2010 - Present Wine

A Grand Cru-caliber Spätburgunder of extraordinary depth and finesse—wild red fruit, limestone minerality and Burgundian elegance from Ingelheim’s historic Pares vineyard.

Expert Rating

97 Points James Suckling: “Breathtaking nose of ripe wild berries and herbs, savory and a touch of sous bois. Great concentration and amazingly mouth-filling for just 12.5%, this is a German pinot noir masterpiece and one of the wines of the vintage! Staggering length, the finish still tightly wound. You need some patience to get the best this has to offer. From biodynamically grown grapes. 100% whole cluster, wild-fermented, then 18 months in small oak. Unfiltered and unfined. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.”  STUART PIGOTT — JAMES SUCKLING

The AdamsWein Pares Spätburgunder 2023 is one of Simone Adams’ most ambitious and profound Pinot Noirs, produced from the historic Pares vineyard in Ingelheim, Rheinhessen. Pares is recognized as a VDP.GROSSE LAGE, Germany’s equivalent of a Grand Cru vineyard, and is widely regarded as one of Ingelheim’s most important sites for Spätburgunder. AdamsWein itself is not a VDP member, however, so the estate cannot officially place “GG” on its label.

Situated at approximately 250 meters elevation on the western slope of the Mainzer Berg, Pares combines loess and sandy loam over a limestone base. The limestone gives the wine its unmistakable tension, mineral drive and finely structured finish, while the site’s elevation and exposure help preserve freshness and aromatic clarity.

Simone Adams’ parcel has an unusual history. The land had been abandoned for roughly three decades before Adams reclaimed and replanted it, using her own selections derived from traditional German Pinot material rather than relying on Burgundian clones. The result is a Spätburgunder with an identity distinctly its own—powerful and complex, yet unmistakably tied to Ingelheim.

The 2023 Pares sits at the pinnacle of the AdamsWein Pinot Noir range. It shows remarkable depth and intensity, with raspberry and ripe cherry at its core, surrounded by darker berry fruit, floral notes, savory spice and an earthy, limestone-derived mineral character. Gerstl describes an exceptionally noble aromatic expression, with Burgundian raspberry and cherry notes rising from considerable depth, and awarded the wine a perfect 20/20. Robert Parker awarded the 2023 Pares 95 points.

On the palate, the wine is layered and concentrated without becoming heavy. There is a compelling wildness to the fruit, but also tremendous clarity, freshness and precision. Fine tannins give the wine structure while vibrant acidity and chalky minerality keep everything focused through the long, persistent finish. A recent tasting at the estate singled out the 2023 Pares as the most complete of the single-vineyard wines, emphasizing its combination of depth, layered fruit and freshness.

Winemaking

The 2023 single-vineyard Spätburgunders at AdamsWein were made with 100% whole clusters and matured for approximately 18 months in barrel. Treating the vineyard wines similarly in the cellar allows the differences among Ingelheim’s individual sites to remain particularly transparent.

Adams favors spontaneous fermentation, restrained intervention and minimal sulfur. The estate does not filter or fine its wines, emphasizing purity of fruit and vineyard expression.

Organic & Biodynamic Farming

The 2023 Pares is certified organic, with German retailer Weinfurore specifically identifying the wine as coming from controlled organic cultivation and displaying certification DE-ÖKO-022.

AdamsWein began ecological soil cultivation in 2017 and converted the estate completely to biodynamic farming in 2020. U.S. importer Bowler Wine likewise categorizes AdamsWein’s Pares as biodynamically farmed.

About AdamsWein

Based in Ingelheim am Rhein, AdamsWein is run by Simone Adams, who took over her family estate in 2010. Her work focuses particularly on Burgundy varieties—Spätburgunder and Chardonnay—grown on Ingelheim’s limestone-rich soils. Production is small, yields are restrained and the wines are made with an emphasis on site transparency rather than extraction or overt winemaking.

Grape: 100% Spätburgunder / Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2023
Region: Rheinhessen, Germany
Village: Ingelheim am Rhein
Vineyard: Pares
Site Classification: VDP.GROSSE LAGE / Grand Cru vineyard
Style: Dry Red Wine
Alcohol: 12.5%
Farming: Certified Organic; Biodynamic
Vinification: 100% whole cluster
Élevage: Approximately 18 months in barrel
Robert Parker: 95 Points
Gerstl: 20/20

Character: Raspberry · Cherry · Wild Berries · Flowers · Spice · Limestone · Mineral

Food Pairing

A serious Pinot Noir suited to equally refined dishes: roast duck, venison, lamb, veal, beef tenderloin, roast chicken, wild mushrooms and truffle dishes. Its acidity and mineral structure also make it particularly compelling with richer poultry and game preparations.

Serving & Cellaring

Serve slightly cool at approximately 55–60°F (13–16°C). In its youth, this is a wine worth giving one to two hours in a decanter. Its structure and concentration point toward exceptional longevity; Gerstl gives a suggested drinking window of 2032–2060, although the wine is already impressive today. 

Silky, floral and intensely mineral Pinot Noir from Ingelheim—German Spätburgunder with remarkable Burgundy-like finesse.

Expert Rating

Vinous 94 Points: "The 2023 Spätburgunder Ingelheimer Auf dem Haun is from a west-facing, ventilated site on limestone with a high day-night amplitude. This was made with 100% whole bunches and spent 18 months in 20% new oak. Superb aroma on the nose sends out red flower petal notes, perhaps of peony, eglantine and a beautiful smattering of white pepper. It is exquisitely aromatic, wonderfully lifted, so floral and tender, yet profound and fresh, with a lovely depth. This is all tone, finesse, scent and poise. Its nature is totally disarming and the vivid scent is a killer. The 2023 is wonderful, enduring, bright, fine and silky. (Bone-dry)” — Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous, July 2025

The AdamsWein Spätburgunder “Auf Dem Haun” 2023 is a superb single-vineyard Pinot Noir from Ingelheim in Rheinhessen, made by Simone Adams, one of Germany’s most compelling producers of Burgundian varieties. From limestone-rich soils at higher elevation, Auf dem Haun produces a particularly refined style of Spätburgunder—fragrant, mineral and beautifully poised rather than heavy or extracted.

The 2023 is immediately striking for its perfume. Delicate aromas of red cherry, wild strawberry and red berriesmingle with peony, rose petals and white pepper, followed by subtle earthy and savory notes. Vinous emphasizes the wine’s remarkable floral lift, freshness and depth, describing a Pinot built around tone, finesse, scent and poise.

On the palate, the wine is silky, precise and wonderfully energetic. Pure red fruit is framed by fine savory tannins and a distinctly saline mineral character. There is impressive concentration here, but everything remains graceful and transparent, with freshness carrying the wine through a long, mouthwatering finish. Wine Advocate likewise highlights its purity, red-cherry and strawberry character, fine tannins and persistent saline finish.

This is the kind of German Pinot Noir that makes the comparison with Burgundy especially compelling. It has the aromatic delicacy and textural refinement associated with fine Côte d’Or Pinot, yet retains the freshness and limestone-driven character of its Rheinhessen origins. The 2023 is already beautifully expressive, but its balance and structure suggest considerable potential for further development in bottle.

About the Vineyard

Auf dem Haun is one of Simone Adams’ prized Ingelheim parcels. The site sits relatively high on the slope and is distinguished by limestone-rich soils, which help produce wines with tension, freshness and pronounced mineral definition. Adams has increasingly focused her range around individual vineyard expressions, allowing differences in soil and exposition to become more transparent in the finished wines.

About AdamsWein

Based in Ingelheim am Rhein, AdamsWein is led by Simone Adams, whose Pinot Noir and Chardonnay have become particularly admired for their precision, moderate alcohol and distinctly Burgundian sensibility. The estate works organically and favors spontaneous fermentation and restrained cellar intervention, with the goal of allowing vineyard character to remain at the center of each wine.

Grape: 100% Spätburgunder / Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2023
Region: Rheinhessen, Germany
Village: Ingelheim am Rhein
Vineyard: Auf dem Haun
Style: Dry Red Wine
Alcohol: 12.5%
Farming: Organic

Character: Red Cherry · Wild Strawberry · Peony · White Pepper · Limestone · Saline · Silky

Food Pairing

An excellent partner for roast duck, chicken, pork tenderloin, veal, grilled salmon, mushroom dishes and earthy risottos. Its bright acidity and fine tannins also make it especially versatile with charcuterie and moderately rich cheeses.

Serving & Cellaring

Serve slightly cool at approximately 55–60°F (13–16°C). A young bottle will benefit from 30–60 minutes of air. While already wonderfully fragrant and silky, its balance, concentration and mineral structure should reward additional bottle age.

94 Points VINOUS: “The 2024 Chardonnay Auf dem Haun is on the Mainzer Berg, facing west, on weathered limestone with very thin topsoil. The tender nose is shy, offering a touch of dried maize and a hint of lemon. The palate is utterly bright and serene, with supple, smooth, buffered freshness against a backdrop of smooth, lemony yeast. This textural element carries salt, freshness and that lovely feeling of deep, deep stone. The lemony brightness redoubles on the finish. This is exquisitely balanced, long and so clear-cut. (Bone-dry)” — Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous, July 2026

The AdamsWein Chardonnay Auf Dem Haun 2024 is an exceptionally refined, mineral-driven Chardonnay from Ingelheim in Germany’s Rheinhessen, crafted by winemaker Simone Adams. More reminiscent of fine white Burgundy than conventional German Chardonnay, it combines concentration and texture with striking freshness, salinity and precision.

The Auf dem Haun parcel sits higher on the slope than Adams’ Heerweg vineyard, where the leaner site naturally produces a more elegant expression. The soils are a complex mixture of loess, loam, clay and marl, giving the wine both depth and a distinctive stony, mineral character. The vineyard is organically farmed, and AdamsWein completed its organic conversion in 2023.

The 2024 opens gradually with lemon zest, yellow apple and restrained citrus fruit, layered with smoky reduction, wet stone, subtle herbs and delicate savory notes. With air, the fruit becomes broader and more expressive while remaining beautifully controlled. The palate is concentrated yet remarkably graceful, with a creamy texture balanced by energetic acidity and a pronounced saline, tactile minerality.

There is a distinctly Burgundian sensibility here: understated fruit, beautifully integrated oak and a structure built around texture and mineral tension rather than overt richness. Falstaff described the wine as possessing the imposing structure of a young great Burgundy and awarded the 2024 95 points. Vinous awarded 94 points, highlighting its brightness, deep stony character, saline freshness and exceptionally clear, persistent finish.

Winemaking

The Chardonnay grapes are whole-cluster pressed and spontaneously fermented, allowing indigenous yeasts to emphasize the character of the vineyard. The wine is matured for approximately 12 months in French barriques, with only a modest proportion of new oak, followed by minimal sulfur additions before bottling. The restrained élevage provides texture and complexity without obscuring the fruit or mineral character.

The finished wine is completely dry, with approximately 12.5% alcohol, preserving remarkable freshness despite its concentration. Falstaff reports just 0.8 g/L residual sugar.

About AdamsWein

Based in Ingelheim am Rhein, AdamsWein is the estate of Simone Adams, whose wines have developed a reputation for their individual vineyard expression, minimal-intervention winemaking and distinctly Burgundian refinement. Her Chardonnay and Spätburgunder are particularly compelling, combining cool-climate freshness with impressive depth, texture and longevity.

Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Vintage: 2024
Region: Rheinhessen, Germany
Village: Ingelheim am Rhein
Vineyard: Auf dem Haun
Farming: Organic
Style: Dry White Wine
Alcohol: 12.5%
Élevage: Approximately 12 months in French barrique
Vinous: 94 Points
Falstaff: 95 Points

Character: Lemon · Yellow Apple · Wet Stone · Smoke · Saline · Mineral · Precise

Food Pairing

A superb partner for roasted or grilled fish, lobster, scallops, roast chicken, veal, pork tenderloin and creamy mushroom dishes. Its combination of richness, acidity and mineral tension also makes it excellent with dishes finished with beurre blanc or light cream sauces.

Serving & Cellaring

Serve around 50–54°F (10–12°C) rather than overly chilled. In its youth, the wine benefits from air and can be decanted for 30–60 minutes. It has the structure and concentration for serious bottle development, becoming more layered and expressive as its youthful reduction and tightly wound mineral character relax.

95 Points Vinous: “The 2025 Riesling Niersteiner Pettenthal Grosses Gewächs opens with flintiness and smoke. Underneath that lies a tender touch of ripe, yellow, red-cheeked peach that beckons with juiciness. Rounded, ripe generosity just flows on the palate, energised by a salty, zesty undertow that seems to reach deep into the red rock. This is wonderfully aromatic, beautifully long and lasting, absolutely pure. The more air this gets, the more peach appears. (Bone-dry)” — Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous

The Gunderloch Pettenthal Riesling GG 2025 is a profound, beautifully sculpted dry Riesling from one of the most celebrated vineyards of Germany’s Rheinhessen. Pettenthal is classified as a VDP.GROSSE LAGE®, Germany’s equivalent of a grand cru vineyard, and lies on the dramatically steep Roter Hang (Red Slope) above the Rhine at Nierstein. Its distinctive red, iron-rich slate and clay soils give the wines remarkable mineral intensity, spice and longevity.

