{"title":"Burgundy, France Wine Collection","description":"\u003cp\u003eDiscover the \u003cstrong data-start=\"347\" data-end=\"381\"\u003eworld’s most prestigious wines\u003c\/strong\u003e from Burgundy, France — where terroir dictates every nuance. Our collection spans Burgundy’s \u003cstrong data-start=\"475\" data-end=\"496\"\u003emajor sub-regions\u003c\/strong\u003e, from the steely whites of Chablis to the profound reds of Côte de Nuits and the rich, textured whites of Côte de Beaune. Each bottle reflects centuries of tradition, meticulous viticulture, and the unforgiving standards that define Burgundy.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"somm2303-jsme19bourgbl-750","title":"Domaine Jessiaume, Bourgogne Chardonnay","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis over-achieving Bourgogne Chardonnay is the perfect introduction to a boutique producer on the rise. Crafted from hand-harvested fruit, it was barrel-femented and aged in a mix of large oak vats and smaller barrels, and yet the oak, even at this young stage, is not dominant. The wine is textured but crystalline, creamy and citrusy, flashy but classic—in short, everything you could ask for in a Burgundy Chardonnay. We suspect it comes from old vines, in that it exhibits great concentration but also refreshing, natural acidity. It shines a pale yellow-gold in the glass moving to a silvery rim, with aromas of yellow apple, white peach, citrus, acacia flowers, créme frâiche, crushed chalk and some light oak spice. It is medium-plus in body and already singing after a few minutes of being open, so don’t worry about laying it down (even though you could). This is the full, crystalline white Burgundy package, perfect for serving with your go-to roast chicken recipe or richer seafood like lobster, seared scallops, or halibut. Try the attached pasta recipe with this wine—it’ll look like something you just “threw together,” which will make it that much more impressive. Enjoy!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733045293110,"sku":"SOMM2303-JSME19BOURGBL-750","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/a82b2c5bb26ccf43492b5f9c94a696ec.jpg?v=1686588350"},{"product_id":"somm2003-df17vr-750","title":"Domaine Forey Père \u0026 Fils, Vosne-Romanée","description":"\u003cdiv\u003eBeloved by Burgundy purists, this small property is a treasure trove of classically styled, “old school” Burgundies from Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges, and Morey-Saint-Denis. This village-level Vosne is a profoundly expressive—yet tiny production—Pinot Noir from vines averaging 40 years of age. Proprietor Régis Forey ages this wine in a mix of used French oak \u003cem\u003ebarriques\u003c\/em\u003e and larger \u003cem\u003edemi-muids;\u003c\/em\u003e his wines are known to be powerfully structured and deeply mineral-driven in their youth—built to age well for decades. If opening a bottle of this 2017 today, be sure to decant it at least one hour before serving, to allow its tannins to soften and its dark cherry fruit to emerge.\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733045325878,"sku":"SOMM2003-DF17VR-750","price":79.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/DomaineForeyPere_Fils_Vosne-Romanee_MainImage-1800x1800.jpg?v=1693943694"},{"product_id":"somm2303-remo20blanc-750","title":"Remoissenet Père et Fils, Bourgogne Blanc","description":"\u003cp\u003eToday’s stunning example of Bourgogne Blanc is an overachiever, to say the least. An interesting blend of parcels, this wine is derived from declassified fruit from younger vineyards in both Chablis and Puligny-Montrachet. All fruit is hand-harvested and the Chardonnay is pressed whole cluster back at the cellar. Following a spontaneous fermentation in a combination of French barrels (30% new) and stainless steel, the resulting wine continues maturing on its fine lees in these same vessels. It is bottled the following year without filtration. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe combination offers incredible freshness, staggering minerality, and generous texture that belies its Bourgogne Blanc label. Being one of the more expensive négociant houses in Burgundy for its Premier and Grand Cru bottlings, today’s wine represents a rare steal. In a blind tasting, it performs similarly to a Puligny-Montrachet with beautiful elegance and mineral complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733045358646,"sku":"SOMM2303-REMO20BLANC-750","price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/51596e1f0ee72117ffbe00c29e013e1f.jpg?v=1686588346"},{"product_id":"somm2301-pdo20cm-750","title":"Domaine de la Pousse d’Or, Chambolle-Musigny","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis 2020 is sourced from seven tiny parcels within Chambolle-Musigny, two of which are classified Premier Cru, with vine ages ranging from 30 to 60 years. Hand-harvested fruit is carefully de-stemmed and fermented on native yeasts in stainless steel, before being moved to French oak \u003cem\u003ebarriques\u003c\/em\u003e (20% new) for 18 months. This is a spotless, sophisticated winery, but it is also one that embraces traditional, natural winemaking techniques: wines are moved by gravity only, bottled according to the phases of the moon, and treated with as little added sulfur as is possible. This wine exhibits crystalline clarity and beautiful Pinot Noir purity, and is poised to evolve beautifully for 10-15 years at a minimum; you know you’re experiencing greatness when you take your first sip!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733045391414,"sku":"SOMM2301-PDO20CM-750","price":105.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/b332c21b591d33fddb4907c71eae1548.jpg?v=1686588358"},{"product_id":"somm2212-jcrl18pm-750","title":"Domaine Jacques Carillon, Puligny-Montrachet","description":"\u003cdiv\u003eCarillon is a benchmark producer of Puligny-Montrachet, with a family winemaking tradition in this Burgundy village dating back to the 16th century. The small estate covers just 5.5 hectares, most of it in Puligny, and the vines for this wine average nearly 40 years of age. This is a textbook example of classically styled, high-toned white Burgundy, mixing racy acidity and mineral depth with a rich mid-palate of yellow apple, salted lemon, and fresh cream (derived during aging via \u003cem\u003ebâtonnage\u003c\/em\u003e (lees-stirring). Only 15% new oak barrels are used for aging, allowing the pure, ripe fruit of the excellent 2018 vintage to shine. A cornerstone white for any well-curated cellar!\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733045424182,"sku":"SOMM2212-JCRL18PM-750","price":125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/8eb758b62a43924bc2ea34547068d4e5.jpg?v=1686588401"},{"product_id":"somm2210-omorin19oly-750","title":"Olivier Morin, Bourgogne Chitry “Olympe”","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn the annals of over-achievement, this tense and textured Bourgogne Chitry from Olivier Morin will go down as one of the year’s top white Burgundy values. If the name Chitry (she-TREE) had you scouring a map of Burgundy, don’t be embarrassed—plenty of trained sommeliers would need to do the same thing—just make sure to remember it! Located about seven miles from Chablis in the northwestern reaches of the Bourgogne AOC, Chitry is one of those “next-door-neighbor” appellations we love so much.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this case, it’s the same terroir (chalky Kimmeridgian limestone; cool climate) as Chablis, just with way less name recognition, meaning a $32 bottle of white Burgundy that doesn’t merely over-achieve—it shocks. One of the many things that blew us away was how much classic \u003cem\u003eChablisienne\u003c\/em\u003e minerality and tension it displayed in the hot, generously ripe 2019 vintage. There’s luscious Chardonnay fruit here, in layers no less, but also the kind of mineral\/acidic nerve that makes you sit up a little straighter in your chair. This might be what they call a “modest” appellation, but this is one self-assured, downright boastful white Burgundy. Stock up on this!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eNow that we know where Chitry is—clustered alongside other value hunting grounds like Saint-Bris, Irancy, and Côtes d’Auxerre—let’s get to Olivier Morin. In 1992, he left the music business to take over his family’s 30-acre domaine, essentially “trading in his turntables for a tractor.” Morin and his wife, Nelly, farm the vineyards organically and ferment the wines using only ambient yeasts while using the least amount of sulfur possible. Trite as it may sound, you really can taste this in the wine: There’s a palpable energy to it that can only come from clean farming and minimalist winemaking.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eMorin is also blessed with some prime older vines, which, for this bottling, range in age from 15-60 years and reach altitudes of 600 meters. For “Olympe,” fruit from mostly south-facing parcels is hand-harvested and “direct pressed” to older French oak casks for fermentation. The wine is aged an impressive 18 months in those used casks, which lends creaminess and depth to the texture without masking the fruit with lots of vanilla or other oak-derived notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe result is a judiciously balanced Chardonnay of serious substance and mouth-watering freshness. In the glass, it pours a luminous straw gold, with luxurious Chardonnay aromas of yellow apple, lemon peel, acacia flowers, crushed oyster shells, wet stones, and a hint of \u003cem\u003ecrème fraîche\u003c\/em\u003e. It is leaning toward medium-plus in body, and I wouldn’t be exaggerating when I say it approaches Premier\/Grand Cru Chablis in quality. Yes, that’s amazing for $32, and should you decide to lose a few bottles in the cellar for a couple more years, you’ll likely be richly rewarded. There’s so much this will pair with it’s hard to settle on just one thing, which is just what you want from your new house white. Cheers!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733045456950,"sku":"SOMM2210-OMORIN19OLY-750","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/fbf150fa603cc2265c849188b371d7ad.jpg?v=1686588363"},{"product_id":"somm2203-dvst09vlvs-1500","title":"Jean et Sébastien Dauvissat, Chablis 1er Cru “Vaillons” MAGNUM","description":"\u003cp\u003eSébastien Dauvissat’s family has been farming the same parcels since 1899 and vinification still takes place in the tiny caves under the 17th-century farmhouse where Sébastien lives. For those curious, Sébastien is indeed related to the living legend Vincent Dauvissat—and he seems to have inherited the same winemaking gene too! \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe entire domaine consists of just under 10 hectares, with four devoted to “Vaillons.” This renowned Premier Cru vineyard is deeply embedded in Kimmeridgian limestone, a rich soil that imbues unparalleled minerality into the best Chablis. In the cellar, Dauvissat employs a long, patient \u003cem\u003eélevage\u003c\/em\u003e—two full years in stainless steel—to ensure maximum expression of terroir. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen you pull the cork on these perfectly aged magnums, I strongly recommend keeping the service temperature around 55 degrees. If you don’t have a cellar or wine fridge to provide you with an accurate measurement, simply go off aromas and taste: If they feel muted, let the wine warm up in your glass for 5-10 minutes and try it again. Dauvissat wines in their youth typically have all the tension of a loaded crossbow, but after a decade-plus of quiet evolution in the dark cold of their cellar, they morph into an entirely different, breathtaking breed. Savory, leesy, mellow—they are Chardonnays with substantial depth, persistence, and mineral power. What a rare experience this is. Enjoy!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733045489718,"sku":"SOMM2203-DVST09VLVS-1500","price":125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/9fe07098bd7e2ab112927bee5cb4feb2.jpg?v=1686588398"},{"product_id":"somm2303-gav20hcdnherm-750","title":"Domaine Philippe Gavignet, Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits “Clos de L’Hermitage”","description":"\u003cp\u003eHigh above the villages of Nuits-Saint-Georges and Vosne-Romanée, where vineyards give way to forest, are the “Hautes-Côtes,” or “upper slopes” of Burgundy’s Côte de Nuits. The higher altitudes and resultant cooler temperatures produce wines famously described as “full of fire, uplifting and light”—a phrase I’ll co-opt here in the service of Philippe Gavignet’s “Clos de l’Hermitage.” The creep of climate change has Burgundy \u003cem\u003evignerons\u003c\/em\u003e (and Burgundy drinkers) looking anew at the Hautes-Côtes, and wines like this 2019 are a direct result:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eGavignet, one of the great artisans of Nuits-Saint-Georges and the owner of some of the greatest old-vine parcels in the village, planted his Clos de l’Hermitage recently, and it’s starting to pay dividends. Measuring less than an acre and climbing to 400 meters in elevation, this little gem of a site has the same exposition and marl\/limestone soils as the band of Premier Cru parcels downslope, but it’s a touch cooler and windier, producing a Pinot Noir full of invigorating tension and soaring perfume. Lovers of classically styled Burgundy should jump all over this one, because it not only blossoms with time open but is poised to be a fantastic short-term ager. “Uplifting” pretty much nails it, but I’ll add “transfixing” and “energizing” for good measure: I anxiously await my next bottle!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is what we’ve all come to expect from Philippe Gavignet, one of the most reliable and resolutely classic Burgundy producers we work with at SommSelect. From Bourgogne Rouge all the way up the ladder, Gavignet’s wines a marked by palpable tension and earthy soul. Based in Nuits-Saint-Georges, the property dates to the 1930s and still boasts some vineyards planted way back then (and before). Philippe (whose first vintage was 1979) farms roughly 10 hectares as sustainably as possible, eschewing chemical herbicides and pesticides and harvesting only by hand. His range of wines is focused almost exclusively on N-S-G bottlings, where his holdings include Premier Crus such as “Les Chaboeufs,” “Les Bousselots” and “Les Pruliers,” but he’s also got a strong presence in the Hautes-Côtes, including one site with vines approaching 50 years of age. His tiny Clos de l’Hermitage site contains younger vines in an east\/southeast-facing parcel high above the village of Nuits-Saint-Georges.