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The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
I tried Naked Wines: is 12 bottles for £65 worth it?
MY job means that most days of the week, I receive some sort of delivery containing something that needs reviewing. Having done it for a while now, I can tell you for a fact: the best product in the world to arrive home to is a case of wine. I've been doing a Naked Wines review, testing out the service, the value for money and, most enjoyably, the quality of the wine. Get £80 off a case of 12 wines at Naked Wines BUY HERE If you've heard of Naked Wines, you'll know that it's famous for its alluring introductory offers — I've received paper vouchers in everything from meal delivery boxes to magazines. Currently, the brand is offering new customers a massive £80 off a case of 12 wines worth £144.99, bringing the price down to £64.99. That's less than £6 per bottle — less than you'd spend on a bottle of supermarket swill. However, the deals can seem a bit too good to be true, and the company's business model can be slightly confusing, so I've nobly quaffed my way through six bottles of wine to find out whether Naked Wines is worth it. How much is Naked Wines? Prices of individual bottles vary, but you can currently get a box of 12 bottles for £64.99, a discount of £80. You even take a quiz first, so the box is (slightly) tailored to your tastes. Who's it best for? People who want to discover new wines without paying through the nose. What we loved: I mean, do I really have to spell it out? It's great wine for less than £6 per bottle. It's also cool that you get tasting notes, serving suggestions, food matches and information on the winemakers, and that the wines themselves aren't available to buy anywhere else. What we didn't: Predictably, you'll be enrolled onto a £25 per month "Angel" subscription 30 days after you order, but you can cancel any time. And you can cancel online, unlike some other wine subscriptions (I'm looking at you, Wine52). There also seems to be quite a large number of reviewers who experience delays in their deliveries. How does the Angel membership work? This is not a wine subscription. While you will be charged £25 every month, that does not mean that a box of wine will turn up on your door every month without you lifting a finger. In fact, I have a friend who was unknowingly paying £25 per month into his Naked Wines account for over a year without realising. By the time he clocked that he was an Angel, he had poured £400 into his account — all without receiving a single bottle of wine. Instead, you're essentially purchasing and accumulating store credit. It's like transferring £25 per month of your cash into the currency of a country where wine is cheaper (and nicer). It's like transferring £25 per month of your cash into the currency of a country where wine is cheaper (and nicer). While this means you have to stay on top of ordering, there are a couple of advantages as well. Firstly, it means you can order the amount of wine you think you'll drink every month. Trying to cut down? Order the minimum six bottles, or none at all. Planning a party? Use some accumulated credit to stockpile. Secondly, where wine subscription services send a pre-selected selection of bottles that are chosen without your input — you only get to choose between red, white and mixed — Naked Wine is more of a traditional store. If you're a fan of Argentinian Malbec, for example, or want to discover the wines of the English Southeast, Naked Wines allows you to do that. This isn't the case for the introductory offer, though; instead, you fill out a short quiz about your preferences, and Naked Wines will automatically pick out a dozen wines for you. Are the wines good? Get £80 off a case of 12 wines at Naked Wines The best thing about Naked Wines is that the wines you get are usually exclusive to the site. This is because of the company's funding model. The reason members are called "Angels" is that they're Angel investors; Naked Wines uses your £25 membership fee to fund independent wineries, and in return, you get great wine at a much lower price than usual. This is because the model eliminates middlemen, keeping prices low. Some of the prices on Naked Wines might seem a little misleading; prices are usually displayed something like " £14.99 £12.99". In reality, nowhere else is charging £15, because there's nowhere else to buy them; these are often relatively small batches of wine, and there isn't enough made to sell through other retailers. However, the £14.99 is an indication of what similar wines cost from