Selection with Condition Photos
At Cru World Wine, we understand that bottle condition is crucial when it comes to purchasing wine, especially when buying back vintage wines. That's why we've created our "Selection with Condition Photos" page - a curated selection of wines that includes detailed photos of each bottle, so you can make an informed decision before making a purchase. Our photos show the condition of the bottle, including any signs of wear or damage, giving you the confidence to make an informed purchase decision.
Selection with Condition Photos
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Vinous (100)
The 2016 Barolo Monvigliero is utterly spellbinding in its profoundness. In this vintage, the Monvigliero moves into shades of more blue-toned fruit. Whole clusters, always 100%, are remarkably integrated. Rose petal, lavender, mint, crushed flowers, wild red berries, blueberry, blood orange and mint are some of the many notes that grace this exceptional, silky Barolo. The 2016 was fermented with low temperatures and spent two months on the skins. With its laser-like focus and incredible cut, tension and nuance, the Monvigliero will be slow to reveal itself, but wow - what a wine.Inc. GSTSG$1,710.36 -
Immerse yourself in the lavish profile of the Castagnier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses 2016. This exquisite red wine is meticulously nurtured within the esteemed Castagnier vineyards, nestled in the heart of French Burgundy region, Chambolle-Musigny. Renowned winegrower, Jerome Castagnier, applies precise, traditional techniques to extract the rich flavours synonymous with the area's limestone and chalk-rich soil.
The 2016 vintage presents an opulent blend of Pinot Noir, emanating complex aromas of ripe cherry, rose petals, and subtle earthy undertones. On the palate, the Castagnier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses 2016 is silky smooth with a quenching acidity and long-lasting finish, reflecting a splendid ripeness derived from the exceptional 2016 conditions.
Famed for its superior quality and age-worthiness, this wine makes a captivating addition to a discerning collector's cellar. Savour the Castagnier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses 2016 for an unforgettable journey to the celebrated terroir of Burgundy.
Inc. GSTSG$1,275.08 -
Vinous (96-98)
The 2020 Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru is very intense on the nose, a mixture of red and blueber fruit, just a faint touch of peppermint. Plenty of energy here. The palate is medium-bodied with chiselled tannins, perfectly judged acidity, quite saline in the mouth with a mineral-driven finish that expands wonderfully. There is an abiding sense of completeness here. Outstanding.Inc. GSTSG$7,182.88 -
The Cecile Tremblay Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Murgers 2020 is an impeccable representation of Burgundy Pinot Noir. Cultivated by Cecile Tremblay, the granddaughter of Burgundy stalwart, Joannes Clavelier, she has unequivocally demonstrated the natural winemaking philosophy of low intervention. Hailing from the acclaimed Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru vineyard, 'Les Murgers', this wine captures the essence of its terroir with finesse and spectacular depth.
Undergoing meticulous selection, the hand-picked grapes are subjected to indigenous fermentation, after careful partial destemming. Aged in a mix of used and new French oak barrels, it encompasses a graceful integration of rich fruitiness with gentle tannin structure. Suave notes of red cherries, forest floor, and spice greet the palate with an elegantly layered texture, bridging the gap between power and restraint.
Truly exemplifying Cecile Tremblay's artistry, the Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Murgers 2020 is a sublime choice for serious Burgundy connoisseurs.
Inc. GSTSG$2,929.72 -
Immerse yourself in a bottle of Cecile Tremblay Nuits-Saint-Georges Albuca 2013 - a fine Burgundian wine from one of the region's most illustrious winemakers. Crafted from grapes grown in the heart of Nuits-Saint-Georges, this vintage exhibits a beautiful dark cherry hue. Made by Cecile Tremblay, granddaughter of iconic Burgundy producer Henri Jayer, its provenance is certainly remarkable.
The traditional wine-making methods stand out; grapes handpicked and vinified in oak barrels for 18 months. These practices result in a complex yet balanced wine, rich in dense black fruit and earthy undertones, supported by firm tannins and a hint of spice. On the palate, it reveals a persistent finish that lingers, ensuring an unforgettable experience.
As you savour the Cecile Tremblay Nuits-Saint-Georges Albuca 2013, you're not just tasting a wine; you're experiencing a piece of Burgundy's rich wine heritage.
