This great domaine has been bio-dynamic for the last few years. The Bourgogne Passetoutgrains from 60 year old vines - 50% Gamay and 50% Pinot Noir – has excellent, ripe, crunchy fruit, authenticity, and surpasses most other Passetoutgrains in Burgundy with its depth of ripe, rich fruit. The creamy old-vine Grèves is showing the usual elegant and well toned red fruit and juicy acidity but with extra richness and creamy fruit. A lovely, complex and very fine wine. The Volnay Clos du Chateau des Ducs is showing remarkably well. It has superb, ripe raspberry fruit and spiciness on the nose, which is consistent with the palate. A hedonistic wine. The Clos des Chênes is all power yet backed by elegant, rich, red berry fruit and good use of oak. Structured and complex, this is a great wine in the making. The Caillerets, usually the most concentrated and masculine of the three, is all mineral fruit and latent power. This has a fabulous structure and depth but still has dark fruit, spice and great character and presence. The Pommard Pezerolles here is always a Volnay style of Pommard. In 2002 it is full of personality and positively sings with vibrant, mineral, richly textured red, juicy fruit, well enveloped, smooth tannins, persistent finish and is, as usual, a remarkably classy Pommard.

A vintage of very high quality whites and red wines here: Jean-Marc always makes concentrated wines, more so than his illustrious competitors in Puligny itself, but the low yields and high dry extract of 2002 takes them to a new and higher plane. The logic of this means, however, that I only have a handful of cases of the 1er Cru, which are all of fabulous quality, depth, complexity and show their respective terroirs very well. Having said that, the wonderfully concentrated Puligny Villages from the Meix and Enseignières vineyards is itself of 1er Cru quality. The red wines show superb richness and extra dimensions of complexity and texture. These wines need cellaring for 4-5 years before drinking. The usually reliable and high quality Pommard villages is the most approachable with seductive smokey, wild, dark fruits and rich texture with ripe tannins. The Pommard Jarollières is very deep, meaty, mineral, complex and masculine with lots of energy and depth whilst the Volnay Carelle is the opposite – elegant, very deep in colour and understated with depth, oak superbly integrated, richness and plenty in reserve.

Henri Boillot, brother of Jean-Marc, is making some of the most exciting wines in Burgundy at the moment. He has his own family vineyards (Domaine Jean Boillot) as well as a negociant business based in Meursault. He makes red and white wines from his domaine vineyards but makes principally white wines at his negociant operation. Unlike other negociants he buys only fruit and then only from those where he has an input as to how the vines and vineyard plots are tended and looked after. This results in wines of stunning complexity, concentration and purity. He also has special barrels made for him which are bigger than a normal barrique but smaller than the demi-muid (these special barrels are 350 litres in capacity and according to Henri Boillot this results in wines which are less marked by wood but which still allows him to use new oak safely). With his white wines, Henri Boillot is searching for natural concentration, freshness, purity, terroir definition and above all minerality. Henri has a stunning red wine on the negoce side in this vintage. 2002 is a very great vintage here.

Fabulous wines from Domaine Jean Boillot. Henri has made astonishing red and white wines from miniscule yields. The reds come from, as usual, very low yields after Henri Boillot had made his usual triages (selection grape by grape)in the vines and in the winery. Phenomenal wines of power, complexity and finesse. The white wines, as can be expected, are really quite special and here is an instance where it is difficult to separate the domaine and negociant wines in terms of absolute quality.

Sometimes, in the rush to secure the grand appellations, one forgets the foot soldiers in the lesser appellations who provide consistent and excellent value – in many ways they are more difficult to source, and once found should be cherished. Gerard Prudhon, and son Vincent, is such a one, and, as usual, his juicy 1er Cru St Aubin les Frionnes is the epitome of honest, uncomplicated Pinot Noir, to which New World producers have no answer. It is ripe, plump and full of seductive red berry fruits with a fat, ripe, rich texture and great balance. The 1er Cru white, Les Murgers des Dents de Chien – literally translated as dog-tooth stones - is close to Le Montrachet and produces classy wine with an easy minerality for early to medium term drinking. In 2002 it has added dimensions of ripeness, concentration and texture. These wines are also wonderful value.

