The Hospices de Beaune is a prestigious 60ha estate whose wines are auctioned every year in support of charity. This auction has existed since 1859, is the oldest in the world and has 48 cuvees available for donors to have their names printed on it. Albert Bichot has been the leading buyer for 15 years at this world-renowned auction.
Albert Bichot is a five-generation family-owned property having owned land in Burgundy's Cote d'Or since the 1830's. The current owner, Alberic Bichot is respectful of his family's traditions yet entirely focused on the future: converting to organic viticulture, adapting to new markets, increasing exposure to Burgundy wines, and much more. The vineyards now total six estates from Chablis in the north to Beaujolais in the south.
This white wine is 100% Chardonnay grapes grown in the prestigious Charlemagne vineyard in the village of Aloxe-Corton of Burgundy. The nose is intense with notes of lemon curd, citrus pith, nutmeg and rich, nutty complexity. The palate is mouth-filling with balanced acidity and a spicy, smooth, long finish. This white wine will only get better with age. Pair with cauliflower puree, braised fennel and sea scallops.
Pair well with: Chicken and creamy sauce.
Organic

This family owned Domaine has a prestigious location: they are the only Domaine located inside the walls of Clos Vougeot itself. They are the largest owners of land with 5.5ha, many of these with Pinot Noir vines that were planted in 1910. Although they always farmed organically, they received their certification in 2021. This 2019 Pinot Noirs shows tightly packed black and red fruit accented with notes of violets, mineral, earth and wild herbs. This is powerful and rich, with firm tannins, lots of body, and the ability to age almost indefinitely. Try from 2026

A blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Haut-Bailly was harvested from the 9th to 25th of September. It has an alcohol of 14.3%. Deep purple-black in colour, it prances out of the glass with naturally beautiful notions of fresh black cherries, violets, mulberries and boysenberries, giving way to hints of redcurrant jelly, star anise, tilled soil and menthol. The medium to full-bodied palate is delicately crafted with velvety/grainy tannins and fantastic freshness framing the perfumed red and black berry layers, finishing on a lingering fragrant-earth note.

Picture walking into a flower show with a basket of fresh berries and a lit Cuban cigar, and while that is not quite PC, it is the aromatic profile here. The wine is fresh, bright, vibrant, lifted, and floral on the palate. The wine is elevated, refined, soft, and silky, with a refreshing, silky edge to the fruits in the finish. The wine is pure elegance. There is nothing between you and the fruits. There is intensity, length, and a striking sense of purity. The wine lingers seamlessly for 60 seconds or longer..

One of the wines of the vintage, the 2000 has barely budged in its evolution since it was bottled and released in 2002. After ten years in bottle, it still reveals a dense opaque purple color along with a potentially sensational bouquet of blueberries, black currants, graphite, asphalt and background oak. Extremely powerful, full-bodied and superbly concentrated with good acidity and high but round tannins, this massive La Mission-Haut-Brion should take its place among this estate's most hallowed vintages when it hits full maturity in another one to two decades. I was surprised by just how youthful this wine tasted at age 12. If tasted blind, I would have guessed it to be around 4 to 5 years old. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2050.

This first collection case contains unique bottles sealed with wax, direct from the Château, and includes: 1988, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2003 and 2008 vintages

"The hint of new wood still shows in the aroma of this wine. But on the palate, it has the richness and exuberance that comes with this great estate. Tannins show structure and intensity, bringing out the bold black fruits. Packed with freshness as well as structure, the wine will age well. Drink from 2024. Roger Voss" - 95/100, Wine Enthusiast

The 2016 Palmer is a blend of 47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot. Opaque garnet-purple colored, it slowly glides out of the glass with compelling notes of blueberry compote, warm cassis and kirsch with emerging hints of violets, cigar box, black tea, sandalwood and Sichuan pepper.

98 points -Robert Parker's Wine Advocate "Deep purple-black colored, the 2016 Pavie Decesse bursts boldly out of the glass with confident blackcurrant preserves, baked blackberries, baked plums and sandalwood notes with touches of Indian spices, mocha and lilacs plus touches of cedar chest and pencil lead. Big, concentrated and voluptuously fruited in the mouth, it has a truly impressive structure of very firm, finely grained tannins and racy freshness lifting all that densely packed fruit to a very long, multilayered finish. Wow! (LPB)" (3/2019)

99 points - James Suckling

94 points - Wine Spectator

Chateau Pichon Baron is a classified Second growth located in the Pauillac appellation on the left bank of the Medoc region. The estate comprises 75ha of high quality vines growing on gravelly soils. Average age of the vine is 35 years. The 2016 vintage is a red wine blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot. This wine is classy with rich aromas of black cherry,cassis and hints of vanilla and spices. The palate has plush tannins with a dense and full bodied finish. This will age for the next 25-30 years. The Chateau Pichon Baron received 100 points from Decanter for this 2016 vintage.

Chateau Quintus (St. Emilion) - With a good dollop of Cabernet Franc in the blend it gives it a dense, perfumed structured character. There is beautiful rich blackberry, violet, cassis, new leather and toasted spices on the nose and palate. The Chateau has made a considerable stride with this vintage. Drink now through 2026

DOMAINE TORTOCHOT GEVREY 1ER CRU CHAMPEAUX exhibits complexity married perfectly with elegance, the wine is full-bodied and this comes very much to the fore. There is a fruitiness together with touches of flowers - roses and wallflower. This wine may be kept and be allowed to mature for some years.

The Groffier family is a longstanding name in the Cotes du Nuit. Their family can be dated back to the 1800's, but it was grandfather Robert who started bottling wines at the Domaine. Two generations later, Nicholas Groffier has taken over elevating the wines to an unprecented level yet still maintaining the traditions learned from both his father and grandfather. Although their cellars are located in Morey-St.-Denis, they own no vineyards there, rather 0.8ha in other appellations, most notably Bonnes Mares, and one full hectare in the Chambolle Musigny Les Amoureuses, making them the largest land owner of the area. This 100% pinot noir is a muscular wine with black cherry and blackberry aromas. The palate is full-bodied with a serious tannic grip around the iron, tobacco and earthy notes. This has great ageability on it, put this one away to let it mellow.

The history of the Rebourseau family goes back to 1782, humble farmers involved in viticulture which were passed on from one generation to the next. Through the years the objective was to bring the production of each appellation to its best level, ensuring the wines reflect the most accurate version of their climates. Clos Vougeot, which covers approximately 50ha is considered one of the best Grand Cru sites in Burgundy. The Rebourseau is a wine with pronounced minerality expressing earthy notes of fern, moss and truffle, revealing velvety tones of coffee beans and black radish.

There is 52% Merlot in the blend and it shows in an enticing, opulent aroma of plum and blackberry. A little more backward than the other wines in the Haut-Brion stable so far, but all the ingredients are there to make a brilliant wine. There is a great depth of ripe fruit, impressively fine tannins, lovely balance and excellent length. It is superbly fresh and has exceptional potential for the future.
(52% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot)