Producers, Bottlings and Prices Flashcards
Francois Ravaneau
Style / Vinification Techniques: Harvesting has always been done by hand. Yields can be very different from vintage to vintage with 45 hl/ha in 2000 and 2001, 50 hl/ha in 2002, and 35 hl/ha in 2003. Inoculation is used to ensure wines ferment to dryness.. Fermentation lasts two weeks in cuve, and then the wine goes through malolactic fermentation. The wines are aged in old oak barrels and feuillette for 18 months.
Summary: The estate was founded by Francois Raveneau in 1948 when he consolidated vineyards with his wife (who was a Dauvissat). His father had spent years selling off his vineyards in Chablis pre-WW II, and the Chablis of post-war France was a place that showed little promise. Regardless Francois persisted and took advantage of cheap land prices in the 1960s and 1970s to expand his domaine. His son Jean-Marie joined the family business in 1979 after going to the Lycée Viticole in Beaune. His other son Bernard joined upon Francois retirement in 1995. Together, Jean-Marie and Bernard stay true to the same methods and Bernard’s daughter Isabelle has joined the estate. Francois died in 2000.
Chablis, Grand Cru, Les Clos
- 2020 - $2,850 47
- 2015 - $2,550 47
- 2006 - $2,650 47
- 2005 - $2,800 47
Chablis, Grand Cru, Blanchot
- 2020 - $1,500 47
- 2011 - $1,550 47, $2,900 EMP
- 2013 - $1,955 EMP
- 2009 - $3,485 FL
- 2005 - $3,800 EMP, $3,670 FL
- 2004 - $3,485 FL
- 2000 - $3,670 FL
Chablis, Grand Cru, Valmur
- 2020 - $1,505 FL
- 2018 - $2,000 47
- 2016 - $1,235 EMP
- 2015 - $1,575 EMP
- 2009 - $4,080 FL
- 2005 - $4,050 EM
Chablis, Premier Cru, Montée de Tonnerre
- 2020 - $1,250 47, $1,095 FL
- 2019 - $2,400 EMP
- 2018 - $1,200 47, $1,700 EMP
- 2012 - $1,585 47, $1,950 EMP
- 2011 - $1,500 47
- 2006 - $2,440 FL,
- 2005 - $1,500 47, $1,745 EMP, $2300 FL
- 2002 - $2,300 EMP
Chablis, Premier Cru, Mont Mains (Montmains)
- 2012 - $995 EMP
- 2006 - $2,255 FL
- 2005 - $2,300 FL
Chablis, Premier Cru, Vaillons
- 2014 - $2,255 FL
- 2012 - $2,225 FL
- 2011 - $2,030 FL
- 2009 - $2,255 FL
- 2005 - $2,565 FL
- 1989 - $1,710 EMP
Chablis, Premier Cru, Butteaux (within the Montmains vineyard)
- 2020 - $1,050 FL
- 2019 - $1,500 47
- 2018 - $1,650 EMP
- 2014 - $2,280 FL
- 2012 - $2,460 FL
- 2011 - $2,280 FL
- 2010 - $2,400 FL
- 2009 - $2,280 FL
- 2007 - $1,250 47
- 2005 - $2,155 FL
- 2004 - $1,125 EMP, $2,360 FL
- 2002 - $2,440 FL
- 2001- $2,440 FL
- 2000 - $1,895 EMP
Chablis, Premier Cru, Chapelot (within the Montée de Tonnerre vineyard)
Chablis, Premier Cru, Forêt (within the Montmains vineyard)
- 2014 - $2,850 FL
- 2012 - $2,360 FL
- 2010 - $2,115 FL
Vincent Dauvissat
Summary: Vincent Dauvissat ranks among the top producers of the region and is considered to be one of the most traditional. Robert Dauvissat started the property in the 1930s with his son René establishing its high reputation. Vincent joined his father in 1976, and eventually took over management of the entire estate. The most sought after wines are the Grand Cru Les Clos and Les Preuses, and the equally lauded La Forest Premier Cru, which many believe to be of the same quality as the two Grands Crus. Dauvissat makes a Petit Chablis which comes from a parcel of vineyards on top of the Les Clos vineyard, and the Villages level Chablis comes from a parcel adjacent to the La Forest vineyard.
Brief Description of Style & Vinification Techniques: Vincent prefers “natural farming,” using little vine treatments. All grapes are hand harvested, with grapes being pressed whole cluster. Fermentation happens in enameled steel and aging is always in oak. Vincent prefers to age the wines in 6-8 year-old barrels. The wines go through malolactic fermentation spontaneously, and tartrates are precipitated naturally. Unlike most producers in the region Vincent does not perform bâtonnage on his wines.
Chablis, Grand Cru, Les Clos
- 2020 - $2,335 FL,
- 2019 - $825 47, $1,660 FL
- 2018 - $690 EMP
- 2017 - $2,250 FL
- 2015 - 1,200 47, $895 EMP
- 2009 - $995 EMP
- 2008 - $760 EMP
- 2006 - $1,180 47
- 2005 - $1,185 47
- 2002 - $1,200 47
- 2000 - $1,250 47
Chablis, Grand Cru, Les Preuses
- 2018 - $810 EMP
- 2017 - $895 EMP
Chablis, Premier Cru, La Forest
- 2019 - $905 FL, $240 EMP
- 2018 - $820 FL
Chablis, Premier Cru, Séchet
- 2020 - $215 PSH
- 2019 - $200 PSH
- 2018 - $205 PSH
- 2017 - $205 PSH
- 2015 - $185 PSH
- 2011 - $140
Chablis, Premier Cru, Vaillons
- 2020 - $225 POH, $215 PSH
- 2019 - $200 PSH
- 2018 - $205 POH, $205 PSH
- 2017 - $205 PSH
- 2015 - $185 PSH
- 2013 - $180 PSH
Chablis, Premier Cru, Montée de Tonnere
- 2019 - $1,200 FL
Krug
Summary: The signature style of Krug is centered upon the art of blending. Each parcel is fermented separately, constituting upwards of 200 different wines in any single harvest. Each year, a selection of these 200 wines is blended together with a vast array of reserve stocks, and for the Grand Cuvée, this may include up to 50% reserve wine spanning over 20 vintages. All of their wines are considered Prestige Cuvée quality, and Krug is the leader in the luxury Champagne category. A proportion of their vintage wine is held back for a late release bottling, which is named Krug Collection.
Brief Description of Style / Vinification Techniques: Base wines are all fermented in small oak cask, 205 L in size. Malolactic fermentation may or may not occur depending on the vintage conditions. Each single lot is fermented separately and blended afterward to achieve complexity. Krug is known for using large proportions of reserve wine in each blend.
