French Wine

Fresh, expressive and beautifully traditional Beaujolais. Jean-Paul Brun's L'Ancien Vieilles Vignes 2024 is made from 100% Gamay grown on old vines in the southern Beaujolais, where clay, limestone and granite soils help give the wine both brightness and mineral character.

The nose is immediately inviting, with aromas of black cherry, raspberry and ripe strawberry joined by subtle notes of spice, earth and licorice. On the palate, the wine is juicy and vibrant, with silky tannins, lively acidity and a fresh, elegant finish. It offers all the charm and drinkability Beaujolais is famous for, while the old vines bring additional depth and concentration.

Jean-Paul Brun is known for making Beaujolais in a more traditional style. Rather than emphasizing the overtly fruity character associated with industrial yeasts, Brun favors indigenous yeasts and classic winemaking methods to preserve the natural expression of Gamay and the vineyard. The result is a wine that feels pure, energetic and remarkably food-friendly. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

About Domaine des Terres Dorées

Jean-Paul Brun is based in Charnay, in the southern Beaujolais area known as the Terres Dorées, or "Golden Stones." His family estate has become celebrated for delicate, fruit-driven wines that favor traditional winemaking and a clear sense of place. L'Ancien is produced from mature Gamay vines, typically around 40 to 60 years old. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Tasting Notes

• Grape: 100% Gamay
• Region: Beaujolais, France
• Vines: Old vines, approximately 40–60 years old
• Farming: Organic
• Style: Fresh, juicy, silky and elegant
• Flavors: Black cherry, raspberry, strawberry, spice, earth and licorice

Food Pairing

Exceptionally versatile at the table. Pair it with charcuterie, roast chicken, pork, burgers, grilled meats, salmon, mushrooms or soft and semi-firm cheeses. For an especially refreshing expression, serve it slightly chilled.

A remarkable limited-edition Champagne created for a historic celebration, the Billecart-Salmon 250th Anniversary Cuvée Extra Brut 2018 commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. Created exclusively for the American market, this special cuvée also highlights the longstanding relationship between the United States and Billecart-Salmon, one of Champagne's most respected family-owned houses.

For this exceptional release, Billecart-Salmon selected the outstanding 2018 vintage, a year of impressive ripeness, concentration and freshness. The Champagne is composed of 65% Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims and 35% Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs, sourced from prestigious Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards.

Only a small portion — approximately 3% — was vinified in oak, with the remainder in stainless steel to preserve freshness, purity and precision. The Champagne then spent an impressive 63 months aging on the lees, developing complexity and texture while retaining the finely etched character that defines the Billecart-Salmon style. A restrained Extra Brut dosage of 4.9 g/L emphasizes the wine's mineral structure and remarkable purity.

In the glass, it displays a luminous pale-gold color with a fine, energetic stream of bubbles. The bouquet is sophisticated and expressive, revealing nectarine, mirabelle plum and blueberry, layered with delicate white and violet flowers and subtle chalky minerality. Notes of biscuit and brioche emerge as the wine opens, adding further depth and complexity.

The palate begins with a beautifully creamy texture before developing remarkable energy and precision. Poached pear, white flowers and brioche are framed by an intensely chalky mineral backbone. Notes of almond, peach and citrus add dimension, while the Chardonnay brings finesse and structure and the Pinot Noir contributes depth and power.

The finish is exceptionally persistent — dry, mineral and finely sculpted, with impressive freshness balancing the richness of the vintage. Powerful without heaviness, this is a serious, sophisticated Champagne that combines the generosity of 2018 with Billecart-Salmon's signature elegance and restraint.

Both a collector's bottling and an exceptional Champagne for the table, the 250th Anniversary Cuvée is particularly suited to celebratory occasions and sophisticated cuisine.

Blend

65% Pinot Noir · 35% Chardonnay

Tasting Notes

Color: Luminous pale gold with fine, lively bubbles
Aromas: Nectarine, mirabelle plum, blueberry, white flowers, violets, biscuit and chalk
Palate: Creamy and energetic with brioche, poached pear, peach, almond and pronounced mineral character
Finish: Long, precise and chalk-driven with exceptional freshness

Food Pairings

Grilled lobster · Seared scallops · Tuna · Caviar · Foie gras · Pata Negra ham · Fine seafood dishes

Winemaking

Vintage: 2018
Vineyards: Grand Cru and Premier Cru sites
Origins: Montagne de Reims & Côte des Blancs
Oak Vinification: Approximately 3%
Lees Aging: 63 months
Dosage: 4.9 g/L — Extra Brut
Bottle Size: 750ml

A rare and highly distinctive release, Billecart-Salmon 250th Anniversary Cuvée Extra Brut 2018 combines historic significance with the precision, finesse and elegance that have made Billecart-Salmon one of Champagne's great houses.

Not Available for Immediate Delivery. Please allow 3-5 business days for fulfillment.

Powerful · Mineral · Structured · Saline · Age-Worthy

A profound Grand Cru Chablis with remarkable concentration, old-vine depth and a long, mineral finish.

Domaine William Fèvre’s Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 2022 is a serious and commanding expression of one of the most celebrated vineyards in Chablis. Les Clos is renowned for producing wines of exceptional structure, power and longevity, and William Fèvre’s 2022 captures that character with impressive purity and depth.

The domaine owns approximately 4.1 hectares within Les Clos, with its parcels situated toward the top of the hill. A significant portion of the vines are remarkably old, with roughly half planted by William Fèvre’s father in the 1940s and 1950s. These mature vines contribute extraordinary concentration, complexity and mineral intensity to the finished wine. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

The 2022 vintage opens gradually in the glass, revealing aromas of ripe citrus rind, crisp orchard fruit and delicate white flowers, framed by a subtle touch of youthful reduction. The bouquet is restrained at first, but there is an unmistakable sense of purity and depth beneath the surface.

On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, dense and satiny, with layers of white fruit, lemon, green apple and mineral character. Vibrant acidity provides energy and lift, while a pronounced chalky and saline quality gives the wine remarkable definition.

There is tremendous concentration here, but also finesse. The wine carries both power and precision, building across the palate toward a long, stony finish marked by citrus, white peach and persistent salty minerality.

Among William Fèvre’s Grand Cru bottlings, Les Clos is one of the most structured and substantial. It is a wine built for the cellar, with the depth, acidity and mineral backbone to develop additional complexity over many years.

Food Pairing

Pair with lobster, langoustines, scallops, Dover sole, turbot and other rich seafood, as well as roast poultry, veal and refined dishes prepared with beurre blanc or delicate cream sauces.

Its combination of richness, acidity and mineral intensity also makes it an excellent partner for mature cheeses and more elaborate seafood preparations.

Serve lightly chilled to allow the wine’s texture, old-vine concentration and mineral complexity to fully emerge.

Professional Ratings

98 Jasper Morris: Mostly from old vines, a good half planted between 1948 and 1952. Translucent lemon and lime colour. The bouquet is not ready to unfurl yet there is a sense of sublime purity about the nose. A wine in perfect harmony on its wide bench of white fruit. Just a little touch of spice behind, good acidity. Sign up for this! Barrel Sample: 95-98

96 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: The 2022 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos is a serious, structured wine, unwinding in the glass with aromas of ripe, waxy citrus rind, crisp orchard fruit and white flowers, framed by a deft touch of youthful reduction. Full-bodied, dense and satiny, it's layered, concentrated and multidimensional, with the most structure and substance of any wine in the range, but also the greatest need for patience to realize all its considerable potential. Rating:-96+

95 Decanter: Small yield, very concentrated, with masses of density on the palate. Plenty of drive and energy but has finesse to balance out the power. White peach fruit characters, vibrant acidity and a pronounced mineral, salty finish. Very long future ahead. Fèvre owns 4.1ha of the 25ha total within Les Clos. Its plots situated on the top of the hill, with 50% of the vines planted by William Fèvre's father in the 1940s and 1950s.

93 Vinous: The 2022 Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru has a surprisingly primal bouquet with gooseberry, melon, fruits de mer and citrus peel, with more oyster shell scents developing as it opens, though never quite achieving the flair of the Valmur. The palate is well-balanced, steely and strict, with fine intensity and a saline finish. But it doesn't quite have the precision of Fevre's best cuvées at the moment. Barrel Sample: 91-93

92 Wine Spectator: Greengage, apple, lemon and mineral flavors are aligned with a bright structure and chalky texture in this lively white. Dynamic and balanced, with a lingering aftertaste of stone and stone fruit.

The Style

Powerful, concentrated and deeply mineral — a monumental Grand Cru Chablis with remarkable old-vine depth, vibrant acidity and exceptional aging potential.

Not Available for Immediate Delivery. Please allow 3-5 business days for fulfillment.

Elegant · Mineral · Floral · Saline · Refined

A beautifully refined Grand Cru Chablis, combining crystalline minerality, citrus purity and remarkable depth with a long, saline finish.

Domaine William Fèvre’s Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses 2023 is one of the estate’s most elegant and sophisticated expressions of Grand Cru Chablis. Les Preuses is celebrated for producing wines of exceptional finesse—combining the concentration expected from a Grand Cru with remarkable freshness, floral complexity and an unmistakable mineral character.

William Fèvre owns approximately 2.5 hectares in Les Preuses, divided between two distinct parcels. One lies on the flatter, south-facing portion of the vineyard, while the second is planted on deeper soils. Together they create a wine that beautifully balances richness and texture with the tension, precision and minerality for which the climat is renowned.

The vineyard’s clay-rich soils over limestone help retain moisture while maintaining excellent drainage, contributing both concentration and freshness. William Fèvre’s restrained approach in the cellar, including careful use of older French oak, keeps the vineyard firmly at the center of the wine.

The 2023 Les Preuses opens with a beautifully expressive bouquet of lemon zest, citrus oil and ripe orchard fruit, joined by white flowers, subtle orange peel and delicate smoky notes. With air, distinctly Chablisienne nuances of oyster shell, flint, chalk and sea spray emerge.

On the palate, the wine is both round and beautifully precise. There is impressive depth and concentration, yet the texture remains graceful and finely etched. Bright citrus and white fruit are carried by vibrant acidity, while layers of crushed stone, chalk and marine minerality provide remarkable tension.

The finish is exceptionally persistent, stony and saline, leaving an impression of purity and effortless elegance. Compared with the broader power of Bougros, Les Preuses tends toward finesse, refinement and mineral transparency, making it one of the most graceful Grand Cru expressions in the William Fèvre portfolio.

This is a Grand Cru that can be enjoyed for its youthful energy and purity, but its structure, acidity and concentration also promise excellent aging potential.

Food Pairing

An exceptional companion to oysters, lobster, scallops, langoustines and crab, as well as grilled or roasted fish such as turbot, halibut and Dover sole.

Its combination of texture, acidity and minerality also makes it superb with roast poultry, veal, creamy seafood dishes, delicate mushroom preparations and refined butter-based sauces.

Serve lightly chilled rather than extremely cold to allow its floral aromas, texture and complex mineral character to fully develop.

Professional Ratings

96 Jasper Morris: A stunning nose, a little wrapping of seaweed around the stones. Perfectly balanced, then just when you are enjoying the subtlety, you sense the huge block of central white fruit as well. Only a little bit spicy, in fact even quite juicy at the finish. A long-term keeper, potentially a magnificent Preuses. The texture of a silk cravat suggests Didier Seguier. Barrel Sample: 94-96

95 James Suckling: Incisive minerality and flintiness in depth, with seashells and lemon zest. Elegant yet round and punchy, with a very stony, zesty finish. Long and saline.

95 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: Sourced from an east-facing slope that yields one of the racier and more ethereal wines in the range, the 2023 Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses opens with aromas of oyster liquor, orange peel, white flowers and lemon oil. Medium- to full-bodied, taut and tensile, it is nakedly chalky, incisive and searingly saline. The site is so steep that special cable equipment is employed for its cultivation.

93 Wine Spectator: This is rich and interwoven with peach, yellow plum, earth, stone and oyster shell aromas and flavors. Tangy and mouthwatering, with terrific harmony and a long, citrus- and mineral-tinged aftertaste.

94 Points — Burghound
An expressive and layered Grand Cru showing citrus, floral and marine nuances with impressive density, intensity and a long, serious finish.

The Style

Elegant, crystalline and intensely mineral — a sophisticated Grand Cru Chablis where depth and richness meet extraordinary finesse, freshness and saline precision.

William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses 2023

Not Available for Immediate Delivery. Please allow 3-5 business days for fulfillment.

Powerful · Mineral · Chalky · Saline · Elegant

Grand Cru Chablis of remarkable depth, combining ripe fruit, crushed-stone minerality and a long, saline finish.

Domaine William Fèvre’s Chablis Grand Cru Bougros 2023 is a superb expression of one of Chablis’ seven celebrated Grand Cru climats. Located at the western end of the Grand Cru slope, Bougros is traditionally known for producing wines of greater breadth, richness and power while retaining the vibrant acidity and mineral character that distinguish the finest Chablis.

Produced entirely from Chardonnay, the 2023 Bougros combines impressive concentration with remarkable freshness. The wine opens with aromas of ripe pear, peach and apple alongside citrus peel, white flowers and subtle notes of beeswax. As it develops, layers of chalk, crushed stone and marine-inflected minerality emerge.

