Prices have mostly risen, but this has been cushioned by the favourable exchange rate.

Transcription

1 2014 Burgundy Offer 2014 was a mostly even vintage and has produced a set of charming, accessible wines. There were some challenges though: hail once again caused extensive damage in Pommard, Volnay and Meursault, and a cold rainy summer slowed ripening and saw many an anxious moment for growers. Overall the vintage saw no extremes: the wines are ripe, forward and possess great energy. It is a great vintage for white wines, and a very good one for reds. The growing season began auspiciously with a mild winter and a warm spring. Flowering happened quickly and in perfect conditions, so by the end of June growers were optimistic about quantity and quality. Hail struck on 28th June, greatly reducing yields in affected areas, but those grapes that survived reacted by growing thicker skins: the resulting wines are very dense. A cold, rainy August arrested ripening, and it was only at the end of the month that a warm north wind dried out the grapes and concentrated the juice. The last two weeks or so before harvest saw beautiful weather, and picking took place in the sunshine. The cool period was essential for preserving the freshness in the wines: too much sun and they lose balance and precision, too little and they remain tart has a perfect mixture of both ripeness and freshness. Many growers saw it as a combination of 2009 lush and ripe, and 2010 defined and vibrant. Jean-Marie Fourrier even compared it to the great 1999 vintage. There is bright fresh fruit, ripeness, and a vibrant, saline minerality. There is depth and concentration too, but the wines never lose their accessible charm. Growers skill and technology are making Burgundies progressively finer. This is particularly easy to appreciate with the forward 2014s. The whites can be drunk young but promise a long life (oxidation problems notwithstanding), most reds are for the short and medium term, although as ever there are some wines that will age magnificently. Prices have mostly risen, but this has been cushioned by the favourable exchange rate. The prices in our offer are valid until 28 th February. As usual, we give priority to customers who support us every year and across the board. We will begin to allocate on 22 nd January. Please let us know your requests by then. Prices are in bond London. Unless otherwise marked, wines are packed in: 6-BOTTLE CASES (750ml) 12-BOTTLE CASES (375ml) 3-BOTTLE CASES (1500ml) Wines may be ordered by the case only. If your shipping address differs from your invoicing address, please let us know when placing your order.

2 Contents Commune Page CHABLIS William Fèvre 5 MACONNAIS Daniel, Julien et Martine Barraud Vergisson 6-7 COTE CHALONNAISE Des Moirots Bissey-Sous-Cruchaud 8 COTE DE BEAUNE Chassagne-Montrachet Fontaine-Gagnard 9-10 COTE DE BEAUNE Puligny-Montrachet Alain Chavy Leflaive 12 Paul Pernot 13 COTE DE BEAUNE Meursault Didier Darviot-Perrin Monthélie Guy Roulot 15 COTE DE BEAUNE Volnay Jean-Marc et Thomas Bouley Michel Lafarge Domaine Lafarge-Vial 19 COTE DE BEAUNE Pommard Comte Armand 20 de Courcel 21 COTE DE BEAUNE Beaune Maison Camille-Giroud Dublère 25 Jean Guiton Bligny-Lès-Beaune 26 Benjamin Leroux 27-28

3 COTE DE BEAUNE Pernand-Vergelesses Bonneau du Martray 28 COTE DE NUITS Nuits-Saint-Georges de l Arlot Prémeaux Faiveley Didier Fornerol Corgoloin 33 Henri Gouges 34 Frédéric Mugnier Chambolle-Musigny 35 COTE DE NUITS Vosne-Romanée Robert Arnoux-Lachaux Bruno Clavelier Jean Grivot Mugneret-Gibourg 41 Alain Hudelot-Noëllat Vougeot COTE DE NUITS Chambolle-Musigny Ghislaine Barthod 43 Hudelot-Baillet COTE DE NUITS Morey-Saint-Denis Dujac Fils et Père 45 Castagnier 46 Robert Groffier des Lambrays 48 COTE DE NUITS Gevrey-Chambertin Denis Bachelet 49 René Bouvier 50 Frédéric Esmonin Fourrier Geantet-Pansiot Terms of Business 56

4 Chablis CHABLIS William Fèvre Sadly we were not able to taste here this year our fault, not theirs but all reports indicate that the wines are cracking. Chablis 1er cru, Vaillons 114 Chablis 1er cru, Vaulorent Chablis grand cru, Vaudésir Chablis grand cru, Les Clos

5 Mâconnais MACONNAIS Daniel et Julien Barraud Vergisson Julien, Martine & Daniel Barraud A mixed growing season, with good weather early on and a rainy summer, culminated in a glorious autumn. Harvest began on 10 September, yielding a healthy crop that gave powerful, concentrated wines with bright acidity. I have said this before but I will say it again: no one makes better wine in the Mâconnais than Barraud. There are a few domaines that produce wines that are sometimes just as good but none of them surpasses the quality he consistently produces. Allen Meadows, Burghound, Issue 60, October 2015 Mâcon-Chaintré Pierres Polies Broad floral flavours with a dense, powerful middle and a gentle mineral kick on the finish. Drink Pouilly-Fuissé Alliance Vieilles Vignes A sweet floral nose leads to a zesty, vibrant palate with sweet apple fruit. This is easy, smooth and fine, and finishes on a well defined mineral note. Drink Pouilly-Fuissé En France Showing a beautifully fine floral character, this has considerable depth. The vibrant acidity gives clear definition to the zesty fruit, salty mineral flavours and long, juicy finish. Drink Pouilly-Fuissé La Verchère Vieilles Vignes Made from 70-year-old vines grown on a warmer site behind the cuverie. There is broad, ripe rich fruit with a hint of the tropical, great depth and intensity and a lovely pronounced but fine minerality on the finish. Drink Pouilly-Fuissé Sur La Roche Very rich, deep and ripe, this shows scented peach fruit and a touch of the floral, giving way to a juicy citrus and salty mineral finish. Very lovely. Drink Magnums Magnums 96 6

6 Mâconnais Pouilly-Fuissé En Buland Vieilles Vignes Always the richest and most complex in the line-up, not surprising given the old vines almost eighty and the superb soil and aspect of the vineyard. It is ripe, dense and fresh, with a fine delicate minerality on the very long finish. Drink Magnums 108 7

7 Côte Chalonnaise COTE CHALONNAISE Des Moirots Bissey-Sous-Cruchaud Christophe Denizot A great beginning to the growing season perfect flowering conditions and fine weather promised much, but a rainy summer slowed ripening down to the extent that the Denizots expected lean, acidic wines. A warm autumn and dry northern wind gave a big ripeness push, and have yielded a generous, round crop that can be approached early or cellared. White Montagny 1er cru, Le Vieux Château Forward ripe citrus and floral aromas lead to rich, broad, almost creamy apple fruit flavours, enlivened by vibrant acidity. There is considerable structure too, that will emerge as the fruit settles down. Drink Red Givry Rich, clay-heavy soils give a dark wine with ripe black-cherry and blackberry fruit, melting but quite present tannins, and a long fresh, juicy finish. Drink Givry 1er cru, A Vigne Rouge A greater proportion of limestone in the clay soils makes this lighter and finer than the villages. The fruit is sweet and ripe, and more in the red spectrum, the tannins silky, and the whole has an appealing bright freshness that drives through to a long, fine finish. A big bang for your buck, as they say in Beaune. Drink

