Jancis Robinson (18.5)

Cask sample. Quite a price! Transparent crimson. Very dense nose with more layers than most of the 2018 red burgundies I have tasted so far. Pretty rich with grand cru density. Very well done. Actually the best Clos des Epeneaux I remember tasting en primeur. Long, rich, opulent but all in a convincing structure. Very long in fact.

Jancis Robinson (17)

Cask sample. Polished and velvety without the energy of the Auxey Premier Cru. Sort of splits the difference between its two stablemates but I’m not sure wholly satisfactorily for the price.

Vinous (96-98)

The 2018 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru is a limpid deep purple. It has a heavenly bouquet distantly related to the Les Amoureuses, offering precocious but detailed blueberry, black cherry, crushed iris petal and crushed limestone aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with an edgy, marine-influenced opening, a tang of shucked oyster shells infusing the black and blueberry fruit, leading to a detailed, tensile, lightly spiced finish. A long tail of white pepper lingers on the aftertaste. This is absolutely divine.

Vinous (97-99)

The 2018 Musigny Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru is even darker than the Bonnes-Mares. It has a spectacular bouquet of intense black fruit, blueberries and shucked oyster shells, the mineralité heightened over the Bonnes-Mares and lending a great deal of precision. The palate is medium-bodied with blueberry, boysenberry and black currant fruit, extraordinary tension, razor-sharp acidity and a dash of white pepper on the crystalline finish. One of the finest Musignys I have tasted from barrel at de Vogüé.

Vinous (97-99)

The 2018 Musigny Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru is even darker than the Bonnes-Mares. It has a spectacular bouquet of intense black fruit, blueberries and shucked oyster shells, the mineralité heightened over the Bonnes-Mares and lending a great deal of precision. The palate is medium-bodied with blueberry, boysenberry and black currant fruit, extraordinary tension, razor-sharp acidity and a dash of white pepper on the crystalline finish. One of the finest Musignys I have tasted from barrel at de Vogüé.

Vinous (90-92)

The 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin Village has a perfumed, quite floral bouquet of dark cherries, raspberry and light tobacco aromas that gently unfold in the glass. The palate is very smooth and harmonious, with lightly spiced red fruit. Gains weight and grip toward the very finely detailed finish, which nudges Premier Cru in quality. Yeah... that good.

Vinous (88-90)

The 2018 Chambolle-Musigny Village, matured in 30% new oak, has a generous bouquet of red berry fruit, plus touches of brown spice and light loamy aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and lightly spiced red berry fruit mixed with white pepper and sage, dovetailing into a slightly compact but fresh finish. Fine.

Vinous (92-94)

The 2018 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru has a gorgeous bouquet of dark berry fruit, crushed stone and touches of truffle and iodine. It just bursts from the glass. The palate is very ripe and sweet on the entry, displaying a lot of sucrosity and a very vibrant finish laden with cola-tinged black fruit. It might just be a little too much for my palate, although I suspect it will be very seductive.

Hailing from the prestigious vineyards of Burgundy, David Duband Haute Cotes Nuits Louis Auguste 2018 is an embodiment of refinement and elegance. This capstone of David Duband's craft boasts a charming nose of spiced red fruits, underpinned by subtle earthiness. The palate is rich in silky tannins, showcasing a perfect marriage of power and finesse.

This sublime creation comes from the expert hands of David Duband, a fourth-generation winemaker whose philosophy harmoniously blends tradition with organic viticulture. With 50 parcels of vineyard stretching over the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits, Duband pursues a non-interventionist vinification approach to best reveal each terroir's character. Predominantly matured in used oak barrels, the ageing lends subtle complexity to this Pinot Noir's flavours.

David Duband Haute Cotes Nuits Louis Auguste 2018 is undoubtedly a wine of enviable sophistication, a promise of an indulgent journey to the terroirs of Burgundy with each sip.

Expertly crafted by renowned vigneron David Duband, the exquisite David Duband Nuits-Saint-Georges Rouge 2018 embodies the distinct characteristics of its terroir. Hailing from high-quality, biodynamically farmed vineyards in the Côte de Nuits region of Burgundy, France, this red wine is a paragon of pinot noir excellence.

Meticulously harvested and performed whole-cluster fermentation, this wine showcases Duband's minimalist approach. Each Berry underwent a cold soak before fermentation to extract the right tannins and colour and is naturally fermented, without any additional yeasts. The wine aged for 14 months in French oak barrels and bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Nuanced layers of ripe red fruits, spice, and earthy undertones are elegantly woven together in the David Duband Nuits-Saint-Georges Rouge 2018, rendering a mouth-watering acidity and a refined finish. Truly, this vintage stands as a testament to David Duband's mastery and commitment to authenticity.

