Bachelet-Monnot 2019 Santenay Vieilles Vignes

Chantal Lescure 2018 Côte de Beaune Clos des Topes Bizot Rouge

"Le Clos des Topes Bizot" is a unique spot with vines planted in 1960,  high on the slope in Beaune just above the 1er Cru "L'Ecu," facing east, in a terroir of clay and pebbles over limestone. The grapes from this high elevation vineyard are harvested late and undergo a short pre-fermentation maceration, aging is in two and three year-old barrels. The 2018 shows high-toned aromas of ripe black cherry and red currant fruit with violet, brown spice, earth and citrus, quite elegant. The palate is dense and earthy with sappy black cherry and black raspberry - intensely mineral with firm acidity, earth and black fruits that linger in the long finish. This is a quite elegant, beautifully balanced and "mineral" Burgundy at a very reasonable price, that will benefit from a few hours open or three to five years of cellaring.  David Lillie

Chantal Lescure 2018 Bourgogne Rouge Les Verduns

The Chantal Lescure Bourgogne Rouge "Les Verduns" is from 45 year-old vines on a soil of "marnes blanches"  in this unusual west-facing parcel high on the slope adjacent to Pommard "Les Vignots." Vinification is 100% with whole-clusters giving a firm structure to this very classy Bourgogne Rouge. The wine shows elegant high-toned  quite floral aromas of earthy Morello cherry and strawberry with hints of spice, mint and rose petal. The palate is earthy and mineral with saline acidity underlying ripe wild strawberry and red currant fruit. This shows the ripeness of 2018 but with lovely bright fruit and freshness.The finish is long and sappy, dominated by mineral and red currant  flavors that linger on the palate. This is not a fruit bomb, but is a very satisfying red Burgundy that will benefit from many hours of aeration or cellaring for 5 to 8  years. David Lillie

Domaine Jessiaume 2019 Santenay 1er Cru Gravieres

Lafon, Dominique 2019 Beaune 1er Cru Les Epenottes

Lequin-Colin 2019 Bourgogne Rouge

Prunier-Bonheur 2018 Bourgogne Rouge

Rateau 2018 Beaune 1er Cru Les Bressandes

Jean-Claude Rateau has a large parcel in the 1er Cru Les Bressandes on a steep slope facing east with pebbly clay/limestone soils, conducted in biodynamic farming since 1979. The soil is warm and well-drained giving ripe, structured wines. There is a 21-day cuvaison with manual cap-punching followed by 18 months in old barrels.Even with the minimal extraction practiced at the estate, the 2018 Bressandes shows a dense red/black color and lush aromas of ripe black cherry and blackberry, quite deep with sous-bois, violet, graphite and citrus. The palate is dense, elegant and chalky with blackberry, earth, bitter chocolate and minerals with terrific length of black fruits, earth and juicy acidity. Hints of iron, blood and roast meat indicate a very interesting aging potential for this wine. Given the weight and ripeness of the vintage, the wine still seems balanced and frames the copious fruit in ample acidity and tannin. This is a beautiful wine that will give great pleasure in its youth and should be a superb mature wine as well, with a long life ahead of it...  David Lillie

Rateau 2018 Beaune 1er Cru Les Reversées

From vines grown in the calcareous clay soils of Les Reversées premier cru toward the bottom of the hill in the center of the slope by Les Teurons. This is a bit more delicate and lower in alcohol than Rateau's "Bressandes" but still quite deep and generous in 2018 showing ripe  black cherry, boysenberry, notes of cherry pit and earth on the nose. The palate is quite dense but still with nice brightness with ripe black fruits, hints of iodine and iron and  soil beneath supple structure. Succulent acidity and savory mineral notes offset the ripeness and lend energy and drive on a rich, palate-coating finish which is very long with elegant black raspberry and red currant fruit.  The purity of fruit and earth notes are finely balanced - this is an excellent Burgundy for the mid-term. A fine pairing with braised chicken thighs with mustard, tarragon, and shallots. A great value from the pioneer of biodynamic Burgundy!

