Bachelet, Jean-Claude 2011 Puligny-Montrachet Les Aubues

Beaufort (Amaury) 2014 Bourgogne Tonnerre Vaumorillon

Amaury Beaufort, with help from his brothers, is making superb natural wines in Tonnerre on steep hillsides with Kimmeridgian soils near the village of Junay. (Northwest of the city of Tonnerre) Vaumorillon is a hillside vineyard near Junay with white clay ("grise terre") over the limestone. Yields of 22 ha/ha, 11.5% alcohol. The wine shows very complex aromas of dried pear and apple, lemon peel, honey, pine, almond and stone - showing a bit more fruit than the 2015 Côte de Junay. The palate is lean but with dense pear, dried herbs, lemon oil and almond, finishing with intense mineral flavors and firm acidity. Serve with sushi, grilled fish, roast chicken, alpine cheeses. Long-term aging seems possible. For lovers of De Moor Chablis... David Lillie

Beaufort (Amaury) 2015 Bourgogne Tonnerre Côte de Junay

Amaury Beaufort, with help from his brothers, is making superb natural wines in Tonnerre on steep hillsides with Kimmeridgian soils near the village of Junay. (Northwest of the city of Tonnerre) Cête de Junay is a steep  parcel requiring all vineyard work by hand. Yields are about 15 hl/ha, at 11.5% in 2015. The wine shows delicate but complex aromas of lime-flower, dried white fruits, almond and stone with hints of chamomile and dried herbs. The palate is crystalline and bone dry with citrus, stone and dried pear - light, but with great density and length and finishing with stone, anise, pear and lemon peel over saline minerals. No added SO2. Congratualtions to the Beauforts for this unique and scintillating wine! Serve with oysters, sushi, fresh goat cheeses, grilled sole or cod.

Billaud-Simon 2014 Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu

Billaud-Simon 2014 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons

Billaud-Simon has always seemed to have a super-charged quality, relative to most other growers: more minerals, more cut, more floral aromas, an extra-layer of concentration, yet somehow remaining agile. The 2014 has aromas of lemon blossom, ripe tangerine peel, sea breeze, and iodine. The palate is electric with pungent, driving minerality, broad citrus and stone fruit flavors, and a lip-smacking, brightly acidic character. Long vibrant finish with plenty of tension between the pure ripe fruit and punchy stony elements. Lots of upside for cellaring and highly recommended. I'd love to drink this with rare tuna, swordfish, or even roasted chicken with a zippy salsa verde with plenty of capers. John McIlwain

Bize, Simon 2013 Savigny Les Beaune Blanc Les Vergelesses

Champs de l'Abbaye 2014 Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Nature

From organic Chardonnay grapes grown in the Côte Chalonnaise near Mercurey. This is an excellent Champagne-alternative at a great value. Aromas of freshly baked brioche, zesty citrus, and white flowers lift from the glass. The palate is very dry and densely mineral  with flavors of ripe pear, hints of baking spice, and stony acidity. A delicious, food-friendly bottle for any occasion. Amanda Bowman

Champs de l'Abbaye 2015 Bourgogne Blanc Chardonnay

The Hasard’s Bourgogne Blanc is made from hand-harvested and certified organic Chardonnay grown on a limestone/clay parcel in Aluze, next to Mercurey. The native-yeast fermentation lasts 10 months in barrel and only minimal SO2 is added at bottling. The 2015 is more fruit-forward on the nose, with aromas of dried mango, pear followed by ripe yellow fruits and river rocks. The palate is mineral, saline, and layered with notes of dried apricot, fennel, white flowers, and stone on a very generous finish. An excellent value white Burgundy that would pair well with oysters, cheeses, or roast chicken with herbs. Amanda Bowman 

Champs de l'Abbaye 2015 Rully Les Cailloux

The Hasard's have a small parcel of 35 year-old vines in Rully on clay and limestone soils. The 2015 is showing stunning elegance in its youth, with seductive aromas of dried apricots, flint, wild honeysuckle and integrated hints of new oak. The palate is charged with flavors of pear, citrus, and quince with an intense mineral-laden acidity. The finish is long and remarkably stony. Drink now with shell fish, comte cheese, or roast chicken, or hold for 5-10 years for a mature experience.  Amanda Bowman

Chandon de Briailles 2014 Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Ile de Vergeleses Blanc

From 1 HA of vines planted in 1985 by Claude de Nicolay’s mother. In addition to Chardonnay, there are 6 rows of Pinot Blanc. Something of a rarity as Ile des Vergelesses is considered by most to be the finest red wine climat in Pernand Vergelesses, the Blanc from Chandon de Briailles also features  Pinot Blanc adding an extra layer of aromatics to this Pernand blanc. Floral on the nose with aromas of honeysuckle, apple blossom, and bosc pear. The palate is generous with notes of lemon curd, tropical fruit, and stone on the midweight, pretty, energetic, and forward palate. Delicious now and a true rarity! John McIlwain

Chateau de Puligny Montrachet 2013 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly 375

Colin-Morey, Pierre-Yves 2015 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru

d'Angerville 2010 Meursault 1er Cru Santenots

d'Angerville 2014 Meursault 1er Cru Santenots

De Montille 2011 Beaune 1er Cru Blanc Aigrots .375 L

Domaine d'Edouard 2015 Côtes d'Auxerre Chardonnay

Ecot NV Vin de France L'Insolent "sans AOP ni IGP"

Fichet 2014 Meursault

From multiple lieux-dits across Meursault. 10% 15% new oak. The 2014 Meursault villages shows plenty of the verve of the vintage. Aromas of white flowers and orchard fruit dominate the nose, with hints of wet stone and a discreet note of oak adding interest. The palate is vibrant and ripe with warm pear and citrus flavors underlain with a stony, nearly saline minerality. This is a lovely village level wine and should shine with 3-5 years in the cellar. John McIlwain

Fichet 2015 Auxey-Duresses Blanc

The 2015 Auxey-Duresses blanc displays a cool-toned nose with aromas of Meyer lemon, white flowers, crushed herbs, and white peach skin. The palate is racy and sapid with ripe citrus flavors buoyed by an incisively chalky minerality on a long, energetic, and detailed finish. Bracing and delicious now, this should really shine with a few years in the cellar. John McIlwain

Fichet 2015 Meursault 375ml

The 2015 Meursault shows a degree of the ripeness of the vintage, though it manifests itself in a layered density, rather than softness or weight. The nose offers aromas of ripe pear, honeysuckle, and orange oil, with just a hint of reduction which blows off with some tine in the glass. The palate is ripe, lush and shows good concentration, framed by a pungent minerality and acidity. Tasting the 2014 and 2015 vintages side by side in the cellar, it was remarkable how much energy was inherent in the wines in each. John McIlwain

Fichet 2015 Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Referts

Though duly famous for his Meursaults, Jean-Philippe Fichet makes one heck of a Puligny-Montrachet. His 2015 Puligny 1er cru Les Referts is just beautiful with a nose redolent of white flowers, lemon blossom, white apricot, lemon, and a cool sweet green note, reminiscent of sugar snap peas. The flavor profile matches ripe white fruits with a clinging stoniness on a lifted, energetic, and long finish. This is fabulous and displays more Puligny class than vintage ripeness. John McIlwain