8 Côte de Beaune Chassagne-Montrachet COTE DE BEAUNE Chassagne-Montrachet Fontaine-Gagnard Céline Fontaine The powerful north wind and warmth at the end of the growing season concentrated the juice in the grapes, so yields are considerably down on last year. The quality is homogenous across the board, and the wines quite delicious. Once again the unsung reds provide excellent value. White Chassagne-Montrachet Pure and bright, this has perfect balance, elegance and some pithy mineral to back the rich fruit flavours. A brilliant specimen of village. Drink Chassagne-Montrachet 1er cru, Les Vergers From vines planted in 1972, which always ripen well, and are usually the first to be harvested. Very accessible, showing lovely bright citrus fruit, a fine effortless ease across the palate, and a long fresh finish. Drink Chassagne-Montrachet 1er cru, Les Caillerets From 50-year-old vines in two parcels. The higher of the two, with chalky soils, lends a mineral tension, while the lower, with a higher clay content, gives richness and a spice note. Broad mineral flavours dominate this year, with powerful sweet fruit that drives to a concentrated salty finish. Drink

9 Côte de Beaune Chassagne-Montrachet Chassagne-Montrachet 1er cru, La Romanée A vineyard that does not get much sun, and is always the last to ripen: this makes the wine fine, lean and powerful, with a much more angular structure than its brothers. The fruit tends more to the floral, but this year it has an added layer of richness that makes it special. Drink Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet Floral and exotic, this is ripe, rich and round, with great depth and power, and a beautifully textured mineral finish. Drink Bâtard-Montrachet Always richer than the Criots, but as usual there is enough acidity to keep it bright and pure. A powerful, deep and fresh wine, one of the best we have tasted here. Drink Red Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge Delicate red fruit of good density in the mid-palate and an elegant finish with a hint of mineral. Drink Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge 1er cru, Clos St. Jean Gorgeously seductive red fruit, very sweet and ripe, with fine supple tannins and bright acidity. Drink Volnay 1er cru, Clos-des-Chênes Concentrated and dense but never aggressive, this has a more serious tannic structure that will reward ageing. The fruit is bright, red and clearly-defined, and there is a delicate mineral flourish on the long finish. Drink

10 Côte de Beaune Puligny-Montrachet COTE DE BEAUNE Puligny-Montrachet Alain Chavy Alain Chavy Alain Chavy was excited to add three more hectares to his domaine this year, and now boasts ten hectares under vine. Yields were normal at village level, but more modest for the 1er crus. His fruit was perfectly ripe this year, with no need for chaptalisation, and while the wines do not have the intense minerality of 2013, they have depth and ripeness and will be approachable young as well as rewarding time in the cellar. Puligny-Montrachet, Les Charmes A new, stony parcel of vines close to the Meursault has meant a big leap in quality this year. There is harmony, intensity and balance, and a very long mineral finish. A very seductive wine indeed. Drink Halves Magnums 126 Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru, Les Clavoillons Broad and generous as ever, with soft ripe citrus fruit and a pleasing dash of mineral to give structure. Drink Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru, Les Folatières A fine, elegant wine, showing broad ripe flavours, with flinty, smoky notes and a juicy, very long, slightly salty finish. Drink Halves Magnums

11 Côte de Beaune Puligny-Montrachet Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru, Les Pucelles The vines are now twenty-two years old, and beginning to give of their best. Intense, bright and pure, with a pleasing linearity and a juicy mineral finish. Quite simply lovely. Drink Chevalier-Montrachet Effortless and ethereal as ever, this shows bright citrus fruit, an intense, very fine minerality and a persistent, gentle finish. Drink Leflaive After her death in early 2015, Ann-Claude Leflaive s passionate espousal of biodynamic principles is being carried forward by her nephew, Brice de la Morandière. Her swansong vintage is elegant and full of energy. Recommended drink dates are courtesy of the UK agent. Bourgogne Blanc Ripe floral fruit with a hint of pith on the nose, very citrusy and elegant in the mouth. Delicious! Drink Puligny-Montrachet Finely woven citrus fruit, precise mineral flavours and vibrant acidity build to a dense, long finish. Drink Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru, Le Clavoillon Broad rich fruit tautened by juicy citrus-tinged acidity and salty mineral flavours on the finish. Drink Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru, Les Folatières An angular, concentrated wine of great depth. There is lots of fruit and an abundance of lean, elegant mineral flavours that dominate on the long finish. Drink Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru, Les Pucelles Taut, bright, and fine, showing plenty of dense fruit and a vibrant mineral streak. Drink Bâtard-Montrachet Broad, rich fruit with tremendous energy and length. Drink bottles bottles 775 Chevalier-Montrachet Powerful, elegant, complex and bright. Drink bottles

12 Côte de Beaune Puligny-Montrachet Paul Pernot Paul & Michel Pernot The Paul Pernot et fils style is usually powerful and rich. They like to include up to 15% of botrytised grapes to their fermentation vats for added density, but in 2014 there was little noble rot, and as a result the wines are a little leaner and show much more terroir definition. There is no shortage of alcohol however: no chaptalisation was necessary, and even then these weigh in at close to 14%. The hailstorm on 28 th June hit them hard, with a loss of 30% of their crop. White Puligny-Montrachet Rich and ripe, with good intensity and a very long, powerful finish. Drink Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru, Les Folatières Dense, fat fruit is balanced by chalky minerals and juicy citrus acidity. It is harmonious and long. Drink Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru, Les Pucelles A lovely, pure, vibrant Pucelles that delivers ripe rich floral and citrus fruit and taut, densely woven mineral flavours. Drink Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Powerful, rich and long, with bags of vibrant mineral flavours and dense ripe floral fruit. Drink Bâtard-Montrachet Very powerful as usual: fat ripe fruit is held in check by vibrant acidity and dense mineral flavours. Will reward time in the cellar. Drink

13 Côte de Beaune Meursault COTE DE BEAUNE Meursault Didier Darviot-Perrin Monthélie Alix-Anne Darviot Didier Darviot was on the point of retiring when his daughter Alix-Anne, who had until then not shown interest in the domaine, joined him in New life has been injected: the 2014s are particularly lustrous, with the trademark density, precision and elegance. White Bourgogne Blanc Les Magny A superb Bourgogne: ripe and precise, this has considerable elegance, density and length. Drink Meursault, Clos de la Velle Dense, creamy fruit, with typical toasted, nutty aromas and a rich long finish. Drink Meursault 1er cru, Les Charmes Beautifully elegant ripe fruit, broad, relaxed flavours and a generous mineral flourish on the finish hold out the promise of early drinking. Drink Meursault 1er cru, Les Genevrières Nervy, taut and lean, with pronounced juicy acidity, excellent definition and a structured mineral finish. A wonderful exercise in purity. Drink Meursault 1er cru, Les Perrières Dense and fine, showing powerful smoky and flinty mineral flavours and well integrated vibrant acidity. The finish is beautifully long and very elegant. Really spectacular. Drink