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eRegardless of vineyard location, what you get from Gavignet is maximum transparency and purity—a wine of high-wire tension aged 12 months in 25% new oak \u003cem\u003ebarriques\u003c\/em\u003e. What you don’t get is a lot of gloss and sheen, especially when it’s a Hautes-Côtes bottling: this 2019 is all about tangy red fruit, floral aromatics, and nerve. In the glass, it’s a medium garnet moving to a ruby-pink rim, with lifted aromas of wild strawberry, raspberry, red and black cherry, orange peel, rose petal, loose-leaf tea, pepper, and underbrush. It is medium-bodied and racy, even a touch austere in its youth, which I’ve got to say I welcome with open arms—our warming climate is making it ever more difficult to make Pinot Noir with this kind of bounce and snap. Decant it at least 30 minutes before serving if enjoying a bottle now, but do yourself a favor and forget about a bottle or two until 3-5 years from now—it promises to be a delicate, multi-dimensional beauty. Pinot Noir of such finesse and woodsy soul feels like a dying breed sometimes, so let’s celebrate it while we still can. Pair this with everything from grilled\/roasted salmon all the way up to beef bourguignon. This is old-school red Burgundy defined! \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733045522486,"sku":"SOMM2303-GAV20HCDNHERM-750","price":55.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/0067bec5e0f28c20d2387aae045581c8.jpg?v=1686588366"},{"product_id":"somm2304-btz18vlnpit-750","title":"Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur, Volnay, 1er Cru, Pitures","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Bitouzet family has been farming in Volnay since the early 1800s and were among the first families in the village to bottle their own wines independently.  The family’s holdings in Volnay, now overseen by Vincent Bitouzet, cover an impressive diversity of village-level and premier cru parcels. The vines that produce today’s wine come from the premier cru “Pitures” vineyard, on the Pommard side of Volnay. Bitouzet owns a miniscule .5 hectares of this parcel, which borders the famous “Clos des Ducs.” This vineyard was planted 56 years ago and while the volume of its productivity is beginning to decline, it is absolutely peaking in the depth and quality of wine it produces. The parcel produces little more than 150 cases of wine each vintage; less than 50 cases of which come into the US each year.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eVincent Bitouzet farm all their parcels organically, relying on zero shortcuts with chemicals or systemic treatments, and all fruit is harvested by hand. This restraint is echoed in the cellar: juice is vinified gently and slowly with no heavy handed winemaking technology and minimal sulfur. The end goal of the entire process is to produce wines that mature in the cellar for many years, and gradually evolve in aromatics and structure. In a region increasingly overrun with estates bottling young-drinking, modern red Burgundy, the Bitouzet family are arch traditionalists. The family’s wines are seldom open and enjoyable upon release, but they offer a consistently impressive reward to those patient enough to cellar the wines.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eVincent Bitouzet's 2018 Volnay Premier Cru “Pitures” has a translucent ruby core moving to light garnet and a translucent orange rim. This wine is in its prime and alive aromas explode from the glass—classic volnay notes of dark cherry, wild flowers, mint and fresh herbs, dried rose petals, dried mushrooms, wet forest floor, wet clay and distant hint of spice. On the palate, the wine generously shows its proximity to Volnay’s border with Pommard. It is noticeably more powerful and masculine, with pronounced directness and an impressively long finish. While enjoying this bottle, I was repeatedly struck by how mature and in the zone it is. This wine has never been more perfectly ready to drink than right now and it should be enjoyed over the next 2-3 years. Decant for 10 minutes and serve in large Burgundy stems.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733045588022,"sku":"SOMM2304-BTZ18VLNPIT-750","price":70.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/VolnayPituresPremierCruBitouzetPrier2018StoreProductThumbnail1500x1000.jpg?v=1688056797"},{"product_id":"somm2007-gaun98pulig-750","title":"François Gaunoux, Puligny-Montrachet","description":"\u003cp\u003eRemember that treasure chest of old Gaunoux that was unearthed late last year—the 1998 “Clos des Mouches” Rouge? Although every bottle in our possession was whisked away in the blink of an eye, even the few we wanted for our own private stash, I’m thrilled to tell you that was only half of the trove. Today’s ‘98 Puligny-Montrachet is the second part of that epic release, but given the global state of political\/economic affairs over the last 10 months, it’s just now making its way overseas. But that’s quite alright with us because, even at 22 years old, this exquisitely built, mineral-edged, truffle- and spring-loaded wine has nothing but time! It’s a brilliant and exceptionally rare glimpse into how elite white Burgundy evolves over decades, certainly, but also a transcendent, regal bottle of wine from a legitimate icon.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhether being called “A Burgundy Secret” by Forbes or touted as “one of the finest domaines in all of Burgundy” by luminary Allen Meadows, the praise for Domaine François Gaunoux is as high as it is endless—and that’s even before factoring in their secretive library of back vintages. These rarely seen, perfect-provenance beauties only go to those who are most deserving, so we should all throw out a collective thank you to the powers that be! Today’s micro-parcel only just arrived from their cold cellars, so take what you can—up to six bottles—and savor every ounce of this decades-old Burgundian treasure.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003eThere’s a feeling I get when I encounter a serious, well-aged Burgundy in stellar condition. It’s like a favorite song you haven’t heard in a while coming on the radio. Or re-connecting with a dear old friend from college. Or any other moment of pure joy you might conjure. Mature Burgundy is as moving and aromatically complex as wine gets, awakening not just your senses but your emotions and your intellect as well. And frankly, a lot of this reverie relies on the realities of storage conditions: Had this been plucked from a store shelf, where it may have sat in the heat and light for who knows how long, I doubt its impact would have been the same. But since Gaunoux’s importer special-ordered it for us and had it shipped straight from their cellars in Meursault, there were no worries on that front. Even though this wine has entered its second decade, it is still in robust health—a testament to namesake François Gaunoux and his daughter, Claudine, who quietly craft traditionally styled wines from about 10 hectares in the Côte de Beaune. \u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003eAlthough 87-year-old François Gaunoux, who started his career in his family’s vineyards at the age of 15, is still at it, Claudine is running the show, having ‘officially’ taken over operations back in 2000. They are ultra-traditional in the vineyards and cellar, farming and crafting everything by hand. And what is perhaps most fascinating of all is that Claudine Gaunoux has opted to raise the majority of her wines in tank, usually for 2-3 years before bottling, and they don’t miss the oak one bit. However, today’s ‘98, from a handful of parcels in Puligny-Montrachet, was made by her father. It is a more resolutely “traditional” wine that matured in French barrels for about 15 months. Upon bottling, it was laid to rest in their cellar where it went untouched for almost two decades. \u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003eA sample of François Gaunoux’s 1998 “Puligny-Montrachet” was sent to us last late year, along with the ‘98 Clos de Mouche Rouge, and we were absolutely dazzled by its expressiveness, tension, and energy. While I could easily recall those notes, I felt compelled to open another bottle when the parcel arrived last week—who knows if I’ll have a chance to purchase after the offer goes live! The results? Wow. Breathtaking. There’s no need to decant here: After five minutes in the glass, the wine broadcasted beautifully mature aromatics of bruised apple and pear, preserved lemon, dried pineapple, crushed almonds, white truffle, acacia honey, lees, and crushed stones. The palate reveals perfect tension and a sweeping array of minerals that further enhance the sublime energy radiating throughout. Having had innumerable bottles of mature Chardonnay, this is exactly what you want when pulling the cork on a 20+-year-old white Burgundy. It is pedigree and authenticity epitomized. Put this on the table and it’s guaranteed to attract any and all Burgundy connoisseurs. Savor it slowly, in large Burgundy stems around 55 degrees, and enjoy over the next five years. Cheers!\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733045620790,"sku":"SOMM2007-GAUN98PULIG-750","price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"somm2302-nrossi19bourgrge-750","title":"Domaine Nicolas Rossignol, Bourgogne Rouge","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis morning, Rion’s plush Pinot Noir from the Côte de Nuits provided sound evidence that overperforming Bourgogne Rouge is one of the most vital categories in French wine. Now, we’re heading south to the Côte de Beaune, where Nicolas Rossignol’s Bourgogne is proof positive that the best of this classification deserves to not only be on your table, but also in your cellar. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is \u003cem\u003eserious\u003c\/em\u003e Burgundy; it isn’t just great for its appellation, it’s great on its own terms. Gone is the sleek opulence of Rion. In its place is brawny, mineral-submerged fruit married to a rigorously \u003cem\u003eterroir\u003c\/em\u003e-driven structure, courtesy of special vineyard sources on the outskirts of Volnay and Pommard. We often say that the real measure of a producer is the quality of their entry-level cuvée, and rarely is that as true as it is today. To top it all off, this is a limited opportunity to experience a true superstar of the Côte de Beaune, as Nicolas’ Pinot Noirs are typically snatched up by international collectors and Michelin-starred programs upon release. Normally you’d have to drop a wad of cash to experience a Rossignol creation—not today. \u003cem\u003eVive la Bourgogne Rouge!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eCompile a short list of the most important names in Côte de Beaune red winemaking, and Nicolas Rossignol would be at the very top. Over the past 25 years, he’s established himself as a master of Volnay and Pommard, a talent equal to local legends like Marquis d’Angerville and Michel Lafarge. Nicolas took over the family estate in 1994, at the ripe old age of 20. Originally, the holdings he served as the fifth-generation steward for were bottled under the family estate name Rossignol-Jeanniard. Now, after garnering international acclaim for his magic touch, they’re bottled entirely under his own name. And what a collection it is; Nicolas farms a lineup of elite Volnay and Pommard 1er Crus that’d put most négociants to shame. Moreover, his overwhelming focus is on Pinot Noir, so if you want to understand the magisterial beauty of great Côte de Beaune reds, this is the address to know.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe could ask for no better interpreter, then, of the plots that make up Nicolas’ Bourgogne Rouge bottling. Nicolas farms multiple sites in the plain just below the village-ranked Volnay and Pommard \u003cem\u003eclimats\u003c\/em\u003e, where the soils of well-drained clay and limestone are intermixed with alluvial topsoil. As a result, the wines from here sing with the high-toned grace of the famous villages above, with a bit more openness and generosity for earlier drinking. Nicolas’ warmer sites closer to Volnay provide darker, softer fruit and floral tones, while the Pommard-adjacent sites imbue the finished wine with that village’s famous “masculine” structure. This is further enhanced by slow aging in French barrels and bottling without fining or filtration. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith a wine as serious as Nicolas’ 2019 Bourgogne Rouge, we recommend a good hour-long decant if you’re going to drink now. After that, the nose pulls you in with wafts of dark fruit married to mineral power: black cherry pit, crushed black raspberry, purple plum skin, violets, nutmeg, freshly turned soil, iron, pulverized rock, mushroomy earth, and pencil lead. The palate is compact and powerful, almost tense, as it turns toward the more mineral and earthy tones. They’re backed by violets and blackberries, and all of it’s enveloped by firm yet filigreed tannin. If you’re going to enjoy it right away, it definitely calls for some heartier, more rustic fare. But I strongly suggest squirreling a small stash away, as it’ll really start unfolding in two or three years’ time. It’s not often you get to experience years of Burgundy pleasure without even spending $50, but here we are! Load up!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733045653558,"sku":"SOMM2302-NROSSI19BOURGRGE-750","price":48.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/a9d001970f09f4ab36a3fc6d79225205.jpg?v=1686588392"},{"product_id":"somm2303-drg20pcmtms-750","title":"Domaine Raoul Gautherin, Chablis 1er Cru “Montmains” Vieilles Vignes","description":"\u003cp\u003eFew wineries in Chablis, or even all of Burgundy, can claim the historical roots of Domaine Gautherin. The Gautherin clan has farmed vines in the village since 1585, and in the late 1950s became some of the first to produce and bottle their own wine. Raoul’s grandson Adrian, who grew up helping his grandfather and father in the vineyards, took the reins in 2008. Adrian focuses almost entirely on the vineyards, not the cellar; he often tells the story of how, on his first day of winemaking class, the professor told the students “you can’t make great wine without great grapes” and sent them all to see the viticulture professor instead. Adrian has maintained that ethos for the past 15 years, eliminating synthetic herbicides in the vines and limiting yields. His goal is to grow the most beautiful fruit possible to ensure minimal intervention in the cellar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf all the Premier Cru vineyards in the Chablis region, there are only a baker’s dozen or so that are deeply respected, and Montmains is among them. An important site in Chablis for several centuries, Montmains roughly translates to “medium-sized mountain” and is on the most advantageous slope of the Serein River’s left bank. Its southern exposure and slightly higher concentration of clay lend a pronounced creaminess and richness to the wines while the mixture of Kimmeridgian limestone provides superb mineral presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGautherin’s three mature parcels here are around 40-50 years old and they yield aromatic, super-concentrated grapes that age in stainless steel with some neutral barrels. I love Gautherin’s description of this wine “It will convince the amateur and surprise the connoisseur.” Compared to the village-level Chablis on offer, this 2020 “Montmains” is a deeper, richer, waxier Chardonnay. It’s high-class Burgundy, full of honeyed notes, lemon oil, and ripe yellow orchard fruit with a lasting crushed-rock component. To be enjoyed now through 2026.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733045686326,"sku":"SOMM2303-DRG20PCMTMS-750","price":56.