Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93)

Slightly the deepest in colour and the richest nose of the four premier crus. Some lemon notes and light plum, then white fruit. This has the most assured texture of the four. Good grip, as Clive Coates would have said, stretching out very nicely in a fine long finish.

Vinous (90-92)

The 2019 Morey-Saint-Denis Les Millandes 1er Cru came across very backward on the nose, gradually opening with black fruit and black olive/briny aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe black cherry and blueberry fruit, sweet and sorbet-fresh with a high-toned, yet focused finish that lingers long in the mouth. Very promising but it will require 3-4 years in bottle.

Vinous (92-94)

The 2019 Meursault Les Genevrières 1er Cru, which comes from 85-year-old vines, has an expressive, almost Charmes-like bouquet, wild honey mixed with heather and hints of chamomile. The oak is neatly enmeshed. The palate is very well balanced, one of the most elegant and poised contributions from this Premier Cru, offering touches of orange pith and white peach mixed with hazelnut toward the finish. The kind of Meursault that makes you smile like a Cheshire cat. 

Wine Advocate (91-93)

There are two barrels of the 2020 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts, a fleshy and dramatic wine that wafts from the glass with notes of wild berries, vine smoke, plums, exotic spices and petals, framed by a deft application of classy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, ample and enveloping, with lively acids, powdery tannins and a deep core of fruit, this is very promising.

Vinous (91-93)

The 2019 Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeots 1er Cru has a terse bouquet, certainly one of the most austere and Puligny-like from Alex Moreau this year. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, taut and fresh, steely and focused with wonderful sapidity towards the finish. Excellent.

Indulge in an unparalleled oenological delight with the Bertrand Bachelet Maranges 1er Cru La Fussiere 2019. Produced in the prestigious Burgundy region of France, this vintage stands out with its exceptional pedigree. Bertrand Bachelet, a respected name in winemaking, intricately crafts it in small batches to ensure superior quality. With vineyards located in the village of Maranges, the climatic conditions and terroir impart unique characteristics to the wine.

The producer employs traditional winemaking techniques to accentuate the intrinsic traits of Pinot Noir, the dominant grape in this vino. The rich, perfectly balanced notes of red fruits, vanilla and oak, intricately layered with a lingering minerality, make a dramatic statement. The 2019 Maranges 1er Cru La Fussiere is robust yet refined, exhibiting a complexity that reveals itself subtly.

Whether you are a seasoned sommelier or a budding enthusiast, the Bertrand Bachelet Maranges 1er Cru La Fussiere 2019 guarantees a memorable tasting experience.

Decanter (96)

From Jeroboam. Bouchard purchased the site in 1791 and now hold 3.92ha. Fred Weber describes the vineyard as the 'fillet mignon' within Beaune-Grèves. Not surprisingly given the age/bottle size, primary characters are very dominant but there is clearly massive potential here. As the wine breathes, lovely aromas of raspberry/blackberry and violets evolve. Rich, ripe, pure dark fruit on the palate, subtle oak, mouthfilling and concentrated, with silky tannin and vibrant acidity providing the structure for long-term ageing. A great vintage and a great Beaune Premier Cru.

Wine Advocate (92-94)

Offering up notes of pear, white flowers, toasted almonds and beeswax, Bouchard's 2019 Meursault 1er Cru Genevrières is medium to full-bodied, satiny and chiseled, with a more tightly wound, introverted profile than the Charmes that preceded it. Built to age, this is a serious Genevrières that I look forward to tasting from bottle.

Vinous (86-88)

The 2019 Monthélie Clos Les Champs Fulliot 1er Cru comes from 0.9 hectares of vine. It was the second parcel to be picked because of its warm microclimate, yet I find more precision on the Les Duresses. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a mixture of red and black fruit and touches of dark chocolate and tar. There is more elegance and terroir expression on the Les Duresses this year. 

James Suckling (95)

This a firm and pretty red with a solid tannin backbone to the medium body. Ripe fruit with some walnut, tobacco, and floral undertones. It’s long and flavorful. Balanced and firm. Classic style. Drink in 2025.

Vinous (89-91)

The 2019 Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Lavières 1er Cru shows evident whole bunch on the nose that slightly occludes the terroir expression, yet it is fresh and transparent. The palate is medium-bodied with a crisp raspberry and blackberry opening. Leafy red fruit combines with a touch of graphite toward the finish. A nimble Savigny with a peppery finish. Should drink well over the next decade.

Vinous (89-91)

The 2019 Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru, a blend of two vineyards Les Beautrains and Les Bas des Duresses as usual, matured in around 25% new oak. It has a refined bouquet with a little more purity and sensuality compared to the Auxey Village. The palate is well balanced with gentle grip on the entry, quite rich but fresh in style with candied orange peel infusing the mixture of black and blueberry fruit. Crunchy, almost brittle texture towards the finish which is surprising given the type of growing season. Recommended.

