French Wine

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Vinous 95 Points | The 2019 Clos de la Dioterie is a sophisticated, seductively perfumed style—brooding yet aromatic. Its concentrated flavors are pure; it remains light and elegant, with a delectable, chalky, veil-like texture residing on your tongue as the finish draws out with precision, sinew and line. This is a fine, texturally intriguing wine.

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This Montagne Saint-Emilion Château Grand Moulin Macquin has a red ruby color; the black cherry aromas, red berries and cinnamon; firm tannins, balanced, harmonious finish.

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Mainly from Mourvèdre, which gives it this character that is both powerful and subtle, it expresses all the richness of a terroir on the shores of the Mediterranean. The Gueissard red asserts itself as a gastronomic wine that can be enjoyed now or in a few years.

Winemaker Description 

Daniel and Julien Barraud’s 2023 Clos la Verchère Pouilly-Fuissé comes from the south facing ‘La Maréchaude’ premier cru vineyard comprised of Chardonnay vines with more than 60 years of age grown on limestone rich soils. Fermented and aged in oak barrels, 20% of which are new, brings forth a wine of richness and precision. Aromas of orchard fruits, wild flowers and roasted hazelnuts on the bouquet with energetic acidity and purity on the palate and a long mineral rich finish.

Made from certified organic estate grown grapes.

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Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | A great vintage for this cuvée, the 2022 Gigondas Terrasse Du Diable comes from higher elevation sites and pure limestone soils. (It's mostly Grenache.) Rocking levels of kirsch, ripe cherries, chalky minerality, melted licorice, and white flowers all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a round, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's one hell of a sexy, ripe, impossible-to-resist Gigondas.

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Grown on clay and gravelly soil, this 100% Cabernet Franc from Chinon, is fruitywith soft tannins and exults aromas of red berries.

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Situated at the entry to Burgundy’s Elysian Fields, Gevrey-Chambertin is a historic village where Pinot Noir reaches its pinnacle. The village’s vineyards, with their prime east to southeast exposures, thrive on a blend of brown limestone soils and clayey marls rich in fossil deposits. This unique terroir imparts elegance, delicacy, body, and firmness to the wine. From the first sip, this wine indulges the senses with a vibrant blend of fresh strawberries and violets, which will transition to complex notes of licorice and leather as the wine matures. It is a true representation of the best that Burgundy has to offer.

Memo Summary Notes

• Complex bouquet of dark red and blue fruits (black cherry, black raspberry), floral notes (violets, potpourri), and earthy/mineral undertones.

• Palate: Full-bodied for a Beaujolais, with a seamless texture and a fleshy, concentrated core of fruit. Expect good acidity, subtle spice, and a tactile, mineral-driven finish. It has the structure to age for several years.

From over 50-year-old southwest-facing vines on sandy, granitic soils, La Croix des Rameaux is a rich and elegant Gamay made with close attention paid to managing extraction, so the wine maintains lift and energy.

Pair with

• Roast chicken or turkey (especially with herbs).

• Rich Dishes: Beef bourguignon, a savory mushroom risotto, or a hearty stew.

• Meats: Cured meats, lamb tongue, or any roast white meat.

• Casual: Gourmet pizza or dishes with red sauce.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2014 

Vinous 98 Points | Bollinger’s 2014 La Grande Année is a great way to start the evening as guests mill around Wheeler Farms. It is early evening in Napa, but there is still plenty of action in the winery, where various lots are being pressed under the watchful eye of winemaker Nigel Kinsman. There are some moments where I would very much like to be a civilian, a regular person enjoying the night, but I am more concerned with our guests having a great night, so I quickly go back to check on our wines. The Bollinger 2014 is everything I expected; bright, focused and full of all the energy this late-ripening vintage conferred to the best wines. 

Producer Description 

La Grande Année: The Great Year. This Champagne is the embodiment of everything that makes Bollinger the producer that stands apart in Champagne. La Grande Année symbolizes the word “hand-crafted” so strongly that an overused word suddenly becomes the appropriate definition. 

La Grande Année is only produced in the most outstanding of vintages, where ripeness and acidity reach a perfect balance and aging potential is excellent.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Decanter 91 Points | Peach and fresh strawberry on the nose with touches of blossom. Crisp and light on the palate, beautifully refreshing.

