Côte de Beaune 2018

Puligny’s largest vineyard, and the pick of Alain’s premiers crus. Folatières in 2018 is a great success for Alain. Notes of pink grapefruit and orange blossom, there’s real intensity and length here. Very pure and long, with wonderful energy.

The plot of Charmes in Puligny borders Charmes in Meursault, so it’s a village vineyard next to a premier cru. There’s a beautiful fragrance to Alain’s 2018 Charmes. Very mineral on the palate, but with depth of yellow fruit, there’s excellent complexity for a village wine here.

This was the final wine tasted one day in Burgundy, and it blew us away: what a way to finish the day. Lime and grapefruit, and such salinity: you really feel the soil here. Open and energetic, it’s an explosion on the palate. Brilliant.

The site of a former quarry, the soil in Perrières is very stony. Purity is the key word here: this has well defined fruit and a saline, stony character. You can see why this is Meursault’s unofficial Grand Cru.

Morgeot is the largest cru of Chassagne, with individually-named climats within its ten hectares. Moreau has vines in two: Les Fairendes and La Cadeuse, which is a monopole for them, and from which they also make a red wine. There’s plenty of depth and grip here, with a really mouthwatering finish. This is gourmand.

This is stony and mineral: no surprise, from a vineyard that takes its name from small stones. There’s plenty of fragrance: this is really long.

As you’d expect from a master like Alex, this Grand Cru is a work of ard. Fresh yellow fruit, with a floral character that unfurls. Chapeau.

The vineyard is opposite the winery, and they’ve got 0.65 hectares here, planted with vines that vary in age between 20 and 55 years old. Pink grapefruit, with a finish of white pepper and grapefruit, this is smoky, precise, and very complex.

Usually the largest cuvée of the domaine, making up 6ha of their vineyards. With two-thirds from the Puligny side, and one-third from the middle of the village, this has lovely grip and a mouth-watering finish. There’s a spicy, lemon sherbert finish, with notes of ginger and grapefruit.

Always one of our favourite wines here, the Bressandes is a masterpiece in 2018. Incredibly dark with cherries and flowers, and a mineral tang here. This is so complex and pure.

Very floral on the nose, with wild violets and also strawberries and raspberries. This shows the warmth of the vintage, but with real charm. If Savigny can sometimes be austere and rustic, this is the antidote.

This comes from a blend of two vineyards in Auxey: Les Bréterins and Bas des Duresses. One is clay-based and the other chalky. Silky and fine, with salinity and very pure fruit, this remains one of the best value wines we know.

Les Frémiets borders Pommard, and this wine has something of the character of both villages. There’s blue fruit here, with a floral lift and plenty of blood orange. Spicy and liquorice tinged, it’s a lovely wine.

This comes from the small parcel of Largillas on the steep chalky white soils above the village. Auxey’s valley is a little cooler than Volnay or Pommard, and in a warm year like 2018 its naturally fresh undertow complements the vintage’s deep fruit ripeness to produce a wine with voluptuous fruit, rounded tannins, and persistent freshness through the finish. This should drink well from early on. Terrific value.

From a blend of two parcels in the centre of the appellation, Les Grands Champs and Les Famines. This is bright and juicy, with crushed raspberries on the nose and the village’s supple elegance on the palate. It has smooth, silky tannins and a long, pure finish. Always one of the most charming wines in the Comte Armand cellar, the 2018 has all elements in perfect balance.

With just a third of a hectare of this already tiny Grand Cru, they don’t make much. But wow. There’s volume and texture and intense fruit here. Really fragrant, there are notes of rose petal, with a finish that unfurls. So long and complex.

This 12 hectare Chassagne-based domaine makes approachable, zippy, juicy wines. Their village wine is a calling card of the domaine, and in 2018 has a fresh, exuberant energy. Benchmark Chassagne.

A premier cru that’s undoubtedly at the very top of its classification. Slightly shy on the nose, it’s on the palate that this really shows off. Notes of crushed rocks, a hint of blossom, and so much texture. Awesome.

From a site just up the road from the winery, near the heart of the village, there are two parcels, one of 0.56ha and the other 0.17ha. It’s one of their biggest production wines. Very saline, but with richness of fruit, too, there’s notes of orange blossom and grapefruit essence, and a hint of spice on the energetic finish. Long.

Clarity and focus here. The nose is layered and citrus, with weight of fruit on the palate. The unfurling fruit and complexity is remarkable. A privilege to taste.

En Remilly is considered the finest vineyard in St-Aubin by many - it’s the continuation of the Montrachet hillside. Notes of grapefruit and seville oranges, with remarkable drive and focus. The purity of fruit here is astonishing; as is the length.

