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Expert Review

Expert Review

Burghound 93 Points | Ultra-spicy red and black berry aromas combine with those of jasmine tea, violet, star anise and discreet oak. The succulent, rich and delicious flavors possess excellent volume and mid-palate density while exhibiting a subtle minerality on the firm, serious and built-to-age finale that also flashes a touch of warmth. This is terrific and in 2019 it is a bit more elegant than usual. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Allen Meadows of Burghound writes 91-93 Points | There is an interesting hint of white pepper to the cool and exceptionally pretty aromas of exotic tea, anise, violet and lavender. I very much like the caressing mouthfeel of the medium weight flavors that possess moderate austerity and excellent persistence, Lovely.

Domaine Michel Niellon · Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru · Clos de la Maltroie · Burgundy · 2023

Domaine Michel Niellon is one of Chassagne-Montrachet’s most celebrated small estates — a benchmark producer whose premier cru holdings represent some of the finest terroir in the Côte de Beaune. Clos de la Maltroie is one of the appellation’s most distinguished premier cru climats: a walled enclosure with deep limestone soils that consistently produces Chardonnay of impressive weight, precision, and aging potential. Niellon’s approach is classically Burgundian — minimal intervention, terroir-driven, and built for the cellar. The 2023 vintage in Burgundy delivered wines of exceptional freshness and aromatic intensity, and the Clos de la Maltroie is no exception.

Golden lemon in the glass, the wine opens with aromas of tropical fruit, peach, pear, petrol, and hawthorn flowers. On the palate, succulent and concentrated — juicy peach, fresh pear, exotic fruits, and bright citrus lead to a lemon zest finish of real length and precision. Medium to full-bodied, lively, and tightly wound around bright acids and chalky extract. Ready soon but with the capacity to age gracefully for a decade or more.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Allen Meadows 90 Points | A more floral-suffused nose offers up vaguely exotic aromas of white peach, lychee and passion fruit along with just sliced citrus hints. I very much like the sense of underlying tension and caressing mouthfeel the barely middle weight flavors display before culminating in a balanced, long and agreeably dry finale. This too could use better depth but the development potential seems clear.

Expert Reviews — Prior Vintages

“Pale lemon color. The character shows more on the palate, white fruit with a little sucrosity. Ready soon but with capacity to age.”
— Wine Spectator · 92 Points

“Aromas of pear, beeswax, toasted nuts, white flowers and youthful reduction. A medium to full-bodied, lively and tightly wound young wine built around bright acids and chalky extract.”
— Wine Advocate · 91 Points

• Producer: Domaine Michel Niellon, Chassagne-Montrachet, Burgundy, France
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
• Climat: Clos de la Maltroie
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Style: Dry white — concentrated, mineral, chalky
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Tropical fruit, peach, pear, petrol, hawthorn, exotic fruit, lemon zest, chalky finish
• Pairings: Lobster, turbot, Dover sole, scallops, roast chicken with cream sauce, aged Comté
• Cellar: Drink now through 2035+

Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru — Clos de la Maltroie from one of Burgundy’s most meticulous small estates. Concentrated, chalky, and built to age.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Charles Curtis MW of Decanter Magazine writes 94 Points | Lucie Coutoux explained that although La Maltroie and Champgains (as they spell it) are roughly the same elevations on the band of premier crus, there is more limestone in Champgains that gives a bigger wine. In 2022, this shows ripe notes of passionfruit and lime peel with an accent of hazelnut and hay. The texture is supple and rich, almost fat, but pleasantly so. The grapes are from the domaine's parcel of 0.44 hectares at the top of the slope. Drinking Window: 2027-2050.

Jasper Morris of Inside Burgundy writes 92 Points | A glowing pale lemon yellow. There is a clear white fruit charm to this, a little more chiselled than the softly welcoming Chenevottes, with a limestone length and purity at the finish. Drink from 2027-2032.