Alfred Gratien Champagne Rosé — Champagne, France NV

Alfred Gratien is one of Champagne's most storied and independent houses — still hand-riddling, still fermenting in small oak casks, still refusing to follow trends. Their Rosé is a masterclass in balance: a blend of 45% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir, and 35% Pinot Meunier, crafted to deliver both vivacity and structure. The Tasting Panel awarded it 94 points; James Suckling 93. At $62.99, it is one of the most compelling values in prestige Champagne Rosé.

Sunset-pink in the glass with a fine, persistent mousse. The nose opens with brioche, red currant, Rome apple, honey, and white flowers — then shifts to strawberry, peony, and a whisper of wheat and crème fraîche. On the palate, ripe acidity carries flavors of nectarine, red plum, and mandarin orange, with an underlying stoniness and light tannin grip that give the wine real structure. The finish is long, slightly smoky, and mineral — with a lingering note of almond and orange rind. Drink now or hold.

Tasting Panel 94 — "Sunset-pink... vivacious... fleshy flavors of nectarine and red plum... a long finish of almond and orange rind."

James Suckling 93 — "Full-bodied, creamy and relatively dry at the end. Not heavy, but agile."

• Producer: Alfred Gratien, Épernay, Champagne, France
• Appellation: Champagne AOC
• Blend: 45% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir, 35% Pinot Meunier
• Style: Rosé, Non-Vintage
• Vinification: Small oak cask fermentation, hand-riddled
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Brioche, red currant, strawberry, nectarine, mandarin, almond, mineral finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now or hold
• Best Paired With: Salmon tartare, lobster bisque, charcuterie, strawberries, soft-ripened cheese

A 94-point Champagne Rosé from one of the region's most principled houses — Alfred Gratien is the benchmark for what independent Champagne can be.

Winemaker Description

Garnet color. It offers a beautiful aromatic complexity, dominated by blackcurrant and blackberry jam, supported by hints of pepper and cocoa. On the palate aromas of apricot jam, black cherries, plums in the finish, all supported by a tannic texture that tempers the sweetness. Excellent with Fourme d'Ambert cheese.

Château Picard — Saint-Estèphe Cru Bourgeois 2020

Situated in the heart of the village of Saint-Estèphe, Château Picard is one of the appellation’s most respected Cru Bourgeois estates — classified as such since 1932. Acquired by the prestigious négociant house Mähler-Besse in 1997, the 8-hectare estate has been meticulously renovated, with gravity-fed harvest entry and Napoleon III-style cellars restored to their former glory.

The terroir is quintessential Saint-Estèphe: clay-dominant soils loaded with calcified cockle and sea urchin remains, delivering wines of structure, depth, and distinctive mineral character. The 2020 vintage — one of Bordeaux’s most celebrated in recent memory — shows deep ruby color with a dark, rich nose of intense berry and Indian spices. Full-bodied on the palate with a solid core of fruit, silky tannins, and a beautifully balanced, polished finish.

• Producer: Château Picard / Mähler-Besse, Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux
• Vintage: 2020
• Classification: Cru Bourgeois
• Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Dark berry, Indian spices, mineral, silky tannins, polished finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink 2024–2035+
• Best Paired With: Roast lamb, duck confit, aged hard cheeses, beef tenderloin

A serious Saint-Estèphe from a landmark Bordeaux vintage — structured, elegant, and built to age gracefully.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Alphonse Mellot La Moussière Sancerre Blanc Organic — Loire Valley 2025

Alphonse Mellot is one of Sancerre’s most storied and celebrated estates — and the only domaine in the entire Sancerrois to hold the prestigious hors concours (beyond competition) distinction, a recognition that places them in a category of their own. La Moussière is the estate’s flagship cuvée and its cornerstone: a 100% Sauvignon Blanc sourced from the La Moussière vineyard at the very heart of the Sancerre appellation, farmed organically and vinified to express the richness, energy, and precision that define the Alphonse Mellot style. In the elegant 375ml half-bottle format, it is the perfect introduction to one of the Loire Valley’s greatest estates.

