Burgundy Wines

Burgundy is one of France’s most important wine regions, second to Bordeaux in terms of production, though in terms of the quality of the product, right at the top. Burgundy produces the very finest Pinot Noir and the very best Chardonnay that money can buy.

Home to some of the finest vineyards in the world – La Romanée-Conti, Le Musigny, Chambertin, Le Montrachet – Burgundy’s fascinating patchwork of terroir makes it the most fascinating region of all. The vineyard soils are for the most part clay-limestone though minute differences in each vineyards soil, aspect and elevation is what makes each single vineyard different from its neighbour. The region is split into five main sub-regions: the Côte Chalonnais and the Maconnais produce what is often good value, affordable Burgundy. Chablis, to the north makes famously crisp, dry, steely whites. The Côte de Nuits is home to the most famous wines of all – Vosne-Romanée, Chambolle-Musigny and Gevrey-Chambertin – whilst the Côte de Beaune is home to Volnay, Pommard and the finest white wines in the World: Meursault, Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet.

Côte de Nuits

The Côte de Nuits is home to some of the finest red wines in the world. Named after the town of Nuits-St Georges it is home to the top Pinot Noir vineyards of Vosne-Romanée, Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny and Clos Vougeot. The production here is almost exclusively red, though small quantities of Nuits-St Georges Blanc are made, notably by Patrice Rion and the Domaine du Vicomte Liger-Belair. Domaine de la Vougeraie also make a sublime Clos Blanc de Vougeot.

The most famous vineyards of the Côte de Nuits are those just north of the town, Vosne-Romanée, Chambolle-Musigny and Gevrey-Chambertin; these vineyards are the home of Pinot Noir and hone to the finest, most expressive and sensual wines in the World.

Marsannay

Marsannay lies at the very north of the Côte de Nuits. It has no premier crus, though is reknowned for its Bourgogne Rosé and some key producers such as Sylvain Pataille and Bruno Clair.

Fixin

Fixin neighbours Gevrey-Chambertin and is home to a few under-the-radar wines that can offer exceptional value to those that know the secrets. It has two great vineyards: Clos de la Perrière and Clos du Chapitre, both of which join Gevrey-Chambertin to the south.

Gevrey-Chambertin

Gevrey-Chambertin is the largest of the Côte de Nuits appellation and home to the vineyard of Le Chambertin, after which it is named. Gevrey produces some of the finest Burgundy wine available, and the style is definitely masculine when compared with neighbours Chambolle-Musigny and Vosne-Romanée.

Home to the famous grand crus of Chambertin, Chambertin Clos de Beze, Latricières-Chambertin, Chapelle-Chambertin, Griotte-Chambertin and Charmes-Chambertin, Gevrey also has one of the region’s greatest premier cru vineyards: Le Clos St Jacques. Vintages of this wine frequently give wines of grand cru quality, particularly in the hands of the appellation’s most famous domaine: Armand Rousseau. Other key vineyards in the Gevrey-Chambertin appellation are Les Cazetiers, which neighbours Clos St Jacques, Lavaux St Jacques and Les Corbeaux.

Gevrey is home to many of the most famous wine producers: Denis Bachelet, Christian Serafin, Drouhin-Laroze, Sylvie Esmonin, Dugat-Py, Fourrier and Denis Mortet, to name but a few.

Morey-St Denis

Morey-St Denis is sandwiched between Gevrey-Chambertin and Chambolle-Musigny. It is best known for its famous grand cru vineyards of Clos de la Roche, Clos des Lambrays, Clos de Tart and Clos St Denis.

Morey-St Denis sits in the shadows of its neighbours and stylistically the wines share both traits: the masculinity and power of Gevrey-Chambertin and the sweet charm of Chambolle. The appellation is home to some truly great Burgundy producers: Domaine Dujac and Domaine Ponsot are the most famous with Domaine des Lambrays and Domaine du Clos du Tart. The wines of Taupenot-Merme are also worth looking out for, along with the revitalised Domaine Remy.

Chambolle-Musigny

Chambolle is home to what is one of the greatest vineyards of all, Le Musigny. Some of the finest and most seductive Pinot Noir comes from this small village, home to some of the most famous winemakers in Burgundy. If neighbouring Vosne-Romanée is all about silky power, Chambolle-Musigny is all about seductive and elegant charm.