Germain, Henri 2015 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er cru Morgeot Les Fairendes

Germain, Henri 2015 Meursault 1er cru Charmes

Germain, Henri 2015 Meursault Chevalières Blanc

Guillot, Julien (Vignes du Maynes) 2015 Bourgogne Blanc En Rimont

Julien Guillot at Vignes du Maynes makes this elegant white Burgundy from an organic parcel on crumbly limestone that has 15% Pinot Gris and 85% Chardonnay. Just delicious in 2015, the "En Rimont" shows aromas of dried pear and apple, almond and stone with hints of spice, citrus and honeysuckle. The palate is quite elegant with earthy white fruits, hay, almond, white pepper and citrus. Quite supple and pure (vinified with minimal SO2) this is a very food-friendly wine that will accompany full-flavored fish and shellfish dishes, chicken and white meats and a wide variety of cheeses. Lovely wine!   David Lillie

Guillot, Julien (Vignes du Maynes) 2015 Macon Blanc Pugette Les Chezeaux

Guillot, Julien (Vignes du Maynes) 2015 Macon-Villages

Julien Guillot of the Clos des Vignes du Maynes, makes this lovely Macon-Villages from certified organic parcels in Chardonnay,  Montbellet and Viré-Clessé on Bathonian limestone with clay, rich in silica.  Incredibly aromatic, with wildflower, lime blossom, green apple peel, beeswax and spiced  poached apple and pear. Supple and ripe in this rather warm vintage with 13.5% alcohol, it’s balanced by excellent acidity and minerality with more orchard fruit, apricot, and salted peach. Remarkably textured and long with succulent fruit, toasted almond, citrus, and saline minerals and pear on the finish. Totally unlike the usual Macon Villages, this is a delightful wine that will accompany grilled fish, fish in sauce, roast chicken and mild cheeses - and it's delicious to enjoy by itself. TG & DL

Jobard, Antoine 2013 Meursault En La Barre

Lafouge 2014 Auxey-Duresses Les Hautés Blanc

As easy as it is to forget the quality of Auxey-Duresses Blanc, it's just as easy to overlook the sensational quality of Domaine Lafouge. The Auxey-Duresses Blanc Les Hautés (from the lieu dit situated next to Les Vireuils in Meursault) displays a fine balance of white floral aromas (acacia and honeysuckle) with white orchard fruits on the nose. The palate is racy and mineral with pear and nectarine fruit vying for attention with a good degree of mineral cut. This is pretty and a fine value in white Burgundy.  John McIlwain

Lafouge 2015 Auxey-Duresses Les Boutonniers (Blanc)

"Les Boutonniers" is contiguous with Meursault "Meix Chavaux" on shallow soils of clay, high in iron, over the limestone bedrock, usually giving a somewhat lean and very "mineral" white Burgundy. The 2015 shows very floral aromas with pear, citrus and stone. The palate is crystalline and dense with subtle white fruits leading to a long finish with citrus peel, spice and mineral flavors. This is a lovely, very refreshing Burgundy to enjoy with grilled fish, roast chicken and goat cheeses. It's delicious now and will cellar nicely for eight to ten years. DL

Lafouge 2014 Meursault (Les Clous)

Lafouge 2015 Meursault Les Casses-Têtes

The Meursault  lieu-dit Les Casses Têtes is located on the hillside above the premier cru Les Gouttes d'Or and next to Le Tesson. The soils are thin and rocky producing wines of great energy and lift. The 2015 Lafouge is a very pale gold color with aromas of wet stone, pear, fresh herbs and lemon peel with hints of oak - showing a bit more richness and fruit aroma than usual in this ripe vintage. The palate is crystalline and vibrant with stony acidity and flavors of marcona almonds, bitter lemon, dried pear, anise and saline minerals. This is a beautifully structured Meursault to drink now in its rather intense youth with crab, broiled sole, flounder and cod, or cellar for ten to fifteen years or more. Highly recommended. David Lillie 

Lafouge 2015 Meursault Les Meix Chavaux

From eighty year-old vines, in mid-slope on thin well-drained clay/limestone soils, the 2015 Meix Chavaux shows elegant pear, lemon, lime and floral aromas. The palate is rich and ripe with white fruits and exotic citrus covering the chalky core, with firm acidity and mineral flavors in the finish. Serve with full-flavored fish dishes, poultry and white meats, mild cheeses. This is a beautiful young Meursault that is delicious now and over the next ten years. 

Lamy, Hubert 2012 Puligny Montrachet Tremblots Vieilles Vignes

Lamy, Hubert 2012 St Aubin 1er Cru Les Frionnes

l'Arlot 2012 Nuits St Georges Blanc 1er Cru Clos de l'Arlot

Leflaive 2011 Macon Verze

Leroux, Benjamin 2012 Meursault

Leroy 2008 Bourgogne Blanc

Lignier, Hubert 2014 St. Romain

While there are few bargains remaining in the Côte d'Or, one source of gently priced and vibrant Burgundy is the commune of St. Romain, whose location and soils produce wines of fine minerality and verve.  The vineyards, comprised of limestone, clay, and marls produce Chardonnay, which is bright, vibrant and nervy.  The 2014 vintage is floral, yellow-fruited and a hint leesy on the nose with hints of nectarine and pear skin. On the palate the wine is amalgam of ripe pear, fine acids, zesty acidity, and has a savory sense of minerality. There's great energy here with a pungent core of stoniness beneath the fruit. John McIlwain 

Maison en Belles Lies 2014 Monthelie Blanc

Mikulski 2011 Meursault 1er Cru Genevrieres

Mikulski 2012 Meursault

Moreau, Bernard 2014 Chassagne Montrachet 1er cru Champgains

Moreau, Bernard 2014 Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru

Moreau-Naudet 2015 Chablis 375 ml

Morey, Pierre 2013 Meursault Les Tessons

Morey, Pierre 2014 Aligoté

Morey, Pierre 2014 Bourgogne Blanc

Morey-Blanc 2014 St. Aubin 1er

Niellon, Michel 2014 Bourgogne Blanc

Niellon, Michel 2014 Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Chaumées Clos de La Truffière

Niellon, Michel 2014 Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Maltrioe

Niellon, Michel 2014 Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Vergers

Niellon, Michel 2014 Chassagne-Montrachet

Pernot 2014 Bâtard-Montrachet

Pernot 2015 Bourgogne Chardonnay

The wines from the Pernot family in Puligny-Montrachet are well-known throughout the world for classic Puligny and Bâtard style. They have rich concentration and fruit, but more importantly, good acidity that allow them to age gracefully and harmoniously. The 2015 Bourgogne Chardonnay is from vines in the village of Puligny and is an outstanding value in white Burgundy. The color is very pale steely gold, the wine shows lovely aromas of almond, pear, green apple, citrus skin and stone with a bit of lime-flower. The palate is dense but lean with elegant flavors of stone, almond and citrus with a bit of herbal honeysuckle in the end. The finish is very firm with bright mineral acids. This is a lovely junior Puligny that will accompany sole almondine, other fish in sauce, even oysters, and mild goat cheeses. Delicious now, but the 2015 is really worth buying to cellar as well, best 2020 - 2025.

