Prestige Offers

Domaine Dupasquier Nuits-Saint-Georges and Aloxe-Corton 2022-2023

Vincent Dupasquier is the fifth generation winemaker of his small (10 hectare) estate located in Prémeaux-Prissey, just south of Nuits-Saint-Georges. Interestingly, while most of his family's vineyards are in Nuits-Saint-Georges (the namesake of the Côte de Nuits, the northern subregion of Burgundy's Côte d'Or heartland), he also farms land in the Côte de Beaune. He is dedicated to serving individual customers and restaurants in France, but Vincent is pleased to offer his wines to American consumers (Dupasquier wines are not generally available at all in the United States). In this bundle, Vincent has pulled together a collection of his best red wines from his most recent vintages, 2022 and 2023.

These are traditional Nuits-Saint-Georges inasmuch as they are full-bodied, larger-scale red Burgundies, particularly the highly prized and famously powerful 1er Cru Les Vaucrains (both the 2022 and 2023 are included). High on the slope, both Vaucrains and Chaînes-Carteaux lie side-by-side above Les Saint-Georges, regarded as the top vineyard in Nuits-Saint-Georges. Here grows stressed vines due to rocky, well-drained limestone soils, but there is a small amount of clay and sand mixed in (particularly in Chaînes-Carteaux), which gives the vines some extra moisture and nutrition, reducing some of the concentration and tannins of the resulting wine. These Premier Crus have plenty of fruit and power, but the village Nuits-Saint-Georges is no slouch as it too is a deep wine that could use some time. The Aloxe-Corton Les Caillettes, from a single vineyard at the bottom of the Hill of Corton, is a bit softer and rounder than its Nuits-Saint-Georges mates, showing the wonderful lighter, fruit-forward characteristics of the 2023 vintage.

As Domaine Dupasquier is quite small and focuses almost all of their attentions on selling to private customers in France, they do not typically offer their wines for professional review (certainly not by American and British reviewers). We are, however, able to provide a couple of reviews from French critics for a recent vintage (17) to give you an idea of their take on Vincent's wines. Please keep in mind that the 2023 wines are similar in character to the 2017s, the 2022s are deeper and more cellar-worthy.

Château de Laborde Chambolle-Musigny and Gevrey-Chambertin 2018-2022

Hervé Kerlann acquired and renovated the magnificent Château de Laborde castle - originally built in 1678 - in 1998 and revived its pre-revolution winemaking glory. (Note: the chateau is so picturesque that the Tour de France 2024 route drove on the tiny road past it - see the photo below featuring the Chateau and Hervé in front.) As for the wines, Hervé works with nine hectares of grapes, including many in key Côte de Nuits sites in Chambolle-Musigny and Gevrey-Chambertin, where he makes mostly single-vineyard wines from old vines which can express each unique terroir. Despite the higher concentration afforded wines from older vines, Laborde wines tend towards red fruit flavors and freshness so they can be enjoyed young.

In this bundle, the Château de Laborde team has assembled a nice collection of already aged Village wines for you to sample, all from the Côte de Nuits communes of Chambolle-Musigny and Gevrey-Chambertin. Showcasing the distinctions in the range of individual vineyard sites, this grouping will be fun to explore. Gevrey-Chambertin is a commune well-known for producing perhaps the most dense and powerful red wines in Burgundy, and Hervé works with old vines to produce concentrated wines, but not too concentrated. He really wants the wines consumed while fresh, without many years of cellaring. Single-vineyard Aux Ételois and Billard offer mouth coating red fruit flavors but are easy to drink. The Aux Ételois sits in the warmer section just below Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru, where the wines possess energy and length. The Billard vines are approximately 45 years-old and lie in the cooler, northern part of Gevrey. These vines rest in thick stony soils, giving them ample water and drainage, so they struggle less than the others. This has the tendency to produce wines which are softer, rounder and smoother than those from vines which have to dig deeper roots for these basics. You'll therefore find that the Billard is more ready to drink, with comparatively delicate flavors and soft spices. Finally from Gevrey, the Domaine has included two bottles of their Vieilles Vignes ("old vines" - averaging about 40 years) Gevrey-Chambertin. This is a carefully selected blend of fruit taken from aged vines in their individual Gevrey-Chambertin vineyards. These wines offer freshness when young, with a light, fruity, velvety touch on the mouth, but have the structure to age for many years if one wants to bring out more complexity. 

Now on to the Chambolle-Musigny Les Bas Doix. This wine comes from a single plot (lieu-dit) that lies just below 1er Cru Haut Doix, and above the village of Vougeot. Chambolle-Musignys are generally prized for their complexity, softness and floral nature, and these bottles are an excellent reflection of the appellation. Lots of red fruit color and flavors, you'll find these perfumed wines have a solid structure but plenty of gentle finesse.

