Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.0

Notes from memory after many months - just remember this was beautifully integrated and singing after 14 years. I’m a huge fan of this Rhône Négociant and producer; consistently excellent. #vinsobres — 8 months ago

Maggie Henderson

9.5

A new fave! Delicious wine for a great price. Light funk on the nose, but bright mélange of apple and peach. Lafon négociant label. Great recommendation for chard haters. — 3 years ago

Martinez

9.5

Extraordinary white Burgundy from Guffens’ Mâconnais-based négociant business Verget, made from Chardonnay grown in Le Corton. Beautiful golden color. Quite rich and evolved, with complex aromas of dried and exotic fruits, chamomile and honeyed notes. Pure, rich, lively, mineral. Incredible freshness even 25 years after the vintage — 4 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.5

2014 vintage. As Sauternes suffers from a lethal combination of high production costs and low demand, it is about time we all start drinking more of it. The 2014 vintage combines a lot of botrytis with high acidity resulting in beautifully balanced wines that are very attractive young but should age beautifully for decades. Rabaud Promis has a long history (a lot of it in common with Sigalas Rabaud), but has been in the hands of the Dejean family for the last 4 generations. In early 2020 Jean Merlaut (Bordeaux négociant and owner of Gruaud Larose) took a majority share in Rabaud Promis, but Thomas Dejean remains the winemaker. And to judge from this terrific effort there is indeed no reason to change the winemaker. 80% Sémillon, 16% Sauvignon blanc and 4% Muscadelle. Brilliant golden yellow. Intoxicating complex perfume of fresh and dried fruits, flowers and subtle roasted flavours combined with an amazing lemony freshness. The mouth confirms this complexity with layers of concentrated fruit, balanced by crispy acidity and a knock-out brown sugar, lemon confit and noble rot "rôti" finish. It has amazing intensity while remaining light on its feet. Fabulous value at 28 euros! Abv. 12,6%. Note: these wines are much more versatile at the table than you think. While foie gras and blue cheese are classic combinations, I tried it today with veal, sautéed carrots and mushrooms and baked potatoes. Works really well. I invite you all to experiment with the culinary possibilities of these wines. — 6 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2017 vintage. Satellite Wines is the négociant company started by enfant terrible Olivier Techer, owner of Pomerol estate Château Gombaude Guillot and the brains behind "Pom'n Roll", shaking up the region. The idea is to highlight lesser-known parts of Bordeaux, like this serious organically farmed Côtes de Bordeaux. Not sure if this is a pure Merlot or a blend, but it is undoubtedly a very good wine. Concentrated fruit, a serious tannic structure, balanced acidity and good length. The label states "Bordeaux à boire", but actually this has a very classic ageworthy feel about it, giving many Saint-Emilions a run for their money. Should be perfect in 2 years time, but highly enjoyable now. Very good value at 15 euro. Even better the next day. Abv. 13,5%. — 6 years ago

Connor Smith

9.5

The French Revolution detonated everything about the old order of France, and wine was no exception - far from it. The great vineyards of Burgundy, that had been tended to and ached over by Benedictine and Cistercian monks for centuries, were confiscated and auctioned off to the petite bourgeoisie in Paris and Dijon. The Napoleonic inheritance code, which guaranteed an even split between all children, led to these ancient plots being further divided up with each passing generation.

It wasn't long before there was a multitude of disinterested Parisians who owned a few vines in the Cote d'Or as their birthright. Négociant houses, such as Louis Jadot, popped up to make deals with these small landholders, aggregate their scattered plots, and bring their wine to the world.

Modern Burgundy is still very much a reflection of its transformation during the Revolution, with some of the world’s most famous and valuable land portioned out into tiny parcels. It’s no wonder demand outstripped supply long ago!