The palate is broad and beautifully textured, with generous fruit balanced by bright, energetic acidity. There is richness here, but also precision: citrus, orchard fruit and mineral flavors build through the palate toward a persistent, dry and distinctly saline finish. Despite its concentration, the wine remains elegant and beautifully composed.

William Fèvre’s Bougros is produced from mature vines, many approximately 60 to 70 years old, growing in the deep soils of this historic Grand Cru. The maturity of the vines contributes depth and concentration while the domaine’s restrained approach in the cellar allows the character of the vineyard to remain at the forefront.

The 2023 vintage is particularly compelling, offering the generous texture associated with Bougros alongside excellent tension and freshness. It is already expressive with appropriate aeration, but its structure and mineral backbone make it an excellent candidate for extended cellaring.

Food Pairing

An exceptional partner for oysters, lobster, langoustines, scallops and other shellfish, as well as grilled or roasted fish. Its combination of richness and acidity also works beautifully with poultry, veal and white meats, particularly dishes finished with butter or delicate cream sauces.

Professional Ratings

95 James Suckling: Imagine your tongue licking wet stones with crushed seashells. Dense and chalky at the same time, with broad, medium- to full-bodied character and a long, salty finish. Elegant and pithy. Drink or hold.

93 Jasper Morris: Mid lemon yellow. The bouquet is surprisingly reticent, but suggests body to follow. The 2023 Bougros has retained a fresh white fruit on the palate, plenty of energy behind, nicely balanced because Bougros can be clumsy, with fine length. Barrel sample: 91-93

93 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: Sourced from 60- to 70-year-old vines rooted in deep soils and invariably among the richer, more muscular wines in the range, the 2023 Chablis Grand Cru Bougros delivers aromas of peach, orange oil, beeswax, honeysuckle and pear. Medium- to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it possesses a rich core of fruit underpinned by ripe yet lively acidity. It is the fleshier and most demonstrative wine in the lineup.

93 Vinous: The 2023 Chablis Bougros Grand Cru comes from 4 hectares of vines. It has a complex bouquet with lemon thyme, crushed rocks and lime aromas, well-defined and focused. The palate is very composed and steely, a subtle reductive element here, fine weight with an elegant finish. Not the most powerful of the domaine's Grand Cru, but it has panache.  Barrel Sample: 91-93

The Style

Rich yet precise, powerful yet mineral — a Grand Cru Chablis with impressive depth, brilliant freshness and a lingering saline finish.

There's a precision to William Fèvre's Beauroy that announces itself immediately — white peach, citrus confit, subtle florals and that unmistakable Chablis minerality cutting through every sip. This is Premier Cru from the Troësmes sector of the left bank, where approximately 1.1 hectares of 60-year-old vines dig into clay-limestone soils that give the wine its characteristic tension and depth. The 2024 vintage is an unusually concentrated expression: rich and powerful on the palate, yet precise and fresh in the way only Fèvre's vineyard-focused approach achieves. The finish is bright, persistent, and beautifully defined — the kind that stays with you long after the glass is empty.

• Grape: Chardonnay
• Region: Chablis Premier Cru, Burgundy, France
• Climat: Beauroy (Troësmes sector)
• Vintage: 2024
• Format: 750ml
• Vines: ~60 years old, 1.1 hectares

Food Pairing

Oysters, scallops, lobster, grilled fish, roast poultry, veal, and aged goat cheese. Serve lightly chilled.

Professional Ratings - Vintage 2024

93 pts — Vinous: "Rich, dense and powerful… excellent concentration before concluding in a sappy, bright and firm finale. Unusually good example of the climat."

92 pts — Jasper Morris: "Fuller than many from this part of Chablis, without losing elegance. A citrus touch refreshes the finish which is persistent. Drink from 2027–2031."

90–93 pts — Burghound: "Outstanding! White peach and citrus, excellent concentration and a bright, firm finish."

Pure, mineral and beautifully precise Premier Cru Chardonnay from Puligny-Montrachet.

Lucien Le Moine's 2023 Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru La Garenne is a refined and highly expressive white Burgundy, combining the crystalline minerality and tension associated with Puligny-Montrachet with the house's signature depth and texture.

La Garenne is one of Puligny-Montrachet's classified Premier Cru climats in the Côte de Beaune. The vineyard produces Chardonnay of notable freshness, precision and mineral definition, making it an especially compelling site for lovers of structured, age-worthy white Burgundy.

The 2023 vintage opens with cool, lifted aromas of Granny Smith apple, lemon rind, crushed fennel and delicate floral notes. The palate is rich and caressing without losing focus, showing generous Chardonnay fruit framed by vivid acidity and pronounced minerality. Citrus notes become increasingly prominent toward the finish, which is bone-dry, firm, beautifully balanced and impressively persistent.

This combination of richness and tension is particularly characteristic of fine Puligny-Montrachet: the wine has enough breadth and texture to feel luxurious, yet its mineral backbone keeps the palate focused, energetic and precise. The 2023 La Garenne is already compelling, but its structure suggests excellent potential for further development in bottle.

Lucien Le Moine is the tiny Beaune-based micro-négociant founded by Mounir Saouma and Rotem Brakin in 1999. The house specializes in Premier and Grand Cru Burgundy, generally producing only one to three barrels of each individual Cru.

The wines are selected very early, immediately after pressing, and raised entirely by Lucien Le Moine through bottling. Both whites and reds are aged on 100% of their lees, with gentle bâtonnage when appropriate and no racking during élevage. The wines are bottled by gravity and are neither fined nor filtered, preserving their texture, complexity and individual vineyard character.

In La Garenne, this long lees aging adds richness and depth while allowing the vineyard's naturally mineral, citrus-driven personality to remain clearly defined. The result is an elegant, concentrated and beautifully balanced Premier Cru white Burgundy.

Professional Review

BURGHOUND 93 POINTS :  Cool, airy and pure aromas include those of Granny Smith apple, lemon rind, crushed fennel and a floral top note. The rich, generously proportioned and caressing medium weight flavors also exude evident minerality on the overtly citrusy bone-dry finish that exhibits impressive persistence on the well-balanced and firm finale. Fine quality here and worth checking out. 91-93

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Burgundy, France
Subregion: Côte de Beaune
Appellation: Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru
Vineyard: La Garenne
Vintage: 2023
Size: 750ml

Food Pairing: Excellent with lobster, scallops, oysters, roasted or grilled fish, poultry in a light cream sauce, veal, mushroom dishes and risotto. It also pairs beautifully with Comté, Gruyère and other firm, nutty cheeses.

Serving: Serve lightly chilled rather than ice cold to allow the wine's aromatics, texture and minerality to emerge. Lucien Le Moine recommends decanting its wines, including the whites, so that naturally retained CO2 from the long élevage can dissipate and the wine can fully open.

Taut, mineral and beautifully layered Premier Cru Chardonnay from one of Meursault's most distinctive high-slope sites.

Lucien Le Moine's 2023 Meursault Premier Cru Blagny Blanc is a refined expression of Chardonnay from the elevated vineyards of Blagny, situated above the classic Meursault slopes near the border with Puligny-Montrachet. White wines from this sector are entitled to the Meursault appellation, and the site's higher elevation and limestone-rich soils are known for giving the wines a particularly fresh, structured and mineral character.

The 2023 opens with aromas of ripe pear, white peach and citrus blossom, joined by notes of hazelnut, brioche and subtle flint. The palate is generous yet focused, balancing Meursault's characteristic richness with bright acidity and a firm mineral core. Orchard fruit and citrus unfold across a creamy, finely textured palate, while saline and chalky notes bring precision and lift to the long, persistent finish.

Blagny offers a compelling contrast within Meursault. Its elevated position lends the wine additional freshness and tension, resulting in a style that combines the breadth and texture associated with Meursault with a more linear, mineral-driven personality reminiscent of neighboring Puligny-Montrachet.

Lucien Le Moine is the tiny Beaune-based micro-négociant founded by Mounir Saouma and Rotem Brakin in 1999. The house works exclusively with selected Premier and Grand Cru wines from the Côte d'Or, typically producing only one to three barrels of each individual Cru.

The wines are selected very early and raised entirely by Lucien Le Moine from the beginning of their élevage. Both whites and reds are aged on 100% of their lees, with no racking during maturation. The wines are bottled by gravity and are neither fined nor filtered, an unusually patient approach designed to preserve texture, complexity and the individual character of each vineyard.

In the 2023 Meursault Premier Cru Blagny, this extended lees aging brings depth and supple texture without obscuring the site's naturally cool, stony personality. The result is a distinctive white Burgundy with concentration, freshness and excellent potential for further development in bottle.

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Burgundy, France
Subregion: Côte de Beaune
Appellation: Meursault Premier Cru
Vineyard: Blagny
Vintage: 2023
Size: 750ml

Food Pairing: Excellent with lobster, scallops, roasted fish, poultry in cream sauce, veal, mushroom dishes and risotto. Its combination of richness and mineral freshness also pairs beautifully with Comté, Gruyère and other firm, nutty cheeses.

Serving: Serve lightly chilled rather than very cold to allow the wine's texture and aromatics to fully emerge. Lucien Le Moine recommends decanting its wines, including the whites, allowing naturally retained CO2 from the long élevage to dissipate and the wine to open fully.

Rich, mineral and beautifully refined Premier Cru Chardonnay from Chassagne-Montrachet.

Lucien Le Moine's 2023 Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru La Grande Montagne is an expressive white Burgundy combining the depth and texture for which Chassagne is celebrated with freshness, precision and a persistent mineral character.

La Grande Montagne is a Premier Cru climat of Chassagne-Montrachet in Burgundy's Côte de Beaune. The vineyards of Chassagne sit on predominantly clay-limestone soils, providing Chardonnay with an exceptional balance of richness, structure and mineral tension.

The 2023 offers an inviting aromatic profile of ripe pear, citrus, yellow apple and white flowers, complemented by subtle notes of toasted almond, stone and gentle spice. On the palate, the wine is generous and layered, with beautifully textured Chardonnay fruit balanced by bright acidity and an underlying mineral backbone. The finish is long, focused and elegant, with lingering citrus, saline and lightly nutty nuances.

Lucien Le Moine is the tiny Beaune-based micro-négociant founded by Mounir Saouma and Rotem Brakin in 1999. Production is exceptionally limited, often amounting to only one to three barrels of an individual Cru. The wines are selected shortly after pressing and then raised entirely by Lucien Le Moine from the beginning of their élevage through bottling.

A defining element of the house style is extended aging on 100% of the lees. The wines remain on their lees throughout élevage without racking, allowing them to develop remarkable texture, complexity and depth. Bottling is performed by gravity, and the wines are neither fined nor filtered.

In La Grande Montagne, this distinctive approach brings an additional dimension of richness and breadth to the naturally mineral character of Chassagne-Montrachet. The result is a compelling Premier Cru with impressive presence today and the structure to develop beautifully with bottle age.

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Burgundy, France
Subregion: Côte de Beaune
Appellation: Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru
Vineyard: La Grande Montagne
Vintage: 2023
Size: 750ml

Food Pairing: Beautiful with lobster, scallops, roasted or grilled fish, poultry, veal, creamy mushroom dishes and rich seafood preparations. It is also an excellent match for aged Comté, Gruyère and other firm, nutty cheeses.

Serving: Serve lightly chilled rather than ice cold to allow the wine's texture and aromatics to emerge. Lucien Le Moine recommends decanting its wines, including the whites, so that naturally retained CO2 from the long élevage can dissipate and the wine can fully open.

Elegant, mineral and deeply expressive Premier Cru Chablis.

Lucien Le Moine's 2023 Chablis Premier Cru Montmains is a beautifully poised expression of Chardonnay from one of Chablis' classic left-bank Premier Cru sites. Montmains is a relatively cool, wind-exposed vineyard rooted in Kimmeridgian marl, conditions that naturally favor freshness, tension and the distinctive mineral character associated with fine Chablis. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

The 2023 is precise yet generous, opening with aromas of fresh lemon, green apple and citrus zest, followed by subtle notes of white flowers, almond and crushed stone. The palate combines ripe Chardonnay fruit with vibrant acidity and a firm mineral core, showing excellent concentration without sacrificing freshness. Chalky, saline nuances emerge toward the finish, which is long, clean and beautifully balanced.

Lucien Le Moine is the tiny Beaune-based micro-négociant founded by Mounir Saouma and Rotem Brakin. Their highly individual approach emphasizes extended aging on the full lees, minimal movement of the wine, no racking during élevage, and bottling without fining or filtration. The result is a style that combines remarkable texture and depth with a transparent expression of each individual vineyard. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Montmains is especially compelling in the hands of Lucien Le Moine: the vineyard's naturally cool personality and mineral backbone provide a striking counterpoint to the house's rich, lees-driven texture. The result is a Chablis with both immediate presence and excellent potential for further development in bottle.

