17 Red Burgundies:
South to North, Commune by Commune.
Chassagne-Montrachet | Beaune | Pommard | Nuits-Saint-Georges
Vosne-Romanee | Chambolle-Musigny | Fixin | Gevrey-Chambertin
Aurelien Verdet | Humbert Freres | Rapet Pere | Morey-Coffinet | Jean Monnier
Thursday February 20th
Hosted by Michael Stephens - Founder (1990) & Cara Stephens (Managing Director) of Vins Divins
Negociants of Beaune, who represent 55 Burgundian Domaines internationally.
Masterclass: 5:30pm, 17 Wines with nibbles, $145.00
The 2021 & 2022 vintage reports and meet the hosts!
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Vins Divins was created in 1990 by Michael Stephens in Beaune to pinpoint true terroir and promote the humbleness of the growers of Burgundy to the world wine market; whether you are a novice or a connoisseur. His daughter Cara has recently joined him after several years of working abroad.
The fount of our vision about Burgundy wine is shared with our growers and their respect for their land. We apply the same criteria to the Blue chip estates as we do to the the lesser-known domaines.
In the late 2000s, with speculators in wine auctions creating an even bigger gap in prices in Burgundy and foreign investors buying out renowned Burgundian estates, there is no better time to discover new and lesser known estates. Customers are eager to learn more about Burgundy wine and to discover new estates and it is with great pleasure that we, at Vins Divins, keep on striving to seek those hidden gems that have yet to be showcased to the world.
Vins Divins is first and foremost all about the growers! And if they happen to make great wine too, then that’s even better! Joke aside, rest assured, they all do! -
Mike Stephens was born in Manchester, England in the late 1950's. After language studies and the discovery of wine at Bradford University, it became evident that he should relocate at the source of the wine that excited him so much - BURGUNDY! In 1980, he journeyed to Beaune and knocked on the doors of famous shippers. Fortunately, Louis Latour was open minded and interviewed him.
A decent level of French and some honest cheek won the day. Mike worked there for 10 years and was able to learn the Burgundy business from the inside. In 1990, he decided to start up an independent Burgundy export merchant and hey Presto! The birth of Vins Divins!
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DescriThe 2021 Côte d’Or Whites – “ … they are even better than the 2020s and on a par with the 2014s.”
Burghound:
One of the great positives of the 2021 whites is that despite the tiny quantities, the wines are incredibly vibrant; indeed, the word electric is not an overstatement. …The biggest problem though with 2021 isn’t the quality, which is generally quite excellent, but rather the pitiful quantities that were produced, especially at the upper levels. … (with) the Grand Crus … 2021 was particularly special in all of them …
Jasper Morris:
“2021 was neither the best of times nor the worst of times, though it came close to the latter on occasion…But do not panic, the wines taste much better than the weather conditions might have suggested”.White Wines
We feared another 2016, when the wines so often had a sweet and sour character due to two generations of grapes being picked together, one over ripe and the other under. I scarcely ever saw that in 2021. There was an unexpected soft character in some wines, especially, alas, in Chablis, and rarely a sharp acidity. These will be good, sometimes very good wines, and as long as price does not prohibit, I see no reason not to follow them without qualms.Red Wines
We do not have another 2016 in reds either. The wines are not so deeply impressive with the chance of a very long life. I suspect that the two-generation thing which afflicted the whites in 2016 has slightly transferred to the reds, which would explain the peppery character of many wines alongside the attractive red fruit.
