The estate holds 5 Grand Cru hectares in Montrachet which include some of the most distinguished parcels of Les Pucelles, Le Clavoillon, Les Combettes and Les Folatiers Puloigny. In respect for Burgundian tradition, long natural fermentations in oak casks, stirring of the lees up until winter and maturation for two years in the cellar are applied under meticulous care. Only when necessary is the wine then homeopathically fined and lightly filtered. You simply cannot help but love the way Anne-Claude Leflaive describes her world renowned wine: “If you drink it when you are feeling tired or sad, you will feel happy and full of life.”
(with a few exceptions that are in stock here now)
Stephen Tanzer 93-95 points “Bright medium yellow. Sexy aromas of peach, nectarine and brown spices, plus hints of wild cherry and fraise des bois. Quite full, rich and powerful, with a distinctly tactile quality to the saline iodine and mineral flavors. This ripe, brooding wine finishes with inexorable persistence. This has 13.45% alcohol and a post-malo pH of 3.1, according to Eric Remy.”Domaine Leflaive Bien-Batard Montrachet 2011 ($499.95) $379 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Spectator 96 points “A focused, vibrant style, fluid and open. This is packed with lime, hazelnut, citronella and apple flavors that just keep coming through the long aftertaste. Creamy and lively at once, picking up a mineral accent on the finish. Best from 2017 through 2028. 120 cases imported.”
Burghound 92-94 points “Very fresh aromas of honeysuckle, oak nuances and mandarin orange possess really lovely purity and complexity. The sleekly muscled and palate coating flavors possess good size and weight as well as an excellent sense of focus and precision on the delicious, long and stylish finish. A lovely Bienvenues that offers both length and depth as well as the same silkiness as the Combettes. This should drink well young but also reward 10 to 12 years of cellar time.”Domaine Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc 2011 ($59.95) $49 special, ***18 bottles available
Burghound 86-89 points “A very pretty and reasonably complex nose features notes of citrus peel, white flower and peach aromas. There is good vibrancy to the lightly mineral-inflected middle weight flavors that possess good verve and better than average depth and length. This should be very good and is worth a look.”Domaine Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc 2012 ($69.95) $59 special, ***12 bottles available
“An airy and attractively layered nose presents primarily floral, pear and citrus peel aromas. The energetic but impressively rich flavors exhibit a lovely texture, indeed this is finer than most examples of the genre, all wrapped in a saline-inflected finish where the citrus character telegraphed by the nose reappears.”—Burghound
Domaine Leflaive Chevalier Montrachet 2012 ($799.95) $619 special, ***2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 94-97 points “Fresh aromas of white peach, pineapple, lime and crushed stone. Rich, thick and full but with a pungent vein of stony minerality running through the wine and giving it energy and lift. Wonderfully silky and fine-grained grand cru with superb volume and a slowly building, extremely long finish. Before I tasted this approximation of the final blend, I tried the two components of this wine, from the top and lower parts of the vineyard. The Chevalier du Haut, which was near the end of its malo, showed an almost painful spine of acidity and minerality and a rather strict, calcaire-driven finish of lemon oil and iodine. The Chevalier du Bas was distinctly more floral and smoky on the nose and sweeter and more lush in the mouth, without quite the mineral tension of the first sample. But these two components should be extremely complementary.”
Domaine Leflaive Macon-Verze 2012 ($49.95) $39 special, 3+ cases available
Domaine Leflaive Meursault 2012 ($179.95) $149 special, ***2 bottles available
Burghound 89-92 points “While there is noticeable reduction it’s not so much that the ripeness of the underlying fruit cannot be seen. The mouth feel of the medium weight flavors is finer than the Puligny villages but not as concentrated and here too there is that lovely sense of tension to the clean, dry, linear and citrus-inflected finale. This will also need a minimum of 3 to 5 years of cellar time before it will begin to display some of its potential.”
Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 2011 ($109.95) $79 special, ***3+ cases available
Burghound 88-91 points “A similar if less expressive nose is trimmed in just enough wood to notice. There is really lovely purity of expression to the energetic and beautifully well-detailed medium weight flavors that are notably tighter and better focused before terminating in a lightly mineral-inflected, dry and persistent finish. This should also be lovely with a few years of bottle age.”
Domaine Leflaive Puligny Clavoillon 2011 ($139.95) $99 special, ***5 cases available
Wine Spectator 94 points “Terrific from start to finish, this white starts out with lime blossom, apple, citronella and mineral aromas and flavors. Creamy yet fluid, intense yet airy, with harmony and a long aftertaste of citrus and stone. Best from 2016 through 2026.”
Domaine Leflaive Puligny Clavoillon 2012 ($199.95) $159 special, ***12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 90-92 points “(tasted near the end of its malolactic fermentation): Peach and a grilled note on the nose and palate; still a bit lactic. Fatter and sweeter than the village wine but suaver too. Finishes broad, quite dry and long. This struck me as like a baby Batard.”
Domiane Leflaive Puligny Combette 2009 ($219.95) $179 special, ***5 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Pale yellow with a green tinge. Musky, discreet nose hints at lime and nut oil. Dense, ripe and lush; shows sweet notes of vanilla and hazelnut but this is very tightly coiled today in the mid-palate. Explosive on the back end, finishing with excellent breadth and flavor intensity and a slightly tannic impression. Terrific volume here.”
Domaine Leflaive Puligny Folatiers 2009 ($219.95) $179 special, ***12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer and Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2009 Puligny-Montrachet Folatieres is at once brighter and flashier than the Clavoillons. I especially like the vibrant minerality here. Yellow stone fruits flesh out the mid-palate and finish nicely in this expressive, radiant wine that captures the essence of the year. Remy comments that he tends to use barrels with lower levels of toast for the Folatieres to compensate for the richness the fruit provides on its own. Anticipated maturity: 2014+.”
Domaine Leflaive Puligny Pucelles 2009 ($249.95) $199 special, ***12 bottles available
Burghound and Stephen Tanzer 93 points “A notably ripe but still reasonably classic Pucelles nose of honeysuckle, citrus and white orchard fruit aromas, in particular pear, leads to rich, forward and wonderfully opulent medium-bodied flavors that brim with dry extract that coats the palate on the refined and impressively long finish. As it always is, this is a classy wine of finesse but with a generous side to it in 2009.”BH
Domaine Leflaive Puligny Pucelles 2011 ($279.95) $229 special, 2 bottles available
Burghound 91-94 points “A broad-ranging nose is comprised of honeysuckle, anise, clove, lemongrass, brioche and pear. There is an appealing sense of volume to the beautifully delineated, serious, textured and energetic flavors that are both classy and stylish, all wrapped in a hugely long yet impeccably balanced finish where a touch of wood influence surfaces. A classic Pucelles of generosity and refinement that should amply reward up to a decade of cellaring.”