Grande Cuvée Brut NV
Brut Vintage
- 2008 - $1,250 FL
- 2006 - $1,285 FL
- 2004 - $695 PSH
- 2003 - $625 PSH
Clos du Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Brut Vintage
- 2006 - $4,155 FL, $3,000 47
- 2003 - $2,000 PSH
- 1998 - $2,950 PSH
Clos d’Ambonnay Blanc de Noirs Brut Vintage
- 2000 - $5,995 PSH, $4,995 EMP, $6,500 47, $4,300 POH
- 1998 - $4,995 EMP
- 1996 - $6,000 PSH
- 1995 - $5,000 PSH, $7,500 PSH
Rose
- $420 EMP, $385 47, $1,095 FL
Inaugural Vintage (for top wines): 1979 for Clos du Mesnil, 1995 for Clos d’Ambonnay
Salon
Summary: Salon was the creation of Eugène Aimé Salon, a self-made businessman, politician and gourmand. In 1905 he purchased a one hectare vineyard in Le-Mesnil-Sur-Oger making wines for himself and his Parisian lunch club. Salon states that the first vintage was 1905, released in 1911, but these wines were enjoyed privately and not available commercially. The first commercial vintage of Salon was the 1921 vintage. It is considered to be the first blanc de blancs Champagne. Aimé Salon made the wines until his death in 1943 and left the winery to his nephew. In 1988 the winery was purchased by Laurent-Perrier. Today it is run side-by-side with Champagne Delamotte, the fifth-oldest winery in Champagne. Salon is a Négociant Manipulant.
Brief Description of Style & Vinification Techniques: There is only one wine made. It comes from the original vineyard purchased by Aimé Salon, and a few other parcels in Le-Mesnil. The wines are always vintage and always 100% Chardonnay and aged ten years on the lees before release. The Salon wines are known for their great capacity to age and are highly sought after by collectors and sommeliers alike.
Vintage
- 2012 - $1,200 47, $1,518 PSH, $1,650 POH
- 2008 (Magnums only) - $9,875 EMP, $5,995 PSH, $13,000 FL
- 2007 - $1,375 EMP, $995 PSH
- 2006 - $1,375 EMP, $950 PSH
- 2004 - $2,265 47, $1,375 EMP, $1,090 POH
- 1983 - $5,500 FL
- 1976 - $8,500 FL
- 1973 - $7,500 FL
Jacques Selosse
Summary: Jacques Selosse founded the estate in the 1950s and bottled his first vintage in 1960. His son, Anselme, took over as winemaker in 1980 after attending the Lycée Viticole de Beaune. Upon taking over, he reduced yields in the vineyards and began to move towards organic viticulture. Selosse in a proponent of oxidative production and low-dosage. His top wine, Substance, is created out of a Solera of twelve different vintages. Selosse was named best winemaker of the year by Gault-Millau in 1994. In the spring of 2013 burglars stole 300 cases of Champagne from Selosse’s cellars, worth nearly $350,000. Interestingly they took 16,000 front labels, 12,000 neck labels, and 2,500 caps, which leads to the conclusion that they were also planning on counterfeiting the Selosse wines as well. Selosse is a Récoltant Manipulant.
Brief Description of Style & Vinification Techniques: Selosse has some of the lowest yields in Champagne. Fermentation comes from all ambient yeast. He ferments the base wines in a mix of pieces (228 L), Fût (400L), and Demi-Muids (600L). Malolactic is free to occur naturally but does not always occur. The base wine is aged for 12 months in barrel; typically less than 20% are new. He uses a low dosage for most of his wines, save for the Exquise which has a dosage of 24 g/l. All of his other wines are between 0-5 g/l dosage.
Substance, Grand Cru: Solera began in 1987, NV, Bdb
- $1,355 FL, $1,300 EMP
Initiale, Grand Cru, NV, Bdb
- $580 EMP, $825 FL, $440 PSH
Champagne Extra Brut, “Version Originale”, NV, BdB
- $725/$750 EMP
Les Carelles, Le-Mesnil-Sur-Oger: Soler began in 2010.
- $790/$845 EMP
Exquise, Sec
La Côte Faron, (formerly Contraste): Single vineyard in Aÿ., NV BdN
- $1,005 FL, $790 EMP
Pierre Peters
Summary: Pierre Péters is a grower-producer located in the Cote de Blancs, and their reputation is founded upon their classic & sleek Blanc de Blancs Champagnes. Currently in its sixth generation, the estate is run by Rodolphe Péters, grandson of Pierre. The majority of their vineyards are located in Les Mesnil-sur-Oger, and the vintage Champagnes rely heavily on fruit from this vineyard. Their other vineyards are in the Grand Crus of Avize, Oger, and Cramant. They aim to showcase the subtleties of terroir in their wines and thus chose to farm sustainably and ferment in stainless steel. The Champagnes are considered racy, elegant, and mineral driven.
Brief Description of Style & Vinification Techniques: In order to maintain the freshness and elegance of Chardonnay, they choose to ferment exclusively in stainless steel. All wines go through malolactic fermentation. The dosage varies, depending on the wine, though in general falls between 2-6 g/l.
Cuvée de Réserve Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut NV
- $155 EMP
Cuvée Millésimée l’Esprit de (vintage) Blanc des Blancs Grand Cru Brut
Cuvée Spéciale les Chétillons Blanc de Blancs Brut Vintage: Inaugural vintage 1971, BbB
- 2015 - $495, $450 EMP, $385 47
- 2011 - $325 47
Rosé for Albane Brut NV: Inaugural vintage 2009,
- $225 EMP, $258 47
Cuvée l’Étonnant Monsieur Victor NV, Bdb
- $745 47, $750/$7665/$770 47
Ruinart
Summary: Ruinart is the oldest Champagne house, having produced sparkling wines on a commercial scale since 1729. Ruinart’s style is largely dependent upon the Chardonnay grape variety, though uniquely, most of their Chardonnay grapes do not come from the Côte des Blancs. Rather, their most important vineyards for Chardonnay lie in northern Reims, around the Grand Crus of Sillery and Verzenay. This lends a richness and broadness to the wines. The Dom Ruinart is a Blanc de Blancs prestige cuvée, comprised of exclusively Grand Cru fruit, from both the Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs.
Brief Description of Style / Vinification Techniques: Base wines are fermented in temperature control stainless steel and receive full malolactic fermentation. Dosage ranges from 6.5 g/l for the Dom Ruinart to 9 g/l for the NV Brut.
Blanc de Blancs Brut NV
- $207 47, $180 POH, $200 PSH
Rose, NV
- $220 PSH
Brut NV (sold in EU market)
Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Brut Vintage
- 2010 - $585 47
Dom Ruinart Rosé Brut Vintage
- 2007 - $1,160 FL
- 2006 - $885 FL
- 2004 - $780 POH
- 2002 - $825 POH
- 1988 - $650
- 1985 - $2,770 FL
Bollinger
Summary: The story of Bollinger is the story of three families: the Bollinger, the Renaudin, and the de Villermont. The Comte de Villermont was an aristocrat who owned vineyards in Aÿ but because of his status, he could not make wine from his land. He met Joseph Bollinger, a German, and Paul Renaudin, who both were interested in the wine trade. They started the winery on February 6th, 1829. Joseph went on to marry de Villermont’s daughter, and Renaudin left the winery, leaving the firm in the Bollinger family. The current winery building was originally a de Villermont property. In 1865 Bollinger shipped a “drier” Champagne to England and in 1870 to the United States. During World War II the firm was run by the widow Madame Lily Bollinger. After keeping the estate alive through the war Bollinger purchased key vineyards in Aÿ, Grauves, Bisseuil, and Champvoisy. Today Jérôme Philippon is the first non-family member to run the firm, taking charge in 2008. Gilles Descôtes is now Chef de Cave.