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/561f8b4975751a29ca855cfb0b1e5e02.jpg?v=1686588350"},{"product_id":"store2009-prudsasg17-750","title":"Domaine Prudhon, Saint Aubin Blanc 1er Cru Sur Gamay","description":"\u003cp\u003eDomaine Henri Prudhon is a\u003cbr\u003esmall family owned estate that farms 11 hectares of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir\u003cbr\u003evines (plus a tiny plot of Aligoté), planted on a mix of clay and limestone in\u003cbr\u003ethe village of Saint Aubin. Henri's grandsons, Vincent and Philippe Prudhon,\u003cbr\u003eharvest all fruit by hand. This specific bottling, the 20017 Saint\u003cbr\u003eAubin Blanc 1er Cru Sur Gamay, is one of our perennial favorites\u003cbr\u003efrom the estate. Perched above the hamlet of Gamay, this small 0.7 hectare\u003cbr\u003eparcel of 20-, 40-, and 60 year old Chardonnay vines is planted to Southeast\u003cbr\u003eexposure. The wines it produces are amongst the most mineral-inflected, linear\u003cbr\u003eand age-worthy of the domaine bottles. Visually, the wine is bright with a\u003cbr\u003elight goldenrod hue. On the nose it has crushed stone, lean citrus fruit,\u003cbr\u003ehoneycomb, and a faint hint of lavender and wild mint. The palate is\u003cbr\u003eextraordinarily well defined with cascading layers of mineral and acid.  It\u003cbr\u003eis a fully realized and delicious finished product right now, but will only\u003cbr\u003eblossom further as it becomes more round and aromatic over the next 5 years.!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733045719094,"sku":"STORE2009-PRUDSASG17-750","price":59.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/c33774d4ef00e330c49bbf6faffab113.jpg?v=1686588370"},{"product_id":"somm2302-dabr20lcblche-750","title":"Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion, Bourgogne Rouge “La Croix Blanche”","description":"\u003cp\u003eIt seems these days you can’t even mention Burgundy without someone lamenting how expensive the region has gotten. How the prices show no sign of ever coming down, how the most sought-after wines don’t even make it onto store shelves anymore. That’s largely true. But with Rion’s standout Bourgogne Rouge, none of that is a limiting factor. Rather, that background just hammers home—and maybe even amplifies—the stunning value contained in today’s 2020 “La Croix Blanche.” \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is dark-fruited, sleek, powerful and perfumed stuff that drinks for all the world like it came straight from one of Nuits-Saint-Georges’ most hallowed \u003cem\u003eclimats\u003c\/em\u003e. In fact, it’s from old vines immediately downslope from those high-dollar vineyards, and it doesn’t even cross the $40 mark! Bourgogne Rouge that massively over-delivers on its humble appellation, often from secretly great sites, has always been a vital part of my sommelier toolkit. These days, though, I’d argue that the category isn’t just helpful but downright indispensable. Enjoy this Côte de Nuits Pinot stunner, and stay tuned this afternoon for a grand side-by-side comparison!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Rion estate is beginning to enter our regular offer rotation, and it’s no surprise why: These wines exude joy like few others in the region. In the current Burgundy pricing war, I’ll forgive an estate for trying to make every one of their wines into a backward, long-aging cellar cornerstone. But the Rions suffer from no such temptation. Like so many of their wines, “La Croix Blanche” is ready to wow right now. Armelle et Bernard Rion may be little-known outside of the region, but the estate boasts a stable of vineyard holdings that’d make any world-famous producer jealous. Alice and Nelly Rion, fifth-generation winemakers, now head the Vosne-based estate, which was founded in 1896. Since they assumed the reins, they’ve eliminated all herbicides and insecticides, and now farm with strict use of organic fertilizers and minimal tillage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Rion sisters show no less love for their Bourgogne Rouge plots than they do their Premier or Grand Crus. “La Croix Blanche” hails from Pinot Noir vines that are more than 50 years old, in the borderlands between Nuits-Saint-Georges and Vosne-Romanée. Little wonder it carries such a sense of class and polish. In the cellar, it sees the same regimen as their more famous (and expensive) plots: totally de-stemmed; fermented “whole berry” for two weeks; then aged for 12-15 months in new and used French barrels. All of this combines for a bottle of Burgundy in a fantastically sleek and enjoyable style that begs to be consumed with abandon.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eTreat “La Croix Blanche” the same as you would a young Premier Cru: gentle decant, Burgundy bowls, a slight chill to just above cellar temp, the works. It bursts from the glass with a wave of red and purple fruits: Bing cherry, mulberry, black plum, black cherry pit, rose petals, raspberry liqueur, clove, cedar, and an undercurrent of forest floor. The palate is juicy, wonderfully plush, and medium-bodied with an electric throughline of acidity and soft tannins. It all yields a Burundy that is about full-throttle, in-the-moment enjoyment. Not that “La Croix Blanche” can’t go for a few years in your cellar—it certainly can—but it’s just so delicious right now, there’s no reason not to indulge!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733045751862,"sku":"SOMM2302-DABR20LCBLCHE-750","price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/7f5c8c9309ff1a213a22246aac9705f5.jpg?v=1686588389"},{"product_id":"somm2007-dgr18gccc-750","title":"Gérard Raphet, Gevrey-Chambertin “Les Champs Chenys” Vieilles Vignes","description":"\u003cp\u003eWe all know that great wine is about conviviality and sharing. It’s not about scoring points. But if you could uncork a bottle that was both profoundly delicious and capable of making you look like the most savvy, well-traveled wine savant around…I mean, why not, right? This old-vine Gevrey-Chambertin from Gérard Raphet is that bottle, and here’s why: Of all the “insider” Burgundies we feature on this site, this one is probably the geekiest, most under-valued single-vineyard wine of them all.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe “Champs Chenys” vineyard directly abuts two Grand Cru vineyards in Gevrey-Chambertin—Mazoyères-Chambertin and Charmes-Chambertin—and yet it didn’t even manage a Premier Cru classification when the \u003cem\u003eInstitut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité\u003c\/em\u003e (INAO), the government agency that oversees French wine classifications, mapped out Burgundy back in the 1930s. Evidently there are subtle differences in soil composition between Champs-Chenys and its two Grand Cru neighbors, but c’mon: how can this site not be ranked higher than \u003cem\u003elieu-dit \u003c\/em\u003e(named parcel)? The INAO is often petitioned by growers in Burgundy looking for “promotions” of various vineyards, and I’d have to think Champs-Chenys is the subject of one—but in the meantime, I’m content to take advantage of the scandalous difference in price between today’s stunning 2018 and the luxury bottlings made right next door. We’re forever talking about the “game of inches” that so dramatically affects Burgundy pricing, and Raphet’s Champs-Chenys is perhaps the best example I can think of: You want to drink exceedingly well and look like a genius while doing it? This is your wine!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003eIt also comes to us from one of our go-to producers of opulent, painstakingly hand-crafted red Burgundy, Domaine Gérard Raphet. Passed down through multiple generations and boasting stands of 100-year-old Pinot Noir vines, this is still a tiny operation, with a simple cellar adjacent to the family home. Gérard Raphet, who took over the domaine from his father in 2005, manually works the vines with the help of his wife, Sylviane, and their daughter, Virginie. Theirs is the old-school \u003cem\u003elutte raisonnée,\u003c\/em\u003e or ‘reasoned fight,’ approach—a methodology that calls for only organic products in the vineyards, unless under extreme circumstances in difficult vintages. Gérard and his team use traditional cultivation methods and harvest only by hand. \u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003eOur team visited the Raphet domaine and tasted through their incredibly impressive lineup of wines, and I was struck by the family’s devotion to craft over self-promotion. Gérard is especially soft-spoken, despite having one of the more enviable collections of prime vineyard holdings in the Côte de Nuits, most of them populated with \u003cem\u003evieilles vignes\u003c\/em\u003e (old vines). Their reds are at once soulful and luxurious, deeply concentrated and velvety but not laden with excessive “makeup.” It is small-scale artisanship at its best—like buying a suit from a bespoke tailor instead of a department store.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003eThe Champs-Chenys vineyard, as detailed above, is immediately downslope from Grand Cru Charmes-Chambertin (in which Raphet also owns vines). To ratchet up the intrigue level a little further, Raphet’s parcel in Champs Chenys is within a little “notch” that reaches into Charmes, meaning it is surrounded on three sides by Grand Cru vines.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eSo, as you’ve likely gathered by now, we’re talking about a special wine here. Sourced from vines ranging in age from 35 to 110 (!) years, then aged 18 months in used French oak barriques, this is knee-weakening, soul-stirring red Burgundy—velvety and profound and, yes, easily mistakable for Grand Cru-level wine. In the glass, it’s a deep ruby red with hints of pink at the rim, with brambly, woodsy aromas: wild strawberry, raspberry, black cherry, pomegranate, cinnamon, black tea, crushed rocks, and underbrush. It is medium-plus in body and lusciously ripe, but the mineral underpinning and firm tannic structure lends it the darker-toned, more ‘masculine’ edge typical of Gevrey wines. There’s a crushed-velvet quality to the texture that makes the wine (like a lot of Raphet wines) tantalizing to drink now after 30-60 minutes in a decanter, but there’s no question the structure is there for extended aging—I think this wine is going to shed some of its “baby fat” and become a very lithe, complex, aromatically explosive wine that should be singing arias on its 10th birthday. Pair it with a meal worthy of Grand Cru wine, even though you’re not spending Grand Cru money—it’s worth it! Enjoy!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733045784630,"sku":"SOMM2007-DGR18GCCC-750","price":68.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"is2301-poussecdr20-750","title":"Domaine de la Pousse d’Or, Corton Le Clos du Roi Grand Cru","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733045817398,"sku":"IS2301-POUSSECDR20-750","price":139.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/cfb08a0c667c1b5ebed9a471bbef609e.jpg?v=1686588393"},{"product_id":"somm2206-dfx09chbgren-750","title":"Daniel-Etienne Defaix, Chablis Grand Cru “Les Grenouilles”","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733049585718,"sku":"SOMM2206-DFX09CHBGREN-750","price":135.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/4dde555249aa895d7f19c8dccde41cfd.jpg?v=1686588797"},{"product_id":"somm2212-remo20chbblanc-750","title":"Remoissenet, Chablis Grand Cru “Blanchot”","description":"\u003cp\u003eAs we’ve noted countless times before, Remoissenet Père \u0026amp; Fils is a historic landmark in the Burgundy “hub” town of Beaune, known for its labyrinth of caves snaking beneath the cobblestone streets. But Beaune is merely base camp for this itinerant négociant house, which has left no stone unturned in its search for the greatest—and most sustainably farmed—raw material for its expansive range of wines. So, while you might immediately associate Remoissenet with Meursault and Chassagne-Montrachet and the like, Chablis is by no means off-limits, and they do it exceptionally well.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eToday’s luminous 2020 from Chablis’ most unique Grand Cru, “Blanchot,” is a brilliant testament to Remoissenet’s ever-rising star. This is chiseled, radiant Burgundian Chardonnay with a finish that seems to go on forever—exactly the kind of blue-chip white you need to light up a holiday table this year and, if you so choose, 10 years from now. And, characteristic of Chablis, it is Grand Cru prestige and precision at a reasonable price. Having nudged our way to the front of the Remoissenet line over the last few years, we managed to snare some of the few bottles produced—take up to six today until the well runs dry! \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eOur point man at Remoissenet is the absurdly knowledgeable and well-connected Pierre-Antoine Rovani, who, before becoming Remoissenet’s estate manager, covered Burgundy for Robert Parker’s \u003cem\u003eThe Wine Advocate\u003c\/em\u003e. He’s part of a Burgundy dream team that also includes winemaker Claudie Jobard, who continues to display the deftest of touches in the cellar: she does a remarkable job of letting her many far-flung vineyard sources speak for themselves. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe considerable resources of a revived Remoissenet have been poured disproportionately into vineyards—in addition to acquiring a host of carefully selected parcels for themselves, they’ve also deepened their relationships with talented vine-growers throughout Burgundy, treating them as true partners rather than just “suppliers.” Whether it’s an estate or a contract vineyard, the Remoissenet team is implementing biodynamic farming practices across the board, and paying out bonuses for purchased fruit based on quality, not quantity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eTasting their sleek rendition of Grand Cru Blanchot is like watching basketball phenom Luka Doncic juggle a soccer ball—it’s amazing, but also not surprising. Blanchot is the southern-most of the Chablis Grand Crus, covering about 13 hectares on a steep slope that faces southeast, not southwest like all the others. This orientation mostly shields the vines from more intense afternoon sunshine, so the conventional wisdom on the wines from here is that they are more taut and linear than those of their neighbors. While it is undoubtedly fresh, bright, and crystalline, there’s also plenty of punch in Remoissenet’s rendition: Jobard ferments and ages their Grand Cru wines in 342-liter French oak barrels, about half of which are new, so don’t expect a tooth-rattling, cheese-rindy style of Chablis here—this is a nicely polished gem.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the glass, it’s a shimmering yellow-gold moving to green highlights at the rim, with perfumed aromas of white peach, green and yellow apple, lemon blossom, yogurt, chopped almonds, white flowers, and rain-soaked stones. Medium-plus in body, with good concentration on the mid-palate, it pulses with the kind of energy and tension Chablis is famous for (think polished rock rather than cut stone). It is delicious to drink now, especially if you decant it 30 minutes before serving, but its Grand Cru pedigree shines through—feel free to lay one down for 10 years or more and it will deliver. As for a pairing, we reached back into a previous offer of a Remoissenet Puligny-Montrachet for a Burgundy-friendly recipe from Le Bernadin’s Eric Ripert. For a white of this magnitude, you need to break out the big guns!