Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-95)

5 Star Wine. An even light lemon colour. The limestone shows up well on the nose without excess sun, no roasted stones aspect. Beautifully juicy on the palate, with a lift in every sip, optimum ripeness, the first wine picked and got just exactly right. Bravo. Drink from 2027-2032. Tasted Nov 2024.

The Joseph Colin St Aubin 1er Cru Sous Roche Dumay 2020 is an expertly crafted French white wine from the renowned Burgundy wine region. Born out of meticulous care and traditional winemaking, this vintage embodies the natural finesse of Chardonnay. The revered Joseph Colin, product of a prestigious winemaking lineage, has graced this vintage with a Michel Colin-Deleger’s sense of harmony and proportion. The skilled Viticulture tailored to individual parcels means each bottle symbolises the intrinsic nature of its terroir, further encapsulated by 16 months maturation in French oak barrels.

Bright minerality mingles with notes of citrus fruits and white flowers, offering an exquisitely balanced palate. Displaying Burgundy's classic aromatic complexity and buttery richness, the Joseph Colin St Aubin 1er Cru Sous Roche Dumay 2020 is a stellar illustration of Colin's impeccably refined winemaking style.

The Joseph Colin St Aubin Compendium 2018 is an exceptional white Burgundy from a highly celebrated producer. Sourced from plots within the St Aubin appellation of France's wine-rich region Burgundy, this Chardonnay-based beauty encapsulates a marriage of limestone earthiness and keen minerality. The terroir, coupled with meticulous vinification efforts, indeed make this offering a compelling compendium of the 2018 vintage.

Joseph Colin's traditional methods, using petite cosecha with natural yeast fermentations in stainless steel vats, result in an expressive and intricate wine. The 11-month maturation on lees contributes to its complexity and refinement. Joseph Colin St Aubin Compendium 2018 delivers citrus scented aromas layered with crisp pear and subtle floral nuances, followed by a deeply textured palate of sumptuous fruit and unquestionable elegance.

An investment in Joseph Colin St Aubin Compendium 2018 offers a rare opportunity to experience the epitome of fine Burgundy. Savour the eloquent whispers of terroir and vintage that resonate in each bottle of this distinguished white.

Vinous (92)

The 2018 Chablis Vaudésir Grand Cru sees 12 months in used oak barrel. It has a generous bouquet of white flowers, yellow plum and touches of orange pith and crushed stone. The palate is well balanced, presenting lime and orange pith on the entry; good weight and density here. Touches of dill and white pepper furnish a complex finish that lingers in the mouth. Excellent.

Burghound (92-94)

A distinctly floral nose also possesses plenty of complexity in the form of citrus zest, pear and apple nuances. There is strikingly good volume to the seductively textured broad-shouldered flavors thanks to the abundant level of dry extract, all wrapped in a wonderfully intense, balanced, precise and persistent finish that is both dry and quite saline. This should also be superb in time though note that this will require patience.

Wine Advocate (91)

The 1995 Beaune Clos Des Mouches, tasted for the third time (once out of barrel, once out of bottle in the United States, and again at the firm's headquarters in Beaune), is truly delicious. Medium-to-dark ruby-colored (hints of purple are still present on the rim), this wine displays roses, violets, black raspberries, and cherries on the nose and a medium-to-full-bodied, silky, complex, and gorgeously-balanced personality. Its flavor profile is packed with intense cherries, strawberries, and minerals which linger in its prodigious finish.

Tim Atkin MW (94)

The Drouhins' holding in this famous Premier Cru is split equally between Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but it's generally the latter I prefer. This is quite a rich Clos des Mouches, that's combines flavours of Meursault and Corton-Charlemagne, but that;s no bad thing. Dense and concentrated with fresh acidity and slight grapeskin phenolics.

Jancis Robinson (17.5)

Despite being in its infancy, there is a lot to love about this already: perhaps the nose is reticent, but the palate has beautiful crunchy cherry and cranberry fruit with just a touch of black olive on the finish. There's dark chocolate and lovely hedgerow notes too, giving plenty of interest beyond fruit. Certainly not at its best just yet, but full of promise.

Jancis Robinson (17)

Deep cherry red. Ripe and dark-red fruits and some savoury spice. Lovely dark mineral character yet still has deep fruit. Some oak sweetness and spice on the palate and this needs to die back. But the fruit is beautifully pure and the tannins fine and dry. Dry but surprisingly silky already.

Jancis Robinson (17)

As with the white version, they pick this vineyard over several days. Final blend in tank, to be bottled by mid February 2021. Big and broad on the nose with heady, flattering, ‘sweet’ perfume. Lovely freshness and juiciness too. Clos des Mouches is always meant to be delicate. Lovely polish and very easy to like. Already quite approachable

Vinous (94)

The 2020 Beaune Clos des Mouches 1er Cru, which comes from deeper soils than the Beaune Grèves, has a mixture of red and black fruit and is a touch more expressive with a discrete marine influence. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, very layered with a gentle but insistent grip on the finish. This is one of the finest Clos des Mouches that I have tasted.

James Suckling (96)

Beautiful nose of wild raspberries, cherries, sandalwood, cloves, orange fruit and cardamom. So harmonious on the palate, with very fine, seamless tannins and fresh acidity, all integrated. Medium-bodied, long and full of energy. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (98)

The iodine, blackberry and rose-stem character comes through clearly. Plenty of fruit and depth. Medium-bodied with fine tannins that caress the palate and provide endless flavors of Indian spices, flint, nutmeg and light crust. Such refinement and integrity. Drinkable now, but better in three or four years.