Inc. GSTSG$1,700.18 -
Inc. GSTSG$1,282.39
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Burghound (88-91)
A brooding and much more deeply pitched and sauvage-inflected nose offers up notes of red and dark currant along with more newly turned earth inferences. The slightly riper but still sleek and nicely rich middle weight flavors also possess outstanding delineation on the equally austere but longer finish. This needs to add depth, but it may well do so if allowed 6 to 8 years of bottle aging. (88-91)/2026+Inc. GSTSG$3,896.53 -
Wine Advocate (94+)
Another resounding success for the vintage, the opaque purple-colored 2008 Clinet (14.4% alcohol) is composed of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Yields of 38 hectoliters per hectare, while higher than in 2010, were still modest. Another powerful, big, large-scaled effort, the 2008 exhibits an inky/purple color as well as sweet creme de cassis, blackberry, plum, Asian spice, licorice and incense notes. Layered and full-bodied with stunning purity and a 40+ second finish, this beauty needs 3-5 years of bottle age and should keep for 25-30 years.Inc. GSTSG$604.24 -
Wine Advocate (89)
On one of the three occasions I tasted the 1996 Clos Fourtet from bottle I rated it outstanding (90 points). The color is a saturated dark ruby. The nose offers up sweet black raspberry and blackberry fruit intermixed with toasty oak and floral scents. It is fleshy, surprisingly expansive and forward for a 1996, with low acidity, and a long, multilayered, fruit-driven finish. The tannin is ripe, and thus the fruit comes forward and the wine is seductive and charming. This wine possesses the weight, richness, and extract to last for 15-20 years, but it should be drinkable early. I would not be surprised for readers to feel my score is too conservative based on how well this wine is showing. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2018.Inc. GSTSG$793.30 -
Vinous (90)
The 2019 Auxey-Duresses Village has a fragrant bouquet with red cherries and strawberry pastille scents. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannins, crisp red berry fruit laced with mulberry and very subtle sweet toffee-ish notes on the finish.Inc. GSTSG$990.59 -
Wine Advocate (97+)
Raphel Coche told me that the 2012 Corton Charlemagne was the only vineyard that escaped hail damage this year. It has a very succinct nose, not predisposed to go out and grab you by the lapels. The aromatics unfurl with a sense of ease prioritizing finesse over power: beeswax, linden, lemon thyme and fresh pear. The palate is exquisitely balanced with fleeting glimpses of Seville orange and apricot. But there is more about the tension, the effortlessness and that it just rolls out across the finish like a huge Turkish rug. This is the kind of wine that exhausts superlatives.Inc. GSTSG$17,889.25 -
Wine Advocate (93)
Aromas of crisp Anjou pear, lime zest, orange oil, fresh hazelnuts and white flowers introduce the 2019 Meursault Village, a medium to full-bodied, layered and incisive wine that's chalky and concentrated, with racy acids and an abundance of structuring dry extract. When I was served this wine blind a month after tasting it at the domaine, I mistook it for its 2017 counterpart, which should give some indication of the pitch-perfect balance Raphaël Coche succeeded in attaining in the more extreme 2019 vintage.Inc. GSTSG$3,609.68 -
Inc. GSTSG$8,240.18
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Wine Advocate (98)
Unquestionably one of the glories of the vintage, the 2003 Musigny Vieilles Vignes brings forth a highly boisterous nose of spices, violets, roses, plums, blueberries, and black cherries. Deep, powerful, graceful, concentrated, and sensually textured, it slathers the mouth with plums, blueberries, and cherries. Notes of mocha are intermingled with licorice in its exquisitely long finish. This noble wine is crammed with tannin, yet it is sweet and ripe. Projected maturity: 2010-2025+.Inc. GSTSG$4,036.07 -
Vinous (96)
The 2017 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru showed some reduction on the nose, but there is impressive delineation and focus and real mineralité here. It just needs bottle age. The palate is very well balanced, a live wire of acidity, tensile and mineral-driven with a judicious touch of spice toward the persistent finish. This is very classy and persistent, translating the terroir with style, a wine that flirts with profundity. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting in Savigny-lès-Beaune.Inc. GSTSG$3,125.92 -
Vinous (96-98)
