News — 1er Cru

Back-Vintage Red Burgundy—Hauntingly Beautiful:
2013 Jouan Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Clos Sorbé

Clos Sorbé is most likely Morey's most heartbreakingly delicate site. It is a devastatingly lacey and mineral expression of red Burgundy.

A Perfect Match - Burgundy Go-To:
2022 Tessier Meursault 1er Cru Le Poruzot Dessus

Tessier makes sculpted and tension-filled Meursaults that have a captivating intensity. They serve as a great example of wines where terroir-soaked honesty can offer seemingly endless fascination in the glass. 

Not To Be Missed: 2022 Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clavoillon

Catch Clavoillon in the right vintage, and you'll be wowed by its harmony and its mineral delicacy. 

Utter Brilliance:
2014 Lafon Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes

Lafon's 2014s were so impressive that they were impossible not to notice.

If it wasn't already obvious that things were starting to click into high gear at this Meursault benchmark, the 2014 drove this point home unequivocally. 

Meursault Charmes At Its Best:
2022 Tessier Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes Dessus

A few years ago, a friend poured me a glass of Arnaud Tessier's Meursault AC, and I was immediately intrigued.

I've been buying the domaine's wines ever since. 

Today, I'm happy to present a stunning example of their work, the 2022 Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes Dessus. 

"A brilliant wine in the making"
2022 Dauvissat Chablis 1er Cru La Forest

In Dauvissat's hands, Forest brims with notes of saline-inflected crushed rocks, and bright citrus fruits. It's a mesmerizing wine that ages beautifully.

"This is lovely"
-2021 Lafarge Volnay 1er Cru 5 Climats

Due to the small quantities, Lafarge made the decision to blend his five 1er Cru vineyards into a single wine. This is the first time ever that Lafarge has blended these sites, and this is a long established domaine. 

Burgundy Royalty - Lowest Price:
2020 Ramonet Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Ruchottes

Ramonet's Ruchottes overachieves to such an extent that it can compete with many Grand Crus.

"This beauty is textbook."
2021 Ballot Millot Meursault 1er Perrières

We've been huge fans of Ballot Millot in recent vintages, but their 2021s are mind-blowing. This is a dynamite bottle of white Burgundy.

"This is potentially brilliant and very much worth your interest"
2020 Lafarge Volnay Premier Cru Clos des Chenes

There's something magical and captivating about Lafarge's wines and their understated grace.

"This is lovely and a wine that should age accordingly."
2022 Tribut Chablis 1er Cru Côte de Léchet

What makes 2022s at Tribut so exciting is how the wines combine power and presence with verve and minerality. Tribut's 2022s have an incredible amount of punch and finesse.

Hitting The Bullseye:
2017 Simon Bize Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru Aux Vergelesses

These are some of the most authentic, thoughtful, and often overlooked wines we know. Bize’s wines are such soulful and long-aging expressions of Burgundy that they are “must-buys.”

Not To Be Missed:
2022 Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clavoillon

This all-too-often overlooked bottle can deliver some serious value relative to Leflaive's other 1er Crus.

Grand Cru In All But Name:
2008 Chevillon Nuits-St-Georges 1er Cru Les St-Georges

We love Chevillon's 2008s, and of course, the Les St-Georges leads the pack. Across the range, they are beautifully clear, and for all of their muscle, they are poised and lifted.

"In a word, brilliant."
- 2019 D'Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Ducs

Clos des Ducs produces some of the most intense, mineral-driven, and deeply complex examples of red Burgundy.

"I very much like the focused power... " -2020 Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre

At their best, the 2020s combine power and richness with snap, tension, and Chablisien minerality. Raveneau has clearly produced some of the top wines of the vintage.

A Legend In Top Form:
2017 Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru 'Les Saint Georges'

Les Saint Georges- a combination of stony limestone and clay soils, is renowned for its impressive structure, muscle, and longevity. In Gouges' hands, this site is totally captivating, simultaneously noble and wild.

"Impressive and recommended"
2021 Tribut Chablis 1er Cru Beauroy

Tribut's 2021s are dazzling and crystal-clear expressions of Chablis' unique minerality.

"Very fine." -2022 Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

Drouhin's Chambolle 1er Cru offers a pedigree and elegance that may be unrivaled for the price.

"In sum, this is terrific."
Lowest Price: 2019 Bertheau Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses

It struts a spellbinding level of refinement and ethereal complexity.

"Leflaive 2021s are brilliant" -2021 Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clavoillon

For the past decade, Leflaive has really kicked things into overdrive. They are producing some of the greatest wines that I've tasted from the domaine. 

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

Jouan's Clos Sorbé possesses a haunting mixture of perfume and delicacy.

"Impeccably well-balanced"
2020 Paul Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos St. Jean

Thierry Pillot has emerged as one of Burgundy's most talented white Burgundy producers.

Wine of the Year
Bobby's Pick

For my wine of the year, it was imperative for me to choose a top-flight Burgundy for under $100.