The 2025 vintage combines impressive concentration with an unusually elegant, cool-toned personality. The bouquet unfolds gradually with citrus zest, lemon balm and crystalline orchard fruit, followed by savory nuances of green olive, rosemary, wet stone and delicate herbal spice. Rather than relying on overt fruitiness, this is a Riesling defined by precision, tension and a compelling stony character.

On the palate, the wine is bone-dry, focused and beautifully structured, with vibrant acidity carrying layers of citrus and mineral flavor through a long, persistent finish. There is considerable depth beneath its restrained exterior, suggesting a wine that will become increasingly complex with bottle age. Gunderloch gently presses the grapes, transfers the juice without pre-clarification into traditional large wooden casks and allows spontaneous fermentation to complete fully dry—a style designed to emphasize vineyard character rather than winemaking intervention.

The 2025 growing season proved particularly favorable on the Roter Hang, avoiding both frost and hail while receiving sufficient summer rainfall to prevent excessive drought stress. The resulting Pettenthal shows the generosity of the vintage without sacrificing freshness or precision.

About Gunderloch
Founded in 1890, Gunderloch is one of Rheinhessen’s historic benchmark estates and remains closely associated with the great Riesling vineyards of the Roter Hang. Today the estate is led by Johannes Hasselbach, with Riesling accounting for approximately 85% of its production. Pettenthal, Rothenberg, Hipping and Ölberg are among its prestigious VDP.GROSSE LAGE sites.

Grape: 100% Riesling
Region: Rheinhessen, Germany
Vineyard: Niersteiner Pettenthal
Classification: VDP.GROSSE LAGE® / Grosses Gewächs (GG)
Style: Dry White Wine
Character: Citrus · Herbs · Red Slate · Mineral · Precise · Long

Food Pairing: Excellent with oysters and shellfish, grilled or roasted fish, lobster, sushi and sashimi, roast chicken, pork, veal and sophisticated vegetable dishes. Its mineral intensity and acidity also make it particularly compelling with richer seafood preparations.

Serving: Serve at approximately 48–52°F (9–11°C). A young bottle will benefit from some air before serving, while its structure makes it an excellent candidate for extended cellaring.

There's a precision to William Fèvre's Beauroy that announces itself immediately — white peach, citrus confit, subtle florals and that unmistakable Chablis minerality cutting through every sip. This is Premier Cru from the Troësmes sector of the left bank, where approximately 1.1 hectares of 60-year-old vines dig into clay-limestone soils that give the wine its characteristic tension and depth. The 2024 vintage is an unusually concentrated expression: rich and powerful on the palate, yet precise and fresh in the way only Fèvre's vineyard-focused approach achieves. The finish is bright, persistent, and beautifully defined — the kind that stays with you long after the glass is empty.

• Grape: Chardonnay
• Region: Chablis Premier Cru, Burgundy, France
• Climat: Beauroy (Troësmes sector)
• Vintage: 2024
• Format: 750ml
• Vines: ~60 years old, 1.1 hectares

Food Pairing

Oysters, scallops, lobster, grilled fish, roast poultry, veal, and aged goat cheese. Serve lightly chilled.

Professional Ratings - Vintage 2024

93 pts — Vinous: "Rich, dense and powerful… excellent concentration before concluding in a sappy, bright and firm finale. Unusually good example of the climat."

92 pts — Jasper Morris: "Fuller than many from this part of Chablis, without losing elegance. A citrus touch refreshes the finish which is persistent. Drink from 2027–2031."

90–93 pts — Burghound: "Outstanding! White peach and citrus, excellent concentration and a bright, firm finish."

Pure, mineral and beautifully precise Premier Cru Chardonnay from Puligny-Montrachet.

Lucien Le Moine's 2023 Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru La Garenne is a refined and highly expressive white Burgundy, combining the crystalline minerality and tension associated with Puligny-Montrachet with the house's signature depth and texture.

La Garenne is one of Puligny-Montrachet's classified Premier Cru climats in the Côte de Beaune. The vineyard produces Chardonnay of notable freshness, precision and mineral definition, making it an especially compelling site for lovers of structured, age-worthy white Burgundy.

The 2023 vintage opens with cool, lifted aromas of Granny Smith apple, lemon rind, crushed fennel and delicate floral notes. The palate is rich and caressing without losing focus, showing generous Chardonnay fruit framed by vivid acidity and pronounced minerality. Citrus notes become increasingly prominent toward the finish, which is bone-dry, firm, beautifully balanced and impressively persistent.

This combination of richness and tension is particularly characteristic of fine Puligny-Montrachet: the wine has enough breadth and texture to feel luxurious, yet its mineral backbone keeps the palate focused, energetic and precise. The 2023 La Garenne is already compelling, but its structure suggests excellent potential for further development in bottle.

Lucien Le Moine is the tiny Beaune-based micro-négociant founded by Mounir Saouma and Rotem Brakin in 1999. The house specializes in Premier and Grand Cru Burgundy, generally producing only one to three barrels of each individual Cru.

The wines are selected very early, immediately after pressing, and raised entirely by Lucien Le Moine through bottling. Both whites and reds are aged on 100% of their lees, with gentle bâtonnage when appropriate and no racking during élevage. The wines are bottled by gravity and are neither fined nor filtered, preserving their texture, complexity and individual vineyard character.

In La Garenne, this long lees aging adds richness and depth while allowing the vineyard's naturally mineral, citrus-driven personality to remain clearly defined. The result is an elegant, concentrated and beautifully balanced Premier Cru white Burgundy.

Professional Review

BURGHOUND 93 POINTS :  Cool, airy and pure aromas include those of Granny Smith apple, lemon rind, crushed fennel and a floral top note. The rich, generously proportioned and caressing medium weight flavors also exude evident minerality on the overtly citrusy bone-dry finish that exhibits impressive persistence on the well-balanced and firm finale. Fine quality here and worth checking out. 91-93

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Burgundy, France
Subregion: Côte de Beaune
Appellation: Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru
Vineyard: La Garenne
Vintage: 2023
Size: 750ml

Food Pairing: Excellent with lobster, scallops, oysters, roasted or grilled fish, poultry in a light cream sauce, veal, mushroom dishes and risotto. It also pairs beautifully with Comté, Gruyère and other firm, nutty cheeses.

Serving: Serve lightly chilled rather than ice cold to allow the wine's aromatics, texture and minerality to emerge. Lucien Le Moine recommends decanting its wines, including the whites, so that naturally retained CO2 from the long élevage can dissipate and the wine can fully open.

Taut, mineral and beautifully layered Premier Cru Chardonnay from one of Meursault's most distinctive high-slope sites.

Lucien Le Moine's 2023 Meursault Premier Cru Blagny Blanc is a refined expression of Chardonnay from the elevated vineyards of Blagny, situated above the classic Meursault slopes near the border with Puligny-Montrachet. White wines from this sector are entitled to the Meursault appellation, and the site's higher elevation and limestone-rich soils are known for giving the wines a particularly fresh, structured and mineral character.

The 2023 opens with aromas of ripe pear, white peach and citrus blossom, joined by notes of hazelnut, brioche and subtle flint. The palate is generous yet focused, balancing Meursault's characteristic richness with bright acidity and a firm mineral core. Orchard fruit and citrus unfold across a creamy, finely textured palate, while saline and chalky notes bring precision and lift to the long, persistent finish.

Blagny offers a compelling contrast within Meursault. Its elevated position lends the wine additional freshness and tension, resulting in a style that combines the breadth and texture associated with Meursault with a more linear, mineral-driven personality reminiscent of neighboring Puligny-Montrachet.

Lucien Le Moine is the tiny Beaune-based micro-négociant founded by Mounir Saouma and Rotem Brakin in 1999. The house works exclusively with selected Premier and Grand Cru wines from the Côte d'Or, typically producing only one to three barrels of each individual Cru.

The wines are selected very early and raised entirely by Lucien Le Moine from the beginning of their élevage. Both whites and reds are aged on 100% of their lees, with no racking during maturation. The wines are bottled by gravity and are neither fined nor filtered, an unusually patient approach designed to preserve texture, complexity and the individual character of each vineyard.

In the 2023 Meursault Premier Cru Blagny, this extended lees aging brings depth and supple texture without obscuring the site's naturally cool, stony personality. The result is a distinctive white Burgundy with concentration, freshness and excellent potential for further development in bottle.

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Burgundy, France
Subregion: Côte de Beaune
Appellation: Meursault Premier Cru
Vineyard: Blagny
Vintage: 2023
Size: 750ml

Food Pairing: Excellent with lobster, scallops, roasted fish, poultry in cream sauce, veal, mushroom dishes and risotto. Its combination of richness and mineral freshness also pairs beautifully with Comté, Gruyère and other firm, nutty cheeses.

Serving: Serve lightly chilled rather than very cold to allow the wine's texture and aromatics to fully emerge. Lucien Le Moine recommends decanting its wines, including the whites, allowing naturally retained CO2 from the long élevage to dissipate and the wine to open fully.

Rich, mineral and beautifully refined Premier Cru Chardonnay from Chassagne-Montrachet.

Lucien Le Moine's 2023 Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru La Grande Montagne is an expressive white Burgundy combining the depth and texture for which Chassagne is celebrated with freshness, precision and a persistent mineral character.

La Grande Montagne is a Premier Cru climat of Chassagne-Montrachet in Burgundy's Côte de Beaune. The vineyards of Chassagne sit on predominantly clay-limestone soils, providing Chardonnay with an exceptional balance of richness, structure and mineral tension.

The 2023 offers an inviting aromatic profile of ripe pear, citrus, yellow apple and white flowers, complemented by subtle notes of toasted almond, stone and gentle spice. On the palate, the wine is generous and layered, with beautifully textured Chardonnay fruit balanced by bright acidity and an underlying mineral backbone. The finish is long, focused and elegant, with lingering citrus, saline and lightly nutty nuances.

Lucien Le Moine is the tiny Beaune-based micro-négociant founded by Mounir Saouma and Rotem Brakin in 1999. Production is exceptionally limited, often amounting to only one to three barrels of an individual Cru. The wines are selected shortly after pressing and then raised entirely by Lucien Le Moine from the beginning of their élevage through bottling.

A defining element of the house style is extended aging on 100% of the lees. The wines remain on their lees throughout élevage without racking, allowing them to develop remarkable texture, complexity and depth. Bottling is performed by gravity, and the wines are neither fined nor filtered.

In La Grande Montagne, this distinctive approach brings an additional dimension of richness and breadth to the naturally mineral character of Chassagne-Montrachet. The result is a compelling Premier Cru with impressive presence today and the structure to develop beautifully with bottle age.

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Burgundy, France
Subregion: Côte de Beaune
Appellation: Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru
Vineyard: La Grande Montagne
Vintage: 2023
Size: 750ml

Food Pairing: Beautiful with lobster, scallops, roasted or grilled fish, poultry, veal, creamy mushroom dishes and rich seafood preparations. It is also an excellent match for aged Comté, Gruyère and other firm, nutty cheeses.

Serving: Serve lightly chilled rather than ice cold to allow the wine's texture and aromatics to emerge. Lucien Le Moine recommends decanting its wines, including the whites, so that naturally retained CO2 from the long élevage can dissipate and the wine can fully open.

Elegant, mineral and deeply expressive Premier Cru Chablis.

Lucien Le Moine's 2023 Chablis Premier Cru Montmains is a beautifully poised expression of Chardonnay from one of Chablis' classic left-bank Premier Cru sites. Montmains is a relatively cool, wind-exposed vineyard rooted in Kimmeridgian marl, conditions that naturally favor freshness, tension and the distinctive mineral character associated with fine Chablis. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

The 2023 is precise yet generous, opening with aromas of fresh lemon, green apple and citrus zest, followed by subtle notes of white flowers, almond and crushed stone. The palate combines ripe Chardonnay fruit with vibrant acidity and a firm mineral core, showing excellent concentration without sacrificing freshness. Chalky, saline nuances emerge toward the finish, which is long, clean and beautifully balanced.

Lucien Le Moine is the tiny Beaune-based micro-négociant founded by Mounir Saouma and Rotem Brakin. Their highly individual approach emphasizes extended aging on the full lees, minimal movement of the wine, no racking during élevage, and bottling without fining or filtration. The result is a style that combines remarkable texture and depth with a transparent expression of each individual vineyard. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Montmains is especially compelling in the hands of Lucien Le Moine: the vineyard's naturally cool personality and mineral backbone provide a striking counterpoint to the house's rich, lees-driven texture. The result is a Chablis with both immediate presence and excellent potential for further development in bottle.

Professional Review

Allen Meadows (Burghound) notes:  With respect to 2023, Mounir told me that “it is a vintage of excess in every sense of the term. We again had, at least from a historical perspective, an extreme growing season if perhaps not quite as extreme as those of several other recent vintages. Yields were high everywhere, alcohols were generous, acidities were lowish without being actually low and despite all of this, I believe 2023 is an exceptionally good vintage. One of the all-time greats? No, but certainly as good as any number of vintages over the past 20 years and better than many. 

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Burgundy, France
Appellation: Chablis Premier Cru
Vineyard: Montmains
Vintage: 2023
Size: 750ml

Food Pairing: An exceptional partner for oysters, shellfish, scallops, grilled or roasted fish, lobster, poultry in cream sauce and soft goat cheeses. Its combination of acidity, minerality and texture also makes it an excellent choice for richer seafood preparations.