Professional Review

Allen Meadows (Burghound) notes:  With respect to 2023, Mounir told me that “it is a vintage of excess in every sense of the term. We again had, at least from a historical perspective, an extreme growing season if perhaps not quite as extreme as those of several other recent vintages. Yields were high everywhere, alcohols were generous, acidities were lowish without being actually low and despite all of this, I believe 2023 is an exceptionally good vintage. One of the all-time greats? No, but certainly as good as any number of vintages over the past 20 years and better than many. 

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Burgundy, France
Appellation: Chablis Premier Cru
Vineyard: Montmains
Vintage: 2023
Size: 750ml

Food Pairing: An exceptional partner for oysters, shellfish, scallops, grilled or roasted fish, lobster, poultry in cream sauce and soft goat cheeses. Its combination of acidity, minerality and texture also makes it an excellent choice for richer seafood preparations.

Serving: Serve lightly chilled. Lucien Le Moine recommends decanting its wines, even whites, to allow naturally retained CO2 from the long élevage to dissipate and the wine to fully reveal its aromatics and texture. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Premier Cru Chablis with remarkable depth, energy and mineral precision.

Lucien Le Moine Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu 2023 is a distinctive expression of Chardonnay from one of Chablis' most highly regarded Premier Cru vineyards. Situated southeast of the Grand Cru hill, Mont de Milieu enjoys excellent exposure and generous sunshine, producing wines that combine the unmistakable mineral character of Chablis with impressive richness and power.

The 2023 opens with an expressive and slightly exotic aromatic profile of white peach, citrus peel, jasmine tea and delicate floral notes. The palate is concentrated and beautifully textured, with excellent mid-palate density, vibrant freshness and a pronounced mineral backbone. Despite its richness, the wine remains precise and focused, leading into a long, balanced and distinctly bone-dry finish.

Powerful · Mineral · White Peach · Citrus · Floral · Bone-Dry

Lucien Le Moine is the small, highly regarded Burgundy house founded by Mounir and Rotem Saouma in Beaune. Working with carefully selected wines from exceptional vineyards throughout Burgundy, the domaine is known for long élevage, minimal intervention and an uncompromising approach designed to allow each vineyard and vintage to reveal its individual character.

Mont de Milieu's combination of warmth, limestone-rich Chablis terroir and Premier Cru pedigree gives this wine both immediate aromatic appeal and the structure to develop beautifully with time. An impressive Chablis for drinking alongside seafood, oysters, lobster, scallops, grilled fish, roast poultry and creamy cheeses.

Expert Rating

BURGHOUND 93 POINTS:  There is a cool exoticism to the nose of jasmine tea, orange peel, white peach and just enough Chablis character to be persuasive. There is excellent volume and mid-palate density to the solidly powerful and sappy medium-bodied flavors that conclude in a bone-dry, long and balanced finale. This also needs to develop better depth but given the potential aging curve, that should not be an issue. 91-93

Varietal: Chardonnay
Region: Burgundy, France
Appellation: Chablis Premier Cru
Vineyard: Mont de Milieu
Vintage: 2023
Bottle Size: 750ml

Unoaked and unapologetic, Steel Chardonnay is Louis Jadot's love letter to the pure, mineral soul of Burgundy. Citrus, mandarin orange, white flower, pear, and crisp apple lead on the nose, while the palate delivers a surprisingly concentrated balance — delicate yet rich, with flinty chalk-and-limestone minerality running clean through the finish.

Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Appellation: Burgundy, France
Vintage: 2024
Format: 750ml

For nearly 200 years, Maison Louis Jadot has championed Burgundy's viticultural heritage across hundreds of carefully tended parcels. Steel Chardonnay is vinified entirely in stainless steel — no oak, no malolactic fermentation — to let the minerality of Mâconnais chalk and limestone soils speak without interruption. The result is a wine that is fresh, food-friendly, and effortlessly elegant.

La Geynale is Vincent Paris’ most prestigious Cornas, produced from an exceptional parcel of century-old Syrah vines planted on the steep, granite slopes of Cornas. The original vines here were replanted after phylloxera in 1910, and the site’s full southern exposure allows these old vines to achieve remarkable concentration while preserving the freshness and mineral character that define great Northern Rhône Syrah.

98 Pts James Suckling: A profound nose of cherries, crushed raspberries, roasted meat, cigar box, black pepper, warm spices and some bark and leather. Medium- to full-bodied with fine tannins. Expansive and spherical. Ample but refined in texture, with perfectly integrated structure at the edges and a vibrant, focused midpalate showing a bright, stony and peppery dimension. Quite spectacular for the vintage, with a very long, flinty finish. Drink or hold.

96 Pts Jeb Dunnuck: Brilliant aromatics of blue fruits, fig, blood orange, pepper, and violet notes emerge from the medium-bodied 2024 Cornas La Geynale, which has a concentrated mouthfeel, building, ripe tannins, and a gorgeous finish. This reminds me of a great vintage of Clape Cornas! It sees a lot more stems and comes from the oldest vines of the estate, and it's going to need 4-5 years of bottle age. It's up there with the crème de la crème of the vintage. Barrel Sample: 94-96

96 Points Vinous: The 2024 Cornas La Geynale hails from the glass with intense peppercorn, crushed rocks, fleshy tones and precisely ripe blackberry. Dried violets and earthy tones add more aromatic layers. Built like a skyscraper, the 2024 is a serious La Geynale in the making, lifting the finish with stupendous vitality. I can't wait to taste it once it's bottled. Barrel Sample: 93-95

Vincent Paris acquired the La Geynale parcel from his uncle, legendary Cornas grower Robert Michel, and today it stands at the pinnacle of his small production. The vineyard is farmed with a restrained, hands-on approach, with low yields and careful work in the vines designed to capture the character of this extraordinary terroir.

The 2024 La Geynale is vinified with whole clusters and aged for approximately 12 months in used oak barrels, allowing the old-vine fruit and granite-driven character to remain at the forefront. Deep and intense, it opens with blackberry and dark berry fruit layered with crushed stone, black pepper, dried violet, savory spice and earthy complexity.

On the palate, the wine is dense and powerful yet remarkably fresh, with concentrated black fruit, pronounced mineral energy and firm, finely structured tannins. Despite its depth, La Geynale retains impressive precision and vitality, finishing long, stony and persistent.

This is classic, age-worthy Cornas: serious and structured in its youth, but with the balance, concentration and freshness to evolve beautifully for decades. A compelling expression of one of Cornas’ great old-vine sites and one of the benchmark wines of Vincent Paris.

Producer: Domaine Vincent Paris
Vintage: 2024
Region: Northern Rhône, France
Appellation: Cornas AOC
Grape: 100% Syrah
Vineyard: La Geynale
Vine Age: Century-old vines, originally planted in 1910
Exposure: South-facing hillside
Soil: Granite
Vinification: Whole-cluster fermentation
Aging: Approximately 12 months in used oak barrels
Cellaring: Built for long-term aging; capable of developing for 20+ years

Latour Vincent Meursault "Clos des Magny" 2024 is an elegant and beautifully focused white Burgundy from Domaine Vincent Latour, the historic Meursault estate now run by Vincent Latour and his wife, Cécile. Formerly known as Domaine Latour-Labille, the domaine traces its history back to 1792 and has become known for Chardonnay that balances generous texture with freshness, tension and precision.

Clos des Magny comes from a 0.93-hectare parcel planted between 1979 and 1983, situated just below the village of Meursault. These mature vines provide naturally concentrated fruit while retaining the freshness and mineral character that define classic Meursault.

The wine is fermented and aged in demi-muids on the lees for approximately 12 months, without lees stirring. Vincent Latour favors this restrained approach to élevage, allowing the wine to gain depth and texture from its time on the lees while preserving clarity, energy and a strong sense of terroir.

The 2024 Clos des Magny offers the richness expected from Meursault while remaining beautifully poised. Aromas of ripe pear, yellow apple, citrus and white flowers are joined by subtle mineral and gently savory notes. The palate is supple and layered, with a creamy texture balanced by bright acidity and a fine mineral backbone.

As the wine opens, additional notes of orchard fruit, lemon zest, hazelnut and delicate spice may emerge, leading into a long, refined finish. The absence of lees stirring helps maintain freshness and definition, giving the wine an appealing combination of Meursault richness and precise, energetic structure.

Clos des Magny is an excellent example of Vincent Latour's style: expressive and textural without becoming heavy, with the fruit, élevage and mineral character working seamlessly together. It is delicious now with a little air, yet has the concentration and balance to develop additional complexity with bottle age.

Producer: Domaine Vincent Latour
Grape: Chardonnay
Region: Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France
Appellation: Meursault
Vineyard: Clos des Magny
Vintage: 2024
Parcel Size: Approximately 0.93 hectare
Vine Age: Planted between 1979 and 1983
Élevage: Fermented and aged in demi-muids on the lees for 12 months; no lees stirring
Bottle Size: 750ml

Pairing: Beautiful with scallops, lobster, grilled or roasted fish, roast chicken, creamy poultry dishes, mushroom risotto, veal, soft-ripened cheeses and aged Comté.

Latour Vincent Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot 2024 is a serious, beautifully structured white Burgundy from Domaine Vincent Latour, the historic Meursault estate run by Vincent Latour and his wife, Cécile. The domaine traces its origins to 1792 and is known for producing Chardonnay with richness and texture while preserving freshness, tension and precision.

This wine comes from a small 0.25-hectare parcel in Morgeot Premier Cru, one of the most important and historically recognized Premier Cru sectors of Chassagne-Montrachet. The vines were planted in 1956 and 1994, bringing together the concentration and complexity of mature vines with the energy and balance characteristic of this celebrated Côte de Beaune terroir.

The wine is fermented and aged in demi-muids on the lees for approximately 12 months, without lees stirring. Vincent Latour's restrained approach to élevage allows the natural power of Morgeot to develop while maintaining clarity, freshness and definition rather than emphasizing oak or excessive richness.

The 2024 shows the broad, generous personality associated with Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru, with layers of ripe orchard fruit, citrus, subtle white flowers and mineral notes. The palate is concentrated and textured, yet balanced by lively acidity and a firm mineral backbone. Delicate savory and lightly toasted nuances add complexity, leading into a long, polished and persistent finish.

Morgeot is particularly known for producing white wines with depth, breadth and impressive aging potential. Latour's old-vine parcel and careful vinification give this bottling both immediate appeal and the structure to develop additional complexity with time in the cellar.

A compelling Premier Cru for collectors and Burgundy enthusiasts, this is an excellent example of Chassagne-Montrachet's combination of power, elegance and mineral precision.

Producer: Domaine Vincent Latour
Grape: Chardonnay
Region: Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France
Appellation: Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru
Vineyard: Morgeot 1er Cru
Vintage: 2024
Parcel Size: Approximately 0.25 hectare
Vine Age: Plantings from 1956 and 1994
Élevage: Fermented and aged in demi-muids on the lees for 12 months; no lees stirring
Bottle Size: 750ml

Pairing: Excellent with lobster, scallops, roasted or grilled fish, halibut, turbot, roast chicken, veal in cream sauce, mushroom dishes, risotto, aged Comté and other rich, savory cheeses.

A Remarkable Village Chablis from Just Below Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre
Patrick Piuze's 2025 Chablis "Les Bas De Chapelots" comes from a particularly exciting vineyard situated directly below the Chapelots climat of the renowned Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre. The parcel was planted in 1982 and was introduced to Piuze's lineup with the 2023 vintage, making this one of the newer and more distinctive additions to his collection of vineyard-specific Chablis.

Although classified at the village Chablis level, the vineyard's location immediately beneath one of the Right Bank's celebrated Premier Cru sites gives this bottling unusual pedigree. Patrick Piuze's philosophy is centered on precisely these differences in terroir, producing individual wines from specific vineyards rather than blending away their distinctive personalities.

Tasting Notes
Fresh, approachable and beautifully mineral, the 2025 Les Bas De Chapelots shows bright notes of pear and lime supported by the stony, mineral character associated with classic Chablis. The palate combines juicy fruit with freshness and precision, leading to an impressively long, mineral-driven finish.

Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Subregion: Chablis
Appellation: Chablis
Vineyard: Les Bas De Chapelots
Vintage: 2025
Producer: Patrick Piuze
Vine Age: Vineyard planted in 1982
Location: Directly below the Chapelots climat of Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre
Farming: Sustainable
Fermentation: Spontaneous fermentation
Malolactic Fermentation: Naturally occurring
Bottle Size: 750ml

About Les Bas De Chapelots
Les Bas De Chapelots is a special village-level site located immediately below Chapelots, a climat within the celebrated Chablis Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre on the Right Bank of the Serein. Its proximity to Premier Cru vineyards makes it an especially compelling example of Patrick Piuze's terroir-focused approach to Chablis.

The vineyard was planted in 1982, and Patrick Piuze first introduced Les Bas De Chapelots as a separate bottling with the 2023 vintage. The wine combines the freshness and accessibility of village Chablis with impressive mineral persistence and a sense of place that makes it particularly attractive for Chablis enthusiasts.

About Patrick Piuze
Montreal-born Patrick Piuze has established himself as one of the most distinctive producers in modern Chablis. Working closely with growers throughout the region, he sources fruit from carefully selected parcels and produces numerous vineyard-specific wines designed to highlight the differences between Chablis' individual terroirs.