Pernot 2015 Puligny-Montrachet

Ramonet 1999 Bâtard Montrachet Grand Cru

Ramonet 1999 Montrachet Grand Cru

Rateau 2015 Beaune 1er Cru Les Coucherias Blanc

Beaune 1er Cru "Les Coucherias" is high on the slope on the site of an old quarry and much of the sub-soil is limestone tailings, permitting root penetration and drainage, with a topsoil of mixed clay and limestone "marnes blanches." In biodynamic agriculture since 1979, the vineyard is a south-facing semi-circle—a very warm spot giving a full, ripe wine. Light gold/brass color. Lovely aromas of pear, quince, lime-flower and ripe citrus with a bit of oak. The palate is  elegant and supple, with white fruits, almond, citrus and caramel framed in firm acidity and mineral flavors, showing good ripeness but finishing with firm stony acidity. Lovely wine. Delicious now, this should age gracefully till 2030 and beyond. DL

Rouges-Queues 2013 Maranges Blanc

Sabre, Fanny 2011 Meursault 1er Cru Charmes

Tripoz NV Crémant de Bourgogne Nature

Vignes du Maynes (Julien Guillot) 2014 Cremant de Bourgogne Extra-Brut Genevieve 1.5 L

Vignes du Maynes 2015 Macon-Cruzille Aragonite

Carved from vineyards once owned by the Benedictine Abbey of Cluny and farmed organically by Julien Guillot's family since 1954, Clos Vignes du Maynes is one of the most distinctive growers in Burgundy. Aragonite comes from 40- to 80-year-old vines high on the slope, on thin soils of clay, crystallized limestone, and laced with other minerals. This wine is incredibly aromatic upon opening with aromas of golden pear, green apple, apricot, white grapefruit, honeysuckle, and bergamot; there is a hint of earthy heather honey and butterscotch. On the palate it is quite rich and luscious, and much more tropical and salty than in years past. In fact, if tasted blind, I could see this being mistaken for a great Chardonnay from the Jura as it has fantastic acidity, and is beautifully textured, long, and mineral. On day two the aromas have softened a bit, and the palate has gained an added savory note that contributes to a still stunningly long finish. The 2015 Aragonite is not to be missed. Tim Gagnon

Vrignaud, Guillaume 2015 Chablis

Billard 2014 Pommard 1er Cru Les Charmots

Billard 2014 Pommard Les Vaumuriens

Bitouzet-Prieur 2014 Volnay

Bize 2014 Savigny-les-Beaune Grands Liards

From vines planted in 1939, 1950, 1979 in the limestone and red clays and gravels beneath les Lavières. The Aux Grands Liards is bit muted upon opening, but with 2 hours in the decanter lovely fruit and pungent soil aromas emerge. Aromatically the wine is perfumed and quite pretty with aromas of wild strawberry, red currant, black tea, and brambles. Fine strawberry and mineral flavors build on the mid-weight palate and carry over on an admirably long finish. This is a fine and satisfying Savigny-Les-Beaune and recommended for mid to long-term cellaring. Decant early or hold 3-5 years to allow elements to integrate. John McIlwain

Bize, Simon 2015 Bourgogne Les Perrières

From vines planted in the 1970s above Savigny-Les-Beaune. Dark ruby robe. The 2015 is perfumed,  offering aromas of dark berry fruit, black raspberry, dewberry, and peonies on the nose, with a loamy soil note lurking in the background. Initially a bit stern on the palate, the leathery notes give way to brambly pure berry flavors in the glass with hints of spice from the stems. Gains lift and freshness with air. Good punch and drive, though much more ahead if cellared 3-5 years. There's a bit of 2015 power in addition to finesse, but this is a beautifully balanced and layered Bourgogne, with a finely articulated minerality. John McIlwain

Bize, Simon 2015 Savigny-les-Beaune Aux Grands Liards

Aux Grands Liards is located beneath the Les Lavières premier cru. Its soils are comprised of limestone, ferrous clay, and gravel. Per the Domaine, the vines were planted in 1939, 1950, and 1979. The 2015 Aux Grands Liards is a bit more backwards than Les Bourgeots on opening. With air, the nose expands to reveal pure wild cherry, black currant, pomegranate, and an array of baking spice aromas, with just enough earthy notes to remind you that this is Savigny. The palate—equally circumspect on opening—also gains expressiveness and complexity with air. Lovely flavors of red and black cherry, hedge fruits, and game are counterbalanced by savory mineral and spice notes on a vibrant and velvety finish, with a sneakily racy acidity, and ripe tannins framing the whole affair. You could certainly enjoy this young, but there is fantastic potential here for aging into something special. One heck of a Savigny-Les-Beaune for those with patience! John McIlwain

Bize, Simon 2015 Savigny-Les-Beaune Les Bourgeots

The Simon Bize 2015 Savigny Les Bourgeots is higher-toned and more tightly wound than the Bourgogne Perrières. The nose is in a cool register: vine smoke, black cherry skin, wild blackberry cassis, mint, and a hint of brambly wet bark. The palate is tightly wound and nervy, but offers a fine tension between cool ripe fruit and a pungent, sapid mineral character. This needs plenty of air to come together, but the purity of fruit and energy that's implied within the structure is intriguing. Decant now or cellar for 3-5 years to allow the elements to integrate. Should be interesting to follow over the next 7-10 years. Quite enjoyable with pasta and a sausage and mushroom ragu, and should work beautifully with pork in a mustard sauce, or with crispy duck confit and a salad of bitter greens. John McIlwain

Chandon de Briailles 2006 Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru Les Lavières

Chandon de Briailles 2012 Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Les Vergelesses

Chandon de Briailles 2012 Savigny-les-Beaune

From the lieu-dits Aux Foreaux and Les Saucours. Like most of the 2012s we've sampled, this Savigny-Les-Beaune from biodynamic producer Chandon de Briailles marries intensity and purity within a lean, detailed frame. Aromatically reticent at first, the nose evolves over an evening tending toward black fruits, wild berries, crushed herbs, orange peel, and hints of forest floor. On the palate there is a lively interplay between intense berry flavors, savory notes, dusty tannins and a nearly saline mineral core. There is plenty here. Though a bit taciturn now, there is an agreeable balance which suggests a nice upside for midterm aging. JCM

Chandon de Briailles 2014 Corton Clos du Roi

From .38 HA biodynamically farmed vines averaging over 40 years old, high on the hillside of Corton. Traditionally the most powerful and stern of the stable of red Corton lieu-dits at Chandon de Briailles. 80% whole cluster fermentation. There’s a fair bit of reduction to this initially, but with a long decant this recedes to reveal aromas plummy black fruit, animale funk, black tea, and fresh-turned earth. In the mouth ripe red/black fruit flavors mingle with pungent minerality on the vibrant mid-weight palate. There is good sap and firm, but ripe tannins supporting the fruit on the long, substantial finish. This has real class and should be sensational after 10-15 years in the cellar. John McIlwain

