New Arrivals from Burgundy
by Chris Santini
2023 Savigny-Lès-Beaune 1er Cru “Aux Serpentières”
France | Burgundy
Serpentières has always been Guillemot’s proverbial feather in the cap, the cuvée that is the most peacocky, juicy, and delicious in its youth, and that can seemingly age with perfection forever (they’ve been bottling this vineyard for seventy-nine years straight, and there’s still not a tired bottle in sight). The nose is smoky and herbal, the palate awash in robust black fruit with a most satisfying lip-smacking finish. The Guillemot family’s pride is fully justified!
2022 Irancy “La Grande Côte”
France | Burgundy
Ah, Irancy…the “other” red Burgundy, if you will, deep in the countryside, making wonderfully rustic wines like you can’t find elsewhere anymore in Burgundy. The climate is northern, the exposition southern (La Grande Côte is considered the best spot in Irancy for this), giving chiseled, precise tannins with delicate red fruit. The domaine ages their wines in bottle in their cold cellars as long as needed for them to open up, however long that may be, leading to mountains of bottles stacked high in the cellars awaiting their call. The 2022s have just been tasted, approved, and released for our pleasure by the Cantin family.
2023 Bourgogne Rouge
France | Burgundy
You may have heard saxophonist King Curtis revealing the recipe for his famous Memphis Soul Stew: a half teacup of bass, a pound of fatback drums, four tablespoons of boiling Memphis guitars, a pinch of organ, and half a pint of horn. Simple, right? Well, for an equally satisfying blend of soul, try Valentin Montanet’s recipe for his 2023 Bourgogne rouge: a spot of Pinot from Volnay, a dollop from Mercurey, a pinch from Vézelay, keep the clusters whole, and voilà! A nourishing, expressive, everyday rouge that really sings.