(This is adapted from notes for Le Dû’s Wines ‘History of Wine 1453AD-Present’ seminar, where this wine was poured) — 7 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2022 vintage. The back label sends you to the website of Producta Vignobles, a huge coopérative négociant company, the owners seem to be Marie Guyonnaud et Cyril Frémy. 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc. Lead pencil and cassis. Medium-bodied, with a pronounced minerality, somewhat hiding the fruit. Good value Saint-Estèphe ( 13 euros in a supermarket ), if a little lean at this stage. Abv. 13,5%. Suffers from the comparison with the 2023 Lilian Ladouys tasted alongside. Better the next day. — 8 months ago

Eric Urbani

9.3

Well-known as a leading grape broker (Négociant) in Burgundy, Jadot has just one vineyard of its own - Le clou d’orge in Ladoix, an AVA right next to Corton. — 3 years ago

Weijie Shi (Jay)

9.5

Once being an important négociant in Burgundy. They sold their parcel of Richebourg to Mongeard Mugneret and Hudelot Noellat in 1980s. Perfect condition. Amazing how lively this shows. — 5 years ago

Martinez

8.9

Old-school red Burgundy by Pierre Bourée et fils, a small négociant house in Gevrey-Chambertin. This wine comes from one of the family’s four own vineyards, the Clos de la Justice, a 2-hectare walled plot located on the eastern side of the Route Nationale 74 (generally considered “the wrong side” of the road. Virtually all of Burgundy’s notable vineyard sites are west of the RN 74). Earthy, rustic. Aromas of red cherries, pepper, forest floor. Fresh, not particularly complex, easy to drink. High acidity — 6 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.1

2009 vintage. Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (71,5 %), with Merlot (25%) and Petit Verdot (3,5%). Property of Patrick Bernard (also owner of Bordeaux négociant Millésima and cousin of Olivier Bernard who owns Domaine de Chevalier). — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Whatever words I would use to describe how amazing the 96 was with our Prime Rib Roast last night would simply fall short & never do it justice.

The evolution that took place in this bottle after 21 years was never conceived by anyone tasting it upon release or young. It has made a epic leap and simply heaven on the palate.

Oh...as a friend of mine was always fond of saying...”The Prime Rib Roast didn’t suck either!”

I wanna do this again real soon. OMG!!!

Still processes me this morning.

Recent purchase that was a direct import from the Chateau - Négociant

Happy New Year! 🎊🎆🎈🍷🍾🥂 — 6 years ago

with Christina and James

Thijs Hendriks

9.4

Négociant — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Happy New Year! 🎉🎊🎈🎆 🧨

I believe @AndrewMcIntyre posted an 02 Mouton today & asked, “is there anything better than aged Bordeaux.” I replied, absolutely not!

1982 was the Bordeaux vintage Robert Parker built his career. He was the only one that called it correctly.

I love 80’s Bordeaux for the 12-12.5% ABV & style.

This is a Chateau-Négociant bottle bought in the last year. It’s still sound & singing w/ the Prime Rib. The fruit still solid.

The fruits are nice & and still sound. Blackberries, black raspberries, black plum pudding, raspberries, chocolate mousse, wet, volcanic clay/lava, spice, baking powder, clove, cinnamon, dark spice, fresh & old tobacco, used leather, soft, moist herbs, black tea, dark cola, dry soil, dry pebble, limestone, anise to black licorice, withering dark, red, blue & purple flowers, round, excellent acidity & a elegant, ripe, well balanced/structured finish that lasts a minute and land on earthiness. Soft as a feather.

What a treat to drink 80’s Bordeaux. Especially, 82. Not a terroir you would expect to hold up 40 plus years, but Chateau-Négociant storage is everything! — a year ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.1

1990 vintage. Another wonderful surprise with older Burgundy. I did not expect a 32 years old négociant village Savigny to be still alive, but this doesn't show its age at all, featuring a lot of bright red fruit, soft tannin and good length. Not the most complex, but a lot of charm. Abv. 13%. — 4 years ago

David Kaplan

9.3

The Givry is sourced from the best parcels of the family’s six hectares near their home in Poncey, in the village appellation of Givry (wine from grapes that don’t make the cut is sold in bulk to a négociant). The wine is fermented with natural ambient yeast in concrete vats. Two-thirds of the wine is aged in a mix of neutral oak barrels, with the remaining third matured in concrete before bottling.