traditional retailers. The way this process manifests itself in the wine itself is that you feel a lot more invested in each bottle. Naked Wines provides heaps of information about the wines, from exact Google Maps locations of the vineyards, to in-depth food pairing ideas, to video interviews with the winemakers themselves. The closest comparison I can think of is that it's like knowing the name, breed and diet of the cow whose steak you're eating, as well as the farm it was bred on and how the grass it ate impacts the flavour of its meat. And I can tell you, if you knew that much about the steak, you'd savour every bite. It's very much the same with Naked Wine. Get £80 off a case of 12 wines at Naked Wines Naked Wines kindly sent me a hand-picked selection for this review, and I drank each bottle with a sort of focus that doesn't feel particularly warranted for a bottle from Tesco Express. However, I think it's worth pointing out that just because you know that a lovely gentleman named Jacques has made your Sauvignon Blanc on his humbly-sized vineyard in the Loire Valley, that doesn't mean that it's good wine or that you'll enjoy it. However, the other thing that Naked Wines is good at is fostering a community of users who leave honest, polite reviews, and there seems to be a pretty good algorithm in place for recommending wines based on your tastes. So whether the wines are good is a subjective choice, but Naked Wines certainly does a good job at creating a system where it's easy to enjoy every bottle. At this price, certainly. I can't remember the last time I spent less than £6 on a bottle of wine, so this deal is worth taking advantage of from a financial standpoint alone. However, it'll also give you a chance to experience the co-operative element of Naked Wine, where you can access endless amounts of information about the wine you're drinking. There are some things to take into consideration; for example, unless you go onto the website and order the wine, you won't receive any, but you will still be charged £25 per month. That means that you need to remember to cancel your membership within 30 days of ordering your introductory box, or to periodically go online and spend the money you've deposited in your account. For the committed wine lover, Naked Wines offers an exclusive, rewarding experience. However, the introductory offer is an unmissable bargain for anyone who enjoys wine. At less than £6 a bottle, it's a low-risk way to explore independent winemakers and a more thoughtful approach to what's in your glass.
New York Times
03-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- New York Times
20 Wines to Drink Right Now
The temperature in Manhattan hit 100 degrees recently — nearly 40 for the Celsius crowd — which is a good reason to think about how to approach wine in the summer heat. Do seasons matter at all anymore for wine? Air-conditioning changes the game somewhat. Do you dress for the heat on the way to the restaurant? Or for the hours of chill in the refrigerated dining room? Regardless of the temperature swings, I would argue that we feel different in the summer, more languid and enervated no matter the conditions. I don't believe that summer wines ought to be restricted to whites and rosés, to be stashed away in favor of reds at the autumn equinox. But I am drawn to more refreshing wines in the summer, served colder, which argues for bottles of all colors that are generally lighter in weight, in alcohol and in tannins. Not always though. Grilled meats are great with discernibly tannic reds, served cool but not cold. Last month I went shopping for 20 bottles that met my loosely held criteria for summer wines and that cost less than $20 a bottle. I've long believed that $15 to $20 is the range for finding many great values. Sometimes you can spend a bit less, sometimes a little more, but neither inflation nor tariffs seem to have altered this basic equation. Tariffs and inflation have changed the sorts of wines in this price range, though. Bottles that a year ago fit perfectly are now a little too expensive. Other wines take their place, though, maybe from less widely esteemed regions or perhaps made from lesser-known grapes. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Forbes
28-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Forbes
Sip Into Summer: Discover Italy's Classic Pinot Grigio Wines
