Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (95-98)

A glowing pale yellow. Super-concentrated if not yet very yielding bouquet. Extra tension here, certainly some depth, but perhaps more in class than power. That will change with time – the class with remain but the depth will expand. White fruit, tension, some youthful bitters, but keeping itself to itself for the moment. Really very long finish though. Drink from 2030-2040. Tasted: December 2023.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93-96)

Mostly Aloxe with a touch of Pernand. Quite a full lemon yellow. The bouquet offers a balanced ripeness, with flinty notes more than opulent fruit. This Corton-Charlemagne shows very lively, white fruit, a little citrus, river bed minerals behind, and excellent persistence. Lots of crunch to finish. Drink from 2030-2038. Tasted: December 2023.

Vinous (93-95)

The 2022 Meursault Clos Richemont 1er Cru is a dense, opulent white built on texture more than anything else. It is one of the most overt wines in the Boillot range. Orange jam, spice, vanillin, lemon confit and baked apple tart infuse the 2022 with tons of textural intensity. This is such a distinctive wine.

Vinous (94-96)

The 2022 Meursault Les Genevrières 1er Cru is a complex, dynamic wine. I especially admire its focus. Pear, slate, crushed rocks, mint and white pepper all hover across the palate in a Meursault that marries fruit richness with layers of depth and explosive energy. In other words, classic Genevrières. The 2022 is quite reticent today, but I take that as a positive sign for the future. What a gorgeous wine this is.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (95-98)

1.5 barrels. Fullish yellow with ripe fruit, a touch of bacon fat along with Jerusalem artichokes. As well as the beautiful quality of fruit there is a saline touch. Certainly complex, not monstrously massive, showing more today than the Bâtard but there is correspondingly even more to come. Fresh white fruit at the very finish. Drink from 2030-2040. Tasted: December 2023.

Vinous (92-94)

The 2022 Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières 1er Cru is bright, tense and nicely focused. Lemon peel, mint, crushed rocks and white pepper lend notable energy to this wonderfully vibrant, sculpted Puligny. All the elements are so well balanced. Saline notes emerge in the glass, supporting the beautifully persistent finish nicely. This is so attractive.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (95-97)

5 Star Wine. Mid yellow, with a biscuity touch. Seems unsubtle until you get to the palate which is super powerful but also with subtlety. This Monopole vineyard comprises four distinct terroirs though they are always assembled. An electric backbone stops the power overturning the balance. Yellow fruit, and then an extraordinary, indeed grand cru, weight. Incisive white fruit finish. Drink from 2030-2038. Tasted: December 2023.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (95-97)

5 Star Wine. A pale lemon yellow. The bouquet is beautifully classy. Little white fruits and flowers, perfectly nuanced, very slightly richer at the back and extraordinarily long on the palate. Perfect fruit acid matching all the way through. Drink from 2030-2038. Tasted: December 2023.

Savour the luxurious Heritiers Comte Lafon Macon Bussieres Monsard 2022, steeped in the rich history of Comte Lafon's family vineyard, a renowned owner within Burgundy's prestigious Macon region. This typically elegant Chardonnay proffers the impeccable advantage of the Lafon heritage, underpinned by the family's traditional biodynamic viticulture practices and low-intervention philosophy in the cellar.

Grown in the venerable limestone soils, each grape is hand-picked and gently pressed to ensure the unique nuances of the fruit are captured. This particular vintage, following a languid maturation in aged barrels, exudes unrivalled minerality and bespoke terroir characteristics. Notes of pear, quince, and white blossom freely intertwine with a crisp, bright finish, defining an articulation of the inimitable Macon Bussieres terroir.

Heritiers Comte Lafon Macon Bussieres Monsard 2022: a sublime embodiment of the Lafon legacy, an outstanding testament to the excellence of the Macon region.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91)

In bottle. Pale in colour with an attractive nose, the perfume of fruit which is correctly ripe. Fresh behind, still good acidity. Clean, pretty and will fill out from here. Very persistent. Drink from 2027-2032.