But this is indeed, as all your merchants will be telling you, a vintage which delivers a welcome lightness of touch with a classical pinot flavour. Look, if you lived through the brutal season as a vigneron, you cannot possibly call 2021 classical, but many of the wines are rather lovely in a style which we have not seen in the last few years.”ption text goes here -
Item descripti2022 Vintage Summary – A Terrific Year for White Burgundies:
“… 2022 is the best White Burgundy vintage since 2017 and rivals, if not surpasses, 2014 in quality. …”
In summary, 2022 may not be a perfect White Burgundy vintage but it’s pretty damn good. I believe it’s a vintage to buy and in quantity …The 2022 Côte d’Or Whites – “An Excellent, Perhaps Even Great, Vintage…”
As I mentioned in the introduction, pretty much everyone was very upbeat about the 2022 vintage as a whole and in particular, just how good the whites are. … In another parallel with 2020, I cannot emphasize enough this palpable sense of energy on the palate that makes these wines so exciting. …
- Burghound
Charles Curtis MW - 2022: Whites 4/5; Reds 4.5/5
The red wines from 2022 are deeply coloured, with a lush fruit expression, full body, well- developed but velvety tannins and abundant extract. The whites have a lush fruit character spanning ripe apple, peach and apricot and relatively soft acidity, suggesting these wines are primarily for early drinking. To achieve proper balance, some winemakers had to acidify.
In both reds and whites, it is the acid balance that holds 2022 Burgundy back from the very highest level, but the wines will be accessible and early- drinking, and the reds should age well.Overall quality is very high for red wines and good to very good for white wines. The red wines are consistent from the Côte de Nuits [in the north] down through the Côte Chalonnaise, and there will be many wines worth laying down.
The effect of the heat on the white wines becomes more pronounced as one moves south, though there are exceptions to this and whites also worthy of ageing. on
The Wine List (Menu TBC)
1st Bracket - Chassagne, Pommard, Beaune
Chassagne-Montrachet ‘Les Chaumes’ 2022, Our Price $125
The 2022 Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge Les Chaumes, which comes from 50-year-old vines, has more complexity on the nose compared to Les Chambres: black plum mixed with hints of dark chocolate. The palate is cohesive on the entry with fleshier tannins and a dense mid-palate with well-integrated oak towards the finish. This is a very line red Chassagne-Montrachet that should be hunted down.
91 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (October 2023)
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot 2022, Our Price $191
A discreet application of wood sets off aromas of olive oil and a vague suggestion of the exotic. There is impressive richness to the opulent and generous medium-bodied flavors that coat the palate with sappy dry extract while delivering excellent length on the compact, serious and powerful finish. This is a typical Morgeot of power and richness though without the usual rusticity
91 points, Allen Meadows, Burghound (June 2024)
Jean Monnier Beaune 1er Cru 'Montrevenots' 2021, Our Price $128
This has a pretty nose of rose hips, orange peel, strawberries and sandalwood. Medium-bodied, fresh and silky, with fine tannins and tangy acidity.
91 Points James Suckling (August 2023)
Rapet Pere et Fils Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru ‘Aux Fournaux’ 2022, Our Price $145
The same name but not the same soil, very stony here. A fine fresh mid purple. Altogether finer than the village wine with a racy quality through the middle of the raspberry fruit, the limestone seems much closer here. Medium length in the classy finish. Drink from 2028-2033
90-92 Points Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy (October 2023)
Jean Monnier Pommard 1er Cru Epenots 'Clos de Citeux’ 2022, Our Price $185
There is terroir! The Pommard Grands Epenots 1er Cru Clos de Citeaux Rouge is a Burgundy of great purity, with frank aromas of black fruits, an ambitious concentration and substance. This old-fashioned style, will blend perfectly in two or three years; there is a high dimension, momentum and vibration in this Pommard and we particularly recommend it.
16/20 points, Committee Points, Venteala Propriete
Jamon, olives, sourdough
2nd Bracket - Nuits-Saint-Georges, Vosne-Romanee
Aurelien Vosne Romanée Vieilles Vignes 2021, Our Price $225
Elegant and vibrant, this ripe red evokes black currant, bilberry, violet, sandalwood and graphite aromas and flavors. Solidly built, with the aromatic spices gaining ground on the lingering finish. Best from 2026 through 2040
93 Points Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator (May 2024)
Aurelien Verdet Nuits-St-Georges 2020, Our Price $139
A smooth red marked by black cherry, blackberry, sandalwood and Middle Eastern spices. Vibrant and harmonious, this lingers with generous fruit and toasted spice notes on the long aftertaste. Fluid and charming enough to enjoy now. Drink now through 2033.