The 2018 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru rivets you to the spot with crushed pebble and crushed limestone scents that could only really originate from this vineyard. Such intensity! The beautifully balanced palate delivers a fabulous line of acidity, notes of orange zest and white peach and a stunning crescendo toward the finish, which shows amazing persistence. A Les Perrières with class. Brilliant.Inc. GSTSG$2,929.72 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2020 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru has quite a rich bouquet with tropical tones, maybe to the detriment of the mineralité that is slightly masked at the moment. The palate is very well balanced with a fine line of acidity, quite saline, lightly spiced with a vibrant finish that finally delivers the spiciness. Maybe pipped by the Les Charmes this year, this is a classy but not peak Perrières. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30Inc. GSTSG$4,083.69 -
Vinous (91-93)
The 2020 Meursault Clos-de-la-Barre has a clean, quite precise bouquet that is a step up from the Village, traces of grilled almond and hazelnut. The palate is underpinned by a fine line of acidity, more mineralité and tension with a saline, slightly Puligny-like finish. One of those less-is-more Meursaults. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30Inc. GSTSG$1,196.62 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (94-96)
The 2018 Volnay Les Santenots-du-Milieu 1er Cru has the most intense bouquet of Dominique Lafon’s Volnays this year, intense black cherry scents intermingling with boysenberry and light cassis aromas, all delivered with the utmost detail. The palate offers black cherry and raspberry fruit infused with violets, very fine tannins and gentle grip. The silky-smooth finish fans out gloriously. Stunning.Inc. GSTSG$715.21 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2019 Volnay Les Santenots-du-Milieu 1er Cru, matured in a little more new oak than the Clos des Chênes (around one-third, according to Lafon), offers a quintessential Santenots nose of almost brazen blueberry and cassis aromas mixed with raspberry and violets. The palate is rounded on the entry and exerts a gentle grip. Opulent but controlled, though this year I find more nuance and sensuality on the Champans, which would be my pick of Lafon’s reds.Inc. GSTSG$844.18 -
Vinous (94)
There are five instead of eight barrels of the 2020 Charmes-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru, which is still more than there will be next year. This takes its time to open, revealing wild strawberry and black cherry scents entwined with hints of graphite and crushed stone. The palate is framed by very fine tannins, the palate sweet and concentrated with dark cherries, fig and damson. Gentle grip on the finish with very long length, this should give 20-30 years drinking pleasure.Inc. GSTSG$3,149.88 -
Vinous (93-95)
The 2020 Gevrey-Chambertin Lavaux Saint-Jacques 1er Cru contains 30% whole bunch with 50% new oak. It has a vibrant, tightly wound bouquet with wet limestone/petrichor scents complementing the shimmering black cherry and orange zest scents. The palate is medium-bodied with smooth tannins, fine acidity, veering more towards the red fruit profile with a pinch of brown spices on the finish. Long in the mouth, very classy.Inc. GSTSG$1,160.63 -
Vinous (92)
(90% destemmed): Good deep red. Ethereal aromas of red berries, minerals and spicy oak. Juicy, spicy and penetrating, conveying a light touch and excellent energy to the flavors of red fruits, pepper, herbs and licorice. Finishes with firm, ripe tannins and a spicy perfume that leaves the mouth refreshed.Inc. GSTSG$8,956.70 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2018 Corton Grand Cru contains fruit from plots of replanted vines for the first time this year, and also 80% whole bunches. Bertrand de Villaine told me that the blending was done a little later than their other crus. Matured in 100% new oak, it has an attractive bouquet of brambly red fruit, blueberry and scents of crushed stone, all nicely detailed. The palate is taut on the entry with an almost chalky texture and notes of bitter cherries and black currants. Fine symmetry toward the finish. Excellent.Inc. GSTSG$8,874.95 -
Vinous (94)
