($23, Frederick Wildman and Sons, Ltd.): Need more evidence that the 2014 white Burgundies are terrific?  Here, at the bottom of the Burgundy prestige ladder — Bourgogne Blanc — is a great bargain.  Wines labeled Bourgogne Blanc can come from grapes — always Chardonnay — grown anywhere in Burgundy, from Chablis in the north to the Mâconnais in the south. … Read more

($71, Jeanne Marie des Champs Selection): There could be a more reliable producer of Pommard than Domaine Parent, but I doubt it.  If you want to experience the wines of this famed Burgundian village, Parent is the place to start.  Their 2014s are stunning — a term reserved more for the whites of that vintage than for the reds. … Read more

($30, Jeanne Maris de Champs Selection): Marsannay, an obscure appellation among the rarified sites in Côte de Nuits, is home to incredible values for Burgundy.  I know “incredible value for Burgundy” is an oxymoron, which is why consumers should remember the name Marsannay, a tiny village, which is practically a suburb of Dijon. … Read more

($28): It gets more and more difficult to find affordable Burgundy.  One needs to venture outside of the major villages of the Côte d’Or, or as in this case, to Mercury, a village in the Côte Chalonnaise.  Here the fruity side of Pinot Noir takes on a lovely stony austerity — a complete contrast to New World wine made from the variety. … Read more

($20, Frederick Wildman and Sons, Ltd.): Maison Joseph Faiveley, under the able leadership of Erwan Faiveley, has been transforming itself from a small domaine within large négociant business to a large domaine with a far smaller négociant component.  As part of that transformation, Faiveley has been purchasing smaller domaines, such as Billaud-Simon, one of my favorite Chablis producers. … Read more

($94, Frederick Wildman and Sons, Ltd.): Christian Moreau is one of the very top producers in Chablis.  This producer rarely stubbles, even in a vintage, such as 2013, a “difficult” one caught between two superb ones — 2012 and 2014.  A vintage like 2013 fraught with uneven ripening and rot tests a producer’s ability to work in the vineyard and sort the grapes at harvest. … Read more

($23, Frederick Wildman and Sons, Ltd.): As expected, Billaud-Simon’s 2014 Chablis has more flint and less fruit than its 2014 Petit Chablis (also reviewed this week).  My advice is to buy a bottle of each and taste them side-by-side.  Re-corked and stored in a cold refrigerator, they will remain fresh for a few days — longer than you might think — so you can repeat the experiment nightly, at least for a while.… Read more

($45, Frederick Wildman and Sons, Ltd.): Domaine Faiveley, though based in Nuits-St. Georges in the heart of the Côte d’Or, has always had a strong presence in Mercurey in the Côte Chalonnaise.  Indeed, they own the entire Clos des Myglands, a Premier Cru vineyard, making it a monopole, a rarity in Burgundy where vineyard ownership is usually divided among many growers.… Read more

($23, Frederick Wildman and Sons, Ltd.): The transformation of Maison Joseph Faiveley under the leadership of Erwan Faiveley and his team has been extraordinary, catapulting the house into the top tier of Burgundy’s top producers.  And the quality of the wines shows at all levels, from their top Grand Crus to this “simple” Bourgogne Rouge, which shows the charm and allure of red Burgundy. … Read more

($46, Wilson Daniels): Domaine Leflaive, arguably Burgundy’s finest white wine estate, made a foray into the Mâconnais in 2004, buying 23 acres of Chardonnay vineyards and producing an eye-popping white wine from that region.  They have been extremely happy with the project, have expanded it and currently have about 75 acres there. … Read more

($40): Louis Baisinbert is a name to watch.  He is a small négociant — some would call him a “micro-negociant” — buying no more than a half dozen barrels of an individual wine from a single producer.  He supplies the barrels, never new oak, and performs the elevage, which is literally raising  (finishing) the wine. … Read more

($71): Chablis remains an underappreciated, and hence, under priced source of unique white Burgundy.  While not inexpensive, it is practically impossible to fine Côte d’Or Grand Cru at this price.  And this wine is truly worthy of the Grand Cru moniker. … Read more

($40): Baisinbert made just two barrels of this charming red.  Wonderfully fragrant, it delivers bright raspberry-like fruitiness without a trace of heaviness or jamminess.  He has delivered a wine with good body and concentration, avoiding the leanness often found in wines from Givry. … Read more

($66, Dreyfus, Ashby & Co.): Wines from Gevrey-Chambertin, one of the most recognizable and prestigious villages in Burgundy, are always pricey.  Négociants tell me that it is increasingly difficult for them to find good sources as more and more growers bottle their own production instead of selling it in bulk to négociants.… Read more

($25, Old Bridge Cellars): Maison L’Envoyé brings together Evening Land founder Mark Tarlov and the very talented Burgundy guru, Becky Wasserman (according to their promotional materials, which also tell us that the grapes come from growers’ vineyards in Beaune, the Hautes-Côtes, and even premier cru Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Marconnets).… Read more