Allen Meadows of Burghound writes 91 Points | This is aromatically similar to the Maltroie though with evident floral elements. There is slightly better volume and mid-palate density to the delicious and caressing but punchy medium weight flavors that possess a healthy amount of sappy dry extract while exhibiting better overall depth and persistence. This too should be approachable young but easily repay mid-term keeping.

Domaine Michel Niellon · Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru · Les Chaumées – Clos de la Truffière · Burgundy · 2023

Domaine Michel Niellon is one of Chassagne-Montrachet’s most revered addresses — a small, meticulous family estate that has farmed its premier cru parcels for generations with an unwavering commitment to terroir expression over winemaking intervention. Les Chaumées – Clos de la Truffière is among the domaine’s most prized holdings: a monopole planted with ancient vines, some more than a century old, set very high on the slope where the combination of altitude, old vine concentration, and Chassagne’s signature limestone soils produces Chardonnay of extraordinary tension and longevity. The 2023 earned 96 points from Charles Curtis MW at Decanter — a wine built for the cellar and the ages.

The 2023 opens with pronounced ripe fruit aromas of lemon peel, nectarine, and gooseberry, edged with saline minerality. The texture is impressively fresh for the vintage — lilting and silky — with marvellous concentration and great tension on the palate. A wine of rare substance and precision, it will benefit from a decade in the cellar and has the structure to drink beautifully for several decades after that.

“Pronounced ripe fruit aromas of lemon peel, nectarine and gooseberry, with an edge of saline minerality. The texture is impressively fresh for the vintage, with a lilting, silky texture, marvellous concentration and great tension on the palate. The grapes are from ancient vines, some more than a century old, planted very high on the slope. This will benefit from a decade in the cellar, but it has the substance to drink for several decades after that.”
— Charles Curtis MW, Decanter · 96 Points

• Producer: Domaine Michel Niellon, Chassagne-Montrachet, Burgundy, France
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
• Climat: Les Chaumées – Clos de la Truffière (monopole)
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Vines: Ancient vines, some 100+ years old; high on the slope
• Style: Dry white — mineral, concentrated, exceptional tension
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Lemon peel, nectarine, gooseberry, saline minerality, silky texture, great concentration and tension
• Cellar: Drink 2033–2050+
• Pairings: Lobster, turbot, Dover sole, scallops, white truffle dishes, aged Comté

Decanter 96 · Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru — century-old vines, monopole climat, and a decade or more of cellaring ahead. One of Burgundy’s most compelling 2023s.

Domaine Michel Niellon | Chassagne-Montrachet | Burgundy, France | 2023

One of Chassagne-Montrachet's most trusted names, Michel Niellon has long produced village-level whites of uncommon precision and depth. The 2023 vintage brings a ripe yet fresh expression of the appellation — orchard fruit, white flowers, and hazelnut on the nose, followed by yellow apple, lemon curd, and flint on the palate. The texture is rounded and polished, balanced by underlying freshness and chalky lift. A wine of aromatic depth and quiet authority.

Tasting Notes

Pear and apple compote, citrus confit, rosemary oil. Punchy and delicious flavors with a clean, dry, and refreshing finish. A few years of cellaring will reward patience.

Critical Acclaim

Burghound 88 Points — Allen Meadows
"A ripe but agreeably fresh and layered nose reflects notes of pear and apple compote, citrus confit and a suggestion of rosemary oil. The punchy and delicious, if not especially dense, flavors also conclude in a clean, dry and refreshing finale. This could use better depth so a few years of cellaring should prove to be beneficial."

• Appellation: Chassagne-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy
• Grape: Chardonnay
• Vintage: 2023
• Format: 750ml
• Producer: Domaine Michel Niellon

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

Charles Curtis, MW of Decanter Magazine 96 Points | In 2021 the domaine protected this site above all from frost but still lost half their crop despite being surrounded by the also well-protected vines of Domaine Leflaive. Accessible almost even now the aromas of green apple and passionfruit coconut butter and baking spice are almost opening even now. There is a lovely freshness and silky texture yet this is a powerful wine with impressive length and density at the end. This should open in five years and continue to improve for at least twenty-five more. (Drink between 2027-2050).

