France

Bright currant, sweet cherry, and rose hip on the nose. The palate reveals layers of darker fruits, black plum, blueberry pie, and baking spices. A sappy and exceptionally drinkable CdR. Much richer than the average.

Originating from vines planted on clay and chalk (tuffeau) soil, this wine offers the distinctive character of Cabernet Franc: deep and bright ruby color, fine aromas of red fruits (red current, cherry) and floral subtleties (violet, iris), fine and velvety tannin, with a fresh and balanced finish.

This comes from vines averaging 20 years old growing in the communes of Couffy, Seigy and Chateauvieux just south of the Cher River, a major tributary of the Loire. The Loire Valley is an open window to the Atlantic, blessing the region with clement weather. L’Aumonier’s soils range from tufa hillsides rich in clay and limestone to flatter sites of flint and clay, sand and clay, and silt and clay. Ferments are typically spontaneous (the occasional difficult tank may get a dose of neutral yeast) and the wine is raised in tank. There's no fining during élevage and only a light filtration at bottling. Certified organic and biodynamic.

Vineyards lie on a bed of stony, and siliceous-clay soil. Grapes are chosen from a selection of old vineyards. Short pruning in the vineyard, work of the soil and vines in accordance with the rules of organic and biodynamic agriculture. Light settling and long fermentation (21 days) with indigenous yeasts. The wine is then aged on lees for 6 months in underground cement tanks

The best wine from Saint Veran? No argument here! Pouilly Fuissé adjacent estate vines in ‘Les Pommards’ face northeast; the plot sits near an ancient limestone quarry near the village of Davayé. Soils are majority limestone, with thin clay topsoils and 50 year-old vines.

Incredible value here. Estate vines sit 1,140 feet in altitude, facing southeast. ‘La Roche’ directly borders Pouilly-Fuissé ‘La Roche,’ that appellation’s highest (and most prized) vineyard. Soils are solid white limestone, with very little topsoil. Vines planted between 1982 and 1985.

Hand-harvested. Pressed full cluster; juice placed in temperature-controlled tanks overnight to settle; transferred via gravity to older French oak barrels to ferment on indigenous yeasts. Aged in barrel for 12 months. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Perhaps the greatest value in premium white Burgundy today. Located on the slope of the Roche de Solutré (one of two ancient reefs that dramatically mark the landscape of Vergisson), ‘En Buland’ faces northeast (thus excluding it from Premier Cru status though its considered one of the finest sites). Soils mix limestone and clay. Vines planted in 1934.

96 Points! All Grenache from this brilliant lieu-dit with sandy soils situated just to the north of Rayas, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Secrets De Pignan was destemmed and aged 18 months in stainless steel. Gorgeous wild strawberry, spring flowers, mint, and loamy earth-like nuances all shine here, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a pure, graceful, layered mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. There are roughly 333 cases of this beauty, which is already gorgeous yet should keep for 15 years in cold cellars. - Jeb Dunnuck

91 Points! Juicy and vivid, this red shows notes of sweet cherries, raspberries and sweet spices. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. Succulent, with plenty of fruit character and a spicy lift in the lively finish. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com

90 Points! Provençal red and black fruits, meaty spice, and peppery herbs all emerge from the 2023 Cairanne Les 2 Arbres, an equal blend of Carignan, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah aged in cement tanks with less than 5% in neutral barrels. It's medium-bodied, round, and supple, with a nicely textured mouthfeel that's ripe and satisfying. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! Quite a rich and fleshy wine for this appellation, but this was the hottest and driest vintage since 1947! Plenty of licorice and damson plum, plus stacks of velvety tannins. Beautiful balance on the medium- to full-bodied palate. Long, gentle finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

The only Premier Cru that is 'Grand Cru adjacent', sharing a border with Les Preuses. 

96 Points! 51% Roussanne, 24% Grenache Blanc, 15% Clairette, 10% Viognier. Sumptuously pure peach and melon with hints of vanilla; creamy without excess: one of those quiet wines which creep up and delight over several glasses. - Decanter World Wine Awards

91 Points! 70% Syrah, 30% Grenache. Complex bouquet of cherries, spices, tobacco and olives. Ripe fruits and herbal notes on the palate, fine grained tannins and a long, succulent finish. - Decanter World Wine Awards

98 Points! As graceful as it is rich, this extraordinary pinot noir is a giant of subtlety. Incredible concentration and underplayed power on the super-silky, medium-bodied palate. Hard to put into words the purity, precision and refinement at the extremely long finish. From vines planted in 1959. From organically grown grapes. Bottled unfiltered and unfined. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com