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733049618486,"sku":"SOMM2212-REMO20CHBBLANC-750","price":125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/3548f8950d85fa6a812e14c730551cfd.jpg?v=1686588801"},{"product_id":"is2212-dfx09chvlns-750","title":"Daniel-Etienne Defaix, Chablis Premier Cru “Vaillons”","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe miracle of Daniel-Etienne Defaix’s unique “watchdog” cellar regimen is his ability to preserve a vintage’s youthful energy, texture, and vitality for an absurd amount of time—nearly 15 years in this case. This jaw-dropping Premier Cru spent 11 years in barrel and tank, followed by three more years of bottle aging. Defaix aged today’s “Vaillon” on its fine lees for upwards of two years, while using an unusual oxygen- and sulfite-free bâtonnage (lees-stirring) process that relied only on the wine’s self-produced CO2 to maintain freshness. It displays all the depth and complexity one expects from 14+ years of aging while perfectly preserving the 2009 vintage’s youthful freshness, power, and regality. Unlike so many other older white Burgundies, here there is no premature oxidation, no watery finish, and not one crack starting to show.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733049651254,"sku":"IS2212-DFX09CHVLNS-750","price":65.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/e5f39e4c59a261dac38c2a2d4fc704ba.jpg?v=1686588803"},{"product_id":"somm2301-jsun21three-750","title":"Domaine Julien Sunier, Cru Three-Pack","description":"\u003cp\u003eJulien Sunier’s continued presence on SommSelect is a powerful testament to the consistently outstanding wines being crafted at this artisanal French estate. We’re far from alone: Over the past decade, his low-quantity, high-quality Fleurie, Morgon, and Régnié Crus have mesmerized legions of restaurateurs and patrons. Unfortunately, a modest-sized village could deplete Sunier’s total production in a matter of hours, which is why everyone has their ears perked and wallets at the ready for each limited release. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eSince we’ve pushed our way to the front of the line for many years, we’re now afforded the opportunity to offer all three magnificent Crus at once. With this single purchase, you’re locking in one of the greatest French values imaginable: The Régnié is a bright and refreshing wine for instant satisfaction; the Fleurie is remarkably finessed and Burgundian; and the Morgon is a plush, textural stunner. In short, the class and purity of all three are dialed way up, and they’ll keep evolving\/improving over the next five years. As always, there isn’t much to go around. Up to four packs per person. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eSunier is one of a new wave of producers who’ve helped raise the profile of Beaujolais as a stronghold of natural farming and winemaking. Following in the footsteps of local legends like Lapierre and Foillard, Sunier would also be considered a disciple of the legendary Jules Chauvet, who was preaching the natural wine gospel in Beaujolais as far back as the 1950s. Yet while he hails from Burgundy (Dijon), Sunier wasn’t from a wine family; his mother was a hairdresser who counted \u003cem\u003evigneron\u003c\/em\u003e Christophe Roumier as a client. In his twenties, Sunier followed the itinerant “cellar rat” path, interning in California and New Zealand before landing back in Burgundy, where he worked with the likes of Nicolas Potel and Jean-Claude Rateau. He then worked for the large négociant firm Mommessin, where, among other things, he became intimately acquainted with the terroir of Beaujolais and its Gamay grape.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThroughout all of Julien’s parcels, each vine is chemically untouched and tended by hand—he’s adamant about farming organically with biodynamic principles. At Julien’s winery in Avenas, his Gamay bottlings are crafted slightly differently according to the vintage and terroir. Generally speaking, the “Cru” bottlings undergo a cold carbonic vinification with wild, airborne yeasts and zero sulfur additions. An old-fashioned wooden press is used for pressing and the juice is transferred into old barrels via gravity. An unfined and unfiltered bottling with trace amounts of sulfites occurs roughly one year after harvest. The specifics of each ’21 cuvée are below. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2021 RÉGNIÉ\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDespite sharing a long border with world-famous Morgon, Régnié remains a severely underrepresented Cru that holds some of the best value for old-vine Cru Beaujolais. Sunier’s is sourced from three organic parcels averaging 60 years of age: “En Oeillat,” “Les Vergers,” and “Basse Ronze.” In 2021, each cluster was hand-harvested at absurdly low yields of 18 hl\/ha. In the cellar, a natural vinification and nine months of aging occurred in an equal combination of old Burgundian barrels and \u003cem\u003efoudres\u003c\/em\u003e. Always Sunier’s most accessible wine upon release, this offers up delicious notes of wild strawberry, ripe cherry, cranberry, licorice, forest floor, baking spice, and wet stone. Few things in life are more mouthwatering and flat-out enjoyable than this—like eating smashed berries off a cold granite countertop. Decant for 15 minutes and serve in Burgundy stems. Drink now or cellar for 2-3 years.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2021 MORGON\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSunier’s Morgon 2.5 hectares of organically farmed, 60-year-old vines across Morgon are among the finest in Beaujolais. Harvest is strictly manual and yields in 2021 were incredibly low at 30 hl\/ha which is right in line with Grand Cru Burgundy. Fermentation is natural and the wine aged for nine months in neutral Burgundy barrels. His Morgon is a masterclass in ampleness and lift: The palate—the biggest of his three crus—is supple and multi-layered but 12% alcohol and superb energy give it mindblowing finesse. You’ll uncover ripe Morello cherry, strawberry, candied rose petal, damp earth, spiced plums, and heaps of pulverized minerality with a hint of smoke. Decant for at least 30 minutes and enjoy over the next 3-5 years.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2021 FLEURIE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSunier’s crown jewel. Sourced from “Grand Pré” and “La Tonne,” two premium parcels situated at varying elevations. The former is lower and brings more polish and concentration whereas the latter clings to a precipitous granite slope at higher altitude, resulting in finesse and minerality. These high-density, low-yielding vines must be entirely worked by hand. Vinification is 100% natural and aging occurs in neutral Burgundy barrels for nine months. This is always the most “Burgundian” of Sunier’s wines, offering up intense florality—damp wildflowers, violet, crushed rose petal—and breathtakingly pure red fruits intertwined with fresh herbs, subtle spice, and a deep presence of crushed rock. It’s über-classy, refined, and dripping with pedigree. Decant 30-60 minutes and enjoy in your largest Burgundy stem. It can certainly be enjoyed now, but the ultimate, full-picture experience will begin in 2024.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733049847862,"sku":"SOMM2301-JSUN21THREE-750","price":115.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/cc962e57c5fae4686d50c2a0e2d6c4e4.jpg?v=1686587909"},{"product_id":"somm2301-ts20mvcxjarr-750","title":"Terres Secrètes, Mâcon-Verzé “Croix Jarrier”","description":"\u003cp\u003eWe long ago reached the point when the Mâcon region of Burgundy ceased to be a detour and became a destination. This has been proved time and again in our tastings (and subsequent offers), and perhaps never more convincingly than in today’s case. The level of energy and refinement in this sub-$30 Mâcon-Verzé is, on the one hand, revelatory, in that seasoned Burgundy drinkers might be surprised by it. On the other hand, why wouldn’t we expect excellence from a terroir like Verzé? \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo less an eminence than Domaine Leflaive recognized the potential of this limestone-rich village long ago—and charges a heck of a lot more for their versions—so perhaps the only question left is, \u003cem\u003ehow is this 2020 from Terres Secrètes so inexpensive? \u003c\/em\u003eWell, for one thing, it’s produced by an innovative cooperative that dates to the 1950s, one that counts some of the Mâcon’s most seasoned growers among its member-partners. That means having access to some of the best old-vine fruit to be found. Second, and no less important, is that Mâcon-Verzé is one of the more prestigious village-specific appellations in southern Burgundy. There’s no reason not to expect excellence, and “Croix Jarrier” delivers. Do yourself a huge favor and load up! \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt wasn’t so long ago that the mention of the Mâcon and a cooperative winery in the same sentence would turn off most serious Burg-o-philes. But we’ve all got to get with the times. Verzé occupies a broad valley in the northern Mâconnais, with vineyards perched on a long, west-facing slope, an exposure that allows not only for full-flavored expressions of Chardonnay but some of the region’s best Gamay. Today’s bottling from Terres Secrètes (“secret lands”) comes from a vineyard parcel in Verzé called “Croix Jarrier” which climbs to about 300 meters of altitude and contains a substantial concentration of white, chalky limestone. Vine age ranges from 20-40 years, which is typical of the growers within the Terres Secrètes stable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eKnown officially as the Cave des Vignerons des Terres Secretes, the cooperative includes vineyard holdings in all the big-name appellations of the Mâcon, including Verzé, Vergisson, Saint-Véran, and Viré-Clessé. The wine cellar is right in the heart of the action, in the shadow of the landmark “rock” of Vergisson—a huge limestone massif that looms over the vineyards. Working closely with its member-growers, the co-op has stayed on the cutting edge of sustainable farming practices, obtaining a certification from a body called “Vignerons Engagés” (“committed winegrowers”), whose multi-faceted charter calls for the reduction of chemical inputs, increasing biodiversity, and reducing the local wine industry’s carbon footprint.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eFruit for today’s 2020 was hand-harvested and fermented and aged in stainless steel. The first thing that must be said about it is that you don’t miss the oak one bit: It has plenty of texture without it, but it is also more angular and lifted than many of the plump, even tropical styles of Mâcon Chardonnay we’ve been encountering lately. The chalky, mineral edge and high-toned aromatics wouldn’t be at all out of place in Puligny-Montrachet, which was the big takeaway for us: this is a wine of real tension and refinement. It’s ready to enjoy over the next 1-2 years and would be great with some broiled oysters, seared scallops, or most other fruits de mer. Check out the “wintry” recipe attached and start pulling corks! Enjoy!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733049880630,"sku":"SOMM2301-TS20MVCXJARR-750","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/25bd1400cbed6891f92de7cc6f1178b4.jpg?v=1686588017"},{"product_id":"somm2301-cdr20mures-750","title":"Domaine du Clos des Rocs, Pouilly-Loché “Les Mûres”","description":"\u003cp\u003eHere we go again, hyping up the wines of Burgundy’s Pouilly villages. And again, it’s not a “diamond in the rough” narrative because that narrative is laughably outdated. No, this single-vineyard stunner from Clos des Rocs is a destination wine of serious breed, one that rivals Côte de Beaune whites costing many multiples more.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnless you’ve seen one of our Clos des Rocs offers before, it’s entirely possible you’ve never heard of the tiny Pouilly-Loché appellation: the entire AOC measures all of 32 hectares, of which Clos des Rocs controls eight. Farmer-winemaker-owner Olivier Giroux is a one-man band blessed not only with the monopole (one-owner vineyard) that lends his estate its name, but another lieu-dit parcel, “Les Mûres,” that would surely rank as a Premier Cru if Loché’s vineyards were classified (it may happen someday, as it recently did in neighboring Pouilly-Fuissé). Today’s 2020 is a lithe, mineral, shimmering Chardonnay, superb in every way and still priced well below what it would fetch if it carried a Côte de Beaune designation. Landing a new vintage of Les Mûres is a momentous occasion for us—Burgundy values this astonishing are fast disappearing!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eI don’t remember where we got this quote from Giroux, but it’s worth re-sharing: “It is just me here,” he said. “I’m a peasant. I tend the vineyards. I make the wine. I take care of the marketing.” Maybe it’s this dogged self-reliance, combined with the absence of any significant payroll, that enables him to keep prices refreshingly low. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eGiroux developed an early interest in Mâconnais winegrowing. Following university-level wine education and a decade spent honing his skills with large producers in the Rhône Valley, he longed to return home to realize his dream of bottling white Burgundy. The obscurity of Pouilly-Loché appellation meant that with Olivier’s purchase of Domaine du Clos des Rocs in the mid-2000s, he acquired an impressively diverse 15-acre collection for the price of what even a few rows in one of Burgundy’s more prestigious vineyards might cost. Olivier immediately set to transition all farming on the property to organics while renovating the cellar to prioritize cleanliness and efficiency over faddish technology. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eJust southeast of Pouilly-Fuissé, Pouilly-Loché is, as noted above, a microscopic appellation (32 hectares compared to Pouilly-Fuissé’s 758). Olivier’s 40-year-old, organically farmed vines in “Les Mûres” are planted in limestone soils and harvested by hand. Sorting is carefully carried out in both the vineyard and winery and the Chardonnay ages in 50% stainless steel and 50% neutral barrel for approximately 12 months. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the glass, “Les Mûres” displays a bright straw-yellow core with yellow and light green reflections leading out to the rim. Assertive aromas of citrus blossom, yellow apple, oyster shell, lemon meringue, acacia blossoms, button mushroom, and wet stone jump from the glass. The palate is richly textured, hinting at some of the breadth of Pouilly-Fuissé, but buttons up with a more citrusy, mineral finish. It drinks beautifully now with 30 minutes in the decanter, but I would strongly consider laying a bottle or two (or 12) down for revisiting five years down the line. It’s that good, and that serious. The pairing options are virtually limitless, but the attached recipe should be especially good. Don’t miss out on this one!