Chandon de Briailles 2014 Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Ile des Vergelesses

While the jewel of the premier crus of Pernand-Vergelesses, like Les Lavières, the Ile de Vergelesses vineyard suffered substantially from the hail of 2013. Another in a series of what Claude de Nicolay refers to as “virtual vintages” only half the normal crop was harvested in the 2014 vintage. In light of the vintage character, fermentation was 40% whole cluster with a somewhat shorter elevage to emphasize the beautifully pure fruit. Here the nose shows a blend of black fruits, wood smoke, baking spices, and faint hints of anise. The mid-weight palate features blackberry, cassis, and blood orange flavors giving way to a pungent, nearly saline minerality, which carries thru on the persistent, sapid finish. This has impeccable balance, if not the power of more blockbuster vintages. This is attractive and has plenty of drive and detail to frame the pure, pretty fruit. John McIlwain

Chevrot 2016 Bourgogne Rose 'Sakura'

This Pinot Noir rosé is a blend of the saignée from villages and 1er cru fruit in Maranges, a straight pressing of Hautes Côtes de Beaune fruit, and pellicular maceration of fruit from Hautes Côtes de Beaune. Pale salmon in color and oh-so-fresh, the 2016 Sakura is a bit lighter than the very ripe 2015, with racy minerality, bright acidity, and vivid fruit. The nose combines fresh strawberry, cherry, and crushed herbs, while the refreshing palate features wild strawberry, savory minerality, and a lively, somewhat spicy  finish. Try this perfect summer quaffer with marinated goat cheese, grilled chicken, or a salad made with heirloom tomatoes and fresh local greens. John McIlwain 

Comte Armand 2011 Auxey Duresses Rouge

Comte Armand 2011 Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epeneaux

d'Angerville 2014 Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Ducs

De Montille 2011 Pommard 1er Cru Grands Epenots

This is ripe and full of red fruit with silky tannins and great acidity and intensity and length. A powerful wine, Grands Epenots is one of the greatest of all Pommard 1er Crus, just a step behind the Rugiens-Bas.This was vinified with 33% whole clusters, a decision made based on the ripeness of the stems. JBT    

De Montille 2012 Pommard 1er Cru Grands Epenots

De Montille 2012 Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds

Francois de Nicolay 2011 Côte de Beaune La Grande Chatelaine

Lafarge 2011 Beaune 1er Cru Grèves

The Beaune-Grèves is more powerful than the Aigrots; it is earthier and has darker fruit. There is a lot of mouth-weight and tannin, and that wonderful 2011 acidity that comes out on the finish. Like most of Lafarge's wines, this could age for a long time. A great effort! JBT

Lafarge 2011 Beaune 1er Cru Les Aigrots

The 1er Cru Les Aigrots is on the mid-to-upper slope on the Pommard side of Beaune, as opposed to the Savigny-les-Beaune side. Aigrots is bordered by Les Clos des Mouches, Les Vignes Franches, Pertuisots, Les Sizies, and Champs Pimont. Domaine Lafarge's vines are about 40 years old and Frederic Lafarge says the vines are very unusual; they are growing in a different way from vine to vine to vine, some are very bushy and some have sparse foliage, which may be because of the great variety of plant material in this vineyard. He said that while some growers removed leaves to promote better air circulation, he likes to leave them on to protect the grapes from the near inevitability of a hailstorm. This wine has great fruit upfront and then tannins and astringency—a big structure and all of the components for a long life. JBT

Lafouge 2014 Pommard 1er Cru Les Chanlins

Les Chanlins, a premier cru bordering Volnay, expresses the prettier side of Pommard. A continuation of Volnay Pitures (formerly known as Volnay Chanlins until 2006), the vineyard is steep with more limestone and pebbles rather than clay, producing wines which are typically more generous than backwards.  "Chanlins is one of the most inherently elegant terroirs in Pommards, and the style of the vineyard dovetails with the Lafouge style of winemaking" writes John Gilman. From a small parcel of old vines, the Lafouge 2014 Chanlins shows beautiful aromas of bright red fruits - raspberry, tart cherry and wild strawberry - with earth, citrus, rose, brown spice and game. Lovely tart red fruits on the palate with firm acidity and intense chalky minerality that coats the palate on the long finish. This is a lovely, pure and elegant old-fashioned Burgundy - delicious now with its bright, youthful fruit, best probably 2022 to 2032. DL

Lafouge 2015 Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru La Chapelle

La Chapelle is a "climat" within Les Breterins and Reugne, on the steep slope of la Montagne de Bourdon, facing south/southeast. The vines are well-placed in mid-slope and are mostly sixty years-old, giving the most "generous" of the three Lafouge premier crus. The soils here are partially "marnes blanches"which seems to contribute to the more supple and elegant style of wines from this site.   David Lillie     ....................    Tasted in January, the Chapelle impressed me with immediate pretty red fruit on the nose, then dried fruit and cassis on the palate, with a lovely long finish. This should age nicely.  Eben Lillie

Lafouge 2015 Auxey-Duresses Rouge

Jean and Gilles Lafouge have produced a delicious "village" Auxey-Duresses in 2015 - those looking for value in red Burgundy should stock-up on this lovely wine! Tasted before bottling in January 2017 the wine showed a lovely bright garnet color with very pretty aromas of tart cherry and wild strawberry with violet and citrus. There is lovely ripeness on the palate with ripe cherry and red currant with nice concentration and balance, and a long finish with lingering red fruits and firm acidity.  This will drink beautifully as a young wine, and over the next five to eight years. Given the reasonable price, this is highly recommended! DL

Lafouge 2015 Pommard 1er Cru Les Chanlins

Black and blue fruits, game, mustard seed, violets on nose. Black tea, plum skin, and a whack of ferrous earth on the dense, verging on brooding palate. Medium tannins and ripe, persistent finish. This is not lightweight, but a firm, strapping Chanlins and quite the wine for lamb, game, or daube. Though rich, this is by no means coarse and shows plenty of class. Good with a decant, better still with 7-10 years in the cellar. John McIlwain

Leroux, Benjamin 2011 Volnay 1er Cru

Maison en Belles Lies 2011 Santenay Blanc

Maison en Belles Lies 2013 Corton Grand Cru

Pavelot, Luc et Lise 2006 Pernand Vergelesses Rouge

Rapet, Père et Fils 2014 Aloxe-Corton

From old vines on fairly deep iron-rich soils south of the village in three different parcels, Les Boutieres, Les Citernes and Les Combes. Always a ripe, powerful wine, the 2014 Rapet Aloxe-Corton is well-structured for aging and beautifully balanced with firm acidity and the pretty fruit of this vintage that was saved by ample sunshine from mid-August into October. The wine shows elegant aromas of ripe black cherry and blackberry with hints of violet and earth. On the palate there is an intense fusion of mineral flavors with ripe blackberry and red currant fruit, sappy and long,  framed in firm acidity and ample tannin. This is a big, age-worthy Aloxe that will be quite beautiful when mature, best perhaps 2020 - 2030 and beyond. Quite enjoyable now in its intense youth, decant well in advance or open the night before... David Lillie