Tasting of Pinot Grigio wine on winery terrace in Veneto, Italy. Glasses of cold dry wine are ideal served outdoor in sunny day getty Pinot Grigio is the Italian name for Pinot Gris. The varietal is widely grown in Northeastern Italy. It's one of Italy's most popular wine exports and a mainstay of summer entertaining. Here is a brief background on the varietal and tasting notes on some of its most popular expressions. Pinot Grigio is a mutation of Pinot Noir that developed a grayish-blue skin color, giving the grape its name. Grigio means 'gray' in Italian. It's genetically the same grape as France's Pinot Gris, but the Italian version has evolved into a distinct style known for its crispness and easy drinkability. The varietal arrived in Italy from Burgundy and Switzerland centuries ago. Although grown throughout Italy, it blossomed in Northeastern Italy, particularly in the regions of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Veneto. This cool, Alpine-influenced area offers an ideal climate for Pinot Grigio. The warm days help ripen the grapes, while cool nights preserve acidity and freshness. Over the last 50 years, Pinot Grigio has become Italy's most widely exported white wine, renowned worldwide for its light, crisp style. It's now a flagship variety of Northeastern Italy's white wine production. Pinot Grigio from this region is crafted in a fresh, unoaked style, intended for immediate enjoyment. It's light to medium-bodied, crisp, and refreshing. Typical aromas include green apple, pear, white peach, melon, and hints of citrus zest. Many expressions also exhibit delicate floral notes, reminiscent of white blossoms, and occasionally a faint almond or herbal edge. On the palate, it's crisp and dry, with bright acidity and subtle flavors of fresh orchard fruits and citrus. Some styles, especially those from higher altitudes, such as Alto Adige, exhibit a slight touch of mineral or wet stone character. The finish is typically fresh and brisk, making it a popular pairing for seafood and light dishes. Soils of Northeastern Italy The region's soils play a key role in shaping Pinot Grigio's style, imparting these wines with a distinct terroir character. In Friuli Venezia Giulia, the soils are rich in marl and sandstone, locally referred to as ponca. These well-drained, mineral-rich layers give Pinot Grigio from Friuli more aromatic depth and a slightly richer texture. In Trentino-Alto Adige, Pinot Grigio grows on alluvial fans, glacial deposits, limestone-rich foothills, and dolomitic rock. These soils, combined with cooler Alpine air, produce Pinot Grigio with pronounced freshness, vibrant acidity, and a distinct minerality. In the Veneto region, vineyards stretch across gravelly river plains and fertile plains near the Adriatic Sea. These soils favor higher yields and a lighter, more straightforward fruit profile. They're perfect for the crisp, easy-drinking style that made Pinot Grigio famous globally. Below is a brief background and tasting notes on a representative sample of inexpensive Pinot Grigio wines from Northeastern Italy. Piccini, Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC, 2024, 12% ABV, 750 ml. $11 Piccini, a well-known Tuscan family producer, crafts this fresh Pinot Grigio from select vineyards in the Delle Venezie DOC, Italy's heartland for crisp, approachable whites. The wine is a pale straw with green reflections, featuring aromas of crisp pear, green apple, and white flowers. It's light-bodied on the palate, showcasing citrus notes, hints of peach, and a hint of almond. A brisk acidity and a clean, refreshing finish make this a perfect aperitivo. Pinot Grigio hanging on the vine few days before the harvest getty Domenica, Pinot Grigio, Trentino DOC, 2024, 12.5% ABV, 750 ml. $16 Domenica highlights the alpine freshness of Trentino's cooler, high-altitude vineyards, producing a more aromatic and mineral-driven Pinot Grigio. The wine is pale yellow, featuring delicate aromas of white peach, wild herbs, and a hint of mountain wildflowers. The palate showcases fresh pear and melon, with a subtle mineral edge. Crisp acidity carries a dry, elegant finish with a whisper of citrus zest. Mezzacorona, Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie DOC, 2024, 12.5% ABV, 750 ml. $9 Mezzacorona is one of Northern Italy's largest cooperatives, known for its clean, reliable, and fruit-forward Pinot Grigio wines. The grapes come mainly from the cool foothills of the Dolomites. The wine is a light straw, featuring notes of green apple, lemon peel, and honeysuckle. It's brisk and zesty on the palate with flavors of pear, citrus, and a hint of mineral salinity. The finish is light, crisp, tangy, and easy-drinking, with lingering notes of apple and citrus. Livio Felluga, Pinot Grigio, 2023, 13% ABV, 750 ml $30 Livio Felluga, a benchmark producer in Friuli Venezia Giulia, crafts one of