Domaine Leflaive Puligny Pucelles 2012 ($349.95) $299 special, ***2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92-95 points “Pale, bright yellow. Ripe, rich aromas of peach fuzz and grilled nuts, plus a distinct cyanic peach pit note. Offers impressive volume without undue weight, with the fruit currently in the deep background as the malo is in its latter stages. Best today on the subtle, slowly mounting finish, which displays terrific mineral grip. This should age gracefully and last well.”
*** Arriving in September
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Expressive yellow stone fruits, spices, graphite and subtle French oak flow from the 2011 Chablis Les Clos Clos des Hospices. Hints of slate, smoke and oyster shells come to life on the beautifully delineated finish. There is great energy in the glass, but this is an infant. Here, too, I have a slight preference for the 2011 over the 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2013+.”Laurent Tribut Beauroy, Chablis Premier Cru 2011 ($44.95) $36 special, 8 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 89-91 points “Reticent nose hints at grapefruit, crushed stone and menthol. Juicy, spicy and rather round, with citrus and stone flavors opening in the glass. Ultimately sweeter and softer than the Cote de Lechet, and nicely concentrated for the year. This wine has been in older barrels for the past three months; it will be racked and assembled in September.”
Domaine Faiveley Les Clos, Chablis Grand Cru 2011 ($79.95) $66 special, 30 bottles available
Burghound 92 points “A classic Les Clos nose of oyster shell, white flowers and wet stone leads to intensely mineral-inflected and broad-shouldered flavors that display cuts-like-a-knife delineation before culminating in a clean and very dry finish. There is a note of petrol to the finish that adds to the unmistakable Chablis character.”
Domaine Faiveley Les Preuses, Chablis Grand Cru 2011 ($74.95) $59 special, 3+ cases available
Burghound 91 points “This offers markedly better complexity on the cool and pure aromas of iodine, tidal pool and white orchard fruit. There is fine intensity to the attractively mineral-driven medium-bodied flavors that are at once succulent yet precise, all wrapped in a harmonious and beautifully lingering finish.”
William Fevre Les Clos, Chablis Grand Cru 2004 ($179.95) $149 special, 24 bottles available
Burghound 95 points “Stylistically, this closely resembles the Valmur with its ultra elegant and pure aromas featuring white flowers, oyster shell and subtle spice notes that perfectly complement the round, powerful, rich and full-bodied flavors that coating the mouth and culminate in a saliva-inducing, incredibly intense finish that reminded me more than a little of a great Corton-Charlemagne. This just oozes minerality and the texture is minerally to the point of this resembling a block of stone. A great Les Clos”
William Fevre Valmur, Chablis Grand Cru 2010 ($109.95) $89 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2010 Chablis Valmur captures the essence of the vintage. It represents everything Chablis is and can be. Gunflint, slate, oyster shells, white flowers and citrus are just some of the many notes that emerge from this finely sculpted, chiseled wine. In 2010, the Valmur possesses stunning nuance and tons of delineation. It finishes with notable persistence and an element of austerity that is not totally typical of Valmur, but that is, nevertheless, highly appealing. Anticipated maturity: 2013+.”
William Fevre Vignoble de Vaulorent Fourchaume, Chablis Premier Cru 2010 ($74.95) $59 special, 7 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2010 Chablis Vaulorent is striking. It shows plenty of richness but very little in the way of excess weight. There is plenty of depth waiting to emerge from this expressive, mineral-drenched Chablis. Mint, flowers and white stone fruits wrap around the pure, beautifully delineated finish. Anticipated maturity: 2013+.”
William Fevre Bougros, Chablis Grand Cru 2010 ($89.95) $79 special, 7 bottles available
Burghound 92-95 points “A restrained nose of citrus, floral, mineral reduction and algae slides into impressively rich, powerful, serious and concentrated flavors that are almost painfully intense on the explosive and strikingly long finish. This is a classic Bougros with its robust and muscular big-bodied flavors.”
William Fevre Bougros Cote Bouguerots, Chablis Grand Cru 2009 ($89.95) $79 special, 36 bottles available
Burghound 95 points “This is a big step up in refinement, particularly aromatically with an abundance of oyster shell and tidal pool nuances that add breadth to the white flower, citrus and Chablis-style green fruit. The rich, powerful and mouth coating flavors possess real drive but also beautiful detail on the intensely mineral-driven finish that possesses outstanding length. This is really quite dry, at least within the context of the 2009 vintage. In a word, terrific.”
William Fevre Les Preuses, Chablis Grand Cru 2009 ($99.95) $89 special, 15 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2009 Chablis Les Preuses is one of the most complete wines in this lineup. It possesses striking delineation of aromas and flavors, with nuance after nuance that emerge in the glass. It is another of the weightless wines here in that it is full of flavor but never heavy. Intense notes of minerality and smokiness grace the textured, sublime finish. This is a fabulous effort from Fevre and Didier Seguier. The Preuses is made from two parcels; the first an east-facing steep slope, the second a flatter parcel richer in clay with a southwest exposure. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. ” WA
Burghound 95 points “discreet touch of wood sets off fresh, cool and reserved aromas that are elegant, airy and citrusy before merging into rich, intense, pure and admirably precise medium-bodied flavors that possess really lovely balance and superb length. While there is also an almost invisible hint of wood on the backend, it should be absorbed quickly and overall, this is a spherical wine of perfect proportions and class.” BH
William Fevre Vaudesir, Chablis Grand Cru 2009 ($89.95) $79 special, 21 bottles available
Burghound 94 points “A mildly exotic and atypically reticent nose that is ripe yet airy showcases aromas of orange peel, peach and hints of roasted nut and iodine, before leading to rich, even opulent medium plus weight flavors that are delicious, round and strikingly persistent on the mouth coating and moderately austere finish. This has really come together since I last saw it and like the Bougros, this is quite a bit more refined than I’m used to seeing. An excellent example.”
