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.
Burghound, 90 points: A more elegant nose of relatively high-toned red berry fruit enjoys added breadth in the form of earth, sauvage and spice nuances. The supple, round and accessible middle weight flavors possess a lovely sense of energy on...
Burghound, 93 points: (90-93) A background application of wood frames the very ripe aromas of cassis, black cherry, earth and a touch of the sauvage. There is a lush and opulent mouth feel to the concentrated and palate coating medium weight...
Vinous, 93 points: (AG91-93 points) The 2012 Clos Vougeot is another huge, explosive wine from Chézeaux in this vintage. Smoke, iron, tar, licorice and dark red fruit notes jump from the glass. Broad- shouldered, rich and intense to the...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 92 points: The 2012 Chablis Grand Cru Vaudesir has a crisp and precise, granitic nose that blossoms with aeration. The palate is very well-focused with good depth, hints of orange peel, tangerine and a dash of ginger livening up the...
Burghound, 92 points: This is aromatically brooding and reserved with restrained and distinctly cool aromas of both red and dark currants that are liberally laced with earth, underbrush and subtle spice nuances. There is good concentration, at...
Burghound, 91 points: There is enough wood to notice surrounding the earthy and brooding dark berry fruit and game suffused aromas. As one might reasonably expect there is markedly better richness and mid-palate concentration to the...
Vinous, 91 points: (ST89-91 points) Good bright, deep red. Very ripe but reduced nose offers scents of black raspberry and mocha. Fat and sweet on the palate, in a distinctly rich style but with less energy to its blacker fruit flavors...
Jancis Robinson's Purple Pages, 91 points: (17.5/20) Sunny vintage. Grapes bought in from Renardes. Fermented in cask, that is rolled each day. Transparent garnet with definite evolution. Rich and sweet. Flattering yet with a kick on the finish. Open, sweet and...
Vinous, 89 points: Slightly liqueur-like red fruits and mint on the nose, along with a medicinal aspect. Ripe, dry, broad and concentrated, but showing a rougher texture than the 2013 version, and a bit less acidity. Finishes spicy and...
Wine Spectator, 90 points: A spicy version, boasting vanilla- and clove-studded black cherry. Polished and expressive, with a fine, lingering finish. Best from 2018 through 2027. 20 cases imported. –BS
Vinous, 92 points: (ST90-92 points) Bright red. A sexy note of reduction to the wild aromas of redcurrant, rust and minerals. Intensely flavored and nicely perfumed in the mouth, with lovely floral lift to the strawberry fruit. A lovely...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 92 points: The 2012 Nuits St Georges les Didiers Cuvee Hospice de Nuits has a very generous and quite intense iodine and black cherry nose, although it seems incongruous with that carapace of new oak dominating the aromatics. The...
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