Experience sophisticated elegance with the Pierre Girardin Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru 2021. Hailing from the venerated region of Burgundy, France, this esteemed Grand Cru delivers robust flavours and a majestic complexity. The illustrious Girardin family, boasting a 13-generation winemaking legacy, expertly produces this fine vintage exploiting a minimalist viticulture. Pierre Girardin, the young wine virtuoso, utilises a designated, micro-parcel approach for optimised fruit quality.

The wine reveals a stunning, deep ruby hue, emitting an inviting aroma of ripe cherries, nuanced by hints of regal truffle and undertones of black pepper. Profound, layered tastes caress the palate, harmoniously balancing delicate sweetness with an enlivening acidity. Savoured for its fine, velvety tannin structure, the Pierre Girardin Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru 2021 concludes with an impressive, lingering finish. Destined for the discerning palate, it is a captivating embodiment of Burgundian Grand Cru class.

Explore rare elegance in every sip with the acclaimed Pierre Overnoy Arbois Pupillin Vin Jaune 1999. Crafted in the heart of Jura, France, this extraordinary yellow wine encapsulates the precision and passion of the master winemaker, Pierre Overnoy. His unique savoir-faire shines brightly in the 1999 vintage, as its bouquet unveils complex layers of walnut, spice, and nuanced fruit.

This Jean Macle Vin Jaune expertly ages in oak barrels for over six years under a film of yeast, imparting exceptional depth. Pierre Overnoy's commitment to Bidynamic agriculture and 'ouillé' winemaking techniques yields a wine with extraordinary vibrancy, which mirrors the stunning terroir of Pupillin. Overflowing with character, the Pierre Overnoy Arbois Pupillin Vin Jaune 1999 is a timeless treasure for those who covet exceptional French wine. Enjoy it with complex dishes like coq au vin or truffle risotto, where it truly blossoms.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (90-93)

A blend from three vineyards, Perrières, Combes, Créot. Mid lemon not clear, more fruit weight on the nose, into ripe apples here, less citrus, a little tension, matching the opulence of the fruit. Good length again. Tasted: October 2021

Vinous (93)

(about 50% frost; made from very old, low-yielding vines): Bright, light yellow-green. Pungently mineral scents of lime zest, white flowers, crushed rock, anise, caraway seed and mint. At once vibrant and thick, with flavors of underripe pineapple and grapefruit pith displaying terrific energy and lift. This beauty expanded with air to reveal a silkier texture, outstanding purity and a captivating crushed-chalk dustiness. Incidentally, Pierre-Yves Colin told me that he's currently enjoying white wines from his 2003 through 2006 vintages at home--but nothing younger than that.

Vinous (89-91)

Dark ruby-red. Very primary, ripe aromas of black raspberry, blueberry and chocolate show a touch of animal fur reduction. Sweet and chocolatey in the mouth but a bit chunky today. The wine's substantial tannins are still somewhat unrefined. Although the Pousse d'Or wines were in tank in November, they remained on their fine lees.

Burghound (95)

Here the nose is firmly reduced so in the unlikely event you're interested in opening a bottle right away, be sure to give it 30 minutes or so of air and decanting it would be better still. Otherwise, there is slightly better underlying energy to the rich yet nicely detailed, even precise, middleweight plus flavors that also deliver impressive length on the bitter lemon-inflected finale. While this isn't as structured as it usually is, it's still going to need close to a decade if you wish to see the '19 Bâtard at its peak.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (92-94)

(in tank) Lemon and honeysuckle on the nose. At once rich and taut, with firm flavors of crystallized lemon peel and stone kept in check by strong acidity. This very tight, firmly constructed wine finishes with terrific grip. From vines averaging nearly 35 years of age.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (95)

(5 Star Wine) Pale colour I instantly fall in love with this nose. An explosion of fresh white peaches on the nose, really gorgeous, with a massive concentration without heat or being clumsy. What else to say?

Wine Advocate (90)

The 2013 Chablis 1er Cru Fôrets has a very attractive, pine needle-tinged bouquet with a subtle mineral element (wet limestone) in the background. The palate is fresh on the entry with crisp acidity, clearly a level up from the village cru, with hints of shaved ginger flourishing toward the finish. This is showing nicely. There is something nonchalant about this Fôrets, although it needs perhaps just another year in bottle.

Vinous (92+)

The 2016 Chablis Forêt 1er Cru is a little more tight-lipped on the nose compared to the Les Montmains, requiring more coaxing from the glass. That could be a sign of bottle shock. The palate is very promising with a crisp line of acidity, gentle grip and a live-wire, spicy finish that matches the exotic style of the vintage. This warms up in the glass and shows great potential, but may require your patience.