William Fevre Vaudesir, Chablis Grand Cru 2010 ($89.95) $79 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2010 Chablis Vaudesir is pure class and elegance. Layers of subtle, perfumed fruit caress the palate in this highly expressive Chablis. Everything is in the right place. The 2010 is all about subtlety. This is one of the more finessed Fevre 2010s. I love the balance of aromatics, fruit and acidity. Anticipated maturity: 2013+.”
Thomas Pico Domaine Pattes Loup Chablis 2012 ($31.95) $28 special, 23 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2012 Chablis is gorgeous. Bright, saline notes jump from the glass in an intensely mineral, layered Chablis loaded with class and personality. Hints of sage, licorice and hazelnut develop later, but it is the wine’s vibrancy that stands out most. The 2012 will offer immense pleasure upon release. It is a terrific effort from Thomas Pico. This is the only Pattes Loup wine done in tank. The 2012 was bottled in February 2014” AG
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “Full straw color. Orange oil and spices on the nose, with a leesy nuance and a suggestion of honeyed ripeness. Rich, spicy and concentrated, with ripe stone and soft citrus fruit flavors framed by harmonious acidity and an element of dusty stone. Ripe, pliant, tactile village wine with lovely shimmering energy on the back end. This would be perfect with oysters.” ST
Thomas Pico Domaine Pattes Loup Les Beauregards, Chablis Premier Cru 2012 ($44.95) $41 special, 32 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “A gorgeous, totally expressive wine, the 2012 Chablis Beauregard sizzles on the palate with intense, piercing acidity and fabulous overall balance. This is one of the brighter, more intensely saline wines in the range. With time in the glass, the fruit begins to open up, adding texture and richness to the underlying beams of minerality. In 2012, the Beauregard is marked by a real sense of phenolic weight and richness, with distinct red-fruit overtones that are impossible to miss.” AG
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Pale yellow-gold. Aromas of orange zest and spices are complicated by a trace of nutty lees. Plump, broad, spicy and sweet, showing fine-grained, open-knit flavors of very ripe peach and soft citrus fruits. Distinctly sweeter than the Cote de Jouan but the dusty, tactile finish displays precise notes of tangerine and minerals.” ST
Thomas Pico Domaine Pattes Loup Butteaux, Chablis Premier Cru 2012 ($44.95) $41 special, 29 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “All of the elements of Pico style come together in the 2012 Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux, a wine that brings together considerable depth in its fruit along with bright, expressive minerality. All the elements fall into place in a gracious, deeply expressive Chablis bursting with pure class. Slate, silex and crushed rocks add brightness and tension on the close. Readers who can find the 2012 should not hesitate; it is striking. This is without question one of the truly great wines of the vintage.”
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Pale yellow-gold. Cooler and more reticent on the nose than the Beauregard, offering hints of orange zest, ginger and crushed stone. Then surprisingly plush and broad, showing sexy floral lift to the mineral and spice flavors. Turns more taut on the back end than the Beauregard, finishing tactile, long and extract-rich, with bright lemon and spice notes and noteworthy breadth.” ST
Thomas Pico Domaine Pattes Loup Cote de Jouans, Chablis Premier Cru 2012 ($44.95) $41 special, 3+ cases available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Thomas Pico’s 2012 Chablis Côtes de Jouan is soft, supple and hugely delicious to the core. Ripe apricot, peach, cinnamon and crushed rock blossom in a Chablis built on pure texture and resonance. Bright saline notes kick in the finish, adding a further layer of complexity to this striking Chablis. As always, the Côtes de Jouan is the most overt and forward of the wines at Pattes Loup. Thomas Pico’s preference for picking late comes through noticeably here.”
Wine Advocate 90-91+ points “Through vintage 2011, the wines were raised in older barriques, but beginning with 2012, Pico has introduced some new demi-muids crafted in France and Austria (from French oak). From barrel, the Pattes Loup 2012 Chablis Cotes de Jouan delivers a chalky, bright lemony, piquantly fruit pit-tinged performance that searches every recess of one-s palate, then leaves it feeling cleansed and invigoratingly scoured even as mineral, citric and cyanic notes deposit a long-lasting and mouthwatering residue. Look for a run of excitingly intense if potentially sparely-textured performances through at least 2020. ” WA
Domaine Servin Butteaux, Chablis Premier Cru 2012 ($37.95) $31 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91-92+ points “Fresh lime and lemon brightness typical for this vintage and this relatively cool, clay-rich site are wreathed in iris and gentian on the nose of Servin’s 2012 Chablis Butteaux. A firmer palate and more restrained subtlety of floral and mineral elements than in most of the other wines of its collection, gives way to an impressively focused and pure-fruited finish transparent to chalk and flowers and tinged with mouthwatering salinity. Look for outstanding showings through at least 2020.”
Domaine Servin Chablis Premiere Cuvee Les Pargues 2012 ($24.95) $21 special, 3+ cases available
Wine Advocate 90-91 points “The Servin 2012 Chablis Premier Cuvee Les Pargues–from a site of manifestly but never official cru quality and constituting, as usual, a selection of tanks from old vines to be bottled late and unfiltered for U.S. importer Peter Weygandt–leads with a fantastic nose that could only come from Chablis. Sweet-saline shrimp and lobster shell reductions vie for attention with Normandie Sydre-like apple and pear, migrating onto a lush, succulently-juicy palate and leading to a mouthwatering finish still full of mysterious crustacean appeal as well as marked by chalky and faintly acrid and metallic but undeniably invigorating notes. This should perform with distinction through at least 2017.”
Domaine Servin Petit Chablis Sur Les Clos 2013 ($24.95) $21 special, 23 bottles available
“(bottled two weeks before my visit; nearly 13% alcohol; from the plateau above Les Clos): Exotic orange on the nose and palate. Juicy, soft and easygoing, offering good texture for the category and a lightly saline finish.”–Stephen Tanzer
Rene et Vincent Dauvissat-Camus Les Preuses, Chablis Grand Cru 2011 ($249.95) $219 special, 5 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95 points, Stephen Tanzer 94(+?) points “(these vines were planted in 1970): Reticent aromas of citrus zest, warm stones, baked bread and white flowers. The palate offers compelling sucrosite perfectly buffered by a bright lemon flavor and an underlying crushed-rock character that stands in for the wine’s average acidity. Very young but already long on personality. Finishes with piquant saline and stone notes.” ST
Rene et Vincent Dauvissat-Camus Les Clos, Chablis Grand Cru 2011 ($249.95) $219 special, 4 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 96 points “Pale yellow. Bracing aromas of lemon, ginger, chalk and spices. At once dense and penetrating, with outstanding citric cut to the complex, slightly high-toned flavors of lemon zest, white pepper, minerals and subtle resiny spices. Here, too, the wine’s intense chalky character gives it an impression of stronger acidity than the numbers would suggest. Boasts terrific fruit intensity, and the wonderfully precise finish goes on and on. A great showing today, and one of the superstars of the vintage.”