14 Côte de Beaune Meursault Chassagne-Montrachet 1er cru, Blanchot-Dessus Very intense indeed, showing its proximity to its famous neighbour, Le Montrachet. With rich, broad, densely-woven fruit, this has an extraordinary length and finesse. Absolutely superb. Drink Red Bourgogne Rouge Delicious ripe dark fruit, rounded and easy, with gentle tannins to add structure. Drink Guy Roulot Bourgogne Blanc One of the great Bourgognes Blancs. Delicious, ripe and fresh. Drink

15 Côte de Beaune Volnay COTE DE BEAUNE Volnay Jean-Marc et Thomas Bouley Thomas Bouley Thomas Bouley is one of the most gifted winemakers in Burgundy. He has turned the family domaine into one of the top destinations in the Côte de Beaune, and is on the way to superstar status. But the last years have been very tough. Yields since 2010 have been reduced, dramatically so in 2012, 2013 and yet again in 2014, due mainly to hail and poor flowering. The quality, however, remains astonishing: the purity and energy of these wines puts them among the most exciting we tasted. Volnay Floral pretty red fruit, warm and ripe, mingles with delicate mineral flavours. A very pure, charming wine. Drink Volnay Vieilles Vignes Generous ripe black-cherry fruit with appealing silky tannins and clear mineral flavours. Lots of energy and, as ever, great purity. Drink Volnay 1er cru, Carelles From old vines in the middle of the slope that catch the sun, growing in deep red soils mixed with chalk. The grapes ripen early, and give a delicate, lifted wine with density, freshness and vibrant mineral flavours to complement the pure red fruit. Drink Volnay 1er cru, Caillerets Packed with perfumed dark red fruit, this has density and richness, and a long fine finish. Drink

16 Côte de Beaune Volnay Volnay 1er cru, Clos des Chênes 40% whole-bunch fermentation make this a more feminine wine than that produced by, say Domaine Lafarge. There is purity and energy and a long, delicate perfumed finish. Drop-dead gorgeous. Drink Pommard 1er cru, Rugiens From vines at the top of the slope, growing on very shallow soil just 10cm before the roots hit rock. This shows enormous power and elegance, very juicy, fresh fruit, fine spicy tannins and a melting long finish. Drink

17 Côte de Beaune Volnay Lafarge Frédéric Lafarge Once again hail destroyed much of the hard work done in the vineyards, but the surviving grapes produced very pure wine that is pretty, dense and elegant. And take note of the new wines from Beaujolais! Bourgogne Rouge Not a Bourgogne for immediate pleasure, this will improve with a year or two of ageing. Generous, intense and spicy, with rounded tannins on a long finish. Drink Volnay Lots of full, ripe fruit that has freshness and energy, mixed with firm tannins that recommend time in the cellar to show this at its best. Drink Volnay, Vendanges Selectionnées Greater intensity as always from fruit gathered in the best village plots. It has vibrant, dense warm red fruit with powerful spice notes, silky tannins and a long fine fruity finish. Drink Beaune 1er cru, Grèves 93-year-old vines give a rich fine and intense wine with spicy red fruit and a long, very well defined finish. Drink Volnay 1er cru, Mitans Very broad and rich, with generous ripe tannins, intense red fruit and a pure long finish. Drink Magnums Volnay 1er cru, Clos-du-Château-des-Ducs Tremendous elegance, but real power too. There is warm, spicy, 3 bottles

18 Côte de Beaune Volnay Beaujolais pretty strawberry fruit and a very long fine finish. Drink Volnay 1er cru, Caillerets Smooth, elegant, vibrant and juicy, with silky tannins and finely textured spicy red fruit, completed by a delicate minerality and extraordinary length. Drink Volnay 1er cru, Clos-des-Chênes The most masculine in the Lafarge line-up, packed with spicy red fruit, the expected intensity and chewy tannins, but still managing elegance and finesse through to the warming finish. Drink Magnums bottles Magnums bottles Magnums 456 Lafarge-Vial The first crop of a domaine purchased by the Lafarge family in Beaujolais. None of your bananaflavoured carbonic maceration here. This is lovingly made in the same way as the Pinots in the Côte de Beaune. In one go it has become one of the leading domaines in the region. Chiroubles Smooth, ripe red fruit with finesse and intensity. Who knew Beaujolais could be as subtle and elegant as this? Drink Magnums 99 Fleurie, Bel Air Ca Pinote! exclaimed one of our group in surprise. Indeed, it has the finesse and complexity of its well made Pinot Noir cousin further north, with lovely fruit, balance and intensity. Great stuff. Drink Fleurie, Clos Vernay A more serious wine than the Bel Air, showing more tannin, greater depth of fruit and more length. Will benefit from cellaring. Drink Magnums Magnums

19 Côte de Beaune Pommard COTE DE BEAUNE Pommard Comte Armand Paul Zinetti Yields are down 80% after a third year of hail devastation, although vineyards in Auxey were not affected. Despite this challenge, Paul Zinetti has produced a range of wines that are bright and pure, with excellent concentration and definition. Auxey-Duresses From pebbly soils higher up the slope. Crunchy red fruit, lots of energy and a creamy finish. Drink Auxey-Duresses 1er cru From a vineyard abutting Monthélie. Finer, more intense red fruit shading to black, with a pronounced structure and good length. Drink Volnay Dense, ripe, very pretty fruit dominates, gradually giving way to quite firm tannins and an elegant finish. Drink Volnay 1er cru, Les Fremiets A sensationally pretty nose of perfumed sweet red fruit leads to very pure strawberry flavours with notes of spice, fine silky tannins and a long finish. Drink Pommard 1er cru, Clos des Epeneaux Just 12 hl/ha produced, and all vinified together rather than in separate parcels the procedure when yields are normal. As elegant as ever, this has a core of dark red fruit tinged with black pepper and cloves, firm but fine tannins and a very long finish. Drink Magnums 384 Jeroboam each

20 Côte de Beaune Pommard de Courcel Yves Confuron son of the vat A depressingly empty cellar at our visit this year. Hail meant that yields were between 5-7 hl/ha. But Yves Confuron reported that the hailed berries dropped to the ground, and the remaining healthy bunches were able to ripen very successfully. Certainly there was no trace of gout de grêle taste of hail in the wines. They are as uncompromising as ever: those with patience will be rewarded with wonderful bottles in years to come. Pommard Vaumuriens Intense, dark peppery fruit, rounded supple tannins and lots of energy. Drink Pommard 1er cru, Grand Clos des Epenots Perfumed and bright, showing floral ripe black fruit with hints of chocolate, thick fine tannins and a long, elegant finish. Drink Pommard 1er cru, Les Rugiens No getting round the huge tannins here, which promise a long life. But they are fine, and their power is matched by vibrant dark fruit, an elegant minerality and integrated acidity. Drink

21 Côte de Beaune Beaune COTE DE BEAUNE Beaune MAISON Camille-Giroud David Croix Another cracking set of wines from David Croix. Anyone who has ever had doubts about the quality of wines produced by a négociant should taste these. They are in the first rank of Burgundy. White Chassagne-Montrachet 1er cru, Tête du Clos A quite extraordinary wine, always one of the very best Chassagnes. The vineyard abuts La Romanée, and is part of Morgeot, but the soil is stony white marl, giving wines that are nervy and mineral-driven rather than broad and heavy. The vines are sixty years old, producing small clusters that are susceptible to millerandage, meaning concentration and ripeness. There is power here, but the overwhelming impression is of elegance, an ethereal finesse that effortlessly holds together the intense sweet citrus fruit, minerals and ripe acidity. Drink Corton-Charlemagne From Le Rognet. A broad, rich wine, but with no trace of heaviness. It is vibrant and pure, and sings of elegance, intensity and power. The fruit is redolent of the fresh dill/menthol character typical of the vineyard, and the finish is long and satisfying. Really lovely. Drink