Le Musigny itself is one of the finest vineyards in Burgundy along with Le Chambertin, La Romanée and La Romanée-Conti. By far the biggest holder of this outstanding vineyard is Comte Georges de Vogue, though the most famous producers are Christophe Roumier and his neighbour, Jacques-Frederic Mugnier. These are amongst the most sought-after wines in the world.

Chambolle has a second grand cru, Bonnes-Mares, and some exceptionally fine premier cru vineyards in Les Baudes, Les Cras and Les Amoureuses, which is arguably of grand cru quality. Le Musigny is situated at the south of the appellation and borders both Echézeaux and the top corner of the Clos de Vougeot.

Vougeot

Vougeot is home to the largest, and most interesting, grand cru vineyard in Burgundy: the Clos de Vougeot. At almost 51 hectares and with more than 70 producers, it is the perfect example of the variety of style and quality that epitomises Burgundy.

The vineyard of Clos Vougeot touches both Le Musigny and Echézeaux at the top of its slope, with Vosne-Romanée to the south and Chambolle to the north. The variation of terroir from one part of the vineyard to the next is considerable, though our annual FINE+RARE Clos Vougeot tasting shows that the key variation between the wines of Clos Vougeot has more to do with winemaking than terroir.

Vosne-Romanée

Vosne-Romanée is the most famous appellation of all Burgundy, and home to the most expensive and most famous wine in the World, La Romanée-Conti. The grands crus of Vosne-Romanée: La Romanée, la Romanée-Conti, Richebourg, Echézeaux, Grands-Echézeaux, La Grande Rue, Romanée-St Vivant and La Tâche are the finest wines of the world, and the pinnacle of Pinot Noir. They are some of the most expensive wines on the market, and wines to die for.

Not only home to the greatest vineyards of Burgundy, Vosne-Romanée is home to some of the World’s greatest winemakers. Domaines Sylvain Cathiard, Etienne Grivot, d’Eugenie, Lamarche, Leroy, Meo-Camuzet, Comte Liger-Belair, Rouget, Tardy and of course the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti itself are all found in this quiet village just north of Nuits-St Goerges.

Nuits-St Georges

Nuits-St Georges is the small town from which the Côte de Nuits takes its name. The vineyard area is split roughly in two by the town itself and there is a distinct difference in character between the vineyards on the Vosne side of the town to the north and the richer, more-full bodied reds from the vineyards to the south.

Nuits-St Georges has no grand cru vineyards though is home to an array of excellent premier crus, notably Les St Georges, Les Cailles and Les Vaucrains to the south of the town and Boudots, Les Damodes and Aux Murgers to the north. Nuits-St Georges Les Boudots and Les Damodes both border one of the great vineyards of Vosne-Romanée – Les Malconsorts – and there is a distinct Vosne silkiness to these wines that belie their appellation.

The town of Nuits-St Georges is home to one of Burgundy’s most important producers, Maison Faiveley. Other producers of note to be found here are Thibault Liger-Belair, Domaine de la Vougeraie, Henri Gouges and Robert Chevillon.

Côte de Beaune

Beaune is the capital of Burgundian winemaking. The town of Beaune is home to all of the great negociants of Burgundy bar Faiveley, and the surrounding vineyards home to the greatest white wines in the world from the three villages of Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet. To the north of Beaune lies the hill of Corton and the vineyards of Corton-Charlemagne and to the south, before you reach Meursault, the great wines of Volnay and Pommard. It is the most important town in Burgundy.

Corton

The hill of Corton is situated just north of Beaune, and is home to both red and white wines. The white wine from Corton is the most famous: Corton-Charlemagne. The appellations for both Le Corton and Corton-Charlemagne are almost certainly too large and, as with Clos Vougeot, care is needed to find the top wines of Corton.

The hill has multiple aspects. As a rule, the south-facing vineyards produce the richest reds and the most full-bodied white wines, whilst those with a more easterly aspect produce wines of more restraint. The best vineyards of Corton-Charlemagne are En Charlemagne and Le Charlemagne for white wines. The best wines of Corton come from Le Corton, Corton-Bressandes and the famous Faiveley monopole, Clos des Cortons.

Aloxe-Corton

At the foot of the Corton hill lies Aloxe-Corton, home to three producers of note: Follin-Arbelet, Mischief and Mayhem and Domaine Michel Mallard. Mischief and Mayhem, owned by Englishman Michael Ragg and his wife Fiona, is a firm favourite at FINE+RARE, producing exceptional red and white Burgundies at equally good prices.

