Cote de Beaune
With its vinous pillars of Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault, the Côte de Beaune’s Chardonnays are considered the finest in the world. Seven of Burgundy's eight white Grands Crus are found here though, ironically, more red wine is made in this southern half of the Côte d'Or than white. Its finest Chardonnays are known for their incomparable intensity and complexity, while its Pinot Noirs convey softness and finesse.
Bottle
£40.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl 155cs
Bottle
£11.70
Bottle 12 x 75cl 18cs
Bottle
£18.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle
£19.95
Bottle 6 x 75cl 18cs
Bottle
£21.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl 2cs
A short tour of one of Sébastien Magnien’s vineyards tells all you need to know about his philosophy; each vine is perfectly manicured, with not a leaf out of place. This attention to detail is reflected in his wines, which are precise, steely and mineral. Sébastien’s choice of picking date is guided by acidity rather than sugar levels, putting the emphasis on freshness. He declared himself very happy with 2017, comparing the white wines to 2014 but with perhaps a touch more flavour ripeness, and praising the accessible, moreish character of the reds.
Bottle
£22.50
Bottle 12 x 75cl 46cs
Rémi describes this as “dynamic” wine, and certainly its acidity and zesty lemon character provide a sense of energy. Most (80%) of the blend is raised in 400-litre oak barrels (none of them new), to add a touch of weight to the palate. The long, salty finish is something of a trademark for Domaine Rollin. Drink now to 2023.
Bottle
£22.50
Bottle 12 x 75cl 5cs
David began picking on 7th September for his Pinot Noir, pointing out that while this was the same date as in 2015, the two vintages have contrasting profiles. David used the word digeste to describe the 2017s, suggesting these are wines which will have you reaching for the next glass. The character of the vintage is one of freshness, purity, bright red fruit and floral notes, a combination which marries perfectly with Davids precise and confident winemaking style.
Bottle
£23.95
Bottle 6 x 75cl 19cs
Bottle
£24.95
David began picking on 7th September for his Pinot Noir, pointing out that while this was the same date as in 2015, the two vintages have contrasting profiles. David used the word digeste to describe the 2017s, suggesting these are wines which will have you reaching for the next glass. The character of the vintage is one of freshness, purity, bright red fruit and floral notes, a combination which marries perfectly with Davids precise and confident winemaking style.
Bottle
£25.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 20cs
Medium ruby in colour, this wine positively glows with energy. The nose offers plenty of spice and rich fruit courtesy of the warm 2015 vintage, while the palate is juicy and classically Pinot Noir in feel; with lots of red berry fruit, silky tannins and refreshing acidity. Drink now to 2024.
Bottle
£25.95
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
It was a “normal” harvest here this year which, in Jean-Yves’s world, is still a relatively paltry 30hl/ha, due to his scrupulous organic and biodynamic vineyard management. Jean-Yves is increasingly interested in the role and importance of sulphur dioxide in a wine’s evolution. He found that a trial bottling made without SO2 had little expression of the vineyard, yet he finds that adding SO2 too early in the winemaking process makes the wines more fragile and prone to oxidation. A fine range from a reflective winemaker.
Bottle
£27.50
Bottle 12 x 75cl 86cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle
£28.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl 7cs
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer
With prices in Burgundy still rising, even if often for understandable reasons, the appellations Bourgogne Blanc and Bourgogne Rouge are great places to look for affordable wines. You get the opportunity to drink wine from a top winemaker, from vines which are adjacent to the famous villages, and which will be accessible earlier. The 2005 Bourgognes Rouges are still delicious and youthful more than 10 years later, but most wines have been drinking well for a few years now.
Bottle
£28.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl 29cs
It was a “normal” harvest here this year which, in Jean-Yves’s world, is still a relatively paltry 30hl/ha, due to his scrupulous organic and biodynamic vineyard management. Jean-Yves is increasingly interested in the role and importance of sulphur dioxide in a wine’s evolution. He found that a trial bottling made without SO2 had little expression of the vineyard, yet he finds that adding SO2 too early in the winemaking process makes the wines more fragile and prone to oxidation. A fine range from a reflective winemaker.
Bottle
£28.50
Bottle 12 x 75cl 94cs
Adam Bruntlett, Burgundy Buyer
Caroline Lestimé took over from her father, Jean-Noël Gagnard (b. 1926) in 1989, since which time she has fine-tuned the holdings, increasing the number of white wine cuvées by separating out each different vineyard. She has also planted new sites in the Hautes Côtes de Beaune to complement her range of Chassagne-Montrachet (including nine white and two red Premiers Crus) and Grand Cru Bâtard-Montrachet. Chassagne was badly hit by the spring frosts, especially in the vineyards above the village and towards Puligny. Nevertheless, this is an impressive result for Caroline and she was in ebullient form, despite the relative emptiness of her cellar, perhaps after the fecund volumes of 2017, just harvested. There is an amplitude about her wines this year, which matches the freshness of the vintage very well. Sadly, there is no Masures this year due to frost.