22 Côte de Beaune Beaune Red Santenay A dense knot of crunchy, cool bright raspberry fruit dominates, and there is a hint of hedgerow in there too. No trace of coarseness, and the finish is melting and long. Drink Ladoix Les Chaillots A structured, serious wine with good length and balance and showing a playful side in the form of pure ripe red fruit. Drink Maranges 1er cru, Le Croix Moines White marl soils give a muscular, mineral-driven wine with floral cherry fruit and lots of energy. Drink Marsannay Les Longeroies A blend of grapes, some grown on limestone-rich soils on the upper slopes, and others from old vines in clay soils lower down. Perfumed black fruit, rounded tannins and a hint of mineral lead to a long fresh finish. Drink Santenay 1er cru, Clos Rousseau Warm, spicy red hedgerow fruit is joined by cool licorice notes. There is a lovely texture to this, and great depth and concentration too. The finish is lively and long. Drink Vosne-Romanée Les Chalandins Les Chalandins is neatly situated below Echézeaux, close to the wall of Clos Vougeot. It has produced a typically spicy, plummy, and powerful wine with good depth of fruit and energy. 40% wholebunch fermentation has given refinement and texture. Quite lovely. Drink Morey-Saint-Denis, Clos Solon Just two barrels produced. This is very fine, with deep, perfumed dark fruit, well defined elegant tannins and masses of energy. Drink Chambolle-Musigny 1er cru, Aux Echanges Only one barrel made. A small vineyard between Beaux-Bruns and Combottes, with deep clay soil. It has the pretty red fruit typical of Chambolle, but there is firmness here too, and the tannins and minerality give structure. The finish is juicy and persistent. Drink

23 Côte de Beaune Beaune Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru, Lavaut-Saint-Jacques Floral, delicate and finely woven, the ethereal character often seen from this vineyard is highlighted by the use of 50% whole bunches. There is energy and power here too, along with fine minerality and a strong tannic structure that promises a long life. Drink Corton Le Clos du Roi Made from biodynamically farmed fruit. A very big, ripe wine, with serious tannins and great depth, purity and salty hot minerals. There is fresh, intense fruit too, and a long fine finish. Drink Clos de la Roche A spicy, elegant wine with intensity and fresh dark sour-cherry fruit that builds in intensity to a chocolate-infused crescendo. Dark tannins and plenty of minerality complete the make-up. Really impressive. Drink Charmes-Chambertin Fresh, and beautifully textured, this has fresh, generous, ripe fruit of lovely purity. There is a transparency here that shows every element clearly: silky, rounded tannins, fine minerals, filigree acidity and a delicious menthol finish. Drink Chambertin Brooding, dark, and powerful, but very elegantly textured, this has silky tannins, very fresh dark chocolate fruit and great balance and persistence. Drink Magnums Magnums Magnums

24 Côte de Beaune Beaune Dublère Blair Pethel Blair Pethel fell in love with Burgundy in the 90s, gave up his job as a political journalist in Washington, and moved his family to Beaune in From small beginnings, he now owns vineyards in Savigny and a parcel of Corton-Charlemagne, and buys grapes from some of the finest 1er cru vineyards in the Côte d Or and Chablis. His wines are increasingly subtle and fine, a testament to his passion and extremely hard work. White Savigny-Lès-Beaune Blanc 1er cru, Aux Vergelesses An intense wine whose rich ripe fruit is balanced by racy acidity. Its finish is pure and long. Drink Chassagne-Montrachet 1er cru, Les Chaumées Light stony soil from north of the village gives pure, elegant, cool fruit, vibrant flinty minerality and delicate citrus-laden acidity. Drink Corton-Charlemagne An abundance of rich ripe fruit with broad nutty flavours, a restrained minerality and gentle acidity lead to a very long, elegant finish. Drink Red Savigny-Lès-Beaune Les Planchots du Nord Bursting with crunchy red hedgerow fruit, this is rounded, well balanced and long. Drink Morey-Saint-Denis 1er cru, Les Blanchards A densely woven, rich wine with ripe rounded fruit at the blacker end of the spectrum, and a smooth, long finish. Will keep well. Drink

25 Côte de Beaune Beaune Jean Guiton Bligny-Lès-Beaune Guillaume Guiton Guillaume Guiton makes pure, beautifully expressive wines that provide excellent value for money. Ladoix 1er cru, La Corvée Very well defined cool black fruit, fine tannins and lots of energy make this very appealing. Drink Savigny-Lès-Beaune 1er cru, Les Peuillets Perfumed sweet black-cherry fruit, some structure from fine tannins and a salty juicy minerality, but the real joy of this wine is its freshness and vibrancy, which invite sip after sip. Drink

26 Côte de Beaune Beaune MAISON Benjamin Leroux Benjamin Leroux Project Leroux continues to flourish. Benjamin s own vineyard holdings have expanded to nearly 4ha (out of a total of 16ha under contract). He is one of the best winemakers in Burgundy, with wines that are pure, vibrant and exciting. White Meursault Intense and elegant, showing sweet ripe round fruit and a long salty finish. Drink Saint-Aubin 1er cru, Les Murgers des Dents de Chien Intense rounded citrus fruit is joined by a hint of new oak on the nose. This bursts with flavour and vibrancy, but is effortless and elegant all the way through. Drink Red Morey-Saint-Denis From the En Pierre Virant vineyard at the top of the village, above les Chaffots. It is firmly structured, with bright red fruit, richness and intensity, and a mineral flourish on the finish. Drink Morey-Saint-Denis 1er cru, Monts Luisants This shows intense black fruit with strong mineral elements, framed by fine tannins and a delightful animating acidity, leading to a sublimely long finish. Drink Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru, Les Champeaux Rich soils give a broad, fruit-driven wine with fine silky tannins. Drink

27 Côte de Beaune Beaune Côte de Beaune Pernand-Vergelesse Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru, Les Goulots From a vineyard just below the treeline, with thin soil washed by water running down from the woods. Ethereal and intense, this shows beautifully nuanced red fruit, fine minerality and structured tannins. One of the most elegant Gevreys we tasted. Drink Clos Vougeot Petit Maupertuis Not tasted. 600 Echezeaux Not tasted. 3 bottles 375 Clos-Saint-Denis The plentiful aromatic black hedgerow fruit is neatly contained by the lean, structured tannins and intense minerality. Very fine and persistent. Drink bottles 375 Clos-de-la-Roche Tightly wound, but the fresh and vigorous ripe black fruit, rounded tannins and intense finish clearly delineate the pleasures to come. Drink Bonnes Mares Dense and powerful, with rich, fine ripe fruit and enormous length. Drink Magnums Magnums 900 Mazoyères-Chambertin Lively, silky and fine, this has intense fresh fruit and an appealing roundness that promises earlier drinking. 3 bottles 252 COTE DE BEAUNE Pernand-Vergelesses Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne Not tasted