Italy's most refined Pinot Grigios, renowned for complexity and depth. The wine is a deep straw yellow with golden hints, featuring aromas of ripe pear, apple blossom, and delicate spice. It's smooth and textured on the palate with layers of orchard fruit, subtle herbs, and a creamy mouthfeel balanced by lively acidity. The finish is long and polished with a lingering touch of saline minerality. Jermann, Pinot Grigio, Friuli, 2023, 13% ABV, 750 ml. $26 Jermann is one of Friuli's most iconic wineries, renowned for its expressive whites that combine precision and character. Their Pinot Grigio is a standout for its purity and nuanced complexity. The wine is pale yellow, featuring aromas of pear, white peach, and a faint hint of almond. It's brisk on the palate with crisp apple, stone fruit, and a gentle floral note. A balanced acidity and silky texture result in a refined, lingering finish. Pasqua, Pinot Grigio DOC, 2023, 12% ABV, 750 ml. $11 Pasqua is a historic Verona-based winery that produces accessible, fresh wines, capturing the easy-drinking side of Pinot Grigio from the Veneto region. The wine is a pale straw with greenish highlights, featuring aromas of green apple, lemon, and spring flowers. It's light and crisp on the palate with notes of pear, citrus zest, and a fresh, brisk acidity. It's refreshing and straightforward, perfect for casual sipping. Ventessea by Mezzacorona, Pinot Grigio IGT, 2023, 9% ABV, 750 ml. $15 Ventessea is a new label by Mezzacorona, focusing on youthful, fruit-driven, low-alcohol Pinot Grigio crafted for modern palates. The color is a light straw, featuring aromas of ripe pear, melon, and a touch of citrus blossom. It's smooth and lively on the palate, showcasing ripe orchard fruits and a crisp, dry finish. The finish is brisk with balanced acidity and a soft texture. Autumn landscape in Collio Wine region, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy getty Kettmeir, Pinot Grigio, Alto Adige, 2023, 13.5% ABV, 750 ml. $22 Kettmeir, nestled in Alto Adige's cool, high-altitude alpine climate, produces elegant, minerally Pinot Grigio that reflects the region's distinctive terroir. The wine is a pale yellow, featuring a fragrant nose of pear, white peach, and mountain herbs. It's tangy and crisp on the palate, showcasing green apple, citrus, and a flinty mineral edge. Bright acidity and a refreshing minerality result in a lingering, dry finish. Pinot Grigio from Northeastern Italy is defined by cool-climate freshness, clean orchard fruit, and the region's diverse mineral soils, which add subtle finesse. Its light, dry style makes it one of the world's favorite whites — approachable, versatile, and reliably refreshing. These wines exemplify the immense diversity that Pinot Grigio from Northeastern Italy offers, ranging from the minerally edged wines of Alto Adige to the tangy, zesty, and fruit-forward wines of the Veneto. These are easy-drinking wines that pair well with a variety of foods and make excellent aperitifs. They are also extremely economical and well worth exploring. More From Forbes Forbes The Best White Wines Under $10, According To The Top Wine Competitions By Joseph V Micallef Forbes The Best White Wines, According To The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers Of America By Joseph V Micallef Forbes Riesling Wine's 590th Anniversary: Toasting Purity, Precision And Passion By Joseph V Micallef
Forbes
18-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
One Sonoma Winemaker's Passionate Pursuit Of Expressing Terroir In Wine
Does Hamel's Nun Canyon Vineyard have the terroir or not? JIMMY HAYES Walk into a vineyard and what do you see? Vines and soil, sun and sky—a snapshot of place, a moment in the vineyard's lifetime. The ecosystem here is influenced by a myriad of factors. Some work over eons—building the bedrock, for example—and some change daily. Taken together, along with the wine maker's hands, these slow and fast factors present a unique taste of time and place in wine. This concept, known in French as terroir, provides what passionate wine enthusiasts believe influence a wine's character, and the authentic expression of craftsmanship sought by younger wine consumers. Winemakers, by and large, recognize terroir as a key component to wine growing, yet often disagree about how and where it is achieved. As a Sonoma Valley winemaker, John Hamel, winemaker of Hamel Family Wines, is deeply passionate about expressing Hamel wines' terroir, something he feels is easier for European winemakers than those in California. To achieve this lofty goal, he partners with world-renowned terroir specialist, Pedro Parra. The results are a promising work in progress. 