Vinous (95-97)

The 2018 Chambertin Grand Cru is matured entirely in new oak with 40-50% whole-bunch fruit. It displays sublime purity on the nose, which offers layers of brambly red fruit mixed with crushed stone, pressed rose petals and freshly tilled soil. The medium-bodied palate delivers supple tannins and a perfect line of acidity. Tighter than the Mazis-Chambertin, with a precise and quite conservative finish. This is another profound Chambertin from Arnaud Mortet.

Vinous (91-93)

The 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru includes 30% whole bunch and 60% new oak. It has a clean, well-defined bouquet with sous-bois and black truffle aromas permeating the red berry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fleshy and charming, leading to an elegant, refined, caressing finish. Delicious and probably one of Mortet’s earlier-drinking cuvées.

Vinous (93-95)

The 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin Lavaux Saint-Jacques 1er Cru is completely de-stemmed and raised in 70% new oak. It has a very well-defined bouquet of raspberry and wild strawberry scents, plus pressed rose petal and a touch of orange pith. The palate is very well defined with supple tannins, a perfect line of acidity and a slight confit-like finish. Understated and refined, this will give two decades of drinking pleasure.

Vinous (94-96)

The 2018 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru contains 30% whole clusters. It has a perfumed bouquet of blackberry, hints of cassis, crushed violet and touches of potpourri, very well defined and focused and delivering the intensity one expects from this growing season. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins and just the right amount of acidity. Wonderful harmony and composure here, gently unfolding toward a satin-textured finish that lingers long in the mouth. Bon vin!

Vinous (95-97)

The 2018 Chambertin Clos-de-Bèze Grand Cru includes 30% whole-bunch fruit, though this is the one grand cru where you cannot detect the stem addition, just the copious dark cherry, raspberry, cedar and undergrowth aromas that gain intensity in the glass. The palate is supple on the entry, the acidity neatly counterbalancing the intensity of the fruit. This Clos-de-Bèze has real grip and an arching structure on the finish, suggesting that it will be a seriously long-lived wine. Excellent.

Decanter (97)

Sourced from what Burgundians often call 'Charmes-Charmes' to distinguish it from the Mazoyères part of this extensive Grand Cru, this cuvée uses fruit from five different parcels, all but one of which is 40 years' old. Floral and intense, with 20% whole bunches adding some freshness and spice, this is a serious, well-upholstered Pinot Noir showing fine tannins and appealingly understated oak.

An exquisite embodiment of the world-renowned Chardonnay grape, the Esprit Leflaive Pouilly-Fuisse 2018 encapsulates the very essence of Burgundy, France. This wine is a testament to the masterful blending techniques of Olivier Leflaive, known for creating wines that skillfully dance between vivacity and latitude. Handpicked grapes are vinified and matured for 12 months on lees in stainless steel vats, conferring this wine with its impeccable purity and richness.

The Esprit Leflaive Pouilly-Fuisse 2018 delights connoisseurs with notes of ripe peach, acacia blossom, and subtle minerality on the nose. The palate is elegantly textured, unveiling delicate hints of white fruits and toasted almond before revealing a refined, lingering finish. This extraordinary wine, with an optimal ageing potential of 5 to 10 years, is an undeniable reflection of the exceptional terroir where its grapes are meticulously grown. Savouring Esprit Leflaive Pouilly-Fuisse 2018 is indeed an unforgettable journey into the heart of Burgundy.

Jancis Robinson (17.5)

Barrel sample. Mid crimson. Less sweet-smelling than the Clos de Vougeot, with plenty of open, dark-red fruit and also a light herbal note, which lifts it and adds freshness. Firm and dry on the palate, dry yet elegant, the fruit filling out the core. Chalk-fine texture. A little constrained at the moment.

