Wine Advocate (96)

There are five barrels worth of the 2017 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru, a brilliant wine that unwinds in the glass with a complex bouquet of Meyer lemon, dried white flowers, beeswax, pear, toasted nuts and fresh mint. On the palate, it's full-bodied, satiny and strikingly concentrated, with a bright line of succulent acidity, a textural but weightless profile and a long, lingering finish.

Hailing from the distinguished appellation of Chevalier-Montrachet in Burgundy, France, the Michel Niellon Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2018 is a true testament to Niellon’s winemaking prowess. Cultivated in French limestone-rich soils, this eloquent Chardonnay is a reflection of meticulously hand-harvested grapes, gentle pressing, and controlled fermentation in oak barrels, contributing to its emblematic white floral bouquet.

Borne from a 60-year-old vineyard, the wine distinctly embodies the land, offering a sublime balance between concentrated minerality and harmonious acidity. Its creamy texture and opulent fruit profile, marked by crisp green apple, ripe pear, and nuanced citrus undertones, enhance the wine’s overall complexity and depth. Michel Niellon's commitment to traditional Burgundian practices endows this Grand Cru with an authentic terroir-driven expression alongside excellent ageing potential.

Exquisite and refined, the Michel Niellon Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2018 encapsulates the essence of its grand cru status, providing a wine drinking experience par excellence.

An exquisite embodiment of Burgundy's esteemed white wines, Michel Niellon Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2019 is the pinnacle of skill and craftsmanship from the French vintner. Handpicked Chardonnay grapes from the 50-year-old Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru vineyard are patiently aged in French oak before undertaking a malolactic fermentation process, ensuring a perfectly balanced blend.

Born of the globally venerated Côte de Beaune region, the 2019 vintage captures the dynamism between soil and grape, crafting a wine that touts vibrant acidity harmonising with endearing richness. Its bouquet is an oscillation of toasted nuts, stone fruit and a dilatory hint of mandarin, succeeding on the palate with an enduring mineral finish.

The producer, Michel Niellon, who was once described in "The Wine Advocate" as a ‘master of Chassagne-Montrachet’, has orchestrated this exemplary bottle with his famed meticulous precision and unwavering commitment to quality. The Michel Niellon Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2019 is indeed an esteemed addition to any discerning collector's cellar.

Burghound (97)

Don't miss! An overtly floral-suffused nose speaks of the ripe essence of white peach, passion fruit, anise, exotic Asian-style tea and in particularly jasmine, tangerine rind and a hint of wood influence. There is exceptionally good density to the palate staining big-bodied flavors that exhibit impressive power on the muscular and overtly mineral-driven finale which offers massive length on the ever-so-slightly warm finale. This very serious effort is a classic Chevalier of class and grace and it's also a wine that I could still taste 24 hours later. It will be hard to find but worth it as this is one of the wines of the vintage. In a word, brilliant. 2032+

Decanter (98)

A wine of intense concentration, tension and focus, even in the warm conditions of 2022. Aroma notes of ripe apple, peach and quince, then the volume and density you'd expect from 2022, but it's well balanced by the fresh acidity that draws it to a lingering finish. Grapes from Niellon’s plot of old vines are fermented on native yeasts in 40% new cask. This wine is among the best from this vintage and will make old bones if you are so inclined.

Decanter (96)

Chevalier-Montrachet 2023 from Domaine Michel Niellon is among the luminous successes of the vintage. The initial restraint on the nose gives way on the palate to aromas of ripe pear and quince with a hint of marzipan and fresh white flowers. The texture is generous, almost voluptuous, but there is a balance and elegance that hint at its noble origins. The grapes are from 0.22ha of 60-year-old vines at the base of the slope near the Leflaive parcel. Ideally, one would wait 10 years for this wine to show its full potential.

Vinous (88)

The 2020 Chambolle-Musigny Village, matured in 30% new oak, is vibrant and fresh on the nose: black cherries, strawberry pastille and just a touch of violet petal. The palate is a little oaky on the entry. Good depth, quite dense for a Chambolle, touches of blood orange and pain d'épices towards the finish. Give it a couple of years in bottle.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (89-91)

Mainly Fouchères plus Echanges, Combottes and Maladière, overall an old vine cuvée with 60-80 year old vines. An even fresh purple. A touch of oak and relatively ripe strawberry-raspberry fruit, very much red fruit on the palate, with just enough acidity. An attractive, accessible Chambolle. Drink from 2028-2032. Tasted Dec 2024.

Really surprisingly red-fruit dominated and sweetly spicy. A beauty, much more feminine than the Echezeaux but still carrying itself with a lot of structure and style. From two plots within the Cru alongside the famous Chateau. Again this is even more impressive than the Grivot.

Vinous (89)

The 2018 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru is quite deep in colour. It has a slightly reduced bouquet with ample blackberry and raspberry fruit, well integrated oak, though it is missing the Pinoté character I look for. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and pleasant dark berry fruit laced with brown spices. It feels just a little short on the finish, overall a decent Clos de Vougeot that would show more finesse in a cooler growing season. - Neal Martin

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93-96)

A fresh crimson purple. The bouquet is more precisely defined than the Echezeaux, dark fruit yet with some red berries also involved. The fruit fills the palate more generously, with excellent structure from well-defined tannins and a little point of acidity. This stands up very well and shows the character of the appellation. Drink from 2032-2038. Tasted Dec 2024.

Vinous (91)

The 2020 Echézeaux Grand Cru has a rich and quite exotic bouquet that, for me, is just missing a bit of Pinoté. The palate is medium-bodied with lithe and fleshy tannins. Soft and caressing, nicely balanced, richer than the 2021 (no surprise there) with black pepper and a touch of spice on the finish.

Very bright, precise and open knit on the nose. The fruit is fresh, sweet and friendly for a Nuits Saint Georges. Round and finessed this is a definite buy for lovers of Vosne Romanee but with a touch more tannins and

Very bright, precise and open knit on the nose. The fruit is fresh, sweet and friendly for a Nuits-Saint-Georges. Round and finessed this is a definite buy for lovers of Vosne Romanee but with a touch more tannic firmness and earthiness.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91-94)

Not one of the deeper colours, on the ruby crimson border. A fine, classy, elegant nose, subtle rather than blockbuster. The oak is quite nicely integrated, alongside the fruit which shows more its Vosne-Romanée attributes. A little orange zest, with fair persistence. Drink from 2030-2037. Tasted Dec 2024.

Vinous (90)

The 2020 Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots 1er Cru has an exotic bouquet with hints of prune filtering through the red cherry and cassis notes. Very opulent. The palate is rounded and caressing, plush and quite decadent. The 40-50% new oak is nicely integrated, though I would like to see more precision on the finish.