White Cote d’Or & Cote d’Nuits
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Meursault Santenots, Meursault Premier Cru 2008 ($79.95) $59 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2008 Meursault Les Santenots is powerful yet balanced in a broad, expansive style that caresses the palate with tons of rich, honeyed fruit. Lighter, floral notes appear on the finish, adding brightness to what is otherwise a fairly masculine style of Meursault. All of the elements work nicely here. Anticipated maturity: 2013+. ”
Domaine A. & P. De Villaine Bourgogne Cote Chalonnaise Les Clous Aime Blanc 2012 ($39.95) $33 special, 4 bottles available
Maison Deux Montille Soeur et Frere Les Coeres, Montagny Premier Cru 2010 ($39.95) $33 special, 19 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Bright pale yellow. Tight, pure aromas of lime, quinine and ginger. Chewy, dense and rich, with brisk citrus fruits and saline minerality energizing the middle palate. Finishes tactile and impressively long for Montagny.”
Maison Deux Montille Soeur et Frere Champ Gain, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2010 ($99.95) $79 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2010 Puligny-Montrachet Champ Gains is another round, harmonious wine well-suited for near-term drinking. Light floral notes develop in the glass, giving the 2010 an extra dimension of volume and texture that flows through to a gracious finish supported by insistent veins of minerality. This is another utterly delicious wine with plenty of 2010 vintage character. Anticipated maturity: 2012+.”
Domaine des Lambrays Clos du Cailleret, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2010 ($159.95) $139 special, 3 bottles available
Burghound 93 points “Here the nose is similar to that of the Folatières but is more complex still as there are spice and more obvious stone hints that carry over to the exceptionally well-detailed and highly energetic flavors where the underlying minerality seems extracted directly from liquid rock. There is excellent mid-palate concentration as well as a lovely interplay between the acidity, fruit and supporting dry extract, all wrapped in an explosive finish. Classy and impeccably well-balanced juice.”
Dominique Lafon Les Epenottes, Beaune Premier Cru 2010 ($99.95) $79 special, 18 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2010 Beaune Epenottes fleshes out beautifully in the glass with dark red berries, spices and licorice. This is an incredibly expressive, layered wine built on a serious core of fruit buffered by the vibrant minerality of the year. Anticipated maturity: 2012+.”
Dominique Lafon Bourgogne Blanc 2010 ($34.95) $24 special, 18 bottles available
“The 2010 Bourgogne Blanc is gorgeous. It reveals lovely depth and roundness, with expressive fruit, nuanced aromatics and tremendous overall balance. This is an unusually refined wine within its peer group. The 2010 was made from grapes sourced in St. Veran. Beginning in 2011, the Bourgogne will include fruit from Meursault that Lafon gained access to through the purchase of Domaine Manuel. Anticipated maturity: 2012+. These are the first wines I have tasted from Dominique Lafon’s new label, which he directs entirely on his own. Dominique Lafon is making his wines in a slightly different style than he has become known for at Comtes Lafon, his family’s iconic estate in Meursault. The Dominique Lafon wines are a little bit more laid back and restrained.”–Antonio Galloni
Etienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet 2011 375ML ($41.95) $33 special, 13 half-bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 87-90 points “(I tasted an assemblage of all five components): Sexy nose combines white flowers, spices and musky lees. Fat, plush and sweet, with a firm mineral edge giving the mid-palate a more chiseled quality than the Chassagne villages. The citrus and dusty stone finish conveys an impression of grip and firmness.”
Domaine Faiveley Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2009 ($269.95) $199 special, 4 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Palish green-yellow. Crushed stone, lemon-lime, hazelnut and a whiff of leesy complexity on the explosive nose. Boasts terrific density and sucrosite but with excellent acid backbone and firm minerality providing lift and shape. Best today on the long finish, which features palate-staining red grapefruit and crushed stone flavors. These 50-year-old vines are planted in deep soil, but there’s a lot of minerality in the subsoil, notes Hervet. Offers superb potential, but the 2008 may be even better.”
Domaine Faiveley Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2010 ($249.95) $179 special, 16 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 95-97 points “Aroma of cold steel. Great energy to the flavors of crushed rock and citrus fruits. A wine of outstanding richness and chewy texture, this Corton-Charlemagne washes over the palate like a wave. An infant today but destined for a long life in bottle. Conveys an impression of great solidity. (I also loved the Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet for its exhilarating acid/sugar balance and spicy, citric intensity, but neither it nor Faiveley’s more austere Batard was near the end of its secondary fermentation. The Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatieres showed a piquant floral quality and terrific sappy length.)”
Domaine Faiveley Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2011 ($249.95) $189 special, 18 bottles available
Burghound 92-94 points “Here too the wood treatment is quite deft which allows the cool Granny Smith apples, pear, wet stone and spice scents to shine. There is also a seductive mouth feel to the broad-shouldered, supple and round flavors that brim with dry extract before displaying plenty of power and punch on the seriously long finish. This is easily the most backward wine in the range at present yet the impression is unusually fine, both in the context of the appellation but also in the context of this wine in general as it’s usually more robust. Be all of that as it may, this is very, very promising.”
Domaine Faiveley Les Folatieres, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 ($99.95) $79 special, 9 bottles available
Burghound 90-93 points ‘OUTSTANDING’ “A beautifully complex, cool and elegant nose of acacia blossom, white orchard fruit and plenty of wet stone nuances complements the equally stony, intense and ultra-pure medium weight flavors that possess outstanding detail and verve. I very much like the balance and refinement and this should be accessible young as there is fine mid-palate concentration and plenty of extract which imparts a fleshy mouth feel.”
Jean-Philippe Fichet Meursault 2011 ($59.95) $51 special, 8 bottles available
Burghound 88-91 points “There is a distinct hazelnut character to the white and yellow orchard fruit aromas that are trimmed in just enough wood to notice. There is good richness to the lightly mineral-inflected medium-bodied flavors that possess a fine sense of energy on the saline, clean and dry finish. A lovely villages that should repay 5 to 7 years of aging.”