Serving: Serve lightly chilled. Lucien Le Moine recommends decanting its wines, even whites, to allow naturally retained CO2 from the long élevage to dissipate and the wine to fully reveal its aromatics and texture. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Premier Cru Chablis with remarkable depth, energy and mineral precision.

Lucien Le Moine Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu 2023 is a distinctive expression of Chardonnay from one of Chablis' most highly regarded Premier Cru vineyards. Situated southeast of the Grand Cru hill, Mont de Milieu enjoys excellent exposure and generous sunshine, producing wines that combine the unmistakable mineral character of Chablis with impressive richness and power.

The 2023 opens with an expressive and slightly exotic aromatic profile of white peach, citrus peel, jasmine tea and delicate floral notes. The palate is concentrated and beautifully textured, with excellent mid-palate density, vibrant freshness and a pronounced mineral backbone. Despite its richness, the wine remains precise and focused, leading into a long, balanced and distinctly bone-dry finish.

Powerful · Mineral · White Peach · Citrus · Floral · Bone-Dry

Lucien Le Moine is the small, highly regarded Burgundy house founded by Mounir and Rotem Saouma in Beaune. Working with carefully selected wines from exceptional vineyards throughout Burgundy, the domaine is known for long élevage, minimal intervention and an uncompromising approach designed to allow each vineyard and vintage to reveal its individual character.

Mont de Milieu's combination of warmth, limestone-rich Chablis terroir and Premier Cru pedigree gives this wine both immediate aromatic appeal and the structure to develop beautifully with time. An impressive Chablis for drinking alongside seafood, oysters, lobster, scallops, grilled fish, roast poultry and creamy cheeses.

Expert Rating

BURGHOUND 93 POINTS:  There is a cool exoticism to the nose of jasmine tea, orange peel, white peach and just enough Chablis character to be persuasive. There is excellent volume and mid-palate density to the solidly powerful and sappy medium-bodied flavors that conclude in a bone-dry, long and balanced finale. This also needs to develop better depth but given the potential aging curve, that should not be an issue. 91-93

Varietal: Chardonnay
Region: Burgundy, France
Appellation: Chablis Premier Cru
Vineyard: Mont de Milieu
Vintage: 2023
Bottle Size: 750ml

A Sonoma Chardonnay of quiet authority. Myrna opens with bright notes of white peach, toasted hazelnut, and Meyer lemon zest, before settling into a creamy mid-palate threaded with vanilla and fresh oak. The finish is focused and clean — a wine that earns its scores without announcing them.

Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Appellation: Sonoma County, California, USA
Vintage: 2019
Format: 750ml

Far Mountain Winery is a small-production estate tucked into the hills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, with fruit sourced from select Sonoma vineyards. Winemaker Tom Rice brings a minimalist touch to every bottle — native yeast fermentation, careful barrel selection, and a commitment to letting the vineyard speak for itself. Myrna is their flagship Chardonnay, named in tribute to a beloved mentor, and it shows the kind of personal investment that only small, passionate producers can deliver.

For those looking to experience the Vincent Paris style at a lower price point, Granit 30 is another exceptional find.

Named for the approximately 30-degree slopes on which its Syrah grows, Granit 30 offers a beautifully expressive introduction to Paris' Cornas: dark fruit, pepper, mineral character and the unmistakable granitic personality of the appellation.

It delivers the combination that makes Vincent Paris so compelling — Cornas intensity without heaviness, plenty of Northern Rhône character, and remarkable freshness and precision.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2024

96 Points James Suckling: A profound nose of cherries, crushed raspberries, roasted meat, cigar box, black pepper, warm spices and some bark and leather. Medium- to full-bodied with fine tannins. Expansive and spherical. Ample but refined in texture, with perfectly integrated structure at the edges and a vibrant, focused midpalate showing a bright, stony and peppery dimension. Quite spectacular for the vintage, with a very long, flinty finish. Drink or hold.

96 Points Jeb Dunnuck: Brilliant aromatics of blue fruits, fig, blood orange, pepper, and violet notes emerge from the medium-bodied 2024 Cornas La Geynale, which has a concentrated mouthfeel, building, ripe tannins, and a gorgeous finish. This reminds me of a great vintage of Clape Cornas! It sees a lot more stems and comes from the oldest vines of the estate, and it's going to need 4-5 years of bottle age. It's up there with the crème de la crème of the vintage. Barrel Sample: 94-96

95 Points Vinous:  The 2024 Cornas La Geynale hails from the glass with intense peppercorn, crushed rocks, fleshy tones and precisely ripe blackberry. Dried violets and earthy tones add more aromatic layers. Built like a skyscraper, the 2024 is a serious La Geynale in the making, lifting the finish with stupendous vitality. I can't wait to taste it once it's bottled. Barrel Sample: 93-95

Granit 30 is Vincent Paris’ vibrant, approachable expression of Cornas, produced from relatively young Syrah vines planted at both the lower and upper reaches of the appellation, from approximately 100 to 400 meters in elevation. The fruit comes in part from the Patou sector, where vines grow in decomposed granite soils at the base of the hillside, giving the wine freshness, finesse and an unmistakable mineral character.

Because the vines are younger than those used for Paris’ more powerful Cornas bottlings, the grapes are fully destemmed before fermentation. The wine undergoes approximately three weeks of maceration with gentle extraction, followed by 12 months of aging in used barrels. This restrained approach keeps the emphasis on pure Syrah fruit, spice and the granitic personality of Cornas rather than oak.

The 2024 Granit 30 shows a deep red color with aromas of blackberry and other dark fruits layered with black pepper, savory spice and subtle earthy notes. The palate is juicy and energetic, with ripe fruit, peppery complexity and supple, well-coated tannins.

Compared with Vincent Paris’ more structured Granit 60 and La Geynale bottlings, Granit 30 is especially inviting in its youth. It offers plenty of classic Cornas character—dark Syrah fruit, spice, freshness and mineral drive—while remaining polished, balanced and remarkably easy to enjoy.

The finish is long and savory, with lingering pepper, dark fruit and granite-derived freshness. It can be enjoyed relatively young for its exuberant fruit and supple texture, yet it has enough structure and balance to develop beautifully for more than a decade.

An excellent introduction to both Vincent Paris and the Cornas appellation, Granit 30 delivers genuine Northern Rhône character with impressive purity, freshness and value.

Producer: Domaine Vincent Paris
Vintage: 2024
Region: Northern Rhône, France
Appellation: Cornas AOC
Grape: 100% Syrah
Vineyards: Parcels at the lower and upper slopes of Cornas
Elevation: Approximately 100–400 meters
Soil: Granite and decomposed granite
Vinification: 100% destemmed; approximately three-week maceration with gentle extraction
Aging: 12 months in used oak barrels
Style: Dark-fruited, peppery, fresh and supple
Cellaring: Delicious young; capable of aging for 10+ years

Latour Vincent Meursault "Clos des Magny" 2024 is an elegant and beautifully focused white Burgundy from Domaine Vincent Latour, the historic Meursault estate now run by Vincent Latour and his wife, Cécile. Formerly known as Domaine Latour-Labille, the domaine traces its history back to 1792 and has become known for Chardonnay that balances generous texture with freshness, tension and precision.

Clos des Magny comes from a 0.93-hectare parcel planted between 1979 and 1983, situated just below the village of Meursault. These mature vines provide naturally concentrated fruit while retaining the freshness and mineral character that define classic Meursault.

The wine is fermented and aged in demi-muids on the lees for approximately 12 months, without lees stirring. Vincent Latour favors this restrained approach to élevage, allowing the wine to gain depth and texture from its time on the lees while preserving clarity, energy and a strong sense of terroir.

The 2024 Clos des Magny offers the richness expected from Meursault while remaining beautifully poised. Aromas of ripe pear, yellow apple, citrus and white flowers are joined by subtle mineral and gently savory notes. The palate is supple and layered, with a creamy texture balanced by bright acidity and a fine mineral backbone.

As the wine opens, additional notes of orchard fruit, lemon zest, hazelnut and delicate spice may emerge, leading into a long, refined finish. The absence of lees stirring helps maintain freshness and definition, giving the wine an appealing combination of Meursault richness and precise, energetic structure.

Clos des Magny is an excellent example of Vincent Latour's style: expressive and textural without becoming heavy, with the fruit, élevage and mineral character working seamlessly together. It is delicious now with a little air, yet has the concentration and balance to develop additional complexity with bottle age.

Producer: Domaine Vincent Latour
Grape: Chardonnay
Region: Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France
Appellation: Meursault
Vineyard: Clos des Magny
Vintage: 2024
Parcel Size: Approximately 0.93 hectare
Vine Age: Planted between 1979 and 1983
Élevage: Fermented and aged in demi-muids on the lees for 12 months; no lees stirring
Bottle Size: 750ml

Pairing: Beautiful with scallops, lobster, grilled or roasted fish, roast chicken, creamy poultry dishes, mushroom risotto, veal, soft-ripened cheeses and aged Comté.

Latour Vincent Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot 2024 is a serious, beautifully structured white Burgundy from Domaine Vincent Latour, the historic Meursault estate run by Vincent Latour and his wife, Cécile. The domaine traces its origins to 1792 and is known for producing Chardonnay with richness and texture while preserving freshness, tension and precision.

This wine comes from a small 0.25-hectare parcel in Morgeot Premier Cru, one of the most important and historically recognized Premier Cru sectors of Chassagne-Montrachet. The vines were planted in 1956 and 1994, bringing together the concentration and complexity of mature vines with the energy and balance characteristic of this celebrated Côte de Beaune terroir.

The wine is fermented and aged in demi-muids on the lees for approximately 12 months, without lees stirring. Vincent Latour's restrained approach to élevage allows the natural power of Morgeot to develop while maintaining clarity, freshness and definition rather than emphasizing oak or excessive richness.

The 2024 shows the broad, generous personality associated with Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru, with layers of ripe orchard fruit, citrus, subtle white flowers and mineral notes. The palate is concentrated and textured, yet balanced by lively acidity and a firm mineral backbone. Delicate savory and lightly toasted nuances add complexity, leading into a long, polished and persistent finish.

Morgeot is particularly known for producing white wines with depth, breadth and impressive aging potential. Latour's old-vine parcel and careful vinification give this bottling both immediate appeal and the structure to develop additional complexity with time in the cellar.

A compelling Premier Cru for collectors and Burgundy enthusiasts, this is an excellent example of Chassagne-Montrachet's combination of power, elegance and mineral precision.

Producer: Domaine Vincent Latour
Grape: Chardonnay
Region: Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France
Appellation: Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru
Vineyard: Morgeot 1er Cru
Vintage: 2024
Parcel Size: Approximately 0.25 hectare
Vine Age: Plantings from 1956 and 1994
Élevage: Fermented and aged in demi-muids on the lees for 12 months; no lees stirring
Bottle Size: 750ml

Pairing: Excellent with lobster, scallops, roasted or grilled fish, halibut, turbot, roast chicken, veal in cream sauce, mushroom dishes, risotto, aged Comté and other rich, savory cheeses.

A Remarkable Village Chablis from Just Below Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre
Patrick Piuze's 2025 Chablis "Les Bas De Chapelots" comes from a particularly exciting vineyard situated directly below the Chapelots climat of the renowned Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre. The parcel was planted in 1982 and was introduced to Piuze's lineup with the 2023 vintage, making this one of the newer and more distinctive additions to his collection of vineyard-specific Chablis.

Although classified at the village Chablis level, the vineyard's location immediately beneath one of the Right Bank's celebrated Premier Cru sites gives this bottling unusual pedigree. Patrick Piuze's philosophy is centered on precisely these differences in terroir, producing individual wines from specific vineyards rather than blending away their distinctive personalities.

Tasting Notes
Fresh, approachable and beautifully mineral, the 2025 Les Bas De Chapelots shows bright notes of pear and lime supported by the stony, mineral character associated with classic Chablis. The palate combines juicy fruit with freshness and precision, leading to an impressively long, mineral-driven finish.

Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Subregion: Chablis
Appellation: Chablis
Vineyard: Les Bas De Chapelots
Vintage: 2025
Producer: Patrick Piuze
Vine Age: Vineyard planted in 1982
Location: Directly below the Chapelots climat of Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre
Farming: Sustainable
Fermentation: Spontaneous fermentation
Malolactic Fermentation: Naturally occurring
Bottle Size: 750ml

About Les Bas De Chapelots
Les Bas De Chapelots is a special village-level site located immediately below Chapelots, a climat within the celebrated Chablis Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre on the Right Bank of the Serein. Its proximity to Premier Cru vineyards makes it an especially compelling example of Patrick Piuze's terroir-focused approach to Chablis.

The vineyard was planted in 1982, and Patrick Piuze first introduced Les Bas De Chapelots as a separate bottling with the 2023 vintage. The wine combines the freshness and accessibility of village Chablis with impressive mineral persistence and a sense of place that makes it particularly attractive for Chablis enthusiasts.

About Patrick Piuze
Montreal-born Patrick Piuze has established himself as one of the most distinctive producers in modern Chablis. Working closely with growers throughout the region, he sources fruit from carefully selected parcels and produces numerous vineyard-specific wines designed to highlight the differences between Chablis' individual terroirs.