The 2017 Echézeaux Grand Cru is similarly lifted, with a bit darker fruit and more structure than the Corton. A deceptive, beguiling Burgundy, the 2017 shows the mid-weight structure of the year. Here too, time in the glass brings out the wine’s vertical feel and overall intensity. The 2017 needs time to soften, but it is incredibly persistent and impeccable in its balance. Readers should expect an especially austere Echézeaux that is going to require cellaring. The fruit was brought in on September 13 and 15, with a day’s break in between because of rain.Inc. GSTSG$9,512.60 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2018 Echézeaux Grand Cru has a very deep hue. The extraordinarily pure bouquet features black cherries intermingling with blueberry and oyster shell, and later a hint of potpourri. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, edgy and stony, with dark berry fruit and a little spicier than I recall apropos of previous Echézeaux at this stage. It might just need a little length, but otherwise it is a wine determined not to be outshone by its Grand Cru siblings.Inc. GSTSG$10,238.17 -
Vinous (91)
The 2020 Echézeaux Grand Cru was picked on 30 August and 1 September at 28.2hL/ha. The floral aspect of the vineyard is nicely accentuated on the nose. There's a mélange of red and black fruit, a slight creaminess coming through with time and then this ebbs to offer light sous-bois scents. The palate is medium-bodied with a vivid entry of wild strawberry and blackcurrant. A polished Echézeaux, nicely proportioned, not the most complex in recent years (I suspect the 2020 might surpass it in that respect), though there is ample weight and dimension. It gains delineation in the glass, though the Corton has a little more persistence at the moment. 1,280 cases produced. Tasted at Corney & Barrow’s annual in bottle tasting in London.Inc. GSTSG$9,856.67 -
Inc. GSTSG$7,324.58
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Vinous (94)
I have been fortunate to taste the 1971 Grands Echézeaux four times now (always a privilege when it is your birth year). This 1971 bottle is as good as the best I have come across despite some turbidity in the glass. Yet the bouquet is divine and ethereal with vestiges of red cherry and strawberry, wild heather (again - just like previous bottles) and pressed flowers. The palate is fully mature with tart red fruit, brown spice and that telltale sense of transparency towards the finish. It is not a dense or powerful wine and I suspect it was better around 20 years of age. But it has aged gracefully and maintained such exceptional balance and poise that you cannot help surrendering to its charms. Tasted at a private lunch at Howard's Gourmet.Inc. GSTSG$14,611.23 -
Vinous (98)
The 2009 La Tâche Grand Cru is the most ethereal of the three wines in this flight. Whole cluster influence is especially marked here. A whole range of spice, dried flower, mint and savory overtones infuse the 2009 with layers of nuance. Next to the other wines in this flight, La Tâche is ethereal and harder to fully capture with words, an attribute many, if not most, of the world’s greatest wines share.Inc. GSTSG$18,620.27
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Vinous (100)
The 2016 Barolo Monvigliero is utterly spellbinding in its profoundness. In this vintage, the Monvigliero moves into shades of more blue-toned fruit. Whole clusters, always 100%, are remarkably integrated. Rose petal, lavender, mint, crushed flowers, wild red berries, blueberry, blood orange and mint are some of the many notes that grace this exceptional, silky Barolo. The 2016 was fermented with low temperatures and spent two months on the skins. With its laser-like focus and incredible cut, tension and nuance, the Monvigliero will be slow to reveal itself, but wow - what a wine.In BondSG$1,550.00 -
Immerse yourself in the lavish profile of the Castagnier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses 2016. This exquisite red wine is meticulously nurtured within the esteemed Castagnier vineyards, nestled in the heart of French Burgundy region, Chambolle-Musigny. Renowned winegrower, Jerome Castagnier, applies precise, traditional techniques to extract the rich flavours synonymous with the area's limestone and chalk-rich soil.
The 2016 vintage presents an opulent blend of Pinot Noir, emanating complex aromas of ripe cherry, rose petals, and subtle earthy undertones. On the palate, the Castagnier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses 2016 is silky smooth with a quenching acidity and long-lasting finish, reflecting a splendid ripeness derived from the exceptional 2016 conditions.
Famed for its superior quality and age-worthiness, this wine makes a captivating addition to a discerning collector's cellar. Savour the Castagnier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses 2016 for an unforgettable journey to the celebrated terroir of Burgundy.