Piuze places particular emphasis on old vines and careful harvesting. While machine harvesting is widespread in Chablis, his grapes are harvested by hand. In the cellar, fermentations occur spontaneously and malolactic fermentation proceeds naturally, with a deliberately low-intervention approach intended to keep the vineyard character at the forefront.

Food Pairing
An excellent partner for oysters, clams, shrimp, scallops, crab, sushi and sashimi, grilled or roasted white fish and roast chicken. Its combination of citrus freshness, ripe pear and persistent minerality also makes it a beautiful aperitif and a natural match for fresh and soft cheeses.

Why We Like It
Les Bas De Chapelots occupies an unusually privileged position for a village-level Chablis, sitting directly beneath Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre. With vines dating to 1982 and Piuze's meticulous terroir-driven approach, this is an excellent opportunity to experience a distinctive Chablis site at an especially attractive level. 

93 Points James Suckling: Limes, pears, white flowers and wet stones on the nose. Open and balanced, with good acidity and a chalky texture. Approachable now, but better in 2028.

Old-Vine Chablis with Depth, Ripe Fruit and Chalky Minerality
Patrick Piuze's 2025 Chablis "Terroir de Courgis" is a distinctive village-level Chablis from a single vineyard on the Left Bank of the Serein. Planted in 1937, the old Chardonnay vines grow in clay-rich topsoil over classic Kimmeridgian limestone bedrock, producing one of the richest and most generously textured wines in Piuze's Terroir series.

The greater proportion of clay found on the Left Bank contributes weight, texture and ripe fruit, while the underlying limestone provides the freshness, chalky structure and mineral character that define classic Chablis. Piuze vinifies the Terroir wines in tank rather than barrel, keeping the focus firmly on fruit, freshness and vineyard expression.

Tasting Notes
Expressive and beautifully balanced, the 2025 Terroir de Courgis offers aromas of fresh lime, ripe pear and white flowers layered with wet stone and mineral notes. The palate is open and generous, showing juicy orchard and stone fruit balanced by lively acidity and a distinctly chalky texture. Fuller and rounder than many of Piuze's other village Chablis bottlings, it nevertheless retains excellent freshness and a clean, mineral-driven finish.

Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Subregion: Chablis
Appellation: Chablis
Village/Terroir: Courgis
Vintage: 2025
Producer: Patrick Piuze
Vineyard: Single vineyard
Vine Age: Planted in 1937
Soil: Clay topsoil over Kimmeridgian limestone bedrock
Farming: Sustainable
Fermentation: Spontaneous fermentation
Vinification & Aging: Fermented and aged in tank
Bottle Size: 750ml

About Terroir de Courgis
Courgis lies on the Left Bank of the Serein, an area of Chablis where the soils generally contain more clay than those of the Right Bank. This additional clay tends to produce wines with greater breadth, richness and ripe fruit while preserving the underlying limestone-driven freshness and minerality of Chablis.

Patrick Piuze's Terroir de Courgis comes from a single vineyard planted in 1937. Among his village-level Terroir bottlings, Courgis is typically the most substantial and weighty, characterized by ripe, juicy fruit and a generous texture balanced by classic Chablis acidity and minerality.

About Patrick Piuze
Canadian-born Patrick Piuze has become one of the most distinctive winemakers in Chablis, building his reputation through a remarkable collection of vineyard-specific wines. Rather than blending away the differences between sites, Piuze emphasizes individual terroirs, allowing each village and vineyard to express its own personality.

His cellar approach is deliberately low intervention. Fermentations occur spontaneously, and the village-level Terroir wines are fermented and aged primarily in older stainless-steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally, and the wines receive only gentle filtration before bottling. The result is a transparent style of Chablis focused on freshness, texture, minerality and sense of place.

Food Pairing
Excellent with oysters, clams, crab, scallops, shrimp, sushi and sashimi, grilled or roasted white fish, roast chicken and creamy seafood dishes. The additional richness of Courgis also makes it an excellent match for richer shellfish preparations, poultry and soft cheeses.

Cellaring
Already approachable for its generous fruit and open texture, but its acidity and mineral structure should allow it to develop additional complexity with bottle age. James Suckling suggests it will be even better beginning in 2028. ```

Terre de Vertus is one of Larmandier-Bernier's most celebrated single-terroir Champagnes — a vintage Blanc de Blancs drawn entirely from Chardonnay grown in the Premier Cru village of Vertus. The fruit comes from two plots within the Les Barillers lieu-dit, situated mid-slope with a southeast exposure, a site the estate has vinified separately since 1995. Farmed biodynamically and fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in old oak casks and large wooden foudres, the wine rests on its lees through winter before undergoing secondary fermentation in bottle and more than five years of additional lees aging. The 2017 was disgorged in May 2023 with zero dosage — no sugar added — preserving the vineyard's exceptionally pure, dry and mineral expression.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2017

93 Wine Advocate: "The 2017 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Terre de Vertus imparts a very mineral, almost crystalline character. A vineyard that rarely produces powerful wines, even in the context of 2017, it has retained its personality, though it's a little more generous and slightly less focused than the 2016 rendition. Unfurling from the glass with aromas of lemon peel, honeysuckle and oyster shell, it is medium-bodied, racy and saline-tinged."

93 Vinous: "Creamy, open-knit and quite seductive. Readers will find a generous, sensual Champagne with plenty of early appeal. Dried pear, crushed flowers, mint and chamomile build beautifully over time. This is a fine effort in a very challenging year."

Tasting Notes

Precise, expressive and intensely mineral. The nose opens with lemon peel, dried pear and delicate floral notes, followed by honeysuckle, mint, chamomile and a distinctive oyster-shell salinity. The palate is creamy and generous yet beautifully energized — fine acidity and a taut mineral backbone carry through to a finish that is dry, racy, saline and exceptionally pure. Oak fermentation lends supple texture; zero dosage ensures nothing stands between you and the terroir of Vertus.

Food Pairing

An exceptional partner for oysters and shellfish, sashimi, sushi, scallops, grilled or roasted white fish, lobster, roast poultry and aged cheeses. Its saline character and zero dosage make it especially compelling alongside seafood and dishes built around fresh herbs or citrus.

Specifications

Grape Variety: Chardonnay (100%)
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Sub-Region: Côte des Blancs
Village: Vertus
Classification: Premier Cru
Style: Blanc de Blancs / Brut Nature / Non Dosé
Dosage: 0 g/L — Zero Dosage
Vintage: 2017
Vineyard: Les Barillers lieu-dit
Farming: Biodynamic
Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts in old oak casks and large wooden foudres
Aging: 5+ years on the lees in bottle
Disgorgement: May 2023
ABV: 12%
Bottle Size: 750ml
Producer: Larmandier-Bernier

Longitude is Larmandier-Bernier's chalk-driven, Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs — a wine of remarkable precision and mineral energy that captures the essence of the Côte des Blancs. Made entirely from Chardonnay grown along the celebrated north-to-south line of villages near the 4th meridian — Vertus, Oger, Avize, Cramant and Chouilly — the wine takes its name from this near-straight longitudinal axis of vineyards. Where the estate's Latitude is broad and generous, Longitude is linear, taut and intensely mineral.

The 2021-based release is composed of approximately 60% wine from the cool, energetic 2021 vintage together with 40% from the estate's perpetual reserve, established in 2004. Grapes are gently pressed before undergoing spontaneous alcoholic and malolactic fermentation with indigenous yeasts, then fermented and matured in wood on their natural lees without fining or filtration. After blending and tirage, the Champagne undergoes extended bottle maturation before disgorgement in April 2024 with a dosage of just 2 g/L — firmly Extra Brut.

Expert Reviews

93 Decanter: "There's an extra dash of mineral energy and zesty length in this cuvée. Subtly creamy and peppery, yet fulsome in white peach, pear and lemon oil, it gains a savoury, umami depth from 40% addition of perpetual reserve. Always a model non-vintage blanc de blancs."

92 Jeb Dunnuck: "More focus and a compact, linear drive from more chalky soils, with notes of lemon candy, Anjou pear, and a very pretty floral perfume. Medium-bodied, it has a refreshing and fine mousse, with pleasing lift and a clean finish."

92 Wine Advocate: "A considerable increase in intensity and tension compared to Latitude. Medium-bodied, taut and incisive in personality. Offers aromas of white flowers, citrus fruit and oyster shell. Tangy acidity, informed by the long and cool growing season, with mineral-laden undertones, leads to a chalky, long-lasting finish."

92 Wine Spectator: "Hints of lime blossom and pink grapefruit sorbet are a citrusy thread through this sleek, finely knit Champagne. It's racy and lightly spiced, with flavors of yellow plum and chalky mineral set on the delicate mousse."

Tasting Notes

Bright, focused and intensely mineral, the 2021-based Longitude opens with white flowers, fresh citrus, green apple and subtle oyster-shell notes. The palate is taut and energetic — tangy acidity framed by chalk, crushed stone, citrus peel and a delicate saline character. Elegant rather than broad, it finishes long, dry and exceptionally precise. This is classic Côte des Blancs Chardonnay: pure, linear and refreshing, with enough depth from the perpetual reserve to add complexity without sacrificing the wine's crystalline personality.

Food Pairing

An outstanding aperitif and a natural partner for oysters, shellfish, sashimi, sushi, grilled white fish, scallops, fresh goat cheese and delicate poultry dishes.

Specifications

Grape Variety: Chardonnay (100%)
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Sub-Region: Côte des Blancs
Villages: Vertus, Oger, Avize, Cramant, Chouilly
Classification: Premier Cru
Style: Blanc de Blancs / Extra Brut
Dosage: 2 g/L — Extra Brut
Base Vintage: 2021
Blend: ~60% 2021 base wine, 40% perpetual reserve (est. 2004)
Farming: Biodynamic / organic
Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts; spontaneous alcoholic and malolactic fermentation; aged in wood on lees
Disgorgement: April 2024
ABV: 12%
Bottle Size: 750ml
Producer: Larmandier-Bernier

From the Troesmes sub-climat of Chablis Premier Cru Beauroy, this organically farmed wine reflects the limestone-rich terroir of one of Burgundy’s celebrated white wine regions. Located northwest of the village of Chablis, within the communes of Poinchy and Beine, Beauroy encompasses three sub-climats: Beauroy, Côte de Savant, and Troesmes.

The gently sloping vineyards face south to southeast, with shallow topsoil over Kimmeridgian limestone and white clay. Isabelle and Denis Pommier farm organically and work the soils manually. Grapes are harvested into small 15-kilogram cases and pressed immediately.

Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation take place equally in tank and neutral oak barrels of varying ages. The wine then spends 18 months on its lees, with two-thirds aged in tank and one-third in oak.

Vineyard & Winemaking

• Appellation: Chablis Premier Cru
• Vineyard: Troesmes, within the Beauroy climat
• Exposure: South to southeast
• Soils: Kimmeridgian limestone and white clay with shallow topsoil
• Viticulture: Organic farming; soils worked manually
• Fermentation: Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in 50% tank and 50% neutral oak barrels
• Aging: 18 months on the lees in two-thirds tank and one-third oak

Isabelle et Denis Pommier Chablis 1er Cru Troesmes Organic 2023

Château Bel Orme Tronquoy-de-Lalande is one of the Haut-Médoc's most storied family estates, with origins dating to the late 18th century. The property was designed in 1750 by Victor Louis — the celebrated architect of the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux — and acquired its full name when the Tronquoy-de-Lalande family elevated the vineyard to prominence in the 19th century. In 1936, Lucienne Quié famously chose this charming manor overlooking the Gironde estuary over Château Pichon Baron, and the estate has remained in the Quié family ever since. Today, the third generation — Anne-Françoise, Jean-Philippe, and Paul-Henri — stewards the property with the same passion and commitment to quality, and since 2012 the estate has been united in destiny with Château Rauzan-Gassies. The Château holds the prestigious Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant label, awarded in spring 2024 in recognition of its commitment to ecologically sound agriculture.

The estate's 30-hectare vineyard sits on the finest hillsides of the village of Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne, within a Natura 2000 biodiversity site on the banks of the Gironde. The vineyard is planted with 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, farmed according to virtuous, sustainable agriculture with parcel-specific soil management. Clay soils lend the Merlot roundness and vivid, savoury fruit, while drier, draining soils allow the Cabernet Sauvignon to reach optimal maturity with ripe, velvety tannins — the authentic signature of Haut-Médoc.

Each parcel is vinified individually with meticulous attention to terroir expression. The wine is crafted to reflect the natural character of the vintage and the estate's distinctive clay-gravel soils, with careful extraction to build structure without sacrificing freshness or elegance.

The 2020 opens with aromas of blackberries, graphite, and black currant, precise and focused. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with compressed, chewy tannins that are fine and structured, showing excellent concentration and length. A serious, cellar-worthy Haut-Médoc from an outstanding vintage that rewards patience.

"A chewy and tight wine with blackberries, graphite and currant aromas and flavors. Medium body. Compressed and solid with chewy tannins that are focused and fine. Give it two or three years to open. Drink after 2025."
— James Suckling, 92 Points. (Vintage 2020). 