The color is a resplendent golden robe with glints of green. The nose is floral and fruity: white flowers, citrus fruits, and the characteristic mineral tension of great Sancerre. On the palate, it is lively and refreshing — precise, energetic, and beautifully focused, with a clean, mineral-driven finish that speaks clearly of its terroir. A wine of genuine distinction in every sip.

67 Wine — “La Moussière is the benchmark Sancerre — the only estate in the Sancerrois to hold the hors concours distinction. Organic, precise, and endlessly elegant.”

• Producer: Alphonse Mellot, Sancerre, Loire Valley, France
• Distinction: Only hors concours estate in the Sancerrois
• Vintage: 2025
• Appellation: Sancerre AOC
• Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
• Farming: Certified Organic
• Format: Half Bottle (375ml)
• Tasting Notes: White flowers, citrus, golden robe, lively acidity, mineral precision, clean finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, goat cheese, grilled fish, seafood, light salads

Beyond competition, organically farmed, and perfectly sized for two — Alphonse Mellot’s La Moussière is the Sancerre that earns its hors concours status with every vintage.

Winemaker Description 

Made from 100% Macabeu, this rare dessert wine spent 21 years in barrel before being bottled. The slow oxidation in barrel gives this wine its characteristic amber color, as well as complex notes of fig, date, toasted hazelnut, and caramel. Best served at room temperature, try this on its own after dinner, or alongside cheese, pastry, or chocolate cake. Once opened, the wine can be enjoyed for several months. 

Jean-Hubert Verdaguer and his wife, Brigitte, helm Domaine de Rancy in the Roussillon, one of only a handful of quality wineries still producing exceptional Rivesaltes in the old Ambré style.

This unique type of fortified wine is a Vin Doux Naturel, in which a pure spirit is added during fermentation to stop conversion of sugar into alcohol. These are complex and incredibly versatile dessert wines, typically 16% to 20% alcohol with 85-100 grams of residual sugar, and acidity varying between 6% and 8%.

The grapes – 100% Macabeau – come from organically-farmed vineyards. It is the addition of neutral grape spirits that prevents them from obtaining organic certification on their Vin Doux Naturels.

They are hand-picked late in the season, pressed, fermented, and fortified in tank. Only the best wine is chosen for barrel-aging, and it remains in barrel for up to 60 years. The wines are bottled as needed, unfined and unfiltered, and the wine is best served at room temperature to fully appreciate the intense, complex aromas that develop in the glass.

Expert Review - Vintage 2015

Alison Napjus of the Wine Spectator writes 97 Points |  Like a racing spinnaker, this is tightly trimmed yet voluminous in character. Toasty notes of roasted almond and vanilla wafer are deftly integrated with sun-dried black cherry, baked peach, blood orange sorbet and candied ginger flavors, all well-defined by racy acidity and a subtle streak of salinity. This is long and fragrant, with pain d'épices, graphite and tea rose notes playing on the finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged February 2024. Drink now through 2040.

William Kelley of the Wine Advocate writes 96 Points | Bollinger's 2015 Brut La Grande Année Rosé was disgorged in May last year with seven grams per liter dosage. Offering up deep aromas of orchard fruits, blood orange, mandarin rind and peach mingled with nuances of coffee, praline and fino sherry, it's medium to full-bodied, pillowy and layered, with a broad attack that segues into a vinous palate framed by high levels of structuring dry extract that makes its presence felt on the sapid, nutty and penetrating finish. Given the skin maturity and inherent structure of the year, the Bollinger team elected to include only 4.5% of still red wine in the blend, a comparatively low percentage.

Winemaker Description 

A good balance of fresh but softly perfumed ripe red currant and strawberry fruits with a touch of rosewater and anise. The nose leads to well-rounded but lively crunchy red fruits on the palate with spice and chalk notes on the elegantly tailored finish.

After being founded in the 1750s, in the mid-18th century, the Domaine de Montille century extended over 12 hectares. The family's financial problems meant that Etienne de Montille, the manager at that time, had to abandon certain parcels of land and focus on 3 hectares, mainly in Volnay. With the arrival of Hubert de Montille, Etienne's grandson, the domaine took off in another direction. Like his father, Hubert was a lawyer, however he would go on to lead a double life as a wine grower and a lawyer. He decided to produce his own wines from A to Z. Within a few decades, he would become one of the finest examples in the region, perfectly expressing the terroir of each climat with pure and elegant wines.