28 Côte de Nuits Nuits-Saint-Georges COTE DE NUITS Nuits-Saint-Georges de l Arlot Prémeaux Géraldine Godot Jacques Devauges final vintage (of four) is characterised by a return to the more traditional Arlot style of whole-bunch fermentation. Géraldine Godot arrived shortly before the harvest and, after Jacques departure in December 2014, was responsible for the élévage. White Nuits-Saint-Georges Blanc, La Gerbotte From young vines in the Clos de l Arlot, this displays rich rounded fruit with delicate pointed acidity and the typical earthy minerality of Côte-de-Nuits whites. Drink Nuits-Saint-Georges Blanc 1er cru, Clos de l Arlot Perfumed and intense citrus fruit fronts a rich, ripe wine with vibrant pithy acidity and a persistent, earthy finish. One of the best Clos de l Arlot whites in years. Drink Red Clos du Chapeau Ripe dark spicy fruit with pleasing roundness and good balance. Drink Nuits-Saint-Georges, Le Petit Arlot 100% destemmed. A core of dark fruit in this densely woven wine is balanced by fine tannins and fresh acidity. Drink

29 Côte de Nuits Nuits-Saint-Georges Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru, Les Petits Plets Young vines in the Clos-des-Forêts give an intense, vibrant wine that shows that their grapes are almost ready for promotion for use in the flagship wine of the domaine. Drink Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru, Clos de l Arlot Unlike the young vine version, 60% of whole bunches went into the fermentation vat. Pure dark fruit with smooth intensity, rich tannins and a persistent finish. Drink Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru, Clos-des-Forêts 50% whole-bunch. Packed with sweet dark fruit, this is densely woven, elegant and balanced. There is energy and finesse, and a very long pure juicy finish. Drink Halves Magnums 258 Vosne-Romanée 1er cru, Les Suchots 70% whole bunches here which contribute to the multi-layered lifted fruit and smooth, fine tannins. Drink Halves Magnums 390 Romanée-Saint-Vivant From a tiny parcel tucked just below La Tâche. Massive, concentrated red and black fruit, very serious now, almost forbidding and dark, but will blossom in time to be suberbly elegant. Drink Magnums

30 Côte de Nuits Nuits-Saint-Georges Faiveley Nuits-Saint-Georges The last few years have seen a style change and a dramatic acquisition programme involving the purchase of several domaines. A lot of thought and investment have gone into making the wine finer than in the past, and this is paying off handsomely. White Corton-Charlemagne Broad rich citrus fruit, very juicy and ripe, underpinned by a dense minerality and vibrant acidity. Drink Red Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru, La Combe-aux-Moines Typical broad rich dark fruit and fine tannins build to a long finish. Drink Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru, Les Cazetiers The exposure on this hillside site gives freshness, the thinner soils a fine minerality, but the fruit remains dark and dense with spicy notes, and it finishes fine and long. Drink Corton, Clos-de-Cortons Faiveley Structured and mineral-driven, but there is heaps of juicy black fruit, and a long, tannic finish. Drink Clos-de-Vougeot In the running for the best ever. Packed with red fruit, intense, balanced and structured, the tannins here are very fine, and there is beautifully pure mineral zing on the finish. Drink Echézeaux From vines on the Chambolle side, with 70% of the fruit going into the vat in whole bunches. A good deal of new oak around 80% is matched by lashings of dark fruit and thick tannins, and there is a smooth, juicy finish. Drink Latricières-Chambertin A charming, focussed and elegant wine, showing dense, fresh black fruit, fine tannins, pure mineral flavours, and a long fruity finish. Drink Mazis-Chambertin Rounded, chocolatey fruit dominates here, managing to be at once powerful and delicate; there is an exciting mineral complexity and vibrancy that complements the very fine, smooth tannins, and a persistent finish. Drink

31 Côte de Nuits Nuits-Saint-Georges Chambertin-Clos-de-Bèze Dense and very fine, this has plentiful ripe black fruit, spice, and extraordinary finesse, finishing powerfully and long. Drink Magnums 876 Chambertin-Clos-de-Bèze les Ouvrées Rodin Of the three Faiveley parcels, the vieilles vignes goes towards this now very sought-after cuvée. The intensity is greater, there is more fresh fruit and a bigger, longer finish. Drink bottles 1,158 32

32 Côte de Nuits Nuits-Saint-Georges Didier Fornerol Corgoloin Didier Fornerol Didier Fornerol was managing the wines and wine-making at the rundown Jules Belin estate when Jean-Pierre de Smet purchased it on behalf of AXA in He became Jean-Pierre s right hand man, and remained until 2000, when he inherited vines in Corgoloin, and founded his own domaine. They still make wine together every year. There is no better source for such unbeatable value. Case price per 12 White Bourgogne Blanc Generous and precise at the same time, displaying elegant citrus fruit, some minerality and a long vibrant finish. A super wine at this level. Drink Bottles 90 Red Côte-de-Nuits Villages 100% whole-bunch fermentation gives a gorgeous lifted nose of raspberries, pure and vibrant, while the tannins are soft and there is gentle minerality on the long finish. Transparent, harmonious and fine. Drink Bottles Halves Magnums 150 Jeroboam Each 63 Côte-de-Nuits Villages Rue des Foins From two parcels, one with ninety-year-old vines, the other with vines over fifty. This is dense and juicy, with darker, more concentrated fruit, intense fine tannins and a very long finish. Drink Bottles

33 Côte de Nuits Nuits-Saint-Georges Henri Gouges Grégory Gouges A set of pure, vibrant wines from the charming and confident Grégory Gouges. Red Nuits-Saint-Georges Concentrated, elegant black-cherry fruit, very fine and fresh, harmonious and long. Drink Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru, Les Chaignots Packed with silky, spicy, floral fruit, a dense middle and a long fresh finish. Drink Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru, Clos-des-Porrets A structured and powerful wine from the heart of southern Nuits. The fruit is dense and very ripe, and the tannins, while present, are fine. Well balanced and effortless. Drink Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru, Les Pruliers As usual, richer and darker than the Porrets, with ripe black fruit and more finesse. A strong mineral flourish on the finish rounds out the fresh juicy middle. Drink Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru, Les Vaucrains Very dense, this has finely woven intense black fruit with notes of licorice, supple juicy tannins and a long fresh finish. Drink Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru, Les Saint-Georges This has huge power and finesse with bags of energy. A fine balance of fresh, complex ripe fruit and gentle silky tannins is joined by spicy notes on the long finish. It is sweet and accessible now, but has the power and effortless balance to make old bones. Drink Case price per

34 Côte de Nuits Nuits-Saint-Georges Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Chambolle-Musigny Frédéric Mugnier reports a year with no excess of anything. Heavy rain in July precipitated an unusually early attack of botrytis, which was easily dealt with, and some localised rot ascribed to fruit flies pushed him to pick earlier than originally planned. The wines are always a highlight of our trip. There is no one who makes better Nuits, and no one who makes better Chambolle. Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru, Clos de la Maréchale Rich spicy black fruit of great freshness kicks off this superb wine. There is vibrant energy, density, fine tannin and a long dark juicy finish. Harmonious and a joy to taste. Drink Halves Magnums