Another tour de force from Michel Morey, so much so that I have decided to abandon some of the other sources to concentrate on his wines. In 2002 the Puligny 1er Cru Pucelles, a recently replanted vineyard, has made a ripe, concentrated yet textured wine, probably for medium term drinking. This has real finesse and class. It also offers remarkable value for a cru of this quality level and renown. In Chassagne, the Caillerets is as always elegant and mineral – more restrained than the rich, burnished gold flavours of la Romanée, of which vineyard Michel owns a major part. Finally, the old vines of the Fairendes – an enclave within Morgeot – make for a robust, exotic, almost overpoweringly concentrated wine, to hold back for 5 years before drinking and of Grand Cru quality. The Batard, which is more structured and backward, is full of latent power and has in this vintage a remarkable density, texture and structure. This is complex and multi-dimensional. The red Chassagne is the antithesis of the old leathery style still practiced by many growers. It is exuberant and loaded with red fruits, bright, crystalline with liqueur like intensity and is very moreish, and can be drunk straight away for its energy and also over the next five/six years at least.

We have been long-time admirers of the wines of Franck Follin. These are wines of exquisite finesse, length and complexity and are pure and ripe with a wonderful expression of Pinot Noir fruit and terroir. This is a domaine which is definitely in the top division of great estates in Burgundy. Franck’s wife, Christine, inherited all their vines from Louis Latour, and for 10 years now they have been making their own wines. His wines are expressive, pure, and distinctive, and have an elegance and refinement rarely seen in appellations such as Corton, which is usually more massive and heavy-weight in style. The Aloxe-Corton has very honest, crunchy fruit and good weight in the palate with great finesse, while the very old vine 1er Cru Vercots is a more serious wine, with wild, dark-fruits, good tannic presence and greater persistence: this is serious wine of great depth and complexity. The Corton is an exceptional wine, extremely sensual, elegant and floral, which is due in part to the fact that the vines are grown on Corton Charlemagne soil – usually destined for white grapes. Complex and seductive, it is a wine with great aging potential that can also be enjoyed relatively young – a hedonist’s delight! The Pernand-Vergelesses Fichots is a premier cru of huge charm. It has a beautiful aroma of strawberries, pepper and cream, delightfully velvety tannins and great depth on the palate. The finish is smooth, long and consistent. The Romanée St Vivant is in a league of its own. This is exotic and very complex. It has great unforced concentration and power which combine effortlessly with the utmost elegance of expression. The texture is ravishing and there are hints of roses and raspberries and spices on the nose, with a beautifully balanced, lacey textured palate. This has fabulous length, depth and complexity. Power and finesse in harmony.

An estate on cracking form making wines of great concentration and great finesse. Another addition to my range, albeit an already very well known one. Etienne de Montille has taken over from his father, and has immediately made subtle changes – destalking more, exposing a more sensual style, without losing the signature of purity and classicism which this domaine has made its own. 2002 is a fabulous vintage here. The Bourgogne, which is substantial, with energetic fruit, has a lovely, fleshy nose with delicious, smokey ripe red fruits. The Mitans is fresh, pure and ethereal. It is spicey and complex with great purity and finesse. There is real density of fruit and a wonderful creamy texture. Long, complex and fine with a superb structure.The Volnay Taillepieds is floral and has explosive energy. It is powerful yet light on its feet. This has ripe tannins all the way through but remains delicate and lady-like. It is a great expression of this wonderful terroir. The Pezerolles is, as is the case with this terroir, very fine with creamy, smokey red fruits, minerality, great finesse and class. It is subtle and concentrated with great length, depth and texture. The Rugiens was simply spectacular, with a kind of brutal sensuality, very much a long term keeper, of Grand Cru quality. Also punching way above its 1er Cru status is the rare Puligny Caillerets – acquired by father de Montille from the Chartron family – with its bouquet of citrus fruit and honey, dense minerality and incredibly long finish. A fabulous wine of ethereal purity and definitely Grand Cru quality and one the greatest white Burgundies tasted on my last visit. These wines are not given away, but are easily in the top rank of modern-day Burgundies.