Piuze places particular emphasis on old vines and careful harvesting. While machine harvesting is widespread in Chablis, his grapes are harvested by hand. In the cellar, fermentations occur spontaneously and malolactic fermentation proceeds naturally, with a deliberately low-intervention approach intended to keep the vineyard character at the forefront.

Food Pairing
An excellent partner for oysters, clams, shrimp, scallops, crab, sushi and sashimi, grilled or roasted white fish and roast chicken. Its combination of citrus freshness, ripe pear and persistent minerality also makes it a beautiful aperitif and a natural match for fresh and soft cheeses.

Why We Like It
Les Bas De Chapelots occupies an unusually privileged position for a village-level Chablis, sitting directly beneath Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre. With vines dating to 1982 and Piuze's meticulous terroir-driven approach, this is an excellent opportunity to experience a distinctive Chablis site at an especially attractive level. 

93 Points James Suckling: Limes, pears, white flowers and wet stones on the nose. Open and balanced, with good acidity and a chalky texture. Approachable now, but better in 2028.

Old-Vine Chablis with Depth, Ripe Fruit and Chalky Minerality
Patrick Piuze's 2025 Chablis "Terroir de Courgis" is a distinctive village-level Chablis from a single vineyard on the Left Bank of the Serein. Planted in 1937, the old Chardonnay vines grow in clay-rich topsoil over classic Kimmeridgian limestone bedrock, producing one of the richest and most generously textured wines in Piuze's Terroir series.

The greater proportion of clay found on the Left Bank contributes weight, texture and ripe fruit, while the underlying limestone provides the freshness, chalky structure and mineral character that define classic Chablis. Piuze vinifies the Terroir wines in tank rather than barrel, keeping the focus firmly on fruit, freshness and vineyard expression.

Tasting Notes
Expressive and beautifully balanced, the 2025 Terroir de Courgis offers aromas of fresh lime, ripe pear and white flowers layered with wet stone and mineral notes. The palate is open and generous, showing juicy orchard and stone fruit balanced by lively acidity and a distinctly chalky texture. Fuller and rounder than many of Piuze's other village Chablis bottlings, it nevertheless retains excellent freshness and a clean, mineral-driven finish.

Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Subregion: Chablis
Appellation: Chablis
Village/Terroir: Courgis
Vintage: 2025
Producer: Patrick Piuze
Vineyard: Single vineyard
Vine Age: Planted in 1937
Soil: Clay topsoil over Kimmeridgian limestone bedrock
Farming: Sustainable
Fermentation: Spontaneous fermentation
Vinification & Aging: Fermented and aged in tank
Bottle Size: 750ml

About Terroir de Courgis
Courgis lies on the Left Bank of the Serein, an area of Chablis where the soils generally contain more clay than those of the Right Bank. This additional clay tends to produce wines with greater breadth, richness and ripe fruit while preserving the underlying limestone-driven freshness and minerality of Chablis.

Patrick Piuze's Terroir de Courgis comes from a single vineyard planted in 1937. Among his village-level Terroir bottlings, Courgis is typically the most substantial and weighty, characterized by ripe, juicy fruit and a generous texture balanced by classic Chablis acidity and minerality.

About Patrick Piuze
Canadian-born Patrick Piuze has become one of the most distinctive winemakers in Chablis, building his reputation through a remarkable collection of vineyard-specific wines. Rather than blending away the differences between sites, Piuze emphasizes individual terroirs, allowing each village and vineyard to express its own personality.

His cellar approach is deliberately low intervention. Fermentations occur spontaneously, and the village-level Terroir wines are fermented and aged primarily in older stainless-steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally, and the wines receive only gentle filtration before bottling. The result is a transparent style of Chablis focused on freshness, texture, minerality and sense of place.

Food Pairing
Excellent with oysters, clams, crab, scallops, shrimp, sushi and sashimi, grilled or roasted white fish, roast chicken and creamy seafood dishes. The additional richness of Courgis also makes it an excellent match for richer shellfish preparations, poultry and soft cheeses.

Cellaring
Already approachable for its generous fruit and open texture, but its acidity and mineral structure should allow it to develop additional complexity with bottle age. James Suckling suggests it will be even better beginning in 2028. ```

Bob's South African Pinotage 2025

A bold and expressive Pinotage from the sun-drenched vineyards of the Western Cape, South Africa. Bob's 2025 vintage delivers the grape's signature smoky depth alongside vibrant red fruit — ripe plum, cherry, and a hint of dark chocolate — with a smooth, full-bodied finish.

Tasting Notes

Deep ruby in the glass with aromas of ripe plum, smoked meat, and dark berry. On the palate, flavors of blackberry, mocha, and a touch of vanilla lead to a warm, lingering finish with well-integrated tannins.

Food Pairings

Pairs beautifully with boldly flavored comfort foods. Try with turkey meat loaf and spicy tomato chutney, vegetarian three-bean chili, or pulled pork sandwiches with burnt end baked beans.

• Grape: Pinotage
• Region: Western Cape, South Africa
• Vintage: 2025
• Size: 750ml

Terre de Vertus is one of Larmandier-Bernier's most celebrated single-terroir Champagnes — a vintage Blanc de Blancs drawn entirely from Chardonnay grown in the Premier Cru village of Vertus. The fruit comes from two plots within the Les Barillers lieu-dit, situated mid-slope with a southeast exposure, a site the estate has vinified separately since 1995. Farmed biodynamically and fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in old oak casks and large wooden foudres, the wine rests on its lees through winter before undergoing secondary fermentation in bottle and more than five years of additional lees aging. The 2017 was disgorged in May 2023 with zero dosage — no sugar added — preserving the vineyard's exceptionally pure, dry and mineral expression.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2017

93 Wine Advocate: "The 2017 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Terre de Vertus imparts a very mineral, almost crystalline character. A vineyard that rarely produces powerful wines, even in the context of 2017, it has retained its personality, though it's a little more generous and slightly less focused than the 2016 rendition. Unfurling from the glass with aromas of lemon peel, honeysuckle and oyster shell, it is medium-bodied, racy and saline-tinged."

93 Vinous: "Creamy, open-knit and quite seductive. Readers will find a generous, sensual Champagne with plenty of early appeal. Dried pear, crushed flowers, mint and chamomile build beautifully over time. This is a fine effort in a very challenging year."

Tasting Notes

Precise, expressive and intensely mineral. The nose opens with lemon peel, dried pear and delicate floral notes, followed by honeysuckle, mint, chamomile and a distinctive oyster-shell salinity. The palate is creamy and generous yet beautifully energized — fine acidity and a taut mineral backbone carry through to a finish that is dry, racy, saline and exceptionally pure. Oak fermentation lends supple texture; zero dosage ensures nothing stands between you and the terroir of Vertus.

Food Pairing

An exceptional partner for oysters and shellfish, sashimi, sushi, scallops, grilled or roasted white fish, lobster, roast poultry and aged cheeses. Its saline character and zero dosage make it especially compelling alongside seafood and dishes built around fresh herbs or citrus.

Specifications

Grape Variety: Chardonnay (100%)
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Sub-Region: Côte des Blancs
Village: Vertus
Classification: Premier Cru
Style: Blanc de Blancs / Brut Nature / Non Dosé
Dosage: 0 g/L — Zero Dosage
Vintage: 2017
Vineyard: Les Barillers lieu-dit
Farming: Biodynamic
Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts in old oak casks and large wooden foudres
Aging: 5+ years on the lees in bottle
Disgorgement: May 2023
ABV: 12%
Bottle Size: 750ml
Producer: Larmandier-Bernier

Longitude is Larmandier-Bernier's chalk-driven, Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs — a wine of remarkable precision and mineral energy that captures the essence of the Côte des Blancs. Made entirely from Chardonnay grown along the celebrated north-to-south line of villages near the 4th meridian — Vertus, Oger, Avize, Cramant and Chouilly — the wine takes its name from this near-straight longitudinal axis of vineyards. Where the estate's Latitude is broad and generous, Longitude is linear, taut and intensely mineral.

The 2021-based release is composed of approximately 60% wine from the cool, energetic 2021 vintage together with 40% from the estate's perpetual reserve, established in 2004. Grapes are gently pressed before undergoing spontaneous alcoholic and malolactic fermentation with indigenous yeasts, then fermented and matured in wood on their natural lees without fining or filtration. After blending and tirage, the Champagne undergoes extended bottle maturation before disgorgement in April 2024 with a dosage of just 2 g/L — firmly Extra Brut.

Expert Reviews

93 Decanter: "There's an extra dash of mineral energy and zesty length in this cuvée. Subtly creamy and peppery, yet fulsome in white peach, pear and lemon oil, it gains a savoury, umami depth from 40% addition of perpetual reserve. Always a model non-vintage blanc de blancs."

92 Jeb Dunnuck: "More focus and a compact, linear drive from more chalky soils, with notes of lemon candy, Anjou pear, and a very pretty floral perfume. Medium-bodied, it has a refreshing and fine mousse, with pleasing lift and a clean finish."

92 Wine Advocate: "A considerable increase in intensity and tension compared to Latitude. Medium-bodied, taut and incisive in personality. Offers aromas of white flowers, citrus fruit and oyster shell. Tangy acidity, informed by the long and cool growing season, with mineral-laden undertones, leads to a chalky, long-lasting finish."

92 Wine Spectator: "Hints of lime blossom and pink grapefruit sorbet are a citrusy thread through this sleek, finely knit Champagne. It's racy and lightly spiced, with flavors of yellow plum and chalky mineral set on the delicate mousse."

Tasting Notes

Bright, focused and intensely mineral, the 2021-based Longitude opens with white flowers, fresh citrus, green apple and subtle oyster-shell notes. The palate is taut and energetic — tangy acidity framed by chalk, crushed stone, citrus peel and a delicate saline character. Elegant rather than broad, it finishes long, dry and exceptionally precise. This is classic Côte des Blancs Chardonnay: pure, linear and refreshing, with enough depth from the perpetual reserve to add complexity without sacrificing the wine's crystalline personality.

Food Pairing

An outstanding aperitif and a natural partner for oysters, shellfish, sashimi, sushi, grilled white fish, scallops, fresh goat cheese and delicate poultry dishes.

Specifications

Grape Variety: Chardonnay (100%)
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Sub-Region: Côte des Blancs
Villages: Vertus, Oger, Avize, Cramant, Chouilly
Classification: Premier Cru
Style: Blanc de Blancs / Extra Brut
Dosage: 2 g/L — Extra Brut
Base Vintage: 2021
Blend: ~60% 2021 base wine, 40% perpetual reserve (est. 2004)
Farming: Biodynamic / organic
Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts; spontaneous alcoholic and malolactic fermentation; aged in wood on lees
Disgorgement: April 2024
ABV: 12%
Bottle Size: 750ml
Producer: Larmandier-Bernier

Deep Down is a boutique Marlborough producer founded by Clive Dougall and Peter Lorimer — two passionate advocates for organic viticulture, honest winemaking, and wines that genuinely reflect their place of origin. Their philosophy is simple and uncompromising: small batch, single vineyard, wild ferment wines crafted with minimal intervention and maximum transparency. Low or no additions, no shortcuts, and a deep respect for the land and the people who farm it. Deep Down is, as they put it, about trusting intuition, calling time, and taking flight.

The Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from a single certified organic vineyard in Marlborough — New Zealand's most celebrated wine region, situated at the northern tip of the South Island. Marlborough's long, sunny days, cool nights, and free-draining stony soils are the ideal conditions for Sauvignon Blanc of exceptional aromatic intensity and natural freshness. Farming organically here is both a commitment and a statement of intent: the vineyard is managed with care and respect, allowing the terroir to express itself without chemical interference.

Vinification follows Deep Down's signature approach: wild fermentation with indigenous yeasts, minimal additions (sulphites, yeast nutrient, clarification enzyme, and bentonite only), and small batch production that allows for close attention at every stage. The result is a Sauvignon Blanc that diverges from the category's typical tropical fruit template — more textured, more complex, and more distinctly its own.

The 2024 opens with an aromatic and distinctive nose of lemon-peel confit, orange blossom, rose petals, and flint, with a wild meadow of herbs and flowers. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with focused acidity, generous texture, and notes of passionfruit curd, puff pastry, and lavender. A slightly oxidative, yeasty quality adds complexity and depth — this is a Sauvignon Blanc for those who want something more than the obvious.

"Aromas of lemon-peel confit, orange blossoms, rose petals and flint. The medium-bodied palate has focused acidity, generous texture and notes of passion-fruit curd, puff pastry and lavender. Wonderfully constructed with a floral edge. From organically grown grapes."
— James Suckling, 93 Points (Vintage 2024). 

"A distinctive Savvy B from a small batch producer… A slightly oxidative apple cider character mingles with yeasty, nutty, hay-like aromas and a wild meadow of herbs and flowers. The palate is more muted, the focus primarily on the gently slippery texture, the gentle acidity and bruised orchard fruit and floral flavors."
— Wine Enthusiast, 90 Points. (Vintage 2024). 

Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Marlborough, New Zealand
Vintage: 2024
Farming: Certified Organic
Vinification: Wild ferment, single vineyard, small batch
Closure: Screwcap
Bottle Size: 750ml

Pairing: Fresh oysters, grilled fish, goat cheese, herb-forward salads, and light vegetable dishes. Serve well chilled.

