Bize 2015 Savigny les Beaune 1er Cru Les Talmettes

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 2016 Bourgogne Gelée Royale

From declassified fruit from Savigny-Les-Beaune and Pernand-Vergelesses. Destemmed. Though 2016 produced some excellent wines, it was a trying vintage, not least because of the devastating frost of April 26-27. Gelée Royale (Royal Frost) is an assemblage of the hard hit crus in Savigny and Pernand-Vergelesses, which though classified as a Bourgogne, contains some brilliant fruit from Chandon de Briailles' impeccably farmed village and premier cru vines.

Chandon de Briailles 2016 Corton Clos du Roi

Chandon de Briailles 2017 Corton Clos du Roi

From .38 hectares of biodynamically farmed vines averaging over 40 years old, high on the hillside of Corton. Traditionally the most powerful and long-lasting of the stable of red Corton lieux-dits at Chandon de Briailles. Plummy black fruit, animale funk, wood smoke, and fresh-turned earth. In the mouth ripe red/black fruit flavors mingle with pungent minerality on the vibrant mid-weight palate. There is good sap and firm, but ripe tannins supporting the racy fruit on the long, substantial finish. This has real class and should be sensational after 10-15 years in the cellar. John McIlwain

Chandon de Briailles 2017 Corton Grand Cru Les Maréchaudes

From a .4 hectare plot, located beneath Corton Bressandes. Ferruginous clay over limestone. Les Maréchaudes was planted between 1974 and 1979 and plowed by horse. Typically the most precocious of the red Corton grand crus at Chandon de Brialles, Les Maréchaudes can be enjoyed after just a few years in bottle, though it will improve over 12-15 years and beyond. The 2017 has a lovely nose offering aromas of crushed strawberry, red plum, black currant, and game. The palate shows a sweet ripeness and expressiveness with pretty flavors of stone fruit, wild raspberry, mustard seed, underlain with a tactile sense of earthiness and Corton spice. The supple fine-grained tannins lend a sense of gravitas and well-integrated acidity offers lift and brightness to the long, lingering finish. A buoyant and vibrant Maréchaudes! John McIlwain *Pre-arrival, wines arrive 5/28*

Chandon de Briailles 2017 Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Île des Vergelesses

3.13 hectares of vines dating from 1938, with an average age of 40 years, in limestone clay soils, well exposed to the east. Île des Vergelesses is considered the finest climat in Pernand-Vergelesses, producing elegant wines that age effortlessly for 20+ years, as a recent tasting of the 1990, 1999, and 2002 vintages showed. The 2017 has a dark ruby robe with an exuberant nose offering bright floral and red and black fruit aromas. The deep-pitched palate offers a fine array of juicy red berry and black cherry flavors with notes of crushed herbs and soil notes framed by ripe, fine-grained tannins and brisk acidity, and a bit of the peacock's tail on the vibrant, layered, expansive finish. Decant now or cellar for 7-10 years and beyond to allow the fruit and structural elements to integrate.  John McIlwain

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

From 50-year-old vines located mid-slope. 50% whole cluster. The shallow soils overlay flat limestone rocks, giving way to clay subsoils.  The 2017 has a deep ruby robe. The nose is redolent of violets, hedge fruits and spice. The mid-weight palate shows good ripeness and punch with juicy blackberry and cassis flavors and sauvage notes with a pungently mineral—verging on salty—core, finishing with a burst of spice on the long, detailed, lip-smacking finish. This is earthy, though by no means rustic and shows great flair. There is sneaky structure and while this is delicious now, this will benefit from 5-8 years in the cellar. John McIlwain

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

Organically farmed, from 50+ year-old vines on silty clays over limestone on the Maranges end of the village. A lovely and floral expression of Santenay, Chevrot's 2016 Clos Rousseau is beautifully expressive with notes of red fruits, earth, and dried rose petals. Less of the mineral funk than one typically associates with Santenay. The palate is supple and harmonious. There is enough structure to reward midterm aging, if you can resist drinking it now on the very pretty fruit. -John McIlwain

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

d'Angerville 2016 Bourgogne Passetoutgrains

D'Angerville 2016 Volnay 1er Cru Champans

D'Angerville 2016 Volnay 1er Cru Fremiets

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 reds 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

