Entries from 2026

A great story – 1899 RC !!

By billn on February 07, 2026 #degustation#in case you missed it#warning - opinion!

CNN-1899-RCWell – it’s a great story !!

And with so many nameworthy tasters to appreciate the bottle too.

Of course, there are so many unanswered questions, my first of which is ‘How did the date survive so legibly intact, and precious little of the rest of the label(s)?’

My spider-senses are heightened after seeing so many wines at auction that just miss a (vintage) digit and are purported to be, for instance, a 1945 when they could just so easily be a 1944 – there’s quite a difference when it comes to DRC!

And wasn’t that an amazing fill? I’ve seen much worse on (still tasty!) wines from the 1950s. The wines from the 1860s in Bouchard Père’s cellars are in much better condition, but they are also topped up and recorked roughly every 30 years!!

But that’s enough of the cynic in me. So long as everyone was happy 🙂

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New rules for old vines?

By billn on February 05, 2026 #in case you missed it#warning - opinion!

Old vines - FolatièresNew rules for ‘old vines?’

There are no rules for labels – everybody says it, everybody knows it – though everyone still used the label. But, eventually changes are planned.

Not everyone was consulted from the start – which caused some ruffling of feathers at the INAO and in the Languedoc – but it seams that the limit for labeling your wine ‘VV’ will be set at 35 years. But it’s France, so will there be more consultations planned? And is it legally binding? Your guesses are as good as mine, but the current info is that 35 is the number

It’s not ideal, and whether it’s the right (best?) age also depends on the grape-variety. It will also pose questions for many labels of long standing – Musigny Vieilles-Vignes, anybody?

But finally, it may come to fruition !!

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Chablis in February…

By billn on February 04, 2026 #asides#travels in burgundy 2026

It’s business as usual in Chablis – the volumes of 2025s, whilst rarely testing the limits are providing some balsam for the pain of the 2024 volumes. But the 2024s are tasting great.

The weather is, of course, variable and borderline frost each morning. So to give you the impression that it is always sunny in Chablis:

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Jane Eyre Savigny 1er Aux Vergelesses 2022

By billn on February 02, 2026 #degustation

Jane Eyre Savigny 1er Aux Vergelesses 2022Only one at home this weekend:

2022 Jane Eyre, Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Aux Vergelesses
There’s some density to this red-fruited aroma, but it’s a compact, not-so-open style today. It sits well in the mouth, with slightly generous, cushioned red fruit – and clearly I’m drinking this too young, as, apart from some middle stony minerality, there’s a little too much creamy-caramel oak. The effect today is delicious, but I still prefer my wine to taste more of wine! I’d wait another couple of years before returning – but completely delicious, if a touch more ‘easy’ than I remember from tasting at the domaine.
Rebuy – Yes

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Last week in the Côtes + Seismic gossip !!

By billn on February 01, 2026 #producer update#the market#travels in burgundy 2026#vines for sale

Commaraine sheep - PommardMy first week of tasting – after publishing my 137 domaine visits the week before.

No surprise – not a lot of sunshine – but it was good to rejuvenate the taste buds before the coming 3 weeks of visits in Chablis 😉

But a big surprise was the monumental gossip that I picked up – and from 2 different sources.

I will choose to remain a little cryptic – as I already lost the possibility to visit some domaines due to publishing a previous gossip – despite it turning out to be true 🙂 However:

It’s been about 7-8 years since the last, quite similar rumour. There’s a very famous domaine in St.Romain, whose wines precious few people have ever tasted. It seems that the movers and shakers of a famous leather-goods seller have recently been ever-present at the domaine. If you are on my wavelength, then you will know that St.Romain will not be the only production entity to be affected.

Of course, it was going to happen sooner, rather than later, and potential purchasers are few and far between…

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Jadot – Picamelot – a Press Release…

By billn on January 28, 2026 #the market#vines for sale

jadot-2018

‘Maison Louis Jadot and Maison Louis Picamelot announce a new chapter in their history, founded on a shared vision of Burgundy, the richness of its terroirs, and its heritage. On the eve of its centenary, Maison Louis Picamelot has decided to partner with an iconic Burgundy winemaker whose strength and long-term vision will ensure the continuity and growth of the House.’

Getting to the crux:

Thomas Seiter, President of Maison Louis Jadot:
“This partnership is a natural fit with our long-term vision: to preserve the identity of Burgundy’s iconic houses, respecting their history and terroirs, to nurture their expertise, and to ensure their sustainable development. Maison Louis Picamelot is a leading name in Crémant de Bourgogne, and we are delighted to welcome it to the Louis Jadot family.”

From a previous visit to Picamelot:

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Changes at de Courcel

By billn on January 27, 2026 #producer update

de-courcel

I learned this only yesterday – so forgive me if it’s old news for you – but it seems that there are significant developments at Domaine de Courcel in Pommard.

After 29 years of working together (since the 1996 vintage), Domaine de Courcel has parted ways with Yves Confuron. They have a new team in place and are in the process ‘of changing everything‘ – from the height of their trelissing and, and, and…

As I understand it, Yves did the elevage of the 2023s and the 2024s but not the bottling. The last ‘full’ vintage that he prepared was 2022. For the record, Yves’ 2023s are still in barrel at the Confuron-Cotetidot domaine in Vosne.

I’ll try to get an appointment to taste the de Courcel 2024s, but of course, these changes will only slowly be reflected by the wines…

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2014 Château des Bachelards, St.Amour

By billn on January 23, 2026 #degustation

Bachelards 2014 Saint AmourA wine that I tasted blind, loved, and later bought. It was this wine that brought me to the young domaine of Alexandra de Vazeilles in Fleurie.

Now under new ownership, Bachelards became, for a short time, the pinnacle of the gamay grape, and the year I tasted their 2019s it was the greatest estate that I visited – including all the other visits in the Côte d’Or!

2014 Château des Bachelards, St.Amour
Exemplifying what DIAM can bring, 10 years in the bottle and not 1mm of colour ingress on the ‘cork.’ Also, a satisfying ‘pop’ as it exits the bottle.
What an impressively dark, young colour! The first aromas arediscrete but silky, dark fruit, even a little graphite, before hints of flowers. Fine width over the palate and an expanding flavour that is gently supported by a little creaminess. Very slowly, elegantly finishing – narrow but long – almost linear. Ageless !!
Rebuy – Yes

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