Château Haut Grignon is a small, family-owned estate in the Médoc, belonging to Bruno Segond, who also owns the neighboring Château Lousteauneuf — a well-regarded Cru Bourgeois distributed across Europe, Japan, and Canada. With just four hectares of vines, Haut Grignon is a boutique property that practices sustainable agriculture and focuses on producing wines that reflect the classic character of the Médoc appellation with precision and authenticity.

The estate's vineyards are planted on clay and gravel soils typical of the Médoc, with vines averaging 25 years of age and planted at a density of 5,000 vine stocks per hectare. Yields are kept deliberately low at approximately 45 hectoliters per hectare, concentrating flavor and ensuring quality. The blend is led by Cabernet Sauvignon (67%), complemented by Merlot (31%) and a touch of Petit Verdot (2%).

Vinification takes place in stainless steel vats to preserve freshness and fruit expression. The wine is then aged in a combination of 60% vats and 40% French oak barrels, building structure and complexity while maintaining the lively, fruit-forward character that defines the estate's style. Total production is limited to approximately 30,000 bottles per vintage.

The 2019 opens with a bouquet of black fruit, cassis, and cedar, with a touch of warm spice. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with firm, well-integrated tannins, bright black-currant acidity, and a clean, spiced finish. Densely structured yet fresh and approachable, with the depth to reward further cellaring. 2019 is an outstanding vintage in Bordeaux, and this Cru Bourgeois delivers exceptional value for the appellation.

"Under the same ownership as neighboring Château Lousteauneuf, this property offers a densely structured wine that is also fresh from black-currant acidity. The current dryness will soften to give a rich, always textured wine. Drink from 2023."
— Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast

Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon 67%, Merlot 31%, Petit Verdot 2%
Region: Bordeaux, France
Appellation: Médoc, Cru Bourgeois
Vintage: 2019
Vine Age: ~25 years
Élevage: 60% vats, 40% French oak barrels
Bottle Size: 750ml

Pairing: Roast beef, lamb, duck confit, game, aged hard cheeses, and classic Bordelaise preparations.

A powerful and beautifully structured Vintage Port from one of the most celebrated Douro vintages of the modern era, Maynard’s Vintage Port 2011 combines concentrated dark fruit, firm tannins and impressive depth. Produced from traditional Douro grape varieties and crafted by winemaker Álvaro van Zeller, this cellar-worthy Port offers richness and intensity along with the structure for continued development in bottle.

The 2011 vintage produced remarkably concentrated and age-worthy Ports throughout the Douro. Maynard’s expression captures the character of the year with generous fruit, substantial body and a firm tannic backbone balanced by freshness.

Region & Style

Country: Portugal
Region: Douro Valley
Appellation: Porto
Wine Type: Fortified Red Wine
Style: Vintage Port
Vintage: 2011
Bottle Size: 750ml
Alcohol: 20% ABV
Winemaker: Álvaro van Zeller

Grape Varieties

Maynard’s Vintage Port 2011 is produced from traditional indigenous Douro varieties, including:

• Touriga Nacional
• Touriga Franca
• Tinto Cão
• Old-vine Douro varieties

These grapes provide the intense fruit concentration, color, tannic structure and aromatic complexity essential to a fine, long-lived Vintage Port.

Winemaking & Aging

The grapes are harvested by hand at full ripeness and partially destemmed before crushing. Extended skin contact and maceration help extract the deep color, concentrated flavor and tannic structure characteristic of the wine.

During fermentation, grape spirit is added at the appropriate moment to stop fermentation and preserve the wine’s natural sweetness, aromatic intensity and structure.

The Vintage Port is then matured in oak vats in the Douro under controlled temperature and humidity conditions before bottling. The wine is not stabilized before bottling, allowing it to continue its slow evolution and development in bottle. As a result, natural sediment may form with age.

Tasting Notes

Deep and nearly opaque in color, Maynard’s Vintage Port 2011 displays impressive structure, concentration and body. Aromas of ripe red and dark fruits lead into a rich palate dominated by blackberry, blackcurrant and concentrated berry fruit.

The texture is notably creamy and generous, yet the wine possesses a substantial framework of firm tannins that provides definition and excellent aging potential.

Rich fruit continues through the palate into a persistent, concentrated and beautifully structured finish.

94 Points — Wine Enthusiast

Wine Enthusiast awarded Maynard’s Vintage Port 2011 an outstanding 94 Points.

Reviewer Roger Voss noted the wine’s rich opening, firm tannins and substantial weight, emphasizing the solid structure surrounding its generous blackberry fruit. The combination of abundant fruit and powerful tannins points to excellent long-term development.

The Exceptional 2011 Vintage

2011 is regarded as an outstanding year for Vintage Port, producing wines of remarkable fruit concentration, tannic structure and freshness throughout the Douro Valley.

The finest wines from the vintage were built for extended aging, and Maynard’s 2011 shows exactly those qualities: concentrated fruit, substantial structure and the balance necessary for graceful development over many years.

Serving & Decanting

Vintage Port naturally develops sediment as it matures in bottle. Stand the bottle upright for approximately 24 hours before opening, allowing the sediment to settle, and then decant carefully before serving.

Serve at approximately 16–18°C / 61–64°F in a generous Port or red-wine glass to allow the aromas and flavors to fully develop.

Food Pairing

Maynard’s Vintage Port 2011 is an outstanding after-dinner wine and pairs beautifully with Stilton, aged sheep’s milk cheese, blue cheese and other intensely flavored cheeses.

It is equally compelling alongside dark chocolate, chocolate truffles, walnuts, dried fruits and rich chocolate desserts, or simply enjoyed by itself as a contemplative finish to a meal.

Cellaring

This is a serious Vintage Port with the concentration and tannic structure for extended bottle aging. Store horizontally in a cool, dark location with a stable temperature, ideally around 12°C / 54°F.

Although already developing additional complexity with bottle age, the 2011 has the structure to continue evolving beautifully for many years.

About Maynard’s

Maynard’s is the flagship Port brand associated with Fernando and Álvaro van Zeller, continuing the van Zeller family’s centuries-old connection to the Portuguese wine trade.

The Maynard’s name honors Walter Maynard, born in 1652, an ancestor of the van Zeller family and one of the early merchants associated with exporting Port wine from Portugal to England. Today, Maynard’s produces a distinctive collection of Vintage Ports, aged Tawnies and rare single-harvest Colheitas.

A superb 94-point Vintage Port from an exceptional year, Maynard’s 2011 combines concentrated blackberry fruit, formidable structure and impressive aging potential—a compelling bottle for the cellar, gifting or a special vintage-year celebration.

Maynard’s Vintage Port 2011 750ml

An elegant single-harvest White Port from Portugal’s historic Douro Valley, Maynard’s White Colheita Port 2011 combines ripe fruit, freshness and the distinctive complexity created through extended maturation in wood. Produced entirely from the 2011 harvest, this distinctive Port offers a beautiful expression of traditional Douro white grape varieties and the classic Maynard’s style.

White Colheita is one of the more unusual and fascinating categories of Port. Unlike a blended aged White Port, a Colheita comes entirely from one harvest, with the vintage prominently displayed on the bottle. Time in wooden casks gradually develops greater richness, softness and aromatic complexity while preserving the acidity that keeps the wine lively and balanced.

Region & Style

Country: Portugal
Region: Douro Valley
Appellation: Porto
Wine Type: Fortified White Wine
Style: White Colheita Port / Single Harvest Port
Vintage: 2011
Bottle Size: 750ml
Alcohol: 20% ABV

Grape Varieties

Maynard’s White Colheita is produced from a traditional blend of indigenous Douro white varieties:

• Códega do Larinho
• Rabigato
• Malvasia Fina
• Arinto

These varieties contribute aromatic character, ripe fruit and, importantly, the natural acidity necessary to balance the sweetness and richness of an aged White Port.

Winemaking & Aging

Produced from grapes harvested in a single year, the 2011 White Colheita follows the traditional method of Port production. Fermentation is stopped through the addition of grape spirit, preserving a portion of the grapes’ natural sweetness.

The wine then develops in wooden casks before bottling. This slow oxidative maturation is fundamental to the Colheita style, gradually transforming youthful fruit into more layered flavors of preserved fruit, nuts, caramel and spice while creating a smooth, harmonious texture.

Tasting Notes

Maynard’s White Colheita displays a beautiful golden-amber color and an inviting aromatic profile centered on ripe peach and peach preserves, complemented by dried fruit, citrus peel and subtle floral notes.

With time in wood, additional nuances of toasted nuts, caramel, honey and gentle spice emerge. The palate is rich yet fresh, with sweetness balanced by bright acidity and a smooth, elegant texture.

The finish is complex, refined and persistent, combining mature fruit character with the freshness that makes aged White Colheita Port particularly distinctive.

Serving Suggestions

Serve slightly chilled at approximately 12–13°C / 54–55°F in a Port or white-wine glass. A slight chill emphasizes the wine’s freshness while allowing its mature aromas and complexity to develop fully in the glass.

White Colheita can be enjoyed as an aperitif, with dessert or simply on its own as a contemplative after-dinner wine.

Food Pairing

An excellent match for desserts featuring almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts, as well as crème brûlée, custards, fruit tarts and other egg-based pastries.

It is also delicious with dried fruit, caramelized desserts and a selection of mature cheeses. The wine’s balancing acidity prevents richer pairings from becoming overly sweet.

About Maynard’s

Maynard’s represents the centuries-old Port tradition of the van Zeller family, one of the historic names of the Portuguese wine trade. The Maynard’s collection specializes in traditional Port styles, including Vintage Ports, aged Tawnies and rare single-harvest Colheitas.

The house is particularly known for preserving older and unusual expressions of Port, giving wine lovers the opportunity to experience the remarkable evolution that takes place during prolonged maturation in wood.

Elegant, golden and wonderfully complex, Maynard’s White Colheita Port 2011 is a distinctive single-vintage Port offering richness, freshness and the unmistakable character of traditional wood-aged White Port.

Maynard’s White Colheita Port 2011 750ml

Château Bel Orme Tronquoy-de-Lalande is one of the Haut-Médoc's most storied family estates, with origins dating to the late 18th century. The property was designed in 1750 by Victor Louis — the celebrated architect of the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux — and acquired its full name when the Tronquoy-de-Lalande family elevated the vineyard to prominence in the 19th century. In 1936, Lucienne Quié famously chose this charming manor overlooking the Gironde estuary over Château Pichon Baron, and the estate has remained in the Quié family ever since. Today, the third generation — Anne-Françoise, Jean-Philippe, and Paul-Henri — stewards the property with the same passion and commitment to quality, and since 2012 the estate has been united in destiny with Château Rauzan-Gassies. The Château holds the prestigious Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant label, awarded in spring 2024 in recognition of its commitment to ecologically sound agriculture.

The estate's 30-hectare vineyard sits on the finest hillsides of the village of Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne, within a Natura 2000 biodiversity site on the banks of the Gironde. The vineyard is planted with 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, farmed according to virtuous, sustainable agriculture with parcel-specific soil management. Clay soils lend the Merlot roundness and vivid, savoury fruit, while drier, draining soils allow the Cabernet Sauvignon to reach optimal maturity with ripe, velvety tannins — the authentic signature of Haut-Médoc.

Each parcel is vinified individually with meticulous attention to terroir expression. The wine is crafted to reflect the natural character of the vintage and the estate's distinctive clay-gravel soils, with careful extraction to build structure without sacrificing freshness or elegance.

The 2020 opens with aromas of blackberries, graphite, and black currant, precise and focused. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with compressed, chewy tannins that are fine and structured, showing excellent concentration and length. A serious, cellar-worthy Haut-Médoc from an outstanding vintage that rewards patience.

"A chewy and tight wine with blackberries, graphite and currant aromas and flavors. Medium body. Compressed and solid with chewy tannins that are focused and fine. Give it two or three years to open. Drink after 2025."
— James Suckling, 92 Points. (Vintage 2020). 

Grape: Merlot 65%, Cabernet Sauvignon 35%
Region: Bordeaux, France
Appellation: Haut-Médoc
Vintage: 2020
Vineyard: Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne, 30 hectares
Bottle Size: 750ml

Pairing: Roast lamb, duck confit, braised short ribs, game, aged hard cheeses, and classic Bordelaise preparations.

Château d'Arvigny is a well-regarded estate in the Haut-Médoc appellation, situated on the left bank of the Gironde between the prestigious communes of Margaux and Saint-Julien. The estate benefits from the deep gravel soils that define the finest terroirs of the Haut-Médoc — soils that drain freely, warm quickly, and encourage the deep root systems that produce wines of natural finesse and character. The property is committed to responsible viticulture, following integrated farming practices that prioritize quality and environmental respect.

The blend is led by Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), complemented by Merlot (30%) and Cabernet Franc (10%) — a classic Bordeaux assemblage that delivers the structure and aromatic complexity the Haut-Médoc is known for. Each variety is vinified separately before blending, allowing the winemaking team to select the best lots for the final wine.

The 2022 vintage is one of the finest in recent Bordeaux memory — a warm, dry growing season that produced grapes of exceptional ripeness, concentration, and natural balance. The wines of 2022 are characterized by ripe, generous fruit, supple tannins, and excellent structure, making them approachable young while retaining the depth to evolve with time.