Clos de la Roche is the most northerly of Morey-Saint-Denis' four Grand Cru vineyards. Clos de la Roche is considered one of Morey-Saint-Denis' very best vineyards, and makes full, structured wines with characteristics of cherry and truffle. The vineyard lies on Morey-Saint-Denis' border with Gevrey-Chambertin. The terroir in Clos de la Roche is based largely on limestone. The ‘roche’ (rock) in the name goes back to pre-history, and is reputed to have been used by local druids in their rituals. The Clos de la Roche vineyard was awarded Grand Cru status in December 1936. Domaine Faiveley was established in 1825 in Nuits Saint Georges. The domaine has become one of the best producers in the Côte d'Or and their Clos de la Roche Grand Cru is one of the jewels in their crown. This is excellent superb value for this vineyard in a year like 2018.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Barrel sample. Mid crimson, a little lighter in colour than the Grands Échezeaux. Brighter fruited and a little more floral, with a stony/mineral elegance as well as that pure and perfumed dark-red fruit. A youthful beauty.

Decanter (96)

The Faiveley holdings add up to 0.87ha on variety of soil types and altitudes, but they are all comparatively cool. This was picked late as a result on September 4th and marries richness, weight and honeyed complexity with vibrant, mineral-edged acidity and scented oak. A textbook Corton-Charlemagne from a year that didn't lend itself to classic wines.

Decanter (92)

Faiveley's exemplary Mercurey Premier Cru comes from a substantial six-hectare parcel that faces east on a very gentle slope. Just a little more concentrated than its La Framboisière cuvée - which is also worth buying - this is rich, sunny and full of red berry and bramble fruit with good underlying zip, fine tannins and suave 30% new wood.

Wine Advocate (93+)

Faiveley's 2018 Mercurey 1er Cru Clos du Roy La Favorite has turned out brilliantly, mingling aromas of blackberries and cassis with nuances of licorice, violets and coniferous forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and concentrated, it's seamless and layered, with fine depth at the core, succulent acids and a long, expansive finish. This would embarrass plenty of wines from the Côte de Nuits in a blind tasting.

Wine Advocate (91-93)

Notes of cherries, raspberries and cassis mingle with hints of forest floor and spices in an incipiently complex bouquet, introducing the 2018 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Lavrottes, a medium to full-bodied, rich and structured wine that Felettig observes is always one of the slowest-evolving wines in the cellar. Mineral and youthfully firm, this is promising for the future.

Wine Advocate (95)

Aromas of clear honey, blanched almonds and pear mingle with hints of citrus blossom and orange oil, introducing the 2018 Montrachet Grand Cru, a full-bodied, elegantly textural wine that's supple and enveloping, with lovely depth and dimension at the core, underpinned by lively acids. Long and perfumed, this is an elegant, expressive Montrachet from Fontaine-Gagnard.

Vinous (93-95)

The 2018 Echézeaux Grand Cru has a decadent bouquet of red cherry and cranberry aromas, touches of pain d’épices and a hint of menthol emerging with time. But somehow it manages to retain control. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe, slightly chalky tannins, good depth and a gentle grip toward the focused finish. This should age extremely well.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (96)

Medium deep crimson purple. A very floral bouquet, on first impression perhaps this Clos St-Jacques could use more precision. Sensual and succulent, dark raspberry and blackberry, the suggestion of stems (were some added back in?) add a little structure which is probably necessary as the tannins and acidity are not otherwise pronounced. Still a wine which will give great pleasure. Now I can find the precision at the back, allied to the charm. Drink from 2028.

Vinous (93-95)

The 2018 La Grande Rue Grand Cru is the famous 1.65-hectare monopole of the domaine that runs parallel to Romanée-Conti and La Romanée on the other side of the road. It has a well-defined bouquet of dark cherries, raspberry, wild hedgerow and traces of Chinese tea, developing tertiary notes after a couple of minutes in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, a satin-like texture and just the right amount of acidity. The caressing, slightly gourmand finish displays hints of meat juices and a subtle savory aspect lends complexity. Very fine.

Regarded as the epitome of eponymous exquisiteness is the Francois Raquillet Mercurey 1er Cru Les Vasees 2018. This exquisite red wine is carefully crafted by Francois Raquillet, an 11th generation winemaker, in Burgundy's esteemed Côte Chalonnaise region. Dating back to sixteenth-century, the estate’s commitment to tradition and detail is evident in each bottle.

Les Vasees 2018 is synonymous for its distinct finesse, expressing a harmony of ripe black fruits, complemented by svelte tannins and an invigorating mineral backbone. The wine is made from hand-picked Pinot Noir grapes, grown in calcareous-clay soil and matured in French oak barrels. This gentle approach ensures preservation of the elegant fruit character alongside development of a mesmerising complexity.

A wine deserving its Premier Cru status, the Francois Raquillet Mercurey 1er Cru Les Vasees 2018 offers a refined drinking experience and typifies the irrefutable cachet of fine French wines.