News — France

Wine of the Year: Bobby's Pick
2008 Dom Pérignon

Without a doubt, 2008 Dom Pérignon has turned out to be one of the best wine purchases of my life. There is something absolutely magical about this Dom Pérignon. It is easily among the best of the past fifty years.

Our Go-To Champagne Value: Laherte Frères Ultradition Blanc de Blancs Brut NV

Ultradition has become one of the most popular Champagnes in Crush history.

Grace & Punch - 2021 Chablis At Its Finest
2021 Pommier Chablis "Les Reinettes"

For nearly a decade, we've been following Pommier's wines closely.

Back Up The Truck: Loire Edition
2022 Sables Verts Saumur-Champigny Glouglou

Sables Verts' Glouglou was an instant favorite. We discovered Sables Verts earlier this year and they became a go-to for honest and very fairly priced Loire wine.

Sub-$20 Burgundy Curiosity
2021 Trousselle Coteaux Bourguignons Rouge

Since discovering the wines a few years ago, Trousselle has been our go-to producer for everyday Burgundy.

2021 Roulot Meursault Villages
"This is an excellent Meursault village" -Burghound

The villages designation is very deceiving. It seems like Burgundy's hierarchies based on centuries of accumulated wisdom are suspended when it comes to Roulot's Meursault Villages. It is world-class.

2020 Levet Côte-Rôtie La Chavaroche

"This bottling is up there with the best wines that I have ever had from this domaine, and I am familiar with their work going back to their 1983 vintage."

Punching Above Its Weight Class
2021 Bachelet-Monnot Chassagne-Montrachet

Bachelet-Monnot's Chassagne AC is a bottle that we reach for often. The 2021 is an especially thrilling vintage of the wine. As Burghound's note below highlights, the 2021 is a seriously structured example of the wine. It is also a tense and electric one.

Comtes de Champagne Magic
2012 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne

When Comtes de Champagne is on, it's one of the most intriguing and enjoyable Champagnes that I know. There's magic to Comtes' radiance, class, and utterly appealing texture. The 2012 boasts these qualities.

"Well worth seeking out"
2019 Chandon de Briailles 1er Cru Île des Vergelesses

Purity, subtlety and elegance are the calling cards of Chandon de Briailles. It's a style that has won this domaine loyal fans for decades. You'll find Chandon de Briailles in the cellars of everyone from wine geeks to blue-chip collectors.

Without Peer
2021 Pascal Cotat Chavignol Rosé

Every year, we buy as much Pascal Cotat Rosé that we can find. The reason is simple: It is one of the most age-worthy and compelling rosés in existence. Sadly, in 2021, there's a tragically small amount of the wine to go around.

"The 2006 Krug Vintage is fabulous."
2006 Krug Vintage

"When Krug is firing on all cylinders, there really is no substitute." -Antonio Galloni

Wine of the Year Revisited
2019 Berthaut-Gerbet Bourgogne - Hautes Côtes de Nuits

Berthaut-Gerbet's 2019 is about texture and purity above all else. It's a beautifully articulate wine with a buoying undercurrent that makes red Burgundy so unique. There's bright fruits and an earthy minerality that are beautifully interwoven. The overall presentation is one of refinement.

The Master of Chinon:
2021 Baudry Chinon Les Grézeaux

Baudry's style is beautifully detailed, vividly transparent, and refined. We expected Baudry to thrive in the energetic 2021 vintage. The 2021 Grézeaux doesn't disappoint.

"Excellent"-Lowest Price:
2019 Génot-Boulanger Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières

Five years ago, this was a virtually unknown domaine. With the 2014 vintage, collectors took notice. More took notice of their brilliant 2017. Génot-Boulanger is now much more widely known.

Lowest Price: "Excellent for its level and recommended"
2020 Niellon Chassagne-Montrachet

Burghound writes, "the wines are always at least very good but their 2020s have that extra dimension of 'presence' which propels them to the next level."

Grace and Understatement:
2020 Jouan Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Clos Sorbé

Clos Sorbé gets to the beating heart of the domaine like no other wine in the incredibly strong lineup does.

Sub-$30 Red Burgundy:
2021 Trousselle Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune En Cre

Since discovering the wines a few years ago, Trousselle has been our go-to producer for everyday Burgundy. The quality that he turns out for the price is beyond astonishing. 

The Heart of the Matter Revisited:
2014 Vilmart Coeur de Cuvée

In the cellar, Coeur de Cuvée impresses me as being "bulletproof." I've had many compelling experiences with mature Vilmart.

"This beautiful effort is packed with development potential and is very classy."
2020 De Montille Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Le Cailleret

De Montille Cailleret's greatness isn't widely known, but it is consistently one of the most exciting bottles of white Burgundy that we taste.

Our Go-To Champagne Value
Laherte Frères Ultradition Blanc de Blancs Brut NV

Ultradition has become one of the most popular Champagnes in Crush history. Simply put, Ultradition is an irresistible Champagne that delivers serious value. It's an accessible Champagne, but also one of incredible balance and interest.

"The balance is impeccable" -Burghound
2020 Drouhin Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Blanc

Clos des Mouches Blanc is one of the true insider wines in all of Burgundy.

"In a word, lovely" -Burghound
2019 De Montille Saint Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly

Saint Aubin's 1er Cru En Remilly is a go-to for many Burgundy fanatics. The site pulls in everyone from collectors to value seekers. Not many other places offer white Burgundies at this level for this price. After all, En Remilly sits just behind the Grand Cru, Le Montrachet.

"One of Champagne's brightest young talents"
2017 Renoir Les Epinettes Grand Cru

In 2019, I named Renoir's 2015 Les Epinettes my wine of the year. Today, I'm happy to follow up with the impressive 2017 Epinettes.