The Jaeger Defaix Rully 1er Cru Cloux 2022 embodies expert winemaking craftsmanship from the heart of the esteemed Burgundy region in France. This distinguished producer, known for their rigorous vineyard management and precision vinification, ensures every vintage released is of the utmost quality. From hand-harvested grapes, to meticulous ageing in French oak barrels, this is a fine wine destined to delight. The year 2022 is regarded as an exceptional vintage, epitomising the very best of the Premier Cru Cloux vineyard's limestone-clay soils.

With its subtle nose of apple, pear and white flowers, this Chardonnay is a true testament to its terroir. On the palate, it delivers fresh minerality, balanced by an opulent buttery richness that lingers. The intensity of the Jaeger Defaix Rully 1er Cru Cloux 2022 emphasises its pedigree, making it an excellent choice for collectors and enthusiasts alike. Savour this elegant powerhouse of a white Burgundy to fully appreciate its remarkable complexity.

Exquisitely crafted in the renowned vineyards of Burgundy, the Jaeger Defaix Rully 1er Cru Rabource 2022 stands as a testament to the dedication and expertise of the prestigious Jaeger Defaix family. This elegant wine is produced from hand-harvested Chardonnay grapes, grown in the sun-bathed Rabource vineyard, known for its unique limestone soils. Following traditional vinification methods, the wine undergoes fermentation in oak barrels, lending it a distinctive richness and complexity.

The result is a perfectly balanced symphony of flavours, carrying the undercurrents of crisp apple and citrus, underscored by subtle mineral notes. The Jaeger Defaix Rully 1er Cru Rabource 2022's eponymous producer, Jaeger Defaix, is renowned for their ability to craft wines that not only echo the singularity of their terroir but also demonstrate an unwavering commitment to quality. This selection affirms their esteemed reputation, encapsulating the very best of Burgundy's viticultural heritage.

Indulge your senses with the Jean Baptiste Boudier Aloxe-Corton Les Combes 2022 – an intriguing and refined wine, meticulously crafted in the renowned vineyards of Aloxe-Corton, Burgundy, France. Jean Baptiste Boudier, a revered artisan producer, adheres to time-honoured Burgundian wine-making traditions and eco-sensitive viticultural practices, shaping wines that are a profound expression of its region. Velvety and robust, the 2022 Aloxe-Corton uniquely blends the red-fruit intensity of Pinot Noir and meticulous French oak mellowing.

This vintage uncovers a complex bouquet of black cherry, raspberry, subtle earthiness, and well-integrated tannins, skilfully balanced by a poised acidity and a profound finish. Bottle aged in oak barrels, it proves to be a truly harmonious wine suitable for seasoned collectors or passionate beginners. Savour the apotheosis of French winemaking with the Jean Baptiste Boudier Aloxe-Corton Les Combes 2022 - a rich, fully developed masterpiece deserving of a special place in any discerning wine enthusiast's cellar.

Delectation meets distinction in Jean Baptiste Boudier Pernand Vergelesses Blanc 2022, a prodigious potion from France's viticultural heartland. This culinary sensation, stewarded by the esteemed Maison Boudier, owes its creation to the superior vineyards of Pernand-Vergelesses. Nestled in Burgundy, these select vines yield Chardonnay grapes of exceptional pedigree, meticulously cultivated to express the region's renowned terroir.

Crafted using traditional vinification methods, Boudier's Pernand Vergelesses Blanc 2022 reveals both delicate nuances and daring complexity. Its exquisitely matured, full-bodied profile, enlivened by bright acidity and zesty mineral undertones, captivates the palate, while its fragrant bouquet unveils uplifting hints of ripe citrus and white flowers.

With Jean Baptiste's unwavering commitment to quality, this brilliant Blanc solidifies their legacy, asserting its place among wine connoisseurs' preferments. Experience how the Jean Baptiste Boudier Pernand Vergelesses Blanc 2022 splendidly bridges tradition and modernity, offering a taste of Burgundy like no other.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93-95)

Four barrels made, one new and one each from the three preceding years. A clear pale lemon colour. The opulence of the vineyard shows in a controlled manner on the palate. A little oak shows but it is classy. As with Chartron’s other wines, there is a complementary acidity which helps the balance. Drink from 2030-2038. Tasted: October 2023.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (95-98)

A full primrose yellow. The bouquet is sturdier here, surprisingly, after the pure white fruit Bâtard. However, the chiselled elegance of Chevalier shows much more on the palate, where there is an impressive, if initially restrained, intensity and a second wave of flavour further back on the palate. This will be particularly fine and the aftertaste is notably persistent. A very long finish indeed. Drink from 2030-2040. Tasted: October 2023.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-95)

Five barrels. Fresh lemon and lime. A very pure clean white fruit on the palate. More perfumed than mineral at the outset. A generous concentrated white fruit across the palate, ripe apples in particular, well backed by its oak, with good length too. To bottle in April 2024. Drink from 2029-2037. Tasted: October 2023.