Rapet, Pere et Fils 2014 Beaune 1er Cru Beaune-Grèves

Upon opening Rapet's Grèves is a bit circumspect: initially showing a lot of hedge fruit, wood smoke, soil notes. Nose and palate open to reveal dark fruits, a bit of bramble, sous-bois, spice, cherry pit, and mineral spice. Some structure here, but with fine poise. There's a lovely sweetness within the tannins which bodes well for some time in the cellar to allow all the elements to knit. Near term patience should be well rewarded. Decant now or cellar for 3-5 years and enjoy over the next 10 years. Made a fine pairing with a salad of frisée, duck confit, toasted pecans, and a sherry vinaigrette. John McIlwain

Rapet, Père et Fils 2014 Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Ile des Vergelesses

Ile des Vergelesses is certainly one of the best premier cru vineyards in Burgundy - a perfectly exposed mid-slope vineyard on limestone and iron-rich soils, steep enough for ideal drainage, producing wines that age beautifully for 15 to 20 years - considered by many to be grand cru quality. The 2014s from Vincent Rapet are lovely, beautifully balanced wines. The 2014 Ile des Vergelesses shows very bright perfume of wild strawberry, black raspberry, rose, pepper and licorice. The palate is very dense with elegant, chalky red fruits that coat the palate. This should develop beautifully - it's perfectly balanced at 13% alcohol with firm acidity - well structured for aging. Fun to taste now, especially if decanted or opened the night before, probably best 2022 - 2035. David Lillie

Rateau 2008 Beaune 1er Cru Les Reversees

From vines grown in the calcareous clay soils of Les Reversées premier cru toward the bottom of the hill in the center of the slope by Les Teurons. The 2008 shows the cool-toned precision of the vintage. The nose displays dusty black cherry and hedge fruit aromas with notes of herbs and wood smoke. The palate is overtly mineral and savory, with complex soil notes and crushed herbs giving way to more cherry fruit, red currant, orange peel, iron and spice on a mid-weight and persistent finish. This still has a bit of structure to resolve, but it is intriguingly sapid, and satisfyingly earthy. Best now with a decant, better still in 3-5 years. This would pair beautifully with hanger steak and shallots, pasta with wild mushrooms, or roasted guinea hen. John McIlwain

Rateau 2014 Beaune Les Prevoles

Jean-Claude Rateau's domaine has been Biodynamic since 1979 and produces lovely light-bodied, old fashioned Burgundies. The 2014 Beaune Les Prévoles (a lieu-dit below 1er Cru Chouacheux and les Tuvilains) shows beautiful aromas of cherry and berry fruits with rose, blood orange and brown spice.  The palate is chalky, ripe and sapid while remaining light and fresh with berry fruits and tart citrusy acids. This develops nicely with aeration, becoming more supple and round, and finishes with stone, mineral and ripe fruits. Serve this delicious wine a bit cool with any mild chicken or white meat dish and goat cheeses, morbier, tomme de savoie. This should age nicely, best perhaps 2020 - 2026.

Rateau 2015 Beaune 1er Cru Les Bressandes

Jean-Claude Rateau has a large parcel in the 1er Cru Les Bressandes on a steep slope facing east with pebbly clay/limestone soils, conducted in biodynamic farming since 1979. The soil is warm and well-drained giving ripe, structured wines. There is a 21-day cuvaison with manual cap-punching followed by 18 months in old barrels.Even with the minimal extraction practiced at the estate, the 2015 Bressandes shows a dense red/black color and aromas of black cherry and ripe strawberry, quite deep with sous-bois, violet, graphite and citrus. The palate is dense and chalky with blackberry, earth, cocoa and minerals with terrific length of red currant, earth and juicy acidity. Even with the weight and ripeness of the vintage, the wine still seems balanced and frames the copious fruit in ample acidity and tannin. This is a beautiful wine that will give great pleasure in its youth and should be a superb mature wine as well, perhaps until 2032 and beyond.  DL

Rateau 2015 Beaune 1er Cru Les Reversées

Generous black cherry, boysenberry, notes of cherry pit and anise on nose. Ripe mid-weight palate, ripe black fruits, hints of iodine and iron and other soil beneath supple structure. Succulent acidity and savory mineral notes offset the ripeness and lend energy and drive on a rich, palate-coating finish. This has good punch, even if it's more generous than I associate with very young Rateau. The purity of fruit and earth notes are finely balanced and this is an excellent Burgundy for the mid-term. A fine pairing with braised chicken thighs with mustard, tarragon, and shallots. A great value from the pioneer of biodynamic Burgundy! John McIlwain

Rollin 2014 Pernand-Vergelesses

Red/black fruit on the nose. A bit bosky. Bright acid, succulent fruit good balance of bramble and animale on the periphery. Medium tannins. Fresh, punchy attack, lifted mid-palate, good length. There's beautiful poise here between rustic and suave. Good now. Better still in 3-5 years. As always, Rollin remains a solid value in Burgundy and a worthy addition to one's table and cellar. John  McIlwain

Rossignol, Nicolas 2006 Volnay 1er Cru Santenots .375 L

Rouges-Queues 2015 Maranges Rouge 1er Cru La Fussière

Bright and high-toned, red-fruited on the nose. Lovely red cherry, ripe raspberry, and wild strawberry flavors on a velvety, lissome palate with a rising, energetic finish. This is a pretty, rather than powerful expression of La Fussière and a delicious natural Burgundy. Tasty now, should make for immensely pleasurable drinking with a few years in the cellar. John McIlwain

Voillot, Joseph 2013 Pommard 1er Cru Les Pézerolles

Voillot, Joseph 2013 Volnay Vieilles Vignes

The 2013 Volnay Vieilles Vignes from Joseph Voillot is marked by the generosity of the vintage. Pure fruit and freshness (not to mention exuberant energy) are hallmarks of the year. Perfumed with aromas of cherry blossom, Morello cherry, baking spices, and black tea on nose. Positively lovely wild cherry fruit and red currant fruit, with supple tannins and a touch of that mineral zang on the supple finish. This is lifted rather than brooding, but has the stuffing for mid-term aging and should evolve beautifully for the next 7-10 years. John McIlwain

Arlaud 2015 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

Arlaud 2015 Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru

Arlaud 2015 Morey St Denis 1er Cru Aux Cheseaux

Arlaud 2015 Morey St Denis 1er Cru Les Blanchards

Bachelet, Denis 2014 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes

Boillot, Louis 2014 Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Pruliers

