13 White Burgundies:
South to North, Commune by Commune.
Explore the brilliance of white Burgundy with our ‘South to North, Commune by Commune’ events.
Taste 13 exquisite wines, from Bourgogne to Batard-Montrachet!
Featuring our top domaines - Rapet Père & Fils, Morey-Coffinet, and Jean Monnier. Hosted by Cara & Michael Stephens of Vins Divins, Burgundy experts since 1990.
Bourgogne | Chassagne-Montrachet | Puligny-Montrachet | Beaune
Ladoix | Meursault | Batard-Montrachet
Rapet Pere & Fils | Morey-Coffinet | Jean Monnier
Tuesday February 18th
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, 13 Wines with nibbles, $125.00
Dinner: 7:30pm, 13 Wines with 4 Courses, $225.00
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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The 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.” -
2022 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.
The Wine List (Menu TBC)
1st Course
Rapet Pere & Fils Bourgogne Blanc 2022, Our Price $65
Fresh and bright aromas include those of petrol, just sliced apple and pear along with a citrus hint. There is both good volume and richness to the plump and round middle weight flavors that give way to a bitter lemon-inflected and rustic but refreshing finish.
86 points, Allen Meadows, Burghound.com (June 2024)
Rapet Pere & Fils Bourgogne Blanc 2021, Our Price $65
Mid lemon yellow. Quite an intense even exotic nose, with some muscat notes even. Charming in that style, with good natural acidity. Drink from 2024-2026.
85-87 points, Jasper Morris, insideburgundy.com (October 2022)
Salmon tartare, cauliflower cream
2nd Course
Morey-Coffinet Chassagne-Montrachet 2022, Our Price $159
The 2022 Chassagne-Montrachet Village, a blend of three parcels, has a taut and focused bouquet, reserved initially, unfolding with wilted white flowers and light waxy aromas. Quite understated. The palate is well-balanced with neatly assimilated oak, orange rind and slivers of white peach, leading to a waxy-textured, satisfying finish. This is a well-crafted and quite delicious Chassagne-Montrachet.
91 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (October 2023)
Morey-Coffinet Chassagne-Montrachet ‘Les Houillères’ 2022, Our Price $183
The 2022 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Houillères, located on the border with Puligny, has an understandably Puligny-like bouquet, a liftle more malic than the Domaine's other cuvées. The palate is very well-balanced with a tangy, marmalade-tinged entry. Cohesive from starf to finish with plenty of extract on the finish, this is a well-craffed, quite intense Chassagne-Montrachet that should mature well in bottle.
92 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (October 2023)
Jean Monnier Puligny-Montrachet 2022, Our Price $181
An elegant, full-bodied white that exudes toasted hazelnuts, apricots, salted butter and mango stones on the nose. Delicious combination of stone fruit with salt and caramel undertones and a buttery texture, persisting on the tasty finish.
92 Points James Suckling (May 2024)
Morey-Coffinet Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Les Pucelles" 2022, Our Price $408
Elegant and pure aromas are comprised by notes of honeysuckle, carnation, acacia, lilac, spice and citrus confit. The rich, caressing and suave medium weight flavors are also blessed with plenty of sappy dry extract, all wrapped in a lingering, firm and equally serious finale. This is both classier and finer than the Blanchot but can't match it for sheer size, weight and power.
94 points, Allen Meadows, Burghound.com
Pancetta wrapped scallops, kaffir lime
3rd Course
Morey-Coffinet Ladoix 2022
From an eastern exposed vineyard at the top of the hillside that is a direct extension of the 1er Cru Les Bréchons. Aged in 350L barrels (30 percent new), then put back into stainless steel tank for another two months. Stony, and stylistically in the Pernand/Corton vineyard veins.
Winery Notes
Jean Monnier Meursault 'Viellies Vignes' 2022
97 points (platinum) at the Decanter World Wine Awards – 2021 Vintage
Jean Monnier Meursault 'Clos du Cromin' 2021, Our Price $144
Jean Monnier Meursault 'Les Chevalières' 2022, Our Price $159
White chicken, Puy lentils, Comte
4th Course
Rapet Pere & Fils Beaune 'Champs Pimont' 1er Cru 2020, Our Price $
Planted in 2012 from former pinot vineyard, in a small ex quarry. Picked before the main harvest. Pale lemon and lime, a clean white fruit, 20% in cement egg, the rest in older 350s. A little touch of honeysuckle now emerges. Then some quite strong acidity behind. Lemon and honey, an interesting mix.
90-91 points, Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy
Rapet Pere & Fils Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru ‘En Caradeux’ 2022, Our Price $152
En Caradeaux is on the Savigny side of the commune, and the vines are thus exposed east. In 2022, they produced a delicious wine with lime peel, green apple, minerals, and spice aromas. Dynamic tension on the palate and a pleasantly ripe character to the fruit makes the wine approachable; it should drink well reasonably early. The grapes are pressed as whole clusters and fermented on native yeasts with no sulphur before bottling. The wine is ageing now in cask (20% new).
94 points, Charles Curtis MW, Decanter
Morey-Coffinet Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2022, Our Price $1056
Terrific energy here in this wine which pays homage to Thibault’s late grandfather, Fernand Coffinet. Pale lemon and lime. A brilliant energy to the nose, chapeau. There is the purest of white fruit filling the palate and excellent structure behind. Made with a sensitivity that does not impact on intensity. Superb balance and does everything as it should, and then some! Drink from 2030-2040. Tasted: October 2023.
96-98 points, Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy
Juniper dusted quail, melted beetroot, petit greens
To Finish…