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`The 2017 Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru has a wonderful nose of pure dark berry fruit, crushed stone and touches of undergrowth and tobacco. This seems to grow in the glass. The palate is ripe and slightly pinched on the entry, a touch of soy infusing the red berry fruit. Structured on the finish, but it feels just a little angular at the moment. Give it time to smooth out its creases. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2017 tasting. [Neal Martin] 94 Points

The 2009 Gevrey-Chambertin Lavaux St. Jacques is a huge wine, but it is shutting down in bottle. The 2009 boasts incredible purity and depth in is fruit. Readers will need to be patient with the 2009. The extraordinary, deep finish is but one of the signs that points to the immense pedigree of Lavaux St. Jacques. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039.` 95 Points, Antonio Galloni

`The 2009 Gouges Les St. Georges is a profound young wine. The kaleidoscopically complex nose delivers a brilliant mélange of red and black cherries, pomegranate, plenty of blood orange, raw cocoa, woodsmoke, gamebirds, a touch of lead pencil and a beautiful topnote of violets. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very, very pure on the attack, with flawless balance, a sappy, bottomless core, stunning complexity, fine-grained tannins and a multi-faceted, brilliantly focused and near perfect long finish. As fine a young wine from Domaine Gouges as I have ever had the pleasure to taste, the 2009 Les St. Georges is a legend in the making.` 97 Points John Gilman

From a super steep site just above Les Vaucrains which had been abandoned since the phylloxera crisis until Bertrand terraced and planted it in 2001. 

`This is one of Dominique Lafon’s best wines of the 1990s and easily surpasses the 1995. It has a wonderful bouquet that is very focused: raspberry, a touch of cassis, Indian ink and just a suggestion of singed leather. It has a sweet entry on the palate that is underpinned by fine tannins and an elegant, sensual finish that lacquers but never oppresses the mouth. There is wonderful tension and purity in this Volnay, perhaps in some ways auguring the style of wine post-2000. You can drink this now, though I would prefer to leave the 1996 another five years because there is a lot to come. Drink now-2026.` 94 Points Neal Martin

The importer of Rayas in the US, only carries only two other CNDPs - Santa Duc and Jerome Gradassi`s. Lofty company, but testatment to what Jerome has done with his Grandfathers own vines in only a few years. The smallest producer in the town, with only 800 cases being produced in a typical year - the artisanal methods are still at play here - in the early years moving fermented juice from the ancient fermentation tanks by hand with only a rope and bucket as there was no other way to do it. He works with cooler climates: mostly the lieux-dits of Palestor, Bois Dauphin, and Cabrière, where he aims for elegance rather then pure power. These are artisanal CNDPs in the old school and are a brilliant value.

The importer of Rayas in the US, only carries only two other CNDPs - Santa Duc and Jerome Gradassi`s. Lofty company, but testatment to what Jerome has done with his Grandfathers own vines in only a few years. The smallest producer in the town, with only 800 cases being produced in a typical year - the artisanal methods are still at play here - in the early years moving fermented juice from the ancient fermentation tanks by hand with only a rope and bucket as there was no other way to do it. He works with cooler climates: mostly the lieux-dits of Palestor, Bois Dauphin, and Cabrière, where he aims for elegance rather then pure power. These are artisanal CNDPs in the old school and are a brilliant value.

The importer of Rayas in the US, only carries only two other CNDPs - Santa Duc and Jerome Gradassi`s. Lofty company, but testatment to what Jerome has done with his Grandfathers own vines in only a few years. The smallest producer in the town, with only 800 cases being produced in a typical year - the artisanal methods are still at play here - in the early years moving fermented juice from the ancient fermentation tanks by hand with only a rope and bucket as there was no other way to do it. He works with cooler climates: mostly the lieux-dits of Palestor, Bois Dauphin, and Cabrière, where he aims for elegance rather then pure power. These are artisanal CNDPs in the old school and are a brilliant value.

200 cases - dark robe; the nose has a gently floral

200 cases - dark robe; the nose has a gently floral

dark red; the nose has a gently assured dark berry

From a vineyard in Arras that Jef`s Grandfather Camille worked. Carbonique style spproach.

50 year old Syrah from St Jo vineyards that lost their classification because the vineyards were deemed too high. Jef too these on from the Cave de Tain and set about restoring them to organic viti - roughly 150 cases made. Vinification in concrete then a mix of amphore and oak.

Youngish vine Syrah from Secheras, the plains over St-Joseph. Raised in old oak and Amphore.

Youngish vine Syrah from Secheras, the plains over St-Joseph. Raised in old oak and Amphore.

Youngish vine Syrah from Secheras, the plains over St-Joseph. Raised in old oak and Amphore.

The importer of Rayas in the US, only carries only two other CNDPs - Santa Duc and Jerome Gradassi`s. Lofty company, but testatment to what Jerome has done with his Grandfathers own vines in only a few years. The smallest producer in the town, with only 800 cases being produced in a typical year - the artisanal methods are still at play here - in the early years moving fermented juice from the ancient fermentation tanks by hand with only a rope and bucket as there was no other way to do it. He works with cooler climates: mostly the lieux-dits of Palestor, Bois Dauphin, and Cabrière, where he aims for elegance rather then pure power. These are artisanal CNDPs in the old school and are a brilliant value.

The ‘Confidential Wine Culture’ of St-Joseph has long clutched Domaine de Gouye tight to its chest, as it did his neighbour and long-time friend Raymond Trollat. The Gouye family have most of their vines in the lieux-dit of Gouye, high up on the hills over St-Jean de Muzols. Separated by a ravine from Aubert and Pichonnier, Trollat’s old plots. Philippe has 3 hectares here mostly planted between 1955 and 1975. Due to its high altitude, the wines manage to retain freshness even in warm years. It is a phenomenal terroir, worked with absolute conviction in the old methods by Philippe Desbos. As well as Trollat, he had much in common with Elizabeth Fogier, a female vigneron of St-Jean de Muzols who defended the old style in the 1980s and 1990s, living an unpretentious and steady farmers existence like Philippe and his family do now. Hens cluck at your feet, a horse to plough. Not much changes here.

Marsanne / Rousanne. Approx 160 cases - Cloudy yellow; the nose is broad

Approx 160 cases - Cloudy yellow; the nose is broad

Viognier / Marsanne / Rousanne Blend

Marsanne / Roussanne blend from Ardeche grapes.