 Volany 1er cru 1.5L

Morot, Albert 2016 Beaune 1er Cru Bressandes

From an organically farmed  1.27 hectare plot in the center of Bressandes. Dark ruby robe to meniscus. Deeply pitched, dark-fruited, brambly nose with notes of oolong tea and game with hints of dusty violets. The mid-weight palate shows a good concentration, with ripe plum and blackberry fruit flavors wrapped around a core of punchy minerality and spice leading to a sapid and mouthwatering finish. This has that savory/hedge fruit/and stony character of Bressandes and offers a lot of charm and terroir delineation without a crazy tariff. A knockout with poulet grand-mère and cheese afterwards, but I would enjoy this with pork and mustard, or soy sauce chicken. This is a fine value and a worth addition to the table and the cellar!

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

Rapet, Père et Fils 2015 Pernand-Vergelesses Les Belles Filles

The Pernand-Vergelesses vineyard "Les Belles Filles" is a northern extension of "Iles des Vergelesses" and "En Carradeux" facing east and usually producing an elegant, very pretty light-bodied Burgundy. In 2015, the hot, dry conditions gave this vineyard (and others in Auxey-Duresses for example) their moment in the sun with wines of balance and firm acidities but showing the ripeness of the vintage. The 2015 "Belle Filles" is quite beautiful, beginning with the usual floral tart cherry and raspberry aromas found in this wine; with aeration, the aromas deepen into earthy black cherry with hints of licorice and graphite. The palate shows ripe black cherry and strawberry fruit with earth and mineral flavors, quite dense and deep but still light on its feet and balanced with firm acidity. Three days later, the wine is really singing with terrific depth and length of black fruits and saline minerals. This is a great vintage for "Belles Filles." Decant well in advance if drinking now, best to cellar five to eight years and drink till 2033. David Lillie

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

Voillot, Joseph 2016 Volnay 1er Cru Les Champans

Dark ruby robe. A melange of red and black fruit, forest floor and freshly turned earth on the nose with a faint whiff of anise and mustard seed. The midweight and concentrated palate offers sour cherry, pomegranate, and animale flavors, underlain with a deeply mineral core and a long mouthwatering, moderately tannic, expansive finish. This is fabulous Champans and what it may lack in overt polish, it makes up in mineral frankness and lift. This should age effortlessly and is cracking traditional Burgundy! Voillot’s 2016s are not to be missed! John McIlwain

Arlaud 2016 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

Bonnes Mares Grand Cru 2016 (from Barrel) 35+ year-old vines 20% new oak. Touch of reduction initially, then deeply aromatic, freshly turned earth, roses, violets, stone fruits, animale, notes of forest floor. Tightly wound and knit; there's almost too much going on and all of it's interesting. Dense, verging on sinewy on the palate, taut, structured, muscular. Deep fruit core of black and blue fruits, great ripeness and sap. Vibrant energy coiled within. This is tightly wound and will take time. Perfect ripeness and very Bonnes Mares. Fine breed and energy. Masculine and majestic. Hold 12-15+ years. Great potential. 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

Audoin, Charles 2017 Marsannay Rosé

Bachelet, Denis 2011 Cote de Nuits-Villages

Dark fruit, spice, earthy, woodsy – great minerality – this is an exceptional Côte de Nuits-Villages. It has that wonderful spine of acidity on the finish that is a hallmark of the 2011 vintage. It has great tension and energy. JBT  

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 2014 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux St Jacques

Burguet, Alain 2015 Vosne-Romanée

Cherry, red plum, red currant, baking spices, and hibiscus on the nose. Good cut and tart fruit underlain by savory earthiness. Fine density on the palate and good lift on finish. With food, riper berry and floral notes emerge--what perfume! Lovely nascent complexity and real verve without the monolithic character of many 2015s. This is a punchy, satisfying Vosne-Romanée and while, not cheap, this is stylish and combines lilting aromatics with pure fruit and a fine sense of minerality. Decant now or cellar for 5-7 years to allow the structural elements to integrate. A fine paring with pork, mushrooms and spaetzle, and would shine with squab or magret of duck. John McIlwain

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

Burguet, Alain 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes

Dark ruby robe. Tightly wound, black-fruited on the nose, with aromas of game, iron, violets, black cherry, and blackberry giving way to loamy soil notes and wood smoke. Great sense of sauvage wildness—unmistakably Gevrey. The palate isincisive on the attack with punchy minerality giving way to dark fruit flavors, notes of grilled meat, mustard seed, and a sapid earthiness on the long, deeply-pitched, concentrated finish. Great acidity and savory notes lend drive and lift to this pitch-perfect Gevrey. The wine is delicious with a burger, but holds plenty of complexity to accompany game birds, daube, or braised rabbit. Decant now to enjoy the nascent complexity, better still, cellar for 7-10 years and beyond. Burguet does sensational Gevrey at the village level, that rises to 1er Cru quality and offers great value to those who love the wild and earthy face of the appellation. John McIlwain

