Côte de Beaune 2021: New Releases

This is a blend of two parcels in Meursault - the hillside vineyard Les Clous, with a touch of Les Crotots. Les Clous provides the body and drive, with Les Crotots, which sits just next to premier cru Poruzots, definition and zip. It is so concentrated with rich, luscious stone fruit in 2021, but it is also fresh, with a fine line of acidity running right through the palate. No new oak is used here; this wine is all about pure fruit expression, with a wonderful texture.

Like Les Clousots, this is a blend of two sites in Meursault rather than a single lieu-dit. It is a combination of Les Casses Têtes and Les Murgers de Monthélie. This cuvée has been bottled since 1996, and is a cornerstone of the Javillier range. It is always the straightest and more driven of the range. In 2021, this expresses a wonderful honeysuckle, floral and fresh stone fruit bouquet and there is a full and vibrant expression on the impressive finish. As ever, elegant and refined. Leave for a year or two before diving in.

This is the jewel in the crown of this estate. The vines are on the Aloxe-Corton side of the hill, south-facing, with clay/limestone soil. It sees no new oak (instead, the small volume is vinified in one-year-old barrels), so it has a fresh fruit style. It always has that classic Corton-Charlemagne smoky bacon nose, and a palate of deep and concentrated fruit. Due to the sizeable losses in 2021, Marion has decided to make a special cuvee for this year, leaving the wine to age for longer in barrel before bottling. Each bottle will be individually numbered.

This comes from the top of a limestone slope, which has very little topsoil, so vines need to dig deep for sustenance. The crop here was decimated in 2021 with 90% lost. Saline, with a sophisticated touch of bitterness, like pink grapefruit. 30% new oak gives depth and grip to the pure stone fruit core and a fresh acidity carries through to the long, fine finish.

This brilliant-value Bourgogne Blanc comes from limestone parcels scattered around the Puligny side of Meursault. This wine always delivers: in 2021 it’s mineral and tight, really explosive palate with amazing grip and drive. So much tension and energy. Beautiful depth and very long. 25% new oak is relatively high for a Bourgogne, adding savoury definition - you get a lot of bang for your buck here. It is a great introduction to the Côte d’Or.