'Does [Hamel Family Wines] have the terroir or not? Because you have all the ideas, all the philosophy, and then you don't have the site. And if you don't have the site, in my experience, there's not many things that you can do.' 'I love European wines. There's a character in those wines that you find more often and with more intensity that I would call minerality,' says Hamel. 'In California, I think there's a very technologically savvy approach. We're very technical, but the connection between the wines and the place and the resulting minerality that you get in the wines is lower frequency, lower volume.' In 2016, Hamel learned Parra was asking similar questions about why some regions produce wines of tension and energy with ease while others struggle. Having wrestled with locating unique site expression consulting California wineries in the past, Parra was ready to re-up the challenge. However, he knew it would be risky. 'Does [Hamel Family Wines] have the terroir or not? Because you have all the ideas, all the philosophy, and then you don't have the site. And if you don't have the site, in my experience, there's not many things that you can do,' says Parra. Hamel Family Wines is located in Sonoma's Mayacamas Mountains, part of the California Coast Ranges that formed one-hundred million years ago. As the two began researching and mapping the estate vineyards, they discovered basalt in the early stages of decomposition—a bounty of volcanic stones—in the Nuns Canyon vineyard. This high elevation sloped site is filled with fractures formed by a lava flow three million years ago, in a Mediterranean climate. Early signs for expressing terroir. 'The stonier the terroir, the more character, the more depth, more energy, tension, the things that really make a wine distinctive and unique and interesting and fascinating. And it's the thing that I loved about the wines from Europe. Once we were able to dissect the terroir, you can see very clearly the conditions that give you those types of wines,' Hamel says. To maximize this sense of place, Hamel estate has been Demeter certified biodynamic since 2015. Additionally, eighty percent of the vines are not irrigated, a practice known as dry-farming. Because the un-decomposed basalt is fractured rock, the fractures act as a tunnel for rain to flow through while simultaneously allowing the vines' roots to grow deeper in source of water and nutrients. Many colleagues told Hamel dry-farming was a bad idea. It is too hard in California and that the quality of the wine would suffer. But an early mentor of Hamel's, Tod Mostero, director of viticulture and winemaking at Dominus Estate in Napa Valley, demonstrates dry farming can be successful. Hamel's experience has been equally successful, finding the vines with deeper root systems produce higher quality wines. He is quick to suggest he is not seeking regenerative farming for the sake of it. Rather, it's part of the team's fundamental philosophy of extracting as much expression of place as possible to make the best wines. He also believes his vines are better adept at weathering climate change perturbations because they are resilient to heat spikes and erratic weather patterns. Hamel Family Nuns Canyon Vineyard is a high elevation sloped site is filled with fractures formed by a lava flow three million years ago, in a Mediterranean climate Hamel Family Vineyard Beyond his vineyard work, Hamel intervenes as little as possible in the winemaking process. 'You see something that's very evocative and, you know, things like oak, things like over maceration, all these tools and equipment in the winery just starts to get in the way of that. And when you show that, you don't want there to be any makeup on that. You want to show the thing itself, Hamel says. 'And I think in a way, Pedro cured me of the inherent American mentality, which is if you just work hard enough on something, it'll be good. Terroir is not as democratic as that. Ultimately, we've got areas that are very, very good.' Parra believes over the past nine years they have come a long way in understanding the vineyards and maximizing farming methods to express place through vitality in the glass. What's next? Parra says its consolidation. 'To me, consolidation is the last stage. And that means that you are confident enough, holistic enough, and you have the confidence to be able to be proud and show it to the rest of the world. You can play the game well, but you need to score. To me, where're in the beginning of that era.' However, Parra offers high praise for Hamel. He sees what Hamel is doing is incredible and worthy of respect. 