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733049913398,"sku":"SOMM2301-CDR20MURES-750","price":45.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/239a06fd8e6844699db6eb6375e94a73.jpg?v=1686587680"},{"product_id":"is2108-lrx16bmgc-1500","title":"Benjamin Leroux, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru MAGNUM","description":"","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733050404918,"sku":"IS2108-LRX16BMGC-1500","price":799.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/61ab6f8040e6104687956cc28acaf28c.jpg?v=1686588883"},{"product_id":"somm2206-vgt18vrdam-750","title":"Domaine Fabrice Vigot, Vosne-Romanée, Les Damaudes","description":"","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733050437686,"sku":"SOMM2206-VGT18VRDAM-750","price":120.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/DomaineFabriceVigot_Vosne-Romanee_LesDamaudes_Main-Image-1800x1800.jpg?v=1696433173"},{"product_id":"is2211-magpedrix20-750","title":"Frederic Magnien Vosne-Romanee Champs-Perdrix","description":"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrédéric Magnien is an innovative and impassioned \u003cem\u003evigneron\u003c\/em\u003e who personifies the term “micro-négociant” (a designation of relatively recent coinage). And today’s Chambolle-Musigny is a perfect distillation of everything he brings to the table: primely positioned parcels; impeccable old-vine fruit; and a dialed-back approach to aging that lets the nuances of site shine through as clearly as possible. This is prime “collectible” material with a lot of insider cachet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eHaving grown up riding his bike through the vineyards of Morey-Saint-Denis, and having learned his craft from his father, Michel (Domaine Michel Magnien), “Fred” has assembled an enviable roster of grower-partners, all of them either Certified Organic or in the process of conversion. He works closely with these growers, many of whom he’s known since childhood, to produce exceptionally pure expressions of some of Burgundy’s greatest vineyards. Magnien founded his \u003cem\u003emaison\u003c\/em\u003e in 1995, following an extended period of travel to other great wine regions of the world. The roster of wines now produced under the Magnien label is extremely long and diverse, stretching the length of the Côte d’Or and reaching up into Chablis as well. All the wines display the kind of precision that comes from careful, hands-on fruit sourcing, and there’s no doubt that Magnien considers himself a vigneron first and a winemaker second. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn recent years, as he has embraced organic and biodynamic practices, his work in the cellar has evolved: Wines have long been naturally fermented with a percentage of whole clusters intact, but starting with the 2015 vintage, Magnien began aging some of his wines—including today’s—in a mixture of old French oak and terra cotta amphorae. He explains that “[the] mix of the two wine ageings unveil the brightness and clarity of wine thanks to the jar, while keeping its complexity and length thanks to the traditional cask.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733050470454,"sku":"IS2211-MAGPEDRIX20-750","price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/c5382e66abd1f613bb078fd3c6809569.jpg?v=1686588875"},{"product_id":"is2110-voguemus19-750","title":"2019 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé, Musigny Grand Cru","description":"\u003cdiv\u003eDomaine Comte Georges de Vogüé's Musigny Grand Cru is incredibly distinctive—in some eyes the pinnacle of Pinot Noir. Burgundy authority Clive Coates describes it as both complete and profound but never heavy. The 2018 will go down as one of the greatest Vogüé Musigny bottlings in the modern era. It’s about power, precision and sheer complexity. Ethereal aromas of crushed black and blue fruit interlaced with minerals and asian spice seasoning. The palate brings on brambly  of black plum, boysenberry, blueberry and black currants. Hints of black tea, orange blossom and sea spray add to the complexity. The bone-dry finish last for two to three minutes with depth, precision and tension all wrapped into one. This deserves 15-30 years of beauty rest in the cellar. This will bolster any serious Burgundy collection. \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733050503222,"sku":"IS2110-VOGUEMUS19-750","price":899.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/ffe5852605317ee1a41bb5054d3b377c.jpg?v=1686588875"},{"product_id":"is2112-labetcv10-750","title":"Labet \u0026 Dechelette Chateau de La Tour Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru","description":"","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733050535990,"sku":"IS2112-LABETCV10-750","price":355.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/f650dbbbfe7445ac568f617a6652eac0.jpg?v=1686588878"},{"product_id":"somm2202-dgtpy19mzygc-750","title":"Dugat-Py, Mazoyères-Chambertin Grand Cru 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe celebrated estate of Dugat-Py, located at the base of the Combe de Lavaux in Gevrey-Chambertin, has been producing world-class wines for decades. While the exterior of the house impresses with its mid-16th century architecture, it is the aging cellar that is truly spectacular. The cellar, or L'Aumônerie, is essentially a small abbey that was built by the Diocese of Dijon in the 11th century — making it the oldest cellar in Burgundy today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 2019 Mazoyères is a masterful example of how incredible Pinot can be. It's seamless and refined with nuances of incense, orange rind, raspberries, and rose petals.. Firm tannins and cleansing acidity will allow this bottling to slumber in the cellar for another 15 to 20 years. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733050568758,"sku":"SOMM2202-DGTPY19MZYGC-750","price":515.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/1cb0b609cd55b8d8ff17840364ef4801.jpg?v=1686588879"},{"product_id":"is2210-remo69cmchar-750","title":"Remoissenet Père et Fils, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Charmes","description":"","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733050601526,"sku":"IS2210-REMO69CMCHAR-750","price":1050.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/7806340423028b93cbe475faf03bafcb.jpg?v=1686588881"},{"product_id":"somm2207-grosf19riche-750","title":"Domaine Gros Frère et Soeur, Richebourg Grand Cru","description":"\u003cp\u003eDo you know why, when it comes to legendary Richebourg, we only offer Domaine Gros Frère? Sure, it’s the extreme totality of Pinot Noir and one of the world’s most fiercely coveted cellar magnets, but it’s also a tremendous luxury that’s currently enjoying one of wine’s most jaw-dropping ROIs. In the span of five vintages, the price of Gros Frère’s Grand Cru Richebourg has increased by 70%, and still, it’s the greatest pound-for-pound value by a country mile.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eLet’s dive deeper. This hallowed site, shared by an all-star cast, is world renown for producing some of the most complex, perfumed, and intoxicating “pipe dream” Pinot Noirs. For die-hard Burgundy collectors, just hearing “Richebourg” conjures images of liquid gold, but one must be mentally and financially prepared for the competition’s obscene sticker shock: $1,000 for A.F. Gros; $1,800 for Hudelot-Noellat and Pierre Girardin; $2,000 for Jean Grivot; $3,400 for Méo-Camuzet; “ungodly” for DRC. That’s why I constantly return to Gros Frère, one of my personal favorite Burgundy addresses. Theirs is the standout value of the bunch, coolly topping all others in terms of price-to-quality. And while it’s certainly the antithesis of affordable, this elite 2019 release will undoubtedly be among the top cellar investments we can hope to feature. 1-3 bottles per person. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBONUS\u003c\/strong\u003e: For those who want to experience a Gros Frère Grand Cru for \u003cu\u003enearly three times less\u003c\/u\u003e, we also have a literal handful of their 2019 “Clos de Vougeot.” \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sommselect.com\/product\/detail\/SOMM2207-GROS19VOUG-750\/\"\u003eSecure 1-2 bottles here\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eWarning: A complicated family tree lies ahead. The Gros family arrived in Vosne-Romanée in the 1830s and subsequently launched a winemaking dynasty in Burgundy. Gros Frère et Soeur was formed in 1963 when brother and sister (frère et soeur) Gustave and Colette combined their land inheritance after their father’s holdings from Domaine Gros-Renaudot were split amongst his sons and daughters. A further subdivision occurred when Gustave and Colette’s brother, Jean Gros, divvied up his parcels between his own offspring, Michel Gros, Anne-Françoise Gros (not to be confused with famed Anne Gros, who is their cousin), and Bernard Gros. Instead of forming his own domaine, Bernard Gros took over for Uncle Gustave at Gros Frère et Soeur when he passed away in 1984. Bernard now represents the sixth generation of Gros winemakers. Today, his son Vincent works alongside him. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eRichebourg is divided into two lieux-dits, “Le Richebourg” and “Véroilles,” with Bernard and Vincent’s 1.7-acre parcel lying in the latter. Soils are the classic limestone-clay blend and Gros Frère et Soeur farms according to lutte raisonnée principles. They also drastically restrict yields and pruning is done to an almost neurotic extent in order to achieve the greatest levels of ripeness and concentration. In the winery, de-stemmed grapes ferment in stainless steel vats, and the resulting wine ages in 100% new French oak for roughly 16 months. It is always bottled unfiltered and allowed further rest in the cellar before release. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs some of you may know, since 2016, we simply are not allowed\/able to taste these wines: they are too allocated, too expensive. As I’ve said with every Richebourg release we’ve offered, I strongly suggest cellaring this as long as humanly possible because the more patient you are, the better it’ll be. However, the profundity and generosity of youthful Gros Frère Richebourg has always blown me away, and I expect the same for the hot and sunny 2019 growing season: “a lovely but tiny vintage,” says Bernard Gros. This should be sweet music for those who simply cannot resist the urge to open one of these Grand Cru beauties soon. If you do decide to open one within the next few years, please decant for no less than two hours before pouring into bulbous Burgundy stems around 60 degrees. Furthermore, make your bottle stretch throughout an entire evening, ideally saving some for day two. This is the peak of Pinot Noir peak, folks: Age lengthily, open sparingly, and savor slowly. Cheers. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733050634294,"sku":"SOMM2207-GROSF19RICHE-750","price":675.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/ec47853d9142799ac6bab3b0cf4cb183.jpg?v=1686587896"},{"product_id":"somm2304-prion16vgtcras-750","title":"Domaine Patrice Rion, Vougeot 1er Cru “Les Cras”","description":"\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe family-owned Domaine Daniel Rion \u0026amp; Fils was created in 1955 with only two hectares in the village of Vosne-Romanée. When Daniel’s children joined the business, one in particular took the most interest: Patrice. As author and Master of Wine Clive Coates noted in his seminal book, “Côte d’Or,” it was Patrice who, at the age of 17, “...decided to put up a notice outside the winery and start selling bottles to passing tourists. In 1973, this was rare in Burgundy.” Starting in the ’80s, Patrice became the winemaker and public face of their domaine. At the turn of the millennium, he and his wife left to expand Domaine Michèle et Patrice Rion—an estate Patrice had originally created in 1990. Since then, his new venture has slowly acquired Premier Cru parcels and widespread acclaim in the press and among sommeliers has followed. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e“Les Cras” is one of few Vougeot \u003cem\u003eclimats\u003c\/em\u003e (vineyard sites) classified as Premier Cru. It is situated on the northern edge of the sprawling Grand Cru “Clos de Vougeot” and lies just downhill from Chambolle’s fabled Grand Cru “Musigny” and even closer to Premier Cru “Les Amoureuses.” Limestone and clay are dominant here with some chalk presence—hence the word “Cras,” which refers to these calcareous soils. His vines for today’s Vougeot are averaging nearly 50 years of age and his yields are incredibly low—more so than many of the Grand Crus that surround him. Though uncertified, Patrice follows strict organic practices in the vineyard. Grapes are carefully hand picked and sorted in the winery before fermenting in open-top stainless steel tanks. After three weeks, the wine is transferred into 50% new French oak for 18 months. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e[\u003cstrong\u003eNote:\u003c\/strong\u003e This wine should not be confused with Patrice Rion’s village-level “Les Cras,” which comes from the upper part of the vineyard. Seeing as it bleeds into Chambolle-Musigny, it is labeled as such.]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eIn the glass, Patrice Rion’s 2016 “Les Cras” reveals a concentrated dark ruby core moving out to a soft ruby-pink rim. Though not as lush and dense as their 2015, everyone here at SommSelect unquestionably thought it was a truer expression of classic Burgundy. Do you want brilliant tension and polish that is underscored with rugged earth and mineral savor? This is it. Finely crushed rocks, damp earth, fresh herbs—it’s all here in spades, but what really shocks is the core of refined fruits at play: black cherry, huckleberry, and plum aromas leap from the glass, followed by rose, violets, cloves, and all sorts of expressive forest flora. The palate is firm and shows impressive concentration that recalls many fine Clos Vougeot labels. Crunchy minerality and supple fruits are accompanied by a firm tannic grip that softens after an hour in a decanter. Ideally, however, you should pull the cork and allow the wine to rest 3-4 hours prior to consumption in large Burgundy stems around 60 degrees. Expect it to age gracefully over the next decade, while realizing it’s true drinking window should arrive around its fifth birthday. If you’re feeling adventurous, prepare the attached venison backstrap recipe. In my opinion, the final vintage of an outstanding label deserves the time and effort. Cheers!\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733050765366,"sku":"SOMM2304-PRION16VGTCRAS-750","price":103.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/12a8da694ef55459a05612aeb906b724.jpg?v=1686588918"},{"product_id":"is2301-haismagc20-750","title":"Mark Haisma Gevrey-Chambertin","description":"\u003cp\u003eSourced from three Gevrey-Chambertin lieu-dits: Croix des Champs, La Justice and Billard. Equal parts destemmed fruit and whole cluster bunches. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClassic \"Pinosity\" on the nose with plush sexy notes that you want from a village Gevrey. Generous ripe black raspberries, rainier cherries and red plum interlace with nuances of tobacco, rare sear steak, violets, and damp earth. Bright on the back with healthy acid levels to keep the fruited packaged angular on the palate. Enjoy this effort for the immediate or cellar for another two to three years. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733050798134,"sku":"IS2301-HAISMAGC20-750","price":95.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/aafe0b4a80707da8c70e12e2445e188a.jpg?v=1686588897"},{"product_id":"somm2010-sylv18ptg-750","title":"Domaine Sylvain Morey, Bourgogne Passetoutgrains","description":"\u003cp\u003eIf we’ve been doing our job right around here, the sight of the word “Passetoutgrain” on a Burgundy label should provoke an instant, Pavlovian response in the reader. But, just in case, here’s a reminder of the mouth-watering pleasure that awaits you here, courtesy of the great Domaine Sylvain Morey: “Passetoutgrain”—sometimes spelled “Passe-Tout-Grain”— translates roughly to “throw it all together,” and its existence as an officially codified appellation wine (AOC) speaks to the fact that vineyards in Burgundy were often “co-planted” to many different grapes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eBack in the days when Burgundy was an even colder, more marginal climate than it is now, Passetoutgrain served a valuable purpose as a wine to consume young, while the more austere, pure Pinot Noir wines came together in barrel. It is, in short, the kind of wine the winemakers themselves want to drink, so much so that they continue to put their versions out there despite the vastly greater commercial prospects of varietal Pinot Noir. They believe in it as an authentic expression of Burgundian terroir, and so do we, especially when it comes from an acknowledged mater like Sylvain Morey—a name that will surely ring a bell for all serious Burgundy lovers. While Sylvain’s Chassagne-Montrachet wines stand as some of the appellation’s most sought-after bottles, few people know that three precious barrels of Passetoutgrain sleep quietly in his antique cellar every year. It’s one of just a handful of commercially available Passetoutgrain bottlings around—and, in my view, it merits searching out just as much as a tiny-production Grand Cru. The price is certainly right, and believe me, the payoff is huge!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003eWe’re always quick to remind you that Beaujolais is part of Burgundy and that Beaujolais reds from the Gamay grape are indeed “red Burgundies.” A lot of wine lovers (and makers) willfully ignore this, given the universal reverence of Pinot Noir, and this isn’t anything new—Gamay, which is literally the spawn of Pinot Noir, has always been the lesser-regarded grape, even though it was easier to grow (and therefore tempting for many to plant). And while we tend to think of Gamay as being sequestered down in Beaujolais, it is still found in vineyards throughout Burgundy—not just in the more southerly reaches near Beaujolais but in the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits as well. It may have more of a “country wine” image, but some producers, like Morey, devote some expensive real estate to it.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003eSylvain is a visionary who was trained by two formidable old-schoolers (his father Jean-Marc Morey and his grandfather Albert Morey) in the vines of his native Chassagne-Montrachet. He moved to the Luberon region of France and started Bastide du Claux, an ambitious project that earned him comparisons to the great Olivier Jullien or Vincent Goumard—both pioneers in their own rights. Sylvain the prodigal son returned to Burgundy after Jean-Marc’s retirement in 2014 to take over half of his father’s acreage, the other half going to his sister, Caroline, in keeping with Burgundian inheritance laws. Today, Sylvain oversees just under 10 acres. He brought back some of the Luberon’s freedom and possibility to the insular Cote d’Or, and uses his dual insider\/outsider status to examine his family’s old vines with fresh eyes. Every one of his wines creates serious buzz; the Morey name guarantees an unforgettable bottle and that goes for the Passetoutgrain just as it does for the Premier Crus! \u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003eThe Pinot Noir and Gamay grapes for the Passetoutgrain come from two microscopic parcels planted just below the plain of Chassagne by Sylvain’s grandfather in 1952 and 1961. In keeping with the Passetoutgrain AOC’s regulations, the final blend of Gamay to Pinot Noir is 67% to 33%. It’s easy to assume the Gamay will eclipse the Pinot Noir, but both varieties are so full of personality that they seem to dance a perfect tango across your palate. Grapes are entirely de-stemmed before undergoing a two-day cold soak, spontaneous fermentation, and 19 whole months in neutral oak—a significant portion longer than most winemakers are willing to allocate to a relatively humble bottling. \u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003eTrue to form, Sylvain’s Passetoutgrain is a lithe, fresh wine brimming with personality and exuberant red fruits. That’s about where the similarities end, though. Where most Passetoutgrain are pretty straight forward, Sylvain’s is deep and evocative, more closely related to Chassagne’s complexity and balance than Beaujolais’ juiciness. Decant it for 30 minutes before diving your nose into aromas of fresh-crushed rose petals, wild strawberries, and slushy cranberry concentrate. The 2018 has great lift and freshness, each ounce of red fruit going toe-to-toe with an equal dose of bright minerals, petrichor, and flowers. There’s a delicate talc-like texture to the mid-palate tannins, and enough acidity to promise at least five  of happy aging in the cellar. But let’s be real: this wine isn’t going to last the weekend. There’s too much pleasure to be had in pouring a glass and slicing into a piping-hot chicken pot pie. The late October chills don’t stand a chance against this joyful bottle of Morey magic.\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733050830902,"sku":"SOMM2010-SYLV18PTG-750","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/559180332c08ff8fd47d94633cf1ba36.jpg?v=1686588914"},{"product_id":"is2301-pousseamour20-750","title":"Domaine de la Pousse d'Or Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses","description":"","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733050863670,"sku":"IS2301-POUSSEAMOUR20-750","price":499.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/a4d92abfb59e885ab52e612228802091_66567659-331b-46d7-b64b-2f77fcc99f13.jpg?v=1692805997"},{"product_id":"somm2211-dabr19nsgmarg-750","title":"Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion, Nuits-Saint-Georges “Dame Marguerite”","description":"\u003cp\u003eAny longtime Burgundy drinker knows that it’s a heartbreak region. Though responsible for perhaps the most transcendent wine experiences one can have, intrinsic deliciousness isn’t always the place’s strong suit. More times than anyone would care to admit, that $75+ bottle just doesn’t live up to the hype or price, with the routine copout being: “It’s too young.” You can throw that excuse right out the door in the 2019 vintage. This warm, highly praised year delivered instant liquid pleasure in the glass, and I can think of few examples greater than Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion’s “Dame Marguerite.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheirs is a full-throttle yet pedigreed red Burgundy that promises to over-deliver every single time you pop the cork, be it right now or in five years. So please do ignore outdated notions that Nuits-Saint-Georges is the “meh” village of the Côte de Nuits; this drinks like a sublime mashup of Vosne-Romanée and Chambolle-Musigny. In other words, a pure, hedonistic injection of Pinot Noir loaded with lush fruit cut through with exhilarating tension. My opinion? A cellar can never have enough of today’s deliciously bankable gem! It’ll make you weak in the knees, guaranteed! \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Rion estate is one of those hidden gems that Burgundy is still full of: family-run and little-known outside the region with a stable of vineyard holdings that would make any vigneron seethe with envy (they have a robust truffle-hunting operation, too!). Founded in 1896, it’s now headed by the fifth-generation operators Alice and Nelly Rion. They work under the watchful eye of their parents, Bernard and Armelle, who pushed the family domaine toward quality winemaking in the late 20th century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Rions farm a frankly ridiculous vineyard lineup, with everything from humble Aligotè to Premier Crus in Chambolle and Vosne to a slice of Grand Cru Clos du Vougeot. In the vineyard, they’ve eschewed all herbicides\/insecticides, employ only organic fertilizers, and perform minimal tillage, which all combine for old vines that plunge their roots deep into the golden slope. Their N-S-G “Dame Marguerite,” though “just” a village wine, carries significant pedigree. It hails entirely from 50+-year-old vines, spread across four small parcels totaling 1.1 hectares at the very northern end of the village. All the parcels are a stone’s throw from Vosne-Romanée, which perhaps accounts for the impeccable breed and velvety polish on display here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePolish and perfume are the names of the game with “Dame Marguerite.” Entirely de-stemmed, naturally fermented with whole berries for two weeks, and aged 15 months in 45% new oak, it exudes class and luxury. It pours a deep ruby with hints of magenta before bursting out of the glass with ripe black cherry, raspberry compote, juicy blackberry, rose petals, dried violets, forest floor, gunflint earth, and warm cinnamon and nutmeg spices. The palate is medium-bodied and caressing with a fine coating of tannin before a soft jolt of acidity brings it to a refreshing close. There’s no doubt it has the stuffing to go years in your cellar, but it’s one of those bottles that’ll be genuinely difficult to keep your hands off of, so stuffed to the gills is it with plush Pinot Noir joy. I struggle to think of a more enjoyable way to spend an autumnal evening than a bottle of “Dame Marguerite” alongside some duck breast and mushrooms. Just be sure to grab enough that you can do it for many autumns to come!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733050896438,"sku":"SOMM2211-DABR19NSGMARG-750","price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/e58ebf1ce17c02a488eb5e9c07a36048.jpg?v=1686588917"},{"product_id":"is2209-pillotcsj18-750","title":"Domaine Paul Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos Saint Jean","description":"\u003cp\u003ePillot’s whites balance impressive soil character and electric minerality with vivid, pure fruit. They epitomize the Chassagne-Montrachet terroir while offering remarkable approachability in their youth and impressive complexity and evolution after even modest cellar aging. We love these wines, our customers love these wines, and the only challenge with Pillot is summoning the willpower to sell our meager allocation instead of shuttling it into our personal cellars. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eJean-Marc Pillot is the fourth consecutive generation of his family to be involved in winemaking. He began apprenticing directly beneath his father, Jean, in 1985. By 1991, he had assumed leadership of the family property, though he is assisted in numerous regards by his wife, Nadine, and sister, Beatrice. Pillot owns and farms a dizzying diversity of Premier and Grand Cru vineyards in the villages of Santenay, Puligny, Meursault, Montagny, and Remigny. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003ePillot's 2018 “Clos Saint Jean” shines a brilliant yellow with silver and vivid green reflections. Salted lemon, white peach, and yellow apples ease right into a luscious core of limestone and crushed-rock minerality that radiates with citrus blossoms and myriad white\/yellow flowers. The heavily curtailed vintage didn’t affect one ounce of this wine. Its aromas are enticingly seductive and the palate shines with brilliant energy and plush, fleshy fruit. The accessibility or ‘openness’ of the wine is always what gives Pillot its distinction: As long as it’s properly served, this provides every luscious fruit and tension-filled mineral that comes with the best white Burgundy—whether enjoying now or in 10+ years! If doing the former (there’s no harm whatsoever), serve in large Burgundy stems around 55 degrees after a 60-minute decant. Show it off next to a couple of your wine connoisseur friends and a flashy lobster pasta in a rich, herbed cream sauce. Prepare for a standing ovation because this is authentic Chassagne-Montrachet of the highest order. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733051027510,"sku":"IS2209-PILLOTCSJ18-750","price":122.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/f190d10746b0572798e722b276cdbc25.jpg?v=1686588937"},{"product_id":"somm2206-mcmzt19crtrgngc-750","title":"Méo-Camuzet, Corton Clos Rognet Grand Cru","description":"","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733051060278,"sku":"SOMM2206-MCMZT19CRTRGNGC-750","price":420.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/Meo-Camuzet_CortonClosRognetGrandCru2019_MainImage-1800x1800.jpg?v=1690898895"},{"product_id":"direct2209-drvp20cmbnd-750","title":"Domaine Darviot-Perrin, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru 'Les Bondues' (Rouge)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Darviot-Perrin, 'Les Bondues' is a brilliant ruby-red moving to magenta at the rim, with an extremely inviting nose loaded with fresh, ripe notes of red and black cherry, wild strawberry, and cranberry mixed with wet rose petals and forest floor\/underbrushy quality. The minerality and tannin is subtle and fine-grained, and the fruit generous—it should age nicely over the short term, about 5 years, but it is quite approachable now. Decant it about a half hour before serving in Burgundy stems at 60-65 degrees. Medium-bodied, with a subtle smokiness, this would be fantastic with some grilled salmon, prepared simply as in the attached recipe. This wine has got everything you could ask for in serious red Burgundy, without the serious red Burgundy price\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733051093046,"sku":"DIRECT2209-DRVP20CMBND-750","price":85.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/28b0e8398b692ccc5cb33e888424a237.jpg?v=1686588941"},{"product_id":"direct2209-drvp20sant-750","title":"Domaine Darviot-Perrin, Volnay 1er Cru 'Santenots'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is some silky, smoky, seductive Premier Cru Pinot Noir that is singing now and has plenty of positive development ahead of it. This is an incredibly savvy addition to any Burgundy-rich collection!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733051158582,"sku":"DIRECT2209-DRVP20SANT-750","price":99.