We arrived to see a weary Jean Louis Dutraive on the Sunday morning after battling a roof fire in his winery. It didn’t faze him. He took the appointment and... read more →
Julien lives right next to his Avenas winery and cellar, high above Morgon. He makes three cuvée: Régnie, Morgon and this Fleurie. All are handled the same way: semi-carbonic, whole... read more →
From the Côte Chalonnaise comes a classy little number from good old Dominique. First off, all of his 2014s are marvelous. Even the basic Le Ban Saint-Aubin. This delivered a... read more →
Sorry to do this to you, but here’s another lovely, hard-to-find wine from this magical estate. You might have to go to the Domaine in the Macon which is certainly... read more →
From sandy, gravely soils near the river in Maranges. Concrete fermented then aged in 4- to 10-year-old barrels. With rising prices in the area, this is one to stock up... read more →
A hybrid of limestone gravel and granite influence. Throw in 20% whole cluster which gives a little lift. This is a slightly different expression, rustic but definitely enjoyable and a... read more →
In the fall this was shy and shrill. Now, six months later? It’s a testament to patience. For some reason this made me rethink everything I knew about burgundy. It’s... read more →
Tannin at the finish on top of apple-like acid. The fruit takes a backseat to the savory and it is just a completely satisfying Beaujolais. It all knits together and... read more →
Cherry, a good dollop of tannic grit, and a touch of volatility. This simple. Lovely. Inexpensive and juicy, in any of the above vintages. Drink it every day and be... read more →
I’ve been singing the Rateau praises for some time and each year, Jean Claude shows his never-ceasing growth. If he’s not on your collecting list, correct that. Even for a... read more →