The Jean Paul & Benoit Droin 1er Cru Chablis Mont de Milieu 2022 is a unique exemplification of the Droin family's sixth-century legacy of producing superior Chablis. Like its predecessors, it hails from the revered vineyards of Burgundy, France, renowned for their limestone-rich and fossil-heavy soil delivering nuanced minerality. This 2022 vintage continues the Droin tradition, brilliantly expressing the characteristic the terroir.

Crafted by oenologists Jean-Paul and Benoit Droin, this 1er Cru Chablis is an exquisite fusion of innovation and time-honoured practice. The wine is fermented in vats to retain the fresh, vibrant fruit notes. With a subtly complex bouquet, it is distinguished by its amalgam of white fruits, citrus notes, and firm acidity balanced by a rich, full-bodied texture. This Chablis symbolises quality and finesse, and the Jean Paul & Benoit Droin 1er Cru Chablis Mont de Milieu 2022 holds sterling appeal to the discerning wine connoisseur.

The Jean-Marc Blain-Gagnard Puligny-Montrachet 2022 is a beautiful embodiment of the renowned Burgundy wine-making tradition. This exquisite white wine, produced by the ever-respected Blain-Gagnard family, is crafted from first-rate Chardonnay grapes cultivated in the sublime Puligny-Montrachet vineyards. The family adheres to meticulous, age-old techniques to truly capture the distinctive terroir of the region, which imparts a unique, unparalleled flavour profile.

It boasts a profound balance, offering a delightful blend of crisp acidity and refined minerality. Expect to find sumptuous notes of pear, apple, and floral aromatics harmoniously intertwined, elevating the senses to new heights. Its richness, complexity, and elegance make the Jean-Marc Blain-Gagnard Puligny-Montrachet 2022 a true treat for the discerning palate. This mesmerising wine unquestionably stands as a testament to the rich legacy of its creators, paving the way for its acclaimed place in the world of fine wines.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (96)

A pale colour with a lime tint. Backward but powerful, as it should be. Taking time to build on the palate, with a mineral thread of acidity, pure white fruit, expertly poised. There may be weightier examples around, but this is certainly very fine. Drink from 2030-2040. Tasted: October 2023.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (88)

The Bourgogne Blanc comes from La Bergerie in Puligny (two thirds) the rest from Lombois below Volnay. A light but pure white fruit. Nicely balanced all across the palate with a fresh acidity to finish, and good length. Very attractive with just the right oaking. Drink from 2025-2027. Tasted: October 2023.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (90)

A light green touch. The bouquet has character, verbena with a saline note, pure white fruit on the palate, with definitely the little saline touch though the fruit is ripe, with a fresh apricot note according to Lydie. Drink from 2025-2028. Tasted: October 2023.

Effortlessly graceful, the Jean-Paul Droin Chablis 1er Cru Les Montmains 2022 offers an alluring fusion of tradition and innovation. Nestled in the legendary region of Chablis, Burgundy, this wine conveys the unique terroir from the prestigious Les Montmains vineyard. The Droin family’s centuries-old expertise truly gets epitomised in their winemaking process. With meticulous attention to the vine, they create offerings that are a testament to their enduring legacy.

Under Jean-Paul Droin’s guidance, the hand-harvested Chardonnay grapes are gently pressed, fermented in a combination of stainless steel and oak, then matured for twelve months to ensure impeccable flavour intensity. This 2022 vintage is an enchanting harmonisation of steely minerality, salinity, citric refreshment, and subtle floral notes. The elegantly structured palate and lasting finish make the Jean-Paul Droin Chablis 1er Cru Les Montmains 2022 a richly satisfying sip to behold. This wine truly embodies the soul of Chablis.