Winemaker Description 

This cuvée is the classic white wine of Montbourgeau. It is usually bottled after 24 to 30 months of élevage in barrel. 

The very special nature of the appellation of L’Etoile produces white wines of exceptional finesse and complexity.

The fermentation occurs in stainless steel but, after malolactic, the wine is racked into small barrel and demi-muids for two years. At that point, the entire production is assembled and left for several months in cuve before being bottled. 

Domaine Moreau-Naudet Chablis 2024 — Chablis, Burgundy

Domaine Moreau-Naudet is one of Chablis’ most revered estates, with roots stretching back to the 17th century. The domaine as it exists today was born in 1950 from the marriage of Marie Naudet and René Moreau, and was elevated to greatness by Stéphane Moreau — a winemaker of extraordinary talent whose untimely passing in 2016 was a profound loss to the wine world. His family and team have carried on his vision with unwavering dedication: organic treatments only, manual harvesting, natural yeast fermentation in stainless steel, and aging on the lees for depth and texture. Their style draws frequent comparisons to Vincent Dauvissat — extreme purity, intensity, and a distinct sense of place.

The 2024 Chablis is vinified entirely in tank, preserving the appellation’s signature freshness and minerality. The nose offers lemon peel, spring flowers, and a youthful reductive lift. On the palate it is medium- to full-bodied and racy, with bright, precise acidity and a long, saline finish that is unmistakably Chablis.

Wine Advocate — “Racy palate framed by bright acids, concluding with a saline finish.”

• Producer: Domaine Moreau-Naudet, Chablis, Burgundy, France
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Chablis AOC
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Farming: Organic treatments, manual harvest, low yields
• Winemaking: Natural yeast, stainless steel, lees aging 10–11 months
• Format: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Lemon peel, spring flowers, saline minerality, bright acidity, clean finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, grilled sole, sea bass, lobster, fresh goat cheese, sushi

A benchmark village Chablis at an honest price — Moreau-Naudet is the standard for what Chablis purity and terroir expression can be.

DOMAINE NERANTZI ASSYRTIKO P.G.I. SERRES ORGANIC 2025 | 750ML

🇬🇷 Greece — Assyrtiko | Serres, Macedonia

Assyrtiko is one of Greece’s great white grapes — and here, grown organically in the continental climate of Serres in northern Macedonia, it shows a different face from its volcanic Santorini counterpart: still crisp and mineral-driven, but with a rounder texture and bright fruit to match. Light, clean, and refreshing, with zippy citrus acidity, saline minerality, and a lingering, energetic finish.

Domaine Nerantzi was founded in 1988 as a passionate expression of the family’s love for wine and their desire to revive the winemaking traditions passed down through generations — reinterpreted for a modern palate. Today the estate produces wines of distinction that reach markets around the world, with organic farming at the heart of their approach.

We are a family owned winery situated in northern Greece (P.G.I. Serres). Our vineyards cover a surface of 10,8ha in a total of 20ha of family owned property. Our cultivation and vinification is organic certified since our first vintage in 2007.

We respect nature and its balance, focusing a lot in keeping our ecosystem alive. We are using just sulphur and cooper without any herbicides or pesticides (not even organic)  in our vineyards. We were blessed with a place that allows as to do so, and it is not by chance that we get high quality of fruits.

Our region has a long history in winemaking, it is the land where Dionysos was described to have lived and all the greek myths around wine referred to. With cold snowy winters and cool summer nights we have the ability to produce naturally, high quality fruit which we believe is the start of a good wine.

Pairs well with: Seafood, grilled fish, Greek salad, feta, light pasta, and casual warm-weather sipping.

Grape: Assyrtiko
Region: Serres, Macedonia, Greece
Appellation: P.G.I. Serres
Vintage: 2025
Format: 750ml
Viticulture: Certified Organic

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Burghound 96 Points | Here the equally expressive nose is quite similar to the regular cuvée except it's a bit spicier. The succulent, round and caressing but powerful and slightly bigger flavors coat the palate with dry extract before culminating in a more robust and somewhat more structured finish that delivers equally superb length. Patience strongly advised.

