
France, Burgundy
Wine is being produced throughout France and has been done for over 2,500 years with certain Châteaux dating their history back to Roman times, around 6th Century BC. Ranking second in the world in per-capita consumption and first in total production quantity. More-so than the overall quantity of wine is the quantity of truly great wines coming out of France makes the nation the envy of wine-making nations worldwide.
Two concepts pivotal to the higher end French wines, in particular, are the idea of 'terroir' and the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. Terroir refers to the way the geography, geology and climate find their way into the glass, telling a story of the origin of the wine. The AOC was set up in 1935 and has the primary goal of protecting the authenticity of the wines and the livelihoods of the producers. Appellation rules strictly define which varieties of grapes and winemaking practices are approved for classification in each of France's several hundred geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or in some cases, like in Burgundy even specific vineyards.
Classic wine regions in France include Champagne (home of Champagne), Burgundy (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Alsace (Aromatic varietals), Loire Valley (Chenin Blanc, Crémant) and the Rhône Valley (Syrah, Grenache Mourvedre)
The Bordeaux classification of 1855 is still in use, as is the Sauternes and Barsac Classification of the same year. Wines from certain regions can be bought En Primeur, which is when the wine is sold prior to it being bottled.
Burgundy is undoubtedly the home of the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnays in the world, where vineyards, or Domaines have been producing wines for over 2000 years. Burgundy is located in the North-east of France, an hours drive from Lyon and 2 hours from Paris. With over 100 appellations, or sub-regions (more than any other wine region) Burgundy is known for being the most terroir-oriented region in the World. The finest red wines of Burgundy are found in the Côte d'Or, a string of villages including Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey St Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Vougeot, Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-St Georges.
There are flavours present in great Burgundys that are the envy of Pinot Noir producers worldwide. The elusive peacocks tail finish that goes on and on, and the pretty-elegance backed by Burgundy muscle is the goal of winemakers around the globe. The main levels in the Burgundy classifications, in descending order of quality, are: Grand crus, Premier crus, village appellations, and finally regional appellations. For the Chablis wines, a similar hierarchy of Grand Cru, Premier Cru and Village wines is used, plus Petit Chablis as a level below Village Chablis.
Two concepts pivotal to the higher end French wines, in particular, are the idea of 'terroir' and the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. Terroir refers to the way the geography, geology and climate find their way into the glass, telling a story of the origin of the wine. The AOC was set up in 1935 and has the primary goal of protecting the authenticity of the wines and the livelihoods of the producers. Appellation rules strictly define which varieties of grapes and winemaking practices are approved for classification in each of France's several hundred geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or in some cases, like in Burgundy even specific vineyards.
Classic wine regions in France include Champagne (home of Champagne), Burgundy (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Alsace (Aromatic varietals), Loire Valley (Chenin Blanc, Crémant) and the Rhône Valley (Syrah, Grenache Mourvedre)
The Bordeaux classification of 1855 is still in use, as is the Sauternes and Barsac Classification of the same year. Wines from certain regions can be bought En Primeur, which is when the wine is sold prior to it being bottled.
Burgundy is undoubtedly the home of the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnays in the world, where vineyards, or Domaines have been producing wines for over 2000 years. Burgundy is located in the North-east of France, an hours drive from Lyon and 2 hours from Paris. With over 100 appellations, or sub-regions (more than any other wine region) Burgundy is known for being the most terroir-oriented region in the World. The finest red wines of Burgundy are found in the Côte d'Or, a string of villages including Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey St Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Vougeot, Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-St Georges.
There are flavours present in great Burgundys that are the envy of Pinot Noir producers worldwide. The elusive peacocks tail finish that goes on and on, and the pretty-elegance backed by Burgundy muscle is the goal of winemakers around the globe. The main levels in the Burgundy classifications, in descending order of quality, are: Grand crus, Premier crus, village appellations, and finally regional appellations. For the Chablis wines, a similar hierarchy of Grand Cru, Premier Cru and Village wines is used, plus Petit Chablis as a level below Village Chablis.