Burghound (92)

(Outstanding) Along with the Blanchots this is the most floral wine in the range with its elegant nose of pear, apple, spice and soft apricot nuances that exhibit just enough Chablis typicity to be persuasive. There is a lovely sense of vibrancy to the delicious and very rounded medium-bodied flavors that possess fine depth and excellent length on the mouth coating and powerful finish. While not quite at its usual level this is certainly a fine effort in the context of the vintage.

Burghound (95)

This is perhaps the most elegant and floral-infused wine in the range with its array of various white flower scents, especially acacia that are nuanced by wisps of ocean breeze, iodine and algae. The restrained and well-detailed flavors possess a sophisticated and refined mouthfeel while the stony and chiseled finish exhibiting excellent persistence on the bone-dry finish. This is class in a glass and a stunning rendition of the appellation though note well that at least moderate patience is strongly advised.

Wine Advocate (97)

The 2014 Chablis Grand Cru Blanchots is a contender for Domaine Raveneau's finest release in this great year for Chablis. It has an extremely well defined, marine-influenced bouquet that delivers captivating intensity. This is a Chablis that looks you straight between the eyes. The palate displays exquisite balance with razor-sharp acidity. It feels so lively and vivacious, with a wonderful sense of harmony and poise towards the finish. This is sophisticated and classy, but it will need 4-6 years to really settle into its groove. You cannot bestow too many superlatives here.

Vinous (91+)

Medium red-ruby. Smoky redcurrant nose, with hints of game, leather and pepper; surmuri notes of dried fruits. Fat but quite fine; less sweet and fruit-driven today than the Pignan but more complex, more serious. This has solid structure for aging. The Pignan always tastes better young than Rayas, Reynaud points out.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-95)

The second vineyard to be picked, 50% whole bunch vinification, with 25% new wood. This is a draining sandy soil which gets direct sun only in the morning, so not hot but dry. 12.8% alcohol. A dense dark black purple. For the moment the whole bunches speak quite loudly. Dark fruit, rather exciting, shows the oak a bit, not all together but there is a lot of wine here. When this does come together it will be rather impressive. Tasted: December 2021

Tim Atkin MW (94)

These vines sit in deeply clay soils, which graciously help shield the vines from heat spells. Nicolas Groffier used 100% whole bunches (the berries are so small he doesn't want to damage the fruit) but only 20% new oak. The result is a finely scented Chambolle with pure black cherries, blackberry coulis and licorice. The medium-bodied structure is focused rather primly between the resounding acidic refreshment and sculpted tannins. 2025-35

The Wine Independent (100)

This 2015 Marchesi Antinori Solaia is so charmingly sweet, ripe, and open with very bright and exuberant aromas of cream and blackberries. My impression is that many 2015s in Tuscany in general have absorbed more oak than in some other vintages but this wine wears it so well. The palate is super-harmonious with a gentle ease and flow and the tannins are beautifully integrated and combine with subtle flavors of sweet oak-spice, cream, vanilla and blackberry. There is an elegant acidity and juicy freshness but in this wine the tannins take on a new dimension becoming seamlessly refined. Just beautiful!

Wine Advocate (88)

The 1988 Talbot is dark ruby, with a well-focused personality brimming with spicy, chocolatey, blackcurrant, leathery, herbal fruit buttressed by good acidity and high tannins. In the mouth, the wine has a game-like, smoky, beefy character. If the tannins fade a little and the fruit takes over, this will be an outstanding wine. Anticipated maturity: 1995-2015.

Vinous (93)

Medium red color. Floral, mineral-tinged red berry aromas, with subtle spice and underbrush notes; this could pass for a ripe Burgundy. Fine-grained and spicy, showing vivid raspberry and strawberry preserve flavors that build impressively with air. Finishes with silky tannins and energetic notes of red berries and fresh rose. This is awfully suave.

Vinous (95)

Inky ruby. Highly aromatic scents of ripe cherry and dark berries, singed plum, cured tobacco and succulent herbs, with a vanilla undertone. Sweet, expansive and powerful, offering intense black and blue fruit flavors with smoke and floral accents. Rich and full but surprisingly lively, with excellent finishing thrust and sweet, harmonious tannins adding grip. Shows the ripeness of the vintage to good effect; this is a somewhat approachable and exotic Unico, especially with some air, but it has the concentration to age slowly.

Tim Atkin MW (99)

There are only three barrels of this in 2012 (at the best of times, it's a hand-made, small quantity wine), but what a sublime Musigny it is. Floral and scented with velvety tannins, effortless concentration, some spicy whole bunch notes, subtle oak and a sappy, sikly mid-palate. So good, you could drink it now. But wait!