Style / Vinification Techniques: The Special Cuvée is a non-vintage Champagne, which is generally Pinot Noir dominant with 25% Chardonnay and 15% Meunier. About a quarter of the base wine for the Special Cuvée ferments and ages in oak it is the only house that produces all of it’s own barrels. Bollinger keeps all of their reserve wines in magnums, putting aside 70,000 magnums a year into their reserve cellar which houses about 600,000 magnums. After blending, the wine ages for three years on it’s lees. The vintage wines are fermented and aged entirely in oak casks. The Grand Année is two-thirds Pinot Noir and one-third Chardonnay. It rests for sixty months on its lees before disgorgement. The RD is based on the Grand Année but is aged on it lees for an extended period of time and is generally an Extra Brut. The Grand Année is labeled Brut, with a typical dosage of 6 to 7 g/l.
RD
- 2008 - $900 47
- 2007 - $650 47
- 2004 - $480 PSH
- 2002 - $750 PSH
Grande Année
- 2014 - $345 POH, $450 47
- 2004 - $350 PSH
Grande Année Rosé
-2014 - $425 POH, $295 PSH
- 2007 - $350 PSH
Vieilles Vignes Françaises
- 2007 - $1,965 POH
- 2005 - $1,525 PSH
- 2002 - $1,560 PSH
- 1999 - $1,800 PSH
- 1998 - $2,985 EMP
- 1990 - $8,610 FL
- 1988 - $3,875 EMP
- 1985 - $4,950 EMP
Special Cuvée, NV
- $250 47, $135 PSH
Jacquesson
Summary: Since 1974, the house has been owned by the Chiquet family, though originally it was based in Reims. The house has always been well regarded, though quality has improved since the Chiquet purchase. They are currently making a large statement by bottling 4 different single vineyard wines, as well as crafting their basic NV cuvée to be more representative of the vintage in which the base grapes originated. Since 2000, these NV wines have been labeled by bin number, starting with 728.
Brief Description of Style / Vinification Techniques: The majority of the wines are fermented in large oak foudre, for structure and aromatics. All wines go through malolactic fermentation, and there is a period of lees aging lasting about four months before the secondary fermentation takes place in bottle. Across the board, they are known for using very low dosages.
Cuvée 7– Brut NV
- $125/$145 PSH, $150/$155/$140/$145 PSH, $175/$195 POH, $240 EMP
Corne Bautray Extra Brut Vintage
- 2008 - $425 PSH
- 2004 - $500 PSH
Champs Caïn Extra Brut Vintage
- 2004 - $500 PSH
Vauzelle Terme Extra Brut Vintage
- 2008 - $475 PSH
Terres Rouges Extra Brut Rosé Vintage
Philipponnat
Summary: The Philipponnat family has been growing grapes since 1522, and starting making their own wines at the beginning of the 20th Century. Their vineyards are concentrated in the Marne Valley, primarily in Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. The range of wines is primarily Pinot Noir dominant, and oak is used for both fermenting base wines as well as storing the dosage wines. The house is best known for its single vineyard holding, the famed Clos des Goisses vineyard. Clos de Goisses, a 5.5 hectare vineyard with a 45 degree slope, is best known for its southern facing, slightly warmer hillside that ripens well, even in marginal vintages. The house employs a very low dosage across their entire range of wines.
Brief Description of Style & Vinification Techniques: Historically the wines were fermented in large foudres, though now a percentage is fermented in 228 L barrel. Overall, the dosage is very low, around 4-5 g/l for the Brut designated wines.
Royale Réserve Brut NV
- $225 FL
Grand Blanc Brut Vintage
- 2008 - $585 POH
- 1985 - $750 PSH
Cuvée 1522 Extra Brut Grand Cru Vintage: 70% Pinot Noir (from Léon), 30% Chardonnay (from Mesnil-sur-Oger). Inaugural vintage 1996.
- 2005 - $300 PSH
- 2003 - $325 PSH
Cuvée 1522 Extra Brut Grand Cru Vintage Rosé: 70% Pinot Noir (from Léon), 30% Chardonnay (from Mesnil-sur-Oger). Includes 8% still Pinot Noir from Clos des Goisses. Half of the wine is barrel-aged without malolactic fermentation.
Clos des Goisses Brut Vintage: Inaugural vintage 1935.
- 2012 - $845 47
- 2011 - $740 FL
- 2005 - $510 PSH, $510 PSH
- 2003 - $525 PSH
Clos de Goisses Juste Rosé: Inaugural vintage 1999.
- 2006 - $1,230 FL
- 2005 - $1,230 FL, $1,224 47
Les Cintres: 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay from a plot in the heart of Clos de Goisses. Inaugural vintage 2006.
Le Rémissonne: 100% Pinot Noir from the plot adjacent to Clos de Goisses. Inaugural vintage 2009.
La Léon: 100% Pinot Noir from between Dizy and Ay. Inaugural vintage 2006.
Louis Roederer
Summary: Original name of the estate was Dubois Père et Fils. It was named after Louis Roederer in 1833 after he inherited the estate from his uncle. Roederer expanded the business, particularly into the Russian market, and by the 1870s Roederer made up for one-tenth of Champagne’s total production. Louis’s son, Louis, invented Cristal, which was made exclusivley for Tsar Alexander II; the wine was packaged in a clear crystal bottle. The success of the firm quickly fell apart with the Revolution of 1917 in Russia, and the consequent villainization of all things associated with the Royal family. As the firm went into the Depression it was kept alive by the widow Camille Olry-Roederer who went without a salary in an effort to keep the firm afloat. She made important purchases for the estate, with great vineyards in the Montagne de Reims and the Côte de Blancs. The firm expanded once again under her 40 years of leadership. The estate was run by her grandson Jean-Claude Rouzaud, who also expanded the property, and is now run by his son Frédéric Rouzaud. The Roederer firm owns many wineries, including Champagne Deutz, Roederer Estate and Scharffenberger, Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Chateau de Pez, Domaine Ott in Provence, Merry Edwards in Sonoma, Diamond Creek in Napa, and Ramos Pinto in the Douro Valley. The wines are made by Chef de Cave Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon.
Style / Vinification Techniques: All of the grapes are manually-harvested and brought to one of the firm’s three different pressing houses. The firm has worked towards more environmentally friendly vineyard work, and has stopped using herbicides. The musts are shipped to the winery in Reims, where they ferment by individual lots with ambient yeasts. After the secondary fermentation the wines spend three years on their lees. After dosage, and corking, the wine spends another six months at the winery before release. Cristal is a blend of approximately 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, depending on the vintage. Between 15 and 25 % of the base wine for Cristal ages in oak, the oak barrels at Roederer are 6,000 liter fudre. The grapes for Cristal come from eight villages, seven of which are Grand Cru. The Rosé is also approximately 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, and the Pinot Noir goes through the saignée process to get its color, and is blended with the Chardonnay. Both Cristal wines spend between five and six years in the cellar with and an extra eight months after dosage and corking. Roederer avoids malolactic fermentation for all wines.