Today, the domaine is managed by Etienne and Alix de Montille, Hubert's children who also were originally steered towards a legal career. The domaine now has 20 hectares of vines, including 15 of grand and premier crus, on the best climats of Burgundy, in white and red! Domaine de Montille now produces its wines using biodynamic methodology, perpetuating the tradition of innovation and excellence introduced by Hubert de Montille. Etienne and Alix also created a mini trading structure, Maison Deux Montille Soeur Frère.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Winemaker Description 

Expert Review

Burghound Allen Meadows 93 Points | Much more layered aromas are comprised by notes of wet stone, citrus confit, Granny Smith apple and pretty spice wisps. The dense but sleek and highly energetic larger-bodied flavors display impressive power and length on the compact, austere and impeccably balanced finale. This is excellent and a wine that is built to repay extended keeping.

Quick Expert Summary - Vintage 2022

 🍇 Jasper Morris (Inside Burgundy) 92 Points Described the fruit as having a refined character and complexity, with a savory red berry note, plenty of energy, and good acidity.

🍷 Vinous (Neal Martin) 91 Points Noted a well-defined bouquet with black cherries and wild strawberry fruit; the palate is medium-bodied, smooth and sensual toward the finish.

📜 Burghound (Allen Meadows) 90 PointsPraised the attractively spicy nose and the "slightly better verve" on the palate, which finishes with fine-grained tannins.

✨ Wine Spectator (Bruce Sanderson) 90 Points Found it to be a tangy red with spicy cherry, pomegranate, and blood orange flavors, calling it nicely integrated and juicy.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Allen Meadows writes:  An attractively spicy nose freely offers up aromas of dark pinot fruit, Savigny-style earth, violet and an interesting hint of white pepper. There is slightly better verve suffusing the lightly stony middleweight flavors that also possess a caressing but punchy mouthfeel on the lingering finale that is noticeably finer thanks to the fine-grained tannins. This too could be approached young though at least a few years of cellaring should be beneficial.  - Burghound 90

Bruce Sanderson writes:  A tangy red, this features spicy cherry, pomegranate, blood orange and toasty oak flavors. Nicely integrated, with a whisper of dusty tannins lining the finish. This is juicy, with the fruit resonating on the aftertaste. Best from 2027 through 2040.   - Wine Spectator 90

Neal Martin writes:  The 2022 Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Lavières 1er Cru has a well-defined bouquet with black cherries and wild strawberry fruit, pure and refined. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe red fruit and light pastille notes, smooth and sensual towards the finish. Give this three or four years in bottle.  - Vinous 91

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

Kristen Bieler writes:  For a demi-sec, this leans toward the dry, savory end of the spectrum. There are a lot of layers and substance to this, with a savory thread of green herbs and bitter white tea weaving through elderflower, quince and apple flavors, while gentle tannins provide a solid frame. Cool river stone and pink peppercorn notes line the finish, encased in smoke and salt, with length and a lot of depth. The toasty cedar notes will integrate with more time in bottle. Drink now through 2037. 740 cases made.  - Wine Spectator 93

Stuart Pigott Writes:  This off-dry Vouvray has terrific depth and a lovely creaminess that’s hard to resist, but it’s tightly wound and needs some time for the aromas to unfurl. With some aeration, red apple and honeysuckle notes emerge. Long, very clean finish that’s pretty dry thanks to the bright acidity. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 93

Rebecca Gibb MW writes:  The 2023 Vouvray Demi-Sec Le Mont boasts a residual sweetness (20g/l) that brings a sense of tenderness and amplitude to a terroir that's big on precision and tension. The flint component in the soil and the natural freshness of the 2023 vintage provide persistence and momentum. Pure and tender, there’s a distinctive spearmint-like cooling sensation on the long finish.  Drinking 2024 to 2038.  - Vinous 94

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

Jeb Dunnuck 91-93 Points | A ripe, opulent second wine, the 2022 Amiral De Beychevelle offers lots of black cherry, mulberry, and plum-like fruits as well as some floral, violet, and graphite nuances. It's medium to full-bodied, has elegant, silky tannins, and a great finish. It's one heck of a sexy, already hard to resist second wine that should keep for 10-12 years, if not longer.