Vinous 94 Points | The 2020 La Grande Rue is similar to the bottle tasted at the Grands Jours; ample red cherries and crushed strawberry fruit, fine minerality, quite "air" considering the growing season. The palate is medium bodied with supple tannins, fine depth, quite strict on the finish where one find a pinch of sour cherry and brown spices. Just needs a little more sustain on the aftertaste.

Winemaker Description 

This vintage is the fruit of setting up my establishment. It embodies my doubts, my
fears, my mistakes, my great joy, my passion, my convictions.

This wine plot is located on a rocky outcrop, on the summit of the Palais Mount. Its name comes from the Latin word “barra”, copied from the Gallic “barro” which means
“elevation, summit, peak”. Chalky brown soils, clay-limestone subsoils. Located at 300 meters high, on a plateau.

There is a forest which occupies the ridge of the mountain which protects and shelters the vineyard from the wind. This cool environment helps to produce the floral and aromatic character plus the freshness of the wines.

Fresh white fruits aromas accompanied by floral touches and mineral notes. It leaves a fresh cool taste in mouth and blends together a tonic effect with smoothness. This tense and invigorating juice leaves a long-lasting intense sensation in the mouth. The end result is remarkable thanks to the aromatic, sapid and well-delineated finality. 

Memo Summary Notes

The Domaine Ninot Rully "La Barre" Blanc 2022 is a bright, organic expression of Chardonnay from the Côte Chalonnaise, crafted by the talented Erell Ninot, who was previously named "Best Young Winemaker" in Burgundy.

A classic partner for poultry in creamy sauces (Blanquette de veau), grilled sea bass, or scallops. It also pairs wonderfully with regional cheeses like Comté or mild Gruyère.
 

Producer Description 

A nectar from one end of the tasting to the other! An intensely golden adornment, a nose of perfectly over-ripe Chenin, underlined by great elegance, a note of almond cream, quince, very ripe peach skin.

The palate is very straight, freshness, tension and sweetness so well integrated, a finish of candy sugar crystals but also the fine bitterness of the schists, it is a very beautiful vintage, a wine built to last and already so pleasant to taste now. It is the cuvée representative of the estate's terroir, i.e. almost five vines.

Domaine Olivier Foucher | Sancerre AOC, Loire Valley, France | 2024

Olivier Foucher took over his family's 10.5-hectare estate in 2011 after studies in viticulture and oenology and years working alongside his parents. Le Chant du Silex — "The Song of the Flint" — takes its name from the estate's prized silex (flinty) soils, which impart a signature smoky, gunflint minerality and exceptional aging potential. The focus here is precision and tension: energetic, bright, and impeccably balanced rather than tropical or overworked.

Silver Medal, 2025 Concours Mondial du Sauvignon. Praised by 67 Wine's Bart Hopkins as "a classic mineral-driven Sancerre with excellent precision."

Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
Soils: Silex (flint)
Drink: Now–2030

Tasting Notes

• Delicate floral, lime zest, and tangerine on the nose
• White peach, pear, grapefruit, and subtle exotic fruit on the palate
• Full, mouth-puckering acidity | Smoky gunflint minerality | Long, precise finish

Pairings: Oysters, goat cheese, grilled fish, sushi, light poultry

Domaine Ostertag Riesling Les Jardins — Alsace 2023

Domaine Ostertag is one of Alsace's most visionary estates. Founded in the 1960s and transformed by André Ostertag after his Burgundy training, the domaine pioneered biodynamic viticulture and terroir-driven winemaking in the region. Today, André's son Arthur helms the estate with the same restless curiosity — low yields, slow and gentle pressing, long élevages, and wines built to "create thirst, not quench it." The 2023 Les Jardins is a particularly compelling expression: all of the Le Berceau fruit (not produced as a separate cuvée in 2023) was folded in, along with additions from Clos Matis on granite, giving this wine unusual depth and complexity for an entry-level Riesling. Vinous awarded it 92 points.