Voillot, Joseph 2019 Volnay 1er Cru Les Champans

Arlaud 2019 Bourgogne Rouge Roncevie

Barthod, Ghislaine 2018 Bourgogne Rouge Bons Bâtons

When life gives you a few extra bottles of Barthod Les Bons Bâtons, maybe check in on one. 2018 is notable as a solar vintage and there are plenty of examples of blowsy, roasted, and firmly structured wines which can make for tough going, but in many cases there are wines that possess that extra degree of intensity and punch, but without any of the coarseness, weight, or excess of the year. And I am happy to report the Bourgogne at Chez Barthod is far more reflective of energy over mass. The robe has a dark ruby hue, limpid to the rim. The nose is a bit reserved on opening, more inscrutable than muted, but an hour open and things unfurl. This offers aromas of crushed strawberries, warm soft wild raspberry, florals that show a bit of tea rose with notes of wild violet and pastille, underlain by hints of loam, black tea, and spice. The palate is a touch more generous than is customary for the cuvée, but leans more to ripe red fruits than black, and displays a bit more juicy succulence than some years, but has a fine earthy core and sneaky tannins beneath the ripe fruit. The finish is persistent and detailed (oh, there’s that limestone!) and offers enough freshness to summon the next sip. This is a delight and if more exuberant than is typical at the Domaine, it is lovely to drink now and has a nice upside if you can put away a couple of bottles. John McIlwain

Chantal Lescure 2018 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Vallerots

 Apparently Les Vallerots 1er Cru is a near monopoly of Chantal Lescure on a steep slope in the combe above "Vaucrains" on very shallow stony soils over the limestone at 260m altitude. Aged in approx 30% new oak by Francis Miquel. The nose is initially closed and tight with deep red fruit aromas emerging with notes of black raspberry, plum, cherry pit and a hint of anise.The palate shows deep, dense red fruits with great elegance and energy, a superb combination of fruit and terroir. This will need a long decant if drinking now, best to hold 3 - 5 years then enjoy until 2035+ David Lillie

Chezeaux 2003 Griottes Chambertin Grand Cru 1.5 L

Confuron, JJ 2018 Bourgogne Rouge Cuvee Jeunesse

Confuron, JJ 2018 Chambolle-Musigny

Confuron, JJ 2018 Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Les Chaboeufs

Confuron, JJ 2018 Nuits St Georges Fleurieres

Domaine Trapet 2019 Bourgogne Rouge

Produced from young vines that don't quite make the cut for Gevrey-Chambertin, this is uncommonly good. The fruit here shows more raspberry alongside the classic strawberry of Gevrey and a touch of spice from the thirty percent of whole clusters included in the fermentation. The texture here is quite striking, slinky and full in the mid-palate but narrowing at the backend as the mineral component comes to the fore. This is excellent for the level. Sam Ehrlich

Domaine Trapet 2019 Cote de Nuits-Village Meix Fringuet

This comes from thirty-year old vines around Marsannay and is a relatively new cuvee at Trapet, produced only since 2016. A little quiet just at opening, this came to life magnificently over the course of 45 minutes. Brambly red fruit and spicy notes up front, with gentle suave tannins and plenty of lift and cut from the limestone. This is quite elegant and will age well for the next five to ten years. Sam Ehrlich

Esmonin, Sylvie 2017 Gevrey-Chambertin

Lignier, Hubert 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin Regnard

From vines between forty and seventy years old, this should be a fairly exuberant expression of Gevrey.

Lignier, Hubert 2018 Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Chaffots

This sits high on the hill in Morey, above Clos Saint Denis Grand Cru. The vines are just over 50 years old.

Lignier, Hubert 2018 Morey St. Denis Trilogie

From three outstanding parcels of village-level Morey Saint Denis, including Clos Solon and Chenevery, with vines between 50 and 85 years old. This wine is often easily the equal of many producers 1er Crus.

Remoissenet 1959 Richebourg Grand Cru

Remy 1962 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

Trapet 2019 Bourgogne Passetoutgrains A Minima

A classic Passetoutgrains, split equally between Gamay and Pinot, from three parcels on the outskirts of Gevrey. The nose here is beautifully expressive from opening, with red fruit vying with damp earth and wood and a nori-like note. On the palate the fruit comes into focus, bright strawberry and cherry around a distinctly chalky spine. I love Passetoutgrains and this is a delight.  Sam Ehrlich

Trapet 2019 Marsannay Rouge

From the Grasses Têtes and Grand Poirier lieux-dits. 10-20% whole cluster fermentation.

