Côte de Beaune 2018

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.

When he purchased his Malconsorts parcel in 2005, Etienne separated the section of the vineyard that forms a small enclave within the grand cru La Tâche, and decided to bottle it separately, naming it after his mother. Inky and voluminous, this is remarkable. A lesson in balance of power, concentration, and finesse. It lasts an age.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

From Narvaux, Casse Têtes, and Petits Charrons, three of Meursault’s best village sites. There’s a nice creaminess here, but with stony focus, and a really mineral, iodine-driven finish. A lovely balance of Meursault fat and focus.

A négociant bottling from a purchase of grapes, this is a brilliant wine from the Côte Chalonnaise. It’s got a lovely creamy, fresh, lifted palate, and loads of vibrancy too. Just a joy to taste - not to be overlooked

Really mineral and focussed on the nose. Cool and citrus, with plenty of fine energy, there’s finesse here, with salty tang and plenty of definition.

Really mineral and focussed on the nose. Cool and citrus, with plenty of fine energy, there’s finesse here, with salty tang and plenty of definition.

Really mineral and focussed on the nose. Cool and citrus, with plenty of fine energy, there’s finesse here, with salty tang and plenty of definition.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Poruzots is a premier cru in the heart of the Meursault hillside. Quite ripe on the nose, plenty of peaches and pink grapefruit, orange blossom, with excellent definition of fruit. Really delicious and long, but needs time to come fully together.

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.

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.

At the bottom of the Rugiens vineyard, this is our baby Rugiens. Juicy and pure, with iron oxide and nervy acidity. Plenty of blood orange, and a juicy and savoury finish. Complex and impressive.

When he purchased his Malconsorts parcel in 2005, Etienne separated the section of the vineyard that forms a small enclave within the grand cru La Tâche, and decided to bottle it separately, naming it after his mother. Inky and voluminous, this is remarkable. A lesson in balance of power, concentration, and finesse. It lasts an age.

When he purchased his Malconsorts parcel in 2005, Etienne separated the section of the vineyard that forms a small enclave within the grand cru La Tâche, and decided to bottle it separately, naming it after his mother. Inky and voluminous, this is remarkable. A lesson in balance of power, concentration, and finesse. It lasts an age.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Oldest vines here are about 40 years old. Beautiful nose, delicate berries and a touch of floral character, with plenty of salinity here. This is fine and long: it punches so far above its weight.

Oldest vines here are about 40 years old. Beautiful nose, delicate berries and a touch of floral character, with plenty of salinity here. This is fine and long: it punches so far above its weight.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Les Rugiens-Bas has long been a candidate for elevation to Grand Cru status, and was Hubert’s favourite wine. Very pure, and lovely nervous energy, amazing texture, serious earthy notes, dark berry fruit, and such a sense of nobility and focus. Iron oxide and great energy – outstanding.

Les Rugiens-Bas has long been a candidate for elevation to Grand Cru status, and was Hubert’s favourite wine. Very pure, and lovely nervous energy, amazing texture, serious earthy notes, dark berry fruit, and such a sense of nobility and focus. Iron oxide and great energy – outstanding.

Les Rugiens-Bas has long been a candidate for elevation to Grand Cru status, and was Hubert’s favourite wine. Very pure, and lovely nervous energy, amazing texture, serious earthy notes, dark berry fruit, and such a sense of nobility and focus. Iron oxide and great energy – outstanding.Les Rugiens-Bas has long been a candidate for elevation to Grand Cru status, and was Hubert’s favourite wine. Very pure, and lovely nervous energy, amazing texture, serious earthy notes, dark berry fruit, and such a sense of nobility and focus. Iron oxide and great energy – outstanding.

Pézerolles is the perfect introduction to Pommard, from a limestone vineyard really near the border with Beaune. Nice wild dark fruit, mulberries, and plenty of silky cherries. And excellent length, that’s very saline and very pure. Nice herbal, spearmint character.

Pézerolles is the perfect introduction to Pommard, from a limestone vineyard really near the border with Beaune. Nice wild dark fruit, mulberries, and plenty of silky cherries. And excellent length, that’s very saline and very pure. Nice herbal, spearmint character.

Pézerolles is the perfect introduction to Pommard, from a limestone vineyard really near the border with Beaune. Nice wild dark fruit, mulberries, and plenty of silky cherries. And excellent length, that’s very saline and very pure. Nice herbal, spearmint character.

Arguably the vineyard for which the De Montille family are best known, made from sixty year old vines. Beautiful nose, very nervy, silky and fine. Salty and pure, and focussed on the finish. Beautiful tannins, supple and then plenty of density.

Arguably the vineyard for which the De Montille family are best known, made from sixty year old vines. Beautiful nose, very nervy, silky and fine. Salty and pure, and focussed on the finish. Beautiful tannins, supple and then plenty of density.

Arguably the vineyard for which the De Montille family are best known, made from sixty year old vines. Beautiful nose, very nervy, silky and fine. Salty and pure, and focussed on the finish. Beautiful tannins, supple and then plenty of density.