The nose is crystalline and floral — spring blossom, guelder rose petal, and fresh green apple with a creamy, transparent purity that only Riesling can deliver. On the palate, it is smooth, ripe, and gently textured, with a subtle salty linearity that drives freshness forward through a bone-dry, focused finish. Stony, savory, and utterly delicious.

Vinous 92 — "A floral creaminess, almost like a shower of spring blossom, guelder rose petal and fresh, green apple notes. The palate is smooth, ripe and gentle, with a subtle, salty linearity that gives direction to its creaminess. A balanced, bone-dry Riesling." (Vintage 2023). 

• Producer: Domaine Ostertag, Epfig, Alsace, France
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Alsace AOC
• Varietal: 100% Riesling
• Farming: Biodynamic, hand-harvested
• Style: Bone-dry
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Spring blossom, guelder rose, green apple, creamy texture, salty mineral finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, grilled fish, Alsatian choucroute, soft cheeses, roast chicken

A 92-point biodynamic Riesling from one of Alsace's most important estates — bone-dry, stony, and built to brighten any meal.

Domaines Ott BY OTT Côtes de Provence Rosé — Provence 2025

Domaines Ott is the founding dynasty of Provence rosé — a family that has shaped the identity of the appellation for 130 years, since Marcel Ott established the estate in the late 19th century. From Château de Selle to Clos Mireille to Château Romassan, the Ott family has patiently crafted a singular vision of rosé rooted in three terroirs, two appellations, and an uncompromising pursuit of authenticity. BY OTT is their entry into the Côtes de Provence AOC — grown organically from estate vineyards and carefully selected partner growers nestled between land and sea. The 2025 blend is 60% Grenache, 25% Cinsault, 7% Mourvèdre, 4% Syrah, and 4% Rolle — each variety playing a precise role: Grenache for texture and generous fruitiness, Cinsault for freshness, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Rolle for depth and length. Three terroirs, one shared light.

The color is a beautiful pastel pink with soft rosewood tints — luminous and distinctly Provençal. The nose is fresh and enticing: red berries, citrus fruits, and white blossom, with the generous, sun-drenched character of the 2025 vintage. On the palate, it is luscious and fruity with a smooth, silky mouthfeel — fresh citrus zest weaving through the mid-palate and accompanying a persistent, elegant finish. This is Provence rosé as Domaines Ott has always envisioned it: vibrant, nuanced, and luminous.

“Enticing, fresh and generous — this rosé wine combines our winegrowing savoir-faire with the vibrant essence of Provence.” — Jean-François Ott

• Producer: Domaines Ott, Côtes de Provence, France
• Vintage: 2025
• Appellation: Côtes de Provence AOC
• Blend: 60% Grenache, 25% Cinsault, 7% Mourvèdre, 4% Syrah, 4% Rolle
• Farming: Organically grown
• Style: Fresh, luscious, silky Provence rosé
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Red berries, citrus fruits, white blossom, silky mouthfeel, fresh citrus zest, persistent finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now — best enjoyed young and fresh
• Best Paired With: Grilled fish, seafood, salads, Mediterranean cuisine, soft cheeses, aperitif

The house that defined Provence rosé — Domaines Ott BY OTT 2025 is luminous, generous, and unmistakably Provençal.

Winemaker Description

A classic Pommard with a good structure. A complex nose with hints of red fruits, spices and flowers. The mouth is well balanced and structured, with ripe and sweet tannins. 

Critics Notes

Burghound 91-93 Points | Here the wood treatment is no long subtle though neither does it dominate the pretty spice, floral and red berry aromas that display a mentholated top note. The sleek, delicious and appealingly vibrant medium-bodied flavors possess good delineation that carries over to the sappy, powerful finish that offers both very fine depth and persistence. This is a bit woody today but the oak should integrate with a few years of keeping. (Drink starting 2033)". (2021). 