De Montille 2016 Bourgogne

From the Les Longbois lieu-dit in Volnay as well as a number of parcels in Puligny-Montrachet with the addition of fruit from frosted parcels in Volnay and Pommard. The 2016 de Montille Bourgogne Rouge has a medium dark ruby robe and an expressive nose alive with hedge fruit and redolent of forest floor with aromas of sweet, ripe wild strawberry. The palate is initially taut with a distinctive mineral cast giving way to pure red fruit flavors of red currant, pomegranate, and wild strawberry with a pleasing hint of sauvage lending an earthy foundation to support all the wild berry character. This has punchy acidity and a cool-toned herbaceousness adding lift and brightness. Delicious with air, but better still with a year or two in the cellar for a more integrated drinking experience. I find myself impressed with Domaine De Montille at all levels in 2015 and 2016 where everything seems to have come together. John McIlwain

De Montille 2016 Pommard 1er Cru Pèzerolles

From 1.35 hectares of organically-farmed vines. The 2016 vintage is 33% whole cluster fermentation aged in 30% new barrels. Pèzerolles is always one of the silkier and suppler expressions of Pommard (due to the limestone soils) with a fine core of stoniness within. In 2016 de Montille has released a beautiful example with a bright, high-toned nose with pretty aromas of wild strawberries, cherry, wet stone, and brown spice. The palate is lithe, racy, and mineral with pure red fruit and stone fruit flavors underlain by a savory, stony core and zesty acidity on a long, expressive, mouthwatering finish. This will benefit from a few years in the cellar and drink beautifully for a decade beyond. John McIlwain

De Montille 2016 Pommard 1er Cru Rugiens-Bas 1.5L

If ever there was an argument for the elevation of Pommard 1er cru Rugiens to grand cru status, de Montille's Rugiens-Bas certainly makes a convincing case. The 2016 is 40% whole cluster with aging in 1/3 new oak. The robe is a dark ruby, nearing purple. Aromatically, this offers a kaleidoscopic array of dark flowers, black fruits, and deeply earthy scents with more seemingly in reserve. The palate is intensely flavored with plummy fruit, good mid-palate density, firm tannins and a firm core on ferrous minerality on a concentrated, long finish. This is offering good nascent complexity, though the impression is of a Rugiens that is coiled and will need time to reveal its potential. Given the better part of a decade in the cellar, this should be sensational as the magnificent fruit integrates with the significant structure and drink beautifully for another 10-15 years and beyond. 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

Fery, Jean 2017 Savigny-les-Beaunes Ez Connardises Vieilles Vignes

Germain, Henri 20176 Bourgogne Rouge

Lafon 2017 Monthélie 1er Cru Rouge Les Duresses

Lafouge 2016 Pommard 1er Cru Les Chanlins

Lignier, Hubert 2016 Pommard En Brescul

Maison en Belles Lies 2017 L'Etrange Rouge

Pierre Fenals has slowly patched together a collection of vineyards in Burgundy, with some tiny plots he owns and others he manages and farms. L'Etrange is Pinot Noir, with a touch of Aligoté and Gamay, fermented with native yeasts and vinified and bottled without the addition of sulfur. Opened recently with friends, this was ready to go, with bright red fruit, and perfect acidity. I sophisticated and classy Burgundy, clean and direct, and most likely best for short term consumption (1-5 years), while waiting for the Maranges to age!   Eben

Maison en Belles Lies 2017 Maranges Rouge

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 Pommard 1er Cru Les Grands Epenots

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

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 (June 4, 2019) - What a difference a few months make. This Bressandes has uncoiled to reveal pure wild raspberry and red currant flavors, the nose has become more expressive, exhibiting more floral plum and spice notes. There's a quite a bit more charm here while the underlying balance remains impeccable. Tasted recently alongside another dozen Beaune 1ers, this showed exceptionally well. John McIlwain

Rollin 2016 Pernand-Vergelesses Rouge

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 mélange 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 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 Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru

50+ year-old vines from the top of the Mazoyères section of Charmes-Chambertin, beneath Latricières, adjacent to Domaine Leroy's vines. 20% new oak. This is also a step-up from the already excellent 1ers. Effusively aromatic, with scents of perfectly ripe orchard fruit. Pure cherry, red and black plums, spice box, and game notes. The nose is kaleidoscopic, layered, and dazzling for Charmes. The palate is equally impressive, with layer after layer of perfectly ripe Pinot fruit, vying with a profound stoniness for attention. This has a deeply mineral core and has the lift to carry all the stoniness. Finely-grained tannins and succulent acidity run through the finish. This is great Charmes! Needs 10-15+ years, but just electric. Wow! John McIlwain

