Wines

97 Points! A texturally beguiling red, with a chewy, creamy stream of dark chocolate, perfumed lavender, plum paste and warm spices framed by alder and camphor. Large in scale yet not heavy, with a supporting beam of iron, plus an energetic through line and prettiness from start to long, captivating finish. Stunning and hard to resist drinking immediately. - Wine Spectator

96 Points! A tasting through the different terroirs in this wine revealed a fresh, intense, highly structured year; not as generous as 2019 or 2020, certainly more austere, and will take longer to come round. Many of the samples had an appealing floral expression, occasionally with herbal nuances from the use of whole bunches, and often really quite dark, dense black fruit on the palate. Tannins, while not green, are decidedly tight and will take time to finesse. A vintage where patience is required and which I suspect will shut down shortly after bottling. - Decanter Magazine

95+ Points! Just bottled, the 2022 Côte Rôtie offers a beautifully classic Jamet perfume of red and black fruits, crushed stone, and sappy flowers. It's medium to full-bodied on the palate and has a broad, layered mouthfeel, building tannins, and a great finish. It needs 7-8 years of bottle age and will see its 30th birthday in fine form. Drink 2031-2052. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! The 2022 Les Inseparables is based on 43% Grenache Blanc, 30% Roussanne, and the rest Viognier, from vineyards throughout California. Its medium gold hue is followed by a medium-bodied, elegant, yet richer wine from Cohn that has a gorgeous nose of ripe lemons, honeysuckle, toast, and white flowers. It brings some classic Cohn richness, but this stays pretty and elegant, with a terrific sense of freshness. It's going to shine on the dinner table for 2-3 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

95 Points! The 2017 Syrah Rockpile Vineyard is another huge success in the vintage. From a great site in the Rockpile AVA of Sonoma County, its deep purple color is followed by a great bouquet of blueberries, iron, crushed rocks, ground pepper, and hints of smoked game. Structured and tannic on the palate, it reminds me of a young Cornas and needs 4-5 years of bottle age. It’s seriously impressive, though, and should have 15 years of overall longevity. - Jeb Dunnuck

Crazy value here. 80% Meunier and 20% Chardonnay from 40+ year-old vines in the Marne Valley with 2018 as the base wine. A joy to drink!

From the importer: Nuits-Saint-Georges famously possesses no grand cru vineyards, but Les Vaucrains is widely considered one in all but name. Always the most complete of Chezeaux’s premier crus, Vaucrains rumbles with tension—an authoritative wine that exudes an impression of depth and solidity. Here, the fruit, mineral, and savory elements bind together more tightly, more seamlessly. Jérôme owns just over a quarter-hectare of east-facing vines in Vaucrains, and his conservative oak regimen—never more than one-third of the barrels are new—highlights the power of the terroir itself.

The vines were planted on high elevation plots in Saint-Aubin in the 1980s. There are two soils types: One on white clay-limestone soil, and the other on a thin layer of red soil on lava, which gives all the complexity to this wine according to Fornerot.

After being handpicked, the harvest is lightly crushed then pressed in a pneumatic press. The juice is then allowed to settle and placed by gravity in French oak barrels to ferment with indigenous yeasts. After aging in barrels for 10 months, the wine is placed in vat for a month and is bottled at the estate.

The grapes come from three parcels totaling .5 hectare that were planted from 1960 to 2000 on the southwest side of the village on deep and well-draining red clay marls. Aged for 12 months (15 to 20% of new oak barrels). After aging, the wine is placed in vats for 6 months and is bottled at the estate.

From vines planted in 1988 totaling .75 hectare, the parcel is situated at the one of the highest points and at the limit of the Saint-Aubin appellation on border of the Grand Cru of Chevalier-Montrachet. The soil is very calcareous, the distorted and deformed stones create an outcropping in the shape of dog teeth (hence, the name). After aging in barrels for 12 months (20% of new oak barrels), the wine is placed in vats for 3 months and is bottled at the estate.

The 2023 Jérome Fornerot Saint-Aubin 1er Cru "Murgers des Dents de Chien" is a white Burgundy wine with tasting notes that include Asian pears, apple blossoms, and toasted macadamias on the nose, followed by a full-bodied palate with notes of Jonagold apples, salted lemon, and a refreshing acidity, balanced by limestone minerality and a persistent finish. It's known for its precision, minerality, and rich, yet refreshing character. 

90 Points! From a parcel situated on Fixin's alluvial fan, the 2019 Fixin Champs de Vosgers bursts with aromas of rose petals, spices, orange rind and peonies. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, it's lively and perfumed, with an immensely pretty, charming profile. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

95 Points! The NV Extra Brut Les Béguines LC 18 is a wine of immense charm and generosity of spirit. Mingling aromas of walnuts, fenugreek, pear, yellow orchard fruit, licorice, white flowers and buttery pastry with evocations of peach and apricot, it's full-bodied, fleshy and voluptuous, with a broad and textural attack that segues into an ample, enveloping core, concluding with a sapid finish. These were the nicest grapes I've ever seen when assessed simply as fruit," Prévost remarks, contrasting the 2018 crop with the smaller berries and thicker skins of, for instance, 2015 "which were great grapes from which to make wine. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

96 Points! Disgorged without dosage, the NV Extra Brut Rosé Fac-similie (LC18) bursts with aromas of red berries, plums and spices mingled with freshly baked bread and dried white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and sapid, with delicate structure and an enveloping core of irresistibly succulent fruit, lively acids and a long, saline finish. While the Fac-similie shares the charm of its white counterpart, its gently phenolic grip seems to temper some of the exuberance of the vintage. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

