Ceccherini Cristiano

9.3

One of the most peculiar situation in Burgundy
In the producer's area rhe grapes are full of nobel rot(botrytis as stated on the label) and you can feel that very much in the wine with the dry apricot scent and flavour
The wine was in the cellar for a while and once opened it took very little to express its best
Amazing wine, i must get more of their wines but prices have gone sky rocketing
Never-ending aftertaste, i can still feel it the morning after — 16 days ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.6

This exceeded expectations-Notes from retailer We’ve long been fans of Domaine de la Bongran, a curious little estate in Viré-Clessé producing delicious and distinct white Burgundies. Their Cuvée Levroutée is only made in exceptional years, using some botrytised fruit and made in an off-dry style; as with their other wines, it is aged exclusively in stainless steel to allow the terroir to shine. The 2017 is the first release of the cuvée in over a decade, with the previous vintage produced 2006. The fruit comes from specific parcels with marl-rich soils that retain humidity and therefore encourage the development of noble rot, while also producing Chardonnay with a beautiful backbone of acidity.

The 2017, made with around 25% botrytised fruit, is still incredibly young, with the bite of Seville orange pith, honey and richer peach on the nose, leading on to a lush palate that offers a rush of stone fruit, reined in by a line of mineral citrus. The 17g/l residual sugar is beautifully integrated, and zesty notes linger on the long finish, keeping the wine impressively fresh and balanced. Winemaker Gautier Thévenet tells us that within three to five years the wine tends to seem dry, the sugar integrating with the body of the wine and becoming even more complex. Just 4,200 bottles were produced.

Wine Advocate 95 review

The 2017 Viré-Clessé Cuvée Levroutée is now on the market, and it is the first time the Thevent family has been able to produce this cuvée since 2006. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of citrus oil, caramelized pineapple, mandarin, white flowers, pine resin and spices, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and textural, with a layered core, racy acids and appreciable residual sweetness and structural tension, but it's already more integrated and expressive than it was last year, so it appears to be coming into its stride. — 8 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Can’t write notes tonight. So, one word. Stupid! Especially, for $39.99. I bought six & going back for six more. You should seek out.

Ok...I would drink this over just about any expensive or cult like CA Chardonnay.

Drinks with the honey - honeysuckles notes of a more aged White Burgundy, nice viscosity, stellar chalkiness & minerality with sea fossils. Beautiful elegant finish.

Cheers! — 6 years ago

Paul J

9.0

Dark gold color. Nose has funk and vegetables on it. Wine is dominated by honey and camomile. Very dense and lingers on the palate. I think it’s slightly past prime, but not bad. Just not my style. — 7 years ago

with Brooke

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.7

Had it in November 2008.
Notes of noble rot pretty obvious, dry apricot, then graphite, toasted bread, lime, little mint, caramel, honey. Rust and iron. At the taste also mango and passion fruit. A very unique wine from Burgundy, ready to age very long time. Only example that I know if botrytised wine in Burgundy. Superstar 😍
Evident sugar left in the wine — 10 years ago

Mike Evans

9.4

Terrific aged white Burgundy hazelnut, rich, layered, at peak but with no danger of decline, it is ridiculously good right now and puts most white Burgs from more prestigious appellations to shame. A little RS pops its head out with air as it just gets better — 11 years ago

with Eric

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The color of the 14 looks rich & starting to age Sauternes.

It is very viscous with notes of paraffin. Lots of dried fruits; apricots, juicy, overripe yellow peaches, blood orange with peel, marmalade fruits/jam, citrus blend, bruised Bosc pear, macerated, golden & red apple & dried pineapple, strong presence of gritty chalk & grey volcanic minerals, white spice, sea fossils, limestone marl, dry twig, sun tea with fruit, nuts with skin, some butterscotch & toffee, burnt raw sugar, honeycomb, warm caramel, vanillin, herbal notes, withering yellow lilies, orange Gerber daisies, grand, round acidity, great balance, still nice tension/structure, rich, smartly-elegant-polished finish without end and long sets on volcanics & spice. — 2 months ago

Shay A

9.2

Zero expectations here, and I am now on the hunt for more. Absolutely killer and (evidently) a wonderful QPR.