Chauvenet 2013 Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Perrieres

It's no secret that the Jean Chauvenet's 2012 Nuits St. Georges Les Perrières was one of my favorite red Burgundies of the vintage. The 2013 is another winner for the domaine. Chauvenet's Christope Drag farms a .23 hectare parcel of old vines high on the slope adjacent to Les Poulettes and Les Poirets between the holdings farmed by Henri Gouges and Regis Forey.  The particularly stony soils retain heat and Christophe says this is typically the first vineyard harvested after the Bourgogne. Personally I find it the most effusively perfumed of his wines with his Vaucrains a close second. The bouquet of the 2013 leaps from the glass, with floral aromas, red fruits, and pretty wild berry aromas, giving way to spices and soil notes. The palate is equally fresh, with red berry, strawberry, Morello cherry, and pipe tobacco flavors giving way to a chalky minerality. There is fine energy and cut to this which carries through on a long, lingering, and building finish.  This is certainly a pretty expression of Nuits St. Georges, but has the tannins and acidity to age with grace. John McIlwain

Chauvenet 2013 Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Damodes

From the vines planted in southern portion of Damodes planted in 1949 and 1956. There are 40cm of brown gravely clay over mother rock. Medium dark robe. The nose is offers an array of dark fruit and floral notes with hints of grilled meat. The palate is distinctly mineral, with salty, reminiscent of iodine flavors giving way to wild blackberry fruit and very fine, velvety tannins. With are the structure builds, but the fruit keeps pace on a long, rising finish. This should drink on the earlier side and pair beautifully with magret of duck or grilled ribeye with herb butter. John McIlwain

Chauvenet 2013 Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Poulettes

From a .17 HA plot of 60-year-old vines in above Perrieres, on a natural wall of calcaire, or limestone. The name Les Poulettes derives from the small game birds found in the area. Christophe Drag notes the site is very warm and sees little wind, so is the first to flower and first harvested. The 2013 shows aromas of blackberry blossoms, dark hedge fruit, and cool herbal notes on the nose. The palate is black-fruited, offering wild blackberry and dark cherry flavors framed by a distinctive mineral edge on a bright, lifted finish. There's a fine balance of structure and fruit and this should drink beautifully in the near term, though I'd wager given time to integrate the elements, there is nice upside for midterm cellaring. Enjoy with mushroom dishes and certainly squab or poussin! John McIlwain

Chauvenet 2013 Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Vaucrains

From a .41 HA parcel of old vines next to Chaboeufs on the north side of Vaucrains. The soils are brown, "fat clays make it hard to work the earth" according to vigneron Christophe Drag, with large oolithic stones are the top of the slope. Always the sternest and most majestic of Chauvenet's crus, the 2013 is aromatically dense with layered dark-fruit, game, and spice aromas giving way to pungent soil notes. The palate is similarly complex with pure black cherry, plum, and earthy flavors underlain with distinctively savory, verging on pungent mineral component on a muscular, driving, persistent finish. There are substantial acidity and ripe tannins girding this masculine, but not coarse Vaucrains, which will benefit with time in the cellar. Decant now,  better still in 7-10 years when this should sing. A beautiful Vaucrains! John McIlwain

Clavelier, Bruno 2011 Vosne Romanée Hauts Mazières Vieilles Vignes

Clavelier, Bruno 2012 Vosne Romanee Hauts de Beaux Monts Vieille Vignes

Clavelier, Bruno 2014 Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Combe d'Orveau

Clavelier, Bruno 2014 Vosne Romanée 1er Cru Aux Brulées VV

Clavelier, Bruno 2014 Vosne Romanée Combe Brulée

Coudray-Bizot 2010 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Cazetiers

De Montille 2012 Vosne Romanée 1er Cru Malconsorts

Desaunay-Bissey 2014 Chambolle Musigny Combe d'Orveaux VV

From 90 year-old vines in the village portion of Combe d'Orveau. The 2014 is a classic expression of Chambolle-Musigny with pretty high-toned aromas of red fruit, rose petals, and spice. The mid-weight palate is silken and flavors  of ripe red cherry, wild raspberry, and chalk dance on a long, fresh, precise finish.  This is lovely and a fine value in Chambolle. John McIlwain

Domaine des Lambrays 2011 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru

Domaine des Lambrays 2011 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru .375 L

Domaine des Lambrays 2014 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru

Engel 1983 Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Brulees

Grivot 2014 Vosne Romanée 1er Cru Beaux Monts

Jane et Sylvain 2013 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Fontenys

Jane et Sylvain have a superb, tiny parcel of Gevrey 1er Cru "Fontenys", high up in the southwest, separated from Grand Cru Ruchottes by a dirt track. They are certified organic and age the wine in old barriques. The 2013 is a bit coiled upon opening, but with an hour or so of air opens to reveal cherry and red berry fruit, wet bark, savory earth, and spice notes on the nose. The palate has good density offering sappy cherry fruit, lively acids, and dark-toned minerality with firm but ripe tannins and a very long, savory finish. This is a classy Gevrey which will need 5-8 years to come together but should drink beautifully for another dozen years after that. John McIlwain    In January of 2014, I tasted the 2002 Gevrey 1er Cru Fontenys in the cellar with Jane and Sylvain.Their eldest son was born in 2002, so they saved a bunch for him, but were generous enough to share one with my father and me. It was transcendental - what I refer to as my "religious experience" with red Burgundy, and possibly one of the most memorable wines I've ever tasted. Flowers, stones, dried fruit, the subtle touch of tannin... truly a blissful experience. Jane says the wine has "la finesse du Ruchottes," referring to the Grand Cru vineyard that is literally feet away from the edge of their vines in the Premier Cru Fonteny.  Unfortunately we don't have any of the 2002 at Chambers, but the 2013 is a great purchase for the cellar - patience will reward you if you can wait for it to develop. Eben Lillie  

Jane et Sylvain 2014 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Fonteny

Jane et Sylvain have a superb, tiny parcel of Gevrey 1er Cru "Fonteny", high up in the southwest corner, separated from Grand Cru Ruchottes by a dirt track, certified organic. Four barrels of 2014 Fonteny were produced, of which one was new. Tasted last February the wine showed dense, deep strawberry and black chery fruit with round supple tannins and a very long firm, palate coating finish. Re-tasted in November 2016, the round strawberry fruit is framed in chalky minerals, quite dense and palate-coating, balanced with soft tannins - a very young wine that will be delightful to drink now but best to wait five to ten years for the velvety complexity to come, best perhaps 2021 to 2035. David Lillie

Jane et Sylvain 2015 Côte de Nuits Villages Queue de Hareng

The vines are in the lieu-dit "Queue de Hareng" below an old quarry at the top of the slope in Brochon, next to Fixin 1er Cru "la Perrière," on shallow red/brown soils of mountain silt and limestone pebbles over the limestone bedrock. Organic farming, wild-yeast fermentations with minimal SO2. The 2015 Jane et Sylvain Côte de Nuits-Villages is a superb and unusual Burgundy showing intense aromas of ripe strawberry and cherry with rose leaf, brown spice and herbal notes as well as dusty stone and mineral smells which are typical of this vineyard. With aeration the aromas become more pure and fruit-driven and the palate shows lovely black cherry, strawberry and red currant fruit, quite dense and ripe, with a finish that's extraodiarily long and pure. Decant 4 to 6 hours in advance if drinking now or cellar for 3 to five years and drink till 2027. Highly recommended for those who enjoy some minerals in their Burgundy!

