Cf january032022

Cellar Favorite: 2010 Domaine François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Forêt

cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Burgundy

Antonio Galloni, Jan 2023

What a treat it is to drink the 2010 Chablis 1er Cru Forêt from Raveneau. I can’t remember the last time I tasted this, it could very well have been when I reviewed it from bottle ten years ago! Back then, I wrote that “The 2010 isn't the most complex Forêt, but it is likely to drink better earlier than some of the other wines in this lineup because of its round, immediate personality.” That’s actually turned out to be pretty accurate. Thank God.

Cf december052022

Cellar Favorite: 2008 Domaine Jean-François Coche-Dury Meursault Les Rougeots

cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Burgundy

Antonio Galloni, Dec 2022

The 2008 Meursault Les Rougeous from Coche-Dury is fabulous.

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Dealing with the New Paradigm: Burgundy 2018

featured, France: Burgundy

Neal Martin, Nov 2022

So, the 2018 Burgundy vintage was too warm to bestow tensile Chardonnay and transparent Pinot Noirs, yes? Well, not exactly. I tasted more than 400 whites and reds blind at the annual Burgfest to see how the vintage is shaping up. Expect the unexpected!

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Cellar Favorite: 1993 Domaine Jean Grivot Nuits Saint-Georges Les Roncières

cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Burgundy

Neal Martin, Nov 2022

This bottle of 1993 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Roncières 1er Cru was ‘magpied’ off a list in Beaune, one of the few bottles whose umbilical had not been cut within the last three years.

Pouilly fuisse 1996 denogent copy

Cellar Favorite: 1996 Domaine Robert Denogent Pouilly-Fuissé Les Carrons Vieilles Vignes

cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Burgundy

Neal Martin, Nov 2022

A few months back, I reported on a cluster of old Pouilly-Fuissés from Château de Beauregard that attested to their under-appreciated longevity. Here is another bottle that was bright as a daisy when opened in Beaune as a pre-prandial wake-me-up.

Chambolle les cras line up1 copy

Domaine Georges Roumier Part 2: Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras 1er Cru

Verticals & Retrospectives, featured, France: Burgundy

Neal Martin, Nov 2022

In this second look at Christophe Roumier, the limelight shines upon his Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras 1er Cru. With over a dozen vintages tasted blind, this tasting reveals a winemaker unafraid to translate growing seasons as they are.

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Domaine Georges Roumier Part 1: 1988s Examined

Verticals & Retrospectives, featured, France: Burgundy

Neal Martin, Nov 2022

Sometimes tastings seem beyond the realm of possibility, for example, going through all of Christophe Roumier’s wines from humble Bourgogne Rouge to his elusive Musigny. But to taste a mature vintage like 1988? That was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to assess if Roumier created magic early in his career.

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Swings and Roundabouts: Chablis 2020/2021

featured, France: Burgundy

Neal Martin, Sep 2022

Chablis is a mirror, translating growing seasons into wine with minimal interference compared to elsewhere. The 2020 and 2021 vintages are very different, the latter resulting in wines I thought would not be seen again. So where do you start looking?

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Relive the Nightmare! 2008 Red & White Burgundy

Verticals & Retrospectives, featured, France: Burgundy

Neal Martin, Aug 2022

What lies inside a bottle of Burgundy? You never know until you open it. So, when touring the region, I tasted an eclectic array from the divisive 2008 vintage to see how the wines turned out, finding a few surprises on the way.

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The Inflection Point: Mâconnais 2020 & 2021

featured, France: Burgundy

Neal Martin, Aug 2022

With the inception of Premier Crus and more Burgundy lovers appreciating its well-priced wines, the Mâconnais currently has the wind in its sails. But how did winemakers react to two recent vintages that were so different: 2020 and 2021? There is only one way to find out.