Jean-Philippe Fichet Les Referts, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 ($119.95) $99 special, 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91+ points “Pale, bright yellow. Musky peach and a metallic quality on the reticent nose. Generous, ripe and silky, with a concentrated peach flavor nicely framed by excellent acidity. Less complex and showy today than the Tesson but with lovely underlying floral character. In a classically dry style but has the stuffing to support its firm spine of acidity. Finishes with considerable finesse and excellent length.”
Francois Carillon Les Combettes, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 ($119.95) $89 special, 21 bottles available
Burghound 90-92 points “This is also relatively reduced and difficult to read. There is a wonderfully elegant mouth feel to the vibrant, intense and well-delineated medium-bodied flavors that exude a lovely mineral streak on the saline-infused finish. This is not especially dense but the complexity and overall sense of refinement make for a harmonious effort that is worth considering.”
Francois Carillon Les Folatieres, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 ($89.95) $69 special, 2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 90-92 points “In a very ripe, powerful style, with aromas of peach and stone joined by spices and a saline quality in the mouth. Fat and round but firmed by palate-dusting minerality. Finishes fruit-driven and strong, with a hint of dusty tannins and a note of clove.”
Francois Carillon Les Referts, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 ($89.95) $69 special, 12 bottles available
Burghound 90-93 points “A reductive note along with a touch of petrol presently dominates the nose. There is a silky mouth feel to the solidly well-concentrated, intense and vibrant middle weight flavors where the underlying mineral component is even more prominent, all wrapped in a gorgeously long finish. This is not quite as refined as the Combettes but there’s just more here.”
Domaine Henri Boillot Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2011 ($349.95) $299 special, 4 bottles available
Burghound 95 points ‘DON’T MISS!’ “There s just enough reduction present to suppress the nose though it seems reasonably clear that it is both ripe and clean. There is superb size, weight and mid-palate density to the mouth coating big-bodied flavors that ooze dry extract that does a fine job of buffering the firm acid spine on the very dry, even saline-infused finish. While I would call this a wine of finesse in the same vein as the Bienvenues, it is relatively fine in the context of the appellation. Either way, this delivers outstanding quality though be aware that it’s going to need plenty of cellar time.”
Domaine Henri Boillot Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2011 ($299.95) $249 special, 12 bottles available
Burghound 94 points “This is also notably ripe but the aromas do not run to the exotic as the honeysuckle, apricot, white peach and subtle spice notes are entirely classic. There is an appealing succulence to the delicious, intense and strikingly fine medium-bodied flavors and while there is certainly a sense of focused power present on the long, clean and refined finish, this is essentially a Bienvenues of finesse.”
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Chaumees, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 ($84.95) $69 special, 16 bottles available
Burghound 91 points ‘OUTSTANDING’ “This is aromatically quite different from the Embrazées with an exceptionally pure and cool nose that features extract of white orchard fruit, lemon zest, wet stone and subtle spice nuances. There is a sophisticated mouth feel to the generous yet refined middle weight flavors that possess a remarkably well-delineated, even chiseled finish that avoids any hint of austerity.”
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Embrazees, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2010 ($99.95) $79 special, 7 bottles available
Burghound 92 points “An elegant and attractively cool nose of stone, pear and citrus nuances gives way to well-delineated and energetic flavors that terminate in a cuts-like-a-knife and mineral-inflected finish. This is also very dry with fine complexity and almost Chablis-like salinity on the balanced backend.”
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Embrazees, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 ($79.95) $69 special, 13 bottles available
Burghound 90 points “A discreet application of oak surrounds the notably ripe aromas of several different yellow orchard fruit scents along with hints of the exotic. There is an appealing succulence to the broad-scaled flavors that manage to retain a fine sense of detail on the lightly mineral-driven, saline and vibrant finish. If this can add a bit more depth with time in the cellar my score may prove to be overly conservative.”
Domaine Henri Boillot Criots-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2010 ($249.95) $199 special, 4 bottles available
Burghound 93 points “Moderate wood frames ripe, dense and expressive yellow orchard fruit that also evidences discreet notes of exotic elements. The equally well-concentrated, powerful and imposingly scaled flavors possess an abundance of palate soaking dry extract, indeed so much so that this displays an almost chewy mouth feel on the massively persistent finish. This is not at present extraordinarily complex though there is so much material that my score offers the benefit of the doubt that it will develop in time as this will need at least a decade to arrive at its peak.”
Domaine Henri Boillot Criots-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2011 ($269.95) $219 special, 9 bottles available
Burghound 93 points “This is notably riper than the Caillerets with overtly exotic dried yellow fruit, spice and floral aromas. There is outstanding richness to the powerful and broad-shouldered flavors that possess a distinctly muscular mouth feel before culminating in an opulent, clean and very dry finish. This retains a fine sense of balance and while there is certainly fine complexity, it isn’t at the same level as displayed by the other grands crus in the range.”
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Charmes, Meursault Premier Cru 2011 ($99.95) $79 special, 17 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “Pale, bright yellow-green. Subtle aromas of lemon, vanilla, white flowers and hawthorn. Silky and creamy on the palate, with a fine-grained texture and a touch of salinity. A delicate style of Charmes with an understated, slowly building finish. All in finesse.”
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Poruzots, Meursault Premier Cru 2011 ($99.95) $75 special, 13 bottles available
Burghound 91 points ‘OUTSTANDING “This is quite floral with additional aromas of white peach, yellow orchard fruit and resin. There is good volume and plenty of power to the sappy and mouth coating medium weight plus flavors that possess fine depth and excellent persistence. This is a big but balanced wine and very Poruzots in character.”
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Caillerets, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 ($149.95) $119 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “Another of the more intense wines here, the 2011 Puligny-Montrachet Les Caillerets stands out for its huge, extroverted personality. There is a pure drive and resonance in the aromas and flavors that is quite unusual for the vintage. Expressive yellow stone fruits, smoke and crushed rocks blossom on the large-scaled, muscular finish. Anticipated maturity: 2014+.”
Domaine Henri Boillot Clos de la Mouchere, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2010 ($179.95) $149 special, 4 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 95 (+?) points “Bright pale yellow. Soil-driven aromas of grapefruit, fresh dill and flinty minerality. Dense and brisk on entry, with outstanding grand cru intensity to the lemon and crushed stone flavors. Conveys a strong impression of silex. This boasts the sappiness of the best 2010s and finishes with outstanding stony, citric persistence. Like a slap in the face today, this wine demands at least several years of bottle aging, at which point it may merit an even higher score.”
