As many of you know, we recently came across a collection of fine, mature Burgundy in the cellar of private-collectors-turned-importers. Consisting mostly of California doctors, the group began visiting Burgundy in the 60’s and 70’s and had perfectly stored gems from some of Burgundy’s top sites. They purchased and meticulously cellared their wines in a dark and cold 50ºF warehouse along the San Francisco Bay. I tasted every wine in their library, and each showed exceptionally well. A rare opportunity, we purchased all their wines at their original release price. Since prices in Burgundy have skyrocketed in the past decade, I’m delighted to offer you this wine at a price that is less than its potential wholesale price. This wine has been cellared in conditions as close to the Domaine's own cellars as you're going to find.

Bonnes Mares is a Grand Cru vineyard that lies predominantly in the great mid-slope of Chambolle-Musigny, but a small portion rests inside the appellation of Morey-Saint-Denis where it is adjacent to the Grand Cru of Clos de Tart. According to Clive Coates, Bonnes Mares delivers, “a wine which not only has the power and the dimension, but also the elegance and depth of great Burgundy. Silk and grace: no. That is Musigny. But volume, velvet, and vigour. Bonnes Mares can be very fine indeed.” Boasting a jaw-dropping lineup of Grand Cru holdings, the Drouhin-Laroze family’s sites are only rivaled by their serious attention to quality. The second largest owner in Bonnes Mares, their site’s soil is comprised of the celebrated terres blanches (calcareous pebbles) on the Chambolle side of the vineyard, which is known for its incredible finesse and feminine poise.

A serious estate for 166 years, Jean-Baptiste Laroze first worked the soils of Gevrey-Chambertin back in 1850. His granddaughter, Suzanne Laroze married Alexandre Drouhin, which joined her Gevrey holdings with his Chambolle-Musigny vineyards and the Domaine Drouhin-Laroze name was born. Today, the family Domaine is run by sixth-generation Philippe and Christine Drouhin who have drastically reduced yields and have worked to craft wine in pristine conditions with traditional practices. After manual harvest, the wine is fermented then aged in 80% new French oak for eighteen months. Each wine is a stunning, individual expression of vintage and terroir that is built to last and today’s 2007 example is no exception. Offered at a price you will not find anywhere else, this well-kept beauty is a serious snapshot of Burgundy at one of its most profound expressions of place.

The 2007 Bonnes Mares displays a dark ruby core with light garnet and a touch of orange on the rim. The lively, incredibly perfumed nose enchants with aromas of semi-dried blueberry, black strawberry, raspberry and black cherry liqueur over notes of wet roses, black tea, a touch of dried mushroom and black truffles. The beautiful richness and texture on the palate is harmonious met with soft, layered elegance, typical of Chambolle’s greatest sites at their finest. Structure and stony minerality on the mid-palate weaves a compelling sensory narrative that concludes with a seemingly endless finish that you will savor long after the bottle is empty. This wine doesn’t need decanting; simply pull the cork 1-2 hours prior and serve in Burgundy stems between 60-65 degrees. The wine will blossom in the glass within 5-10 minutes and will reveal a magical conversation with your senses. I recommend sharing this bottle with only 1-2 friends as you will want to enjoy more than a mere glass.