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- Maison Veuve Ambal was founded in the heart of Burgundy in 1898 by Veuve Marie Ambal, widow of a Parisian banker. The wines immediately gained recognition, and her grandson Charles Roux Ambal, followed by his grandson and current President Eric Piffaut, ... Learn MoreVeuve Ambal Vin Mousseaux Blanc De Blanc Nv$24.99 Per item
- "Meaning Great Mind, Grand Esprit is a nod to the understanding of terroir, or the natural environment in which a great wine is produced. A Grand Esprit wine will always beautifully reflect the harmonious balance between the land it comes ... Learn More
- Romaric Chavy has wasted no time in staking a claim as one of Burgundy’s next winemaking stars. Continually making improvements to Chavy-Chouet’s hugely impressive range, this Bourgogne Aligoté offers an opulent, lively, and exotic, style of Aligoté. A ... Learn More
- Château de Lachassagne is an exceptional place, located in the very south of Burgundy, with a unique view over the Saône Valley. It is a 62 hectares propriety, totally surrounded by small walls called ’"Clos". A clean, pure expression ... Learn More
- Chavy-Chouet's Pinot Noir is classified as humble Bourgogne Rouge, yet its fruit comes from an excellent single-vineyard site near Pommard. Great value. This well-structured wine with rounded, sophisticated tannins gives instant pleasure but can be kept for up to a ... Learn MoreDomaine Chavy Chouet Bourgogne Rouge La Taupe 2019$50.00 Per item
- Sourced from vines with an average age of 40 years. Matured for 10 months in 10% new French oak. Aroma; immediately pretty and classically white burgundy- red apple, white flowers, nectarine and citrus. Palate; Again very classically white Burgundy- elegantly mineral with some ... Learn More
- This cuvee comes from a blend between some wine from 60 % Maconnais in the area of Lugny and 40% Montagny in the cote Chalonnaise. This two soils give each one something different: The wines from Lugny with the limestone give some freshness ... Learn More
- Brothers David and Nicolas Rossignol run this 100% Organic and Biodynamically farmed Domaine located in the very heart of Gevrey Chambertin. Very early to the Sustainable farming movement, all the family's vineyards, located in some of the most impressive vineyards in ... Learn MoreDomaine Rossignol-Trapet Bourgogne Rouge 2019$55.00 Per item
- Since 1868, Domaine Jacques Prieur has created one of the rarest mosaics of terroirs in Burgundy. This splendid Premier Cru is 100% Pinot Noir produced from a 2.06 hectare plot, 100% aged in new oak barrels for 17 months. The 2019 is intense and dark ruby ... Learn MoreDomaine Jacques Prieur Bourgogne Chardonnay 2019$69.00 Per item
- Brothers David and Nicolas Rossignol run this 100% Organic and Biodynamically farmed Domaine located in the very heart of Gevrey Chambertin. Very early to the Sustainable farming movement, all the family's vineyards, located in some of the most impressive vineyards in ... Learn MoreDomaine Rossignol-Trapet Savigny-Les-Beaune 2019$75.00 Per item
- Pinot Noir from vines with an average age of 35 years. Complete destemming followed by cold vatting for 3 to 6 days at 10°C. Fermentation with natural yeasts for 12 to 18 days. Pumping-over/pigeage twice a day depending on the vintage. 15 months maturing on ... Learn MoreDomaine Matrot Auxey-duresses Rouge 2019$77.00 Per item
- Domaine Henri Richard is located in Gevrey on the D974 a little south of Domaine Trapet. It is a fourth generation family estate owned by Margeret and Jean Bastien and their children Sarah and Richard – with Sarah Bastien and Guillaume ... Learn MoreDomaine Henri Richard Cremant De Bourgogne Nv$85.00 Per item
- An exceptional quality 1er Cru Chablis from an extraordinary producer and site, this is quickly becoming one of the best value Burgundies imported into Australia each year. After airing, this wine presents a perfect balance between fresh minerality and very ... Learn More