Domaine Henri Boillot Puligny Montrachet Les Combettes, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 ($119.95) $99 special, 10 bottles available
Burghound 93 points ‘SWEET SPOT OUTSTANDING’ “(the first vintage of this wine for Boillot, following his recent purchase of this parcel): Pale green-tinged color. Sexy aromas of lemon, lime, ripe stone fruits and hazelnut. Lush and fine-grained, with silky flavors of stone fruits and hazelnut. Can’t quite match the Folatieres for finesse, but this has more volume and power.”
Louis Jadot Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2011 ($319.95) $249 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “Butter, floral and spice aromas and rich peach and melon flavors come together with the creamy texture in this intense and opulent white. Harmonious and expressive, but this will be even better in two to three years. Offers a lingering, complex aftertaste, where a mineral element emerges. Best from 2016 through 2027.”
John Gilman 95 points “The 2011 Bâtard-Montrachet from Louis Jadot is another brilliant wine in the making, soaring from the glass in a deep and very youthful aromatic blend of apple, lime zest, tangerine, complex soil tones, a touch of iodine and a gentle base of new wood. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and very powerfully-built, with a rock solid core, snappy acids and stunning focus and grip on the very young, structured and magical finish. A very pure and racy example of young Bâtard-Montrachet that has been built to last!…” JG
Louis Jadot Caillerets, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 ($54.95) $44 special, 19 bottles available
John Gilman 91+ points “The 2011 Jadot white Burgundy village wines are exceptionally strong in this vintage, and the Chassagne AC looks to be the pick of the litter! The deep and excellent bouquet offers up a classic mélange of apple, orange, lime zest, deep soil tones, vanillin oak and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, young and very deep, with a lovely sense of reserve, crisp acids and a very long, poised and laser-like finish of superb length and grip. The domaine has really been making an effort to produce better and better wines at the village wine level and these 2011s show that the effort has really paid off! A superb wine.”
Louis Jadot Caillerets, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2010 ($84.95) $69 special, 1 bottle available
John Gilman 93 points “The 2010 Caillerets from Maison Jadot is another excellent premier cru. The deep and very classy nose wafts from the glass in an elegant blend of lemon, pear, apple,spring flowers, a beautiful base of terres blanches and a deft base of new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and seamless, with a beautiful core of silky fruit, great intensity of flavor, brisk acids and a very long, pure and classy finish.”
Domaine des Heritiers Louis Jadot Les Demoiselles Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2011 ($399.95) $319 special, 3 bottles available
Burghound 93-95 points “An ultra-pure and high-toned nose of wet stone, spiced pear and acacia blossom and green apple is also trimmed in just enough oak to notice. The markedly stony broad-shouldered and tautly muscular flavors possess almost painful intensity on the crystalline and explosively long finish. 2011 is a vintage where the Demoiselles is bigger than it typically is yet there is absolutely no loss of refinement or elegance.”
Domaine des Heritiers Louis Jadot Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2011 ($139.95) $119 special, 9 bottles available
Burghound 92-95 points “Like the Montrachet, this is also presently quite aromatically reticent with its aromas of lemon/lime, wet stone and Granny Smith apples that are trimmed in a subtle application of warm oak. The equally expansive, taut and well-muscled broad-shouldered flavors possess an ample amount of dry extract and intensity on the driving finish that exhibits a faint saline character. I very much like the intensity here as well as the very dry backend and this should be superb if allowed adequate cellar time.”
Domaine des Heritiers Louis Jadot Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2010 ($189.95) $129 special, 16 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 96 points “Brilliant pale yellow. Precise, penetrating aromas of green melon, ginger, quinine and dusty stone. Silky on entry, then sappy and deep in the middle, with a powerful crushed stone character and strong limey acidity combining to give the wine uncanny energy. This is almost painful today. This extremely dense, long wine may ultimately surpass Jadot’s Chevalier-Montrachet.”
Louis Jadot Montrachet Grand Cru 2009 ($549.95) $449 special, 3 bottles available
John Gilman 95+ points “The 2009 Jadot Montrachet (which hails from the Chassagne side of the vineyard, by the way) is also exceptional. The nose offers up a great and compelling mélange of apple, white peach, lemon, great minerality, floral tones and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and superbly structured, with a rock solid core of fruit, beautiful focus and balance, impeccable grip and a very long, racy and refined finish. A wonderful bottle of wine. 2020-2050′
Louis Jadot Montrachet Grand Cru 2011 ($499.95) $419 special, 3 bottles available
Burghound 94-97 points “Here “The 2009 Jadot Montrachet (which hails from the Chassagne side of the vineyard, by the way) is also exceptional. The nose offers up a great and compelling mélange of apple, white peach, lemon, great minerality, floral tones and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and superbly structured, with a rock solid core of fruit, beautiful focus and balance, impeccable grip and a very long, racy and refined finish. A wonderful bottle of wine. 2020-2050′
Louis Jadot Meursault 2011 ($49.95) $41 special, 14 bottles available
John Gilman 91 points “The 2011 Meursault AC from Maison Jadot was really singing at the time of my visit and should prove to be an admirable value in this vintage. The very stylish nose offers up a complex base of apple, pear, tangerine, lightly-toasted almonds, spring flowers, chalky soil tones and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, crisp and complex, with fine focus and backend bounce, a very good core, zesty acids and excellent focus and grip on the very long and well-balanced finish. A fine, fine village wine”
Louis Jadot Puligny-Montrachet 2011 ($59.95) $49 special, 15 bottles available
Burghound 89-91 points “There is enough reduction present to render the nose hard to assess but the underlying fruit appears to be ripe. There is very fine volume and very good mid-palate concentration as the extract really coats the palate while simultaneously buffering the moderately firm acid spine on the seductively textured, clean and attractively dry finish. As is so often the case with this wine, it is an excellent villages and well worth considering.”
Louis Jadot Referts, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 ($69.95) $59 special, 9 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Very pale greenish-yellow color. Precise but restrained aromas of white peach, lime and mint. Juicy, firm and pure; not a particularly fat wine but still supple and pliant, showing good energy and lemony cut. Finishes brisk, pristine and floral. A big success in 2011, from vines harvested six days after the Combettes due to very slow ripening. Sexy already.”