'John is a Ferrari. He's driving super fast. He has the terroir, the mentality, he's hungry, and few others are doing this in California. So, the future is incredible. It takes time to get the people to know and respect what is behind the wine, but it's going to happen. In three years, five, ten, I don't know. But it's inevitable because the terroir is great and the wines are great so it's going to happen.' Will Hamel Family Wine fully realize John Hamel's vision? Both men suggest it takes a couple of decades to determine grand cru quality wine. However, the current vintage delivers vibrancy, finesse, and tension, transporting oenophiles and novices alike to the ancient lava flows of Nun's Canyon Vineyard in the Mayacamas Mountains, truly a sense of place. How Tariff Uncertainty Impacts The Wine Industry Who's This Pedro Parra Guy Anyway? And Why Do Wine People Love Him? This Q&A Might Help The Dirty Truth Soil Health Plays In Wine
Forbes
15-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
14 Delicious Bourgogne (Burgundy) Wines From Five Different Regions
After recently visiting multiple producers and tasting 130 wines from the Bourgogne region in France, I selected the following 14 bottles from five of its wine producing sub-regions based on their overall quality and value. This renowned French wine region is now pressing to be called Bourgogne rather than its English translation of Burgundy (or Italian translation of Borgogna). The reasons are varied, including that most names of other French wine regions are not translated, and—intriguingly—that the color referred to as 'Burgundy' in English is called 'Bordeaux' in France and Italy. Bourgogne includes 84 distinct appellations, divided into Régional, Village (including Premier Cru) and Grand Cru distinctions, as well as over 1,800 climats—delineated vine plots with unique geological, exposure and hydrological characteristics that produce their own signature aromas/flavors. Prices for wines range widely within Bourgogne, and the region's overall cachet results in a small percentage of its wines commanding notably high prices (although Bourgogne produces 0.4% of the world's volume of wine, that accounts for 4% of global wine trade value). The selected wines below are listed from north to south, within the distinct sub-regions of Chablis & Grand Auxerrois, Côte de Nuits and Hautes Côtes de Nuits, Côte de Beaune and Hautes Côtes de Beaune, Côte Chalonnais and Couchois, and Mâconnais. All wines listed below are made either from white Chardonnay or red Pinot Noir grapes (although a smaller quantity of often excellent wines are made in the Bourgogne using Aligoté, César, Gamay and other grapes). 'Value' is determined by my proprietary Vino Value algorithm that normalizes and combines subjective tasting scores with objective bottle prices (retail, at cellar door) to identify wines of good (♫), excellent (♫♫) and superlative (♫♫♫) value—providing optimal 'bang for the buck.' Note that prices are local in France, and will be higher in the U.S. due to various factors. Note also that these selected wines represent only a very small sample of many high quality wines of desirable value from Bourgogne. Porte Noël in the city of Chablis, Bourgogne, France Domaine des Malandes. Fourchaume. AOC Chablis 1er Cru. 2023. 93-94 points. €40.00/$45.60. Excellent Value ♫♫. From Amandine Marchive and Richard Rottiers, whose grandmother began making wines in the region 50 years ago. The family ages most wines in a 70/30 blend of steel tanks and 500 liter Burgundian medium toasted barrels with oak from the Vosges forest. This Chardonnay includes complex aromas of honey and layered tropicals from one of the warmest climats in Chablis. Slightly nutty flavors in a crunchy, enticing mouthful of caramel and slight green apples in this Chardonnay. 'Our goal is to harvest quickly,' Amandine explained. 'Otherwise if it is hot in August you can lose acidity; if it is rainy there is a threat of mildew. We harvest 30 hectares [75 acres] in eight days, hand picking for Premier and Grand Cru plots.' Amandine Marchive of Domaine des Malandes, Chablis, Bourgogne, France Domaine Verret. Chardonnay. AOC Bourgogne Côtes d'Auxuerre. 2023. 91-92 points. €12.00/$13.70. Good Value ♫. From an estate with 148 acres (60 hectares), this 12.5% Chardonnay is vinified 50/50 in steel and used oak barrels and includes aromas of herbs, green apples, myrtle and slight salinity. Chewy, oily mouth feel in this semi-complex wine with a finish that includes slight caramel and lemon/line flavors. Domaine Gabin et Félix Richoux. Veaupessiot. AOC Irancy. 