- Rully blanc is one of the secrets in Burgundy. It produces wines that can surprise with their complexity and verve. This year again we have a super nose full of freshness and tension. In 2018 again this has real citric freshness ... Learn More
- This south-facing walled vineyard is situated in the combe of Nuits-St Georges and was previously known as Clos de la Roche. The Aligoté Doré vines were planted in 1978 and undergo a week-long skin maceration before pressing and fermentation in old ... Learn More
- This is from a very small parcel underneath Meix Caillet. This year it again shows as Chablis-esque with sea spray, iodine, and white flowers framing the aromas along with very gentle (and classy) reduction. The wine is very racy and ... Learn More
- Domaine Gagnard-Delagrange was created in 1959 with the marriage of Jacques Gagnard to Marie-Josèphe Delagrange. After the death of Jacques Gagnard in 2009, the domaine retained 7.4 acres of vineyards and continues to be run by Jacque’s widow, Marie-Josèphe, and ... Learn More
- This is always the demure wine of the group; shy and subtle. A beautiful ruby/garnet colour, very lifted and bright. Very fine aromas, delicate - red fruit, strawberries, jellied cherries. Very fine, very attractive. This has considerable finesse and ... Learn More
- Domaine Matrot is a sixth-generation family estate with exceptional holdings in the Cote de Beaune. With six hectares of village-designated plots, plus four hectares of premier cru vineyards in Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet, they have access to some truly special fruit. ... Learn MoreDomaine Matrot Meursault 2019$125.00 Per item
- A large plot with the evocative name of "Les Champs au pied du Mont" (or, "The Fields at the Foot of the Mountain"), located on the slope overlooking the outskirts of Beaune. The wine is barrel-fermented and aged in barrel ... Learn More
- The "Clos de l'Écu" appellation dates back to the Middle Ages. This clos enabled owners at the time to pay the sums they owed to the Dukes of Bourgogne. It is a monopole parcel and was purchased in 2003 by ... Learn MoreFaiveley Beaune 1er Cru Clos de l'Ecu (monopole) 2005$130.00 Per item
- The wine beautifully expresses its old vine origin, with intense, concentrated fruit upon first smell, displaying aromas of blackberry, cherry, raspberry and a delicious jamminess. The palate shows great balance and structure, framed by velvet tannins and a smooth mouthfeel. ... Learn More
- The vineyard is just east of the Meursault village bordering Lafon’s ‘Clos de la Barre’. Classic clay-limestone soils. Bottled unfiltered after 18 months in oak, 10% being new. Fleshy and full in style, it displays richness, complexity and concentration this wine ... Learn MorePierre Boisson Bourgogne Blanc ‘Les Herbeaux’ 2019$145.00 Per item
- The young vines of this plot make it a purplish coloured wine, with a very intense fruity nose from the first nose. It is undoubtedly a Volnay with character, full in the mouth and always carried on the fruit felt ... Learn MoreDomaine Chavy Chouet Volnay Sous La Chapelle 2020$150.00 Per item
- A "casse tête" in French is a conundrum or puzzle and the name of this plot refers to the hardness of the soil and the challenge it was for our ancestors to plant vines on this pebbly limestone ground. ... Learn MoreDomaine Chavy Chouet Meursault Les Casse Tetes 2020$150.00 Per item
- Rich and concentrated on the palate, with layer upon layer of flavour, this is an extraordinary wine from vines running alongside Coche-Dury. ... Learn MoreDomaine Chavy Chouet Meursault Les Narvaux 2020$150.00 Per item
- Sourced from vines with an average age of 65 years old. Matured for 10 months in 40% new French oak. Higher percentage of new oak maturation evident on the nose. More ripeness from fruit to match this however. More nutty and creamy but ... Learn MoreDomaine Chavy Chouet Meursault Clos Des Corvees 2020$150.00 Per item