This is a new name for great white Burgundies. David is very well connected and works with vineyard owners to grow the best fruit which he then buys and vinifies. These are wines of fantastic quality from superbly situated old vines. A name to follow. David Morey is a charismatic bon-viveur whose passion in life – wine apart – is hunting, which he practices regularly with his friends in his 500 hectares of prime hunting land. Such is his charm and popularity amongst the growers around Burgundy, that when he decided to start vinifying wine at his property, they were all more than ready to let him have the pick of the crop. Such a fine selection of raw materials, together with his confident and skilful work in the cellar has produced a range of wines of startling quality. I have selected three wines from his range, as I believe them to be not only extremely good, but also because they remain faithful to the style of their origins: The Meursault Perrières is concentrated, textured, fat, powerful, mineral, very citrus expression of Chardonnay, with great weight and length. A complete wine which will age very well as the balance is stunning. The Puligny Montrachet Folatières has – as one would expect in Puligny – a more elegant, lacy minerality and precision of fruit. A finely tuned, and quietly powerful wine with beautiful yet understated persistence. The origins of his Montrachet are somewhat of a mystery, as this is information that he is keeping to himself. What is clear is that somehow he has access to some top-grade material because the wine is extremely concentrated, complex and ripe, with searing minerality and tantalising acidity. A rare and exceptional wine that needs at least 8 years in bottle before it can truly start to show its breeding. These are very, very fine wines and at the top end of white Burgundies currently available.

A domaine which has “arrived”. Wines of great distinction and finesse made by the radical and immensely talented Jean-Marc Vincent. This is fast becoming one of the really great domaines and still great value for the terrific quality. The young, dynamic Jean-Marc took over this family domaine of 4.5 hectares from his grandfather in 1997. We were told by a good friend in London to check out the progress at this estate and were also told that Kermit Lynch, the famous American importer, had recently started importing these wines to the USA! Jean-Marc is now fully “bio-dynamic” and has some innovative ideas about how he wants to make his wines. Having said that, the work in the vineyards is very natural and great pains are taken to ensure that he has the highest quality of fruit. There are a high proportion of old vines and the yields are kept under control. Selection is paramount and only the highest quality fruit is used for these wines. He uses a very high proportion of new oak. He also uses a high proportion of stems in the fermentations, which can last over a month. For Jean-Marc, having long, slow fermentations results in wines with better tannins and suppleness but without sacrificing structure. When tasting these wines it is hard to believe that some of these wines have up to 100% stems and 100% new oak, as the fruit is very silky and fine and the oak is discrete and superbly integrated. A domaine to follow. NB we have some very fine 2000 and 2001vintage wines still available (red and white wines).

Stephane Briday produces very classy and stylish Rully’s which show superbly the character of this village. The Pucelle is very filigree, fresh and intense while the Gresigny has a “fatter” texture without losing any purity and finesse. All wines are barrel-fermented.

Vincent is one of the brightest young winemakers working in this region. His aim is always to improve the quality of his wines and he takes a flexible attitude to each vintage. The range in 2002 is highly successful with superb texture, richness, concentration and depth. Vincent has changed the method of vinification for his red wines and the wines are now much more supple and fine with a lovely balance and natural extraction.

A terrific range of very finely balanced wines which show excellent vineyard character. All wines are barrel fermented. This is now one of the most outstanding and consistent domaines in this area. The 2002 wines are stunning.

Benoit, son of Jean-Paul, has really pulled together a wonderful range of wines. He is using oak in a very judicious manner (superbly integrated and adding complexity) resulting in the wines below which are quite lovely with excellent mineral, flinty, Chablis character. The 2002 wines are from one of the really great recent Chablis vintages. These have lovely balance, concentration and weight of fruit without losing the intense minerality of great Chablis. The Montee de Tonnerre could be drunk on arrival but all the wines below will improve with at least 1-2 years or more of cellaring and will continue to evolve for even longer after that.

As expected from this very great domaine, a stunning range of wines in the 2002 vintage which will be offered separately. We can currently offer the 2001 vintage as below (2001 is a superb vintage for Raveneau). We also offer some older wines.

1. Prices are in £ per dozen bottles carriage paid to in bond delivered to Edinburgh.
2. Duty and VAT charges are due at prevailing rates when wine has been shipped and cleared from bonded warehouse. Onward delivery charges to customers’ addresses will be charged at cost.
3. Wines are offered subject to availability and prices are subject to alteration.
4. TERMS ARE CASH WITH ORDER PLEASE. (POA = Price On Application).