Domaine François Buffet Premier Cru Volnays 2023

Marc-Olivier Buffet, a very nice guy and very talented winemaker, has gained recognition as his wines have grown in popularity. It is certainly good news for the domaine when noted critics like Neal Martin of Vinous last November said, "the quality of the Volnay Premier Crus shine through." Also last year, Allen Meadows of Burghound.com noted, "I've said this before but it bears repeating for those who enjoy elegance and understatement, this is a group of wines to carefully consider as they are genuinely lovely." We are genuinely excited each spring as we have, for six years now, been able to share a small vertical of his latest releases. Buffet's wines, especially his Volnays, have a silkiness and "feminine" appeal to them, never asserting themselves with big power and opulent fruit. They are refined, aromatic and velvety. And consistent praise is easy to find - we have included scores and tasting notes from both Allen Meadows and Neal Martin for each wine offered. In general terms, The Carelle sous la Chapelle is the lightest, fruitiest of the set, the Champans is much richer and deeper, and the Clos des Chênes is the densest of the bunch. Then there's the Taillepieds. This vineyard is consistently our favorite among Buffet's Volnays, and the 2023 continues that tradition. It has plenty of structure and can improve in the cellar for many years, but it is more elegant and refined than the heavier offerings, so it can be enjoyed either young or aged.

Domaine François Legros Puligny-Montrachet and 1er Cru St. Aubins 2023

François Legros, along with his daughters Charlotte and Laure, work their family vineyards and produce wonderful wines. The white wine vineyards, from Puligny-Montrachet and neighboring Saint-Aubin, were acquired by François from his father-in-law over 20 years ago, and he has learned to master the Chardonnay from these prime sites. In this lot, the Legros team is offering you their recently bottled and deeply flavored 2023s. The Saint Aubin 1er Cru Murgers des Dents de Chien (French for "walls of dogs' teeth," so named because of the jagged limestone rocks and terracing walls that are visible down the hillside) comes from a vineyard located high up on the hill above the ultimate Le Montrachet Grand Cru. This rocky-soil perch allows excellent drainage which stresses the vines, causing the roots to reach deeper, which imparts more minerality and produces a wine generally fresher and more delicate than those found in neighboring Puligny-Montrachet. In contrast, the Saint-Aubin En Remilly vineyard lies farther down the hill - below Le Montrachet and just west of Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru - in soil which is rocky but also filled with chalk. Deeper root growth here has the vines struggling less, allowing for these wines to be more delicate than those produced in the less hospitable land above. The single-vineyard Puligny-Montrachet Noyer Bret is typical of Puligny-Montrachet wines, although considerably heftier than most village wines from this commune. Located near the border of Chassagne-Montrachet and Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru, the Noyer Bret delivers a fruit-filled punch, particularly on the nose and again on the mid-palate. For those who believe Puligny-Montrachet is the epicenter of the greatest dry white wine in the world (not an usual belief), this wine, at a fraction of the cost of its famous neighbors, will not disappoint.

Unfortunately, the 2023s from Domaine François Legros have not yet been subject to critic reviews. For your convenience, we've included Neal Martin (Vinous) reviews of the same wines in the 2022 vintage. In general, the 2023 whites are a bit richer and heavier than the 2022s.

Domaine Marchand-Grillot Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru and Villages 2021-2023

Seventh generation winemaker Etienne Marchand brings his extensive experience to produce wines red wines of character. Etienne studied at the Lycée Viticole at Macon-Davayé, followed by a BTS in Wine Commerce at Thecoma in Paris, and gained hands-on experience with winemakers in Oregon. His influence has given the estate new enthusiasm, adding modern working techniques aimed at greater sustainability. And with a little advice from his father, Jacques, their collective knowledge is propelling the domaine to new heights! But what does this mean in practical terms for you?

Well, Gevrey-Chambertin, the northernmost Burgundian village producing Grand and Premier Cru red wines, is famously known for delivering very powerful, deep expressions of Old-World Pinot Noir. This domaine is located right in the town, but the family's eye is set towards more modern, more approachable wines made from those same, otherwise powerful, vineyards. This effort results in wines of depth but also of nice acidity, which effectively cuts through the heaviness and affords pleasant early-drinking experiences. Naturally, if the wines are permitted some time to age, a subtler, more complex flavor emerges.

In this bundle, Domaine Marchand-Grillot brings you wines from their most recent (and very fine) 2023 vintage, alongside a couple of bottles of ready-to-drink wines from their 2021 campaign. First, Etienne presents his Premier Cru Petite-Chapelle. This vineyard, (not surprisingly) located adjacent to Chappelle-Chambertin Grand Cru, is always a favorite of ours, and the 2021 version is not a "light" wine as it has some depth and complexity, but owing to the vintage, is fruit-forward and approachable young. Also from 2021, a bottle of his Village Gevrey-Chambertin is included. This wine is sourced from 11 different 1er Cru and Village Gevrey plots, and then carefully blended to create a wine which is immediately accessible. Next we come upon the Gevrey-Chambertin En Songe (two bottles included), a single-vineyard village wine which is the most elegant of Etienne's Village offerings. Planted over 40 years ago, the vineyard is located on the northern side near 1er Cru Champeaux and is noted for its red fruit notes. Lastly, another village Gevrey, the En Joise (also two included bottles), is from a vineyard farther down the hill in deeper soils. These vines produce a wine with darker fruit flavors that could benefit from a little aging, but is nevertheless a softer, more rounded Gevrey.