Cristal
- 2014 - $820 47
- 2009 - $465 PSH, 750 47
- 2007 - $450 PSH
- 2004 - $650 PSH
- 2002 - $675 PSH
- 1999 - $700 PSH, $1,100 PSH
- 1990 - $2,500 FL
- 1982 - $3,100 EMP
Cristal, Rosé
- 2013 - $775 POH, $1,500 47
- 2012 - $910 PSH
- 2009 - $1,522 47
- 2008 - $1,000 PSH
- 2007 - $1,130 PSH
- 2006 - $1,000 PSH, $2,565 FL
- 2002 - $1,650 PSH, $1,00 PSH
- 1999 - $1,100 PSH
Blanc de Blancs, Vintage Brut
Vintage Brut
Brut Premier, NV
- $140 POH
Chateau Rayas
Summary: Owned and operated by the Reynaud family, Château Rayas is currently run by fourth generation Emmanuel Reynaud. The estate name, Rayas, first showed up on bottlings in 1920. The family’s holdings include Château Rayas, Château des Tours and Château de Fonsalette. Within the Rayas property, there are 10 hectares of red grape plantings, devoted exclusively to Grenache. These 10 hectares support their two red Châteauneuf bottlings: Rayas and Pignan. They have two other hectares planted to Clairette and Grenache Blanc, from which they make a Châteauneuf du Pape blanc. Finally, they produce a Côtes du Rhône rouge called La Pialade, made from Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah.
Brief Description of Style / Vinification Techniques: A very traditional winemaking estate, Château Rayas ferments their red and white wines without de-stemming. Wines are fermented for around two weeks in concrete vats, then aged for a year in used barrels of varying sizes.
Pignan (Châteauneuf-du-Pape): Pignan means “pine tree” in French, and references the surrounding trees at the estate. Produced from younger vines, 100% Grenache.
- 2009 - $1,850 EMP
- 2006 - $720 PSH
Réservé Rouge (Châteauneuf-du-Pape): 100% Grenache.
- 2000 - $3,650 47
- 2009 - $3,500 47
- 2006 - $4,750 FL, $2,200 47
- 2003 - $2,500 47
- 1998 - $3,250 47
- 1989 - $6,000 FL
Réservé Blanc (Châteauneuf-du-Pape): Clairette and Grenache Blanc.
- 2010 - $1,500 47
Pialade (Côtes du Rhône): 80% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 5% Syrah.
Chateau Beaucastel
Summary: The history of the Château de Beaucastel itself extends well beyond 1909, with records dating back to the 1500s. Wine has been made on the property since the early 1800s. The modern history begins in 1909, when Pierre Tramier purchased the property and passed it to his son-in-law, Pierre Perrin. The Perrin family continues to own and operate the property today. They have considerable vineyard holdings located in the northern portion of the appellation in the lieux-dits of Chapouin and Coudeoulet. The vineyards are planted with all 13 authorized grape varieties, though the estate is known to use a high percentage of Mourvèdre in the red wines. They have practiced organic viticulture since the 1960s.
Brief Description of Style & Vinification Techniques: Beaucastel is considered a traditional producer: wines are de-stemmed and fermented in either cement or steel tank. Prior to fermentation, the red grapes are flash-heated for two minutes and then cooled—a process they have employed since the 1960s. Most grapes are fermented through the malolactic fermentation before blending. The wines are aged in old foudres for about 12 months and are bottled without filtering.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc
- 2010 - $235 POH
- 2002 - $115 POH
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge
- 2020 - $210 POH
- 2019 - $200 POH
- 2001 - $385 POH
- 1989 - $650 POH
Hommage à Jacques Perrin: prestige cuvée, only produced in the best years; made from low-yielding vines. Inaugural vintage 1989.
- 2018 - $1,145 POH
- 2011 - $1,000 POH
- 2010 - $1,000 POH
- 2004 - $650 POH
- 2004 - $650 POH
Roussanne Vieilles Vignes: from a 3-ha plot of vines over 75 years old. Inaugural vintage 1986.
- 2010 - $300 POH, $475 POH
- 2002 - $375 POH
- 2001 - $225 POH
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe
Summary: The Brunier family founded Vieux Télégraphe in 1898 and bottled their first wine by 1900. The property is still family owned and operated, currently run by the fourth generation. All of Vieux Télégraphe’s vineyards are located in a single-vineyard block in the lieu-dit La Crau. This parcel is particularly well known, especially for its ability to retain water even in dry years. The name, La Crau, has appeared on the label of their Châteauneuf-du-Pape since 1994, although it does not refer to a special bottling. The estate prides itself on using old vine material in their wines; any vine younger than 25-30 years is vinified separately and used for the second label, Vieux Télégramme. Prior to 2002, their second label was called Vieux Mas de Papes.
Brief Description of Style / Vinification Techniques: Winemaking is traditional at Vieux Télégraphe, with a few modern influences. Grapes are de-stemmed and co-fermented in a combination of stainless steel and 100-hl oak vats. Post-blending, the wines are aged first in concrete vats and later in old, 70-hl foudres.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge La Crau
- 2020 - $275 47
- 2018 - $235 POH
- 2015 - $475 FL
- 2014 - $475 FL
- 2013 - $475 FL
- 2009 - $475 FL
- 2001 - $430 EMP
- 2000 - $420 EMP
- 1998 - $520 EMP
- 1997 - $460 EMP
- 1978 - $825 EMP
Télégramme (Blanc and Rouge): from young vines (less than 25-30 years)
Domaine du Pegau
Summary: Although not officially “established” until 1987, the history of Domaine du Pegau extends back into the 17th century. Pegau was previously known as Domaine Féraud before it was re-dubbed Domaine du Pegau by Paul Féraud and his daughter, Laurence. This helps to explain why 1983 was the first vintage of Cuvée Laurence, four years before they officially founded Domaine du Pegau. The domaine is considered a very traditional producer, with wines that are crafted for long-term aging.
Brief Description of Style & Vinification Techniques: A traditional producer, Domaine du Pegau does not de-stem or use any filtration. The wines are fermented in concrete tanks and aged in old foudres for about 18 months.
Cuvée Réservée (Blanc and Rouge): Inaugural vintage 1985.
- 2020 - $280 FL, $168 47
- 2004 - $550 EMP
- 1995 - $780 EMP
Cuvée Laurence: Inaugural vintage 1983.
- 2018 - $350 FL
Cuvée a Tempo: 1/3 each Clairette, Grenache Blanc & Roussanne fermented in a combination of oak and steel. Aged in barrique. No Malo. First vintage 2014
Cuvée Da Capo: Old vine selection from 3 terroirs - La Crau, Les Escondudes and Montpertuis. Produced in just seven vintages to date. Inaugural vintage 1998.
- 2016 - $995 PSH
- 2007 - $1,00 PSH
- 2000 - $948 47
Cuvée Inspiration: Utilizes 13 varieties from 2 terroirs - La Crau and Les Escondudes. Only bottled in magnum. First and only released vintage is 2010
Domaine Leflaive
Summary: It’s difficult to argue with the assertion that Domaine Leflaive owns the greatest collection of Chardonnay-producing vineyards in the Côte d’Or. While the domaine’s history can be traced back to Claude Leflaive in 1717, it was Joseph Leflaive in 1905 who began to construct the modern version of the estate, expanding holdings from two to 25 hectares.