Vinous 91-93 Points | The 2021 Pommard Les Chaponnières 1er Cru, matured in 40% new oak, has a complex nose, quite tertiary to the extent that it deceives you into thinking there might be some stems. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chalky tannins, moderate depth, fresh and saline with a pliant, cassis and blueberry-tinged finish. Very fine. (Drink between 2025-2037)" 01/23. (2021). 

67Wine Buyer's Note

Bernie & Dorothy, Paulo & Barbara, and Annie — Follow the Drinker® (August 2025)
This is just a terrific wine. We drank it with burgers, roast chicken, and hanger steaks — and it just worked so well. 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah, the wine fills your mouth with black fruit and cherry-like flavors and does it all in a gentle way. Finishes absolutely clean, fresh, and mouthwatering. Everyone enjoyed drinking it.

Winemaker Description

Ruby red, nicely bright. Fresh cherry and blackberry on the nose with notes of cracked pepper. Dark berry and touches of anise on the palate, with sweet cherries and raspberry. The quality of winemaking is evident — a Parisian brasserie favorite.

Product Details

• Producer: Domaine Pélaquié
• Region: Côtes du Rhône AOC, Southern Rhône, France
• Blend: 50% Grenache, 50% Syrah
• Vintage: 2023
• Drinking Window: Now–2030
• Format: 750ml

Domaine Raspail-Ay Gigondas 2023 — Half Bottle (375ml)

Domaine Raspail-Ay is one of the most respected and beloved estates in Gigondas — a benchmark producer in an appellation that is itself one of the Southern Rhône’s finest. The estate has long been a favorite of serious wine lovers for its commitment to traditional winemaking, organic and biodynamic viticulture, and wines of exceptional depth, structure, and longevity. The Wine Advocate calls it “one of my favorite Gigondas estates,” and the 2023 is among the finest vintages in recent memory.

The 2023 Gigondas is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, completely destemmed and raised in old foudres to preserve purity and terroir expression. Medium to full-bodied, with a ripe, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and outstanding length — a classic, well-made Gigondas that will shine right out of the gate yet still have 15+ years of overall longevity. Now available in a 375ml half-bottle.

Full-bodied and fruity, with aromas of raspberries, black cherries, black pepper, licorice, and herbes de Provence. The palate is warm and generous, with ripe tannins, Provençal spice, meaty and peppery nuances, and classic garrigue notes. The wine fills the mouth with layered, complex flavors and a long, structured finish.

Wine Advocate — 94 points

“One of my favorite Gigondas estates, Raspail-Ay has made brilliant wines in both 2023 and 2022. Subtle darker berries, Provençal spice, meaty and peppery nuances, and classic garrigue notes… medium to full-bodied, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. A classic, well-made Gigondas that’s going to shine right out of the gate yet still have 15+ years of overall longevity.” (Vintage 2023). 

Food Pairings

Lamb chops, roasted duck, wild boar, Provençal stews, aged cheeses, and grilled meats with herbs.

Blend: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre
Appellation: Gigondas AOC, Southern Rhône, France
Vintage: 2023
Farming: Organic & Biodynamic
Aging: Old foudres
Format: 375ml (Half Bottle)
Score: 94 points Wine Advocate

Domaine Schoffit Pinot Blanc Auxerrois Vieilles Vignes Sec — Alsace 2024

Bernard Schoffit is one of Alsace’s most celebrated and quietly brilliant producers — a pioneer in the region’s greatest Grand Cru, Rangen de Thann, where he has reclaimed 6.5 hectares of near-vertical, abandoned slopes through sheer determination and ambition. His gift for winemaking extends well beyond Rangen: from his vineyards near Colmar, he applies the same rigorous approach to yields and viticulture, coaxing extraordinary wines from old vines with intense varietal purity, concentrated fruit, and perfect balancing acidity.