The 2022 d'Arvigny is soft, supple, and fruit-forward, with inviting aromas and flavors of red berries, plum, and gentle spice. On the palate, the wine is smooth and elegant with soft tannins and well-balanced acidity — a polished, approachable Haut-Médoc that delivers genuine Bordeaux character at an accessible price.

Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon 60%, Merlot 30%, Cabernet Franc 10%
Region: Bordeaux, France
Appellation: Haut-Médoc
Vintage: 2022
Bottle Size: 750ml

Pairing: Roast lamb, grilled beef, duck, mushroom dishes, and aged hard cheeses. Drink now or cellar through 2030.

Marqués de Vitoria is a distinguished Rioja producer with a long tradition of crafting wines that express the classic character of the D.O.Ca. Rioja appellation. The estate is committed to producing wines of elegance, balance, and longevity, drawing on the region's exceptional terroir and time-honored winemaking techniques to create Tempranillo-based wines of real depth and refinement.

The Rioja Reserva is sourced from select vineyards within the D.O.Ca. Rioja, where Tempranillo thrives in the region's continental climate — warm summers, cold winters, and the moderating influence of the Cantabrian Mountains and the Ebro River. The combination of clay-limestone soils and carefully managed yields produces grapes of concentration and aromatic complexity.

Following harvest, the wine is aged for a minimum of 24 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels, developing the spice, vanilla, and toasted notes that are hallmarks of classic Rioja Reserva. The wine then continues to evolve in bottle before release, ensuring harmony and integration at the time of purchase.

The 2018 Reserva shows a clean, bright cherry-red color developing to maroon. On the nose, complex and intense aromas of ripe plums, cherries, creamy vanilla, and hazelnut are interwoven with spice and well-integrated barrel notes. The palate is medium-bodied, round, and fluid — with dusty, refined tannins, bright acidity, and a long, elegant finish of sweet vanilla spice, succulent plums, and red berries. A beautifully balanced and approachable Reserva.

"A juicy Rioja showing some creamy vanilla and hazelnut characters to the savory plums and cherries. Medium body with round, dusty tannins and a long, bright finish showing plenty of sweet vanilla spices, succulent plums and red berries at the end. Fluid and elegant."
— Zekun Shuai, James Suckling, 92 Points. (Vintage 2018).

Grape: Tempranillo
Region: Rioja, Spain
Appellation: D.O.Ca. Rioja Reserva
Vintage: 2018
Élevage: Minimum 24 months in French and American oak barrels
Bottle Size: 750ml

Pairing: Roast and grilled meats, lamb, mushroom rice, tuna, cod, and medium-aged cheeses such as Emmental or Gruyère.

Domaine Graeme & Julie Bott Côte-Rôtie 2020 is a beautifully expressive Northern Rhône Syrah that combines the power and savory complexity of Côte-Rôtie with the domaine's signature elegance and finesse. Produced in extremely limited quantities, this is a refined, age-worthy wine with dark fruit, floral perfume, spice and beautifully polished tannins.

The fruit comes from approximately 40-year-old Syrah vines planted on the schist soils of the Côte Brune in Ampuis. These steep, rocky vineyards are at the heart of Côte-Rôtie and give the wine remarkable intensity, structure and mineral character.

Expert Ratings

94 Points — Vinous

Glistening ruby. Spice- and mineral-accented cherry and black raspberry scents are complemented by suggestions of pipe tobacco, violet, smoky bacon and exotic spices. Densely packed and subtly chewy in texture, offering appealingly sweet, spice-tinged red and dark berry and floral pastille flavors that are supported by an undercurrent of juicy acidity. The mineral note returns on a very long, penetrating finish that features polished tannins and resonating florality.

93 Points — Wine Spectator

Shows seductive violet, crushed plum and spice notes that mingle on the palate, grounded by balsamic and olive tapenade. The dry finish, with power that builds, is marked with a dusting of white pepper. Drink now through 2030.

93 Points — James Suckling

Dark cherries, plums, black olives, grilled meat, earth and cloves on the nose. Medium to full body with fine tannins. Serious and well-balanced with a restrained power and a lively finish with excellent length.

92 Points — Jeb Dunnuck

I loved the 2020 Côte Rôtie, another terrific effort here. Giving up lots of ripe black and blue fruits as well as spring flowers and bouquet garni-like notes, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, has ripe, sweet tannins, and a great finish.

Winemaking

The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted both in the vineyard and again upon arrival at the winery. Approximately 80% of the fruit is destemmed before a cold maceration in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. Fermentation begins naturally with indigenous yeasts, followed by 18 months of aging in French oak barrels.

Production is exceptionally small, at approximately 1,200 bottles, making this a particularly limited expression of Côte-Rôtie.

Tasting Notes

Deep ruby with violet reflections, the 2020 Côte-Rôtie offers an expressive aromatic profile of ripe blackberry, dark cherry and plum layered with violet, cracked pepper and savory spice. Subtle notes of olive, smoked meat and earthy minerality add classic Northern Rhône complexity.

The palate is full and concentrated yet remarkably supple, with ripe dark fruit framed by firm, silky tannins and fresh acidity. Peppery spice and mineral notes carry through the long, elegant finish, giving the wine both immediate appeal and excellent potential for further development in the cellar.

About Domaine Graeme & Julie Bott

Graeme and Julie Bott met while working at the renowned Northern Rhône estate of Stéphane Ogier before establishing their own domaine. Beginning with a small cellar in their garage, they gradually planted vineyards in Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph and Seyssuel.

Today, working from their cellar in Ampuis, their philosophy centers on allowing the Northern Rhône's schist and granite terroirs to speak clearly through the wines. Production remains deliberately small, with an emphasis on balance, purity and finesse.

Food Pairing

An excellent partner for grilled or roasted beef, ribeye steak, rack of lamb, braised lamb, duck and slow-cooked game. Its savory, peppery character also pairs beautifully with mushrooms, lentils, roasted root vegetables and dishes featuring rosemary, thyme or black pepper.

Wine Details

• Producer: Domaine Graeme & Julie Bott
• Vintage: 2020
• Country: France
• Region: Northern Rhône
• Appellation: Côte-Rôtie AOC
• Vineyard Location: Ampuis, Côte Brune
• Grape: Syrah
• Vine Age: Approximately 40 years
• Soil: Schist
• Harvest: Hand harvested
• Vinification: Approximately 80% destemmed; indigenous yeast fermentation
• Aging: 18 months in French oak barrels
• Alcohol: 13%
• Production: Approximately 1,200 bottles
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Benoît Déhu’s Cuvée Initiation Brut Nature is a distinctive grower Champagne from Fossoy, on the western edge of the Vallée de la Marne in Champagne, France. Déhu is an eighth-generation vigneron whose family Champagne house dates to 1787. After working at Champagne Bollinger, he returned to the family estate and began pursuing a highly personal approach centered on biodynamic farming, parcel expression, low-intervention winemaking and the potential of Meunier.

Initiation is a blend of Meunier and Pinot Noir. The Meunier comes from Déhu’s celebrated La Rue des Noyers parcel, while the Pinot Noir is sourced from a small parcel lower on the hillside with predominantly clay and sand soils. Déhu planted the Pinot Noir using massale selections derived from a Pommard clone from Burgundy, bringing an intriguing Burgundian influence to this deeply Champenois wine.

La Rue des Noyers forms the heart of Déhu’s independent project: a 1.7-hectare parcel farmed biodynamically, with a portion traditionally worked by horse. Déhu is particularly known for fermenting and aging his wines in oak, including barrels made from trees harvested in the nearby forest of Fossoy. His Champagnes favor tension, energy and minerality rather than overt richness.

For the 2021 base, malolactic fermentation was blocked and the wine was bottled with no dosage, giving the Champagne its taut, dry and mineral-driven personality. The finished wine combines crushed-stone minerality with floral, herbal and red-fruited nuances, showing impressive energy and precision. The wine was disgorged on April 26, 2024.

90 Points — Vinous

“The NV (2021) Initiation is an attractive wine, perhaps a bit lithe in this release, but still very pretty. Crushed rocks, flowers, mint, dried herbs and red-toned fruit all grace the palate. Blocked malolactic fermentation and no dosage further amplify the wine's decidedly taut leanings. All things considered, this is a gorgeous 2021. Disgorged: April 26, 2024.”

— Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 90 Points

Wine Details

Producer: Benoît Déhu
Wine: Cuvée Initiation Brut Nature
Base Vintage: 2021
Region: Champagne, France
Area: Western Vallée de la Marne
Village: Fossoy
Grapes: Meunier and Pinot Noir
Meunier Source: La Rue des Noyers
Pinot Noir: Massale selection from Pommard clone; clay and sand soils
Farming: Biodynamic practices at La Rue des Noyers
Vinification: Oak fermentation and élevage; malolactic fermentation blocked
Dosage: No dosage / Brut Nature
Disgorgement: April 26, 2024
Rating: Vinous 90 Points
Bottle Size: 750ml

Benoît Déhu Champagne Cuvée Initiation Brut Nature (Base 2021) 750ml

Paul Bara Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut “L’Audacieuse” Grand Cru 2016 is a rare and daring Grower Champagne produced from 100% Chardonnay grown in the Grand Cru village of Bouzy in Champagne’s Montagne de Reims. Bouzy is celebrated primarily for its powerful Pinot Noir — making this pure Chardonnay cuvée an especially unusual and audacious expression of the village’s terroir.

The Chardonnay comes from the Mont des Tours vineyard, where Bouzy’s predominantly chalky soils provide excellent drainage and contribute freshness, precision and a pronounced mineral character. The name L’Audacieuse — “the audacious one” — reflects the house’s bold decision to produce a Blanc de Blancs from a terroir traditionally associated with Pinot Noir.

The 2016 vintage displays a luminous pale-gold color and a fine, persistent mousse. The expressive bouquet offers aromas of green apple, pear, white peach and fresh citrus, joined by delicate white flowers and chalky minerality. With air, more complex notes of fresh almond, brioche, dried herbs and subtle honey begin to emerge.

On the palate, L’Audacieuse is lively and precise, combining vibrant acidity with an elegant, gently creamy texture. Ripe orchard fruit and citrus are balanced by chalky tension and delicate autolytic complexity. The finish is long, clean and refined, with lingering saline and mineral notes that emphasize the purity of the Chardonnay.

The wine spent approximately eight years aging in bottle before release, allowing its freshness and fruit to develop greater depth, texture and complexity. Finished as an Extra Brut with a very low dosage of ~3 g/L, it remains dry, focused and beautifully expressive of its Grand Cru origins. Production of the 2016 vintage was extremely limited — only 3,935 numbered bottles produced.

Wine Details

• Producer: Paul Bara
• Cuvée: L’Audacieuse
• Style: Vintage Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
• Vintage: 2016
• Country: France
• Region: Champagne
• Subregion: Montagne de Reims
• Village: Bouzy Grand Cru
• Vineyard: Mont des Tours
• Grape: 100% Chardonnay
• Dosage: Extra Brut, ~3 g/L
• Aging: ~8 years in bottle before release
• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Production: 3,935 numbered bottles
• Serving Temperature: 48–52°F

About Paul Bara

The Bara family has cultivated vines in Bouzy since the nineteenth century. Today, Champagne Paul Bara farms approximately 11 hectares divided among 33 parcels, all located within the Grand Cru village. The estate combines traditional craftsmanship with sustainable vineyard practices, producing Champagnes known for their structure, elegance and clear expression of Bouzy’s chalk-rich soils.

Why We Like It

L’Audacieuse is a genuinely rare bottle — a Blanc de Blancs from Bouzy, a village that almost never produces one. Eight years on the lees, a single vineyard source, and fewer than 4,000 bottles worldwide make this one of the most compelling and collectible Grower Champagnes we carry. For the serious Champagne lover, it is simply unmissable.

Food Pairings: Oysters, caviar, sashimi, scallops, lobster, grilled prawns, roasted sea bass, citrus-accented poultry, creamy risotto and aged goat cheese.

This refined white Burgundy is produced from 100% Chardonnay grown in Les Charmes, a village-level lieu-dit in Puligny-Montrachet situated near Meursault’s celebrated Premier Cru Les Charmes vineyard. The southeast-facing site lies at approximately 240 meters in elevation, with mature vines planted in the region’s characteristic clay and limestone soils.

The 2023 vintage offers a luminous white-gold color and an expressive bouquet of fresh lime, grapefruit, crisp orchard fruit and subtle oak. Broad and finely textured on the palate, it combines ripe white-fruit richness with flinty minerality, refreshing citrus acidity and the poised structure characteristic of Puligny-Montrachet. A delicate hint of vanilla adds complexity without overwhelming the wine’s purity and freshness.

The grapes are harvested by hand, gently pressed and allowed to settle before fermentation in French oak barrels, approximately 20% of which are new. Malolactic fermentation and maturation also take place in barrel, producing a beautifully balanced wine with excellent definition, elegance and length.

The Chavy family has cultivated vineyards in Puligny-Montrachet for more than two centuries. Jean-Louis Chavy continues a six-generation family tradition of producing Chardonnay distinguished by precision, finesse, freshness and mineral expression. His son Paul joined the domaine in 2020, helping guide the historic estate into its next generation.