James Suckling 91-92 Points | Very refined and pretty already with linear fine tannins that run the length of the wine. Medium body. Attractive finish. 65% cabernet sauvignon and 35% merlot.

Producer Description 

The wine is a crimson-hued garnet red. The nose reveals red berry fruit aromas combined with delicate floral notes of peony and fresh mint. A dense and muscular attack leads into a full-bodied mid-palate whose juicy and expressive substance is underlined by well-rounded, silky tannins. The long and balanced finish lingers on notes of spice, especially white pepper.

Expert Reviews - 2021 Vintage

James Suckling 95 Points | This is surprisingly full-bodied and round, reflecting the warmth and sunny exposure of the vineyard around the chateau. Tangy and vivid with currants, fresh flowers and plenty of energy and length. Delicate yet ripe. 77% cabernet sauvignon, 19.5% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 0.5% petit verdot. Needs two or three years to come together completely. Drink after 2027.

Jeb Dunnuck 91-93 Points | The second wine of this great estate, the 2021 Le Petit Mouton De Mouton Rothschild checks in as 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19.5% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, brought up in 50% new barrels. It has plenty of class and charm, with pure Cabernet notes of cassis, graphite, tobacco, and damp earth. These carry to a medium-bodied, balanced, elegant, seamless wine with fine tannins, integrated oak, and a great finish.

Vinous 90-92 Points |  Representing 40% of the total volume, a little more than usual, the 2021 Le Petit-Mouton, is aged in 50% new oak. A very Cabernet nose with conspicuous graphite scents infusing the black fruit, a little Earl Grey in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy opening, not amazingly complex but well balanced with fine tannins and just a pinch of black pepper on the finish. Classic in style, it should give 15-20 years of drinking pleasure.

Decanter 92 Points | Beautifully fragrant strawberries and red cherries, just so perfumed and appealing, really a very lovely nose drawing you in. An excellent Petit Mouton in 2021; serious intensity here but also such a liveliness as well as creaminess. It has weight and layers while having fruit intensity and a core of aromatics. There's a softness and delicacy in terms of the tannins and frame - beguiling - but a real base of concentrated blue, red and black fruits - strawberries, red cherries and blackcurrants. You get the stony tones and the clove on the finish but this feels round, expansive and approachable. It's uber glamorous, still with freshness and lift. A gorgeous wine with lots going on! 0.5% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.73pH. 14% press wine.

Wine Advocate 89-91 Points | Since Mouton-Rothschild itself this year derives exclusively from the two plateaus that always make up the core of the blend, the 2021 Le Petit Mouton benefits from the inclusion of parcels that often make it into the grand vin. Exhibiting aromas of crème de cassis, mint, cigar wrapper, violets and espresso roast, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and fleshy, with a rich core of fruit, powdery tannins, succulent acids and a persistent finish. Characterful and beautifully made, I wonder if I'm being a little severe with my score?

Critic Notes

Charles Curtis MW writes:  hint of exotic Asian spice. The palate has a deft balance between density, moderately firm tannins, and a lively freshness that leads to a pleasantly lingering finish—lovely wine. The grapes come from the domaine holding of just under a half-hectare located under Clos de la Roche; they are partially destemmed and carefully fermented before ageing in mainly used casks. Age five years before opening.  Drinking 2028 to 2055.  - Decanter 95

Neal Martin writes:  The 2022 Morey-Saint-Denis Les Millandes 1er Cru has one-third whole bunches. Brambly red fruit, sous-bois and light chalky scents on the nose that feels quite strict at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins. There’s mainly black fruit here, plus cedar and graphite, rather "serious" towards the finish. Fine, but it will require bottle age.  Drinking 2026 to 2042.  - Vinous 90-92

Allen Meadows writes:  A discreet application of wood sets off the softly spicy and earthy aromas of violet, lavender plum and red currant. The powerful and markedly more concentrated broad-shouldered flavors exude a subtle minerality on the succulent yet very firmly structured finale that exhibits excellent length. Patience will be necessary but it should be well-rewarded in time as this is packed with development potential.  Drink 2024+  - Burghound 93

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points | The flagship 2020 Cornas is a beauty! Clearly in the same league as recent top vintages, it has a wild bouquet of black and blue fruits, liquid violets, game, and iron, with some incense and spice thrown in for good measure. It's slightly more round and sexy compared to the more powerful 2019, but it’s perfectly balanced, with ripe tannins and a great finish. This heavenly Cornas will be drinkable in just 3-4 years and evolve for two decades.

