2024 Edition: Grands Maisons, Grands Crus – Vintage 2020
Tasted in the cellar of Château Philippe le Hardi – the newly named Château de Santenay, 21 March 2024. Well, where else will you find 36 different grand crus to taste in one sitting? I’d always considered this to be a ‘don’t miss’ tasting. Despite that, I chose not to… Read More
The great burgundy firesale…


In some places it’s already happened but be prepared for the wider ripple !! I’ve been expecting it to happen, and it now seems that there’s a chain of events underway that will be difficult to halt, or maybe even to slow down. For a while now the price of… Read More
2021 Red Burgundy Part 1 – The Côte de Beaune
2021 Red Burgundy Part 1: (Here) The Côte de Beaune – November 2022 2021 Red Burgundy Part 2: The Côte de Nuits – December 2022 2021 Red Burgundy Part 3: Beaujolais – February 2022 Clos des Cortons – Faiveley – 6 weeks after the frost What about the 2021 reds… Read More
the pre-christmas bottles – part 1


I thought that I should get the rest of these out of the way before starting on the Christmas holiday period bottles. You already met the dreadful Penfolds and the delightful David Moreau, so: The 2018 whites theme continues – over Christmas too 😉 2018 Céline & Frederic… Read More
the charity clos de vougeot for the abbaye de cîteaux


In just over one week – Friday April 8th 2022 – Sotheby’s will commence an online charity auction of wines from Burgundy. The final recipient of these funds will be the Cistercian Abbey of Cîteaux, established in 1098. sothebys.com/vougeotpourciteaux The syndicate of producers of… Read More
2020 Red Burgundy
2019 Red Burgundy Part 1: (Here) The Côte d’Or – December 2021 2020 Red Burgundy Part 2: Beaujolais – February 2022 Beaune 1er Belissand 21 August 2020… What about the 2020 reds in the Côte d’Or? 2018-2020 are a trio of, historically, hot… Read More
2018 Beaune – a large blind tasting
Tasted in Beaune, 02 March 2021 I find it’s too easy to let the worst of a particular vintage colour your impressions of a vintage as a whole – call it a lasting caricature of a vintage. Because I usually finish my tour of the new wines… Read More
weekend wines – yes it’s an early start!
Thursday night can be classed as the start of the weekend – no? 2014 Bouchard Père et Fils, Meursault DIAM5-sealed A young colour. The nose starts with a slightly savoury, almost saline reduction – it’s a baby – with air the aromas go deep with… Read More
2019 Red Burgundy – Part 1 – Côte de Beaune
2019 Red Burgundy Part 1: (Here) Côte de Beaune – November 2020 2019 Red Burgundy Part 2: Côte de Nuits – December 2020 2019 Red Burgundy Part 3: Beaujolais – February 2021 23 June 2019… What about the 2019… Read More