• Grape: 100% Chardonnay
• Country: France
• Region: Burgundy
• Subregion: Côte de Beaune
• Appellation: Puligny-Montrachet
• Vineyard: Les Charmes
• Classification: Village-level lieu-dit
• Soil: Clay and limestone
• Exposure: Southeast
• Vinification: Fermented and aged in French oak, approximately 20% new
• Style: Dry, elegant and mineral-driven white Burgundy
• Serving Temperature: Approximately 50–55°F

Food Pairings: An excellent companion to oysters, shellfish, grilled fish, scallops, lobster, roast chicken, creamy poultry dishes and mild Alpine cheeses.

Domaine J-L & F Chavy Puligny-Montrachet Les Charmes 2023

93+ Points — Jeb Dunnuck
92 Points — James Suckling

Pure Chardonnay. Ninety months on the lees. Two grams of dosage. Champagne Geoffroy's 2017 Volupté Millésime is a refined and deeply expressive Blanc de Blancs from two chalk-rich lieux-dits in Cumières Premier Cru — Tourne Midi and Les Chênes — parcels prized for the mineral precision and white-fruit character they bring to Chardonnay. Fermented in equal parts oak and enamel-lined steel, aged without malolactic fermentation and disgorged in November 2024, it is a silky, chiseled Champagne with a long, chalky and beautifully defined finish.

The Place

Cumières is a historic Premier Cru village in Champagne's Vallée de la Marne, situated west of Hautvillers and overlooking the Marne River. Although the village is more commonly associated with Pinot Noir and Meunier, its chalk-rich lieux-dits of Tourne Midi and Les Chênes are especially well suited to Chardonnay, producing wines with mineral precision, white-fruit clarity and the freshness to support extended lees aging.

The Grape: 100% Chardonnay

Chardonnay is Champagne's most mineral-expressive variety and the sole grape in Volupté. In the chalk-influenced soils of Tourne Midi and Les Chênes, it develops white peach, ripe lemon and green apple character alongside a pronounced chalky minerality and the hazelnut complexity that emerges with extended lees contact.

Winemaking

The grapes are harvested by hand at optimum ripeness and carefully sorted. Vinification is conducted in an equal combination of oak barrels and enamel-lined stainless-steel tanks — oak contributing texture and breadth, steel preserving freshness and aromatic precision. Malolactic fermentation is avoided, retaining the vintage's natural acidity and mineral tension.

After assemblage, the wine undergoes secondary fermentation in bottle and spends approximately 90 months aging on its lees — gaining exceptional texture, aromatic complexity and finely integrated bubbles. It is disgorged in November 2024 with a dosage of just 2 g/L, keeping the finish dry, focused and distinctly mineral.

Tasting Notes

The 2017 Volupté displays a bright straw-gold color with an elegant, persistent stream of fine bubbles. The bouquet opens with white peach, ripe lemon, green apple and smoky wet stone, joined by raw hazelnut, subtle mocha and a delicate reductive tension that lifts and focuses the nose.

The palate is medium-bodied and silky, with a creamy mousse, polished texture and bright, persistent acidity. Candied citrus, white fruit and toasted nuts lead into a long, chalky and beautifully defined finish. Spicy and overt, with lanolin and exquisite green apple and lemon interplay, the wine shows chewy acidity and polished phenolics that give it both energy and elegance.

Professional Ratings

93+ Points — Jeb Dunnuck: Bright straw/yellow color with notes of mocha, ripe lemon balm, smoky wet stones, white peach and raw hazelnut. A slight reduction, but not pronounced. Medium-bodied with a silky texture and clean, bright acidity. Disgorged November 2024 with 2 g/L dosage. Drink 2025–2040.

92 Points — James Suckling: An overt and spicy wine full of toasty aromas with an exquisite mix of green apples and lemons. A bit of lanolin. Medium-sized bubbles with long chewy acidity and polished phenolics. Drink now.

The Producer

The Geoffroy family has cultivated vineyards in Cumières since the 17th century. Today, Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy produces distinctive grower Champagnes emphasizing individual vineyard expression, ripe fruit, indigenous-yeast fermentation, long maturation and restrained dosage. The estate farms approximately 14 hectares, with most vineyards in Cumières and additional parcels in neighboring Vallée de la Marne villages.

Food Pairing

An excellent match for roasted or grilled white fish, langoustines, lobster, scallops, goat cheese, aged Parmesan and seared foie gras. Equally compelling as a sophisticated aperitif.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve at approximately 48–52°F in a white-wine or tulip-shaped Champagne glass. Delicious now for its freshness and complexity, but structured to develop further through approximately 2040.

Producer: Champagne Geoffroy
Cuvée: Volupté Millésime
Vintage: 2017
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Subregion: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Cumières Premier Cru
Classification: Premier Cru
Style: Vintage Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Vineyards: Tourne Midi and Les Chênes
Farming: Practicing organic and sustainable
Harvest: Hand harvested and sorted
Vinification: 50% oak barrels, 50% enamel-lined stainless steel
Malolactic Fermentation: None
Lees Aging: Approximately 90 months
Disgorgement: November 2024
Dosage: 2 g/L (Extra Brut)
Wine Type: Dry sparkling wine
Bottle Size: 750ml

95 Points — Jeb Dunnuck
93 Points — James Suckling
93 Points — Wine Advocate

Ten years on the lees. One of Champagne's most patient cuvees. Geoffroy's 2015 Terre Millésime is produced only in selected years from the finest barrel and cask selections in Cumières Premier Cru — and held back a full decade before disgorgement. The result is a vintage Champagne of remarkable depth and harmony: ripe stone fruit, dried citrus peel, chalk and iodine, framed by a pillowy mousse and a long, crystalline saline finish. Disgorged July 2024 with zero dosage.

The Place

Cumières is a historic Premier Cru village in Champagne's Vallée de la Marne, situated west of Hautvillers and overlooking the Marne River. Its favorably exposed hillside vineyards are known for producing Champagnes with ripe fruit, vinous texture and expressive personality. Clay and limestone contribute richness and structure; underlying chalk preserves freshness and mineral definition.

The Geoffroy family has cultivated vines here since the 17th century, and Cumières remains the heart of the estate's identity and production.

The Terre Millésime Cuvee

Terre Millésime is Geoffroy's most ambitious and age-worthy cuvee — produced only in exceptional years and never released young. The assemblage is drawn from a selection of barrels and casks chosen through comprehensive tastings, and the composition varies by vintage. In 2015, the blend is 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay.

Following secondary fermentation, the wine spends approximately ten years aging sur lattes before disgorgement. This extended lees contact develops a refined, complex mousse and layers of brioche, toasted nut, spice and savory mineral character that could not be achieved through shorter aging.

The wine is disgorged without dosage — 0 g/L — making it a true Brut Nature despite the Extra Brut designation on the label.

The 2015 Vintage

The 2015 growing season in Champagne was warm and generous, producing concentrated, expressive fruit with excellent natural ripeness. For Terre Millésime, the vintage delivered the depth, structure and aging potential required for a decade of lees maturation. The result is a wine with ripe stone fruit, mature citrus and a muscular yet fresh profile that Jeb Dunnuck describes as having "volume without weight."

Winemaking

The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted. Gentle pressing selects only the finest juice. Fermentation and maturation take place in a combination of oak barrels and larger casks, contributing texture, complexity and a subtle oak influence that frames rather than dominates the wine.

After assemblage, the wine undergoes secondary fermentation in bottle and spends approximately ten years aging on its lees before disgorgement in July 2024. It is released without fining, filtration or dosage.

Tasting Notes

The 2015 Terre Millésime opens with an expressive bouquet of dried orange peel, apricot, crisp pear, ripe apple and spice, with a faint hint of sage and iodine. Notes of sea spray, toast and gentle oak emerge with air.

The palate is medium- to full-bodied and pillowy, with a rounded, fleshy mousse that fills the palate and enhances the wine's broader structure. Bright acidity and a taut, chalky core provide focus and tension, while the generous mid-palate delivers stone fruit, lemon and savory complexity. The finish is long, dry and mineral, with persistent crystalline salinity and lingering citrus, toast and chalk.

Professional Ratings

95 Points — Jeb Dunnuck: Ripe notes of apricot, black fruits, savory cologne, iodine, sea spray and toast. Medium to full-bodied with volume without weight and a long palate. A rounded mid-palate with a mousse that fleshes out and fills the palate. A touch more oak influence frames the wine while retaining freshness, with persistent crystalline salinity through the finish. They do not produce this cuvée every year, but when they do, they hold it back ten years before disgorgement. 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. Disgorged July 2024. Drink 2025–2040.

93 Points — James Suckling: Spicy and expressive, with aromas of grapefruit, cedar, cloves and gingerbread. Firm, dry and vinous, with toasty layers and rounded bubbles. 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay. Disgorged July 2024. Zero dosage. Drink now or hold.

93 Points — Wine Advocate: The most harmonious wine in Geoffroy's portfolio this year. As always, the product of barrel and cask selection based on comprehensive tastings, followed by extended maturation sur lattes. The assemblage is never identical year to year. In 2015: 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay. Expressive bouquet of dried orange peel, apricot, crisp pear and spice with a faint hint of sage. Medium- to full-bodied and pillowy, with bright acidity and a taut, chalky core leading to a long, saline finish.

The Producer

The Geoffroy family has cultivated vineyards in Cumières since the 17th century. Today, Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy produces distinctive grower Champagnes emphasizing ripe fruit, individual vineyard expression, long cellar aging and restrained dosage. The estate farms approximately 14 hectares, with most vineyards in Cumières and additional parcels in neighboring Vallée de la Marne villages.

Food Pairing

An exceptional gastronomic Champagne for roast chicken, lobster, scallops, mushroom risotto, veal, pork tenderloin, duck and aged cheeses such as Comté, Gruyère or Parmesan. Its depth and saline finish also make it a natural partner for truffles, foie gras and richly sauced poultry dishes.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve at approximately 50–54°F in a tulip-shaped Champagne glass or generous white-wine glass. The 2015 is drinking beautifully now and should continue developing richer brioche, toasted-nut and savory complexity through 2040.

Producer: Champagne Geoffroy
Cuvée: Terre Millésime
Vintage: 2015
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Subregion: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Cumières Premier Cru
Classification: Premier Cru
Style: Vintage Extra Brut Champagne
Blend: 75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay
Farming: Practicing organic and sustainability-focused
Harvest: Hand harvested and sorted
Lees Aging: Approximately 10 years
Disgorgement: July 2024
Dosage: 0 g/L (Brut Nature)
Wine Type: Dry sparkling wine
Bottle Size: 750ml

93 Points — Jeb Dunnuck
92 Points — James Suckling
91 Points — Wine Advocate

Geoffroy “Empreinte Millésime” 2018 is a vintage Blanc de Noirs Champagne produced entirely from Pinot Noir grown in three historic Premier Cru parcels in Cumières. Powerful yet refined, it captures the ripe red-fruit character of this celebrated Vallée de la Marne village while preserving freshness, mineral tension and a finely detailed mousse.

The wine is sourced from mature, south-facing vines planted on the midslope above the Marne River. Fermentation and maturation in large oak vessels build texture and complexity without obscuring the purity of the Pinot Noir. After extended aging on the lees and a very low dosage, the finished Champagne offers ripe orchard fruit, citrus, red berries, fresh bread, toasted nuts and a distinctive saline finish.

The Place

Cumières is a historic Premier Cru village in Champagne’s Vallée de la Marne, located immediately west of Hautvillers and northwest of Épernay. Its vineyards rise steeply from the right bank of the Marne River, benefiting from predominantly south- and southeast-facing exposures.

The village’s warm, sunny slopes allow Pinot Noir to achieve excellent ripeness. Cumières Champagne is consequently known for its expressive fruit, generous texture and distinctly vinous character. The underlying chalk and limestone preserve freshness and mineral tension, preventing the wines from becoming overly broad or heavy.

Although Champagne Geoffroy’s winemaking facilities are now located in Aÿ, the family’s identity remains inseparable from Cumières, where it has cultivated vines since the 17th century.

The Empreinte Vineyards

Empreinte is drawn from three historic Cumières Premier Cru parcels:

Les Chalmonts
Les Barremonts
Les Pêchers

The vineyards lie on the midslope at approximately 160 meters above sea level, with a gradient of around 19%. Their southerly exposure promotes full Pinot Noir ripeness, while the slope provides natural drainage and excellent sunlight throughout the growing season.

The soils are composed principally of clay and limestone with fragments of millstone and flint. Clay contributes body, ripe fruit and textural generosity. Limestone and chalk provide freshness, structure and salinity, while flinty elements can contribute the delicate smoky or reductive mineral character frequently found in the wine.

The source vines average approximately 40 years of age. The parcels are selected annually, harvested together and pressed as a single expression of mature-vine Pinot Noir from Cumières.

The Meaning of Empreinte

“Empreinte” translates as “imprint” or “mark.” The name reflects the domaine’s intention to capture the distinctive imprint of Cumières terroir through Pinot Noir.

The cuvée represents one of the estate’s historic and defining wines. Rather than blending across villages or grape varieties, Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy uses Empreinte to highlight the depth, ripeness and mineral structure Pinot Noir can achieve on the warm slopes of Cumières.

The Grape: 100% Pinot Noir.

Although Pinot Noir is a dark-skinned grape, the juice is naturally clear. Gentle pressing with minimal skin contact produces a white Champagne known as Blanc de Noirs.

