The name Burgundy (Bourgogne in French) comes from the Burundians, an ancient Germanic people originating in Bornholm who settled in the area during the early Middle Ages.
Burgundy’s best red and white wines set the gold standard for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. At the top of their game, Burgundy wines are acknowledged as some of the most aromatically complex, seductive and silky on the globe. This thanks in part to their indescribable melding of fruits, flowers, minerals, and earth, as well as their facility in projecting an authoritative flavor sans excess weight.
Unfortunately, for many, the best Burgundies are only produced in limited numbers. Burgundy wines can spell trouble for the non-connoisseur—there are still many examples of less than stellar, overpriced bottles for sale. This fact is due to the nature of the region’s vineyard ownership. An individual, small premier cru vineyard may be subdivided amongst a dozen or more owners. These owners may produce everything from plonk to exceptional wines—all at the same price—depending on the skills of the producer.
The Côte d'Or, or "golden slope," is the in heart of Burgundy and is home to the region’s most famous, and pricey, wines. This 30-mile-long ribbon of vineyards is where all the Grand Cru vineyards (except for Chablis Grand Cru) are found. The Côte d'Or lies just south of Dijon extending to Chagny. The greater Burgundy region also envelopes Chablis to the northern extreme, while the Côte Chalonnaise and Maconnais regions are located to the south of the Côte d'Or. Beaujolais, at the extreme southern end of the Burgundy region, almost touches the outreaches of Lyon.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: The 2005 Chablis 1er Cru Côte de Léchet is more complex than the Vaillon, unfurling with complex aromas of honeycomb, mandarin oil, fresh mushroom, almond paste and oyster shell. On the palate, it's full-bodied, rich and...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: Dramatic aromas of blanched almonds, beeswax, honey and preserved lemon introduce the 2005 Chablis 1er Cru Les Lys, a full-bodied, textural wine that's rich, concentrated and structured, with a tight-knit core, tangy...
jebdunnuck.com, 93 points: Bottled under screw cap, the 2017 Meursault offers a crisp, salty bouquet that’s very much in the style of the vintage. White fruits, oysters shell, and crushed citrus notes all emerge from this juicy, medium-bodied, racy...
Wine Spectator, 91 points: A plump version, boasting melon, peach, cinnamon and toasted spice flavors. Balanced by lively acidity, with the spice and peach elements echoing on the lingering finish. Drink now through 2023. 200 cases imported. — BS
Decanter, 94 points: This monopole vineyard of 2.28ha is picked in three tranches over the space of a week to enhance its complexity. Among the Côte de Nuits' best whites, it's pithy, nuanced and well-structured, with very subtle oak...
Decanter, 97 points: A ripe and seductive Chablis, coating the mouth with saline notes alongside honeyed apple, delicately interspersed with floral fragrance and a lime and lemon core; energetic and concentrated on the finish. A cut above.
Decanter, 96 points: Two parcels - one in Chapelot, the other in Montée de Tonnerre - are the sources of this delicious, ageworthy premier cru. Yields were low, but this is not ponderous at all. In fact it's very light-footed, with notes of...
Wine Spectator, 92 points: The fine structure creates a nervous tension in this white, with lemon, chalk and baking spice flavors. Balanced, showing intensity and a mouthwatering finish that echoes the citrus, mineral and spice elements. Best from...
View From The Cellar, 92 points: The 2018 Vaillons here is every bit as refined and zesty as the Montmains. The wine delivers a classy aromatic constellation of apple. pear, citrus zest, a complex base of chalky minerality and a topnote of dried flowers...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: 94+ The 2015 Viré-Clessé Cuvée E. J. Thevenet opens in the glass with notes of fresh peach, confit lemons, white flowers and clear honey. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered, with striking...
Wine Spectator, 91 points: Lean yet intense, driven by racy acidity. Matchstick, bread dough, lemon and graphite notes ply the sleek frame. Winds down with lime blossom and smoke accents. Best from 2021 through 2026. – BS
jamessuckling.com, 95 points: Sweet apples and pears with some stone and flint on the nose. Full-bodied with tight, focused phenolics that frame the wine nicely and then layers of fruit and lively acidity. Nicely crafted and composed. Drinkable now...
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