Red Burgundy’s Not to Miss
Red Burgundy’s Not to Miss – Burgundy wine (French: Bourgogne or vin de Bourgogne) is made in the Burgundy region of eastern France, in the valleys and slopes west of the Saône, a tributary of the Rhône.
The most famous wines produced here, and those commonly referred to as “Burgundies,” are dry red wines made from pinot noir grapes and white wines made from chardonnay grapes.
Red and white wines are also made from other grape varieties, such as gamay and aligoté, respectively.
Small amounts of rosé and sparkling wines are also produced in the region.
Chardonnay-dominated Chablis and gamay-dominated Beaujolais are recognized as part of the Burgundy wine region, but wines from those subregions are usually referred to by their own names rather than as “Burgundy wines”.
The various Burgundy AOCs are classified from carefully delineated grand cru vineyards down to more non-specific regional appellations.
There are 100 Appellations in Burgundy and these are classified into four quality categories.
These are Bourgogne, village, premier cru and grand cru.
Burgundy classifications are geographically focused. A specific vineyard or region will bear a given classification, regardless of the wine’s producer.
This focus is reflected on the wine’s labels, where appellations are most prominent and producers’ names often appear at the bottom in much smaller text.
The main levels in the Burgundy classifications, in descending order of quality, are: Grand crus, Premier crus, village appellations, and finally regional appellations:
Grand Cru wines are produced by a small number of the best vineyard sites in the Côte d’Or region, as strictly defined by the AOC laws.
These Cru wines make up 2% of the production at 35 hl/ha, and are generally produced in a style meant for cellaring, and typically need to be aged a minimum of five to seven years.
The best examples can be kept for more than 15 years.
Grand Cru wines will only list the name of the vineyard as the appellation – such as Corton or Montrachet – on the wine label, plus the Grand Cru term, but not the village name.
Premier Cru wines are produced from specific vineyard sites that are still considered to be of high quality, but not as well regarded as the Grand Cru sites. Premier Cru wines make up 12% of production at 45 hl/ha.
These wines often should be aged three to five years, and again the best wines can keep for much longer.
Premier Cru wines are labelled with the name of the village of origin, the Premier Cru status, and usually the vineyard name, for example, “Volnay 1er Cru Les Caillerets”.
Some Premier Cru wines are produced from several Premier Cru vineyards in the same village, and do not carry the name of an individual vineyard.
Red Burgundy’s Not to Miss – Bouchard Pere & Fils Beaune Les Teurons Premier Cru 2020
Pinot Noir from Beaune, Cote de Beaune, Cote d’Or, Burgundy, France
$99
The 2020 Beaune 1er Cru Les Teurons bursts with aromas of cherries, wild berries, cassis and licorice.
Medium to full-bodied, rich and ample, it’s a fleshy, enveloping, textural wine that’s generous and elegant.
Red fruit aromas with an oaky note on the nose.
Soft and generous on the palate, in a lovely harmonious marriage.
Good aging potential.
Pair with light game dishes, grilled meats and cheeses.
Domaine Blain-Gagnard Volnay Les Pitures Premier Cru 2018
Pinot Noir from Volnay, Cote de Beaune, Cote d’Or, Burgundy, France
$89
Volnay is often described as silky and elegant but the wines can vary in style depending on the soil and elevation of the vineyard.
They have a high percentage of limestone and show classic Volnay character of perfume and finesse.
Les Pitures is robust and opulent with violet, plum, earth and a subtle spiciness.
Aged in neutral oak barrels.
Red Burgundy might be the world’s most flexible food wine.
The wine’s high acidity, medium body, medium alcohol, and low tannins make it very food-friendly.
Red Burgundy, with its earthy and sometimes gamey character, is a classic partner to roasted game birds, grilled duck breast, and dishes that feature mushrooms, black truffles, or are rich in umami.
Red Burgundy’s Not to Miss – Domaine Joseph Voillot Pommard Les Pezerolles
Premier Cru 2018
Pinot Noir from Pommard, Cote de Beaune, Cote d’Or, Burgundy, France
$149
This vineyard grows north of Pommard, on the shoulder above the Epenots vineyard; the wine is notable for its spice, balance, and length.
Racy, chalky and almost refreshing by Pommard standards, with floral top notes, plum and red berry fruit, a nip of savory tannins, fine 15% new wood and a long, refreshing finish.
Domaine Voillot’s parcel is around 55 years old and covers 0.39ha on the Beaune side of the appellation, where limestone-based soils are more common.
Domaine Robert Groffier Gevrey-Chambertin Les Seuvrees 2018
Pinot Noir from Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, Cote d’Or, Burgundy, France
$149
This muscular red offers ripe aromas and flavors of blackberry and black cherry that are quickly engulfed in the grip of dense tannins.
The aftertaste echoes the fruit, along with earth, iron and tobacco notes. This has a lot in reserve and fine length.
Best from 2024 through 2042. 20 cases imported.
Red Burgundy’s Not to Miss – Albert Bichot Vosne-Romanee Domaine du Clos Frantin 2020
Pinot Noir from Vosne-Romanee, Cote de Nuits, Cote d’Or, Burgundy, France
$129
The nose of this Vosne-Romanée features tobacco, tea and mild notes of spice.
The palate is velvety with silky tannins, lovely fullness and remarkable balance. The finish is long and aromatic.
Try this Vosne-Romanée with red meat dishes, game in sauce and most cheeses.
From Les Damaudes and Basses Maizières.
Rich deep purple.
The bouquet is very pleasing, it has depth but does not overwhelm.
Such power at the back and then the chiseled limestone fresh acidity, the liveliness comes from the hillside, the ballast from Basses Maizières.