Next in line was Joseph’s son, Vincent (who snapped up the small Montrachet parcel), followed in 1991 by Vincent’s daughter, Anne-Claude, along with her cousin, Olivier. Olivier left to focus on his own négociant label in 1993, while Anne-Claude began experimenting with biodynamic farming of the estate’s vineyards. She began with a small parcel of Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet that was slated to be pulled out due to fan-leaf virus. When those vines responded well, her biodynamic experiments were expanded to several other parcels in Puligny-Montrachet. By 1997, after several years of fastidious, side-by-side comparisons of soil ecology, vine health and wine quality comparing biodynamic, organic and conventionally-farmed parcels, the entire estate was converted to biodynamic viticulture. Anne-Claude passed away in 2015, ans is succeded by Brice de La Morandiere’s, her nephew and great grand son of Joseph Leflaive, with winemaking being managed by Eric Rémy, who took over for the retired Pierre Morey in 2008.
Brief Description of Style & Vinification Techniques: Currently, Leflaive produces only white wines. Healthy fruit is of the utmost importance for the domaine, so the grapes are sorted in both the vineyard and the winery prior to pressing. The juice is settled for 12-24 hours before being racked to oak for fermentation and aging, and the percentage of new oak used is on the low side: up to 10% new for the Bourgogne, 25% for the premiers crus and 30% for the grands crus—except the Montrachet, which is usually aged in a single new barrel, often specially coopered to accommodate the precise size of the harvest. Neither primary nor secondary fermentation are inoculated, and bâtonnage is currently practiced with less frequency than in the past (it’s now stopped completely by Christmas). The wines are racked to stainless steel after 16 months, then lightly fined and filtered if necessary and bottled by gravity.
Montrachet Grand Cru: Inaugural vintage 1991.
- 2017 - $25,648 WS
- 2015 - $23,483 WS
- 2014 - $25,648 WS
- 2013 - $20,855 WS
- 2012 - $16,478 WS
- 2011 - $20,533 WS
- 2010 - $17,812 WS
- 2008 - $15,282 WS
- 2007 - $15,380 WS
- 2005 - $20,264 WS
- 2002 - $21,775 WS
- 2001 - $12,142 WS
Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru
- 2020 - $5,200 47, $3,750 PSH
- 2019 - $2,500 PSH, $1,600 PSH
- 2017 - $2,500 47,
- 2016 - $2,500 47
- 2015 - $2,230 EMP
Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
- 2020 - $4,600 EMP, $3,300 PSH
- 2019 - $2,550 47
- 2018 - $2,350 47
- 2017 - $2,250 47, $1,300 PSH
- 2015 - $1,250 PSH
Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
- 2020 - $4,440 EMP, $2,995 PSH
- 2019 - $2,500 47, $1,700 PSH
- 2018 - $1,480 PSH
- 2017 - $1,850 47,
- 2016 - $1,995 EMP
- 2013 - $1,550 EMP
- 2010 - $1,025 PSH
Puligny-Montrachet Pucelles Premier Cru
- 2020 - $1,500 47, $2,220 EMP
- 2019 - $1,250 47, $950 PSH
- 2010 - $1,035 PSH
Puligny-Montrachet Combettes Premier Cru
- 2020 - $1,550 47
- 2019 - $1,135 EMP
- 2016 - $810 EMP, $575 PSH
- 2012 - $525 PSH
Puligny-Montrachet Folatières Premier Cru
- 2020 - $985 47, $1,500 EMP, $995 PSH
- 2019 - $800 PSH
- 2018 - $600 PSH
- 2017 - $925 47, $450 PSH
Puligny-Montrachet Clavoillon Premier Cru
- 2020 - $885 47, $665 PSH
- 2019 - $820 EMP, $525 PSH
- 2012 - $295 PSH
**Domaine Leflaive, Sous le Dos d’Ane ** - appellated to Meursault, located in Blagny - $300 -$500
Domaine Roulot
Summary: Originally, the Roulot family was known for distilling; it was Guy Roulot who turned the domaine’s focus to winemaking and who first launched this estate toward its current level of stardom. Guy was a big believer in the distinctive qualities of his “deuxième crus” (village-level lieux-dits), bottling several outstanding, unique examples that became hallmarks of the estate. Guy passed away unexpectedly in 1982, and his son, Jean-Marc, left a career in acting to take over the domaine. Jean-Marc took over completely in 1989.
Jean-Marc converted the domaine to organic farming and added parcels to the family holdings: First he grabbed a small bit of Meursault Le Porusot Premier Cru in 2003, and then in 2011 he split the vineyard holdings of Domaine Manuel with Dominique Lafon, adding village-level vines as well as the Clos des Bouchères Premier Cru to the family’s portfolio. Jean-Marc continues to garner acclaim for his multiple Meursault premiers crus and lieux-dits bottlings; the domaine also continues to produce a Marc de Bourgogne, two eaux de vie and an apricot liqueur.
Brief Description of Style / Vinification Techniques: Roulot wines tend to be more reserved than the powerful Meursaults of Lafon or Coche-Dury. The grapes are sorted in the vineyard and winery, then crushed prior to pressing. The juice is run without settling into barrels for fermentation and aging, and the wines are aged in 10-30% new oak for 12 months with the lees stirred until malolactic fermentation completes. The wines are then blended and aged six months in stainless steel and are lightly fined and filtered prior to bottling.
Meursault Perrières Premier Cru
Meursault Charmes Premier Cru
- 2019 - $1,050 47
Meursault Les Bouchères Premier Cru: Inaugural vintage 2011
- 2020 - $1,150 47
- 2019 - $1,140 47
- 2018 - $1,100 47
- 2017 - $1,150 47
- 2004 - $975 EMP
Meursault Clos des Bouchères Premier Cru
- 2020 - $1,150 EMP
- 2019 - $1,140 EMP
- 2018 - $1,110 EMP
- 2017 - $1,150 EMP
- 2016 - $960 EMP, $675 PSH
- 2015 - $925 EMP
Meursault Les Tessons, Clos de Mon Plaisir
- 2016 - $450 PSH
- 2008 - $675
- 2005 - $790
- 2004 - $540
Meursault Les Luchets
- 2020 - $450 EMP
- 2006 - $530 EMP
Meursault Les Meix-Chavaux
- 2020 - $600 47
Coche-Dury
Summary: Jean-François Coche-Dury produces some of the most sought-after bottles of white Burgundy that routinely command stratospheric prices. Jean-François took over from his father in 1972 and is now passing the family vineyards along to his son Raphaël. Jean-François is adamant that the quality of his wines is set in the vineyard, where the immaculate vines are pruned to very low yields. There are no clones in the Coche-Dury vineyards; all vine-by-vine replanting is done by selection massale. While mostly famous for white wines, Coche-Dury also makes excellent, rare red wines.
Brief Description of Style / Vinification Techniques: Coche-Dury wines are known for their focus and power as well as strong oak signature. The whites are whole-cluster pressed and settled prior to fermentation in a large proportion of new oak for top wines; bâtonnage is typically employed, though the frequency changes according to vintage conditions. The whites also age in oak for 18-22 months prior to bottling without filtration. As for the red grapes, they are completely de-stemmed and spend roughly 10-14 days on the skins. Aging is in less new wood than the whites, and the reds are bottled after 14-16 months in barrel.
Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
- 2015 - $11,050 POH, $9,250 47, $12,000 EMP
- 2014 - $9,200 47
- 2013 - $4,750 PSH, $7,585 EMP
- 2000 - $7,100 EMP
Corton Grand Cru Rouge
- 2013 - $1,395 PSH, $6,300 POH, $3,200 47, $2,500 EMP
- 2019 - $3,850 POH (HospicesdeBeaune|CuvéeCharlotteDumay)
- 2018 - $3,850 POH (HospicesdeBeaune|CuvéeCharlotteDumay)
- 2018 - $4,250 POH (HospicesdeBeaune|CuvéeCharlotteDumay)
Meursault Genevrières Premier Cru
- 2020 - $3,675 WS
- 2019 - $4,079 WS
- 2018 - $2,858 WS
- 2017 - $3,214 WS
- 2016 0 $3,061 WS
Meursault Perrières Premier Cru
- 2016 - $3,775 WS
- 2014 - $4,751 WS
- 2013 - $3,795 WS
- 2012 - $4,817 WS
- 2011 - $3,984 WS
- 2010 - $5,385 WS
Meursault Caillerets Premier Cru
- 2020 - $2,562 WS
- 2019 - $2,460 WS
- 2018 - $2,181 WS
- 2017 - $2,421 WS
- 2016 - $2,057 WS
Meursault Les Rougeots
- 2020 - $1,807 WS
- 2019 - $1,950 WS
- 2018 - $1,707 WS
- 2017 - $1,931 WS
- 2016 - $1,950 WS
Volnay Premier Cru: blended from Caillerets and Clos de Chênes
- 2017 - $1,700 47
Pommard Epenots Premier Cru
- 2019 - $1,950 (Hospices de Beaune Cuvée Suzanne Chaudron) 47
- 2018 - $3,000 (Hospices de Beaune Cuvée Dom Goblet) 47
Pulingy-Montrachet Les Enseigneres
- 2014 - $2,800 47
- 1997 - $2,574 47
Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey
Summary: Pierre-Yves Colin is the oldest son of Saint-Aubin’s Marc Colin. In 2001, while working at the family domaine, Pierre-Yves began a négociant project with his wife, Caroline Morey. In 2005, he left Domaine Marc Colin to focus on this new business, and in 2006 he took his share of the family vines to found his own domaine in addition to his négociant work. With last names like Colin and Morey in this part of town, Pierre-Yves’s and Caroline’s list of local grower contacts is long, and they regularly produce an extensive lineup of grand and premier cru wines from Chassagne and Puligny-Montrachet. In their own vineyards, they are currently experimenting with organic viticulture, yields are controlled by severe green pruning, and dead vines are replaced by sélection massale. In a short period of time, Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey cemented itself as a star producer in Burgundy.
Brief Description of Style & Vinification Techniques: Pierre-Yves’s wines are powerful and clean. The whites are whole-cluster pressed, and the juice goes directly to barrel without settling. The wines ferment with indigenous yeast in 30% new oak—50% new for the Bâtard-Montrachet. Around 80% of the barrels are 350 liters (rather than the traditional 228-liter pièce) in order to minimize the impact of new oak on the wine. The cellar is kept cool during malolactic fermentation, which finishes eight to nine months after harvest. The wines spend 16-20 months there prior to bottling, and bâtonnage is not practiced. The wines are fined if needed, and bottled without filtration.
Montrachet Grand Cru
- 2012 - $7,200 47
Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
- 2019 - $925 47
- 2018 - $750 47
- 2017 - $780 EMP
- 2016 - $750 EMP
Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru
- 2020 - $3,300 EMP
Chassagne-Montrachet Les Caillerets Premier Cru
- 2020 - $400 WS
- 2019 - $391 WS
- 2018 - $414 WS
- 2016 - $300 WS
- 2015 - $339 WS
Chassagne-Montrachet Les Chenevottes Premier Cru
- 2020 - $345 WS
- 2019 - $304 WS
- 2018 - $291 WS
- 2017 - $272 WS
- 2016 - $299 WS
Saint-Aubin En Remilly Premier Cru
- 2020 - $345 EMP
Saint-Aubin La Chatenière Premier Cru
- 2020 - $190 WS
- 2019 - $189 WS
- 2018 - $180 WS
- 2017 - $190 WS
- 2016 - $159 WS
Chassagne-Montrachet Les Ancegnières
- 2020 - $177 WS
- 2019 - $355 WS
- 2018 - $245 WS
- 2017 - $268 WS
- 2016 - $247 WS
Meursault Les Charmes Premier Cru
- 2015 - $720 47
Meursault Perrieres Premier Cru
- 2013 - $875 EMP
Marquis d’Angerville
Summary: The Marquis d’Angerville was an important influence in the domaine-bottling movement in Burgundy. In the 1920s, Jacques d’Angerville was highly critical of the négociants’ widespread fraudulent blending in their cellars, and after threatening a lawsuit that left him without clients for his bulk wine, Jacques was forced to bottle, market and sell the wines himself.
Today, the flagship of the estate remains the monopole Clos des Ducs, which lies just north of the family’s manor house in Volnay. The estate is run by the current Marquis, Guillaume d’Angerville, who has maintained the exemplary quality of the wines while converting the vineyards to biodynamics in 2009.
Brief Description of Style & Vinification Techniques: Vinification is fairly traditional at d’Angerville: The red grapes are completely de-stemmed, and all grapes are cooled and fermented with indigenous yeast, with macerations lasting 15-21 days. The free-run and press wines are combined and racked after two days of settling into barrels. A maximum of 20% new oak is used. The wines are aged in barrel for 15-18 months and are only fined and filtered if absolutely necessary before bottling. While pale in color, the wines have a history of aging very well.
Volnay des Angles Premier Cru
- 2015 - $330 EMP
- 2014 - $275 EMP
- 2013 - $285 EMP
Volnay Clos des Ducs Premier Cru
- 2020 - $825 EMP, $795 47
- 2019 - $820 EMP, $785 47
- 2017 - $690 EMP, $685 47
- 2016 - $605 EMP
- 2015 - $575 EMP, $575 47
- 2014 - $550 EMP
- 2011 - $450 EMP
- 2005 - $985 EMP
- 1990 - $2,530 EMP
- 1988 - $2,780 EMP
Volnay Fremiets Premier Cru
- 2020 - $385 EMP
- 2019 - $380 EMP
- 2017 - $370 EMP
- 2012 - $421 47
- 2011 - $265 EMP
Volnay Champans Premier Cru
- 2020 - $480 EMP
- 2019 - $475 EMP
- 2017 - $470 EMP
- 2016 - $385 EMP
- 2015 - $310 EMP
- 2014 - $320 EMP
- 2012 - $345 EMP
- 2011 - $320 EMP
Volnay Caillerets Premier Cru
- 2020 - $470 EMP
- 2019 - $475 EMP
- 2017 - $470 EMP, $450 47
- 2015 - $462 47
- 2011 - $345 EMP
Volnay Taillepieds Premier Cru
- 2020 - $470 EMP
- 2019 - $475 EMP
- 2012 - $365 EMP
- 2011 - $315 EMP
Volnay Premier Cru: blended from small holdings in Mitans, Pitures and (prior to 2008) Les Angles
- 2020 - $275 EMP
- 2019 - $285 EMP
Volnay Santenots Premier Cru
- 2020 - $390 EMP
- 2019 - $410 EMP
- 2018 - $405 EMP
- 2017 - $395 47
- 2015 - $388 47
- 2013 - $345 EMP
- 2012 - $345 EMP
- 2011 - $360 EMP
Domaine Ramonet
Summary: Pierre Ramonet was a legendary figure in Chassagne-Montrachet, known as Père Ramonet locally. His domaine, which began bottling its own wines in the 1930s is now run by his two grandsons, Noël and Jean-Claude, and they are are strong believers in the value of old vines: All wines from vineyards younger than 12 years are declassified by one tier. Dead or missing vines are replanted only until the vineyard reaches 30 years of age; after that, the parcel is left intact until it must be replanted in entirety. Noël and Jean-Claude are both equally involved in the vineyard, the cellar and the business, and they are doing an admirable job of upholding their grandfather’s lofty standards.