Arnoux Lachaux 2016 Vosne-Romanée

Arnoux-Lachaux 2016 Bourgogne Pinot Fin

Tasted on a raw rainy night, perhaps better suited to Barolo or St. Joseph, but curiosity get the best of me. The nose is initially reticent (dampened?), but given a hour open begins to reveal a small forest’s worth of wild berries and hedge fruit—fraises de bois, red currant, wild raspberry and the like with a floral component to boot. Very pretty, the mid-weight, lithe palate is replete with pure crunchy red fruit flavors, sousbois, and pretty spice character underlain with chalky minerality and mouthwatering acidity. There are ripe, but sneaky tannins within lending a bit of earnestness, lest you think this nothing but bright fruit and flowers. This is a lovely Bourgogne Rouge and is a good indication of the change of style at Chez Arnoux-Lachaux, emphasizing purity and energy, rather than extraction and emphasis. Cracking with a pan-roasted veal chop and morels, better still with the cheese course on this sodden spring night. Charles Lachaux is a young grower to watch with well-situated old vines, diligent farming and a deft hand in the cellar! John McIlwain

Audoin, Charles 2018 Marsannay Rosé

Bachelet 2016 Côtes de Nuits Villages

Bachelet, Denis 2016 Bourgogne Rouge

From two plots planted in 1977 and 1986 in limestone clay soils.  100% destemmed and aged in used barrels. Domaine Bachelet is one of the greatest growers in Burgundy and this Bourgogne  shows all the breed and class of a Gevrey villages. Highly recommended.

Bachelet, Denis 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes

From 60-70-year-old vines spread across multiple lieux-dits. 100% destemmed, fermented with indigenous yeasts, 20% new oak. Perhaps the most elegant and knit of the Gevrey-Villages. This is at least premier cru quality every vintage and ages effortlessly into deeply satisfying wine. Truly benchmark for the village and a smart choice for cellaring every year. John Mcilwain

Berthaut-Gerbet 2016 Bourgogne Rouge Les Prielles

From vines planted in 1980 in Fixin. Pale ruby robe. A bit of spritz on opening. This blows off in short order to reveal pretty aromas of wild strawberry, black tea and brambly fruit. A bit of air and there’s a bit of sousbois and crushed herb that develop on the nose. Bright toned and lively on the palate. Vibrant red fruits, pomegranate and wild cherry dominate; fresh acidity and crushed herbs lend a forest floor character that gives way to wet stone. This needs a bit of time to knit, but what potential! Amelie Berthaut is making soulful, satisfying wines at every level and if the secret isn’t out yet, it will be soon. John McIlwain

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

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

From 32-year-old vines on shallow stony soils. Champeaux is one of the brightest and most vibrant of the Gervrey 1ers. Burguet's is easily one of my favorites. Bright red fruits and violets dominate the nose, the palate is cool, refined, and has great concentration, exhibiting a finely mineral finish. (Verging on cerebral were it not for the prettiness of the fruit.) 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 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.

De Montille 2016 Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

From a .29 hectare plot in the upper third of the Clos. One third whole cluster.

De Montille 2016 Vosne Romanée 1er Cru Malconsorts

From the top of the slope planted in shallow limestone soils. 66% whole cluster. 60% new oak. The 2016 Malconsorts has a deeply-pitched nose with extravagant red and dark berry fruit, spice, game, and sousbois. The tightly coiled palate offers pure wild fruit, sapid earth notes, and layers of spice, black tea, and dense plummy stone fruit flavors overlaying a firm ripe structure, leading to a long explosive finish. This is tightly wound today, but should sing with 10-12 years in the cellar. This is truly impressive and has a long life ahead. John McIlwain

Drouhin, Joseph 1985 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers

After years of 1985s being fairly shut down, this has opened beautifully. Lovely mature Cazetiers: a fine blend of mature aromas and resolved structure make this an absolute pleasure to drink. 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

Fery, Jean 2017 Cotes de Nuits-Villages Clos de Magny

Fourrier 2015 Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Goulots

From vines planted in 1966 by Champeaux and Combe Aux Moines. Fourrier made some truly beautiful wines in 2015 handling the ripeness and power deftly. This should age effortlessly.