Grape: Merlot 65%, Cabernet Sauvignon 35%
Region: Bordeaux, France
Appellation: Haut-Médoc
Vintage: 2020
Vineyard: Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne, 30 hectares
Bottle Size: 750ml

Pairing: Roast lamb, duck confit, braised short ribs, game, aged hard cheeses, and classic Bordelaise preparations.

Château d'Arvigny is a well-regarded estate in the Haut-Médoc appellation, situated on the left bank of the Gironde between the prestigious communes of Margaux and Saint-Julien. The estate benefits from the deep gravel soils that define the finest terroirs of the Haut-Médoc — soils that drain freely, warm quickly, and encourage the deep root systems that produce wines of natural finesse and character. The property is committed to responsible viticulture, following integrated farming practices that prioritize quality and environmental respect.

The blend is led by Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), complemented by Merlot (30%) and Cabernet Franc (10%) — a classic Bordeaux assemblage that delivers the structure and aromatic complexity the Haut-Médoc is known for. Each variety is vinified separately before blending, allowing the winemaking team to select the best lots for the final wine.

The 2022 vintage is one of the finest in recent Bordeaux memory — a warm, dry growing season that produced grapes of exceptional ripeness, concentration, and natural balance. The wines of 2022 are characterized by ripe, generous fruit, supple tannins, and excellent structure, making them approachable young while retaining the depth to evolve with time.

The 2022 d'Arvigny is soft, supple, and fruit-forward, with inviting aromas and flavors of red berries, plum, and gentle spice. On the palate, the wine is smooth and elegant with soft tannins and well-balanced acidity — a polished, approachable Haut-Médoc that delivers genuine Bordeaux character at an accessible price.

Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon 60%, Merlot 30%, Cabernet Franc 10%
Region: Bordeaux, France
Appellation: Haut-Médoc
Vintage: 2022
Bottle Size: 750ml

Pairing: Roast lamb, grilled beef, duck, mushroom dishes, and aged hard cheeses. Drink now or cellar through 2030.

Domaine Graeme & Julie Bott Côte-Rôtie 2020 is a beautifully expressive Northern Rhône Syrah that combines the power and savory complexity of Côte-Rôtie with the domaine's signature elegance and finesse. Produced in extremely limited quantities, this is a refined, age-worthy wine with dark fruit, floral perfume, spice and beautifully polished tannins.

The fruit comes from approximately 40-year-old Syrah vines planted on the schist soils of the Côte Brune in Ampuis. These steep, rocky vineyards are at the heart of Côte-Rôtie and give the wine remarkable intensity, structure and mineral character.

Expert Ratings

94 Points — Vinous

Glistening ruby. Spice- and mineral-accented cherry and black raspberry scents are complemented by suggestions of pipe tobacco, violet, smoky bacon and exotic spices. Densely packed and subtly chewy in texture, offering appealingly sweet, spice-tinged red and dark berry and floral pastille flavors that are supported by an undercurrent of juicy acidity. The mineral note returns on a very long, penetrating finish that features polished tannins and resonating florality.

93 Points — Wine Spectator

Shows seductive violet, crushed plum and spice notes that mingle on the palate, grounded by balsamic and olive tapenade. The dry finish, with power that builds, is marked with a dusting of white pepper. Drink now through 2030.

93 Points — James Suckling

Dark cherries, plums, black olives, grilled meat, earth and cloves on the nose. Medium to full body with fine tannins. Serious and well-balanced with a restrained power and a lively finish with excellent length.

92 Points — Jeb Dunnuck

I loved the 2020 Côte Rôtie, another terrific effort here. Giving up lots of ripe black and blue fruits as well as spring flowers and bouquet garni-like notes, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, has ripe, sweet tannins, and a great finish.

Winemaking

The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted both in the vineyard and again upon arrival at the winery. Approximately 80% of the fruit is destemmed before a cold maceration in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. Fermentation begins naturally with indigenous yeasts, followed by 18 months of aging in French oak barrels.

Production is exceptionally small, at approximately 1,200 bottles, making this a particularly limited expression of Côte-Rôtie.

Tasting Notes

Deep ruby with violet reflections, the 2020 Côte-Rôtie offers an expressive aromatic profile of ripe blackberry, dark cherry and plum layered with violet, cracked pepper and savory spice. Subtle notes of olive, smoked meat and earthy minerality add classic Northern Rhône complexity.

The palate is full and concentrated yet remarkably supple, with ripe dark fruit framed by firm, silky tannins and fresh acidity. Peppery spice and mineral notes carry through the long, elegant finish, giving the wine both immediate appeal and excellent potential for further development in the cellar.

About Domaine Graeme & Julie Bott

Graeme and Julie Bott met while working at the renowned Northern Rhône estate of Stéphane Ogier before establishing their own domaine. Beginning with a small cellar in their garage, they gradually planted vineyards in Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph and Seyssuel.

Today, working from their cellar in Ampuis, their philosophy centers on allowing the Northern Rhône's schist and granite terroirs to speak clearly through the wines. Production remains deliberately small, with an emphasis on balance, purity and finesse.

Food Pairing

An excellent partner for grilled or roasted beef, ribeye steak, rack of lamb, braised lamb, duck and slow-cooked game. Its savory, peppery character also pairs beautifully with mushrooms, lentils, roasted root vegetables and dishes featuring rosemary, thyme or black pepper.

Wine Details

• Producer: Domaine Graeme & Julie Bott
• Vintage: 2020
• Country: France
• Region: Northern Rhône
• Appellation: Côte-Rôtie AOC
• Vineyard Location: Ampuis, Côte Brune
• Grape: Syrah
• Vine Age: Approximately 40 years
• Soil: Schist
• Harvest: Hand harvested
• Vinification: Approximately 80% destemmed; indigenous yeast fermentation
• Aging: 18 months in French oak barrels
• Alcohol: 13%
• Production: Approximately 1,200 bottles
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Benoît Déhu’s Cuvée Initiation Rosé Extra Brut is an expressive grower Champagne from Fossoy, on the western edge of the Vallée de la Marne in Champagne, France. Déhu is an eighth-generation vigneron whose family estate dates to 1787. After working at Champagne Bollinger, Benoît returned to his family domaine and developed his own highly personal range of naturally farmed, terroir-driven Champagnes.

The 2022 Initiation Rosé is composed of 78% Meunier and 22% Pinot Noir, with 7% still red wine blended into the cuvée to create its delicate rosé character. Meunier plays a central role in Déhu’s work, particularly from his celebrated La Rue des Noyers vineyard, while Pinot Noir brings additional structure, depth and red-fruit character.

Déhu farms with a strong commitment to biodynamic and natural viticulture, including work according to the lunar calendar and the use of traditional vineyard practices. His wines are known for their careful oak vinification and élevage, with many barrels made from trees sourced in the nearby forest of Fossoy.

The 2022 Initiation Rosé is elegant, vibrant and savory, with notes of cranberry, dried flowers, ginger and cinnamon. Bright acidity and fine minerality give the wine energy and precision, while the red wine component lends subtle texture and depth. Despite its delicacy, the wine has impressive persistence and complexity.

Vinous notes that this release was bottled with no dosage, emphasizing its dry, energetic and terroir-driven style. It was disgorged beginning in April 2025, with multiple disgorgements taking place throughout the year.

94 Points — Vinous

“The NV (2022) Extra Brut Rosé Initiation is laced with cranberry, ginger, dried flowers and cinnamon. Elegant and light on its feet, the 2022 is a total delight. This deceptively understated Rosé is gorgeous. Readers should expect a decidedly savory style. The Initiation is 78% Meunier and 22% Pinot Noir, with 7% still red wine blended in. Bottled with no dosage. Disgorged: April 2025; multiple disgorgements throughout the year.”

— Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 94 Points

Wine Details

Producer: Benoît Déhu
Wine: Cuvée Initiation Rosé Extra Brut
Base Vintage: 2022
Region: Champagne, France
Area: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Fossoy
Grapes: 78% Meunier, 22% Pinot Noir
Rosé Method: Blend with 7% still red wine
Farming: Biodynamic and natural viticulture
Vinification: Oak vinification and élevage
Dosage: No dosage for this release
Disgorgement: Beginning April 2025; multiple disgorgements
Rating: Vinous 94 Points
Bottle Size: 750ml

Benoît Déhu Champagne Cuvée Initiation Rosé Extra Brut (Base 2022) 750ml

Paul Bara Brut Réserve Grand Cru NV is the signature cuvée of Champagne Paul Bara and a classic expression of Bouzy, one of the most celebrated villages in Champagne’s Montagne de Reims. Produced entirely from estate-grown Grand Cru fruit, this non-vintage Champagne combines the generosity and structure of Bouzy Pinot Noir with the freshness and finesse of Chardonnay.

The blend is composed of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay from vines averaging approximately 35 years of age. Bouzy’s south-facing vineyards and deep clay-limestone soils encourage excellent ripeness while preserving the freshness, mineral definition and balance essential to fine Champagne. Only the first pressing of the grapes is used, and malolactic fermentation is avoided to retain natural acidity and vibrancy.

Light yellow-gold in color with fine, abundant bubbles and a persistent mousse. The bouquet opens with ripe orchard and stone fruits — Mirabelle plum, yellow peach and quince — followed by sweet spice, honey, candied citrus, bergamot and orange peel. On the palate, the Brut Réserve is rich, fresh and beautifully focused, with lively acidity, a fine mineral backbone and the subtle peppery character associated with Pinot Noir from Bouzy. The texture is generous and mouth-filling, yet the finish remains dry, precise and refreshing.

Press Notes

91 pts — James Suckling: "Attractive aromas of pears and sliced apples with hints of yeast follow through to a medium body with bright acidity and a delicate bread-dough finish. A blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay."

91 pts — Wine Spectator: "A creamy Champagne, offering concentrated flavors of mandarin orange preserves, dried white cherry and grated ginger, underscored by a streak of salty mineral. Well-balanced, with a lip-smacking finish."

Wine Details

• Producer: Paul Bara
• Cuvée: Brut Réserve
• Style: Non-Vintage Brut Grand Cru
• Country: France
• Region: Champagne
• Subregion: Montagne de Reims
• Village: Bouzy Grand Cru
• Grapes: 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay
• Vine Age: ~35 years on average
• Soil: Clay and limestone over deep chalk
• Vinification: First pressing only; stainless steel; no malolactic fermentation
• Dosage: ~7 g/L (may vary by disgorgement)
• Alcohol: ~12.5%
• Serving Temperature: 46–50°F

About Paul Bara

The Bara family has been rooted in Bouzy since 1833. Today, the historic grower estate farms approximately 11 hectares of Grand Cru vineyards, producing Champagnes admired for their ripe fruit, vinous depth, freshness and distinctive expression of Bouzy’s chalk-rich terroir.

Why We Like It

The Brut Réserve is a benchmark Grower Champagne — Pinot Noir-driven, terroir-expressive and consistently excellent. At this price point, it offers a compelling window into what Grand Cru Bouzy Champagne can be: structured, generous and unmistakably characterful.

Food Pairings: Oysters, shrimp, scallops, smoked salmon, roast chicken, pork tenderloin, creamy mushroom dishes, aged Comté or savory pastries.

Paul Bara Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut “L’Audacieuse” Grand Cru 2016 is a rare and daring Grower Champagne produced from 100% Chardonnay grown in the Grand Cru village of Bouzy in Champagne’s Montagne de Reims. Bouzy is celebrated primarily for its powerful Pinot Noir — making this pure Chardonnay cuvée an especially unusual and audacious expression of the village’s terroir.

The Chardonnay comes from the Mont des Tours vineyard, where Bouzy’s predominantly chalky soils provide excellent drainage and contribute freshness, precision and a pronounced mineral character. The name L’Audacieuse — “the audacious one” — reflects the house’s bold decision to produce a Blanc de Blancs from a terroir traditionally associated with Pinot Noir.

The 2016 vintage displays a luminous pale-gold color and a fine, persistent mousse. The expressive bouquet offers aromas of green apple, pear, white peach and fresh citrus, joined by delicate white flowers and chalky minerality. With air, more complex notes of fresh almond, brioche, dried herbs and subtle honey begin to emerge.

On the palate, L’Audacieuse is lively and precise, combining vibrant acidity with an elegant, gently creamy texture. Ripe orchard fruit and citrus are balanced by chalky tension and delicate autolytic complexity. The finish is long, clean and refined, with lingering saline and mineral notes that emphasize the purity of the Chardonnay.

The wine spent approximately eight years aging in bottle before release, allowing its freshness and fruit to develop greater depth, texture and complexity. Finished as an Extra Brut with a very low dosage of ~3 g/L, it remains dry, focused and beautifully expressive of its Grand Cru origins. Production of the 2016 vintage was extremely limited — only 3,935 numbered bottles produced.

Wine Details

• Producer: Paul Bara
• Cuvée: L’Audacieuse
• Style: Vintage Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
• Vintage: 2016
• Country: France
• Region: Champagne
• Subregion: Montagne de Reims
• Village: Bouzy Grand Cru
• Vineyard: Mont des Tours
• Grape: 100% Chardonnay
• Dosage: Extra Brut, ~3 g/L
• Aging: ~8 years in bottle before release
• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Production: 3,935 numbered bottles
• Serving Temperature: 48–52°F

About Paul Bara

The Bara family has cultivated vines in Bouzy since the nineteenth century. Today, Champagne Paul Bara farms approximately 11 hectares divided among 33 parcels, all located within the Grand Cru village. The estate combines traditional craftsmanship with sustainable vineyard practices, producing Champagnes known for their structure, elegance and clear expression of Bouzy’s chalk-rich soils.

