Vinous (89-91)

The 2018 Vosne-Romanée Aux Réas has a detailed, finely proportioned bouquet of red cherry and crushed strawberry fruit. The palate is fresh and almost citric on the entry, with a fine bead of acidity and an attractive peppery finish. Drink over the next 6–8 years.

Vinous (89-92)

Bright, moderately saturated medium red. Rather wild scents of crushed cherry stomp, flowers, medicinal herbs and minerals. Offers a lovely fine-grained texture and sweetness of fruit but still in a juicy style for all its ripeness. Very good for this cuvée but there are just three barrels of this juice from 0.34 hectare--or not much above 20 hectoliters per hectare. Savory and long on the aftertaste, with plenty of tannic support.

Vinous (90-92)

The 2018 Vougeot Les Petits Vougeot 1er Cru has a pretty, potpourri-tinged red and black cherry bouquet that is very Vosne-like in style. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins, plenty of raspberry confit and crushed strawberry fruit laced with dark chocolate toward the grippy finish. Lovely texture here, and impressive length. This needs three to five years in bottle.

Vinous (92-94)

The 2020 Vougeot Les Petits Vougeot 1er Cru is well-defined on the nose, a mixture of black cherry and blueberry fruit, pressed violets and veins of blood orange. The palate already conveys a sense of energy, sorbet-fresh red fruit laced with dessicated orange peel, touches of stem ginger emerging towards the spicy finish. Very impressive length. This is excellent.

Vinous (92-94)

The 2020 Vougeot Les Petits Vougeot 1er Cru is well-defined on the nose, a mixture of black cherry and blueberry fruit, pressed violets and veins of blood orange. The palate already conveys a sense of energy, sorbet-fresh red fruit laced with dessicated orange peel, touches of stem ginger emerging towards the spicy finish. Very impressive length. This is excellent.

Wine Advocate (92-93)

The 2023 Vougeot 1er Cru Les Petits Vougeot is lovely, wafting from the glass with aromas of orange zest, rose petals, spices and cherries. Medium to full-bodied, ample and perfumed, it's pure and sensual, concluding with a mineral finish. This is especially strong this year.

Crafted meticulously by the eminent Francis Boulard, the Petraea XCVII-MM NV is a celebration of the Champagne region's heritage. An exclusive blend of various vintages, it is made using traditional biodynamic viticulture methods. Rooted in rich, chalky soils, the exclusively grown Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier grapes give it its distinctive taste profile.

The wine is aged for at least seven years in oak casks, creating an intense golden colour with enticing aromas of ripe fruits and aromatic spices, underscored by invigorating minerality. The palate is enveloped by robust flavours of orchard fruits, nuts, and brioche, brilliantly balanced by a lively acidity that gives it structure and longevity. From its fine bubbles to its enduring finish, every sip of the Francis Boulard Petraea XCVII-MM NV is a testament to the unparalleled craftsmanship of the Boulard family.

Whether savoured alone or paired with gourmet dishes, it promises an immersive tasting experience.

The Francis Boulard Rachais Brut Nature 2012 is a venerable display of an excellent, biodynamically produced Champagne. Crafted meticulously by Francis Boulard, a renowned winemaker whose family has been dedicated to viticulture for over two centuries, this offering encapsulates the essence of Champagne's Massif de Saint-Thierry terroir. This Extra Brut is primarily composed of Pinot Meunier, possessing a remarkably low dosage making it exceptionally crisp and unfiltered.

Certain vintage years, including 2012, are known for their exceptional quality, and Francis Boulard utilises traditional methods to exquisitely express this bounty. The Champagne is fermented in oak barrels and the bottles are manually disgorged. The result is a wine possessing complex aromatic character redolent with green apple, nougat and yuzu notes supported by a vibrant acidity that promises enduring cellaring potential.

A bottle of Francis Boulard Rachais Brut Nature 2012 is a testament to unwavering commitment to organic and biodynamic practices, radiating the brilliance of its maker and the vineyard's exceptional terrain.

Vinous (94)

Bright purple. Intense dark fruit preserve and floral scents, along with hints of olive paste, vanilla and exotic spices. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering powerful boysenberry and cassis flavors underscored by a vein of juicy acidity. Rich and broad but lively as well, showing excellent clarity and a suave floral nuance on the strikingly long, youthfully tannic finish.

Vinous (92-94)

Deep magenta. Sharply defined red and blue fruit and spice qualities on the nose, along with intense floral, botanical herb and smoky mineral accents. Taut and gently chewy in texture, offering vibrant bitter cherry, cassis and spicecake flavors that deepen through the back half. In a juicy and energetic style, finishing very long and spicy, with polished tannins framing lingering cherry and spice notes. All whole clusters.

Vinous (95-96)

A highly perfumed nose evokes an array of fresh, mineral-accented dark fruits and pungent flowers, along with suggestions of game, licorice and incense. Palate-staining, appealingly sweet, spice-laced cherry, cassis and floral pastille flavors show superb energy and a smoky mineral quality that strengthens with air. Finishes on a youthfully tannic note, with building sweetness and a lingering suggestion of exotic spices.

Vinous (96)

Glistening violet color. A deep bouquet displays mineral-accented dark fruit, floral and spice qualities that are complemented by suggestions of olive paste, licorice and incense. Stains the palate with densely packed blackberry, cherry-cola, candied violet and fruitcake flavors that become livelier as the wine stretches out. Shows superb energy for its depth and finishes extremely long and smoky, with a building mineral note, youthfully gripping tannins and outstanding, spice- and floral-tinged persistence.

Vinous (95-97)

Opaque magenta. Intensely perfumed, mineral-tinged aromas of fresh black and blue fruits, licorice, bacon fat and olive paste, along with a suave floral overtone that builds as the wine opens up. Stains the palate with deeply concentrated but vibrant blackberry, boysenberry, violet pastille and exotic spice flavors, plus a smoky mineral flourish that gains strength through the back half. Chewy tannins shape an extremely long, mineral- and floral-driven finish that shows superb clarity and spicy drive.

Wine Advocate (95)

The 2022 Cornas Chaillot is a brilliant showcase of Franck Balthazar’s capabilities. Revealing a dense, complex bouquet of dark wild berries, mulberries, blueberries, spices and flowers, it's full-bodied, dense and ample, seamless and layered with a racy character, capturing the energetic qualities of this prime hillside terroir to perfection and concluding with a long, saline finish. It's the king of the cellar that will improve with time in the cellar.