The 2024 Henri & Gilles Buisson Saint-Romain Blanc 'Sous la Velle' is your direct backdoor pass to elite Côte de Beaune Chardonnay. While newly arrived 2024 Meursault lieux-dits like Les Tillets and Les Tessons easily breach the $125 to $150 mark, this high-altitude, biodynamic bottle comes from 60-to-70-year-old vines sitting just a 5-minute drive down the road. The dynamic brothers Franck and Frédérick Buisson—recently awarded Michelin Grape status and dubbed "Saint-Romain's contemporary reference point" by The Wine Advocate—are turning out transcendent, cool-climate whites that regularly outshine brand-name labels. Offered at the nation's best price on a 4-pack buy, it's an essential steal for serious Burgundy drinkers.

The Buisson family has farmed this limestone valley since the 12th century, pioneering organic viticulture in the 1970s long before it was trendy. Tucked into a south-east facing amphitheater, "Sous la Velle" packs rich clay into its high-elevation limestone soils, yielding a wine with far more muscle, texture, and breadth than standard village bottlings. As top Côte d’Or vignerons scramble to acquire land in these cooler, climate-resilient havens, the Buisson brothers are leveraging their old-vine crown jewels to deliver true Premier Cru-level complexity for a fraction of the cost.

This hits with pure old-vine density and electric drive. An explosive nose of white peach, crushed chalk, lime blossom, and toasted hazelnut gives way to a plush, satin-textured palate. A sharp streak of saline minerality cuts through the richness, keeping it lifted and weightless. Easily holding its own against top-tier Meursault and Puligny, it finishes long, sapid, and razor-sharp. Decant briefly and pair with pan-seared scallops in brown butter or a rich roast chicken with wild mushrooms.

Santé!

Critical Acclaim:

96 Points, James Suckling:

“Bright and zesty, with lime, flint and mineral aromas. Plenty of substance, with salted citrus flavors, a medium body and a textural, rounded finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now or hold. 

91-93 Points, Vinous Media  (Neal Martin): 

“The 2024 Saint-Romain Sous Le Velle, which comes from vines up to 80 years old, has a perfumed bouquet with orange blossom, lime and crushed stone, expressing the limestone soils with style. The palate is almost flinty on the entry, with quite a sharp citrus acidity derived from the limestone and touches of oyster shell, leading to a mouth-watering finish. Excellent.”