98 Points! The tiny production 2019 Cornas Cuvée Jana is another gorgeous wine. More up-front and opulent than either the 2018 or 2016, it has a mass of blueberry and black cherry-like fruits as well as smoked game, bouquet garni, ground pepper, and iron. It hits the palate with a lush, opulent attack and has a terrific mid-palate, before the tannins build and clamp down on the finish, showing more loamy earth and mineral notes. It certainly displays the richer, ripe style of the vintage and has moderate acidity, yet the purity of fruit is spot on, it's beautifully balanced, and it’s going to keep for 25+ years in cold cellars. - Jeb Dunnuck

97 Points! Showing greater nuance and complexity on the nose, the 2019 Cornas Jana—named for Michel's daughter and sourced from Les Côtes and Chaillot—is a big step up from Michel's basic Cornas. Hints of violets, mint and crushed stone accent deep cassis and blueberry fruit, while the full-bodied palate is concentrated, rich and tannic, with a long, long, finish. Although not unenjoyable now, it's a Cornas for the cellar, with at least a decade of improvement possible. - Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com

94 Points! A juicy and fruity red with blackberry and some dark chocolate and graphite character. Lead pencil, too. Medium-bodied with creamy and integrated tannins and a juicy finish. Savory and delicious. Some iodine. A blend of grenache, shiraz and mourvedre. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! The 2021 Plexus comprises 48% Shiraz, 28% Grenache and 24% Mourvèdre. This is the first wine that John Duval made when he left Penfolds; the first vintage was 2003. This is polished and juicy, the long and mild 2021 season on show here. There are notes of raspberry pip and cocoa, a hint of chocolate-covered licorice and tobacco, brine and star anise. It's a lovely wine, as ever. And it's potentially a superstar release, given the inherent balance and length of the season and, therefore, the wine too. - Erin Larkin, robertparker.com

93 Points! This quite serious 2021 Red Plexus is a Rhone blend of Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvèdre with an almost Gigondas feel. It delivers exceptional value with its brooding blackberry, meat stocks and licorice aromas, plus a dusting of spices. Dry with excellent focus and concentration, the cooler 2021 vintage provided a tighter and tannic package delivering waves of meaty olive tapenade and peppery complexity. The length is excellent, but it needs a little time to blossom. - Angus Hughson, Vinous

93 Points! Beautifully perfumed notes of violet and lavender add an effusive quality to the core of blackberry, kirsch and fresh plum, with accents of star anise, sage, masala chai and tapenade, plus a touch of bittersweet chocolate that lingers on the long finish, where the plush tannins add further elegance. Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvèdre. - Wine Spectator

93 Points! The 2023 Nisia Las Suertes is 100% Verdejo from very old vines (possibly even the 1880s) and was aged on the lees with bâtonnage for a minimum of 7 months in French oak puncheons and demi-muids. It has more melon ball, hay, crushed stone, and subtly honey nuances that carry to a beautifully textured, layered white with a gorgeous mid-palate, integrated acidity, and a great finish. It's a serious wine that's geared for the dinner table. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! There's also a village red from Labastida, of which I tasted two vintages. The 2021 Viñedos en Labastida is a blend of different plots with some 85% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha and 5% white grapes fermented with indigenous yeasts and some whole clusters in search of balance and elegance. The wine matured in 500- and 600-liter oak foudres in their cold cave. This was my favorite of the village reds, with a perfumed and elegant nose, complex, deep and nuanced. It's serious, harmonious and with very fine tannins. It has medium ripeness and good balance. 3,600 bottles were filled in September 2022. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

93+ Points! The village 2021 Viñedos en San Vicente de la Sonsierra was produced with 75% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and the rest white grapes, mostly Viura from vineyards in the middle and higher part of the village. It fermented partly with full clusters and matured 50/50 in concrete and 500- and 600-liter barrels in their cave. This feels quite serious, with ripeness and power, slowly revealing more elegant notes and some floral hints, with an earthy touch. It feels like the grapes ripened thoroughly in the longer cycle and developed plenty of nuances. It has 13.9% alcohol and is medium to full-bodied, serious and balanced, with the stuffing to develop in bottle. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

Incredible wine! And one of the top Village level Chassagne Montrachet wines we've tasted this year! From 3 parcels all surrounding Grand Cru Criots Batard Montrachet, Lieux-dits: Les Meix Goudard, Blanchot Dessous, En Journoblot, 70+ year old vines. Indigenous yeast fermented and aged in 2/3rd older 500L barrels, 1/3rd older 228L barrels. Unfined and unfiltered

One of the rockiest sites in St. Aubin – very difficult to replant vines, 70m from Montrachet!

35+ year old vines, indigenous yeast fermented and aged in 2/3rd older 500L barrels, 1/3rd older 228L barrels. Unfined and unfiltered

Located in the Beaune area, above the city of Beaune. The appellation Côte de Beaune is given to wines coming from vineyards located on top of the hill overlooking the city of Beaune. It should not be confused with the appellation Côte de Beaune-Villages, the latter given to wines coming from several villages of the Côte de Beaune (but not Beaune itself) and blended together. Côte de Beaune-Villages as an appellation is used only for red wines.

This interesting and unusual wine comes from the estate of Joseph Drouhin on the Côte de Beaune (the slope above Beaune) and some declassified wine from the young vines of the famous Clos des Mouches vineyard.

91 Points! Peach and melon fruit is offset by a bitter citrus note in this tense, well-structured white. An intense version, with hints of wild herbs and a stony feel on the finish. Drink now through 2028. - Wine Spectator