In BondSG$1,150.00 -
Vinous (96-98)
The 2020 Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru is very intense on the nose, a mixture of red and blueber fruit, just a faint touch of peppermint. Plenty of energy here. The palate is medium-bodied with chiselled tannins, perfectly judged acidity, quite saline in the mouth with a mineral-driven finish that expands wonderfully. There is an abiding sense of completeness here. Outstanding.In BondSG$6,570.00 -
The Cecile Tremblay Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Murgers 2020 is an impeccable representation of Burgundy Pinot Noir. Cultivated by Cecile Tremblay, the granddaughter of Burgundy stalwart, Joannes Clavelier, she has unequivocally demonstrated the natural winemaking philosophy of low intervention. Hailing from the acclaimed Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru vineyard, 'Les Murgers', this wine captures the essence of its terroir with finesse and spectacular depth.
Undergoing meticulous selection, the hand-picked grapes are subjected to indigenous fermentation, after careful partial destemming. Aged in a mix of used and new French oak barrels, it encompasses a graceful integration of rich fruitiness with gentle tannin structure. Suave notes of red cherries, forest floor, and spice greet the palate with an elegantly layered texture, bridging the gap between power and restraint.
Truly exemplifying Cecile Tremblay's artistry, the Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Murgers 2020 is a sublime choice for serious Burgundy connoisseurs.
In BondSG$2,670.00 -
Immerse yourself in a bottle of Cecile Tremblay Nuits-Saint-Georges Albuca 2013 - a fine Burgundian wine from one of the region's most illustrious winemakers. Crafted from grapes grown in the heart of Nuits-Saint-Georges, this vintage exhibits a beautiful dark cherry hue. Made by Cecile Tremblay, granddaughter of iconic Burgundy producer Henri Jayer, its provenance is certainly remarkable.
The traditional wine-making methods stand out; grapes handpicked and vinified in oak barrels for 18 months. These practices result in a complex yet balanced wine, rich in dense black fruit and earthy undertones, supported by firm tannins and a hint of spice. On the palate, it reveals a persistent finish that lingers, ensuring an unforgettable experience.
As you savour the Cecile Tremblay Nuits-Saint-Georges Albuca 2013, you're not just tasting a wine; you're experiencing a piece of Burgundy's rich wine heritage.
In BondSG$1,540.00 -
In BondSG$1,160.00
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Burghound (88-91)
A brooding and much more deeply pitched and sauvage-inflected nose offers up notes of red and dark currant along with more newly turned earth inferences. The slightly riper but still sleek and nicely rich middle weight flavors also possess outstanding delineation on the equally austere but longer finish. This needs to add depth, but it may well do so if allowed 6 to 8 years of bottle aging. (88-91)/2026+In BondSG$3,555.00 -
Wine Advocate (94+)
Another resounding success for the vintage, the opaque purple-colored 2008 Clinet (14.4% alcohol) is composed of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Yields of 38 hectoliters per hectare, while higher than in 2010, were still modest. Another powerful, big, large-scaled effort, the 2008 exhibits an inky/purple color as well as sweet creme de cassis, blackberry, plum, Asian spice, licorice and incense notes. Layered and full-bodied with stunning purity and a 40+ second finish, this beauty needs 3-5 years of bottle age and should keep for 25-30 years.In BondSG$536.00 -
Wine Advocate (89)
On one of the three occasions I tasted the 1996 Clos Fourtet from bottle I rated it outstanding (90 points). The color is a saturated dark ruby. The nose offers up sweet black raspberry and blackberry fruit intermixed with toasty oak and floral scents. It is fleshy, surprisingly expansive and forward for a 1996, with low acidity, and a long, multilayered, fruit-driven finish. The tannin is ripe, and thus the fruit comes forward and the wine is seductive and charming. This wine possesses the weight, richness, and extract to last for 15-20 years, but it should be drinkable early. I would not be surprised for readers to feel my score is too conservative based on how well this wine is showing. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2018.In BondSG$708.00 -
Vinous (90)
The 2019 Auxey-Duresses Village has a fragrant bouquet with red cherries and strawberry pastille scents. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannins, crisp red berry fruit laced with mulberry and very subtle sweet toffee-ish notes on the finish.In BondSG$889.00 -
Wine Advocate (97+)
