Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98+)

The 2023 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a jewel of wine. Soaring aromatics are immediately captivating. A rush of red/purplish fruit, mocha, new leather and well-judged oak build as the 2023 shows off its vertical structure and total class. There's plenty of Ducru opulence, but everything is in the right place. I must admit, I like the lower-alcohol vintages at Ducru quite a bit, as there is less oak extraction, which in turn yields wines of exquisite finesse and class. A highlight.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98+)

The 2023 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a jewel of wine. Soaring aromatics are immediately captivating. A rush of red/purplish fruit, mocha, new leather and well-judged oak build as the 2023 shows off its vertical structure and total class. There's plenty of Ducru opulence, but everything is in the right place. I must admit, I like the lower-alcohol vintages at Ducru quite a bit, as there is less oak extraction, which in turn yields wines of exquisite finesse and class. A highlight.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98+)

The 2023 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a jewel of wine. Soaring aromatics are immediately captivating. A rush of red/purplish fruit, mocha, new leather and well-judged oak build as the 2023 shows off its vertical structure and total class. There's plenty of Ducru opulence, but everything is in the right place. I must admit, I like the lower-alcohol vintages at Ducru quite a bit, as there is less oak extraction, which in turn yields wines of exquisite finesse and class. A highlight.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98+)

The 2023 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a jewel of wine. Soaring aromatics are immediately captivating. A rush of red/purplish fruit, mocha, new leather and well-judged oak build as the 2023 shows off its vertical structure and total class. There's plenty of Ducru opulence, but everything is in the right place. I must admit, I like the lower-alcohol vintages at Ducru quite a bit, as there is less oak extraction, which in turn yields wines of exquisite finesse and class. A highlight.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98+)

The 2023 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a jewel of wine. Soaring aromatics are immediately captivating. A rush of red/purplish fruit, mocha, new leather and well-judged oak build as the 2023 shows off its vertical structure and total class. There's plenty of Ducru opulence, but everything is in the right place. I must admit, I like the lower-alcohol vintages at Ducru quite a bit, as there is less oak extraction, which in turn yields wines of exquisite finesse and class. A highlight.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)

Just as it was en primeur, the 2018 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is rich, sensual and enveloping. Silky tannins wrap around a core of blackberry jam, chocolate, spice, lavender and new leather. All the elements are so well balanced in this sumptuous, racy Saint-Julien. A warm growing season yielded small berries and heady, concentrated flavors. This is such a gorgeous wine. The blend is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot.

James Suckling (93-94)

Medium body with a compact core of dark fruit, blackcurrants, pine cones, cloves and chocolate. Beautiful depth. Firm, creamy tannins. Dark and firm, yet cool at the end. 64% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot and 4% petit verdot. Serious second wine.

James Suckling (94-95)

A chewy and polished red with blackberry and blueberry character. Full to medium body. Fine and tensioned. Excellent finish. Salty. Blackcurrants at the end. 66% merlot, 32% cabernet sauvignon, and 2% petit verdot.

Burghound (93)

Outstanding. A more restrained nose requires some aggressive swirling to reveal its aromas of poached plum, black raspberry, violet and anise. The suave, caressing and succulent medium-bodied flavors brim with sappy dry extract as well as minerality on the beautifully lengthy finish that flashes focused power. Excellent development potential here.

Burghound (94)

This more elegant than the Lavaut with its ripe and attractively layered nose of markedly ripe black cherry, floral, warm earth and a panoply of spice elements. There is superb richness, size and weight to the concentrated, velvety and seductively textured broad-shouldered flavors that conclude in a phenomenally persistent finish that is supported by very firm tannins. This is a powerful and robust Charmes that is certainly bigger and richer than the Lavaut but it doesn't have quite the same underlying tension.

Vinous (94-96)

Another dark, mysterious wine, the 2012 Charmes-Chambertin is laced with dark red plum, smoke, incense and savory/floral notes. The flavors are rich, round and layered, adding to a sense of simply impeccable balance and pure texture.