The wine is a limpid crimson red Burgundy with inviting aromas of brambly red fruit, including wild strawberries, red currants, lingonberries, and spiced plums, along with suggestions of wild thyme, garden lemon balm, forest mushrooms, and fresh sage.

On the palate, the wine is juicy and firm; crunchy, transparent, and vibrant, with engaging mineral-saturated red fruit flavors that echo the nose, along with suggestions of eucalyptus, white pepper, cardamom, and green tea. Over time in the glass, the wine grows more voluminous, yet always remains accessible, well-integrated, and refreshing. —
Moore Brothers Wine Co. , Brooklyn — 5 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

Pierbone is the second wine of Cru Bourgeois Château Peyrabon, property of Patrick Bernard (also owner of Bordeaux négociant Millésima and cousin of Olivier Bernard who owns Domaine de Chevalier). While it doesn't have the depth and structure of the grand vin, it shows how well some of these second wines can age in great vintages like 2010. Drinking beautifully at 10 years old it has a slightly jammy Amarena cherries nose, intertwined with hints of cocoa and cedar wood. In the mouth the jamminess of the cherry fruit is well-balanced by the acidity and the ripe tannin. Not particularly complex, but a delight to drink now and well worth the 18 euros for a mature Haut-Médoc. Abv. 13,5%. — 6 years ago

Saman Hosseini

Writer Maison Abattoir

8.9

Normandy cider, motts apple sauce, linear acidity.
Zev Rovine selections. — 7 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2016 vintage. Seductive and well-balanced. Good value for Pomerol standards. This property was bought in 2005 by the Castéja family (Borie-Manoux négociant, owner es of Batailley , Lynch-Moussas, Trottevieille etc) — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

One the nose, a touch of sour green apple, lime zest, ripe pineapple, mango, lemon, touch of mint, stone fruit skin, honey, green melon, limestone minerals, sea shells, yellow lilies & spring flowers.
The palate is thick and rich from a touch extra lees stirring. A touch of sour green apple, lime zest, ripe pineapple, mango, lemon, touch of mint, stone fruit skin, honey green melon, limestone minerals, sea shells, yellow lilies & spring flowers. Good round acidity with a long rich finish that lasts minutes.

Photos; Puligny-Montrachet -Clos de la Mouchere, owner/Winemaker Henri Boillot and their Domaine.

Producer notes & history... Before striking out on his own in 1984 Henri had worked for the family firm but his success in his own right persuaded his grandfather Jean Boillot to persuade him to return to the fold. In 2005 Henri bought out his brother and sister and renamed the domaine name from Domaine Jean Boillot to Domaine Henri Boillot to avoid confusion with his brother Jean-Marc Boillot's company.

The Domaine consists of some 19 hectares, mostly in Puligny and Meursault for white wines where he owns the monopole of Clos de la Mouchere, and in Savigny-les-Beaunes, Beaune and Volnay for reds.

In the vineyard Henri and Guillaume farm sustainably, avoiding artificial pesticides and herbicides, and much hard work in the vineyard means low yields of relatively late-picked fruit at a peak of ripeness. The whites are very gently crushed to avoid bitter flavours and fermented in barrels larger than the norm at 350 litres so that the purity and freshness of the fruit is unencumbered, and bottling follows 18 months or so in barrel. Pinot noir grapes are sorted in the vineyard before being taken to the winery, destemmed, crushed and cold soaked before a fairly long fermentation. 18 months in barriques is the norm before being bottle unfined and unfiltered.

Since 2006, he has worked with his son Guillaume, who now makes the red wines, at their new state-of-the-art winery in Meursault where all the Domaine and 'négociant' wines (under the label of Maison Henri Boillot) are made. — 8 years ago