This Pinot Blanc Auxerrois Vieilles Vignes is sourced from steep slopes near Colmar, from vines planted between 60 and 75 years ago. Pure Auxerrois — bone dry, elegant, and unusually smooth. The nose offers delicate yellow plum, white berry fruit, stony minerality, and a subtle hint of spice. On the palate, it flows with poise and grace — bright, fluid, and surprisingly fresh, with a long, concentrated finish that belies its modest price.

“Unusually smooth and fluid, just flowing and bright… exceptionally serene.” — Vinous, 91 Points (2023 prior vintage)

“Elegant, yet complex and rich. Delicate yellow plum and white berry fruit intermingles with stony minerality and a subtle hint of spice.” — Rand Sieger, 67 Wine Buyer

• Producer: Domaine Schoffit, Colmar, Alsace, France
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Alsace AOC
• Varietal: 100% Auxerrois (Pinot Blanc Auxerrois)
• Vine Age: 60–75 years old
• Style: Bone Dry (Sec)
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Yellow plum, white berry, stony minerality, citrus, subtle spice, long finish
• Best Paired With: Alsatian tarte flambée, grilled trout, roast pork, soft-ripened cheeses, charcuterie

Old vines, a legendary producer, and a price that makes it an instant cellar staple — Schoffit Auxerrois is one of Alsace’s great white wine values.

Domaine Sigalas MM I — Mavrotragano & Mandilaria, Cyclades 2022

Domaine Sigalas is the most celebrated winery on Santorini — and one of the most important estates in all of Greece. Founded by Paris Sigalas, a mathematician turned winemaker, the domaine has spent decades proving that Santorini is not just a white wine island. The MM I is their flagship red: a 50/50 blend of Mavrotragano and Mandilaria, two of the Aegean's most ancient and distinctive indigenous red varieties, cultivated on the volcanic soils of Santorini and the Cyclades. Aged for one year in large oak casks, it is a wine of genuine character — punchy, food-driven, and unlike anything else in the world of Greek wine.

Deep crimson in the glass with a refreshing, aromatic nose of red fruit, cherry, and a finely blended bouquet of spice and earth. On the palate, it is vibrant and food-friendly with flavors of cherry, cassis, grilled watermelon, and apple cider, framed by firm, bitter tannins and lively acidity. Best served slightly cooler than a typical red to maximize its freshness and accessibility. A wine built for the table — especially cheese-heavy dishes.

Wine Advocate 91 Points — "Punchy flavors of cherry, cassis, grilled watermelon and apple cider. The tannins are bitter, and it might help to serve this wine one or two degrees cooler than normal to make it more accessible. It is inherently food-friendly, especially with cheese-heavy dishes like lasagna or pizza." (Vintage 2022). 

• Producer: Domaine Sigalas, Santorini, Cyclades, Greece
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Cyclades PGI, Aegean Islands
• Blend: 50% Mavrotragano, 50% Mandilaria
• Aging: 12 months in large oak casks
• Style: Medium-Bodied, Vibrant, Food-Driven
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Cherry, cassis, grilled watermelon, apple cider, firm tannins, lively acidity
• Cellar Potential: Drink now through 2029
• Best Paired With: Lasagna, pizza, lamb chops, grilled meats, aged cheeses, moussaka
• Serve: 58–62°F (serve slightly cooler than a typical red)

91 points from Wine Advocate — Domaine Sigalas MM I is Santorini's most exciting red: ancient grapes, volcanic soils, and a flavor profile unlike anything else.

Winemaker Description

Cathiard is a tiny domain - there never is very much wine. You enter a spick and span white stucco suburban home in the center of the small village of Vosne Romanee. There is a walled vineyard outside the front door. Go down the staircase and you are in a minuscule cuverie and barrel room.

Sebastien Cathiard has been slowly assuming control of this top estate in Vosne-Romanée from his father Sylvain. He is now fully in charge, but the wines have been so good for so long that he wisely has changed very little. They continue to farm meticulously, de-stem and rigorously sort all the fruit prior to fermentation. The only thing he has changed is the gradual reduction of new oak, seeking a bit more purity of terroir expression.