Why We Like It

L’Audacieuse is a genuinely rare bottle — a Blanc de Blancs from Bouzy, a village that almost never produces one. Eight years on the lees, a single vineyard source, and fewer than 4,000 bottles worldwide make this one of the most compelling and collectible Grower Champagnes we carry. For the serious Champagne lover, it is simply unmissable.

Food Pairings: Oysters, caviar, sashimi, scallops, lobster, grilled prawns, roasted sea bass, citrus-accented poultry, creamy risotto and aged goat cheese.

This refined white Burgundy is produced from 100% Chardonnay grown in Les Charmes, a village-level lieu-dit in Puligny-Montrachet situated near Meursault’s celebrated Premier Cru Les Charmes vineyard. The southeast-facing site lies at approximately 240 meters in elevation, with mature vines planted in the region’s characteristic clay and limestone soils.

The 2023 vintage offers a luminous white-gold color and an expressive bouquet of fresh lime, grapefruit, crisp orchard fruit and subtle oak. Broad and finely textured on the palate, it combines ripe white-fruit richness with flinty minerality, refreshing citrus acidity and the poised structure characteristic of Puligny-Montrachet. A delicate hint of vanilla adds complexity without overwhelming the wine’s purity and freshness.

The grapes are harvested by hand, gently pressed and allowed to settle before fermentation in French oak barrels, approximately 20% of which are new. Malolactic fermentation and maturation also take place in barrel, producing a beautifully balanced wine with excellent definition, elegance and length.

The Chavy family has cultivated vineyards in Puligny-Montrachet for more than two centuries. Jean-Louis Chavy continues a six-generation family tradition of producing Chardonnay distinguished by precision, finesse, freshness and mineral expression. His son Paul joined the domaine in 2020, helping guide the historic estate into its next generation.

• Grape: 100% Chardonnay
• Country: France
• Region: Burgundy
• Subregion: Côte de Beaune
• Appellation: Puligny-Montrachet
• Vineyard: Les Charmes
• Classification: Village-level lieu-dit
• Soil: Clay and limestone
• Exposure: Southeast
• Vinification: Fermented and aged in French oak, approximately 20% new
• Style: Dry, elegant and mineral-driven white Burgundy
• Serving Temperature: Approximately 50–55°F

Food Pairings: An excellent companion to oysters, shellfish, grilled fish, scallops, lobster, roast chicken, creamy poultry dishes and mild Alpine cheeses.

Domaine J-L & F Chavy Puligny-Montrachet Les Charmes 2023

R.H. Coutier Extra Brut Rosé (Base 2022) is an elegant, Chardonnay-led Rosé Champagne from one of Ambonnay's most respected grower-producers — a family estate with deep roots in this celebrated Grand Cru village of the Montagne de Reims. Composed of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, sourced entirely from organically farmed estate fruit in Ambonnay, this is a Rosé of genuine finesse: pale, precise, and beautifully balanced, with the mineral energy of Grand Cru Chardonnay at its core.

The 2022 base brings generous structure and ripeness — approximately 77% of the blend from the harvest, complemented by reserve wines that add complexity and continuity. Pale and refined in the glass, the Champagne opens with notes of cranberry, wild red berries, dried flowers, and a delicate hint of mint. Subtle earthy and savory nuances emerge with air, adding depth and intrigue. On the palate, the wine is graceful and energetic, with fine, persistent bubbles, fresh acidity, and a clean Extra Brut finish of impressive length and clarity. Light, ethereal, and impeccably balanced.

Awarded 90 Points by Vinous: “A very pretty, nuanced Champagne. Cranberry, dried flowers, mint and crushed autumn leaves all grace this racy, pale-colored Rosé. It’s a touch light and ethereal, with all the elements very nicely balanced.” Organically farmed, grower-produced, and site-specific — a Rosé Champagne of genuine character at an introductory price.

Serve at 46–50°F. Exceptional as an aperitif and a refined partner for smoked salmon, tuna tartare, charcuterie, roast duck, mushroom dishes, soft cheeses, and berry-accented savory preparations.

94 Points — James Suckling
93 Points — Wine Spectator
92 Points — Wine Advocate

Geoffroy “Les Tiersaudes” 2019 is an exceptionally limited, single-vineyard Champagne produced entirely from old-vine Meunier grown in Cumières Premier Cru. Fermented and matured in large oak barrels and bottled without dosage, it is a powerful yet precise Blanc de Noirs with concentrated fruit, electric acidity and a distinctly saline mineral finish.

The Vineyard

Les Tiersaudes is a southeast-facing lieu-dit situated on the midslope in the heart of Cumières, in Champagne’s Vallée de la Marne. The parcel lies at approximately 140 meters above sea level on a 15% gradient, with soils composed of fine silt, limestone and flint.

The Meunier vines were planted in 1972 from massale selection. Geoffroy cultivates the parcel biodynamically and has introduced apple, mirabelle, maple, hornbeam and lime trees among the vines to increase biodiversity, encourage soil life and provide natural shade during increasingly warm growing seasons.

The Grape: 100% Meunier.

Although “Blanc de Noirs” is often associated with Pinot Noir, the term refers to any white Champagne made from dark-skinned grapes. Here, Meunier provides ripe fruit, breadth and aromatic complexity while the cool, limestone-influenced soils of Les Tiersaudes preserve freshness and mineral tension.

Winemaking

The grapes are harvested by hand at optimum ripeness and carefully sorted. They are pressed in a traditional Coquard press, with only the finest tête de cuvée juice selected.

Vinification is carried out by gravity with indigenous yeasts. The wine is fermented and matured on its lees in 600-liter oak demi-muids. Malolactic fermentation is avoided, helping retain the wine’s vibrant natural acidity. It is neither fined nor filtered.

No dosage is added following disgorgement, making this a true Brut Nature Champagne with 0 grams per liter of added sugar.

Tasting Notes

The bouquet combines orange marmalade, juicy peach and fresh hazelnut with pear, honeysuckle, grapefruit, dried flowers and gentle spice.

The palate is concentrated and vinous, showing cassis, candied kumquat, ripe citrus and dried fruit. Structured acidity provides a firm backbone, while a plush, finely textured mousse gives the wine breadth and balance.

Notes of toasted bread, crystallized honey, gooseberry and lime emerge with air. A persistent streak of salinity refreshes the long, lemon-tinged finish, leaving the wine rich yet energetic, silky and precise.

Professional Ratings

94 Points — James Suckling: "This bright, dry and lively Champagne shows raspberries, oranges, candied ginger and dried flowers on the nose. Delightfully fruity and spicy, with tension and energy. I like it a lot. Disgorged March 2024. Drink now or hold."

93 Points — Wine Spectator: "A well-built Champagne, with structured acidity providing a firm frame for concentrated flavors of cassis, candied kumquat, toasted raisin bread and crystallized honey. Theres a cottony plushness to the mousse, while a streak of salinity refreshes the racy finish. Disgorged March 2024. 231 cases made, 13 cases imported. - AN"

92 Points — Wine Advocate: "Geoffroy™s 2019 Brut Nature Blanc de Noirs Les Tiersaudes, disgorged without dosage in March 2024, originates from old-vine Pinot Meunier"planted in 1972"on a south-facing mid-slope in the heart of Cumieres. These vines thrive on deeper soils compared to those of Les Collinardins. Aged for one year in oak, mostly demi-muids, this Champagne unveils an aromatic profile of pear, honeysuckle and grapefruit intertwined with notes of gooseberry and lime. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, muscular yet incisive, with a concentrated core of fruit underpinned by electric acidity, concluding with a long, lemon-tinged finish."

The Producer

The Geoffroy family has cultivated vineyards in Cumières since the 17th century. Today, Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy produces distinctive grower Champagnes emphasizing ripe fruit, individual vineyard expression, indigenous-yeast fermentation, restrained dosage and extended cellar aging.

Food Pairing

This structured, gastronomic Champagne pairs beautifully with roast pork, duck, poultry, grilled salmon, seared tuna, scallops, mushroom dishes and aged cheeses such as Comté or Gruyère.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve at approximately 48–52°F in a tulip-shaped Champagne glass or white-wine glass. The 2019 is expressive now but has the concentration and acidity to develop additional toasted-nut, honeyed and savory complexity through 2039.

Producer: Champagne Geoffroy
Cuvée: Lieu-Dit Les Tiersaudes
Vintage: 2019
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Subregion: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Cumières Premier Cru
Classification: Premier Cru
Style: Vintage Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature Champagne
Grape: 100% Meunier
Vineyard: Les Tiersaudes
Vine Age: Planted in 1972
Exposure: Southeast
Altitude: Approximately 140 meters
Soil: Fine silt, limestone and flint
Farming: Practicing biodynamic with agroforestry
Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts in 600-liter oak demi-muids
Malolactic Fermentation: None
Dosage: 0 g/L
Fining and Filtration: Neither fined nor filtered
Disgorgement: March 2024 for the reviewed release
Bottle Size: 750ml

Geoffroy “Lieu-Dit Les Tiersaudes” Blanc de Noirs Premier Cru Brut Nature 2019

95 Points — Jeb Dunnuck
93 Points — James Suckling
93 Points — Wine Advocate

Ten years on the lees. One of Champagne's most patient cuvees. Geoffroy's 2015 Terre Millésime is produced only in selected years from the finest barrel and cask selections in Cumières Premier Cru — and held back a full decade before disgorgement. The result is a vintage Champagne of remarkable depth and harmony: ripe stone fruit, dried citrus peel, chalk and iodine, framed by a pillowy mousse and a long, crystalline saline finish. Disgorged July 2024 with zero dosage.

The Place

Cumières is a historic Premier Cru village in Champagne's Vallée de la Marne, situated west of Hautvillers and overlooking the Marne River. Its favorably exposed hillside vineyards are known for producing Champagnes with ripe fruit, vinous texture and expressive personality. Clay and limestone contribute richness and structure; underlying chalk preserves freshness and mineral definition.

The Geoffroy family has cultivated vines here since the 17th century, and Cumières remains the heart of the estate's identity and production.

The Terre Millésime Cuvee

Terre Millésime is Geoffroy's most ambitious and age-worthy cuvee — produced only in exceptional years and never released young. The assemblage is drawn from a selection of barrels and casks chosen through comprehensive tastings, and the composition varies by vintage. In 2015, the blend is 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay.

Following secondary fermentation, the wine spends approximately ten years aging sur lattes before disgorgement. This extended lees contact develops a refined, complex mousse and layers of brioche, toasted nut, spice and savory mineral character that could not be achieved through shorter aging.

The wine is disgorged without dosage — 0 g/L — making it a true Brut Nature despite the Extra Brut designation on the label.

The 2015 Vintage

The 2015 growing season in Champagne was warm and generous, producing concentrated, expressive fruit with excellent natural ripeness. For Terre Millésime, the vintage delivered the depth, structure and aging potential required for a decade of lees maturation. The result is a wine with ripe stone fruit, mature citrus and a muscular yet fresh profile that Jeb Dunnuck describes as having "volume without weight."

Winemaking

The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted. Gentle pressing selects only the finest juice. Fermentation and maturation take place in a combination of oak barrels and larger casks, contributing texture, complexity and a subtle oak influence that frames rather than dominates the wine.

After assemblage, the wine undergoes secondary fermentation in bottle and spends approximately ten years aging on its lees before disgorgement in July 2024. It is released without fining, filtration or dosage.

Tasting Notes

The 2015 Terre Millésime opens with an expressive bouquet of dried orange peel, apricot, crisp pear, ripe apple and spice, with a faint hint of sage and iodine. Notes of sea spray, toast and gentle oak emerge with air.

The palate is medium- to full-bodied and pillowy, with a rounded, fleshy mousse that fills the palate and enhances the wine's broader structure. Bright acidity and a taut, chalky core provide focus and tension, while the generous mid-palate delivers stone fruit, lemon and savory complexity. The finish is long, dry and mineral, with persistent crystalline salinity and lingering citrus, toast and chalk.

Professional Ratings

95 Points — Jeb Dunnuck: Ripe notes of apricot, black fruits, savory cologne, iodine, sea spray and toast. Medium to full-bodied with volume without weight and a long palate. A rounded mid-palate with a mousse that fleshes out and fills the palate. A touch more oak influence frames the wine while retaining freshness, with persistent crystalline salinity through the finish. They do not produce this cuvée every year, but when they do, they hold it back ten years before disgorgement. 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. Disgorged July 2024. Drink 2025–2040.

93 Points — James Suckling: Spicy and expressive, with aromas of grapefruit, cedar, cloves and gingerbread. Firm, dry and vinous, with toasty layers and rounded bubbles. 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay. Disgorged July 2024. Zero dosage. Drink now or hold.