Champs de l'Abbaye 2019 Bourgogne Pinot Noir

 From 10 to 50 year-old vines grown on limestone soils (Middle Jurassic!) in the commune of Aluze, Cotes Chalonnaise, certified organic since 1999. This is a lovely Bourgogne Rouge, showing the ripeness of the 2019 vintage, but in a medium-bodied, balanced and bright style that is quite delicious!  Vivid aromas of black cherry, raspberry, violet and pepper, with a bright palate of blackberry and spicy red-currant/cherry fruit framed in mineral flavors and firm acidity. Delicious now served cool, it will benefit from decanting or a few years in the cellar as well. DL

Champs de l'Abbaye 2019 Cote Chalonnaise Clos des Roches

Organic since 1997, Alain and Isabelle Hasard produce, pure, vibrant Burgundies at their small estate near Mercurey. The 2019 Clos des Roches is a true Clos of about one-half hectare, known for hundreds of years for the quality of its limestone terroir, facing due south. This is a beautiful Pinot Noir, showing vibrant, deep black cherry aromas with hints of citrus peel and violets with earth and mineral notes. The palate shows lush black cherry and blackberry fruit, quite earthy and dark balanced by bright acidity and with very pronounced saline minerals and heerbal notes. The finish is sappy and long.  This is a unique and delicious Burgundy, perfect with pork and chicken dishes, charcuterie and full-flavored cow cheeses. Only five cases for the US.  David Lillie

Guillot, Julien (Vignes du Maynes) 2018 Bourgogne Les Crays

Julien Guillot made beautiful wines in 2018 and this Pinot Noir is no exception, from 3 parces of very chalky soils in the Macon - showing lovey texture, complexity, finesse and freshness. The lovely aromas are of raspberry, blood orange, tart plum, brown spice, earth and tea, for starters. The palate is soft, silky and refreshing with black fruits mingled with earth, citrus, stone and tea with  plum and raspberry emerging in the finish. Any lover of natural wine should try this!  No added SO2, 100% delicious.

Guillot, Julien (Vignes du Maynes) 2018 Mâcon Rouge Selection Massale

Julien Guillot at the Clos des Vignes du Maynes makes this Mâcon Rouge from many different old varieties of Gamay, including Gamay "teinturiers" with thick skins and dark juice, with no added SO2. The 2018 shows a deep red color with aromas of blackberry, tart cherry, srawberry, black pepper, roast meat, fennel, citrus peel, violet... The palate is ripe and elegant with citrusy black fruits, earth and mineral flavors, chalky and long. "This wine is indestructible" says Julien, and it's obviously built to last. Serve with a farm chicken in sauce, and decant or open in advance, but best to cellar for five or ten years.  David Lillie

Vignes du Maynes 2019 Bourgogne Cuvée Auguste

The Vignes du Maynes "Cuvée Auguste" is a superb Burgundy made from massale selection Pinot Fin planted in 1964. The parcel, high on the slope in Cruzille, is on Bathonian limestone with a great deal of calcium carbonate crystal (aragonite) with thin topsoils of clay and silica. Yields of 20 hl/ha, semi-carbonic fermentation, with zero additives, bottled under nitrogen. 2019 is a superb vintage for the Cuvée Auguste with a bit of extra density due to the warm, dry conditions of the vintage. The wine shows elegant aromas of black raspberry and wild strawberry with hints of blood orange, violet and brown spice - really lovely. The palate shows a beautiful melange of blackberry, strawberry and tart cherry with citrus, earth and minerals, very sappy and dense. Elegant finish of earth, stone and red fruits. This is a gorgeous wine, and quite delicious now, but cellaring of ten years or more should be possible. Congratulations to Julien Guillot for this beautiful Pinot!

Vignes du Maynes 2019 Mâcon-Cruzille Manganite

Made from Gamay Petit Grains planted in 1953, grown on a limestone 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 2019s here are extraordinary, showing the elegance, purity and balance typical of the estate with the wonderful density and ripeness of the vintage. The wine shows gorgeous red and black fruit aromas with cranberry, earth, stone and musk and hints of mint, chocolate and spice. The palate is bright and intense with blackberry, citrus, stone and earthy flavors, that continue on the very long mineral finish. Always one of the greatest Gamays produced anywhere, the 2019 Manganite is a young wine that will benefit from decanting or five to fifteen years in the cellar. Highly recommended!