Raphel Coche told me that the 2012 Corton Charlemagne was the only vineyard that escaped hail damage this year. It has a very succinct nose, not predisposed to go out and grab you by the lapels. The aromatics unfurl with a sense of ease prioritizing finesse over power: beeswax, linden, lemon thyme and fresh pear. The palate is exquisitely balanced with fleeting glimpses of Seville orange and apricot. But there is more about the tension, the effortlessness and that it just rolls out across the finish like a huge Turkish rug. This is the kind of wine that exhausts superlatives.In BondSG$16,395.00 -
Wine Advocate (93)
Aromas of crisp Anjou pear, lime zest, orange oil, fresh hazelnuts and white flowers introduce the 2019 Meursault Village, a medium to full-bodied, layered and incisive wine that's chalky and concentrated, with racy acids and an abundance of structuring dry extract. When I was served this wine blind a month after tasting it at the domaine, I mistook it for its 2017 counterpart, which should give some indication of the pitch-perfect balance Raphaël Coche succeeded in attaining in the more extreme 2019 vintage.In BondSG$3,295.00 -
In BondSG$7,540.00
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Wine Advocate (98)
Unquestionably one of the glories of the vintage, the 2003 Musigny Vieilles Vignes brings forth a highly boisterous nose of spices, violets, roses, plums, blueberries, and black cherries. Deep, powerful, graceful, concentrated, and sensually textured, it slathers the mouth with plums, blueberries, and cherries. Notes of mocha are intermingled with licorice in its exquisitely long finish. This noble wine is crammed with tannin, yet it is sweet and ripe. Projected maturity: 2010-2025+.In BondSG$3,685.00 -
Vinous (96)
The 2017 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru showed some reduction on the nose, but there is impressive delineation and focus and real mineralité here. It just needs bottle age. The palate is very well balanced, a live wire of acidity, tensile and mineral-driven with a judicious touch of spice toward the persistent finish. This is very classy and persistent, translating the terroir with style, a wine that flirts with profundity. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting in Savigny-lès-Beaune.In BondSG$2,850.00 -
Vinous (96-98)
The 2018 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru rivets you to the spot with crushed pebble and crushed limestone scents that could only really originate from this vineyard. Such intensity! The beautifully balanced palate delivers a fabulous line of acidity, notes of orange zest and white peach and a stunning crescendo toward the finish, which shows amazing persistence. A Les Perrières with class. Brilliant.In BondSG$2,670.00 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2020 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru has quite a rich bouquet with tropical tones, maybe to the detriment of the mineralité that is slightly masked at the moment. The palate is very well balanced with a fine line of acidity, quite saline, lightly spiced with a vibrant finish that finally delivers the spiciness. Maybe pipped by the Les Charmes this year, this is a classy but not peak Perrières. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30In BondSG$3,730.00 -
Vinous (91-93)
The 2020 Meursault Clos-de-la-Barre has a clean, quite precise bouquet that is a step up from the Village, traces of grilled almond and hazelnut. The palate is underpinned by a fine line of acidity, more mineralité and tension with a saline, slightly Puligny-like finish. One of those less-is-more Meursaults. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30In BondSG$1,080.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (94-96)
The 2018 Volnay Les Santenots-du-Milieu 1er Cru has the most intense bouquet of Dominique Lafon’s Volnays this year, intense black cherry scents intermingling with boysenberry and light cassis aromas, all delivered with the utmost detail. The palate offers black cherry and raspberry fruit infused with violets, very fine tannins and gentle grip. The silky-smooth finish fans out gloriously. Stunning.In BondSG$639.00 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2019 Volnay Les Santenots-du-Milieu 1er Cru, matured in a little more new oak than the Clos des Chênes (around one-third, according to Lafon), offers a quintessential Santenots nose of almost brazen blueberry and cassis aromas mixed with raspberry and violets. The palate is rounded on the entry and exerts a gentle grip. Opulent but controlled, though this year I find more nuance and sensuality on the Champans, which would be my pick of Lafon’s reds.In BondSG$756.00 -
Vinous (94)