Pernand-Vergelesses

Pernand-Vergelesses is one of the least-known appellations of the Côte de Beaune, and home to some of the regions most under-rated wines. The whites share a steely character with the top wines of Corton-Charlemagne and Pernand is home to a vineyard with one of the best names of all: Sous le Bois de Noel et ses Belles Filles: an excellent source for some of the best white wines of the appellation. The most famous producer here is Bonneau du Martray, producer of one of the finest wines of Corton-Charlemagne.

Beaune

The premier crus of Beaune are wines that offer exceptional value to those that know them, and a maze of disappointment to those that don’t. The top red wines of Beaune offer both excellent value and remarkable longevity. The best vineyards include the famous Clos des Mouches, and lesser known wines such as Clos des Ursules, Les Aigrots, Les Bressandes, Les Cent Vignes and Les Grèves.

Much of the Beaune vineyard area is owned by the large Burgundy houses, notably Maison Louis Jadot and Drouhin. The lighter style of Beaune reds offer “Bistro Burgundy” at its very best, whilst the more full-bodied reds, largely from the vines just above the town itself, can offer fantastic value for money and can be aged for decades. Some excellent whites can be found here, the best example of which is Drouhin’s Clos des Mouches Blanc.

Beaune is home to some of Burgundy’s most important producers. Maison Louis Jadot, Albert Bichot, Remoissenet, Joseph Drouhin and Chanson are all based here, as are the many of the new breed of “boutique negociants” such as Benjamin Leroux and Lucien Lemoine.

Savigny-Les-Beaune

One of Burgundy’s under-the-radar appellations, Savigny Les Beaune can be a source of some of the best value red Burgundy, where even the top wines remain affordable. A growing number of excellent winemakers, and some very good to excellent vineyard sites makes this an excellent region for delicate, occasionally rustic, and immensely pleasurable Pinot Noir.

The best vineyards of the appellation are La Dominode, Les Gravins, Les Guettes and Les Hauts-Jarrons, and the village is home to some top winemakers, notably Domaine Bize, Domaine Chandon de Briailles Briailles and FINE+RARE favourite Domaine Jean-Marc Pavelot.

Pommard

Pommard and Volnay are the two most important red wines of the Côte de Beaune. They sit side by side, though are very different in character. If Volnay is the twin of Chambolle-Musigny, then Pommard is the twin of Nuits-St Georges: these are powerful, full-bodied red Burgundies.

Pommard is home to some very fine vineyards, the best of which are probably Les Rugiens to the south of the village and the grand Clos des Epeneaux to the north. Les Rugiens, closer to Volnay, is the more silky and graceful red wine of the two, whilst the Clos des Epenaux is one of Burgundy’s most full-bodied wines, and one which can age for decades. Key producers of Pommard are the Domaine du Comte Armand, Domaine de Montille and Domaine du Pavillon, which is owned by negociant house Albert Bichot.

Volnay

Volnay is home to some of the silkiest, most seductive and feminine Pinot Noir in the World. Whilst the Côte de Nuits villages of Vosne-Romanée and Chambolle-Musigny might be more famous, Volnay makes some of the very best red Burgundy. If Burgundy is all about gentle, seductive fruit then the best Volnay wines are the epitome of red Burgundy.

The vines are situated south of neighbouring Pommard though, significantly, slightly higher up the slope. The limestone soils give a lift, a purity and an elegance to the wines that is often disarming.

The best vineyards of Volnay are to the south of the appellation: Volnay Les Caillerets, Les Santenots and the Clos des Chênes are assumed to be the greatest Volnays, along with Les Taillepieds. The village os home to some of Burgundies greatest domaines, notably Domaine Lafarge, Domaine de Montille and the Domaine du Marquis d’Angerville. One of the finest examples of Volnay comes from Meursault-based Dominique Lafon.

Meursault

To the south of Volnay, 10 or so kilometres from the centre of Beaune, lies the gateway to the finest white wines in the World: Meursault. Along with Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet, Meursault makes a triumvirate of villages that is famous for the very best Chardonnay available, indeed white Burgundy is the benchmark of what Chardonnay can achieve.

Meursault is the largest of the three villages, and the only one without a grand cru. The style of Meursault is traditionally rich and buttery, with Puligny the leaner, edgier wine and Chassagne the most muscular of the three. It is home to some legendary winemakers: Dominique Lafon of Domaine des Comtes Lafon, Domaine Coche-Dury and Domaine Roulot, for example and, no doubt partly due to its size, a wide array of styles.