Fourrier 2013 Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Combes aux Moines

.87 hectares dating from 1928. Located north of Champeaux and Les St. Jacques. A warm climat that ripens consistently; a touch backwards in its youth, with time in the cellar gains depth and sophistication.

Grivot 2016 Vosne-Romanée 1er cru Les Beaux Monts

Etienne Grivot seems to have hit new levels in winemaking since 2007. The wines have great class and exceptional energy even in 'difficult' vitages. Beaux Monts is always my favorite of his 1er crus, and 2016 positively shimmers in place. Gorgeous. Highly recommended. John McIlwain

Grivot, Jean 2016 Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

50+-year-old vines. Grivot's Clos Vougeot is backwards at this time, but has the fruit and the structure to make for old bones. Great energy is implied within structural elements, give it 7-10 years and drink for another 15.John McIlwain

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 2016 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 2016 Jane et Sylvain Côte de Nuits-Villages is a bit denser than the previous vintages from this site -  it's 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 scents 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 firm tannins. Decant 4 to 6 hours in advance if drinking now, or cellar for 3 to 5 years and drink till 2030. Highly recommended for those who enjoy some minerals in their Burgundy!

Jane et Sylvain 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin

From 45 to 60 year-old vines, certified organic, mostly in En Pallud (below 1er Cru les Corbeaux). The low yields and small berries of 2016 really show in this dense and well-structured Gevrey. The aromas are elegant and deep with chalky black raspberry and black cherry, the palate is dense and concentatrated with fabulous length of black fruits and minerals, Carafe many hours in advance if drinking now, best to cellar five years and drink until 2035+. This will be a superb mature Gevrey and is highly recommended.

Jane et Sylvain 2016 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. We have 36 btls of Fonteny for the vintage - given the structure of the "regular" Gevrey from Jane et Sylvain, the Fonteny will benefit from ten years in the cellar and should become a profound wine when mature.  In January of 2014, I tasted the 2002 Fonteny in the cellar with Jane and Sylvain.Their eldest son was born in 2002, so they saved a bunch for him, but were generous enough to share one with my father and me. It was transcendental - what I refer to as my "religious experience" with red Burgundy, and possibly one of the most memorable wines I've ever tasted. Flowers, stones, dried fruit, the subtle touch of tannin...truly a blissful experience. Jane says the wine has "la finesse du Ruchottes," referring to the Grand Cru vineyard that is literally feet away from the edge of their vines.  Eben Lillie

Jane et Sylvain 2017 Bourgogne Passetoutgrain

Jane and Sylvain have done it again! Another beautiful Passetoutgrain, in 2017 from 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Gamay, grown in and around Gevrey-Chambertin, organically farmed and quite delicious! The 2017 shows a deep black/red color and very perfumed aromas of black raspberry and  strawberry liqueur with earth and violets. The palate is ripe and bright with deep morello cherry and blackberry, quite sapid and round. Really a refreshing and delicious wine, perfect for picnics and barbecues, served quite cool. This is a fantastic value and highly recommended.

Jane et Sylvain 2017 Bourgogne Rouge

Jane et Sylvain: A refreshingly unpretentious name for a small organic estate in Gevrey-Chambertin. Their Bourgogne Rouge is from 20 to 30 year-old vines in a parcel that has never been chemically treated and always tended organically. The 2017 Bourgogne Rouge shows a brilliant red/black color with elegant, floral, tart cherry, raspberry, citrus and violet aromas. The palate shows the ripeness of 2017 with chalky strawberry and cherry fruit, earthy and very long, finishing with refreshing citrus, mineral flavors and red fruits. Serve this lovely Pinot Noir quite cool over the next five years - it's a delicious wine and a great value!

Lignier, Hubert 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin

From vines in the Epointures and Reniard lieux-dits. Classically Gevrey--gamy, earthy, with black fruits and a firm mineral core.

Lignier, Hubert 2016 Nuits St Georges Les Poisets

62-year-old vines located beneath 1er cru les Cailles. Dark-fruited, mineral, with a sappy core of plum black fruits and a hint of iron.

Lignier-Michelot 2016 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

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

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

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

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

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

Taupenot-Merme 2014 Chambolle-Musigny

Trapet 2016 Chambertin Grand Cru

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

Champs de l'Abbaye 2017 Mercurey Les Marcoeurs

Champs de l'Abbaye 2017 Monthélie Les Sous Roches

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

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