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 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

Coudray-Bizot 2010 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Champeaux

Coudray-Bizot 2010 Vosne Romanée 1er Cru La Croix Rameau

Drouhin 2001 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

Esmonin, Sylvie 2014 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes

From the oldest vines, up to 95 years-old, 60% whole cluster fermentation, aged in 60% new oak. The 2014 Gevrey Vieilles Vignes  is ripe, dark-fruited, spicy, and densely perfumed, offering aromas of violets, ripe plum and soil. Palate is sturdy, vigorous and concentrated, balancing vivid flavors of black fruits and earth with notes of game and spice on a robust and energetic mid-palate and long finish. This is a broad, strapping Gevrey-Chambertin, soil-driven and full of old vine minerality and detail and will need a few years to resolve its structural elements. A classy expression of the village and a fine candidtate for the cellar. John McIlwain

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

Fourrier 2012 Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St Jacques

Fourrier 2013 Griotte Chambertin Grand Cru

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

Grivot, Jean 2016 Echezeaux Grand Cru

Grivot, Jean 2016 Nuits-St-Georges 1er Cru Aux Boudots

Gros, Jean 1977 Richebourg Grand Cru - levels 3.5cm

Jane et Sylvain 2014 Gevrey-Chambertin

From 45 to 60 year-old vines, certified organic, mostly in En Pallud (below 1er Cru les Corbeaux). The 2014 Gevrey shows a light red/black color, aromas of morello cherry, red currant and raspberry with hints of earth, stone, violets, black pepper and licorice. The palate is dense but light with cherry, red-currant, earth, citrus and mineral flavors with berry fruits and saline minerals lingering in the finish. Ripe but not a fruit-bomb - a red Burgundy of terroir that is delicious now, but should become a beautiful, old-fashioned wine when mature, best perhaps 2021 - 2030. On day two the wine has deepened with very sappy black and red fruits,  quite dense and earthy.  Lovely wine from living soils and quite a different style than modern Burgundies.  David Lillie

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!

Jane et Sylvain 2015 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Fonteny

Jane et Sylvain have a superb, tiny parcel of Gevrey 1er Cru "Fonteny," high up in the southwest corner, separated from Grand Cru Ruchottes by a dirt track, certified organic. Beautifully balanced for a 2015 and built to age, the wine shows subtle, complex black fruits with hints of spice, citrus and earth. The palate is supple and well-structured with red and black fruits backed by firm acidity and mineral flavors that continue in the long finish. Certainly enjoyable now  with a long decant, best held for five to eight years then enjoy until 2035. Lovely wine.   David Lillie

Le Moine, Lucien 2010 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

Lienhardt, Antoine 2015 Côte de Nuits Villages Les Plantes Aux Bois

Lienhardt, Antoine 2016 Côte de Nuits Villages Les Essards

Lignier-Michelot 2016 Chambolle Musigny Vieilles Vignes

From 65 year-old vines. High-toned and floral with effusive aromas of rose petals, and black and red raspberry with hints of spice and earth. The palate shows good concentration and lift with succulent berry flavors, and a sapid earthiness on a driving, nervy, linear finish. Seems a bit coiled and in need of a fairly long decant or a couple of years in the cellar to unwind, but there's great lift and persistence to the finish and I suspect this will blossom with time. John McIlwain

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

Machard de Gramont 1996 Nuits St Georges Les Hauts Pruliers

Magnien, Stephane 2014 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Cuvée "Aux Petites Noix"

From mixed limestone and clay soils in premier crus Clos Baulet and Les Gruenchers, which bracket Clos Sorbe beneath the village of Morey-Saint-Denis. The 2014 Petites Noix offers high-toned aromas of Morello cherry, violets, wild raspberry with cool herbal notes and spice. The mid-weight and silky palate is racy, ripe and pretty with juicy red fruits earth tones, and a fine spine of chalky minerality. Vibrant and lifted with a captivating interplay between the salty stoniness and perfumed, succulent berry fruit. Long on the finish and precise. Charming now, but with the balance to age effortlessly. This is a beautiful release of "Les Petites Noix!" John McIlwain

Magnien, Stephane 2016 Coteaux Bourguignons Tradition (Passetoutgrain)

From 35-55 year-old vines below the village in deep clay soils, 50% Pinot Noir/50% Gamay (with the new AOC Coteaux Bourguignons replacing Borgogne Passetoutgrain and Bourgogne Rouge). Hand harvested, fermented with wild yeasts and aged 16 months in tonneaux and stainless steel vats, bottled unfined and unfiltered, about 150 cases made.   Bright red color, high-toned aromas of cassis, red currant, tart cherry.  The palate shows vibrant cherry and red currant fruit, quite refreshing with a nice finish of juicy red fruits with firm acidity. Drink this lively Pinot/Gamay blend over the next five years. Great value! DL

Magnien, Stephane 2016 Morey-Saint-Denis "Grains Fins"

