Crafted within the distinguished region of Burgundy, J Thevenet Bongran Vire-Clesse 2011 is an exquisite testament to the mastery of its revered producer. Thevenet's acclaimed low-yield vineyard practices offer a rarity in the world of Chardonnay, yielding a rich, powerful expression. The painstakingly hand-harvested, native-yeast fermented grapes, matured on the lees in old oak barrels for up to two years, deliver an extraordinary opulence, its incredibly high natural sugar levels balanced by naturally occurring, ice-wine like acidity.

Bongran Vire-Clesse 2011 displays a luxuriously golden hue, capturing the essence of ripe apple, pears, and quince on the nose, with nuances of honey, marzipan and delicate spices. The wine intrigues the palate with its immense concentration, ushering in a kaleidoscope of complex flavours that carry through to a prolonged, invigorating finish. Remarkably age-worthy, the J Thevenet Bongran Vire-Clesse 2011 is an absolute gem of the Mâconnais district.

The J Thevenet Bongran Vire-Clesse 2015 is a divine manifestation of traditional Burgundian wine-making. Produced in the stunning vineyards of Quintaine, Mâconnais, France, this wine reflects the exceptional skill of Jean Thevenet, a craftsman who favours nature-friendly, manual wine-making techniques. The grapes are harvested late to ensure optimum ripeness before undergoing natural fermentation processes in oak casks, landing the wine with a rich, full-bodied profile.

Savour the unique character of J Thevenet Bongran Vire-Clesse 2015, as it boasts fruity notes, a hint of earthiness and minerality. Its engaging complexity, combined with a lingering honeyed finish brings forth elegant richness and timeless finesse. This Chardonnay's balance between acidity and residual sugar offers an excellent aging potential. To all fine wine connoisseurs, immerse yourself in the charisma of this single-varietal, achieving the perfect harmony between concentration and freshness.

Join us to embark on the tantalising journey of the J Thevenet Bongran Vire-Clesse 2015, a wine that truly encapsulates 'terroir' in a bottle.

Vinous (93)

The 2016 Viré-Clessé is the vintage currently on the market, although Guillaume Thevenet suggested that it will benefit from five to seven years in bottle. That’s easier said than done given the irresistible bouquet with gorgeous white peach, nectarine, blood orange and light minerally notes. The palate is very harmonious and smooth with ginger and white pepper notes interlaced with the very subtle tropical fruit of pineapple and a hint of guava. Great linearity and length here, this is only just beginning to show what it can do, so maybe heed Guillaume’s advice!

Vinous (92-94)

The 2017 Viré-Clessé, which will be bottled at the beginning of 2022, has a killer nose with an almost Germanic feel, intense nectarine, melon and damp earthy scents with just a hint of petrol. The palate is beautifully balanced with a line of acidity keeping everything taut and linear. The 2017 is a little waxy in texture with orange rind, stem ginger and white pepper furnishing the very persistent finish. This is superb - a Viré-Clessé with genuine substance and longevity.

Wine Advocate (100)

Produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and sporting a deep garnet-purple color, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard offers up a profound and singular nose of loam, rocks and iron ore over a core of black cherries, baked black berries and preserved plums with hints of licorice, dark chocolate, cedar, sautéed herbs and beef broth. Full-bodied, rich and demonstrating great depth with a wonderfully compelling personality, it delivers a multitude of savory meat and toast layers, framed by firm, fine-grained tannins. It finishes with incredible persistence, allowing those provocative mineral nuances to shine through.

Wine Advocate (99)

Deep garnet-purple, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard leaps from the glass with opulent crème de cassis, raspberry tart and black forest cake notions plus underlying cigar box, mocha, licorice and forest floor suggestions. Full-bodied, rich, spicy and decadently generous in the mouth, it has a firm, velvety foundation and wonderful precision, featuring an invigorating lift on the very long, multilayered and provocatively earthy finish. 815 cases were made.

Vinous (89)

Medium red with a hint of brown. Evolved, balsamic aromas of currant, black tea and coffee grounds. Still some fruit left, as well as a brown sugar sweetness, with strong juicy acidity and firm tannins keeping the wine alive.

Wine Advocate (100)

My favorite in the blind-tasted lineup extending from 2010 through 2020 was the opulent yet concentrated and impeccably structured 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon. It boasts classic scents of cherries and cassis on the nose, with touches of vanilla and wood spice adding nuance on the medium to full-bodied palate. Imbued with tremendous intensity, the supple tannins and ripe acids necessary for aging and a long, complex finish, this wine truly has it all.

Wine Advocate (98+)

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon has a drop-dead gorgeous nose of Sichuan pepper, hoisin, peppered salami and fertile loam over a core of blackberry preserves and redcurrant jelly with touches of kirsch and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied and concentrated yet still maintaining that wonderful purity and elegance that is the signature of this estate, it has layer upon layer of earthy nuances and a very long finish.

Wine Advocate (100)

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple colored with a mind-blowingly gorgeous nose that defies words: warm cassis, red roses, sandalwood, Indian spices, crushed rocks, menthol and iron ore with wafts of lilacs and truffles. Medium to full-bodied with a rock-solid frame of super-ripe, grainy tannins and tons of freshness, it finishes incredibly long and remains incredibly provocative.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate has shut down slightly since I tasted it last year, yet it’s still a magical, perfect wine. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot, it offers incredible notes of pure crème de cassis, blueberries, camphor, crushed rocks, and lead pencil shavings. This rich, full-bodied beauty always reminds me of a great vintage of Château Margaux with its beautiful complexity, power, and elegance. As I wrote last year, do your best to give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age and it should evolve for three decades or more.

The Wine Independent (100)

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, with 9% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot in the blend, is deep garnet in color. It strides confidently from the glass with classic notes of cassis and blackberry preserves followed by wafts of cedar chest, pencil lead, wild sage, crushed rocks, and lilacs, plus a hint of black truffles. The medium to full-bodied palate is super-intense, with loads of earth-tinged black fruit layers and a firm structure, finishing long and refreshing.

Decanter (99)

2020 Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon - St. Helena NV /// Lovely fragrant blackberry and black cherry fruit, cassis, and rich tobacco spices with lovely fresh earth notes and a sweet kiss of new wood cedar. Incredibly concentrated dark berry fruit with fabulously angular tannins with smooth long beams with crisp edges. Purple florals, dried sagebrush, and chocolate shavings with lids of graphite and deep iron-like mineral character. And a finish of dark saturated fruit that goes and goes for days. There are purple floras too. Polished and bright, with vivacious acidity and freshness evident from the sip to the finish. Wow, this wine. 98-100. // 13.7 ... has the potential to be a 100-point wine.