($25, Langdon Shiverick Imports): This is another example of why Pouilly-Fuissé is such a popular appellation, home to Chardonnay-based stylish wines at an excellent price. Marie-Pierre took the reins from her father, Claude, in 2002 and, judging from this classy wine, she is a top producer in the appellation. … Read more

($36, Vineyard Brands): Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair, a top-notch producer based in Nuits St. Georges, has, like other Burgundy producers, expanded into Beaujolais.  In 2012, he produced two captivating wines from Moulin-à-Vent, the best of appellation’s 10 crus.  The 2012 Vieilles Vignes, which comes from a variety of parcels within Moulin-à-Vent, transmits the granitic character of the region with a deep earthy firmness. … Read more

($41, Vineyard Brands): More and more producers in Beaujolais are treating the area, especially Moulin-à-Vent, like the rest of Burgundy — as it deserves to be in my mind.  That is, they are making wine from individual vineyards and labeling them as such. … Read more

($45, Langdon Shiverick Imports): Pernand-Vergelesses, located behind (to the west) of the Hill of Corton is slightly off the beaten track, despite laying claim to a sizeable portion of the Grand Cru vineyard, Corton Charlemagne.  As a result, its wines can represent good value — we’re not talking inexpensive, this is Burgundy, after all.  … Read more

($41, Langdon Shiverick Imports): The 2013 vintage lacks the reputation of the great ones, 2010 and 2012, in Chablis.  But consumers should not overlook it.  Talented producers, such as Samuel Billaud, make excellent wines even in what is often called “difficult” years. … Read more

($60, Langdon Shiverick Imports): Koji Nakada, a former Japanese sommelier, created Maison Lou Dumont along with his wife in 2000.  Though they now own a few acres of vineyards, most of their wine comes from the time-honored Burgundian tradition of being a négociant — buying grapes from growers, vinifying, aging and bottling the wine themselves. … Read more

($29, Langdon Shiverick Imports): A wonderful Bourgogne Rouge, this wine demonstrates the appeal of Pinot Noir grown in Burgundy, combining the fruitiness of the variety with the savory character that must come from the locale.  Its impact belies its delicacy.  A charming rusticity makes it an excellent choice for a roast chicken with an aromatic mushroom sauce. … Read more

($58): Domaine Marc Colin, now run by his children, Damien, Joseph and Caroline, is a star producer in Burgundy, in general and in St. Aubin, in particular.  The domaine produces eight different–and distinct–premier crus from St. Aubin, a village that is slightly off the beaten track but lies adjacent to Chassagne Montrachet. … Read more

($24, Louis Latour USA): Though the 2014 vintage for whites looks outstanding at this stage, consumers should not overlook 2013 whites, such as this one.  Latour, one of Burgundy’s top producers, consistently makes a stylish and reasonably priced Pouilly-Fuissé.  With a creamy lushness and firm stony underpinning, the 2013 fits that mold beautifully. … Read more

($387, Jeanne Marie de Champs Selection): La Grande Rue, squeezed between La Tache on one side and La Romanée, Romanée Conti and Romanée St Vivant on the other, is the least renown (and hence, the least expensive) of the famed Grand Cru of Vosne-Romanée. … Read more

($92, Jeanne Marie de Champs Selection): The wine comes from two separate premier cru vineyards, which are close to each other, but are distinct. Yields were so low in 2012–which helps to explain the high prices for that excellent vintage–that Gallois had to combine juice from the two vineyards to make a manageable quantity of wine.… Read more

($475, Becky Wasserman Selection): The wines from Domaine Sylvain Cathiard, now run by Sylvain’s son, Sébastien, have become some of the most sought after in all of Burgundy.  The Premier Cru vineyard Aux Malconsorts is adjacent to and just south of the Grand Cru La Tache, which, in combination of the renown of the producer, explains the extraordinary price for a premier cru. … Read more

($130, Jeanne Marie de Champs Selection): As the name of the vineyard suggests, there’s lots of clay in the soil, which explains the weight and density of the wine.  And given its ferrous nuances, there’s likely to be iron in the soil as well. … Read more

($130, Jeanne Marie de Champs Selection): Domaine Parent, currently run by Anne and her sister Catherine Parent, is one of the finest domaines in Pommard.  Indeed, this Premier Cru and another one from the domaine, Les Argillières, are a lesson in the wines of Pommard, showing the diversity of the wines from that village. … Read more

($100, Frederick Wildman and Sons, Ltd.): The “frères” running this Gevrey-Chambertin-based domaine are brothers Frédéric and Emmanuel Humbert.  Though not as revered as the 2010 vintage, 2011 nonetheless produced some stunning wines. Humbert Frères’ Petite Chapelle is one of them. The Petite Chapelle vineyard is an enclave of premier cru land surrounded on three sides by vineyards carrying the less prestigious village appellation and on the fourth side by the Grand Cru, Chapelle-Chambertin. … Read more

