Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (89-92)

Not in bottle. Medium to bright purple. 50% whole bunch makes a more classic pinot fruit on the nose. Opens out very nicely, slightly more acidity than tannin to make the structure. No great density but pleasingly perfumed with raspberry and rose petals. Drink from 2027-2034. Tasted: October 2023.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93-96)

(5 Star Wine) First we tasted the component parts. (1) Young vines from 1980s. A deep concentrated purple. Lesser foliage in the hot dry summer has concentrated the colour and other aspects, giving a dark style of fruit as well, with a nutty finish, but good acidity. (2) A blend, mainly from plot #3 and a bit of #1. Mid purple in colour, less demonstrative on the nose. A much suppler style of fruit, less forceful acidity, fine length, more typical Epenots here. (3) Old vines, 90+ years old: A deep glowing purple. A little more intensity, a gorgeous quality of deep red fruit, just a touch tougher in its tannins, plus the acidity. (4) Press wine: dark purple, powerful rather than fine on the nose, more volatile, but could be useful in the blend. Sweet thick dark red to black fruit. Chunky stuff. And now the blend: A deep purple colour with only a very slightly lighter rim. The bouquet suggests poise as the fruit has melded together harmoniously. On the palate this is, as almost always, a much more complete wine than the individual parts. The wine seems to push down deeper while retaining all the class of the very best components. We are approaching the cusp of red and black fruit, the acidity is perfectly harnessed and the tannins are fine grained. Potentially a very fine Clos des Epeneaux. Drink from 2032-2040+. Tasted: October 2023.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91-93)

80 year old vines in clay soil, a vineyard run by the Delaunay team. Destemmed 36% new wood, all destemmed. Dark crimson purple. The Chaponnières has a lovely bouquet of dense ripe cherries and a good fruit acid balance, I find this wine altogether livelier and more interesting than the Beaune Grèves. Drink from 2028-2035. Tasted: November 2023.

Guffens Heynen Macon Pierreclos 1er Jus Chavigne 2022 is an exceptional product of meticulous craftsmanship nestled in the heart of the Macon Pierreclos region of France. Acclaimed wine producer Veronique and Jean-Marie Guffens bring their cultivated expertise in creating a wine enriched by regional terroir. The method, often referred to as 'premier jus', entails a meticulous single-pressing technique, resulting in a wine saturated with unspoiled, complex flavours. Guffens Heynen Macon Pierreclos 1er Jus Chavigne 2022 stands out for its luscious bouquet of ripe fruit, nuanced mineral undertones and sensuous hints of oak from labour intensive fermentation in French barrels. This luxurious White Burgundy wine exhibits the signature refinement & complexity that globally acknowledged experts consistently attribute to Guffens Heynen. A genuine testament to the artistry of the fine wine connoisseur, Guffens Heynen Macon Pierreclos 1er Jus Chavigne 2022 remains an indomitable symbol of French winemaking at its most exquisite.

Savour the luxurious Heritiers Comte Lafon Macon Bussieres Monsard 2022, steeped in the rich history of Comte Lafon's family vineyard, a renowned owner within Burgundy's prestigious Macon region. This typically elegant Chardonnay proffers the impeccable advantage of the Lafon heritage, underpinned by the family's traditional biodynamic viticulture practices and low-intervention philosophy in the cellar.

Grown in the venerable limestone soils, each grape is hand-picked and gently pressed to ensure the unique nuances of the fruit are captured. This particular vintage, following a languid maturation in aged barrels, exudes unrivalled minerality and bespoke terroir characteristics. Notes of pear, quince, and white blossom freely intertwine with a crisp, bright finish, defining an articulation of the inimitable Macon Bussieres terroir.

Heritiers Comte Lafon Macon Bussieres Monsard 2022: a sublime embodiment of the Lafon legacy, an outstanding testament to the excellence of the Macon region.

Jancis Robinson (17.5)

Mid cherry red. Seductive, sweet-floral, perfumed. Open and expressive. Then deeper and more savoury on the palate. Super-fine tannins with lots of layers so that overall they are slightly chewy. Multilayerd, deeply fruited and very long. A harmonious beauty.

Jancis Robinson (17.5)

Mid cherry red. Highly perfumed, impression of violets. That perfume leads you to a firmly but finely structured wine – the really elegant tannins are the main quality of the palate at the moment. A refined, pure and elegant beauty.

Hailing from the celebrated terroirs of Burgundy, the Jessica Litaud Macon Fuisse 2022 is an exceptional specimen of French finesse. Jessica Litaud, a boutique, family-run estate, artistically weaves complex, mineral-driven flavours into this distinguished expression of Chardonnay.

Crafted in the heart of the Maconnais region of Southern Burgundy, this esteemed wine is nuanced with the quintessential characteristics of its limestone and clay soils. A masterful balance of richness and freshness is achieved through judiciously controlled, traditional winemaking methods.

The Jessica Litaud Macon Fuisse 2022 is an elegant offering with a vibrant golden hue, opening up a palate of ripe orchard fruits, honeyed melon, and a sprinkling of toasted hazelnuts. The finish, encapsulating undertones of citrus and stone fruit, leaves a lingering minerality, emblematic of its place of production. This is a wine that brings the artistry of Burgundian winemaking to your glass and captivates the senses, sip after exquisite sip.