93 Points — Wine Advocate: The most harmonious wine in Geoffroy's portfolio this year. As always, the product of barrel and cask selection based on comprehensive tastings, followed by extended maturation sur lattes. The assemblage is never identical year to year. In 2015: 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay. Expressive bouquet of dried orange peel, apricot, crisp pear and spice with a faint hint of sage. Medium- to full-bodied and pillowy, with bright acidity and a taut, chalky core leading to a long, saline finish.

The Producer

The Geoffroy family has cultivated vineyards in Cumières since the 17th century. Today, Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy produces distinctive grower Champagnes emphasizing ripe fruit, individual vineyard expression, long cellar aging and restrained dosage. The estate farms approximately 14 hectares, with most vineyards in Cumières and additional parcels in neighboring Vallée de la Marne villages.

Food Pairing

An exceptional gastronomic Champagne for roast chicken, lobster, scallops, mushroom risotto, veal, pork tenderloin, duck and aged cheeses such as Comté, Gruyère or Parmesan. Its depth and saline finish also make it a natural partner for truffles, foie gras and richly sauced poultry dishes.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve at approximately 50–54°F in a tulip-shaped Champagne glass or generous white-wine glass. The 2015 is drinking beautifully now and should continue developing richer brioche, toasted-nut and savory complexity through 2040.

Producer: Champagne Geoffroy
Cuvée: Terre Millésime
Vintage: 2015
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Subregion: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Cumières Premier Cru
Classification: Premier Cru
Style: Vintage Extra Brut Champagne
Blend: 75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay
Farming: Practicing organic and sustainability-focused
Harvest: Hand harvested and sorted
Lees Aging: Approximately 10 years
Disgorgement: July 2024
Dosage: 0 g/L (Brut Nature)
Wine Type: Dry sparkling wine
Bottle Size: 750ml

93 Points — John Gilman, View From the Cellar
92 Points — Wine Spectator
90–92 Points — Jasper Morris, MW, Inside Burgundy

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle’s 2023 Meursault Les Vignes Blanches is a beautifully concentrated, old-vine Chardonnay from a distinctive village-level climat situated below the celebrated Santenots vineyards. Combining the generous orchard-fruit character traditionally associated with Meursault with vibrant acidity, pale limestone minerality and finely integrated oak, this is a rich yet precise white Burgundy of remarkable depth and persistence.

The wine comes from a tiny 0.41-hectare parcel planted predominantly in 1948. Although Les Vignes Blanches is classified as Meursault Village, its old vines, individual terroir and limited production give it a personality that clearly distinguishes it from a blended village Meursault.

The Place

Meursault lies in the heart of Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune, immediately south of Volnay and north of Puligny-Montrachet. The village is internationally renowned for Chardonnay that combines richness, breadth and silky texture with fresh acidity and a distinctive mineral character.

Meursault has no Grand Cru vineyards, yet its finest Premier Cru and village-level climats produce some of Burgundy’s most complex and age-worthy white wines. The appellation’s varied marl, limestone, gravel and clay soils allow Chardonnay to express a wide range of styles, from supple and nutty to firm, citrus-driven and intensely mineral.

The Les Vignes Blanches Vineyard

Les Vignes Blanches is situated low on the Meursault slope, below Santenots and just south of the Meursault Premier Cru Santenots vineyards. It rests beneath a small rocky rise that contributes natural drainage and an unusually pronounced mineral character for this part of the slope.

The climat takes its name from the pale, gravelly limestone visible throughout the vineyard. Beneath and among this limestone is a meaningful clay component that retains water during warm, dry growing seasons. This combination gives the wine both richness and tension: clay contributes depth, texture and ripe orchard fruit, while the gravelly limestone provides freshness, salinity and mineral definition.

Many growers traditionally blend fruit from Les Vignes Blanches into a broader village-level Meursault. Domaine Clos de la Chapelle instead bottles the parcel separately to preserve its individual character and expression of place.

The Domaine’s Parcel

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle farms approximately 0.41 hectare—just over one acre—of Les Vignes Blanches. Most of the Chardonnay vines were planted in 1948, immediately following the Second World War, making them more than 75 years old at the time of the 2023 harvest.

These deeply rooted old vines naturally produce small quantities of concentrated fruit. Their extensive root systems penetrate multiple soil layers, helping the vines maintain balance during dry conditions and giving the finished wine notable depth, complexity and persistence.

The 2023 growing season demonstrated the value of the site’s water-retentive clay. According to Jasper Morris, the soils held sufficient moisture during the vintage, allowing the grapes to achieve generous ripeness while retaining adequate acidity.

The Grape: 100% Chardonnay.

Chardonnay is Burgundy’s principal white grape and an exceptionally transparent interpreter of terroir. In Les Vignes Blanches, it combines the broad texture and ripe orchard-fruit profile associated with Meursault with citrus freshness, oyster-shell salinity and a finely structured mineral finish.

Viticulture

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle’s vineyards are certified organic and are cultivated according to biodynamic principles. The estate avoids chemical pesticides and fertilizers, regularly ploughs its soils and carefully controls yields to encourage healthy vines and concentrated fruit.

The grapes are harvested by hand and sorted before pressing. The domaine’s objective is to preserve the purity of the fruit while allowing the individual soil, vine age and vintage conditions of each small parcel to remain clearly expressed in the finished wine.

Winemaking and Aging

The Chardonnay is whole-cluster pressed, followed by approximately 24 hours of settling. Fermentation and maturation take place in a combination of French oak barrel sizes, helping the wine develop texture and complexity without allowing the oak to dominate its old-vine fruit or mineral character.

The domaine may use up to 30% new oak for its white wines, with barrels sourced from several respected cooperages. Bâtonnage may be performed once per week for as long as six weeks after fermentation, or until malolactic fermentation begins.

The 2023 Les Vignes Blanches was matured for approximately 14 months in barrel. The use of different barrel sizes helps preserve freshness while contributing restrained notes of vanilla, toast and brioche. The wine is bottled approximately 15 to 18 months after harvest.

Tasting Notes

The 2023 displays a full lemon-yellow color and an expressive, layered bouquet of ripe peach, pear, yellow apple and citrus. With air, aromas of citronella, white flowers, toasted brioche, hazelnut and delicate vanilla emerge alongside a subtle reductive, mineral tension.

The palate is supple, concentrated and beautifully layered. Rich orchard fruit and ripe peach are balanced by vibrant acidity and savory notes of oyster shell and pale limestone. The old vines provide impressive mid-palate depth, while the wine’s mineral structure keeps its generous fruit precise and focused.

Notes of vanilla and toasted brioche are finely integrated into the fruit rather than dominant. The wine builds steadily across the palate, concluding with a long, refined and complex finish marked by citrus, orchard fruit, saline minerals and gentle oak spice.

This is a generous yet disciplined expression of Meursault—reminiscent of the traditional, richly textured style of the village, but supported by enough acidity and mineral tension to remain vibrant and age gracefully.

Professional Ratings

93 Points — John Gilman, View From the Cellar | John Gilman awarded the 2023 Meursault Les Vignes Blanches 93 points, recognizing it as one of the leading white wines in Domaine Clos de la Chapelle’s highly regarded 2023 collection.

92 Points — Wine Spectator: Citronella, peach, oyster shell, vanilla and toasted brioche flavors ride the supple texture in this harmonious white. Vibrant and succulent while building to the refined, complex aftertaste. Best from 2027 through 2040.

90–92 Points — Jasper Morris, MW, Inside Burgundy
Barrel Sample:  Old vines on clay soil below Santenots. A full lemon yellow, with a little reductive tension on the nose. Made in a mix of wood sizes. Nicely layered flesh and fruit on the palate, quite a rich orchard fruit, but balanced by adequate acidity These soils retained the water sufficiently in 2023. A good long finish, rather lovely and not far from old style Meursault. Barrel Sample: 90-92

The 2023 Vintage

The 2023 vintage produced generous, ripe fruit across the Côte de Beaune, but the finest sites maintained the acidity and mineral structure necessary for balance. At Les Vignes Blanches, the clay component retained valuable moisture during warm and dry periods, helping the old vines ripen steadily without losing freshness.

The result is a wine with generous fruit and textural richness, balanced by adequate acidity, limestone tension and a persistent mineral finish.

The Domaine

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle is a small, historic Burgundy estate based in Bligny-lès-Beaune and closely associated with Volnay. The domaine takes its name from the historic Volnay Premier Cru Clos de la Chapelle monopole, a walled vineyard situated opposite the Gothic chapel of Notre Dame de Pitié.

The property was acquired in 2011 by Mark O’Connell and his Burgundian partners and renamed Domaine Clos de la Chapelle in honor of its flagship vineyard. The estate now owns and farms approximately five hectares divided among 16 individual terroirs in Volnay, Pommard, Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses, Meursault and Corton.

The vineyards are certified organic and farmed according to biodynamic principles. Grapes are harvested by hand, yields are deliberately restricted and intervention in the cellar is kept to a minimum. Total production across the entire domaine averages only approximately 1,800 cases annually.

Food Pairing

Meursault Les Vignes Blanches is an excellent accompaniment to lobster, scallops, crab, halibut, turbot, sea bass and sole meunière. Its combination of richness and acidity also pairs beautifully with roast chicken, pork tenderloin, veal in cream sauce and poultry with mushrooms.

Additional pairings include lobster ravioli, mushroom risotto, creamy pasta, roasted cauliflower and mature cheeses such as Comté, Gruyère or Délice de Bourgogne.

Serving and Cellaring

The domaine recommends serving the wine at approximately 16°C, or 61°F. It may initially be poured slightly cooler and allowed to warm gradually in the glass, revealing additional orchard fruit, hazelnut, brioche and mineral complexity.

When enjoyed young, opening the bottle approximately 30 minutes before serving will help the wine’s subtle reductive character dissipate. Its old-vine concentration, acidity and mineral structure should support graceful development through 2040.

Producer: Domaine Clos de la Chapelle
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Subregion: Côte de Beaune
Village: Meursault
Appellation: Meursault AOC
Vineyard: Les Vignes Blanches
Classification: Village
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Vineyard Holding: Approximately 0.41 hectare
Vine Age: Predominantly planted in 1948
Location: Below Santenots on the lower Meursault slope
Soil: Gravelly pale limestone with water-retentive clay
Farming: Certified organic; biodynamic principles
Harvest: Hand harvested
Pressing: Whole-cluster pressed
Aging: Approximately 14 months in French oak
Alcohol: 13.5%
Wine Type: Dry white wine
Bottle Size: 750ml

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle Meursault Les Vignes Blanches 2023

94+ Points — John Gilman, View From the Cellar
93 Points — Wine Spectator
92 Points — Allen Meadows, Burghound

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle’s 2023 Meursault Premier Cru Charmes is a beautifully concentrated and exceptionally limited Chardonnay from one of the most celebrated Premier Cru vineyards in the Côte de Beaune. Combining the natural generosity of Charmes with finely structured acidity, mineral definition and an elegant oak influence, this is a refined, age-worthy white Burgundy produced in extremely small quantities.

The Place

Meursault is located in the heart of Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune, immediately south of Volnay and north of Puligny-Montrachet. Although the village has no Grand Cru vineyards, its finest Premier Crus produce some of the world’s most distinguished and longest-lived Chardonnay.

The Meursault appellation includes 19 officially classified Premier Cru climats. The best vineyards are generally situated at approximately 260 meters above sea level, with exposures ranging from east to south. Their soils are predominantly composed of Jurassic marl and marly limestone, with localized deposits of magnesium-rich limestone.

These soils and exposures allow Chardonnay to achieve exceptional ripeness while retaining the freshness, structure and mineral complexity essential to fine white Burgundy.

The Charmes Vineyard

Charmes is the largest of Meursault’s Premier Cru vineyards and one of its most famous. It lies in the southern portion of the appellation, adjoining the Premier Cru vineyards of Perrières and Puligny-Montrachet’s Les Combettes.

The vineyard is traditionally associated with broad, generous and naturally opulent wines. Charmes often displays a softer, more floral and gently honeyed personality than the firmer, more mineral-driven Perrières, while still possessing the structure and acidity required for extended aging.

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle’s parcel is situated in the lower part of the Charmes vineyard, an area that has responded particularly well to Burgundy’s increasingly warm and dry growing seasons.

The Domaine’s Parcel

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle farms only 0.125 hectare—approximately one-third of an acre—of Meursault Premier Cru Charmes. The Chardonnay vines were planted in 1950 and are now more than 70 years old.

The vineyard’s reddish-brown soil contains a high proportion of clay. This clay retains water and helps protect the old vines during hot, dry growing seasons, yet the parcel remains sufficiently well-drained to avoid excessively humid or disease-promoting conditions.

The tiny size of the holding results in extremely limited production, making this one of the domaine’s rarest white wines.

The Grape

100% Chardonnay. Chardonnay is Burgundy’s great white-wine grape and an exceptionally sensitive interpreter of place. In Meursault Charmes, it develops a combination of ripe orchard fruit, citrus, floral notes, toasted nuts and textural richness, balanced by fresh acidity and a distinct mineral undertone.

Winemaking and Aging

The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted. The wine is traditionally vinified and matured in French oak barrels for approximately 14 months.