Vinous 97-98 Points | Glass-staining ruby. Intensely perfumed dark berry preserve, violet oil, olive, cured meat and woodsmoke scents show fine definition and vibrant spice- and mineral-driven lift. Offers palate-staining, spice-laced blackberry, bitter cherry, fruitcake and violet pastille flavors that deepen and open up steadily through the midpalate, while maintaining energy. The strikingly long, penetrating finish features youthfully chewy tannins, a sweet touch of cola and lingering floral and exotic spice qualities. All whole clusters and no new oak, as usual.

Decanter 97 Points | A vibrant, focused and intense style of Cornas, a return to a classic style after the richness of 2018 and the power of 2019. Their Renaissance will be made this year, so both wines will need to be bottled before a more precise evaluation of each blend can be made, but the outlook is good. Whole-bunch fermented in unlined concrete tanks, matured in small old foudres.

James Suckling 97 Points | A fragrant nose of blackberries, dark cherries, wild herbs, baking spices, stones and black pepper. Medium body with fine, firm tannins. It has volume and structure, but remains extremely agile. It has bright acidity and a vibrant peppery character, giving vitality and tension on the palate. Well-rounded and vivid with a succulent and textured, long developing finish. Best after 2026."

Wine Advocate 95-97 Points | Tasted from four different components of the 2020 Cornas from foudre. From 40-year-old vines in La Côte, a medium to full-bodied sample with attractive menthol, red plum and violet notes, ample structure but a bit short (92 - 94). From 50- to 60-year-old vines in La Sabarotte, an earthier, more savory example, with a rich, velvety texture and crisp acids (93 - 95). From 60- to 70-year-old vines in La Côte, a wine that seems to have it all: intense cassis, crushed stone, licorice and black olives, plus amazing richness and length (97 - 99). And finally, from old vines in Reynard, a breathtaking, hauntingly floral rendition marked by purple raspberries and fantastic concentration (98 - 100). The blend should be terrific.

Winemaker Description 

Lively, fruity nose, mixing notes of lemon, white flowers, pineapple and yellow peach. The palate is nervous and remarkably fruity, combining the fatness, saltiness and sap of a ripe wine with the freshness of a thirsty wine.

This wine comes exclusively from the vineyards of Domaine Marcel DEISS. It is produced from ripe grapes, vinified with the utmost respect and without oenological inputs. 

These grapes express the depth of the Alsatian terroir and we are happy to produce a wine that expresses our attachment to our region. Varietals: All the Alsatians grapes allowed in the AOC (13 in total). 
 

Expert Review 

92 Points Burghound | A slightly more deeply pitched nose is comprised by decidedly cool notes of plum, dark currant, forest floor and floral top notes, especially violet. Much like the Lavières, there is a positively gorgeous, even silky, texture to the lighter-bodied flavors thanks to the ultra-fine tannins shaping the overtly stony, dusty and youthfully austere finale. This is textbook Ile de Vergelesses.

Expert Review

97 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The 2020 Cornas Chaillot comes from a mix of lieux-dits (it's mostly Chaillot) as well as some younger vines. It's an incredible wine in its own right and certainly doesn't give much in terms quality to its big brother. Awesome aromatics of crème de cassis, violets, crushed stone, and bouquet garni-like notes all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, concentrated mid-palate, and ultra-fine tannins. It's a touch more finesse-driven and elegant compared to the Reynard and should round into form with just 5-7 years of bottle age. This is legit awesome Cornas that will have 20-25 years of ultimate longevity. (2020). 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

The Wine Enthusiast 97-99 Points | This is already shaping up to being one of the stars of the vintage. With its great fruit, fully enveloped by the structure and tannins, the wine has been set well for the future. The aromatic black fruits are intense and concentrated. — Roger Voss

Decanter 98 Poinhts | Wonderfully aromatic and expressive, with dark fruit, floral scents, chocolate, cinnamon and liquorice. Smooth, svelte, bursting with energy. Juicy strawberries and cherries have crunch from fine tannins and mineral edges. Calm and controlled, yet quietly powerful. Fruit and oak emerge over time, layering chalky, powdery, ripe, spiced and fresh textures. Ends as joyously as it starts, and very moreish.