Didn’t know what type of profile to expect here, but I (incorrectly) assumed it would be somewhere in the middle and while pleasant enough, nothing to write home about. What I found was a wine that reminds me an awful lot of Domaine de la Bongran’s EJ Thevnet (all time favorite of mine), yet dialed back just a touch. Light gold in the glass, big aromatics of ripe peach, yellow fruits, and a dash of baking spice. Texturally is leans bigger, but the finish snaps back with great acidity. Lemon cream, golden raspberries, limestone and a vibrant finish. Whereas the Bongran has a touch of sweetness, this has more of a small perception of sweetness. Loved it. — 2 years ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.5

No formal notes, but such a joy...
Had it with wifey in plastic glasses, on the lawn, on a sunny day, on the right side of the street.
It was a magnum and we could not stop drinking it. I possess 2 more bottles that i should have no hurry to open, but....you know...it was such a success!!!😍😍🙏🙏
Super long after taste
Unique Burgundian expression — 4 years ago

Pooneet K

9.1

I’ve had other bottles of this that were less enjoyable, but this one is excellent. Very amber and honeyed and viscous in the glass. Wildly aromatic with tons of honeysuckle and white fruit. Mouth filling with great deep fruit and good acid as well. Quite complete and delicious. — 7 years ago

Michael Phillips

9.3

Still rockin’ . Nicely balanced melon and yellow fruit. Yum! — 7 years ago

A Pappini

9.5

2001 superbe, seul tort: passer derrière un Yquem superlatif — 10 years ago

Justin Hansohn

9.0

Salt and butter....whoa geez, I should've made something to eat with this, it really needs some extras on the side...something smooth and fat or even something crisp and citrusy...oh well, gone in 60 seconds. — 11 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

If you like Ca Chardonnay with firm wood-warmer climate backbone structure, this probably isn’t for you. It is closer to white burgundy, which is why I buy it occasionally. It reminds me of the a leaner, less viscous, 2014/16 Domaine de la Bongran Viré-Clessé Cuvée E.J. Thevenet.

The palate is perfectly ripe; green apple, lemon/lime juicy pulp w/ zest, grapefruit with pith, tropical melon, white stone fruit, marmalade as it warms & opens up, Bosc pear w/ skin & lychees. Honey notes, but less than Viré-Clessé Cuvée E.J. Thevenet, caramel, milk froth, vanillin, dry limestone powered, toast crust, some white spice, grey volcanics, saline notes, yellow lilies, white flowers, jasmine blossoms, mixed in greens, very pleasant acidity, well; knitted, balanced, good tension, medium structure and a smarty polished 90 second finish that settles on spice and minerals. — 4 months ago

Luis F Gimenez

9.2

Surprisingly good for the age — 3 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.2

Another 1 hour fade, but not bad for the price.
Thats one thing about the Bongran, you can decant that for several hours & it continues to improve. — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.2

This was one of my wines from my annual WWC hosting. The other whites were Bereche Brut Reserve for the champagne, a 2015 Bongran EJ Thevent (burgundy) Chardonnay and a 2017 Moone-Tsai Ritchie Chardonnay.

Color me impressed. I have enjoyed Calera’s pinots quite a bit, but I haven’t had as much experience with the Chardonnay’s. It was almost like a Aubert Larry Hyde “lite”. As this was tasted blind, most guessed this was Chardonnay, but lots of back and forth on where it would be from. Initially, this toed the line between steely and slightly oaked with bright citrus, lemon, clean aromatics…but after an hour in the glass, this really bulked up and sported a down-the-middle type medium bodied profile. Not lean, not powerful. The tart lemon turned to a more lemon cream profile with lots of floral/honeysuckle notes, alongside herb crusted yellow fruits. No problem opening now, but I’d love to try another one of these in a few years. 92+ — 5 years ago

Lindsey Tramuta

9.4

Like butter. Smooth. Had at Usha and Claudio’s place — 7 years ago

with Cédric

Paco Suro

9.1

Lychee. Vanilla. Hint of smoke. — 10 years ago

with Amy and Zac

Patrick Cranley

9.3

Long story, but in brief, tasted blind to fool Jancis (an off-dry wine from Burgundy - why yes!), but she nailed it on her second guess. And then proceeded to describe the owner and the vineyards. Surely there is a God, and her name begins with a "J"! 2000 vintage. — 12 years ago