Barrel fermentation and aging contribute texture, complexity and subtle notes of toast and spice, while the wine’s natural acidity preserves freshness and definition. The oak is intended to frame the concentrated old-vine Chardonnay rather than overwhelm the character of the vineyard.

Tasting Notes

The 2023 Meursault Charmes opens with expressive aromas of ripe lemon, yellow apple, pear and white flowers, joined by notes of crushed stone, hazelnut and delicately integrated oak spice.

On the palate, the wine is silky and concentrated, with the natural breadth and generosity associated with Charmes. Ripe orchard fruit and citrus flavors are supported by energetic acidity, fine mineral tension and a subtle savory nuttiness.

Despite its richness, the wine remains linear, elegant and beautifully controlled. The finish is long and focused, carrying persistent notes of citrus, minerals and oak spice. This is a powerful yet graceful Meursault with the structure to develop considerable complexity in bottle.

Professional Ratings

94+ Points — John Gilman, View From the Cellar John Gilman awarded the 2023 Meursault Premier Cru Charmes 94+ points, placing it among the highest-rated wines from Domaine Clos de la Chapelle’s 2023 collection.

93 Points — Wine Spectator "Silky in texture and exuding lemon, apple, mineral and oak spice aromas and flavors, this white is linear and elegant. Defined by its bracing acidity, this extends on the citrusy and spicy aftertaste. Best from 2027 through 2039. 75 cases made, 48 cases imported."

92 Points — Allen Meadows, Burghound Allen Meadows awarded the 2023 Meursault Premier Cru Charmes 92 points, recognizing the wine’s quality, structure and expression of this renowned Premier Cru vineyard.

The Domaine

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle is based in Bligny-lès-Beaune and takes its name from the historic Volnay Premier Cru Clos de la Chapelle monopole. The walled vineyard was acquired by Victor Boillot in 1865 and remained in the Boillot family for nearly 150 years.

The estate entered a new chapter in 2010 when Burgundy enthusiast Mark O’Connell and his Burgundian partners acquired the domaine. Since then, the vineyard holdings have expanded carefully to include prized parcels in Volnay, Pommard, Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses, Meursault and Corton.

The domaine remains extremely small, cultivating approximately five hectares divided among numerous individual vineyards. Its philosophy emphasizes meticulous vineyard work, hand harvesting, low yields and limited production, allowing each wine to express the character of its individual climat.

Food Pairing

This rich yet structured white Burgundy is an exceptional accompaniment to lobster, scallops, crab, turbot, halibut and sea bass. It also pairs beautifully with roast chicken, veal in cream sauce, mushroom risotto, foie gras and richly textured cheeses.

Its combination of depth, freshness and gentle nuttiness makes it particularly successful with grilled lobster, shellfish in butter or cream sauce, poultry with morels and aged Comté.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve cool but not overly chilled, ideally between 50 and 54°F. A young bottle may be opened approximately 30 minutes before serving to allow its aromas and texture to develop.

The wine may be enjoyed for its youthful fruit and energy, but its acidity, concentration and old-vine depth make it an excellent candidate for extended cellaring. Wine Spectator recommends drinking it from 2027 through 2039.

Producer: Domaine Clos de la Chapelle
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Subregion: Côte de Beaune
Village: Meursault
Appellation: Meursault Premier Cru
Vineyard: Charmes
Classification: Premier Cru
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Vineyard Holding: 0.125 hectare
Vine Age: Planted in 1950
Soil: Reddish-brown, clay-rich soil over Burgundy limestone
Aging: Approximately 14 months in barrel
Alcohol: 13.5%
Wine Type: Dry white wine
Bottle Size: 750ml

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle Meursault Premier Cru Charmes 2023

95 Points — Wine Spectator
94 Points — Jasper Morris, MW, Inside Burgundy

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle’s 2023 Corton-Charlemagne is a profound and exceptionally limited expression of one of Burgundy’s most celebrated white-wine vineyards. Produced entirely from Chardonnay, it combines the natural richness and power of the Corton hill with vibrant acidity, stony minerality and the remarkable precision for which the finest Corton-Charlemagne wines are known.

The Place

Corton-Charlemagne is a Grand Cru appellation situated at the northern end of Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune, where the rounded Hill of Corton rises above the villages of Aloxe-Corton, Pernand-Vergelesses and Ladoix-Serrigny. The appellation occupies the hill’s higher, cooler slopes at approximately 280 to 330 meters above sea level.

These elevated vineyards are planted on steep slopes composed of limestone, marl and thin, stony soils. The combination of altitude, exposure and mineral-rich geology gives Corton-Charlemagne its distinctive balance of concentration, freshness and long-lived structure. Although the appellation covers approximately 60 hectares currently under production, individual domaine holdings are often extremely small.

The Vineyard

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle farms just 0.30 hectare—less than one acre—of Corton-Charlemagne. Its parcel is located on the Pernand-Vergelesses side of the hill, facing west, and is planted with approximately 45-year-old Chardonnay vines. The soils contain a high proportion of limestone and marl, contributing to the wine’s firm mineral backbone, chalky texture and naturally persistent finish.

Production is correspondingly tiny, making this one of the domaine’s rarest and most sought-after bottlings.

The Grape

100% Chardonnay. Corton-Charlemagne is reserved exclusively for white Grand Cru Burgundy produced from Chardonnay. In this remarkable terroir, the grape develops considerable body and concentration while retaining the acidity, mineral tension and definition necessary for extended bottle aging.

Winemaking

Following harvest and sorting, the grapes are whole-cluster pressed. After a short settling of the juice, fermentation takes place in barrel with native yeasts. The wine is then matured in barrel for approximately 12 to 18 months, depending upon the character of the vintage, followed by a light fining before bottling.

Jasper Morris noted that the 2023 was produced from five barrels, with the fruit pressed without prior crushing and one barrel reserved for a longer period of élevage.

Tasting Notes

The 2023 opens with expansive aromas of lemon, ripe apple, fresh citrus, crushed stone and discreetly toasted oak. With air, additional notes of white flowers, orchard fruit and subtle spice begin to emerge.

The palate is broad and expressive yet beautifully controlled, supported by vibrant acidity and a firm, steely mineral backbone. Ripe citrus and apple flavors are layered with chalk, stone and finely integrated oak. There is impressive depth through the middle of the palate, followed by a long, focused and seemingly endless finish marked by freshness, chalky texture and mouthwatering mineral persistence.

This is a powerful yet precise Corton-Charlemagne: already expressive, but structured to reward patient cellaring.

Professional Ratings

95 Points Wine Spectator This white is expansive and expressive, with lemon, apple tart, citronella, stone and toasty oak aromas and flavors. Delineated by vibrant acidity, with well-integrated oak and a chalky feel on the seemingly endless finish.

94 Points — Jasper Morris, MW, Inside Burgundy 5 barrels, without crushing before pressing, one will be kept back for a longer elevage. Quite a deep yellow. The bouquet is very different to Pierre Meurgey’s Corton-Charlemagne (more or less the same fruit but some was crushed), the Clos de la Chapelle version offering more precision but less character. This version has a steely backbone, some ripe citrus, a little flesh, medium tension, apples at the back. Just needs a little more tension for the 4th star. Barrel Sample: 92-94

The Domaine

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle is based in Volnay and takes its name from the historic Volnay Premier Cru Clos de la Chapelle monopole, acquired by Victor Boillot in 1865. After remaining with the Boillot family for nearly 150 years, the estate was acquired in 2010 by Burgundy enthusiast Mark O’Connell and his Burgundian partners.

Today, the domaine cultivates approximately five hectares divided among 16 vineyards, including prized Premier Cru and Grand Cru parcels in Volnay, Pommard, Beaune, Meursault and Corton. Annual production is extremely limited, totaling approximately 2,000 cases across the entire estate.

Food Pairing and Service

Serve at approximately 54–57°F. This structured, mineral-driven white Burgundy is an exceptional partner for lobster, scallops, halibut, sea bass, crab, roast poultry, veal in cream sauce, escargots and richly textured cheeses such as Comté or Délice de Bourgogne.

While the wine may be enjoyed young with decanting, Corton-Charlemagne is renowned for its ability to develop for decades. Additional bottle age will allow its citrus, stone and oak elements to integrate while revealing more complex notes of honey, toasted nuts, truffle and spice.

Region: Burgundy, France
Subregion: Côte de Beaune
Appellation: Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
Village Area: Pernand-Vergelesses side of the Hill of Corton
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Vineyard Holding: 0.30 hectare
Vine Age: Approximately 45 years
Soil: Limestone and marl
Wine Type: Dry white wine
Bottle Size: 750ml

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2023

94 Points — Vinous

The prestige bottling. The finest vintage. The most celebrated designation in grower Champagne. Henri Goutorbe's 2015 Cuvée Special Club is the house at its most refined and expressive — a Pinot Noir-driven vintage Champagne from Aÿ Grand Cru, produced under the Special Club designation reserved for top members of the Club Trésors de Champagne. Disgorged October 2024 after nearly a decade in the cellar, it captures both the personality of the generous 2015 vintage and the pedigree of one of Champagne's most celebrated villages.

The Special Club Designation

The Club Trésors de Champagne is an association of elite grower-producers committed to expressing individual terroir and village character. Members may only release a Special Club bottling in years they deem exceptional, and each wine must pass a blind tasting panel before it can carry the designation. The distinctive embossed bottle is a guarantee of quality, provenance and the producer's highest ambitions for that vintage.

The Place: Aÿ Grand Cru

Henri Goutorbe is based in Aÿ, one of Champagne's 17 Grand Cru villages and the historic heartland of Pinot Noir in the Vallée de la Marne. Aÿ's south-facing slopes, deep chalk soils and warm mesoclimate allow Pinot Noir to achieve exceptional ripeness and concentration, producing wines with body, ripe red and dark fruit, and a distinctly vinous character. The village's chalk-rich geology preserves freshness and mineral tension, preventing the wines from becoming heavy or overripe.

The Blend

The 2015 Special Club is composed of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, sourced from the estate's finest Grand Cru parcels in Aÿ. Pinot Noir provides the wine's structure, depth and ripe red-fruit character; Chardonnay contributes freshness, lift and the mineral precision that gives the wine its elegant, long-lived profile.

The 2015 Vintage

The warm, generous 2015 growing season produced concentrated, expressive fruit throughout Champagne. In Aÿ, Pinot Noir achieved excellent ripeness while retaining the acidity and structure necessary for extended aging. The vintage delivered the depth and personality required for a Special Club bottling — a wine designed to reward patience and develop complexity over many years in the cellar.

Winemaking and Aging

The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted. Vinification follows traditional methods, with fermentation in temperature-controlled tanks and extended aging on the lees in bottle. The wine was disgorged in October 2024 — nearly a decade after the harvest — allowing it to develop the layered complexity, refined mousse and subtle oxidative depth that define a mature prestige Champagne.

Tasting Notes

The 2015 Special Club opens with layered aromas of kirsch, cinnamon, dried flowers, ginger, citrus confit and marzipan. With air, notes of ripe orchard fruit, baked apple, toasted brioche, roasted nuts and subtle pastry cream emerge, underscored by delicate mineral tension.

The palate is broad and vinous yet precise, with fine mousse, impressive concentration and a long, elegant finish marked by pear, lemon curd, spice and chalky tension. Vinous describes the finish as deceptively long and understated — a thing of beauty — and notes that the wine has been gently shaped by the passage of time in a way that reveals the essence of Aÿ in a ten-year-old Champagne.

Professional Ratings

94 Points — Vinous (December 2025): The 2015 Special Club is a very pretty, expressive wine that captures the essence of Aÿ in a ten-year-old Champagne. Kirsch, cinnamon, dried flowers, ginger, citrus confit and marzipan all caress the palate. Readers looking for a Champagne that has been gently shaped by the passage of time will find that here. The deceptively long, understated finish is a thing of beauty. This is one of the finest Champagnes I have tasted from Goutorbe in some time. Disgorged October 2024.

The Producer

Henri Goutorbe is a historic family grower-producer based in Aÿ Grand Cru. The estate has farmed its own vineyards for generations and produces a range of Champagnes that reflect the depth, richness and mineral character of Aÿ terroir. The Goutorbe style is built around ripe Pinot Noir, careful vineyard work and traditional winemaking — producing Champagnes that are expressive, structured and age-worthy.

Food Pairing

Rich enough to enjoy on its own, the Special Club pairs beautifully with lobster, scallops, roast chicken, truffle dishes, foie gras, creamy cheeses and elegant seafood preparations. Its depth and Pinot Noir structure also make it an excellent partner for duck, veal and mushroom-based dishes.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve at approximately 50–54°F in a generous tulip-shaped Champagne glass or white-wine glass. Already showing beautifully, the 2015 has the structure and concentration to develop additional complexity through the early 2030s.

Producer: Henri Goutorbe
Cuvée: Cuvée Special Club
Vintage: 2015
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Subregion: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Aÿ Grand Cru
Classification: Grand Cru
Style: Vintage Brut Champagne
Blend: 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay
Disgorgement: October 2024
Harvest: Hand harvested
Wine Type: Dry sparkling wine
Bottle Size: 750ml