Bottle
£29.95
Bottle 12 x 75cl 98cs
It is fair to say that Ben is very happy with 2017, describing it as the kind of vintage he would sign up for every year. The whites, he says, are beautiful, and not far from 2014 in style, with purity, finesse, great definition and balance. He describes the reds as pretty, appealing and with body to support ageing, while highlighting the importance of lower-yielding old vines for serious ageing. He eloquently explains that there is no “black sheep” in 2017, that no village has underperformed. For reason of space, the limited volumes of Grands Crus have not been included in this brochure. Since the 2014 vintage, all white wines are bottled under screwcap
Bottle
£29.95
Bottle 6 x 75cl 51cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Adam Bruntlett, Burgundy Buyer
In January 2002 Maison Camille Giroud was bought by an American consortium led by banker Joe Wender and winery-owner Ann Colgin, and a new chapter began. David Croix was installed as the winemaker/ technical director and tasked with a major revamping of the winemaking facilities and especially replacement and renewal of the old barrels to make wines in a much purer, more modern style. The company also owns 1.2 hectares of vineyards in and around Beaune. The 2016 vintage was a collaborative effort between the outgoing David Croix and his replacement, Carel Voorhuis, formerly of Domaine d’Ardhuy. The transition is a smooth one, with Carel’s gentle touch following on seamlessly from David’s elegant style. Carel described the 2016 vintage as lighter than 2015, with more elegance and better balance. It is clear he has a preference for 2016, highlighting the expressive, aromatic characteristics of the wines and calling them “ethereal”. He explained that it was important to avoid over-ripeness by picking in good time, and emphasised the value of gentle extraction to prevent obtaining hard tannins.
Bottle
£29.95
Bottle 6 x 75cl 20cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
After the catastrophically small vintage last year, Caroline is much happier with the good but in no sense excessive crop of 2017. Indeed, her organic viticulture methods and old-vine holdings mean that yields are a long way below the permitted maximum. Caroline is pleased with the ripe fruit profile of the wines, highlighting the velour, density and volume as key attributes, but taking care to explain that they are not heavy. These are exciting wines, which will be hedonistic in youth but the abundance of dry extract points to huge ageing potential.
Bottle
£29.95
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle
£31.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl 7cs
David began picking on 7th September for his Pinot Noir, pointing out that while this was the same date as in 2015, the two vintages have contrasting profiles. David used the word digeste to describe the 2017s, suggesting these are wines which will have you reaching for the next glass. The character of the vintage is one of freshness, purity, bright red fruit and floral notes, a combination which marries perfectly with David’s precise and confident winemaking style
Bottle
£32.50
Bottle 6 x 75cl 14cs
Bottle
£33.30
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
This elegant and engaging Meursault comes from a cool site below the wood at Blagny. It was aged in a combination of one to three-year-old barrels. The nose is characterised by floral and white fruit aromas, with a subtle marine character to boot, while the palate – steely and taut on the attack – broadens towards the finish, which is slightly smoky and wholly delicious.
*Discount is already applied to the single-bottle price and no further discount will be applied at checkout.
Bottle
£34.65
Bottle 12 x 75cl 43cs
Bottle
£35.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl 14cs
After the catastrophic 2016 vintage, which saw her lose around 70 percent of the crop, Claire Naudin is much happier with 2017. She still didn’t get a full crop, though, because the frost had damaged the vine, stunting the following year’s growth and limiting the crop to 80 percent of a full yield. The vintage certainly suits her style, with wines that are all about elegance, finesse and delicacy. These are appetising wines which always give great pleasure, on even the grandest occasions. As ever the wines are made with 100 percent whole bunches.
Bottle
£35.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 53cs
Bottle
£35.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl 14cs
It is fair to say that Ben is very happy with 2017, describing it as the kind of vintage he would sign up for every year. The whites, he says, are beautiful, and not far from 2014 in style, with purity, finesse, great definition and balance. He describes the reds as pretty, appealing and with body to support ageing, while highlighting the importance of lower-yielding old vines for serious ageing. He eloquently explains that there is no “black sheep” in 2017, that no village has underperformed. For reason of space, the limited volumes of Grands Crus have not been included in this brochure. Since the 2014 vintage, all white wines are bottled under screwcap.
Bottle
£37.50
Bottle 6 x 75cl 76cs
David began picking on 7th September for his Pinot Noir, pointing out that while this was the same date as in 2015, the two vintages have contrasting profiles. David used the word digeste to describe the 2017s, suggesting these are wines which will have you reaching for the next glass. The character of the vintage is one of freshness, purity, bright red fruit and floral notes, a combination which marries perfectly with Davids precise and confident winemaking style.
Bottle
£37.50
Bottle 6 x 75cl 176cs
Adam Bruntlett, Wine Buyer