Together they work really well, with an excellent long finish.
Faiveley Chambolle-Musigny Les Beaux Bruns Premier Cru 2020
Pinot Noir from Chambolle-Musigny, Cote de Nuits, Cote d’Or, Burgundy, France
$219
Founded in 1825, Bourgognes Faiveley has been handed down from father to son for over 175 years.
As the sixth generation to take the reins, François Faiveley manages, with equal amounts passion and competence, the largest family domaine in Burgundy.
Methodically reconstructing vineyards fractured by French inheritance laws, Bourgognes Faiveley today owns more appellations in their entirety (monopoles) than any other domaine in Burgundy.
“Faiveley’s wines are… supremely clean and elegant: definitive examples of Pinot Noir… above all they have richness and breed, the thumbprint of a master winemaker.”
Red Burgundy’s Not to Miss – Domaine de la Pousse d’Or Santenay Clos Tavannes Premier Cru 2018
Pinot Noir from Santenay, Cote de Beaune, Cote d’Or, Burgundy, France
$75
Aromas of black raspberry, licorice, underbrush, light peppery herbs. Ripe and round; medium tannins.
‘Clos Tavannes’ is a walled vineyard, located on the border with Chassagne-Montrachet.
Older vines, planted in 1920, were originally sourced from Romanée-Conti. Hand-harvested.
De-stemmed and fermented on indigenous yeasts in temperature controlled tanks.
Aged in French barrique (20% new) for 15 months.
Unfined and unfiltered.
Rich purple. This is the first wine where the sunshine of the vintage shows a little in the aromatics, with some ultra-ripe dark cherries.
Very succulent on the palate and then freshens up nicely with just the right acidity.
Very long finish.
Exceptionally good in the style of a sunshine vintage.
Domaine Parent Corton Les Renardes Grand Cru 2018
Pinot Noir from Aloxe-Corton, Cote de Beaune, Cote d’Or, Burgundy, France
$230
An intense garnet-red and brilliant color.
The nose is dense and complex with black fruits and wood mushrooms aromas.
The mouth is powerful, crunchy and balanced with fine and elegant tannins, and lingering finish.
100% whole bunch and 100% new wood, which has been the recipe since 2015, not yet racked.
Beautiful crimson to purple with the marvelous heady nose of whole bunch vinification.
More peony or particularly rich roses.
The oak is clearly present but there is no doubt but that the fruit will wine, gorgeous length and succulence.
Overtly succulent yet still stylish.
Red Burgundy’s Not to Miss – Charles Van Canneyt Gevrey-Chambertin Les Cazetieres Premier Cru 2018
Pinot Noir from Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, Cote d’Or, Burgundy, France
$155
The 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin Les Cazetiers 1er Cru has an intense, powerful bouquet of red and black fruit and undergrowth; touches of menthol develop with aeration.
The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, good structure and matiere, and saline on the mid-palate, leading to a grippy, quite assertive finish.
Good aging potential.
Domaine Taupenot-Merme Chambolle-Musigny Combe d’Orveau Premier Cru 2019
Pinot Noir from Chambolle-Musigny, Cote de Nuits, Cote d’Or, Burgundy, France
$189
Picked early this year, as the grapes ripened rapidly without getting blocked by hydric stress.
Bright purple with a sunny gourmand style, blacker fruit behind but with a fine ripe strawberry note also through the middle.
A touch of sucrosity here but a very promising wine.
Red Burgundy’s Not to Miss – Domaine Taupenot Merme Morey St Denis 2018
Pinot Noir from Morey-St-Denis, Cote de Nuits, Cote d’Or, Burgundy, France
$105
Wilder, more stony, and excellent spice and silky fruit, Les poireaux, Les Crais, and En Sevrey are the three plots in this.
Energy and lovely purity, saline and long with delicacy on the finish.
Romain Taupenot uses grapes from three village sources – mostly Les Porroux with components from Les Crais and En Seuvrey – and it’s well up to the high quality of previous releases.
Spicy, chalky and aromatic, with 25% new wood, commendable finesse and palate length and ripe, textured red fruit flavors.
Louis Latour Volnay En Chevret Premier Cru 2019
Pinot Noir from Volnay, Cote de Beaune, Cote d’Or, Burgundy, France
$145
This Volnay 1er Cru “En Chevret” 2019 has a beautiful deep ruby color with garnet tints, it offers an intense nose with black cherry and licorice aromas accompanied by a woody note.
The ample mouth reveals notes of licorice and blackcurrant. Good aromatic persistence.
Pair with veal with cream and morels, game and mature cheeses.
Succulent red cherry and raspberry nectar extend from nose to finish in this generous, richly concentrated wine. It’s a fruity, lip-smacking sip elevated by a mineral edge and delicate cherry-blossom kiss on the finish.
While it’s an age-worthy wine with taut tannins in youth, its current exuberance readily charms as well.
Red Burgundy’s Not to Miss
Village appellation wines are produced from a blend of wines from supposedly lesser vineyard sites within the boundaries of one of 42 villages, or from one individual but unclassified vineyard.
Wines from each different village are considered to have their own specific qualities and characteristics, and not all Burgundy communes have a village appellation.
Village wines make up 36% of production at 50 hl/ha.
These wines can be consumed two to four years after the release date, although again some examples will keep for longer.
Village wines will show the village name on the wine label, such as “Pommard”, and sometimes – if applicable – the name of the single vineyard or climat where it was sourced.
Several villages in Burgundy have appended the names of their Grand Cru vineyards to the original village name – hence village names such as “Puligny-Montrachet” and “Aloxe-Corton”.
