Dive into the exquisite realm of Burgundy with Alain Michelot Nuits-Saint-Georges Vv 2020 — an exquisite French Pinot Noir. Precisely crafted in the legendary terroirs of Nuit-Saint-Georges, nestled under the watchful care of seasoned winemaker, Alain Michelot. The grapes are meticulously handpicked from old vines, venerated for their exceptional concentration.

The wine exhibits a rich, dark ruby hue, indicating its superior age and quality. It unfurls a symphony of sensual aromas, interlacing ripe blackberries, earthy undertones, and faint echoes of spice. A sweep of balanced tannins, graceful acidity and prolonged finish, amplifies the complex palate.

Adhering to time-honoured Burgundy traditions, Alain Michelot Nuits-Saint-Georges Vv 2020 is aged in oak casks, under perfect conditions, to ensure a refined maturation. It personifies the savoir-faire of Alain Michelot, coupled with an illustrious heritage that dates back several centuries.

Lauded globally, this alluring red epitomises the French verb 'déguster', offering a veritable feast for true wine enthusiasts.

Experience the sublime finesse and profound complexity of the 'Alain Verset Cornas 2021', a remarkable manifestation of the distinguished Rhône wine heritage. Artisan winemaker Alain Verset, capitalised on his vast knowledge of local terroir, producing this divine nectar from 100% Syrah grapes, intricately hand-harvested from old vines rooted deep in granite soils around Cornas, France.

Undergoing traditional maceration, hand-pressing and nurturing in old oak barrels, the 'Alain Verset Cornas 2021' reveals layered nuances of succulent dark fruits, whispering suggestions of violets, intertwined with undertones of smoked meat and enticing spices.

Regarded highly in global wine circles for its depth and longevity, this vintage is an intimate expression of intricate French winemaking at its apex. The 'Alain Verset Cornas 2021' is a captivating symphony to be savoured, delineating a narrative of meticulous craftsmanship showcasing the quintessence Cornas terroir.

Decanter (95)

This smells liked the baked slopes of Cornas; sun-warmed pine needles and dusty herbs, with a dab of tarry black fruit within. It has that raw, blood and iron Cornas character, backed by some slightly earthy, resinous scents. Full-bodied, it has a lovely freshness on the palate. It's mineral and tannic, bristling and writhing, with significant but not oversized savoury tannins on the finish. A good pick this year, especially as it will be good in its youth but also age well.

Vinous (93)

Glass-staining ruby. Mineral-accented cherry and dark berry scents, along with hints of smoked meat, violet and cracked pepper. Broad, fleshy cassis and bitter cherry flavors show very good depth and take on a smoky nuance on the back half. In an ample but lively style, with solid floral thrust and smooth tannins that frame the persistent finish.

Wine Advocate (96)

Only produced in top vintages (this is the first since 2012), the 2015 Cornas Vieilles Fontaines comes from 80-year-old vines within the La Fontaine lieu-dit. It's a tough wine to evaluate at this stage, as it's quite closed and reticent on the nose, showing some crushed-stone notes and typical granite-based austerity, but on the palate it shows great purity of fruit and vigor. It's full-bodied but tight-laced, focused on driving through the long finish like a thoroughbred down the stretch. Give it at least 5 years in the cellar.

Vinous (96)

Opaque ruby. Powerful, spice- and mineral-accented black and blue fruit preserve scents show superb focus and pick up smoked meat, olive and potpourri nuances with air. Sappy, deeply concentrated and energetic as well, offering juicy, spice-driven cassis, blueberry, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors that are firmed by a core of smoky minerality. Blends power and finesse with a sure hand and finishes extremely long and minerally, with steadily building tannins and resonating blue fruit and floral notes. Made with one-third whole clusters.

Wine Advocate (94)

Showing the vintage's rounded, supple and forward character, the 2012 Cornas Vieilles Vignes reveals lots of black raspberry, crushed flowers, toasted bread and licorice aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, ripe, textured and layered, it's a polished and beautifully balanced Cornas to drink anytime over the coming 10-12 years.

Tim Atkin MW (96)

Lieux-dits Mazard and La Côte, 80% destemmed, aged in barriques for 20 months, 15% new. A touch of oak influence on the nose brings some further complexity here. It also serves to temper the tannins a little and round off the coarser edges. This is nonetheless robust in texture, and very long, but the fruit is perfectly ripe and savoury. Classic stuff, in a traditional mould.