2021. 92-93 points. €25/$28.50. Excellent Value ♫♫. Irancy is an outlier—a village and appellation producing only red wines within Chablis, which is renowned for its dominant white wines. The village includes 250 residents, of which 10 are winemakers. With vines located above the River Yonne, these second generation winemaker brothers grow Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and César—a rare grape with big clustered bunches. Most of their visitors come from Paris, which is only two hours away by train. This Pinot Noir from a cool year vintage aged two years in oak and includes classic Burgundian aromas, including black currants and black cherries as well as some flint and black pepper. Soft and silky tannins. Gabin Richoux of Domaine Richoux, Irancy, Chablis, Bourgogne, France Domaine Le Guellec-Ducouet. Clos Champ. AOC Gevrey-Chambertin. 2023. 96-97 points. €44.00/$50.20. Superlative Value ♫♫♫. This domaine is owned by two business partners—one a winemaker and the other with roots in banking. Michaël Le Guellec took control over vines controlled by his family since 1920, although previously leased out. They use no chemicals. 'We try to make wines fresh and fruity, which people like to drink soon,' Michaël explained. Wines are exported to Asia, Europe and the U.S. Vines that produced grapes for this 13.5% alcohol Pinot Noir wine were planted between 1933 and 1985. Classic Burgundian aromas, including black pepper and volatiles. Suave tannins in this powerful, hefty, structured beauty of a wine with spice rack and elegance on the finish. Compelling, classic and a bargain. Winemaker Michaël Le Guellec of Domaine Le Guellec-Ducouet in Brochon, Côte-de-Nuits, Bourgogne, France, Domaine des Beaumont. AOC Morey-Saint-Denis. 2022. 92-93 points. €43.00/$49.00. Excellent Value ♫♫. Brothers Tanguy and Exupèry, both in their 20's, are 8th generation producers for a family that owns a 13.5 acre (5.5 hectare) estate. The wine is produced from grapes from five different plots and includes edgy aromas of bacon, petrol and wild fennel. This is a dark and hardy Pinot Noir, reminiscent partially of a Colorino, with flavors that include black licorice and star anise. Firm tannic backbone. Pair with grilled beef. Keep going brothers— the results are well worth it! Brothers Tanguy (right) and Exupéry Beaumont, Domaine des Beaumont, Morey-Saint-Denis, Côte-de-Nuits, Bourgogne, France Domaine de Montmain. Les Jiromées Grande Tradition. AOC Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits. 2022. 92-93 points. €36.00/$41.10. Excellent Value ♫♫. This wine estate is located up a beautiful valley west of, and perpendicular to, the axis of the hills that form the Côte d'Or. All wines are aged in oak, usually 30% new. Thirty-five year old Mathieu Piedcourt, originally from Cahors, has turned the valley and winery into a popular destination for visitors and sells wines via a thousand member club as well as by direct sales and export. The story of Mathieu is too fantastic to share in this brief space. This Chardonnay spent two years aging in new oak barrels. Aromas are bright, powerful and succulent and include grapefruit, limes and white flowers. The juice is not filtered. 4,000 bottles produced. 'We love what we do and we love to share it with others. Last year we had 8,000 visitors. We receive you whether you buy wine or not. I love wines that are powerful but with finesse.' Mathieu Piedcourt of Domaine de Montmain, Villars-Fontaine, Haut-Côte-de-Nuits, Bourgogne, France Maison Louis Latour. Pinot Noir. AOC Bourgogne. 2022. 91-92 points. €20.70/$23.60. Good Value ♫. Louis Latour, a venerable estate that has been in business since 1797, produces not only wines from 119 acres (48 hectares), but owns a cooperage that produces some 3,000 barrels a year—and has done so for centuries. Except for those barrels used in house, all are exported internationally to countries that include Australia and Canada. This 13% alcohol Pinot Noir of solid value includes firm tension between acidity and fruit and is an easy drinking wine to start of a summer gathering. Consider pairing with a dish that includes fat to match its tannic backbone. Cellars with old bottles within Domaine Louis Latour, Beaune, Bourgogne, France Maison Shaps. Les Vaumuriens. AOC Pommard. 2022. 95+ points. €48.00/$54.70. Superlative Value ♫♫♫. Hanna Shaps has been managing this winery for her American father Michael who also produces wine in Virginia in the U.S. 