35 Côte de Nuits Vosne-Romanée COTE DE NUITS Vosne-Romanée Robert Arnoux-Lachaux Charles & Pascal Lachaux An apparently seamless handover from father to son is almost complete. Charles Lachaux has reduced the new oak of which his father Pascal was so fond, and introduced a comprehensive programme of whole-bunch fermentation: the top three wines contain 100% of the stems, and the others are not far behind. He is also passionate about looking after his vines, carefully scraping off dead wood from those affected by the vine disease Esca, in the belief that it prolongs their lives. The wines are vigorous, individual and expressive. Bourgogne Rouge No new wood. Ripe round black fruit, easy tannins and the typical Arnoux gloss. Very fresh and approachable. Drink Bottles 175 Nuits-Saint-Georges Polished and juicy, showing ripe black fruit, elegant balancing tannins and some minerality. Transparent and fresh. Drink Nuits-Saint-Georges, Les Poisets Vines south of Nuits, planted in soils with less clay and more limestone than further north, give red fruit, rounded chocolatey tannins and a juicy, fresh finish. Drink Vosne-Romanée Rich dark fruit with hints of silk allied to lots of energy and a long fresh fruity finish. Drink Vosne-Romanée, Les Hautes Maizières Lifted red berry fruit of some intensity, smooth velvety tannins and freshness on the finish. Drink Bottles Bottles Bottles Bottles

36 Côte de Nuits Vosne-Romanée Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru, Les Procès Older vines from poor clones are producing ever finer wines as they age. A high proportion of clay gives a rich, big black wine, lifted and refined by the use of whole bunches. Drink Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru, Clos des Corvées Pagets A limestone-rich vineyard situated between the Clos-des-Forêts and the Clos de l Arlot in Prémeaux. The vines are 70 years old, and suffer from a high proportion of millerandage, which reduces the yield but increases ripeness and concentration. This year there is melting finesse, refined red and black fruit and a long, polished finish. Drink Chambolle-Musigny From vines above the 1er cru Charmes. Dark, rich fruit, some smooth tannins and a lively fresh ethereal acidity make this sorry a charming wine. Drink Vosne-Romanée 1er cru, Les Chaumes Dense clay soils yield well defined black-cherry fruit with pronounced tannins, freshness and excellent length. Drink Vosne-Romanée 1er cru, Aux Reignots A small vineyard above La Romanée, cultivated without mechanisation of any kind cue the much photographed horse and plough has this year been given the 100% whole-bunch treatment. Packed with dark fruit and melting tannins, it is intense, beautifully defined, and very long. Yields are tiny. Drink Vosne-Romanée 1er cru, Les Suchots Very fine, fresh and quite simply lovely. Drink Echézeaux A big hit of new wood initially (around 80%), but then the ripe dark fruit kicks in and swallows it easily. There is impressive intensity, depth and length. Drink Clos de Vougeot Generous ripe, rounded red fruit, lovely intensity and broad, structured tannins of some finesse balance each other nicely; superb energy and freshness drive through to a long finish. Drink Latricières-Chambertin 100% whole-bunch fermentation gives juicy fresh dark fruit and fine tannins. The density of this fairly butch wine easily copes with the high proportion of new wood. Drink Romanée-Saint-Vivant Always one of the best RSVs around. Intense, fresh spicy red fruit, and an overall impression of finesse, charm and persistence. Drink ,950 37

37 Côte de Nuits Vosne-Romanée Bruno Clavelier Bruno Clavelier Bruno Clavelier was one of the first in Vosne to adopt biodynamic methods. His wine are understated and elegant, and they reflect their terroir perfectly. He suffered some hail damage in 2014, so yields are somewhat reduced. Vosne-Romanée, Les Hautes Maizières A warm, rounded spicy wine with body and depth, showing red and black fruits, smooth chocolatey tannins and a deliciously vibrant finish. Drink Vosne-Romanée, La Combe Brûlée Old vines in limestone-rich soils give an edgy, mineral wine with delicate strawberry fruit and resolved tannins. It is well integrated and has a fresh long finish. Drink Vosne-Romanée 1er cru, Aux Brûlées, Vieilles Vignes South-facing sandy soils give lots of bright strawberry fruit that seduces with its sweetness and purity. Very fresh and appealing. Drink Vosne-Romanée 1er cru, Les Beaux-Monts, Vieilles Vignes A richer, weightier wine from clay soils, with bigger tannins and broader, blacker fruit. Lively acidity ensures freshness, and there is a long mineral finish. Drink

38 Côte de Nuits Vosne-Romanée Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru, Les Corbeaux A particular success this year. There is delicious fresh black fruit, vibrant acidity and very ripe fine tannin in a densely woven package. Drink Chambolle-Musigny 1er cru, La Combe d Orveaux Separated from Le Musigny by a narrow track, this has echoes of its famous neighbour: very fine and balanced silky fruit of great intensity, quite powerful tannins and a long elegant finish. Drink Corton, Le Rognet Masses of rounded red fruit is balanced by big tannins, and it has good weight and intensity. Drink

39 Côte de Nuits Vosne-Romanée Jean Grivot Etienne Grivot Vosne-Romanée Showing spicy, blue fruit tinged with violets, this has lovely finesse, perfect balance, and great intensity and complexity. What a start! Drink Chambolle-Musigny, Combe d Orveaux Perfumed red fruit, ripe and pure with a mineral edge and a persistent finish. Drink Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru, Les Pruliers The cooler location means that the vines need more time to finish ripening, and this is always one of the last to be picked. Closed and dense, showing red and black fruit, and a long firm finish. Drink Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru, Aux Boudots With dark sweet fruit of good intensity, balanced fine tannins and lots of energy this drives to a fresh long finish. Drink Vosne-Romanée 1er cru, Les Rouges On the hillside above Echézeaux, this is pure, vibrant and almost ethereal, with perfumed fine fruit and excellent length. A very seductive wine indeed. Drink Vosne-Romanée 1er cru, Les Beaumonts Dense rich fruit from heavier soils gives delicious rounded sweetness. The wine is relaxed, appealing and very intense, and has extremely fine tannins. Drink

40 Côte de Nuits Vosne-Romanée Clos Vougeot An abundance of fresh energetic perfumed red fruit balances the butch, if fine, tannins, and lasts through to a long juicy finish. Drink Echézeaux Quite the best Echézeaux tasted this year: ripe and round, with enormous intensity and power and tannins that are caressingly fine. Drink Richebourg Powerful and bright as ever, showing intense red and black fruit, vanishingly fine tannins and a very persistent finish. Drink bottles bottle 550 Mugneret-Gibourg The charming Marie-Christine and Marie-Andrée Mugneret turn out some of Burgundy s most fantastically seductive, pure and elegant wines year after year. Bourgogne Rouge The best Bourgogne Rouge around, this should really have a village designation. Vines planted in 1955 give a pure spicy sweet wine of excellent length. Drink Vosne-Romanée A lovely silky feel to this delicate, sweet and perfumed Vosne that has density and purity in abundance. Drink Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru, Les Chaignots A Nuits made in Vosne: all the delicacy, perfume and silky qualities of the latter, and with only a slight firmness of tannin revealing its true origin. Drink Halves

41 Côte de Nuits Vosne-Romanée Alain Hudelot-Noëllat Vougeot Charles van Canneyt & Vincent Munier This domaine continues to maintain the superb level of quality it has been quietly achieving in the last few years was very successful here. Bourgogne Rouge All charm: pretty, perfumed and fine. Drink Chambolle-Musigny Deceptively light, showing lovely pure delicate red fruit, but it quickly becomes evident that there is serious density and a pleasant mineral edge. Drink Vosne-Romanée Perfumed and floral on the nose, the fruit is plummy, deep and round with spicy notes. The tannins are fine, and the finish long. Drink Vougeot 1er cru, Les Petit Vougeots This has made great progress over the years and has blossomed now that proper attention has been paid to it: formerly a little coarse, it now has fresh vibrant fruit, a silkiness on the palate, and a delightful juicy finish. Drink Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru, Les Murgers Sweet spicy black fruit is balanced by dense, rounded chocolate tannins and a freshness on the long finish. Drink Chambolle-Musigny 1er cru, Les Charmes There is pure red and black fruit here, but the overriding impression in youth is the great energy, tempered by a fine mineral edge and elegant tannins. This is integrated, complex and long. Drink

42 Côte de Nuits Vosne-Romanée Côtes de Nuits Chambolle-Musigny Vosne-Romanée 1er cru, Beaumonts Powerful and sweet, showing spicy, plummy fruit and a breathtaking clarity. The tannins are ripe, intense and long, and there is dark fresh minerality on the finish. Drink Vosne-Romanée 1er cru, Les Suchots Older vines in deep clay give a ripe, dense wine with sweet red fruits, lots of silky tannin and a fresh persistent finish. Drink Clos-de-Vougeot Lovely generous deep fruit which drives all the way to the long finish, accompanied by fine tannins and fresh acidity. Drink Romanée-Saint-Vivant Very fine delicate ripe red fruit, superb intensity and finesse and long elegant finish. Drink Richebourg Much more power, and as ever closed at this stage, but the wine is fantastically long, silky and fine, with great balance, freshness and ripeness. Drink Bottles Magnum Bottles Magnums 500 COTE DE NUITS Chambolle-Musigny Ghislaine Barthod Ghislaine Barthod Chambolle-Musigny Very vibrant, pure and sweet, with great density of fragrant fruit, and a mineral edge that lends structure and length. Drink

43 Côte de Nuits Chambolle-Musigny Hudelot-Baillet Dominique Le Guen Dominique Le Guen has produced a lovely set of wines this year, though the vagaries of the weather required close attention had to the health of the vines. He was very pleased with the results: to him there is the ripeness of 2009 combined with the freshness of White Bourgogne Blanc Hautes Côtes de Nuits Delicious and bright, showing lemony creamy flavours and some richness on the finish. Drink Red Bourgogne Rouge Very Chambolle in character, with lovely perfumed cherry fruit of some depth. Drink Chambolle-Musigny, Vieilles Vignes Ranging in age from fifty-five to eighty-five, the vines give a dense wine with fresh black fruit, silky tannins and a long fresh floral finish. Deliciously Chambolle. Drink Chambolle-Musigny 1er cru, Les Charmes Sixty-year-old vines give seductive crunchy black-cherry fruit. This is structured and mineral, tempered by the ripe fruit, and it finishes fresh and long. Drink Chambolle-Musigny 1er cru, Les Cras A typically more masculine wine, with greater richness and depth. The minerality is particularly appealing, dense and very fine, perfectly balancing the dark fruit and elegant tannins. Drink

44 Côte de Nuits Chambolle-Musigny Côte de Nuits Morey-Saint-Denis Bonnes Mares Super-concentrated but not overpowering, the finesse of this fabulously fruity and balanced wine is breath-taking. Drink bottles 250 COTE DE NUITS Morey-Saint-Denis Dujac Fils et Père Morey-Saint-Denis 70% whole-bunch fermentation gives lifted, dark fruit with some spice. There is good density and length, too. Drink

45 Côte de Nuits Morey-Saint-Denis Jérôme Castagnier Irrepressibly energetic, charming and optimistic, Jérôme Castagnier has made another lovely set of wines in the second year of our relationship. After working as a professional classical and jazz trumpet player in Paris, he returned to Morey in Aside from the reds, he is also responsible for some stunning whites. White Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru, Les Pucelles A very pure wine with subtle floral fruit, this has a silky finesse, and is densely woven and deliciously balanced. The finish is concentrated, pithy and long. Drink Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru, Le Cailleret From a parcel next to the Montrachet. Powerful, exuberant and full of flinty mineral and yellow fruit flavours, it is elegant and ripe, and finishes fresh and long. Drink Corton-Charlemagne Not tasted. 360 Red Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru, Les Cazetiers Bright and energetic, this has intense, very generous dark fruit, a saline mineral edge, fine tannin and a good juicy finish. Quite delicious. Drink Echézeaux From the white soils lower down the slope. Finely woven silky floral fruit, lovely fresh mineral and an ethereal quality to the whole. Drink Bonnes Mares Not tasted. 540 Mazy-Chambertin This is packed with dark, pure fruit, enveloping fine tannins, a salty elegant minerality and a vibrant finish. Drink Chambertin Fine, chocolatey and very dense, this possesses a lovely mineral freshness. The perfumed subtlety has no aggressive or dominating edge, but is beautifully integrated, supple and long. Drink Chambertin Clos de Bèze Not tasted

46 Côte de Nuits Morey-Saint-Denis Robert Groffier Nicolas Groffier The eloquent Nicolas Groffier is delighted with the vintage. Three weeks of poor weather in August allowed slowed ripening and provided a welcome prolongation of a mainly warm growing season, and yields were good. The key to keeping the wines fresh in a warm, or solaire vintage is late malos, as this fixes the acidity. He thus chilled them, and was rewarded with a very lively set of wines. Bourgogne Rouge Ripe vibrant black fruit, density, lovely texture and a smooth long finish. Drink Gevrey-Chambertin, Les Seuvrées Situated just below Charmes-Chambertin, on the Morey border, this gives very rich black fruit with a hint of green from the stems. The tannins are fine, with a lovely fresh edge, and the brightness lasts through to the long finish. Drink Chambolle Musigny 1er cru, Les Hauts Doix Very ripe and silky, showing rich black-cherry fruit and a subtle minerality, all in a very fresh, vibrant package. Drink Chambolle Musigny 1er cru, Les Sentiers 80% whole-bunch fermentation gives a lifted, fresh wine packed with vibrant black fruit that covers the abundant fine tannins. There is minerality there too coming out on the finish. Nicolas Groffier recommends keeping it for twenty years before broaching. Drink

47 Côte de Nuits Morey-Saint-Denis Chambolle Musigny 1er cru, Les Amoureuses Although Groffier is the largest holder of Amoureuses, with 1.2ha, the style from here is different to those of most other growers. It has great finesse and length, but the emphasis seems more on power and density than the ethereal qualities teased out by his neighbours. The fruit is very black and intense, with concentrated blackberry, and there is a strong mineral flourish on the finish. complements the vibrant dark fruit. Drink des Lambrays Thierry Brouin The vines are still suffering from the disastrous low yields of 2012, though the situation is a little better than 2013: yields this year are around 25 hl/ha. White Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru, Clos du Cailleret Powerful, flinty and exuberant, this has bright creamy citrus fruit and lots of salty mineral flavours. Drink Red Morey-Saint-Denis 1er cru Les Loups Bright delicate black fruit, rounded, fine tannins and lovely purity and length. Drink Clos-des-Lambrays 100% whole-bunch fermentation gives intense lifted red fruit with floral notes, beautiful balance and freshness, and a vibrant mineral finish. Drink Halves Magnums

48 Côte de Nuits Gevrey-Chambertin COTE DE NUITS Gevrey-Chambertin Denis Bachelet Denis Bachelet Slightly more wine here this year, but old vines mean still mean low yields. Bourgogne Rouge A rich, satisfying wine with ripe black fruit and plenty of energy. Drink Côte-de-Nuits Villages Lively black fruit with spice notes, fine balancing tannins and a lovely edge of acidity on the finish. Drink Gevrey-Chambertin, Vieilles Vignes A linear, very pure and understated wine that shows intense spicy black fruit, fine tannins and a long mineral finish. Drink Gevrey-Chambertin, Les Evocelles Not tasted

49 Côte de Nuits Gevrey-Chambertin René Bouvier Bernard Bouvier has had a very successful year. His wines cover a broad range of the Côte de Nuits, from his core vineyards in Marsannay and Gevrey to Vosne. He farms entirely organically, and firmly believes that he only began to discern the real terroir of his wines after the switch ten years ago. He has the good fortune to possess vines that are mostly over fifty years old. Marsannay, Clos du Roy Clearly the best vineyard in Marsannay, with sandy soils. Bouvier s vines are sixty years old, and a give a beautifully fine and ethereal wine with energy and intensity. Black fruit is balanced by present mineral flavours, and the persistent finish promises a long life. Drink Gevrey-Chambertin, La Justice Pebble-rich limestone soils give a wine that will, according to Bernard Bouvier, always be accessible, whether young or old. It is smooth and rich, with vibrant black fruit of some depth, good finesse and a long saline finish. Drink Gevrey-Chambertin, Racine du Temps Très Vieilles Vignes Ninety-year-old vines give enormous intensity and length. Often vines of this age can make a wine leaden, but not here: there is great energy and excellent definition to the black spicy fruit. There is also considerable power and finesse, and it finishes on a fresh, persistent note. Drink Charmes-Chambertin Well structured, relaxed and elegant, this lovely Charmes displays bright black fruit, a rich middle and a long, mineral finish. Drink Echézeaux Sweet ripe fruit and spice mingle in this fine, complex wine that is both long and moreish. Drink

50 Côte de Nuits Gevrey-Chambertin Frédéric Esmonin Frédéric and André Esmonin André Esmonin and his son Frédéric produce Gevreys that are not flashy and attention-grabbing, but understated and fine. They are appealing when young, but really begin to show their true class after a number of years in bottle. Demand is growing, and we are now limited in what we can purchase here, particularly at the upper levels. Gevrey-Chambertin, Clos Prieur From vines below Mazis-Chambertin, planted in rich clay soil. Warm red berry fruit, fresh and vibrant, is complemented by supple tannins and bright acidity. Drink Gevrey-Chambertin, Vieilles Vignes Les Jouises Ripe fresh raspberry fruit with some depth, broad and long. Drink Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru, Les Champonnets Generous, spicy dark fruit with chocolatey tannin, good intensity and some length. Drink Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru, Estournelles-Saint-Jacques From the upper slopes of the village, and the resulting wine is fresh, bright and lean, with a distinct mineral slant. The tannins are fine, and it has a long fruity finish. Drink Halves 168 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru, Lavaux-Saint-Jacques Pure raspberry fruit backed by lively acidity, fine ethereal tannins, mineral hints and a long generous finish. Drink Halves Magnums

51 Côte de Nuits Gevrey-Chambertin Mazis-Chambertin Spicy, rich and dense, showing dark fruit, and lots of fine tannins. This is deep and rich in the middle, and there is oak here too on the long fresh finish. Drink Ruchottes-Chambertin Densely woven and intense, this has warm, spicy fruit, elegant tannins and a delightful brightness and freshness throughout. There is a delicacy here that contrasts well with the richness of the Mazis. Drink Magnums 300 Fourrier Jean-Marie Fourrier White Bourgogne Blanc A delicious Bourgogne Blanc from Chambolle. Pure, floral and vibrant. Drink Red Gevrey-Chambertin From a vineyard to the north of the village, planted in 1928, and firmer than its southern brother. The fruit is spicy and sweet, and there is balance, precision and length. Drink Gevrey-Chambertin, Aux Echézeaux From vines to the south of Gevrey, below the grands crus on the Morey border. Perfumed, sweet and fresh, this has lightness, balance and energy. Drink

52 Côte de Nuits Gevrey-Chambertin Vougeot 1er cru, Les Petit Vougeots Sweet, transparent fruit allied to considerable power in this little Musigny. Drink Morey-Saint-Denis, Clos Solon Rich and ripe, this has a dense weave of sweet red and black fruit and mineral flavours. Drink Chambolle-Musigny Perfumed, lively, forward and ripe, this has beautifully defined red fruit, a mineral edge and gentle tannin on the finish. Drink Chambolle-Musigny 1er cru, Les Gruenchers Great depth of ripe generous sour-cherry fruit and fine prounounced minerality drive this to a long, intense finish. Drink Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru, Les Cherbaudes Scented red fruit with a lovely sweetness on the broad palate, and then a long silky finish. Drink Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru, Les Goulots Precise and ethereal, the mineral intensity and purity are balanced by clear red fruit, and there is a vibrant salty finish. Drink Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru, La Combe-aux-Moines Crunchy red fruit in a structured wine: the tannins and mineral elements are pronounced, but they are fine and balanced, and the finish long. Very fresh and lots of energy. Drink

53 Côte de Nuits Gevrey-Chambertin Geantet-Pansiot Vincent Geantet Fabien and Vincent Geantet make superb and unjustly overlooked wines: they taste extremely well young and also have a great capacity to age. A new cuverie has enabled them to become more flexible in their winemaking and maturation, making the wines reflect their origins more truly. This year they abandoned their old cement fermentation tanks in favour of new oak vats, which they believe add complexity. Ripeness was such that no chaptalisation was necessary in any of the wines. Gevrey-Chambertin, Les Jeunes Rois Packed with perfumed, vibrant fruit, this has elegance, beautiful texture and intensity. Drink Gevrey-Chambertin, Vieilles Vignes This shows very fresh dark rich fruit, fine supple tannins, gentle minerality and a plump finish. Drink Gevrey-Chambertin, En Champs A hundred-and-ten-year-old vines give a smooth, forward wine showing black fruit, chocolate and licorice notes. It is very poised, the tannins are suave, and there is good mineral balance, but the overwhelming impression (unexpected, given the age of the vines) is one of freshness and energy: the wine bursts with it. Drink Chambolle-Musigny, Vieilles Vignes Lively silky black fruit and elegant tannins combine towards a long juicy finish. Drink Chambolle-Musigny 1er cru, Les Baudes Sixty-five-year-old vines give a perfumed elegant wine that has delicate black fruit shot through with red. There is power and intensity too, and a long rich fruity finish. Drink Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru, Le Poissenot High up on the hillside above Lavaux-Saint-Jacques, thin stony soils give an energetic, mineral-driven wine that nonetheless has very generous bramble fruit, licorice notes and a long finish. Drink Magnums