Clos de la Chatenière is a south-facing parcel surrounded by a wall, with 65 year old vines. There’s richness with notes of ginger and saffron, and plenty of focus and spice. This is beautifully precise, with plenty of texture.

Les Frionnes is the vineyard behind Olivier’s winery. Vines are as old as 80 years old but some 50 and 30% 10 years old. Flowers and delicate spearmint in 2018, there’s wonderful energy here. This is very pretty.

In the very heart of the village of Santenay, surrounded by premiers crus, a 19th century owner of this vineyard, M. Duvault-Blochet, also owned Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. With 50% whole bunch, this is crunchy and very saline, with a beautifully creamy finish. There’s lovely fruit here. A red not to be missed.

Historically known as a village for reds, Chassagne can still be home to some of the Côte de Beaune’s Pinot Noir gems. Here the vines are 100+ years old, Dark fruit and lavender on the nose, it’s very expressive. Really cool fruit, and smoky and earthy, this is one you simply have to try.

A Volnay vineyard on the edge of the commune, next door to Pommard. And from 70 year old vines, you feel its origins. The 2018 has crunchy fruit and nicely grippy tannins. There’s plenty of structure here, with focused acidity on the long, impressive finish.

Delicate strawberries on the nose of this pretty Volnay. There’s iodine and crunchy cherry fruit, and enjoyably persistent, grippy tannins. A charmer.

Vines were planted in in Blagny, one of Meursault's highest vineyards, in 1984 and this shows in the focus, energy, and vertical character of this wine. Delicate flowers and lovely citrus precision. Very good indeed.

From six parcels on both sides of the village, this has a beautiful nose, with loads of balance and elegant fruit. There’s an energy and a finesse here. What Volnay is all about.

The first vineyard owned by the Lafarge family, and arguably their most famous wine. Serious and intense, with time in the glass comes swirling notes of rose petal and generous, dark fruit. There’s incredible texture and minerality, and the finish goes on an age.

A monopole of the Lafarge family - the 0.57 hectares are entirely under their ownership, produced as an individual wine since 1985. It’s hand destemmed, taking 35 hours for just 3000 bottles. This is Grand Cru in all but name. Noble, fresh, long, voluminous, complex, stunning. There’s not much more to say.

Made from a selection at the time of harvest, this treads the line between village and premier cru. It comes from four different terroirs at the heart of the village, with more deeper, darker fruit than the normal Volnay. The plethora of limestone in this part of the village gives incredible purity and energy. One for the ages.

From the vineyard just up the road from the winery, often better celebrated for its red wines. Cool and saline, with notes of greengage and plenty of nervous energy. Brilliant purity, here.

One of Chassagne’s finest vineyards, from south of the village (it’s part of the stunning trio alongside La Grande Montagne and La Romanée). There’s incredible density here, with the mouthfeel of a grand cru. Spicy and floral, with such a mineral character. Elegance and length.

Thierry’s dad, Paul, started bottling Mazures as a single vineyard wine, and its quality year in year out justifies the decision: Thierry considers it premier cru level. This so intense and driven, with elegant acidity and plenty of texture on the long and complex finish.

From St Aubin and Chassagne, this has density and ripe fruit. There’s a slight oyster shell note, and good density. Simply delicious.

Really intense and floral, with such focus of fruit and a long and unfurling finish, this Grand Cru is glorious. The finish lasts for minutes: we could almost still taste it at our next appointment.

A celebrated premier cru up the slope in Nuits. This is elegant and lifted, with Nuits minerality and plenty of crunchy dark fruit. Long and savoury: Nuits intensity with Vosne elegance.

Lifted and fragrant, with perfumed fruit and tons of energy. There’s a density here, with plenty of crunchy berries and a long finish. The benchmark for everyday drinking.

Les Suchots is one of Vosne’s greatest vineyards, situated on the line of Grands Crus. Vines planted in 1937. Power and volume here, but not lacking focus on the palate. It’s a brilliant example of a brilliant vineyard.

From vines planted in 1927, between Echézeaux and Clos de Vougeot, this might be the best placed village vineyard on the Côte de Nuits. And this shows in the quality here. Intense and structured, with beautiful energy: outstanding.

Nicolas sees his (increasing) holdings in the Côte de Nuits-Villages as the future of his domaine, where prices aren’t as high, yet the quality of terroir can be outstanding. This is lifted; a great example in 2018 and one to stock up on.

