SYLVAIN PATAILLE, CÔTE DE NUITS, AOC MARSANNAY, AOC BOURGOGNE

 NEW  DOMAINE ANTOINE LIENHARDT, COMBLANCHIEN

In 2011 Antoine Lienhardt took over the 4.2 hectares of family vineyards that had been in long-term lease since his grandfather’s retirement in 1992. Antoine

had previously cut his teeth working for four years at Domaine Amiot-Servelle in Chambolle-Musigny, with shorter stints in Chablis and in South Africa. Gifted with family vines and not encumbered by the pressures of tradition and heritage, Antoine set out to be the first in his family to make wine.

“At the heart of domaine’s holdings are three lieux-dits in Comblanchien planted in the 1960s by his grandfather. The main differences between the parcels are the rockier top soils in Les Essards and greater clay content of those in Les Plantes. As in the rest of Burgundy, small variations make for distinctive flavour profiles: Les Plantes Aux Bois is more generous, a touch broader and more lush; Les Essards - more classic in style, is nervier, taut and more pungently mineral and cool-toned. Both have lively acidity, energetic minerality and a compelling tension between the pure Pinot fruit and savoury earthiness. The “Aux Vignottes”, by contrast, is more refined, but is also endowed with a structure and minerality that is somewhat reminiscent of it’s more noble northerly neighbour (Nuit Saint Georges)! There is a drive and energy in these wines that command your attention immediately. Decant if enjoying now 

or cellar for 5-10 years to allow for further knitting of the structural elements. These are delicious and terroir-specific Burgundies to grace the table. Bravo to Antoine Liendhardt”... John McIlwain MW

In addition, Lienhardt makes some very impressive Gamay, Aligoté, Bourgogne Blanc and NSTG. He is now experimenting with amphora (terracotta) and egg-shaped tanks both in concrete and ceramic. The resulting wines are, as you might guess, different, interesting and individual. Invariably Lienhardt will blend the results and the results are unfailingly impressive. Though 2021 is a comparatively light vintage (in terms of extract – due to growing conditions), the fruit in these wines is simply delicious.

 NEW  DOMAINE ROBERT CHEVILLON, NUITS-SAINT-GEORGES

For most wine critics / journalists, there is no finer address in NSTG. Now run by sons Bertrand & Denis. Their vineyards stretch from the far south side of Nuits St- Georges to the very north side next to Vosne-Romanée. All of the wines demonstrate harmony, ripe fruit and structure thanks to both hard work in the vineyard by Denis (who insists on low yields and a strict grape selection) and to a fermentation and barrique elevage carefully controlled by Bertrand. Remarkably individual, the wines are clearly of their vineyard origin, with a span of idiosyncratic flavours & nuances from Asian spices to blueberry fruits. There is fruit-of-the-forest red & blue berries, or sometimes violets, plum or peony rose notes; they are all there in the range. The vineyards south of Nuits (Pruliers and Vaucrains) tend to have more muscle and drive while those nearer Vosne, such as the Chaignots & Bousselots, verge more on elegance and silkiness.

 NEW  DOMAINE ROBERT SIRUGUE,  VOSNE-ROMANEE

Based in Vosne-Romanée, Domaine Robert Sirugue is a family-run estate, medium in size and with a growing reputation. Our first visit to this domaine was in 1987 – 33 years ago. Then it was the man himself, Robert. Now in his early eighties he is retired. Today it is grandson Arnaud, a fifth generation Sirugue, that makes the wine. Arnaud is a son of Marie-France (Robert's daughter) and Jean-Louis.

Domaine Sirugue may not rank in the very top tier of Vosne vignerons, though it received excellent reviews from the wine critics 20-30 years ago. The domaine unquestionably lost some momentum over the years. When Marie-France and Jean- Louis Sirugue took over in 2007, they began to improve quality and in recent vintages have shown that there is a fine potential here. The quality is improving year after year and with the 2015s the Sirugue family have re-established the Domaines position. Hence my return. Burgundy is all about knowledge and timing.

 NEW  DOMAINE ANNE GROS, 
VOSNE-ROMANEE

Small holding of generic to grand cru wines that commands an international following. Gros is a perfectionist, producing wines which are aromatic, refined & seductive. There is a minerality here that reflects the soils & the tannins are invariably suede-like. The wines are hand-crafted & even the humble generic offerings of Hautes Cotes and Bourgogne Pinot Noir are quite special.

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Gros is a leading source for fine Burgundy and as such is regarded one of Burgundy’s finest ambassadors. She achieves a quality and consistency that singles her out as one of the top five (5) domaines in all of Burgundy. It is not wonder that Domaine Anne Gros is one of the most sought-after addresses in all of Burgundy. Small production; impeccable standards.

 NEW  DOMAINE CHRISTIAN SERAFIN, GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN

The reserved and considered son of a Polish immigrant Christian Sérafin holds a stunning suite of fabulous vineyards which produce intense and structured Côte de Nuits reds which command a fair swathe of new oak. The fruit concentration from low yields and a propensity to harvest late is such that the wines easily handle the oak regime. The Sérafin wines are also structured firmly with appropriately powerful tannin and acid levels and as such are generally capable of considerable aging. The vineyards are managed biologically with no regular application of systemic herbicides or pesticides. The vinification is both simple and natural with no artificial yeasts or enzymes, done in stainless steel. They are not racked until just prior to bottling, nor are they fined or filtered. There are two main oak producers used, François Frère and Taransaud of which the Bourgogne receives 30% new, the village Gevrey 50% new with the Gevrey Vieilles Vignes, the Premiers Cru‟s and the Grand Cru 100% new oak. Christian's niece, Frédérique Bachotet and Christian's daughter Karine are now firmly at the helm and there is a noticeable “feminine‟ dimension to the wines since the 2016 vintage. The wines now exhibiting greater finesse and refinement.