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/02f83f9ea57f07cece0fad820033aa51.jpg?v=1686588940"},{"product_id":"is2208-mch18mrsltnvx-750","title":"Domaine Michelot, Meursault, “Les Narvaux”","description":"","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733051191350,"sku":"IS2208-MCH18MRSLTNVX-750","price":99.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/9d4d999333fefe22ae68a6ab3d7828fa.jpg?v=1686588943"},{"product_id":"is2210-remo53riche-750","title":"Remoissenet Père et Fils, Richebourg Grand Cru","description":"\u003cp\u003eNever mind the one percent. Richebourg exists in the top .01%, and that extends beyond Grand Cru Burgundy: This is the extreme totality of Pinot Noir, the be-all and end-all of vinous luxury, and one of the world’s most fiercely coveted cellar magnets. This hallowed vineyard site, shared by an all-star cast of legendary domaines, is world renown for producing some of the most complex, perfumed, deeply mineral, and shockingly desirable\/unobtainable wines on the planet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis 1953 Richebourg direct from the domaine is a revelation in Burgundy collecting!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733051224118,"sku":"IS2210-REMO53RICHE-750","price":2900.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/237519a81cb20fe7e53c379a0162852a.jpg?v=1686588966"},{"product_id":"somm2303-dpl20gvcvlge-750","title":"Domaine Philippe Livera, Gevrey-Chambertin “Clos Village”","description":"\u003cp\u003eBurgundy connoisseurs: How much profoundly powerful, old-vine Gevrey-Chambertin do you have in your cellar? What about sub-$100 gems that’ll reward years of aging alongside any cult collectible? Or Pinots that redefine the meaning of fruit intensity and soil character? If your answer to any of these questions is “not enough,” Philippe Livera’s blockbuster will satisfy these neglected needs in one glorious swoop.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Clos Village” is a brooding, dark, deeply concentrated Pinot Noir that envelops every inch of your palate with dense berry liqueur and ferrous minerality; it is the liquified essence of Gevrey-Chambertin in 2020. And while it may not come with a Premier\/Grand Cru label, it holds all the pedigree one could ask for: 70-year-old vines, prime positioning just below Gevrey’s band of 1er Crus, and rigorously detailed winemaking from a four-generation family of genuine farmers. For many years now, Livera’s wines have been cornerstones of both our Burgundy offers and our personal cellars, and this vintage of “Clos Village” may just be the best argument for their greatness yet!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Liveras first bottled their wines for sale in 2007 when current proprietor Damien took over. That might make them sound like a young up-and-comer, but the family has farmed vines and made wine in Gevrey-Chambertin since 1920. Before ’07, they’d sold finished wines to esteemed négociants like Louis Jadot and Bouchard. But when Damien came in, everything changed. He eliminated herbicides, began plowing the vineyards, drastically reduced yields, and upgraded the cellar. From the start, Damien marked his family’s domaine as one to watch. He hit the ground running and has put out some stellar bottles over the past decade. In 2020, though, his wines, especially the “mere” village-ranked “Clos Village,” have achieved a whole new level of complexity, seriousness, and outright greatness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere are actually multiple parcels called “Clos Village” in Gevrey, but the source for today’s bottling is a Livera monopole. The walled vineyard sits outside of the family winery, about 150 yards downslope from the village’s most famous Premier Cru, “Clos Saint-Jacques.” Like in that esteemed site, the east-facing Pinot Noir vines in “Clos Village” plunge their roots beneath chalky marl into a deep limestone subsoil. The Livera’s vines here average over 70 years of age, with some dating back to the domaine’s founding over a century ago. The fruit is rigorously selected by hand in the vineyard and, once in the cellar, goes through a 5-7 day cold soak. Post-fermentation takes place in French barrels, 40% new. All of this combines for a wine in which every Gevrey hallmark—depth, structure, savory perfume—is cranked to full volume.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eFair warning: Livera’s “Clos Village” is a serious wine. Like all of the best 2020 Gevreys, it’s best not to touch it until at least 2024. If you absolutely can’t keep your hands off of it (I don’t blame you), I’d recommend at least an hour-long decant before dipping your toes in. It pours an opaque ruby-violet with viscous tears—it’s surprisingly dark for Pinot but a beautiful sign of what’s to come. The nose booms with blackcurrant, crushed black cherry, raspberry liqueur, sanguine iron, struck flint, fallen leaves, and mushroomy earth. On the palate, it’s medium-plus-bodied and fathomlessly deep with a sense of coiled tension running through soft acidity and muscular yet fine-grained tannin. It’s dark and concentrated and powerful, but in no way blowsy or overdone. Through it all, there’s a deep sense of soul, a feeling that when the village first earned its reputation as the boldest of the Côte de Nuits, it was staked on wines like this. This will reward you for years and years to come so stash away plenty!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733051256886,"sku":"SOMM2303-DPL20GVCVLGE-750","price":87.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/26b32d9694f78a9d22e938115d68bbe3.jpg?v=1686588962"},{"product_id":"is2210-remo67vol-750","title":"Remoissenet Père et Fils, Volnay","description":"\u003cp\u003eRemoissenet’s antique cellar collection takes “mature Burgundy” and “flawless provenance” to the highest, most literal level. This perfectly preserved 1953 Grand Cru still rests in their cold cellar beneath the cobblestone streets of Beaune.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis 1967 Volnay direct from the domaine is a revelation in Burgundy collecting! It’s five decades of beauty sleep and still has some youthful vigor: That’s what perfect storage, a top vineyard, and a legendary Burgundian domaine will get you!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733051289654,"sku":"IS2210-REMO67VOL-750","price":345.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/2d6032eb3ab291e24b4996d0d6ce8ff5.jpg?v=1686588960"},{"product_id":"somm2303-couv20cmlorme-750","title":"Domaine du Couvent, Chambolle-Musigny “Clos de l’Orme”","description":"\u003cp\u003eMark my words: It’s only a matter of time until the world knows the name Domaine de Couvent. Officially founded in 2020, their Chambolle-Musigny “Clos de l’Orme” is the sort of sophisticated and stunningly perfumed Pinot that Burgundy reputations are built upon. While Couvent is technically a newcomer in this high-stakes scene, Burgundy diehards know that a bottle this profound could only come from a master’s hand. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe winemaking talent behind Couvent is Philippe Chéron, a local star who quietly bottled small batches under an eponymous label throughout the 2010s. Impressive as those previous vintages were, Chéron’s current output is downright spellbinding. Never mind that this is “just” a village-level \u003cem\u003elieu-dit\u003c\/em\u003e bottling; “Clos de l’Orme” has the concentration, complexity, and cellar-worthiness to go toe-to-toe with many Premier Crus from this hallowed ground. Such masterful examples from a village famous for producing the world’s most aromatically haunting Pinot come around rarely, and practically never without a triple-digit price tag. Chambolle overachievers like “Clos de l’Orme” have a habit of quickly achieving cult status, essentially becoming unattainable from one year to the next. My advice for buyers here, the most competitive wine market in the world, is always the same—get in on the ground floor!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eDespite being less than three years old, Domaine de Couvent has the history and talent suitable for a grand château of Bordeaux. Philippe Chéron’s family had run a \u003cem\u003enégociant\u003c\/em\u003e business in the Côtes de Nuits since 1930, eventually coming to own prime vineyard parcels in Nuits-Saint-Georges, Chambolle, and Vosne. Philippe took over the Chéron operation in 2010 and began to bottle a select few cuvées under his own name, all while running Domaine des Varoilles in Gevrey-Chambertin. In 2020, he decided to make his life easier by merging the two family estates into one, Domaine de Couvent, named for the literal convent in which the winery is now housed. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs a result of the merger, Philippe has the opportunity to work 10 hectares of some of the most coveted pockets in the Côte de Nuits, including three Gevrey \u003cem\u003emonopoles\u003c\/em\u003e (vineyards with sole ownership), and today’s 0.4-hectare parcel in Chambolle-Musigny. The \u003cem\u003elieu-dit\u003c\/em\u003e “Clos de l’Orme” \u003cem\u003eis\u003c\/em\u003e a hidden gem positioned adjacent to one of the village’s most prized Premier Crus, “Charmes,” and it shares that site’s gravel-laden, alluvial soils. Combine those characteristics with vines up to 80 years old, planted on a wide variety of rootstocks, and you’ve got the recipe for one of the most dynamic and lush examples of Chambolle we’ve offered.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003ePhilippe fermented the 2020 Chambolle-Musigny “Clos de l’Orme” with 30-50% whole cluster for some additional aromatic \u003cem\u003eoomph\u003c\/em\u003e and freshness, then aged it for 15 months in French oak. Poured into a Burgundy bowl, you’ll see a dense ruby core with purple highlights moving out to a magenta rim. This beauty bursts from the glass with textbook Chambolle allure: ripe Bing cherry, black raspberry, kirsch, wild strawberry, gardenia, fresh tobacco, vanilla, and woodsy spice. It’s a masterclass in texture, marrying its silken medium body to well-rounded tannin and invigorating acid. Served alongside richer poultry or lighter meat dishes, it’ll shine, but a wine of this breed and class will really start strutting its stuff after 3-5 years in your cellar. For now, we’ll consider this one of our favorite new Burgundy discoveries, but I promise it won’t remain a secret for much longer. Load up while you can!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733051322422,"sku":"SOMM2303-COUV20CMLORME-750","price":95.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/6f0a477a1b9f96ec697310e4ca45756f.jpg?v=1686588949"},{"product_id":"somm1911-fmagn17born-750","title":"Frédéric Magnien, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru “Les Borniques”","description":"\u003cp\u003eWine can be a numbers game, especially in Burgundy, where you can hit a massive jackpot if you know what to look for. Indulge me for a moment: The bidding begins around $350 for a single bottle of Premier Cru Les Amoureuses, and the starting point lurches up to $700 for neighboring Grand Cru Musigny, with extreme examples costing thousands, even \u003cem\u003etens\u003c\/em\u003e of thousands of dollars. Why do we care? Because today’s Premier Cru “Borniques” immediately borders—without break—both of these legendary sites.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the hands of visionary winemaker Frédéric Magnien, this 2017 blends tried-and-true methods with the avant-garde, resulting in a powerfully exquisite Burgundy that epitomizes the thrilling beauty of Chambolle-Musigny’s costly \u003cem\u003ecrème de la crème\u003c\/em\u003e. Of course, there isn’t much to go around: The entirety of “Les Borniques” is only 1.42 hectares, of which, again, seamlessly runs into gold-standard Grand Cru Musigny and Les Amoureuses (among the finest Premier Crus in all of Burgundy). With each passing year, getting our hands on a bottle becomes increasingly harder but if it’s possible, we do it, because Magnien’s “Les Borniques” delivers one of the most profound values in Burgundy when it tacks on age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eHaving personally met Frédéric Magnien last year, I can assuredly say that he’s an innovative and impassioned \u003cem\u003evigneron\u003c\/em\u003e who personifies the term “\u003cem\u003emicro-négociant\u003c\/em\u003e” (a designation of relatively recent coinage). And today’s wine, from the Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru “Les Borniques,” is a perfect distillation of everything he brings to the table: a jewel-box vineyard site; impeccable old-vine fruit from a great vintage; and a dialed-back approach to aging that lets the nuances of site shine through as clearly as possible. This is prime “collectible” material with a lot of insider cachet.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eHaving grown up riding his bike through the vineyards of Morey-Saint-Denis, and having learned his craft from his father, Michel (Domaine Michel Magnien), “Fred” has assembled an enviable roster of grower-partners, all of them either certified organic or in the process of conversion. He works closely with these growers, many of whom he’s known since childhood, to produce exceptionally pure expressions of some of Burgundy’s greatest vineyards. Magnien founded his \u003cem\u003emaison\u003c\/em\u003e in 1995, following an extended period of travel to other great wine regions of the world. The roster of wines now produced under the Magnien label is extremely long and diverse, stretching the length of the Côte d’Or and reaching up into Chablis as well. All the wines display the kind of precision that comes from careful, hands-on fruit sourcing, and there’s no doubt that Magnien considers himself a \u003cem\u003evigneron\u003c\/em\u003e first and a winemaker second. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eIn recent years, as he has embraced organic and biodynamic practices, his work in the cellar has evolved: Wines have long been fermented with a percentage of whole clusters intact, and only on indigenous yeasts, but starting with the 2015 vintage, Magnien began aging some of his wines—including today’s—in a mixture of used French oak (60%) and terra cotta amphorae (40%), or \u003cem\u003ejarres\u003c\/em\u003e. He explains that “[the] mix of the two wine ageings unveil the brightness and clarity of wine thanks to the jar, while keeping its complexity and length thanks to the traditional cask.” While I was visiting, we did a tasting of both vessels, and it was mind-boggling that both samples on their own were great but nowhere as good as when blended together. I would never have believed it if I wasn’t there. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e“Les Borniques” soils, like Musigny’s, are streaked with veins of white and yellow clay over limestone but its aspect is marginally different with more of a full east\/slight northeast tilt in comparison to Musigny’s (and Amoureuses’) more southeasterly exposition. Ultimately, it’s one of the best illustrations of the “game of inches” we so often obsess over around here. Take about five steps to the south of Les Borniques and you’ve entered an entirely new dimension in terms of price—kind of hard to believe when you walk these vineyards in person!