Decanter (97)

The Dugat-Py family have nearly 1ha of Charmes-Chambertin, divided two-thirds to one between Charmes itself and Mazoyères. Picked early, this is a serious, textured, wild-herb-scented wine, beautifully crafted to combine structure with fruit weight, supported by acidity and adroitly handled new wood.

Wine Advocate (96)

Offering up aromas of cherries, wild berries, licorice and loamy soil that only hint at the aromatic range to come with a little bottle age, the 2018 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru is full-bodied, layered and sumptuous, its deep and multidimensional core fruited by rich but refined tannins and lively balancing acids, concluding with a long, beautifully defined finish. This is a serious, concentrated Charmes that—as I wrote last year—fully vindicates Loïc Dugat-Py's decision to harvest early, as well as his move to a reduced percentage of new oak (only 66%) for this cuvée.

Burghound (96)

A markedly floral nose is quite pretty with its array of earth, liqueur-like dark berries and lovely spice wisps. There is again outstanding volume to the beautifully textured large-scaled flavors that exude a bracing salinity on the sneaky long and well-balanced if overtly austere finale that displays absolutely stunning length. Here too plenty of patience will be required.

Wine Advocate (96)

Aromas of dark cherries, licorice, peonies and sweet spices, framed by a deft touch of classy new oak, introduce the 2020 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru, a full-bodied, ample and satiny wine that's fleshy and gourmand, its sweet, powdery tannins entirely concealed in an enveloping core of vibrant fruit. Such is its underlying substance and incipient complexity, however, that I suspect its immediate charm is deceptive.

Burghound (92-95)

Here the more reticent nose isn’t as elegant though it is more complex with its layered blend of red and dark pinot fruit, anise and discreet earth and floral wisps. The supple and highly seductive medium weight flavors possess excellent depth and persistence on the mildly austere finale. This is already appealing and several years of cellaring should only enhance its attractiveness.

Wine Advocate (95+)

The 2022 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru reveals the same seriousness it displayed in barrel. Unwinding in the glass with notes of cherries, dark berries, orange zest and petals, it's full-bodied, layered and enveloping, built around a chassis of sweet, powdery tannins and animated by lively acids. While this is generally the domaine's most immediate grand cru, the 2022 will nevertheless demand a bit of patience.

From the esteemed house of Bernard Dugat-Py, the Chorey-les-Beaune Tres Vieilles Vignes 2021 is an alluring and exquisite Burgundy. Dugat-Py's mastery is manifest in this wine, crafted with grapes sourced from impressively ancient vines, "Tres Vieilles Vignes", ensuring intensity of flavours. The wine undergoes meticulous production, hand-picked at optimum ripeness, aged in oak barrels with minimal filtration to preserve its natural charisma.

This cherished vineyard, located in the prominent region of Chorey-les-Beaune, exudes opulence, complete with an aroma of ripe fruit and ornate earthy properties, providing an enriched, deep texture. Bernard Dugat-Py is renowned globally for crafting exceptional Burgundies and Chorey-les-Beaune Tres Vieilles Vignes 2021 is no exception. Its majesty will evolve over time, appealing to collectors.

Invest in a bottle of Bernard Dugat-Py Chorey-les-Beaune Tres Vieilles Vignes 2021 to experience a distinct expression of fine Burgundian terroir and enjoy a wine that truly delights the connoisseur's palette.

Wine Advocate (96+)

Another highlight of the range this year is the 2020 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux Saint-Jacques, a beautifully vibrant, penetrating wine that will likely prove almost immortal. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of rose petals, exotic spices, orange zest and sweet wild berries, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a seamless, integrated profile and a racy spine of acidity that carries though the long, penetrating finish. The only missing ingredient is time.

Vinous (92-94)

Dark red. Restrained but pure aromas of blackberry, currant, minerals and spices, complicated by a whiff of fresh blood. Densely packed and layered, with lovely finesse and minerality for this cuvee. Finishes spicy, sweet and long, with considerable dusty tannins and a whiff of black licorice. This is balanced to offer early appeal but has the juicy concentration and backbone to age well.