The best vineyards of Meursault are at the south of the appellation close to the border with Puligny: Les Charmes, Les Perrières and Les Genevrières. It is also notable that there is a considerable difference in the characteristic of Meursault wines that come from vineyards at the top of the slopes, such as Les Tillets, and those that come from lower down. The former tend to be more mineral and lifted, the latter richer and more full-bodied. Many Meursault wines at village level are blends of the two.

Puligny-Montrachet

Both Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet lay claim to the finest white wine vineyard of them all: Le Montrachet. Roughly half of this great vineyard lies in Chassagne to the south, and half in Puligny. Roughly half of Batard-Montrachet lies in Puilgny, and both Chevalier-Montrachet and Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet are situated in Puligny in their entirety.

The wines of Puligny-Montrachet are summarized by precision and finesse, and an edginess best described in French: “nervosité”. The finest Puligny-Montrachet will make Meursault seem fat and Chassagne clumsy. As well as the grand crus, Puligny is blessed with a number of outstanding premier crus, notabaly Les Caillerets, Les Pucelles, Les Folatières and Les Demoiselles.

The wines of Puligny are synonymous with one domaine, the domaine that arguably put Puligny where it is now: Domaine Leflaive. The other key producer in the village is Domaine Etienne Sauzet.

Chassagne-Montrachet.

Chassagne-Montrachet lies at the southernmost tip of the Côte d’Or and, whilst it is a producer of red wines, it is famed for making some of Burgundy’s top white wines. Roughly half of the grand cru Le Montrachet is situated in Chassagne, along with roughly half of Batard-Montrachet. Criots-Batard-Montrachet sits in Chassagne in its entirety.

Stylistically, the wines differ from neighbouring Puligny-Montrachet in terms of weight and finesse. The best Chassagne-Montrachet is slightly more masculine and full-bodied than its Puligny counterpart, and the top Chassagnes can age exceptionally well. The best vineyard sites include Les Caillerets, which gives wines of both finesse and minerality, and an insiders’ tip is the vineyard of Blanchots-Dessus, which borders Le Montrachet itself.

The leading growers of the village are Domaine Jean-Noel Gagnard, Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey and Domaine Ramonet.

St Aubin

Situated just above the vineyards of Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet lies St Aubin, source of some of the best value white Burgundy available. The very best St Aubin wines can rival many a Chassagne or Puligny, often at a fraction of the price. The best vineyards of St Aubin – En Remilly and Les Murgers des Dents de Chien, lie just above Le Montrachet and offer both elegance and steely finesse.

St Aubin is home to some dynamic young winemakers, notably FINE+RARE favourite Domaine Olivier Lamy and Domaine Jean-Claude Bachelet.

Monthelie

Monthelie is a little-known village that sits just above Volnay. It is a good source for early-drinking value, though two vineyards are particularly noteworthy. Monthelie-Duresses and Monthelie Les Champs Fulliots. Monthelie-Duresses lies almost in Auxey-Duresses, with Dominique Lafon making a particularly good example, whilst Les Champs Fulliots is contiguous to the great Volnay vineyard of Clos des Chênes.

Maconnais

The Maconnais is most famous for Pouilly-Fuissé and as being a source for crisp, dry and relatively well-priced wines. The region is having somewhat of a renaissance, with a number of young winemakers making top white wines from the Chardonnay grape that remain well-priced when compared with the wines from the Côte de Beaune.

As well as Pouilly-Fuissé, other appellations worth seeking out are Pouilly-Vinzelles, St Veran and Viré-Clessé, home to F+R favourite Domaine de la Bongran. Other top wine producers of the region include Dominique Lafon (Les Heretiers de Comtes Lafon) and Olivier Merlin.

Chablis

Chablis is one of the most famous white wines in the World and the most important wine region of Burgundy outside the Côte d’Or. Situated further north in Burgundy the wines, from the Chardonnay grape, tend to be fresher and more intensely crisp than their Côre d’Or counterparts.

There are four official levels of quality: Petit Chablis, Chablis, Chablis premier cru and Chablis grand cru, with the very best vineyard plots situated on the famous Kimmeridgian soil that contains the marine fossils that are associated with the wines perfect with seafood.

There are seven grand cru sites: Blanchots, Bougros, Vaudesir, Valmur, Grenouilles, Les Preuses and Les Clos, which is generally considered to be the finest. Domaine Long-Depaquit makes an “eighth” grand cru – La Moutonne – which is a blend of Vaudesir and Grenouilles. The region has some outstanding white wine producers, notably Domaine William Fevre, Billaud Simon, Dauvissat and Raveneau.