The French love a bureaucracy

If there is one talent that the French have aside from winemaking, it would be their penchant for regulations. From what can grow where to how much you can harvest, the French wine world is tightly regulated. Every once in a while someone comes along and bucks the standard to create something truly great. This…

March Magnum Madness

2015 KISTLER LAGUNA RIDGE PINOT NOIR $299.98/bottle 94-97 points, Antonio Galloni The 2015 Pinot Noir Laguna Ridge Vineyard exudes depth, power and concentration. Extroverted and ample, the 2015 boasts magnificent richness from start to finish. Inky blue and purplish fruit, lavender, violets and licorice are fused together in the glass. A final taste reveals a creamy,…

La Paulée is here!

2014 LAFON CLOS DE LA BARONNE $132/bottle 88 points, Allen Meadows   2015 DOMAINE LEFLAIVE SOUS LE DOS D’ANE, MEURSAULT PREMIER CRU $174/bottle 89-91 points, Wine Advocate   2009 DOMAINE DUJAC AUX COMBOTTES, GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN PREMIER CRU $245/bottle 93 points, Anotonio Galloni   2012 FAIVELEY CHAMBERTIN GRAND CRU, CLOS DE BEZE $299/bottle 94 points, Wine Spectator  …

A Modern Tradition

In 1923 the modern day La Paulée was initiated by Jules Lafon, one of Burgundy’s most respected wine growers, when he decided to revive the traditional medieval grape harvest celebration to which Cistercian monks invited their vineyard laborers. Lafon held his first Paulée at his Meursault Domaine, inviting some of his friends to a small banquet in the…

Three Glorious Days

La Paulée is a traditional Burgundian celebration held at the end of the grape harvest. This was once a widespread practice throughout France but now most often refers to the festivities held in the village of Meursault. La Paulée de Meursault is part of Les Trois Glorieuses, “the three glorious days,” that take place around Beaune…

These Roots Run Deep

Rightly famous for their single vineyard Clos des Goisses, Philipponnats have lived in and around Mareuil-sur-Äy for 500 years. Having focused for many years on the Clos, the family have since expanded their production to include more vintage as well as non vintage wines. The name of Cuvée 1522 is a tribute to the year when the…