- Made by Romaric Chavy, one of the up and coming young producers of the Cote d'Or. Exclusive to United Cellars. Sourced from 60 year old vines on a tiny 1 hectare plot in Puligny Montrachet, known the world over for exceptional Chardonnay. ... Learn More
- "The disarmingly modest Thierry Glantenay is emerging as one of the Côte de Beaune's most exciting producers of red wine." -William Kelley, The Wine Advocate Perhaps the Glantenays are not well known because not much was bottled and sold ... Learn MoreThierry Glantenay Pommard 1er Cru Riottes 2019$150.00 Per item
- Back to a freshness – more compact but vibrant – quite an invitation again. Extra width, bub- bling freshness – here with a touch of barrel – complex, mouth-watering – more concentrated than my favourite – the Remilly. An excellent wine I just prefer that more ... Learn MoreJoseph Colin Saint-Aubin 1er cru "Les Combes" 2020$158.00 Per item
- A young vine so just the second harvest. All on high here but the first 1er to be harvested. Here the nose is more of a width – still fine and sizzling with energy. Wow in the mouth – open, airy, melting ... Learn MoreJoseph Colin Saint-Aubin 1er cru "Les Champlots" 2020$158.00 Per item
- Since 1868, Domaine Jacques Prieur has created one of the rarest mosaics of terroirs in Burgundy. This splendid Premier Cru is 100% Pinot Noir produced from a 2.06 hectare plot, 100% aged in new oak barrels for 17 months. The 2019 is intense and dark ruby ... Learn More
- A superb, indulgent Auxey-Duresses, with very great refinement. The nose is bursting with fresh cherry, blackcurrant, some floral notes and an earthy tone. The palate is deep and intense, with a juicy core, fine tannins and a velvet texture. A ... Learn MorePierre Boisson Auxey-Duresses Rouge 1er Cru 2018$165.00 Per item
- Named Producer of the Year in 2016 by “Bourgogne Aujourd’hui,” Patrick Landanger has truly restored this historic estate to its former glory. Arguably the finest and most prestigious Burgundy house in Volnay, Domaine de la Pousse d’Or was originally ... Learn MoreDomaine de la Pousse d'Or Chambolle-Musigny 2017$165.00 Per item
- (from 80-year-old vines adjacent to Vosne-Romanée): Moderately saturated dark red. Crushed blackberry and spicy oak scents are lifted by a subtle violet topnote. Full, supple and very ripe, with the high percentage of millerandé grapes giving the wine a ... Learn More
- From 3 different parcels close to 1er and grand crus. A deeper minerality but with fine and attractive top notes too. This has the airy delicious qual- ity of the top St.Aubins, perhaps a touch less focus but with a ... Learn MoreJoseph Colin Chassagne-Montrachet 2020$173.50 Per item
- Here is a beautiful nose of freshness and a slight sherbet energy at the top. Open, crystalline, melting, directly a great wine – airy but I don’t need impact when I have this flavour. Bravo – so stony and so pure! • ... Learn MoreJoseph Colin Saint-Aubin 1er Cru 'En Remilly' 2020$174.99 Per item
- Since 1868, Domaine Jacques Prieur has created one of the rarest mosaics of terroirs in Burgundy. This splendid Premier Cru is 100% Pinot Noir produced from a 2.06 hectare plot, 100% aged in new oak barrels for 17 months. The 2019 is intense and dark ruby ... Learn More
- It seems that the site of Pommard is one of the oldest winemaking activities of the Cote. Installed in this place for more than 2000 years, the Gaulois would have selected and multiplied the pinot noir. A temple dedicated to the ... Learn More
- Pale lemon and lime. A more restrained nose, far from the madding crowd of 2019, this Meursault-Blagny has kept its freshness. It offers greater tensile strength than the village Meursault, but not significantly more volume. Lemon apple finish. ... Learn MoreDomaine Matrot Meursault Blagny 1er 2019$180.00 Per item