With their 0.8 hectare plot, Lafouge owns two-thirds of this small, south facing Premier Cru. The enchanting 2024 shows a decidedly spicy or brambly – and thoroughly enjoyable – side to Auxey-Duresses. With enticing red fruit flavors, this clean mid-weight charmer finishes fresh with a lively kick.… Read more

As expected from the most acclaimed vineyard in the village (it did append its name), the wine has a majesty from its combination of dark fruit and minerals, all atop a suave, yet firm, texture. It shows the wonderful complexity of Burgundy: Les Duresses, on the same slope as La Chapelle (but facing southeast as opposed to La Chapelle’s more southern exposure) imbues more finesse and elegance, along with more structure, to the wine.… Read more

Domaine Lafouge, a family estate established in Auxey-Duresses in 1650, is a name to remember. Currently run by Gilles Lafouge and his son Maxine, the 4th and 5th generations, respectively, Domaine Lafouge delivers high quality, well-priced Burgundy (a rarity these days).… Read more

Les Hautés, a north-east facing lieu-dit bordering Meursault sits at about 300 meters above sea level and is further cooled by wind coming down the valley. The locale is well-suited to cope with climate change. The soil is a continuation of what is in Meursault but with less clay and less iron, which explains its airiness.… Read more

The lieu-dit Les Meix Chavaux, facing northeast, sits high on the hill abutting the border with Auxey-Duresses. Here, the redder, iron-containing limestone soil contributes to the wine’s elegance, according to Maxine. I think what gives Lafouge’s Les Meix Chavaux its incredible finesse and stature is the near century-old vines planted by Maxine’s great grandfather in 1928 and 1929.… Read more

Duresses was added to the town’s name in 1924, adopting the Burgundian custom of adding the town’s best vineyard to its name. On the opposite valley from Les Hautés, and facing southeast, the vineyard is basically an extension of Volnay and Monthélie.… Read more

Clos du Cellier aux Moines, one of the original vineyards awarded Premier Cru status, faces full south in Givry’s amphitheater of vines, which helps explain its power. Hélène Sarkis, Joblot’s managing director, also believes that the clay in the soil imparts a broader profile to the wine.… Read more

Givry, a village in the Côte Chalonnaise is an under-the-radar Burgundy appellation for high quality and affordable Burgundy, especially its Pinot Noir-based red wines. The Premier Cru vineyards lie in an east- and south-facing amphitheater at roughly 200 to 300 meters above cellar, similar to the exposure of its northernly and most expensive neighbor, the Côte d’Or.… Read more

Despite sitting adjacent to Les Bois Chevaux, and coming from the same producer, the stunning Clos Marole displays a wonderfully different expression of Givry. The slope of Clos Marole is not quite so steep, and the soil contains more clay, which likely explains why the expression of Pinot Noir in this part of Givry runs more towards black-toned rather than red, fruit.… Read more

The south-facing Premier Cru Servoisine vineyard is actually a continuation of the famous Clos du Cellier aux Moines vineyard, just lying further down on the slope. Here, the wine’s profile shows red fruit character, but with more firmness and structure. Gorgeous aromatics predict greatness and the first sip – and subsequent ones – do not disappoint.… Read more

Bourgogne Côte d’Or, a relatively new addition to the regional Bourgogne appellation, indicates that all the grapes came from the prestigious Côte d’Or. I find wines with this appellation made by top producers, like Domaine Michel Bouzereau, to be the place to find bargains in Burgundy.… Read more

Since there are five Meursault-based producers containing the name Bouzereau, the consumer must read the label carefully. Though I’ve not tasted wine from all of them, the wines from Domaine Michel Bouzereau, which I have tasted over many years, are so terrific that I can’t imagine there’s a better one.… Read more

In the right hands, like those of Domaine Michel Bouzereau, the wines from Les Grands Charrons, a lieu-dit, can come across as a Premier Cru. As much as I like their Clos du Moulin, Les Grands Charrons is just longer, deeper with more finesse.… Read more

Montagny, an appellation that takes its name from the eponymous town in the Côte Chalonnaise, is a consistently fine place for affordable white Burgundy. It boasts many 1er Cru vineyards as a quirk of war. Situated within the occupied zone during World War II, the Germans had to pay for classified wines, so growers rushed to get vineyards promoted.… Read more

The Mâconnais in southern Burgundy continues to be a great source for well-priced Chardonnay-based white wines, like this one. If the grapes come exclusively from one of the 26 villages recognized to produce more distinctive wine, like Pierreclos, its name can appear on the label.… Read more

Rully, a village in Burgundy’s Côte Chalonnaise just south of the more famous and expensive Côte d’Or, is a fine place to find more affordable red and white wines. Domaine Dureuil-Janthial, arguably the appellation’s best producer, is a good address at which to start to discover this appellation.… Read more

About 90 percent of holdings of Domaine Joblot, one of the top producers in Givry, are in 1er (or “Premier”) Cru vineyards, like this one. This 4th generation, still family-owned estate, farms all their vineyards organically. Although most of Givry’s production is red, that Côte Chalonnaise village does produce distinctive whites, like Joblot’s En Veau.… Read more

While $70 would not be considered an inexpensive wine for most people, this stunning white Burgundy is a bargain for what it delivers. Its lowly appellation – not even a specific village within the Côte Chalonnaise – highlights the failings of the French appellation system and reminds consumers to avoid being wedded to it.… Read more

Maison Louis Jadot, one of Burgundy’s best négociants, is a major grower, owning, through their various estates, over 300 acres of vineyards in the Côte d’Or. Clos des Ursules was the first vineyard Maison Louis Jadot acquired two hundred years ago, in 1826.… Read more