The Morey-Saint-Denis "Grains Fins" is another new cuvée from Stephane Magnien, and it's an absolutely delicious wine! It's made from young vines of Pinot Fin, in the vineyards of "Bas-Chenevery" and "Crais-Gillon" on gravelly soils. There is a 12-month elevage in mostly old barrels, followed by 4 months in cuve inox - only 200 cases were made. The wine shows beautiful aromas of ripe black raspberry, red currant, cherry and blood orange with hints of violets, earth and cocoa. There is lovely ripeness on the palate, which is light and balanced, with deep, dense cherry and raspberry fruit. The finish is very long and balanced with lingering red fruits and minerally acids. This is simply delicious now, but please decant or open in advance, probably best 2020 - 2028. Beautiful wine!  David Lillie

Magnien, Stephane 2016 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Les Monts Luisants

(Situated to the west of Grand Cru "Clos de la Roche," this steep and stony parcel has very thin topsoil over the limestone, with vines from 15 to 75 years-old.)  Smoldering and smoky—Lauren Bacall in Key Largo? Violets, plum skin, freshly-turned soil lends plenty of gravitas on the nose. Perfumed; beyond floral—a hothouse full of orchids. Earthy and ripe and perfectly fruited. Loamy soil notes and perfect pitch. Motown and Farmer’s Almanac—a wine so pretty it begs for sentiment, yet so frankly earthy, it has you consult a geology textbook. This is beautiful Monts-Luisants and will make some old bones and offer charm and character for years. Lovely. John McIlwain

Magnien, Stephane 2016 Morey-Saint-Denis Vieilles Vignes

2016 is a superb vintage for Stéphane Magnien and in particular for this  first vintage of his new Morey-Saint-Denis "Vieilles Vignes," from  45 to 65 year-old vines in "Clos Slon" and "Cognes" on clay/limestone soils.  The wine shows deep, elegant blackberry and black cherry aromas, quite floral with mineral and meaty notes. The palate is ripe and dense with blackberry/cherry fruit with hints of earth, citrus and spice, pure, long and well-structured with firm tannins and chalky acidity. Excellent length of black fruits with stone and mineral flavors.  Decant to drink now with a nice steak, best to hold three to five years, drink till 2030+ as this will be a superb mature Burgundy.  David Lillie

Meo-Camuzet 2016 Vosne Romanée 1er cru Chaumes

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

Mortet, Denis 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin Mes Cinq Terroirs

Noellat, Georges 2015 Vosne Romanée 1er cru Les Beaux Monts

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

Tardy, Jean et Fils 2016 Vosne Romanée Vigneaux

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

Vasseur, Georges 2000 Romanee St Vivant Grand Cru

Champs de l'Abbaye 2016 Monthélie Les Sous Roches

From the biodynamically farmed high altitude Les Sous Roches lieu-dit on the northwest slope in Monthélie composed of thin stony clay soils over limestone. 2016 is a great vintage for the Monthélie "Les Sous Roches" from Alain and Isabelle Hasard showing the classic structure and density of this excellent vintage. The wine shows vibrant aromas of fraises des bois and cherry liqueur with earth, mint and citrus. The palate is dense and sapid with bright blackberry and black cherry fruit, spice, earth and firm acidity. Impressive length with sappy black fruits, mineral flavors and refreshing acidity. Delicious now if a bit intense?perhaps open the night before and re-cork?best to cellar 5 years and drink until 2030+. Serve with mushroom pappardelle, roast veal, grilled meats.  David Lillie

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

Champs de l'Abbaye 2017 Monthélie Les Sous Roches Blanc

Chateau de Beru 2015 Irancy Cherelle Athénaïs

Dangin, Bruno NV Crémant de Bourgogne Blanc de Noirs

Dauvissat, René & Vincent 2014 Irancy Pinot Noir

de Villaine, A et P 2016 Bourgogne La Digoine

From south-facing slopes in Bouzeron, a village more famous for its excellent Aligoté. The 2016 is luminously fruited with an array for red berry and hedge fruit aromas with notes of cool herbs and chalk following. The palate is similarly pure and fresh and lifted, with succulent, ripe red fruit flavors with a fine core of chalky minerality. This has plenty of energy and expressiveness to the finish. And while delicious now, this should evolve beautifully. John McIlwain

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

Guillot, Julien (Vignes du Maynes) 2016 Mâcon Rouge

Julien Guillot of the Clos des Vignes du Maynes has made a superb Macon Rouge in 2016, from organic grapes, and vinified without SO2. The wine shows a quite dense black/red color with aromas of ripe blackberry, candied cherry, violet, citrus and white pepper. The palate is dense but balanced and sapid with blackberry and cherry fruit lifted by firm acidity. The finish is very long with saline minerals and berry fruits and refreshing acidity. This is a somewhat intense but beautiful and complex Gamay that will be superb with grilled foods this summer and should develop nicely over the next few years.  David 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