Vinous (95)

The 2019 Pommard Clos des Epeneaux 1er Cru was bottled in June and July ‘21. Very perfumed and floral scents on the nose, dark cherries, bergamot, damp earth and touches of clove, later hints of violet and blood orange (traits that I observed out of barrel). This is nicely detailed. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent tannins, fine acidity, lightly spiced with a classy espresso-tinged finish that lingers in the mouth. Excellent.

Tucked within the Burgundy's prized Côte de Beaune, the Croix Beaune Tuvilains 2019, from the sacred plots of Domaine Croix, is a fine testament to the opulence of the 2019 vintage. This Pinot Noir is grown in limestone-rich soil and harvested in small, meticulously manicured parcels to preserve the integrity of each grape. Its vinification in traditional Burgundian open-top wooden vats, followed by ageing in French oak barrels, ensures a harmonious balance between fruit and oak nuances.

A sip of Croix Beaune Tuvilains 2019 reveals complex layers of ripe red fruits, elegantly underpinned by earthy notes and a subtle spiciness. The wine's delicate tannins and balanced acidity make for a seamless finish, capturing the essence of French wine-making sophistication.

The impeccable craftsmanship of winemaker David Croix indubitably shines through in this vintage, making the Croix Beaune Tuvilains 2019 an invincible selection for the discerning wine lover.

Vinous (95-97)

The 2019 Vosne-Romanée Aux Malconsorts 1er Cru has a more savory bouquet than the Les Beaux Monts, the whole bunch less integrated by direct comparison and yet it also delivers more terroir expression and mineralité. Touches of cracked black pepper and sage lend complexity to the dark berry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, very harmonious with white pepper and clove, a lovely grainy texture and perhaps more refinement compared to the Echézeaux. The kind of Vosne-Romanée that you want to elope with.

Vinous (94-96)

The 2019 Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux Monts 1er Cru has a perfumed and enticing bouquet with brambly black fruit, black truffle and Earl Grey aromas gently wafting from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins. The whole bunch influence is discrete here but lends an attractive white pepper and clove note towards the finish that fans out wonderful whilst maintaining freshness and tension. Just outflanked by the Aux Malconsorts, nevertheless, this is a brilliant Les Beaux Monts.

Super precision on the nose, charming bright red and black fruits and that characteristic deftness of flavour from Chambolle-Musigny. An elegance on the palate, the tannins, acidity and alcohol all in perfect balance and bright, seductive notes of cranberry, redcurrant, touches of violets and soft subtle spices from the oak, with a line of minerality running through.

Vinous (91-93)

The 2019 Gevrey-Chambertin Lavaux Saint-Jacques 1er Cru is completely destemmed. It has an open-knit bouquet of brambly red fruit, singed leather and loamy aromas, all well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy black fruit and lightly spiced. The pleasant edgy finish leaves a hint of dark chocolate on the aftertaste. Very fine and commendable salinity.

Wine Advocate (92)

Faiveley's 2019 Mercurey 1er Cru Clos des Myglands has turned out beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of cherries and raspberries mingled with woodsmoke, loamy soil and warm spices. Medium to full-bodied, lively and charming, it's velvety and succulent, with fine depth at the core and a suave, elegant profile.

Wine Advocate (93)

Aromas of plums, spices, incense and soil tones, framed by a touch of toasty new oak, introduce the 2019 Mercurey 1er Cru Clos du Roy, a medium to full-bodied, layered and velvety wine that's fleshy and concentrated, with fine, powdery tannins and lively acids. This is an enveloping, gourmand wine from a 2.6-hectare parcel.

Bright aromas of raspberries, crushed red plums and Morello cherries surrounded with warm spices and a touch of oak. Super texture, fine tannins and concentration, with a line of richness running through the palate. A long, textured finish with bright fruits and spice lingering.

Wine Advocate (92-94)

Aromas of cassis, plums, orange rind and spicy new oak preface Faiveley's 2019 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Damodes, a medium to full-bodied, deep and lively wine with a concentrated core of fruit, framed by powdery tannins. Concluding with a long, mineral finish, it's another fine bottling from this cool, high-altitude and northeast-exposed site.

Wine Advocate (92-94)

The 2019 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Lavrottes opens in the glass with aromas of raspberries, plums and forest floor, complemented by hints of sweet spices and raw cocoa. Medium to full-bodied, mineral and incisive, it's concentrated and youthfully tightly wound, concluding with a youthfully grippy finish. This will take its time to come together, as is generally the case, but it's very promising.

Vinous (93)

The 2019 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Caillerets 1er Cru has a crisp, more understated bouquet with more earthy overtones that the domaine's other cuvées. The palate is one of the most terroir-expressive from the domaine, very well defined with a lightly spiced finish. This has a real spring in its step.

Vinous (93-95)

The 2019 Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux Monts 1er Cru, matured in 80% new oak, has a very detailed, focused bouquet of blackberry, briar, raspberry jam and light orange peel aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly tarry opening, a smear of dark chocolate combining nicely with the dark berry fruit, but it is unapologetically backward and surly on the finish compared with the Echézeaux or the Vosne Les Chaumes, so give it some serious cellaring.