Vinous (94)

Pale, bright yellow. Full, powerful aromas of peach, orange and minerals; ripe, inviting and quintessential Meursault. Then broad and aromatic but classically dry in the middle palate, with captivating orange and tangerine fruit dominating. Opens dramatically on the back half to showcase the silkiness and gras of Meursault, but the long finish features superb grip. This was very promising from barrel, and it's even better in bottle.

Crafted in the esteemed Burgundy region of France, the Comtesse de Cherisey Meursault 1er Cru Blagny La Genelotte 2016 is a masterful example of viticulture finesse. This radiant white wine embodies the time-honoured traditions of its monopole vineyard, nestled within Meursault's Blagny sub-region. With meticulous cultivation practices, Comtesse de Cherisey yields immaculate Chardonnay grapes that capture the region's terroir exquisitely.

Undergoing cautious vinification in French oak barrels, this enticing nectar lends itself to elegant complexity. Predominantly mineral, the palate unravels with tropical fruit and floral notes, sung alongside a harmonious, creamy length. The 2016 vintage, marked by its favourable growing conditions, delivers an exceptional balance of opulence and acidity.

The ensemble of traditional and avant-garde techniques undertaken by the revered Comtesse de Cherisey Meursault 1er Cru Blagny La Genelotte estate manages to create a truly distinctive tasting experience with the 2016 vintage. One that will captivate white Burgundy aficionados and discerning collectors alike.

Vinous - Neal Martin (94-96)

The 2019 La Croix Ducru Beaucaillou is endowed with a gorgeous, quite sumptuous bouquet loaded with black plum, tobacco, smoke and Earl Grey aromas that burst from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with very pliant tannin, harmonious and velvety in texture, gradually building towards a detailed and mineral-driven finish. Maybe less opulent than the 2018 by comparison, yet a Deuxième Vin full of breeding.

Vinous (91-93)

(25% new oak): Bright yellow. A touch of reduction but still a captivating fruitiness to the aromas and flavors of lemon, lime and crushed stone. Rich, savory, concentrated wine with a restrained sweetness and enlivening underlying minerality. More tactile, pliant and deep than the Poruzots. This silky, edge-free wine finishes classically dry and long, with lovely lemony lift and grip.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)

The 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou is phenomenally great. Inky, powerful and explosive, the 2015 pulses with energy in all of its dimensions. Creme de cassis, blackberry jam, graphite, smoke, leather and incense, along with the wine's muscular tannins, convey an impression of brooding intensity. The 2015 has been nothing short of sensational on the two occasions I have tasted it so far. Readers should be prepared to be patient. Don't miss it!

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Reminding me of the 2010 with its incredible stature and class (as opposed to the more opulently styled 2009), the 2016 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is a legendary wine from the genius of Bruno Borie, who has managed this estate brilliantly since he arrived in 2003. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot brought up all in new oak, the 2016 has a mammoth bouquet of crème de cassis, espresso, camphor, crushed violets, toasty oak, and graphite. Full-bodied, concentrated, and backward on the palate, it nevertheless has perfectly integrated acidity and building tannins, a concentrated, layered texture, off-the-charts purity of fruit, and a finish that won't quit. Give this powerful, concentrated wine a solid 7-8 years of bottle age and enjoy it over the following 50 years or more.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Looking at the 2018 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, I was stopped in my tracks at this beauty and continue to think 2018 is an incredible vintage for Bordeaux. Checking in as 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that was raised in new barrels, it has an essence of cassis character as well notes of tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, crushed stone, and cedar pencil. Cut from the same cloth as the 2009, although with slightly more polished tannins, it's full-bodied and massively concentrated and structured, yet flawlessly balanced, with incredible purity and no hard edges.

James Suckling (99-100)

A very powerful Ducru with intense tannins and backbone, showing blue fruit, black tea and tobacco. Full-bodied with impressive structure and so much tannin. It goes on for minutes. Very traditional. Owner Bruno Borie said it is a wine to last forever and I have to agree. 80% cabernet sauvignon and 20% merlot.

James Suckling (94)

Rich and decadent on the nose, with exotic fruits, spices and incense. Full body, with so much wonderful chocolate, fruit and velvety tannins. It's a joy to taste now, but will give even more pleasure in years to come. Best ever from here and one of the best values of the vintage. Try after 2018.

Vinous - Neal Martin (94)

The 2010 Gloria has a very attractive and quite intense bouquet with a surfeit of blackberry and wild strawberry scents, cedar and light seaweed coming through with aeration. The palate is very well balanced with supple but firm tannins framing the pure blackberry and bilberry fruit, laced with black pepper and clove. Very complex, very focused and very precise on the finish, this is an outstanding 2010 Saint-Julien. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)

The 2016 Gloria is one of the undisputed stars of this vintage. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2016 possesses tremendous intensity in all of its dimensions. Sweet red cherry, tobacco, menthol, licorice and dried rose petal all add complexity. In 2016 Gloria is a real head-turner. It should be a fabulous value as well. There is not much else to say.

Wine Spectator (93-96)

There's lots here, with raspberry, blackberry, currant and blueberry fruit all playing a role, along with lively briar and licorice snap notes. An apple wood frame keeps the elements in line.

Decanter (94)

Very fine florality and purity on first impression – less of the meatiness of past vintages. The classic Gruaud-Larose smoothness is there along with added precision. Great attention to detail; a very fine claret.

James Suckling (95-96)

Full-bodied, layered and juicy young wine. Very tannic yet ripe and intense. Powerful finish. This will be excellent. Better than the 2015.