There are five instead of eight barrels of the 2020 Charmes-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru, which is still more than there will be next year. This takes its time to open, revealing wild strawberry and black cherry scents entwined with hints of graphite and crushed stone. The palate is framed by very fine tannins, the palate sweet and concentrated with dark cherries, fig and damson. Gentle grip on the finish with very long length, this should give 20-30 years drinking pleasure.In BondSG$2,870.00 -
Vinous (93-95)
The 2020 Gevrey-Chambertin Lavaux Saint-Jacques 1er Cru contains 30% whole bunch with 50% new oak. It has a vibrant, tightly wound bouquet with wet limestone/petrichor scents complementing the shimmering black cherry and orange zest scents. The palate is medium-bodied with smooth tannins, fine acidity, veering more towards the red fruit profile with a pinch of brown spices on the finish. Long in the mouth, very classy.In BondSG$1,045.00 -
Vinous (92)
(90% destemmed): Good deep red. Ethereal aromas of red berries, minerals and spicy oak. Juicy, spicy and penetrating, conveying a light touch and excellent energy to the flavors of red fruits, pepper, herbs and licorice. Finishes with firm, ripe tannins and a spicy perfume that leaves the mouth refreshed.In BondSG$8,200.00 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2018 Corton Grand Cru contains fruit from plots of replanted vines for the first time this year, and also 80% whole bunches. Bertrand de Villaine told me that the blending was done a little later than their other crus. Matured in 100% new oak, it has an attractive bouquet of brambly red fruit, blueberry and scents of crushed stone, all nicely detailed. The palate is taut on the entry with an almost chalky texture and notes of bitter cherries and black currants. Fine symmetry toward the finish. Excellent.In BondSG$8,125.00 -
Vinous (94)
The 2017 Echézeaux Grand Cru is similarly lifted, with a bit darker fruit and more structure than the Corton. A deceptive, beguiling Burgundy, the 2017 shows the mid-weight structure of the year. Here too, time in the glass brings out the wine’s vertical feel and overall intensity. The 2017 needs time to soften, but it is incredibly persistent and impeccable in its balance. Readers should expect an especially austere Echézeaux that is going to require cellaring. The fruit was brought in on September 13 and 15, with a day’s break in between because of rain.In BondSG$8,710.00 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2018 Echézeaux Grand Cru has a very deep hue. The extraordinarily pure bouquet features black cherries intermingling with blueberry and oyster shell, and later a hint of potpourri. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, edgy and stony, with dark berry fruit and a little spicier than I recall apropos of previous Echézeaux at this stage. It might just need a little length, but otherwise it is a wine determined not to be outshone by its Grand Cru siblings.In BondSG$9,375.00 -
Vinous (91)
The 2020 Echézeaux Grand Cru was picked on 30 August and 1 September at 28.2hL/ha. The floral aspect of the vineyard is nicely accentuated on the nose. There's a mélange of red and black fruit, a slight creaminess coming through with time and then this ebbs to offer light sous-bois scents. The palate is medium-bodied with a vivid entry of wild strawberry and blackcurrant. A polished Echézeaux, nicely proportioned, not the most complex in recent years (I suspect the 2020 might surpass it in that respect), though there is ample weight and dimension. It gains delineation in the glass, though the Corton has a little more persistence at the moment. 1,280 cases produced. Tasted at Corney & Barrow’s annual in bottle tasting in London.In BondSG$9,025.00 -
In BondSG$6,700.00
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Vinous (94)
I have been fortunate to taste the 1971 Grands Echézeaux four times now (always a privilege when it is your birth year). This 1971 bottle is as good as the best I have come across despite some turbidity in the glass. Yet the bouquet is divine and ethereal with vestiges of red cherry and strawberry, wild heather (again - just like previous bottles) and pressed flowers. The palate is fully mature with tart red fruit, brown spice and that telltale sense of transparency towards the finish. It is not a dense or powerful wine and I suspect it was better around 20 years of age. But it has aged gracefully and maintained such exceptional balance and poise that you cannot help surrendering to its charms. Tasted at a private lunch at Howard's Gourmet.In BondSG$13,385.00 -
Vinous (98)
The 2009 La Tâche Grand Cru is the most ethereal of the three wines in this flight. Whole cluster influence is especially marked here. A whole range of spice, dried flower, mint and savory overtones infuse the 2009 with layers of nuance. Next to the other wines in this flight, La Tâche is ethereal and harder to fully capture with words, an attribute many, if not most, of the world’s greatest wines share.In BondSG$17,065.00