Pinot Noir provides Empreinte with structure, body and aging potential, together with characteristic flavors of red apple, cherry, raspberry and subtle red currant. Mature vines and extended lees aging add further layers of citrus, toasted bread, nuts, spice and savory mineral complexity.

The 2018 Vintage

Empreinte 2018 is a true vintage Champagne, produced solely from grapes harvested during the 2018 growing season.

The warm, generous vintage allowed Pinot Noir in favorably exposed Cumières vineyards to achieve excellent maturity. The resulting Champagne possesses ripe fruit and a broad, enveloping texture, but sufficient acidity and mineral structure maintain balance and freshness.

The vintage produced a comparatively approachable expression of Empreinte, combining concentrated Pinot Noir character with a creamy mousse, fresh citrus and a delicate saline edge.

Viticulture

Champagne Geoffroy practices sustainable and increasingly organic viticulture. Chemical weedkillers are avoided, vineyard soils are cultivated and cover crops are encouraged to improve biodiversity and soil health.

The grapes are harvested by hand at optimum maturity and carefully sorted. Achieving full physiological ripeness is central to the Geoffroy style, particularly for a low-dosage wine such as Empreinte, where there is very little added sweetness to soften or disguise the character of the base wine.

Pressing and Vinification

The Pinot Noir is pressed in a traditional Coquard press. Only the finest first-pressing juice, known as the tête de cuvée, is selected.

The individual vineyard parcels are handled by gravity and fermented with indigenous yeasts. The 2018 was vinified principally in large 20-hectoliter Stockinger oak casks, together with other neutral barrels and demi-muids.

Large-format, seasoned oak allows the wine to develop greater breadth, texture and oxygen-derived complexity without contributing excessive new-oak flavor. It also complements the naturally rich and vinous character of mature-vine Cumières Pinot Noir.

The wine is neither heavily fined nor filtered, preserving its natural texture and aromatic complexity.

Lees Aging and Dosage

The importer lists approximately 66 months of aging on the lees. Jeb Dunnuck describes the wine as spending a minimum of five years sur latte before disgorgement.

This extended lees maturation develops the Champagne’s fine mousse and contributes notes of brioche, fresh bread, pastry, almond and toasted nuts.

The bottles reviewed by James Suckling and Wine Advocate were disgorged in December 2024 with a dosage of only 1 gram per liter. This extremely low dosage gives the wine a dry, focused profile and allows its Pinot Noir fruit, chalky minerality and delicate phenolic structure to remain clearly defined.

Skurnik’s broader technical profile lists 3 grams per liter for the cuvée, indicating that dosage may vary between disgorgement lots. Both figures fall within the Extra Brut category.

Tasting Notes

The 2018 Empreinte displays a luminous copper-straw color with a persistent stream of small, finely formed bubbles.

The bouquet opens with sliced apple, pear, white grapefruit and orange zest, followed by raspberry, red currant and other subtle red-fruit notes. With air, aromas of honey, fresh bread, brioche, toasted almond and Madagascar vanilla become more pronounced.

A delicate flinty reduction frames the fruit and contributes additional mineral complexity. The oak is present primarily as texture and gentle toast rather than overt wood flavor.

On the palate, the Champagne is medium- to full-bodied, firm and generous. A creamy mousse surrounds ripe apple, citrus and red-berry flavors, while vibrant acidity maintains energy and definition.

The mid-palate is broad, textural and enveloping, yet the wine remains controlled and precise. Pinot Noir contributes a subtle phenolic grip, leading to a delicately bitter, gastronomic finish marked by grapefruit pith, almond, chalk and salty spice.

This is a substantial but elegant Blanc de Noirs: expressive enough to enjoy now, yet sufficiently structured to develop greater nutty, savory and brioche complexity with additional bottle age.

Professional Ratings

93 Points — Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2018 Champagne Premier Cru Cumières Blanc de Noirs Empreinte Extra Brut is a more elegant and approachable wine in this vintage, pouring a bright copper/straw color and offering notes of fresh almond, fresh bread, white grapefruit, red fruit, and delicate flinty reduction that frames the nose. Made from 100% Pinot Noir from the best plots of Cumières and raised in oak with a minimum five years sur latte, it™s medium-bodied and has a creamy texture and a fine mousse with just a subtle salty spice. It is not the most obvious wine in the tasting, but it will offer a lot of refreshing enjoyment over the next 8-10 years. Drink 2025-2035."

92 Points — James Suckling: "Sliced apples, berries, honey and toasted bread on the nose of this dry, expressive Champagne. Lovely pinot noir character, firm but generous. Tight bubbles. Pinot noir from Cumieres. Disgorged December 2024. 1 g/L dosage. Drink now or hold."

91 Points — Wine Advocate: "Geoffroy™s 2018 Blanc de Noirs Cumieres Empreinte originates from several south-facing parcels in Cumieres, averaging 40 years of age. These parcels are annually selected, harvested and pressed together, then vinified primarily in 20-hectoliter Stockinger casks. Disgorged in December 2024 with a dosage of one gram per liter, the wine bursts from the glass with expressive aromas of pear, orange zest, brioche and Madagascar vanilla. Full-bodied, textural and enveloping on the palate, it displays notable mid-palate sweetness despite its low-dosage style. Ripe yet vibrant acidity complements the wine, while Pinot Noir phenolics assert themselves on the delicately bitter finish. Made with full malolactic fermentation, this cuvee stands apart from the rest of the range, offering a richer, fruit-forward profile that's full of charm."

The Producer

The Geoffroy family has cultivated vineyards in Cumières since the 17th century. Estate bottling began during the 1950s, and René Geoffroy later expanded the domaine and established its reputation as an independent grower-producer.

Today, Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy manages the estate with his wife, Karine. Although the family moved its winemaking operations to a historic property in Aÿ in 2008, most of its vineyards remain in Cumières.

The domaine farms approximately 14 hectares, including roughly 11 hectares in Cumières, with additional parcels in neighboring Vallée de la Marne villages.

The Geoffroy style is built around ripe fruit, individual parcel selection, traditional pressing, oak fermentation and extended cellar aging. The wines combine the generosity of the Vallée de la Marne with energetic acidity, restrained dosage and a distinctive vinous character.

Food Pairing

Empreinte is a gastronomic Champagne particularly well suited to poultry, mushrooms and mature cheeses.

Recommended pairings include Bresse chicken with morels, roast chicken, quail with grapes, duck breast, veal, pork tenderloin and a fricassee of wild mushrooms.

It also pairs beautifully with seared tuna, grilled salmon, lobster, scallops, truffle risotto and savory pastry dishes. Mature Comté, Gruyère, Parmesan and other aged cheeses complement its toasted-almond and brioche character.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve at approximately 50–54°F in a tulip-shaped Champagne glass or a generous white-wine glass. The producer recommends serving Empreinte at approximately 11–12°C.

A wider glass allows its Pinot Noir fruit, oak-derived texture and mature lees aromas to develop more fully than a narrow flute.

The Champagne is ready to drink now but should continue to evolve through approximately 2035. Additional bottle age will encourage more developed notes of toasted nuts, dried fruit, honey, brioche and savory spice.

Producer: Champagne Geoffroy
Cuvée: Empreinte Millésime
Vintage: 2018
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Subregion: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Cumières Premier Cru
Classification: Premier Cru
Style: Vintage Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut Champagne
Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
Vineyard Sources: Les Chalmonts, Les Barremonts and Les Pêchers
Exposure: Predominantly south-facing
Altitude: Approximately 160 meters
Slope: Approximately 19% gradient
Vine Age: Approximately 40 years and older
Soils: Clay-limestone with fragments of millstone and flint
Farming: Sustainable and practicing organic
Harvest: Hand harvested and sorted
Press: Traditional Coquard press; tête de cuvée juice
Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts in large oak casks, barrels and demi-muids
Lees Aging: Approximately 66 months
Disgorgement: December 2024 for the bottles reviewed
Dosage: 1 g/L for the December 2024 reviewed disgorgement; importer profile also lists 3 g/L for the cuvée
Alcohol: 12.5%
Recommended Drinking: 2025–2035
Bottle Size: 750ml

Geoffroy “Empreinte Millésime” Blanc de Noirs Premier Cru Extra Brut 2018

94 Points — James Suckling
93 Points — Wine Spectator
92 Points — Wine Advocate

Geoffroy “Les Tiersaudes” 2019 is an exceptionally limited, single-vineyard Champagne produced entirely from old-vine Meunier grown in Cumières Premier Cru. Fermented and matured in large oak barrels and bottled without dosage, it is a powerful yet precise Blanc de Noirs with concentrated fruit, electric acidity and a distinctly saline mineral finish.

The Vineyard

Les Tiersaudes is a southeast-facing lieu-dit situated on the midslope in the heart of Cumières, in Champagne’s Vallée de la Marne. The parcel lies at approximately 140 meters above sea level on a 15% gradient, with soils composed of fine silt, limestone and flint.

The Meunier vines were planted in 1972 from massale selection. Geoffroy cultivates the parcel biodynamically and has introduced apple, mirabelle, maple, hornbeam and lime trees among the vines to increase biodiversity, encourage soil life and provide natural shade during increasingly warm growing seasons.

The Grape: 100% Meunier.

Although “Blanc de Noirs” is often associated with Pinot Noir, the term refers to any white Champagne made from dark-skinned grapes. Here, Meunier provides ripe fruit, breadth and aromatic complexity while the cool, limestone-influenced soils of Les Tiersaudes preserve freshness and mineral tension.

Winemaking

The grapes are harvested by hand at optimum ripeness and carefully sorted. They are pressed in a traditional Coquard press, with only the finest tête de cuvée juice selected.

Vinification is carried out by gravity with indigenous yeasts. The wine is fermented and matured on its lees in 600-liter oak demi-muids. Malolactic fermentation is avoided, helping retain the wine’s vibrant natural acidity. It is neither fined nor filtered.

No dosage is added following disgorgement, making this a true Brut Nature Champagne with 0 grams per liter of added sugar.

Tasting Notes

The bouquet combines orange marmalade, juicy peach and fresh hazelnut with pear, honeysuckle, grapefruit, dried flowers and gentle spice.

The palate is concentrated and vinous, showing cassis, candied kumquat, ripe citrus and dried fruit. Structured acidity provides a firm backbone, while a plush, finely textured mousse gives the wine breadth and balance.

Notes of toasted bread, crystallized honey, gooseberry and lime emerge with air. A persistent streak of salinity refreshes the long, lemon-tinged finish, leaving the wine rich yet energetic, silky and precise.

Professional Ratings

94 Points — James Suckling: "This bright, dry and lively Champagne shows raspberries, oranges, candied ginger and dried flowers on the nose. Delightfully fruity and spicy, with tension and energy. I like it a lot. Disgorged March 2024. Drink now or hold."

93 Points — Wine Spectator: "A well-built Champagne, with structured acidity providing a firm frame for concentrated flavors of cassis, candied kumquat, toasted raisin bread and crystallized honey. Theres a cottony plushness to the mousse, while a streak of salinity refreshes the racy finish. Disgorged March 2024. 231 cases made, 13 cases imported. - AN"

92 Points — Wine Advocate: "Geoffroy™s 2019 Brut Nature Blanc de Noirs Les Tiersaudes, disgorged without dosage in March 2024, originates from old-vine Pinot Meunier"planted in 1972"on a south-facing mid-slope in the heart of Cumieres. These vines thrive on deeper soils compared to those of Les Collinardins. Aged for one year in oak, mostly demi-muids, this Champagne unveils an aromatic profile of pear, honeysuckle and grapefruit intertwined with notes of gooseberry and lime. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, muscular yet incisive, with a concentrated core of fruit underpinned by electric acidity, concluding with a long, lemon-tinged finish."

The Producer

The Geoffroy family has cultivated vineyards in Cumières since the 17th century. Today, Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy produces distinctive grower Champagnes emphasizing ripe fruit, individual vineyard expression, indigenous-yeast fermentation, restrained dosage and extended cellar aging.

Food Pairing

This structured, gastronomic Champagne pairs beautifully with roast pork, duck, poultry, grilled salmon, seared tuna, scallops, mushroom dishes and aged cheeses such as Comté or Gruyère.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve at approximately 48–52°F in a tulip-shaped Champagne glass or white-wine glass. The 2019 is expressive now but has the concentration and acidity to develop additional toasted-nut, honeyed and savory complexity through 2039.

Producer: Champagne Geoffroy
Cuvée: Lieu-Dit Les Tiersaudes
Vintage: 2019
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Subregion: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Cumières Premier Cru
Classification: Premier Cru
Style: Vintage Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature Champagne
Grape: 100% Meunier
Vineyard: Les Tiersaudes
Vine Age: Planted in 1972
Exposure: Southeast
Altitude: Approximately 140 meters
Soil: Fine silt, limestone and flint
Farming: Practicing biodynamic with agroforestry
Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts in 600-liter oak demi-muids
Malolactic Fermentation: None
Dosage: 0 g/L
Fining and Filtration: Neither fined nor filtered
Disgorgement: March 2024 for the reviewed release
Bottle Size: 750ml

Geoffroy “Lieu-Dit Les Tiersaudes” Blanc de Noirs Premier Cru Brut Nature 2019