Louis Jadot Domaine Gagey Clos des Guettes Blanc, Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru 2011 ($41.95) $33 special, 18 bottles available
John Gilman 90 points “The 2011 Clos des Guettes blanc is again a very pretty wine, with that telltale touch of pastry cream on both the nose and palate that indicates the malo was partially blocked here. The stylish and inviting bouquet is a lovely mélange of apple, orange, crème patissière, stony minerality and a touch of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and quite driven by its underlying minerality, with snappy acids and very fine length and grip on the youthful finish. This is very tasty, but will want a year or two in the cellar to fully blossom…”
Domaine Jacques-Frederic Mugnier Clos de la Marechale Blanc, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2010 ($119.95) $89 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The “The 2010 Nuits St. Georges Clos de la Marechale Blanc shows off fabulous balance and cool, insistent minerality. It boasts tremendous energy in its chiseled notes of lemon, crushed rocks and white flowers. The aromas, flavors and minerality are pure Chardonnay but there is a breadth to the wine that is unique and may be related to the fact that the Clos de la Marechale Blanc is made from Chardonnay grafted onto Pinot Noir rootstock. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018.”
Domaine Jacques-Frederic Mugnier Clos de la Marechale Blanc, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2011 ($119.95) $69 special, 4 bottles available
Burghound 87-89 points “There is enough wood to notice on the otherwise very fresh and pure nose of white peach, pear and soft floral aromas. There is good volume to the very round and rich medium weight flavors that possess good mid-palate concentration and an attractive texture, all wrapped in a lightly mineral-infused finish that offers moderate depth and length. This is very forward and should drink well almost immediately.”
Domaine Jean-Marc Boillot Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2010 ($269.95) $199 special, 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 94(+?) points “Full bright, pale yellow. White peach, pear and a whiff of orange zest on the nose. The flavors of stone fruits and minerals offer terrific penetration and intensity thanks to superb acidity and the low yield of the year. No easy sweetness about this one! Wonderfully tactile, brisk wine with chewy, saline finishing flavors that resound on the aftertaste. One of two barrels was new in 2010; Boudot made three and a half barrels in the more generous 2011 vintage.”
Domaine Jean-Marc Boillot Les Combettes, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2010 ($129.95) $89 special, 4 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 (+?) points “Good bright yellow. Ripe, rather powerful aromas of stone fruits, acacia flower and truffle. Dense and silky but also quite vibrant, with harmonious acidity giving shape to the very rich mid-palate. Very tactile, layered 2010 with an impressively long, sweet finish. Give this at least four or five years in the cellar.”
Domaine Jean-Marc Boillot La Garenne, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2010 ($99.95) $79 special, 8 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Pale bright yellow. Musky aromas of peach, citrus fruits and acacia flower. Juicy, intense and penetrating, with brisk citrus fruits and minerals dominating. Denser and riper than the 2011 version. Excellent acidity here: this vineyard almost always produces a fresh style. A superb vintage for this bottling, finishing very long and perfumed.”
Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault Clos de la Barre 2011 ($149.95) $125 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2011 Meursault Clos de la Barre was raised in used oak and bottled a little later than Dominique’s other 2011s. It has a generous bouquet that is spicier than the Village Cru with hints of smoked walnut emerging with time. The palate takes the tempo down a notch: mellow, refined and harmonious with beautifully integrated oak and a sumptuous lightly honeyed finish. Lovely. Drink now-2022+.”
Domaine des Comtes Lafon Genevrieres, Meursault Premier Cru 2007 ($319.95) $289 special, 2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Knockout aromas of musky lime, lemon, minerals and powdered stone; nothing exotic about this. Rich, sweet and wonderfully pure, offering an uncanny combination of intensity, power and elegance. Finishes with explosive length. An outstanding bottle of Meursault.”
Domaine des Comtes Lafon Les Gouttes d’Or, Meursault Premier Cru 2010 ($.95) $249 special, 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer 92+ points “Pale bright yellow. Superripe aromas of pineapple, peach and apricot verge on exotic. Sweet mid-palate fruit is nicely balanced by juicy acidity, which gives lift and a light touch to the peach and pear flavors. Finishes long and perfumed, with noteworthy breed for this bottling. Lovely wine with good aging potential.”
Domaine des Comtes Lafon Charmes, Meursault Premier Cru 2009 ($259.95) $219 special, 2 bottles available
Burghound 92-94 points “Aromatically, this is almost a hypothetical blend of the Genevrières and the Goutte d’Or but here there is even more intensity to the mineral-inflected medium-bodied flavors that evidence really lovely purity of expression on the explosive and driving finish. This is clearly a Charmes from the upper part of the vineyard as there is none of the borderline excessive generosity of the lower portion.”
Domaine des Comtes Lafon Charmes, Meursault Premier Cru 2011 ($249.95) $199 special, 5 bottles available
Burghound 92-94 points ” *Outstanding* A blend of fruit coming from 35+ and 75+ year old vines all in Charmes Dessus, which is the best part directly below Perrières and abutting Combettes. Here the pattern is reversed as the nose is less ripe; indeed here it is cool, restrained and positively backwards with its pure aromas of hazelnut, citrus, acacia blossom and extract of pear and white peach. There is terrific underlying tension and plenty of minerality to the medium-bodied flavors that possess almost painful intensity on the explosively persistent finish. This is first-rate though patience will be required. Drink 2021+” BH
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2011 Meursault 1er Cru Charmes is adorned with an elegant, vibrant bouquet with lime flower, citrus peel and quince that gains intensity in the glass. The palate is well-balanced with light honeyed notes furnishing the entry before it crescendos toward the finish that offers quince, grapefruit and passion fruit all struck with fine acidity and a cheeky hint of white chocolate just appearing on the aftertaste. There is a lot to take in here — a mercurial, thought-provoking Meursault. Drink 2015-2027.” WA
Domaine des Heritiers du Comte Lafon Macon Chardonnay Clos de la Crochette 2011 ($39.95) $31 special, 2 bottles available
Domaine des Heritiers du Comte Lafon Macon Chardonnay Clos de la Crochette 2012 ($44.95) $33 special, 12 bottles available
Domaine des Heritiers du Comte Lafon Macon Milly-Lamartine 2012 ($29.95) $24 special, 23 bottles available
Domaine des Heritiers du Comte Lafon Vire-Clesse, Maconnais 2012 ($44.95) $36 special, 24 bottles available
Lucien Le Moine Les Folatieres, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 ($149.95) $133 special, 8 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 91-94 points “The 2011 Puligny-Montrachet Folatieres is going to need serious time to come together. Today, it is the wine’s persistence and textural finesse that stand out most, even if all the elements haven’t fully come together just yet. There is a lot to look forward to here. It will be interesting to see if the wine retains the powerful personality that is on display today, or if further time in barrel tames some of the exuberance.”
Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Aligote2009 ($89.95) $59 special, 21 bottles available
Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Aligote 2010 ($99.95) $79 special, 12 bottles available
Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Blanc 2009 ($59.95) $49 special, 10 bottles available
“Floral aromas add interest to this vibrant, lime- and apple-infused white. A hint of seashore leads to a racy finish.” — Wine Spectator
Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Blanc Fleurs de Vignes NV ($59.95) $49 special, 1 bottle available
A blend of 2009, 2010 and 2011 vintages.
Lucien Le Moine Abbaye de Morgeot, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 ($139.95) $119 special, 2 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92-94 points “The 2011 Chassagne-Montrachet Abbaye de Morgeot leaves an impression of Pinot-like depth. A broad-shouldered, intense wine, the 2011 boasts tons of class and potential. The flavors remain quite floral and bright, but with plenty of underlying structure. This is going to be a fascinating wine to follow.”
Lucien Le Moine Les Charmes, Meursault Premier Cru 2011 ($149.95) $125 special, 7 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92-95 points “Bright beams of minerality run through the 2011 Meursault Charmes. This is without question one of the more focused, structured and tight Charmes of the year. The 2011 boasts remarkable polish in its flavors and texture. A rich, insistent finish rounds things out nicely. There is plenty of potential here, but readers are going to have to be patient.”
Lucien Le Moine Les Genevrieres, Meursault Premier Cru 2011 ($149.95) $133 special, 2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92-94 points “Orange oil and a hint of fresh pineapple on the nose; reminded me a bit of a German riesling. Intensely flavored and glyceral too, with sneaky sweetness leavened by ripe pineappley acidity. Very tactile, superconcentrated wine with broad shoulders (Saouma describes it as “a red wine made from chardonnay”) and a seriously palate-saturating finish. These 60-year-old vines always maintain very good acidity, notes Saouma. Exciting potential.”
Domaine Marc Colin et Fils Les Combes, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2011 ($49.95) $39 special, 3+ cases available
Domaine Matrot Charmes, Meursault Premier Cru 2010 ($84.95) $66 special, 12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93(+?) points “Good pale yellow. Ripe aromas of peach, fresh apricot and hazelnut; a quintessence of Meursault. Rich, ripe and sweet but framed and energized by a stony mineral underpinning, strong spice notes and a flavor of underripe pineapple. The building, palate-staining finish displays excellent structure and verve. This needs a good eight years of bottle aging. As with the Perrieres 2010, the yields here were tiny (22 h/h) owing to millerandage, noted Matrot.”
Domaine Matrot Meursault Les Chevalieres 2011 ($44.95) $37 special, 23 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 89-91 points “Ripe fresh apricot and marzipan on the nose, along with a mineral component. Juicy, spicy and minerally; more taut and less fat than the basic village offering. Showing its oak but finishes with good cut and grip”
Domaine Michelot Meursault Les Narvaux 2007 ($69.95) $59 special, 12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer & Wine Advocate 89 points “Pale color. Sweet peachy aroma shows good lift. Peach, licorice and iodine flavors are nicely framed by ripe acidity and supported by lively minerality. Showed intriguing nuances of tarragon and saffron with aeration.”
Domaine de Montille Le Cailleret, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2009 ($189.95) $119 special, 1 bottle available
Burghound 93 points “Not surprisingly, this offers a big step up in aromatic elegance with its aromas of dried acacia blossom, citrus rind, spice and wet stone where the latter element also characterizes the supple, round and intense medium-bodied flavors that possess excellent complexity and genuinely striking length. This very classy effort should age well over the medium-term.”
Philippe Colin Les Chenevottes, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2010 ($84.95) $69 special, 13 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93+ points “Bright straw-yellow. Complex, expressive aromas of pear, fresh peach and spices; much fruitier than the Vergers. A rich, dense orchard-fruit-and-spice bomb with terrific acid lift to buffer its sweetness. This tastes sweeter than the Vergers. Finishes broad, powerful and long, with resounding floral character.”
Philippe Colin Chassagne-Montrachet 2010 ($64.95) $51 special, 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “(the only 2010 that was bottled before the 2011 harvest; the rest were bottled between January and March of this year): Bright lemon-yellow. Lemon, peach, pear and wet stone on the nose, plus a hint of toast. Offers impressive tension and penetration for village wine, with sweet white peach and lemon peel fruit flavors building nicely on the vibrant finish. Quite rich but youthfully imploded: I’d give this at least two or three years in the cellar.”
Domaine de La Pousse d’Or Le Cailleret, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2009 ($189.95) $119 special, 5 bottles available
Burghound 92 points “A deft touch of wood frames lemon and moderately exotic fruit aromas that include peach, mango and pear. There is excellent richness to the full-bodied, dense and mineral-inflected flavors that culminate in a naturally sweet, sappy and generous finish. This delicious effort is blessed with plenty of dry extract and while not classic in character, it’s really quite attractive all the same”
Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2011 ($449.95) $319 special, 2 bottles available
Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Criots-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 11 1.5L ($899.95) $699 special, 1 magnum available
Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Criots-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 11 ($449.95) $339 special, 5 bottles available
Nicolas Potel Maison Roche de Bellene Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2009 ($199.95) $159 special, 12 bottles available
Thomas Morey Clos Saint-Jean, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 ($79.95) $66 special, 6 bottles available
Burghound 91 points “An exceptionally fresh, cool and airy nose exhibits both white and yellow orchard fruit along with soft floral and mineral hints where the latter element is also reflected by the impressively rich yet solidly energetic and well-detailed flavors. I like the sense of refinement to the mouth coating and focused finish that delivers fine persistence and lovely balance. A quality white from an appellation that is quite rightly better known for its reds.”
Domaine Aurelien Verdet Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits Le Prieure Blanc 2010 ($39.95) $33 special, 6 bottles available
Domaine Sangouard-Guyot Pouilly-Fuisse Quintessence, Maconnais 2012 ($29.95) $24 special, 3+ cases available