Vinous (94)

Inky ruby. Highly perfumed aromas of dark berry liqueur, incense and peony are energized by a smoky mineral flourish. Sweet and seamless in texture, offering densely packed blackberry and cherry compote flavors and suggestions of candied violet, spicecake and chewing tobacco. The floral and mineral notes resonate emphatically on an impressively long, penetrating finish that features mounting tannins and a sweet hint of cola.

Vinous (94)

Inky ruby. Highly perfumed aromas of dark berry liqueur, incense and peony are energized by a smoky mineral flourish. Sweet and seamless in texture, offering densely packed blackberry and cherry compote flavors and suggestions of candied violet, spicecake and chewing tobacco. The floral and mineral notes resonate emphatically on an impressively long, penetrating finish that features mounting tannins and a sweet hint of cola.

Decanter (96)

Vines with an average age of 60 years from lieux-dits Combe, Patou, La Côte, Les Mazards and Chaillot provide the fruit for this Cornas. It spends 20 months in barriques, around 20% new. There are multiple layers to the aromatic palate: rosemary, thyme, herbal bitters, blackberry, blackcurrant and loganberry. A medium-bodied, concentrated but unforced wine with no excessive extraction, a subtly spiced finish and sinewy, brushed tannins. Detailed, focussed, structured and textural, this is captivating and true to its terroir.

Vinous (95)

Vivid purple. Displays expansive, finely detailed aromas of blueberry, kirsch, black pepper, violet and exotic spices, with hints of olive and cola in the background. Fleshy and broad in the mouth, offering deeply concentrated black and blue fruit preserve, smoky bacon and floral pastille flavors that are lifted and brightened by a building mineral nuance. Chewy and appealingly sweet on the strikingly persistent finish, which features youthfully chewy tannins and resonating florality.

Vinous (95)

Vivid purple. Displays expansive, finely detailed aromas of blueberry, kirsch, black pepper, violet and exotic spices, with hints of olive and cola in the background. Fleshy and broad in the mouth, offering deeply concentrated black and blue fruit preserve, smoky bacon and floral pastille flavors that are lifted and brightened by a building mineral nuance. Chewy and appealingly sweet on the strikingly persistent finish, which features youthfully chewy tannins and resonating florality.

Wine Advocate (95)

The 2017 Cairanne L'Estevenas has indeed turned out to be super. A 50-50 blend of Grenache and Syrah, it shows more of the Syrah side at the moment, with floral notes, peppery spice, black olives and licorice all making appearances on the nose. It's medium to full-bodied, with a supple, creamy feel and a rich, chewy finish. Impressive! Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.

Wine Advocate (97)

Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting in Beaune. The 2012 Chambertin Grand Cru from Domaine du Clos Frantin (Albert Bichot) has a dense, fruit-driven bouquet that does not possess the detail of Rousseau's Chambertin 2012. Wild strawberry mingles with cranberry and dried orange peel notes that gain intensity in the glass, but not quite the precision. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, citrus fresh in the mouth with touches of blood orange. Perhaps the true quality of this wine is unveiled because it is far superior than the recalcitrant nose. There is a touch of bitterness on the finish, but that merely lends this Chambertin tension. Extraordinarily long and vital, this was one of the huge surprises of the blind tasting.

Burghound (92-95)

There is hint of menthol on the overtly sauvage aromas of mostly cool and earthy red berry fruit. There is fine intensity and plenty of muscle to the almost pungently mineral-driven big-bodied flavors that possess outstanding persistence on the well-balanced finish. Note however that this is going to need a very long snooze in a cool cellar as this is very much built for long-term aging. Don't miss!

Burghound (94)

Here there is slightly more wood in evidence but also noticeably more aromatic complexity to the exceptionally spicy nose of ripe plum, earth and slightly animale scents. This is really quite refined for the appellation as the mid-palate is pure silk which disguises somewhat the underlying muscularity of the big-bodied flavors that are blessed with both excellent concentration as well as plenty of palate coating dry extract. This is a powerful but balanced effort that offers genuinely outstanding length and is unapologetically built to age.

Wine Advocate (96)

Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. The Richebourg 2011 has a more extravagant, bold, multilayered bouquet with blackberry, wild strawberry, hints of undergrowth and light marine influences coming in to play: very complex. The palate still has some unresolved oak on the entry, but there is great tension and vibrancy here, the tannins fine and lending this great tension. I would not broach a bottle now because there is so much to give in the future. Just like in the blind Amoureuses tasting in Holland, here Bichot proves itself as one of the top-flight producers. Bravo!