Expert Review

"An ultra-fresh and very bright nose freely offers up its array of red berries, plum and even more floral wisps. There is again a lovely textured to the beautifully delineated and stony middleweight flavors that conclude in a youthfully austere, linear and chiseled finale. This is also really quite good and worth considering."
Allen Meadows-Burghound

A classic, mineral-driven Chablis that beautifully reflects the lesser-known Cote de Brechain. A pale, shimmering gold in the glass, the wine opens with aromas of tart green apple, lemon zest, and soft, white flower hints. These notes of apple and citrus carry over to the palate, where they are met by a prominent, yet balanced acidity and the characteristic, oh-so-slightly chalky Chablis minerality that provides for a satisfying, lengthy finish.

Winemaker Description

Tollot-Beaut’s Les Vercots 1er Cru is rustic and robust with aromas and flavors of red cherries, spice, and earth with substantial weight and ripe tannins. It is aged for 18 months in 50% new Burgundian pièce.

Red Burgundy might be the world’s most flexible food wine. The wine’s high acidity, medium body, medium alcohol, and minimal tannins make it very food-friendly. Red Burgundy, with its earthy and sometimes gamey character, is a classic partner to roasted game birds, grilled duck breast, and dishes that feature mushrooms, black truffles, or are rich in umami. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review

92 Points Jasper Morris | 11 barrels for one hectare equates to about 25 hl/ha. Because Vercots has a heavy soil they put some extra fine pinot clones in this vineyard, which has paid off in the quality of the fruit. Slightly paler in colour but with some finesse. A savoury sandalwood touch to the oak this time, but the vineyard tannins are not fierce. Made with an agreeably light touch. Drink from 2025-2030.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Allen Meadows of Burghound | Ripe and very pretty aromas of both red and dark currant, violet, newly turned earth and a hint of crushed anise lead to rich, generous and round medium weight flavors that possess both fine volume and mid-palate density, all wrapped in a dusty, long and balanced finale where only a trace of rusticity is present. This always seem to outperform relative to its level chez Tollot and 2022 only adds to that reputation.

Winemaker Description 

The Tollot family represents a long lineage of winegrowers dating back to the late 1880s when François Tollot began planting vineyards in Chorey-lès-Beaune. Today, cousins Nathalie, Jean-Paul, and Olivier Tollot are in charge. The wines of Tollot-Beaut are well-known for their serious but pleasing style across a range of appellations from Bourgogne to Grand Cru.

The village of Aloxe-Corton sits at the foot of the Corton hill and is known for giving good-value red Burgundy that performs above its village-level status. A good Aloxe-Corton (pronounced Ahh-losse) will show some of the same structure, weight, and complexity found on the Grand Cru above.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

A dense glowing purple. Considerable energy to the nose in a dark-fruited raspberry style. Started here for part of the Chorey vineyards. Has considerable muscle for this appellation, will be its usual super satisfying self. Enough acidity, tannins folded in, just a wealth of deep red fruit. Sunny but managed. Jasper Morris - Barrel Sample: 87-90

Memo Summary Notes

The Tollot family represents a long lineage of winegrowers dating back to the late 1880s when François Tollot began planting vineyards in Chorey-lès-Beaune. Today, cousins Nathalie, Jean-Paul, and Olivier Tollot are in charge. The wines of Tollot-Beaut are well-known for their serious but pleasing style across a range of appellations from Bourgogne to Grand Cru.

Chorey-lès-Beaune lies on the plains below the Cote d'Or escarpment with 336 acres almost exclusively planted with Pinot Noir. Initially, the Tollot family owned vines only in Chorey, but successive generations made small acquisitions in Savigny-lès-Beaune, Aloxe-Corton, and Beaune for a current total of 60 acres.

Most of the wine grown in Chorey-lès-Beaune is bottled as Côte de Beaune-Villages, a catchall appellation that allows several villages to blend their red wines. Tollot-Beaut is proud of their village and produces this classic example from vines planted between 1992 and 1998. The wine spent 18 months in 25% new Burgundian pièce.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Winemaker Description