The revered Jessica Litaud Macon Solutre-Pouilly 2022 is the embodiment of exceptional French winemaking tradition. Produced in the famed Maconnais region within southern Burgundy - renowned for its superior Chardonnay, Jessica Litaud embraces minimal intervention methods, allowing inherent terroir attributes to effectively shape the wine. The 2022 vintage demonstrates superior craftsmanship with a delicate balance of ripe fruit flavours, impressive minerality, and a structured finish.

Litaud's Solutre-Pouilly is derived from the lower slopes of the Roche de Solutré, a breath-taking limestone escarpment that confers nuanced complexity in the wine. Jessica, a visionary third-generation winemaker, infuses her commitment to sustainable viticulture practices in every bottle.

Savour this elegant French delight today: the Jessica Litaud Macon Solutre-Pouilly 2022 represents a superlative expression of the Macon appellation's potential.

Wine Advocate (93-94)

The 2022 Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens is excellent, wafting from the glass with aromas of plums and raspberries mingled with exotic spices, orange zest and petals. Medium to full-bodied, rich and velvety, its textural attack segues into an unctuous core of fruit, concluding with a long, expansive finish.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91-93)

A fine mid ruby colour. The bouquet has both charm and density in a very happy balance. A lovely aftertaste of soft strawberry and fresh raspberry, the graceful side of Pommard with the tannins nicely covered. Drink from 2030-2037. Tasted: November 2023.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91-93)

(5 Star Wine) Not too deep in colour, with rather a stylish perfumed raspberry fruit. Light fresh acidity, behind the beautifully balanced fruit, a few tannins too, but the fruit stretches out wonderfully behind them. The benefit of ancient vines is clear to see. Drink from 2030-2036. Tasted: November 2023.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91-93)

(5 Star Wine) Not too deep in colour, with rather a stylish perfumed raspberry fruit. Light fresh acidity, behind the beautifully balanced fruit, a few tannins too, but the fruit stretches out wonderfully behind them. The benefit of ancient vines is clear to see. Drink from 2030-2036. Tasted: November 2023.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91-94)

A glowing crimson purple, the bouquet comes over with striking class. Quite floral in fact, plenty of sunshine in the fruit but here in Pommard the vine resists better and the tannins are very refined. A delicious aftertaste. The vineyard was only replanted in 2016, so congratulations. It is now in pinot fin and that shows. Drink from 2030-2038. Tasted: October 2023.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-95)

A solid dense ruby colour with a powerful bouquet driven by both the intensity of the fruit and the new oak, one barrel of the two, and no stems. There is a lot of wine here in its solid earthy Pommard style, yet with class too. Excellent length, and so much fruit that it can eat up its oak easily. Drink from 2032-2040. Tasted: December 2023.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (90-92)

An intense bright fresh purple. Quite punchy on the nose, in a good way, and with a certain amount of oak showing on the palate. Good acidity, more than tannins, and a fresh vigorous red berry fruit throughout.

Philippe Pacalet Pommard 1er Cru Les Charmots 2022 is an exquisite embodiment of Burgundy's terroir, a distinguished expression of Pinot Noir. Lovingly cultivated in a renowned vineyard of Pommard, this vintage is crafted by trailblazing winemaker Philippe Pacalet. An acolyte in organic and biodynamic practices, Pacalet artfully forgoes pesticides, chemical interventions, and intrusive soil manipulations to respect the land and grapes’ natural rhythm and character.

The Pommard 1er Cru Les Charmots 2022 boasts a complex palate, its allure strengthened by its harmonious balance of refinement and power. Vignettes of red cherries, blackberries, forest floor, and subtle spices intermingle in every sip. Displaying an impressive density, depth, and firm tannic backbone, expect a taste of Burgundy that evolves marvelously with age. Enjoy a reputable masterpiece of Philippe Pacalet, Pommard 1er Cru Les Charmots 2022, leaving a lasting impression on your palate.

Decanter (95)

There is more depth and structure in the Epenots than in the village wine, but this latter is still approachable and forward, with ripe black plum and mulberry fruit and hints of lavender, menthol, and star anise. The texture is dense, and the tannins are supple but supportive, leading the whole to a pleasantly persistent finish. The grapes are 90% from Grands Epenots and 10% from Petits Epenots; they are fermented as whole clusters and aged in used casks to produce this memorable wine.

Decanter (94)

Pacalet sources the grapes for this bottling from the portion of Rugiens classified as village-level 'but it's political' according to him. He goes on to note that the parcel was planted in 1905. The grapes from these ancient vines are fermented as whole clusters and punched down twice daily to produce this wine with expressive red and black fruit aromas and hints of earth and wild herbs; there is a touch of tannin from the stems, but this will integrate with time. With a bit of time in the bottle, this should be an interestingly complex wine.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (90-93)

In fact this is Grands Epenots, though not specified thus on the label. 5% comes from their own vines and is made as whole bunch, the rest is not. Deep and intense, with a profound dark raspberry fruit, fine intensity through the middle, then more fruit to cover any final tannins. Supple dark fruit with a touch of chocolate maybe. Drink from 2030-2036. Tasted: November 2023.