Jane et Sylvain 2015 Bourgogne Passetoutgrain

Jane and Sylvain have done it again! Another beautiful Passetoutgrain from 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Gamay, grown near Gevrey-Chambertin, organically farmed and quite delicious! The 2015 shows ripe aromas of tart cherry and raspberry liqueur with earth and violets. The palate is lively and bright with morello cherry and raspberry with stone, tobacco and citrus, quite vibrant and long. Really a refreshing and delicious wine, perfect for picnics and barbecues, served quite cool. This is a fantastic value and highly recommended.

Jane et Sylvain 2015 Bourgogne Rouge

Jane et Sylvain: A refreshingly unpretentious name for a small organic estate in Gevrey-Chambertin. Their Bourgogne Rouge is from young vines in a parcel that has never been chemically treated and always tended organically. The 2015 Bourgogne Rouge shows a brilliant red/black color with lovely tart cherry, raspberry and violet aromas, very high-toned and bright. The palate shows the ripeness of 2015 with pretty strawberry and cherry fruit backed by firm acidity, and it finishes with refreshing citrus and red fruits. Serve this lovely Pinot Noir quite cool over the next five years - it's a delicious wine and a great value!

Jane et Sylvain 2015 Gevrey-Chambertin

Jane et Sylvain 2015 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Fonteny

l'Arlot 2012 Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Clos des Forêts

Le Moine 2011 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Malconsorts

Leroux, Benjamin 2011 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses 1.5 L

Lienhardt, Antoine 2014 Côte de Nuits Villages Les Essards

From low-yielding vines located in Comblanchien (probably more famous for its quarries and eponymous limestone than viticulture), planted in the 1960s by Antoine Lienhardt's grandfather. Les Essards is a short distance from another of Antoine's lieux dits, Les Plantes Aux Bois. There is a thin layer of rocky clay topsoil over Comblanchien limestone and the vine rows run from east to west. A bit circumspect upon opening, decanting reveals red plum and ripe cherry aromas with hints of mustard seed and black tea on the nose. The palate is nervy with bright flavors of brambly red fruit, vibrant acidity, and a pungent, verging on saline minerality on a persistent, and detailed finish. Great lift and purity with wonderful interplay between the pure red fruit and distinctly stony elements. Decant if planning to drink now or cellar for 3-7 years to allow the elements to integrate. John McIlwain

Lienhardt, Antoine 2014 Côte de Nuits Villages Les Plantes Aux Bois

A mere 200 meters from Les Essards, Les Plantes Aux Bois has clay top soils overlying the hard limestone mother rock. The nose is generous, perfumed, and dark-fruited with aromas of black raspberry and plum giving way to notes of game and spices. Flavors of blackberry, cassis, and plum dominate on the ripe, mid-weight palate.  There is good freshness, with bright acidity providing lift and drive on a long, lingering, cool-toned finish. Lovely with a quick decant, but plenty of material to justify mid-term cellaring. Delicious! John McIlwain

Lignier, Hubert 2014 Nuits St Georges Les Poisets

Lignier-Michelot 2015 Bourgogne Rouge

From 50+ year-old vines. The 2015 Bourgogne from Lignier-Michelot is perfumed with aromas of ripe black cherry, mulberry, soil, and violet on the nose. The ripe, medium-weight palate offers flavors of bright cherry, wild raspberry, on a long supple punchy finish. This is a great Bourgogne that just cries out for duck confit! -John McIlwain

Lignier-Michelot 2015 Fixin 1er Cru Les Arvelets

Les Arvelets premier cru is located on the top of the slope on the Marsannay side of Fixin. It shares more of the high-toned coltish character of that village than the Gevrey nature of the premier crus to its south, with soils comprised of small stones and sand over hard limestone.  Planted in the 1950s and 1980s. The 2015 Les Arvelets is black-fruited with ripe aromas of bing cherry and dewberry, brambles, and cinnamon, layered with notes of sousbois, iron, and a kiss of oak. The palate displays a cool edge with a fine bead of minerality offsetting the ripeness of the fruit. There's good balance here and this should blossom beautifully with 3 to 5 years in the cellar. John McIlwain

Lignier-Michelot 2015 Morey Saint Denis 1er Cru Les Faconnières

Les Faconnières, planted in 1948, is located beneath Clos St. Denis. 50% whole cluster. This is always the most stylish of Virgile Lignier's premier crus. More floral and denser on the palate than Les Chenevery, with a good deal of the class of the grand crus. The 2015 is effusively perfumed with heady aromas of black and red hedge fruits, wild cherry, and spice. The palate is distinctly mineral, framing lush flavors of sweetly ripe cherry and blackberry, with notes of game and mustard seed on a tense, vibrant finish. As with others of Lignier-Michelot's 2015s, the effusive ripeness in underlain by good structure and bodes well for long-term cellaring. John McIlwain

Lignier-Michelot 2015 Morey Saint Denis 1er Cru Les Faconnières 1.5L

Les Faconnières, planted in 1948, is located beneath Clos St. Denis. 50% whole cluster. This is always the most stylish of Virgile Lignier's premier crus. More floral and denser on the palate than Les Chenevery, with a good deal of the class of the grand crus. The 2015 is effusively perfumed with heady aromas of black and red hedge fruits, wild cherry, and spice. The palate is distinctly mineral, framing lush flavors of sweetly ripe cherry and blackberry, with notes of game and mustard seed on a tense, vibrant finish. As with others of Lignier-Michelot's 2015s, the effusive ripeness in underlain by good structure and bodes well for long-term cellaring. John McIlwain

Lou Dumont 2011 Chambolle Musigny

Magnien, Stephane 2014 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers

This a wonderful expression of Les Sentiers, aromatically expressive and layered. There are bright aromas of black cherry, raspberry, violets, woody herbs, and game on the nose. The mid-weight palate initially shows brambly black fruits, and pungent soil flavors. With time in the glass notes of dark cherry and cherry pit appear along with a savory ferrous minerality and spice notes. The tension between fruit and earthiness is compelling and will gain in complexity with time in the cellar. More expressive on the second day. If enjoying now, decant for several hours or revisit in 7-10 years and enjoy for the decade following.  John McIlwain

Magnien, Stephane 2014 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

Magnien, Stephane 2014 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Cuvée "Aux Petites Noix"

Magnien, Stephane 2014 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Les Monts Luisants