\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eToday’s 2017 was partially de-stemmed and fermented on indigenous yeasts before being transferred into a combination of neutral French barrels and amphorae. After aging, the wines from both vessels were blended together and bottled without fining or filtration. In the glass, it’s a deep, reflective ruby moving to a bright magenta at the rim. Its nose brims with concentrated black-red fruit in the form of black cherries, black raspberry, wild strawberry, and spiced plums, clearing the way for a light-footed stampede of black tea, pomegranate oil, violets, rose petals, forest floor, crushed stones, and damp clay. Texturally, this is everything you could ask for in Chambolle-Musigny—the wine glides across the palate with silky, feminine grace, culminating in a long, aromatic finish—but its “prettiness” is still very much huddled up in a hardened, young Burgundy carapace. It needs hours in a decanter before one even considers pouring it into large bulbous stems, but the wisest move of all would be to wait until at least its fifth birthday. To be able to revisit this wine periodically, over the course of the next two decades, is a privilege I wish everyone could have yet only a lucky few can. Make sure you’re one of those select few!\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733051355190,"sku":"SOMM1911-FMAGN17BORN-750","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/a5780e0ecba15cc0d635eee1e317fa52.jpg?v=1686588946"},{"product_id":"somm2210-fmagn17msdruch-750","title":"Frédéric Magnien, Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru “Les Ruchots”","description":"\u003cp\u003eHaving grown up riding his bike through the vineyards of Morey-Saint-Denis, and having learned his craft from his father, Michel (Domaine Michel Magnien), “Fred” has assembled an enviable roster of grower-partners, all of them either Certified Organic or in the process of conversion. He works closely with these growers, many of whom he’s known since childhood, to produce exceptionally pure expressions of some of Burgundy’s greatest vineyards. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn recent years, as he has embraced organic and biodynamic practices, his work in the cellar has evolved: Wines have long been naturally fermented with a percentage of whole clusters intact, but starting with the 2015 vintage, Magnien began aging some of his wines—including this effort—in a mixture of old French oak and terra cotta amphorae. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis 2017 comes entirely from Premier Cru “Les Ruchots” in the village Morey-Saint-Denis (located between Gevrey and Chambolle). This severely underrated, 2.5-hectare site sits in a shallow clay-limestone basin that borders the Grand Crus of Bonnes-Mares and Clos de Tart. With natural and man-made protection on three sides, this jewel-box vineyard is also well protected from any harsh elements. The handpicked, Certified Organic fruit in 2017 was partially de-stemmed and a natural fermentation occurred in stainless steel. The resulting wine was then transferred into a combination of clay amphorae (56%) and neutral French barrels (44%) for aging. Both vessels were blended together and bottled without fining or filtration. This specific parcel then proceeded to mature in Magnien’s cellar until 2022. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003ePoured into Burgundy stems, Magnien’s 2017 “Ruchots” reveals a dusty ruby with dark magenta hues. It’s a savory dynamo full of earthy aromas, deeply woven spices, and suave berry fruits that slowly evolve and lengthen over the course of an evening. Now at five years of age, a touch of button mushroom, smoky violet, and other forest flora are beginning to infuse into the wine’s deep clay minerality, lending more complexity to the finish. It’s a meditative Burgundy constructed for those eager to taste a pure, soulful, evolving Premier Cru with a gorgeously savory edge. Enjoy now and through the decade. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733051387958,"sku":"SOMM2210-FMAGN17MSDRUCH-750","price":95.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/669f430bade4bfdf3df467825a29e75a.jpg?v=1686588946"},{"product_id":"somm2302-fv20vr-750","title":"Domaine Fabrice Vigot, Vosne-Romanée","description":"\u003cp\u003eSpeed readers have the advantage today because, unless you’re traveling overseas in the coming months, this US-exclusive offering will likely be your only chance to secure Vigot’s prized and forever-rare Vosne-Romanée. Despite living amidst the world’s most expensive and legendary Pinot Noir real estate, Domaine Fabrice Vigot elects to bottle among Vosne’s finest contemporary values. For that, we are forever grateful. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eNow the inside scoop: Vigot’s mastery of organic farming allowed them to work directly with cult legend Mugneret-Gibourg for a half-century, but whereas Mugneret’s village cuvée now fetches $400-$500, Vigot’s supernova quietly remains under $100. Excited yet? You should be because these highly limited jewels are loaded with tremendous lift, beguiling perfume, and the singular allure of the world’s most mythical Pinot Noir village. Put simply, they are powerful, terroir-loaded paragons of Vosne-Romanée that are built to age. We believe in Vigot so strongly, we secured every bottle of 2020 that entered the country, an amount that could fit on my bookshelf with space to spare. Grab six, allow them to evolve in your cellar, and prepare to swoon.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eDomaine Vigot is run by Fabrice and Christine Vigot, who founded the estate in 1990 by combining the landholdings of their respective families. Most notably, Fabrice’s father was hired by the famed Dr. Georges Mugneret in the 1960s and tasked with farming some of their most prized vineyards in a sharecropping agreement that lasted through 2016. Meaning, the Vigot family played a significant role in the evolution of Burgundy’s most legendary, expensive, and sought-after wines—those of Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg. Wondering why their agreement ended? Successive low-yielding vintages nearly ruined Vigot financially, so, although they had to part with premium parcels like “La Colombière” (which Mugneret bottles for $600-$900), Vigot’s six total hectares are now entirely estate-owned.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eToday’s village-level Vosne-Romanee is sourced from the family’s various village-level parcels, most notably, “La Croix Blanche,” a lieu-dit in the southern reaches of Vosne that holds a trove of 70+-year-old vines. It should be noted that Mugneret-Gibourg also utilizes this prized site for their own Vosne bottling, but again, interested buyers must be prepared to pay $500 for theirs! In the vineyard, the Vigots employ organics with a recent focus on biodynamics. All of their grapes are hand-harvested and partially de-stemmed, leaving around half of the clusters intact for the native-yeast fermentation. The resulting wine spends 18 months in 228-liter Burgundy barrels, between 30-50% new depending on the vintage. Bottling occurs without fining or filtration. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eNOTE: These wines need to rest in your cellar. Opening them now is like asking the young child of two Olympic runners to run a sub-five-minute mile. It’s not going to happen, but it most certainly will if given the proper time to develop. I expect a minimum two-year slumber in your cellar (or any cool, dark place in your home) will be enough for Vigot’s 2020 Vosne. If you’re dead set on opening one before then, decant at least 90 minutes or double decant and just let it breathe in the bottle, without the cork, for several hours. I tracked my bottle over three days and it began showing signs of profundity on the second evening. This is deep and polished, certainly, but there is also sinewy muscle, intense savor, and pronounced oak tannin that promises a long life. Squirrel them away!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733051420726,"sku":"SOMM2302-FV20VR-750","price":90.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/0b4210106a76d637e9c669bdcae59f55.jpg?v=1686588946"},{"product_id":"is2210-remo566vol-750","title":"Remoissenet Père et Fils, Volnay","description":"\u003cp\u003eRemoissenet’s antique cellar collection takes “mature Burgundy” and “flawless provenance” to the highest, most literal level. This perfectly preserved 1953 Grand Cru still rests in their cold cellar beneath the cobblestone streets of Beaune.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis 1966 Volnay direct from the domaine is a revelation in Burgundy collecting!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the glass, slow-churning waves of red and black cherry, wild strawberry, hibiscus, damp violet, and Damson plum are coaxed out with ample air, all of which are propped up on a soft bed of crushed stone, iron, moss, baking spice, and aged tea leaf. The palate is medium-bodied and wonderfully graceful with a delicate profundity that’s present in every sip. This still has energy and lift after multiple decades of aging in the cellar.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733051453494,"sku":"IS2210-REMO566VOL-750","price":385.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/069b4794dc819f61e32059eec8f42393.jpg?v=1686588949"},{"product_id":"somm21212-pg20nsgcharm-750","title":"Philippe Gavignet, Nuits-Saint-Georges “La Charmotte”","description":"\u003cp\u003eToday we present another edition of “Cellar Gems Under $100,” starring one of our all-time Burgundy favorites, Philippe Gavignet. Every time I see one of his spare, classic labels my reaction is downright Pavlovian because his wines reliably deliver a combination of rusticity and refinement that some would describe as “old school.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eGavignet’s reds are the kinds of Pinot Noirs you read about in books by Clive Coates or Jasper Morris: woodsy, structured, mineral beauties that evoke images of autumn leaves and the smoke from winter vine prunings. Gavignet’s home base is Nuits-Saint-Georges, but, like most of his long-held vineyard parcels, his wine leans toward the “Vosne side” of things—as in, Vosne-Romanée. This gorgeous 2020 “La Charmotte” doesn’t say Premier Cru on the label yet it sits right next to 1er Cru “Aux Bousselots” near the Nuits-Saint-Georges\/Vosne-Romanée border, but how many times have we been here before? Hopefully, it’s been enough times with Gavignet alone to have earned your trust. It will be rewarded handsomely with this bottle, believe me.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Gavignet domaine, based in Nuits-Saint-Georges, dates to the 1930s and still boasts some vineyards planted way back then (and before). Current proprietor Philippe (whose first vintage was 1979) farms roughly 10 hectares as sustainably as possible, eschewing chemical herbicides and pesticides and harvesting only by hand. His range of wines is focused almost exclusively on N-S-G bottlings, where his holdings include Premier Crus such as “Les Chaboeufs,” “Bousselots” and “Les Pruliers.” Gavignet’s vines in the La Charmotte \u003cem\u003elieu-dit\u003c\/em\u003e average 50 years of age, rooted in relatively shallow clay over limestone bedrock.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis would be a great wine to wrap in foil or paper and sneak onto a table for people to taste blind. I’m certain they’d guess Premier Cru (or higher) coming in at a much higher price than this wine does. For the La Charmotte bottling, hand-harvested fruit is cold macerated for about 10 days before a fermentation on native yeasts, after which the wine is aged 15 months in French oak barrels (33% new). Bottled unfined and unfiltered, the 2020 shows excellent concentration and that rustic\/refined character I noted above. These wines have a real visceral power to them, and yet they aren’t at all heavy—that’s the magic of Burgundian Pinot Noir!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eShining ruby-red in the glass moving to a pink rim, the 2020 delivers assertive aromas of dried plum, raspberry, pomegranate, and black cherry intertwined with savory aromatics of black mushroom, black tea, damp earth, grape stems, baking spices, and woodsy smoke. The palate is medium-plus in body with beautiful texture and freshness. Fruits confirm the nose and are enveloped in perfect structure, soft tannins, and an essence that is simultaneously reminiscent of Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-St-Georges at its best. It promises to age 10 years if you decide to cellar some, but if you’re uncorking one now, decant it 30-60 minutes before serving in Burgundy stems at 60-65 degrees. Gavignet’s style is \u003cem\u003eüber\u003c\/em\u003e-classic, so stay in that lane with the pairing: beef bourguignon, coq au vin, etc. It’s the next-best thing to being in Burgundy!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733051486262,"sku":"SOMM21212-PG20NSGCHARM-750","price":79.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/8d7c44340ff6fb04f55a3d1ea7b20029.jpg?v=1686588950"},{"product_id":"is2209-arl20chamgc-750","title":"Domaine Arlaud, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru","description":"\u003cp\u003eCharmes-Chambertin produces perhaps the most elegant wines of Gevrey-Chambertin’s Grand Cru vineyards, and Domaine Arlaud’s sliver of it is particularly choice: it sits at the highest section of the ‘Mazoyères’ portion of Charmes, just across the road from the start of the Latricières portion (more specifically still, Domaine Leroy’s piece of Latricières, from which they make a wine costing $1,500-$2,000 a bottle, if you can find it). The Arlaud vines on Charmes-Chambertin are divided into three parts—one section of 80+-year-old vines; one of 50+-year-old vines; and one of 25+-year-old vines—which are vinified separately. The wine is aged in only 30% new barrels and typically incorporates around 30% whole grape clusters in the fermentation, depending on the vintage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the glass, the 2020 is a brilliant ruby-red with violet reflections, with highly perfumed aromas of wild strawberries; black raspberries; rose petals; white pepper; and that ‘sous bois’ forest-floor\/undergrowth note that outs it as top-flight red Burgundy. It starts out with glycerol-rich, perfumed, sweet red fruit, utterly delicious and charming, then firms up with some silty Gevrey tannin and crushed-stone minerality. Medium-plus in body and boasting a long, penetratingly aromatic finish, this is quite drinkable in its youth. Even after just a half-hour open we were amazed by its silken generosity, and I can only imagine how mind-blowing it’ll be 5-7 years from now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40733051519030,"sku":"IS2209-ARL20CHAMGC-750","price":299.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/products\/cfd8c8f2803e0711317fcefce25824af.jpg?v=1686588956"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/collections\/Burgundy_France_Wine_5fc25208-9526-4549-99bb-3cf99ead50db.jpg?v=1772836034","url":"https:\/\/sommselect.com\/collections\/burgundy-france-wine-collection.oembed?page=29","provider":"SommSelect","version":"1.0","type":"link"}