James Suckling 98 Points | What a nose with complex aromas of blackberries, blackcurrants, graphite and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, this has layers of tannins and intense richness but is framed and held together by the phenolic structure. Vertical and deep, it goes on for minutes on the palate. Great finish. 81% cabernet sauvignon and 19% merlot. Give this five to six years to come together more. Best after 2030 and beyon

Winemaker Description

Considered the pinnacle of Burgundy, Domaine de la Romanee-Conti produces some of the world’s most revered wines from its tiny vineyards in Vosne-Romanee. Grands-Echezeaux, is a Grand Cru vineyard yielding sublime wines that are among the most highly-sought, seductive and rarest in the world.

The 2020 Grands Échézeaux is full-bodied, ample and fleshy with an abundance of powdery tannins and succulent acids. The luscious palate presents strawberry, cherry, leather, earth, mushroom, mint, a touch of spice, oak, and refreshing minerality.

Désire Petit Le Grapiot Chardonnay — Arbois Pupillin, Jura 2022

The Jura is one of France's most quietly thrilling wine regions — tucked between Burgundy and the Swiss border, farming ancient soils with a patience and philosophy that the natural wine world has come to revere. Désire Petit's Le Grapiot is a textbook expression of what this region can do with Chardonnay: sourced from 50-year-old vines in the prized Pupillin village, fermented and aged in new oak foudres without filtering, racking, or the addition of sulphites. Nature does the rest. The result is a wine of remarkable freshness, precision, and mineral depth — a no-sulphites Chardonnay that bears favorable comparison with Burgundies at twice the price.

The nose is fresh and precise: white peach, citrus zest, green apple, and meadow herbs, with a delicate underpinning of stony minerality and subtle toasted oak. On the palate, the wine is lively and focused — crisp acidity, a silky texture from the lees, and a long, clean finish where fruit, minerality, and oak sit in perfect harmony. It is everything a great Jura Chardonnay should be: honest, complex, and deeply satisfying.

"A deliciously mineral no-sulphites Chardonnay, lightly oaked and with bags of character and personality. Fruit from 50-year-old vines, fermented and aged in new oak foudres without filtering, racking, or sulphite addition. Wonderfully fresh, precise and tidy — fruit, minerality and subtle oak all sit in a satisfying harmony."

• Producer: Désire Petit, Pupillin, Jura, France
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Arbois Pupillin AOC
• Region: Jura, Eastern France
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Vine Age: 50-year-old vines
• Vinification: Fermented & aged in new oak foudres; unfiltered, unracked, no sulphites added
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: White peach, citrus zest, green apple, meadow herbs, stony minerality, subtle toasted oak, silky finish
• Best Paired With: Fruits de mer, oysters, butter-poached fish, soft cheeses, aperitif

A no-sulphites Jura Chardonnay from 50-year-old vines — Le Grapiot is the benchmark for what natural, terroir-driven winemaking in Pupillin can deliver.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

Burghound | A much more floral-inflected nose freely offers up its aromas of cool and ripe pear, apple and zest. There is good richness if not quite the same density to the more finely textured middleweight flavors that conclude in a crunchy bitter lemon-tinged finale. Lovely and understated.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

Burhound 92-94 Points | An elegant, pure and ultra-fresh nose offers up notes of lilac, rose petal, white peach, tea and citrus zest. There is a markedly more refined mouthfeel to the utterly delicious and highly seductive medium weight flavors that are more precise, all wrapped in a citrusy, impressively persistent and youthfully austere finale. This is very classy and I particularly like the underlying tension and balance that should also permit this beauty to age effortlessly over the next 12 to 15 years. In a word, excellent.