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.
Wine Spectator, 90 points: A meaty, earth- and spice-filled version, shading the juicy cherry and plum notes. Underscored by a vibrant, solid structure but lingers nicely on the finish. Best from 2017 through 2024. 700 cases imported. –BS
Burghound, 91 points: There is notably better freshness as well as better aromatic complexity to the red and dark cherry aromas that display attractive notes of spice and exotic tea. The punchy and intensely mineral-driven medium...
View From The Cellar, 94 points: 94+ Happily, the 2013 Corton-Charlemagne was still open after its mise and was showing very well indeed at the time of my visit, offering up a deep and very esthery nose of apple, pear, bee pollen, a potpourri of spring...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: (WA92-94 points) The 2013 Chambolle Musigny les Veroilles is initially reticent on the nose and demands coaxing, eventually reluctantly revealing redcurrant jus and pomegranate scents. The palate is medium-bodied with an...
Burghound, 90 points: An attractively layered nose is composed mostly of ripe fruit compote, citrus zest and lavender nuances. There is an equally attractive mouth feel to the delicious, precise and energetic medium weight flavors that possess...
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, 94 points: (AG92-94 points) An explosive, exuberant bouquet makes a strong first impression in the 2013 Charmes-Chambertin. Those signatures follow onto the palate, where the Charmes is quite opulent. Dark cherries, plums, spices...
View From The Cellar, 91 points: (JG90-91 points) The 2013 Enseignères was one of the last wines in the cellar to finish its malo this year, so this wine was bottled in early March of 2015. The wine is excellent, but still just a touch out of sorts from...
Burghound, 92 points: (BH89-92 points) A hint of sulfur does not materially detract from the ripe and fresh nose that is comprised by notes of apple, acacia blossom and pear scents. There is a lovely underlying tension to the well-detailed and...
Wine Enthusiast, 94 points: This wine is dark and dense, very closed at this young stage. But wait for that rich fruit to burst out to give its intense acidity and ripeness to the wine. It's a powerhouse of flavors, spice and dark minerality. Drink...
Stephen Tanzer's IWC, 93 points: (ST91-93 points) Pale, bright yellow. Aromas of lime, mint and minerals, lifted by a topnote of white flowers. Sweeter and more open-knit than the Charmes but still with excellent acidity and firm underlying structure...
Stephen Tanzer's IWC, 95 points: (ST92-95 points) (production here was just 22 hectoliters per hectare, according to Didier Seguier): Pale, green-tinged yellow. Lemon, lime, white pepper, menthol, botanical herbs and powdered stone on the enticing nose...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 92 points: (WA90-92 points) The 2013 Marsannay les Longeroies has the most flamboyant and expressive bouquet of the three Marsannay crus: very pure and defined with floral scents developing in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied...
Burghound, 93 points: (BH91-93 points) Reduction flattens the underlying fruit but there is fine freshness, intensity and detail to the muscular and concentrated big-bodied flavors that possess excellent depth on the stony, lingering and...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: (WA91-93 points) The 2013 Puligny-Montrachet les Folatières 1er Cru, which is coming from two parcels, has a more exotic bouquet than the Champs Gain at the moment with hints of peppermint and licorice underlying the...
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