Brief Description of Style & Vinification Techniques: Ramonet wines are powerful and concentrated, largely due to the old vineyards from which they hail. The whites begin fermentation in stainless steel and are transferred to barrel to finish. The amount of new oak used is 10% for the village-level wines, 25-30% for the premier crus and 50-75% for the grand crus. There is very little bâtonnage practiced during barrel-aging, and the whites are bottled after 12-18 months. The red grapes are completely de-stemmed and briefly cold-soaked before fermentation. Pigeage and remontage are kept to a minimum to limit the tannins, and the reds are aged in 30-40% new oak for 12-15 months prior to bottling.
Montrachet Grand Cru
- 2015 - $3,300 EMP
- 2011 - $12,820 FL
- 2010 - $14,725 FL
- 2007 - $13,270 FL
Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru: Made from must purchased from Domaine Chartron
- 2018 - $2,100 PSH
- 2016 - $1,300 PSH
- 2010 - $5,230 FL
- 2009 - $5,230 FL
Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
- 2018 - $1,500 PSH
- 2016 - $1,200 PSH, $1,080 POH
- 2017 - $1,355 POH
- 2011 - $3,875 FL
- 2010 - $4,870 FL
Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
- 2018 - $1,325 PSH
- 2015 - $845 PSH, $845 PSH
- 2014 - $750 PSH
- 2011 - $3,835 FL
- 2010 - $4,715 FL
Puligny-Montrachet Champs Canet Premier Cru
- 2018 - $400 PSH
- 2015 - $345 PSH
Chassagne-Montrachet Les Caillerets Premier Cru
- 2014 - $285 PSH
Chassagne-Montrachet Les Ruchottes Premier Cru
- 2018 - $585 POH
- 2017 - $575 POH
- 2016 - $400 PSH
- 2015 - $405 PSH
Chassagne-Montrachet Les Vergers Premier Cru
- 2018 - $350 PSH
- 2012 - $300 PSH
Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot Premier Cru (white and red)
Domaine des Comtes Lafon
Summary: The origins of the Comtes Lafon estate lie in the marriage of Jules Lafon into a family of Meursault wine growers and négociants in 1894. Jules was a lawyer and eventually the mayor of Meursault, but he also took an active interest in the family wine business, selling off lesser vineyards to purchase land in some of Meursault’s top premier crus. He also re-established the old tradition of celebrating the end of harvest with a grand lunch, known as La Paulée.
Jules’s great-grandson, Dominique Lafon, now runs the estate. By 1993, Dominique had ended all of the métayage agreements that had kept the family vineyards in sharecropping arrangements, and he began converting to organic farming as well as experimenting with biodynamics. He completed full biodynamic conversion of the family vineyards in 1998.
The domaine possesses an enviable array of top premier cru vineyard sites in Meursault as well as a small holding in Montrachet. In 2011, Dominique teamed up with Jean-Marc Roulot and American investors to purchase Domaine Manuel, which added vineyards in Meursault Bouchères and Porusots to the Lafon domaine. Separately, Dominique produces wine in the Mâconnais under his Héritiers du Comte Lafon label (from land purchased in 1999), and in 2008 he also began producing wines from the Côte d’Or under his own name (not affiliated with the family properties).
Brief Description of Style / Vinification Techniques: Comte Lafon whites, in particular, are powerful and long-lived (though the reds should not be underestimated). The white grapes are sorted in the vineyard and in the winery, then whole-cluster pressed. After settling overnight, the juice is racked to barrels for fermentation and aging. Village wines see no new oak, premiers crus see 20-50% new, and the Montrachet goes into 100% new oak. Bâtonnage is practiced much less frequently than in the past, and decisions are made on a barrel-by-barrel basis. After malolactic fermentation, the wines are racked and blended, then moved to cooler cellars for the final year of aging—total aging time in wood is 18-22 months. The whites are fined if needed but bottled unfiltered.
The red grapes are completely de-stemmed prior to vinification in open-top vats with native yeasts. Pigeage takes place once or twice a day, and the wines spend 15-20 days on the skins. The red wines are aged in 20-35% new oak for 16-20 months and are bottled without fining or filtration.
Montrachet Grand Cru
- 2019 - $5,000 EMP
- 2015 - $4,200 PSH
- 2013 - $3,000 PSH
Meursault Charmes Premier Cru
- 2018 - $575 PSH
- 2011 - $490 PSH
Meursault Perrières Premier Cru
- 2020 - $750 EMP
- 2019 - $675 PSH
- 2017 - $950 EMP
- 2015 - $580 PSH
Meursault Gouttes d’Or Premier Cru
- 2020 - $750 EMP
- 2019 - $725 EMP
Meursault Genevrières Premier Cru
Meursault Clos de la Barre: from the vines planted in 1999 and earlier
- 2019 - $410 47
- 2018 - $394 47
Volnay Santenots du Milieu Premier Cru: from the vines planted in 1978 and earlier - Rouge
- 2020 - $450 EMP
- 2019 - $510 47
- 2016 - $425 47
- 2015 - $450 47
- 2014 - $410 47
- 2013 - $435 47
- 2012 - $415 47
- 2011 - $410 47
- 1996 - $625 47
- 1995 - $570 47
Volnay Clos de Chenes Premier Cru
- 2019 - $450 PSH
- 2015 - $450 PSH
Volnay Champians
- 2017 - $510 POH
- 2014 - $395 POH
- 2013 - $300 PSH
- 2011 - $375 PSH
Meursault Porusots Premier Cru
- 2015 - $800 PSH
- 2012 - $595 PSH
Etienne Sauzet
Summary: The recent history of the Etienne Sauzet domaine demonstrates the difficulty of keeping a domaine intact in Burgundy’s modern era. Etienne Sauzet originally founded the domaine in the 1920s, and by the 1950s he had expanded it to 7.5 hectares; he also commenced bottling under his own name. In 1989, Etienne’s daughter divided the vineyards between her three children, Jean-Marc Boillot, Henri Boillot, and Jeanine Boudot—though she did not stipulate that the domaine had to remain intact. Jean-Marc took his vines and launched his own label in 1991. Henri leased his share back to the domaine while focusing his own attention on the Boillot domaine and négociant business. And finally, Jeanine and her husband, Gérard Boudot, continued to run the Etienne Sauzet domaine. In addition, they started a négociant business to replace the loss of Jean-Marc’s third of the domaine. For this reason, the wines are always labeled “Etienne Sauzet,” regardless of whether the fruit is purchased or from the estate. Today, Gérard and Jeanine’s daughter and son-in-law, Emilie and Benoît Riffault, manage the domaine.