From vines planted in 1952 and as far back as 1896. One of the bargains of our range, with grippy tannins, loads of minerality, and a finish that last minutes. This is way more complex than the price suggests.

This premier cru is high up on the hill in Beaune, where the poor soils give the wine life. Beautiful delicate small fruit, grapefruit and fresh apples. Salty and fresh, with a hint of ginger, and a really long finish. A very pretty premier cru.

Easternmost part of the Corton Charlemagne vineyard. No afternoon sun allows freshness to be maintained.There’s real intensity here, with notes of fresh hazelnuts, silky fruit, and minerality that grows in the palate. This is a really thrilling wine.

Very focussed and floral, delicate and nice purity. From Puligny vineyards, there are crunchy apples, texture and just a hint of clove on the finish.

In 2005 Etienne managed to buy 1.37 hectares of the prized Les Malconsorts vineyard in Vosne. Spice and mineral, there’s vibrancy and intense yet surprisingly cool fruit here. Delicate and incredibly well balanced, one of the best Malconsorts you’ll find.

Still includes the parcel that Hubert had in Volnay, as well as a couple of newer ones opposite Château de Puligny, Etienne’s home. Delicious, fragrant, and very pure, this is a simply brilliant and crunchy Bourgogne Rouge.

Probably the finest Beaune vineyard, in the 19th century it was seen as a Tête de Cuvée, the top level of the côte’s wines. Two thirds of the vines here are over 55-60 years old. Saline and impressively deep and textured fruit, this is always one of our favourite wines here. Overlooked at your peril.

In 2005 Etienne managed to buy 1.37 hectares of the prized Les Malconsorts vineyard in Vosne. Spice and mineral, there’s vibrancy and intense yet surprisingly cool fruit here. Delicate and incredibly well balanced, one of the best Malconsorts you’ll find.

From 50 year old vines. Lovely herbal character, and those grippy tannins. Excellent length and finesse, good juice and dark fruit alongside red berries. Corton is a huge success in 2018.

De Montille hold just 0.29 hectares of this sprawling grand cru. Spicy and opulent, such energy and wonderful depth and darkness of fruit. Nice bitterness here, plenty of lively fruit, with finesse and texture.

From the middle of the slope, from vines 45 years old which Brian says act like they’re 75 years old, given how little fruit they yield. This is a wonderfully fragrant, energetic Volnay, that shows the best of this stunning village.

Le Cailleret abuts Montrachet on the Puligny side. From 70 year old and 65 year old vines. Intense and smoky reduction, plenty of small fruit, and outstanding energy. There’s a sense of focus here, with silky acidity, fine delicacy, and a finish that lasts for ages. Outstanding.

The feather in the cap, the monopole of the estate. Unfurling and layered, notes of chalk and wild flowers, and blood orange. Raspberry essence swirls with perfectly balanced tannins. Bravo.

So fine and lemon oil, delicate and floral with so much purity. Very saline and driven, with plenty of energy and nice concentration of citrus. Very well put together: again an absolute belter, and awesome value for money.

Very floral on the nose. Quite delicate and fine, with plenty of balance, and great length. Very mineral, saline and tangy on the finish. Very Puligny, with excellent balance.

Nice lemon oil, floral nose. Plenty of elegance here: it’s crunchy apples and pears, with lovely energy and finesse. So delicious and floral, but saline too. Beautiful energy, and excellent length. Once again, it’s brilliant.

Very floral and pure on the nose, sea spray and wild flowers. There’s very fine acidity with conference pears and lovely purity. Really nice integration, beautiful balance and lovely length and elegance. Very Chassagne, it’s focussed and driven with elegance.

From Sous le Château and Poullange. Floral and crunchy on the nose, with lovely acacia blossom and fresh pears. Nice mealy character, and plenty of citrus on the palate, with sea spray and oyster shell. Textured and lively.

Quite closed on the nose. But on the palate you feel that rippling energy, with plenty of citrus fruit, saline minerality, and tons of depth, too. This is brilliant, with such good definition.

This Puligny-based producer makes a superb Meursault from this steep site, tucked up in the cooler part of the village. The chalky soils make for a racy wine, typical of the Olivier Leflaive style, but with the breadth and savoury weight of classic Meursault.

Quite reticent on the nose, though the potential is obvious. Really nice texture, with loads of salinity, orange blossom and length. It’s a bit of a baby, but is clearly Premier Cru quality. Nicely focussed, but also with concentration.

From vineyards in the communes of Meursault and Puligny, this remains one of the benchmarks for Bourgogne. Very driven and phenolic, there’s orange blossom and lemon oil, and lovely length, too.