Situated just above Clos de la Roche, the Magnien's 2014 1er Cru Mont-Luisants shares the grand cru's "inherent lushness" (Clive Coates) in this lovely vintage for Burgundy. The wine shows a deep red-black color with lush aromas of blackberry, plum and ripe strawberry with earth, graphite and citrus. Dense ripe blackberry and black cherry fruit coats the palate with hints of bitter chocolate and soil. Surprisingly round but with nice chalky acidity and a long finish of citrus and pretty berry fruits. Quite delicious now, this lovely wine will offer superb drinking with a little time in the cellar, perhaps best 2020 - 2035. DL  Black cherry, animale, ferrous, brambly on the nose. Savory flavors of iodine, black tea, wild blackberry on the palate. Needs a decant to enjoy now,  but there's good fundamental ripeness and structure. Great stony persistence on finish. Carafe or cellar for 5-7 years and enjoy over the next decade. John McIlwain

Magnien, Stephane 2015 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

Magnien, Stephane 2015 Morey-Saint-Denis

The young and very talented Stéphane Magnien is producing delicious, old fashioned Burgundies from his beautifully tended vineyards in and around Morey-Saint-Denis. The estate has never used herbicides and uses a plowing regimen designed to force the roots deeper into the limestone bedrock. The "village" wine is always one of my favorite recommendations in Burgundy due to its elegance, balance, lovely fruit and great value. The 2015 is particularly beautiful, showing a bit more depth and ripeness than the excellent 2014, with aromas of blackberry and strawberry liqueur, violet, brown spice, orange peel, smoke and earth. The palate is dense, but not over-ripe, with earthy black fruits, bitter chocolate, citrus and spice with a core of firm acidity and mineral flavors. Quite delicious as a young wine, this ripe and elegant Morey-Saint-Denis will be at its best from approximately to 2022 to 2030. Those looking for value in a 2015 red Burgundy should consider buying a case of this lovely wine.  David Lillie

Magnien, Stephane 2015 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Cuvée "Aux Petites Noix"

From two premier crus, Les Gruenchers and Clos Baulet, mid slope in Morey Saint-Denis, giving a slightly fuller wine than Faconnieres. As with all of Stephane's parcels, there is a high percentage of old vines of "pinot tordu." The wine is more structured due to the deeper clay soils and gets less pigeage. The 2015, tasted in January 2017, was less aromatic than the Faconnières with very deep ripe red and black fruits, with herbal and mineral flavors and terrific length. This will need time in the cellar but should be a superb mature wine. David Lillie

Ponsot 2010 Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

Rateau 2015 Gevrey-Chambertin

From two small parcels in "Aux Eletois" (below Grand Cru Griottes)  and "les Epointures" (below 1er Cru Clos Prieur) on the more fine and aromatic side of Gevrey.The 2015 shows a lovely bright red/black color with high-toned aromas of ripe black cherry and strawberry with violet and graphite. The palate is dense and ripe with tart red fruits, very pure and long with hints of licorice and citrus with a chalky mineral backbone. Drink now to enjoy the lush, bright fruit or cellar five to eight years, then drink until 2030. Lovely wine. DL

Roumier 2014 Morey St Denis 1er Cru Clos de la Bussière

Taupenot-Merme 2015 Bourgogne Rouge

Organic since 2001, Taupenot-Merme, located in Morey St. Denis (with substantial holdings in St. Romain) produces classically styled Burgundies. The 2015 Bourgogne Rouge was fermented in tank and raised in older barrels. The nose is effusive and dark fruited, with aromas of black cherry, cherry stone , and violets, with notes of game and earth.  The mid-weight palate similarly displays flavors of bing cherry, damson plum, underbrush and spice with good drive and life on a persistent, bright finish. Enjoy with roasted pork, or braised chicken, and strong cheeses. John McIlwain

Trapet 2015 Bourgogne Rouge

Trapet 2015 Marsannay Rouge

Bart 2015 Bourgogne Pinot Noir

The Bourgogne Pinot Noir from Pierre and Martin Bart is particularly pretty in this excellent vintage, and is nicely balanced despite the higher ripeness of 2015. The wine shows aromas of morello cherry, raspberry and forest floor with hints of citrus and spice. The palate is lush and dense but quite bright with citrusy acids beneath ripe berry fruits with earth and spice flavors. Nice chalky earth and berry fruits continue in the finish. This is a lovely everyday Burgundy to enjoy slightly chilled - please decant or open an hour or two in advance.

Champs de l'Abbaye 2015 Monthélie Les Sous Roches

From the biodynamically farmed high altitude Les Sous Roches lieu-dit on the northwest slope in Monthélie composed of clay and stones. The robe is a dense ruby in the glass. The aromas are savory and herbal, with vivid notes of anise, sarsaparilla that evolve into layers of plum, blueberry, and smoke. The palate is showing some of the warmth from 2015 with ripe black cherry, and tangy raspberry flavors balanced by firm acidity. There is excellent mid-term aging potential, aerate if drinking now. Amanda Bowman

Champs de l'Abbaye 2016 Bourgogne Pinot Noir

From 10 to 50 year-old vines grown on limestone soils (Middle Jurassic!) in the commune of Aluze, Cotes Chalonnaise, certified organic since 1999. This is an approachable Pinot Noir, showing lively raspberry fruit, violets, and hints of mint on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with bright wild cherry, spice, tart blackberry and pepper over bracing mineral flavors. Delicious now, best served chilled and with some aeration. Amanda Bowman 

Vignes du Maynes 2015 Bourgogne Cuvée Auguste

The Vignes du Maynes "Cuvée Auguste" is a superb Burgundy made from massale selection Pinot Fin planted in 1964. The parcel, high on the slope in Cruzille, is on Bathonian limestone with a great deal of calcium carbonate crystal (aragonite) with thin topsoils of clay and silica. Yields of 20 hl/ha, semi-carbonic fermentation, with zero additives, bottled under nitrogen. 2015 is a superb vintage for the Cuvée Auguste! The wine shows elegant aromas of black raspberry and wild strawberry with hints of blood orange, violet and brown spice - really lovely. The palate shows a beautiful melange of blackberry, strawberry and tart cherry with citrus, earth and minerals, very sappy and dense. Elegant finish of earth, stone and red fruits. This is a gorgeous wine, and quite delicious now, but cellaring of ten to twenty years should be possible. Congratulations to Julien Guillot for this beautiful Pinot! DL

Vignes du Maynes 2015 Bourgogne Cuvée Auguste 1.5 L

Vignes du Maynes 2015 Mâcon-Cruzille Manganite

Made from Gamay Petit Grains planted in 1953, grown on a limestone parcel high in magnesium, in the Clos des Vignes du Maynes in Cruzille, organic since 900 AD, now certified biodynamic. The energetic Julien Guillot vinifies his reds without sulfur or additives of any kind, producing complex, mineral, elegant wines that transcend their appellation.  The 2015s here are extraordinary, showing the elegance, purity and balance typical of the estate with the wonderful ripeness of the vintage. The wine shows gorgeous red and black fruit aromas with cranberry, earth, stone and musk and hints of mint, chocolate and spice. The palate is bright and intense with balckberry, citrus, stone and earthy flavors, that continue on the very long mineral finish. Always one of the greatest Gamays produced anywhere, the 2015 Manganite is a very young wine that will benefit from decanting or five to fifteen years in the cellar. Highly recommended! DL

Vignes du Maynes 2015 Mâcon-Cruzille Manganite 1.5 L