Brief Description of Style & Vinification Techniques: Domaine Etienne Sauzet aims for concentrated grapes via proper pruning and balanced vines; a green harvest is generally avoided. The grapes are picked at physiological maturity, taking great pains to avoid over-ripeness and botrytis. After sorting in the vineyard and winery, the grapes are whole-cluster pressed, and the juice is settled overnight. All of the wines except for the Bourgogne Blanc are vinified in oak with native yeasts. The amount of new oak is 20% for the village-level wines, 30% for the premiers crus and 40% for the grands crus. The wines are aged in barrel for 12 months before being racked to stainless steel, where they settle for six months prior to bottling. The wines are fined and filtered prior to bottling.
Montrachet Grand Cru: made from wine purchased from Baron Thénard
- 2017 - $2,075 PSH
- 2016 - $3,500 FL, $2,045 POH
- 2015 - $1,425 PSH
- 2012- $1,700 PSH
Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru: made from purchased grapes
- 2017 - $1,500 PSH
- 2015 - $1,225 POH
- 2014 - $1,850 EMP
- 2012 - $1,200 PSH
Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
- 2016 - $950 POH
- 2014 - $1,325 EMP
- 2009 - $545 PSG
Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
- 2019 - $1,365 PSH
- 2016 - $950 PSH
- 2014 - $1,325 EMP
Puligny-Montrachet Champ-Canet Premier Cru
- 2020 - $450 47
Puligny-Montrachet Champ-Gain Premier Cru
- 2019 - $285 47
- 2012 - $245 PSH
Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes Premier Cru
- 2018 - $515 47
- 2017 - $415 PSH
- 2016 - $455 POH
- 2012 - $395 PSH
Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières Premier Cru
- 2017 - $295 PSH
- 2016 - $275 PSH
Puligny-Montrachet Les Perrières Premier Cru
Puligny-Montrachet Les Referts Premier Cru
- 2020 - $290 PSH
Pulingy-Montrachet Clos de la Truffiere Premier Cru
- 2016 - $300 PSH
Domaine d’Auvenay & Domaine Leroy
Summary: Leroy is one of Burgundy’s storied names, today running essentially three family enterprises: Maison Leroy, Domaine Leroy and Domaine d’Auvenay.
Maison Leroy is a négociant firm (founded in 1868) that’s currently run by the legendary Lalou Bize-Leroy. Maison Leroy possesses a renowned collection of older Burgundies (dating back to 1919) that were purchased from top domaines and have aged chez Leroy for later release.
In 1988, Lalou sold one-third of Maison Leroy to her Japanese importer, Takashimaya, in order to generate capital for the purchase of Domaine Charles Noëllat and the founding of Domaine Leroy. In 1989, Lalou added the holdings of Domaine Philippe Remy to Domaine Leroy, and in 1990 she purchased vineyards in Chambolle-Musigny that brought the total size of Domaine Leroy to its current 22 hectares.
Domaine d’Auvenay was the personal estate of Lalou’s father, Henri, and is now wholly owned by Lalou since the purchase of her sister’s share.
All of the vineyards of Domaine d’Auvenay and Domaine Leroy are farmed biodynamically and picked at extremely low yields (this frequently requires special permission to pick before the ban des vendanges, as Lalou’s extremely small crops ripen earlier on her healthy vines).
The wines from Lalou’s three arms of business can be easily distinguished by their packaging. All Leroy wines have essentially the same label yet different capsules: Maison Leroy wines boast a white capsule, while Domaine Leroy whites have a gold capsule/wax, and the reds have a red capsule/wax. Domaine d’Auvenay wines have a completely different label that reads “Lalou Bize-Leroy” at the bottom.
The Domaine Leroy and Domaine d’Auvenay wines are among the most expensive in Burgundy, a factor of both their rarity and quality.
Brief Description of Style / Vinification Techniques: All of the wines of Domaine d’Auvenay and Domaine Leroy show great concentration and depth of color due to the extremely low yields pursued by Lalou Bize-Leroy. The grapes are harvested in small baskets to keep the fruit intact, and the reds are fermented without de-stemming in wooden vats. The reds are fermented on the skins and stems for around 21 days with two or three pigeages daily. Both whites and reds are aged in 100% new oak for 14-18 months prior to bottling without fining or filtration.
Top Wines Produced - Domaine d’Auvenay:
Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru
- 2013 - $33,788 WS
- 2011 - $31,953 WS
- 2009 - $31,953 WS
- 2007 - $31,740 WS
- 2006 - $29,141 WS
Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
- 2006 - $17,958 WS
- 2005 - $22,084 WS
- 2004 - $23,553 WS
- 2002 - $14,570 WS
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru
- 2014 - $14,504 WS
- 2013 - $11,840 WS
- 2011 - $11,084 WS
- 2009 - $18,616 WS
- 2008 - $13,420 WS
Meursault Gouttes d’Or Premier Cru
- 2011 - $15,545 WS
- 2009 - $10,864 WS
- 2007 - $22,510 WS
- 2006 - $9,004 WS
- 2005 - $10,455 WS
Puligny-Montrachet Folatières Premier Cru
- 2014 - $11,398 WS
- 2011 - $9,246 WS
- 2009 - $15,439 WS
- 2007 - $14,959 WS
- 2006 - $10,567 WS
Meursault Narvaux
- 2014 - $13,810 WS
- 2013 - $10,701 WS
- 2011 - $10,612 WS
- 2009 - $8,729 WS
- 2008 - $12,787 WS
Top Wines Produced - Domaine Leroy:
Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
- 2015 - $62,999 WS
- 2014 - $13,972 WS
- 2011 - $13,173 WS
- 2009 - $14,506 WS
- 2008 - $13,883 WS
Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru
- 2015 - $13,968 WS
- 2014 - $11,893 WS
- 2013 - $7,186 WS
- 2011 - $9,665 WS
- 2009 - $11,221 WS
Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru
- 1996 - $12,095 FL
Chambertin Grand Cru
- 2014 - $27,339 WS
- 2013 - $18,902 WS
- 2011 - $19,960 WS
- 2009 - $25,574 WS
- 2008 - $15,306 WS
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru
- 2015 - $11,708 WS
- 2014 - $9,709 WS
- 2013 - $7,175 WS
- 2011 - $6,880 WS
- 1996 - $3,200 PSH
- 1993 - $12,000 EMP
Musigny Grand Cru
- 2014 - $64,547 WS
- 2013 - $67,395 WS
- 2012 - $74,799 WS
- 2011 - $55,946 WS
- 2009 - $80,732 WS
Richebourg Grand Cru
- 2016 - $6,447 WS
- 2015 - $31,010 WS
- 2014 - $15,009 WS
- 2013 - $13,474 WS
- 2011 - $11,014 WS
Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru
- 2015 - $15,571 WS
- 2014 - $14,932 WS
- 2013 - $11,241 WS
- 2011 - $12,265 WS
- 2009 - $12,501 WS
- 1991 - $10,500 FL
Vosne-Romanée Aux Beaux Monts Premier Cru
- 2017 - $7,756 WS
- 2015 - $9,576 WS
- 2014 - $8,405 WS
- 2013 - $6,993 WS
- 2012 - $6,621 WS
- 1990 - $9, 316 EMP