($29, Becky Wasserman Selection): There is an advantage to buying “grower” wines (as opposed to those made by a négociant) with a regional appellation, such as Bourgogne Rouge, which theoretically could come from anywhere within Burgundy.  The consumer knows the approximate locale because most growers’ vineyards are located near their winery. … Read more

($22, Dreyfus, Ashby & Company): St. Véran, a kissing cousin of Pouilly-Fuissé, proves that the Mâconnais is a place for well-priced Chardonnay-based white wines.  Drouhin’s 2013 is more overt than their Rully, showing more fruit and fewer stony elements. Its bright lemony zing makes it a good choice for everyday consumption.… Read more

($25, Dreyfus, Ashby & Company): Consumers who complain about the high price of Burgundy (count me in, by the way) need to run out and buy this wine.  Rully, one of the five appellations within the Côte Chalonnaise, is home to some terrific white wines, made, as in the case with all white Burgundy, from Chardonnay. … Read more

($83, Dreyfus, Ashby & Company): Without doubt, Vaudésir is one of the two top Grand Cru vineyards in Chablis.  (The other is Les Clos.)  In the hands of a talented producer, such as Drouhin who owns a portion of the vineyard, the wine from Vaudésir delivers a near-magical combination of weight and flinty elegance. … Read more

($24, Dreyfus, Ashby & Company): In addition to Drouhin’s extensive holdings in Chablis, it buys grapes and must (newly fermenting juice) from growers with whom it has long-standing relationships.  This village Chablis is a blend of Drouhin’s grapes with those of other growers. … Read more

($32, Dreyfus, Ashby & Company): Though based in Beaune and known best as a top Burgundy négociant, Maison Joseph Drouhin consistently produces excellent Chablis from its extensive holdings there.  Its Chablis, “Réserve de Vaudon,” comes from the Vallée de Vauvillien, which is located between Mont de Milieu and Montée de Tonnerre, two of the best Premier Cru vineyards in Chablis. … Read more

($69, Kobrand): Wines from Chambolle-Musigny, one of the top villages in the Côte de Nuits, are some of the most sought after in Burgundy, which explains why even a village wine, such as this one, commands a healthy price.  Jadot’s 2012 is a great example and demonstrates why wines from that village are so popular. … Read more

($45, Kobrand): Wines from premier cru vineyards in from Beaune, especially from top producers, such as Louis Jadot, while not cheap, remain a relative bargain for Burgundy. This Toussaints, from one of their domaines (Domaine Gagey), delivers more weight and power than you’d expect from Beaune and reflects the character of the 2012 vintage.… Read more

($51, Kobrand Wine And Spirits): In a word — gorgeous.  Though the first whiff hints at grandeur, it takes time in the glass for the charm of this Meursault to reveal itself.  But it does — creamy with a captivating fullness. … Read more

($14, Kobrand Wine And Spirits): Jadot’s 2014 Mâcon Villages offers a fabulous comparison to their very good one from 2012.  While still displaying an engaging creaminess, it’s slightly less rich than the 2012, but has more energy and vivacity.  Those whose tastes run to more voluptuous wines — though still not in the New World ripeness category — will enjoy the 2012. … Read more

($14, Kobrand Wine And Spirits): Chardonnay is prominently displayed on the label to remind consumers that Mâcon Villages, like all white Burgundy, is made from that grape.  Jadot has done an admirable job with this one because it transmits the richness of the 2012 vintage while maintaining good acidity, which gives the wine a pleasant kick. … Read more

($159, Kobrand Wine And Spirits): At first impression, this wine announces its Grand Cru origin. And it keeps sending this signal as you continue to taste it. Part of its grandeur, no doubt, comes from its being an estate wine. (Domaine Louis Jadot in the box at the base of the label means that the grapes come from their portion of the Clos Vougeot vineyard.)… Read more

($31, Kobrand Wine And Spirits): This Bourgogne Rouge delivers far more than you’d expect from that simple appellation and shows that the producer often trumps terroir.  A look at the label explains why.  First, Maison Louis Jadot is one of Burgundy’s top producers. … Read more

($120, Louis Latour USA): No one produces a better Corton Charlemagne consistently than Maison Louis Latour.  Latour, the largest owner of Corton Charlemagne, has ideally located plots on the hill of Corton.  The sheer extensiveness of their holdings means that even in “difficult” years Latour’s Corton Charlemagne is top-notch because they limit production by selecting only the very best grapes. … Read more

($22): The attention wines from small growers receive from the press, sommeliers and retailers can make us overlook wines from even the best négociants.  That’s always a mistake and this wine is just another case in point.  Maison Louis Latour, a top-notch Beaune-based négociant, owns no land in Pouilly-Vinzelles, an appellation neighboring Pouilly-Fuissé. … Read more

($28, Louis Latour USA): Let’s face it:  Buying Pouilly-Fuissé is, figuratively speaking, akin to walking through a minefield.  Wines from this appellation, the best from the Mâconnais region of Burgundy, range from insipid to stellar.  This 2012, from one of Burgundy’s top négociants, is easy to recommend. … Read more