92 Points Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator (May 2024)
Aurelien Verdet Nuits-Saint-Georges 'Les Damodes' 1er Cru 2020, Our Price $260
Ripe black cherry and blackberry fruit is matched by sweet spices in this fleshy, fluid red. This is firmly structured, darkening on the finish, with flashes of sandalwood, incense and earth. Needs time to absorb the tannins. Best from 2027 through 2045.
93 Points Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator (May 2024)
Snapper, shiitake, miso butter
3rd Bracket - Chambolle-Musigny, Morey-St-Denis
Domaine des Beaumont Morey-Saint-Denis 2020, Our Price $180
Powerful, full-bodied and structured wine that requires a little ageing in order to open up. It comes from old vines. A terroir for informed amateurs.
domaine-des-Beaumont.com
Aurelien Verdet Morey-Saint-Denis 2019, Our Price $150
From the Pierre Virant vineyard at the top of the slope. Lively bright purple with a very classy nose. Rich fruit in perfect balance, filling the mouth with a coherence superior to the Chambolle. Fine boned yet with all the fruit you need. This is one to look out for
91 Points Jasper Morris, Insideburgundy (March 2021)
Aurelien Verdet Morey-Saint-Denis 1er cru 'Les Monts Luisants' 2021, Our Price $286
Lovely juicy core of fruit, dense and powerful with broad shoulders and an understated yet firm structure, this is a broad-shouldered Morey St Denis from the rare 1er Cru Aux Monts Luisants vineyard in Morey-St-Denis which boasts a superb position just above and as an enclave within the lauded Clos de la Roche Grand Cru. Spicy yet with a delicious core of juicy rich fruit, a lverlvety texture and a long, multi-layered finish, this is a very pleasant and complex 1er Cru.
Lay and Wheeler
Dom. des Beaumont Chambolle-Musigny 'Les Chardannes', Our Price $195
Quite a blueish mid crimson. Fairly rustic nose rather than the famous perfume of Chambolle, and then some sweet fruit on the palate but without much purity. Quite a bit of fine tannin on the end. I realise that for red burgundy this is, amazingly, not overpriced,
15.5/20 points Jancis Robinson
Duck confit, kipflers, baby cos, fetta, candied walnuts
4th Bracket - Fixin & Gevrey-Chambertin
Aurelien Verdet Fixin 2018, Our Price $105
Purchased fruit from Les Herbues, which they harvest themselves. Very lively purple, lots of deliciously juicy dark fruit, clearly whole bunch style with the white pepper notes and fresh feel, adds length too. Spicy notes with the dark fruit, ripe but dynamic. Tasted Mar 2021.
91 points, Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy
Humbert Frères Fixin "Vieilles Vignes" 2021, Our Price $89
From a parcel planted in 1959, the 2021 Fixin Vieilles Vignes was vinified without any punching down to avoid any sense of structural asperity. Exhibiting aromas of sweet red berries, spices and raw cocoa, it's medium to full-bodied, ample and perfumed, with supple tannins and a mouthwatering finish.
88-90 Points William Kelley, Thw Wine Advocate (February 2023)
2021 Domaine Aurelien Gevrey-Chambertin 2021, Our Price $176
Exudes ripe cherry, plum and a hint of raisin flavors, yet this fragrant red remains fresh and well defined. Sandalwood, licorice and oak spice accents chime in as this winds down on the finish. Drink now through 2030.
91 Points Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator (May 2024)
Humbert Frères Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru "Le Poissenot " 2021,Our Price $311
The 2021 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Poissenot derives from the coolest premier cru in the commune, with some 80% active calcium and a mere 20 centimeters of soil. Exhibiting scents of red berries, potpourri and spices, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless, with melting tannins, tangy acids and an intensely saline finish.
91-92 Points William Kelley, Thw Wine Advocate (February 2023)
Dom. des Beaumont Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru 'Aux Combottes' 2020, Our Price $333
Expressive, structured and elegant wine with round tannins and good oak.
domaine-des-Beaumont.com