'It's important to be a French-American producer and not an American-French producer,' Hanna explained. The maison is a negociant, and produce some 15 different cuveés and 20,000 bottles per year from four hectares (10 acres) the family owns. This Pinot Noir wine aged 15 months in 50% new oak. Includes sunny, bright, striking and elegant aromas that include sage and black pepper. A wine with heft and structure, shouldered tannins and flavors that include black peppers. A dark, edgy and textured Pinot Noir with sesame and soy on the finish. Hotel de Ville, Beaune, France Bernard et Florian Regnaudot. Clos des Loyéres. AOC Maranges 1er Cru. 2020. €18.00/$20.50. 95+ points. Superlative Value ♫♫♫. This domaine is named after the father/son, 3rd/4th generation winemakers. Florian spent time making wine in Winona, Minnesota in the U.S. The Maranges appellation will be the site for the January, 2026 Saint-Vincent Tournante weekend long festival of music, wine and food. From vines planted in 1931, this Pinot Noir wines includes aromas of blackcurrants, black pepper, tobacco and tar. This is a deep, dark, peppery and elegant wine at astonishing value. Gentle fruit and light, slick tannins. Florian Regnaudot of Domaine Bernard and Florian Regnaudot, Santenay, Côte de Beaune, Bourgogne, France Domaine de l'Evêché. Édition Limitée. Pinot Noir. AOC Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise. 2022. 92-93 points. €25.00/$28.50. Excellent Value ♫♫. Quentin Joussier, fourth generation winemaker, works with his father Vincent, who bought the winery in 1985. The name of the winery translates to 'the bishop.' This Pinot Noir ages in new barrels and is only produced on years when conditions are optimal. Deep, rich aromas of red cherries, raspberries and some Dutch dorp licorice as well as wild fennel. Well integrated and elegant tannins and easy drinking. Quentin Joussier of Domaine de l'Evêché, Saint-Denis-de-Vaux, Côte Chalonnaise, Bourgogne, France, Domaine Michel Juillot. Clos du Roi. AOP Mercurey Premier Cru. 2024. 93-94 points. €35.00/$40.00. Excellent Value ♫♫. Beautiful cheery, light, floral aromas in this Pinot Noir. Precise and focused flavors include red cherries. Winemaker Maxime Rolant said that, 'For me, Mercurey is cherries.' No disagreement with that. Maxime Rolant of Domaine Michel Juillot, Mercurey, Côte Chalonnaise, Bourgogne, France Domaine Montbarbon. En Pommetin. AOC Viré-Clessé. 2023. 92-93 points. €21.00/$24.00. Excellent Value ♫♫. From this estate, on a clear day you can look east and see Mont Blanc, tallest peak in continental Europe. They have 32 acres [13 hectares] of vines, exclusively Chardonnay. Jean-Jacques Féral was a journalist before becoming a winemaker, and won an award for his winemaking in the Mâconnais region in 2022. He works with Martin Froppier. The estate provides vine cuttings to a nursery in the Savoie, which creates massal (rather than clonal) replacement vines for them. This Chardonnay ages eight months in 500 liter oak barrels as well as six months in steel. Aromas of mandarins and menthol and slight salinity. A rich, creamy, delicious wine that includes precise flavors of tropical fruits and slight honey. Pair with chicken, or a caramelized apple tart (tarte tatin). Jean-Jacques Féral of Domaine Montbarbon, Virè, Mâconnais, Bourgogne, France Domaine Auvigue. Au Vignerais. AOP Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru. 2021. 94+ points. €34.00/$38.90. Superlative Value ♫♫♫. The winery is located in a beautifully renovated centuries old church. Sylvain Brenas explained their thinking. 'The idea is to show a different style of Chardonnay. We are in the extreme south of Mâconnais, only a few kilometers from where the Beaujolais appellation begins.' This Chardonnay aged 16 months in a 50/50 combination of steel and oak. Aromas of salinity, pineapple, mangos. Crisp and creamy mouthful with slight menthol and guavas on the finish. Pair with scallops and shallots. Sylvain Brenas of Domaines Auvigue, Fuissé, Máconnais, Bourgogne, France Domaine Corsin. L'Exception. AOP Pouilly-Fuissé. 94-95 points. €39.80/$45.50. Superlative Value ♫♫♫. This winery, founded in 1864, gathers grapes from 40 separate plots. The hosts, including Pauline Mussy and Tiphanie Fortune, are casual, down to earth, warm and unpretentious. Their welcoming tasting room inadvertently resembles an Alpine ski lodge. This Chardonnay is made by winemaker Jérémy Corsin using grapes from three different plots and 70 year old vines. It is barrel vinified and barrel aged. Flinty, slightly salty and classic Burgundian Chardonnay aromas. Rich and creamy mid palate with crisp acidity and rich tropical fruits. Winemaker Jérémy Corsin with a bottle of 1997 Domaine Corsin, Mâconnais, Bourgogne, France