Wine Advocate (95-97)

The 2018 Gruaud Larose is blended of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc, with a pH of 3.88 and 14.2% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple in color, it leaps from the glass with bold black cherries, mulberries, plum preserves and blackcurrant cordial scents with hints of menthol, lilacs, licorice and cloves plus wafts of fallen leaves and tilled soil. Medium to full-bodied with a taut core of ripe, densely packed, muscular fruit, it has a firm line of ripe, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and spicy. Very exotic Gruaud!

Experience the sublime elegance of the Heitz-Lochardet Meursault 1er Cru Perrieres 2020, a distinct representation of French winemaking prowess. Crafted in the renowned vineyards of Meursault, in the heart of Burgundy, this brilliant white wine tells the intimate story of its terroir. Conceived by Armand Heitz, a luminary in bio-dynamic viticulture, this transcendent Burgundy wine brings his philosophy of respecting the landscape and traditional winemaking methods to life.

The Heitz-Lochardet Meursault 1er Cru Perrieres 2020 is a superb Chardonnay that exudes nuanced brightness and profound minerality. The wine was aged in French oak barrels, allowing it to develop complex aromatic notes of citrus, white flowers and a subtle hint of oak. On the palate, it offers an exquisite balance of ripe fruit flavours, vibrant acidity, and a sophisticated mineral undertone that lingers long after the last sip. A celebrated wine, not to be missed by true connoisseurs.

Burghound (91)

Sweet spot Outstanding Top value Notes of smoked hazelnut, poached pear and pretty acacia blossom scents introduce sleek, intense and beautifully delineated medium-bodied flavors that coat the palate on the clean, focused, balanced and beautifully long finale. This could use a bit more depth but overall, this is a first-rate Meursault villages.

Savour the exquisite quality of Hospices de Beaune Meursault 1er Cru Genevrieres Cuvee Baudot 2014, a fine vintage underpinned by a rich tradition in Burgundian wine-making. Produced from the revered vineyards of the Burgundy region, it hails from the Meursault 1er Cru Genevrieres domain, bearing testament to the esteemed reputability of Hospices de Beaune, world-renowned for their exceptional commitment to viticulture mastery.

This critically acclaimed, full-bodied Chardonnay is expertly hand-harvested, preserving the purity and intensity of the fruit. The microclimate and rich soils have endowed it with exceptional terroir complexity, offering sophisticated layers of ripe apples, roasted nuts and hints of honeysuckle on the palate.

With age, Hospices de Beaune Meursault 1er Cru Genevrieres Cuvee Baudot 2014 develops bracing mineral undertones, becoming more nuanced and vibrant. This wine is a true representation of elegant French viniculture, an exquisite choice for the discerning collector.

Vinous (88-90)

The 2020 Meursault Les Gruyaches just feels a little simple compared to some of the top Village Crus that I encountered from this appellation. The palate is well balanced with good weight, a fine bead of acidity here with orange zest and light mango notes lending a tropical touch. Enjoy this over the next decade.

Vinous (90+)

(Jobard lost 40% of the crop here as both his lowest and highest vines were affected by frost; he described this as the worst frost year in this cru since 1981): Ripe yellow fruits and spices on the nose; a bit less floral than the Blagny. Sappier than the Blagny, showing good citrussy energy and a savory quality. Nicely concentrated but less refined and elegant than the Blagny. Finishes a tad spiky and phenolic, in need of time to find its ultimate harmony.

Vinous (92-94)

The 2018 Meursault Poruzots 1er Cru comes courtesy of 0.79 hectares of vine planted between 1972 and 1994. It is well defined on the nose, offering scents of hazelnut and grilled walnut, hints of orange blossom and a very faint menthol notes. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, a judicious tang of ginger that lends tension, and impressive depth toward the finish, which lingers in the mouth. Superb.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91-94)

Full pale lemon. The bouquet is attractive with an intriguing note of liquorice. Quite full on the nose, with a little warmth as well as body, then brought back in to a beautiful finish. Good acidity. A little tension behind, needs time. A wine currently showing in two halves, but which may very well develop positively from here. A conservative score for now. Tasted: November 2021

Jancis Robinson (16)

Fermented in oak, 18–20% new, as for most village whites. Cask sample. Intense fruit aroma with notes of clementine and ripe lemons and a light touch of spice. Ripe and spicy. Super-creamy, with some almond and quite obvious oak on the palate – obvious at the moment but there’s freshness underneath. Not very subtle but lots of pleasure. Plenty of volume in the mouth, quite a powerful wine.

James Suckling (93)

A classically structured wine for this appellation with the weight and round generosity that we expect from it, but with plenty of bright citrus and pear fruit, something these wines can lack a bit of. Good depth with an excellent integration of chalky minerality and healthy acidity at the long and delicate finish. With aeration a touch of vanilla bean develops on the nose. Drink or hold.

Vinous - Neal Martin (91)

The 2014 La Chenade has a reserved but well defined bouquet with earthy red and black fruit, hints of truffle oil and sage, gaining a little intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with firm and quite strict tannin. This is rather aloof and distant and yet it is undeniably well defined and fascinating, a Pomerol that clearly needs some bottle age. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Jeb Dunnuck (92+)

Brought up in 30% new French oak and based on an 80/20 split of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Château La Chenade has a classy, beautiful nose of crème de cassis, dried tobacco, lead pencil, and earth. This carries to a vibrant, medium-bodied Lalande de Pomerol with fine yet present tannins, a solid spine of acidity, and a great finish. It's another release from Denis Durantou that's going to benefit from just short-term cellaring and cruise for a decade.