90-91 Point Wines

wines

The 2023 Chassagne-Montrachet Village is a blend of three parcels (Les Chaumes, Lombardes and Charrières) and sees 15% aged in clay jars to gain freshness. It has a vibrant nose and fine mineralité, with a touch of orange zest and grapefruit developing in the glass. The palate is well balanced with a keen line of acidity and a twist of orange rind on the finish. Not long, but I appreciate the vigor and attack of this Chassagne Village.Vinous Media | 90 VMIn bottle. Pale lemon in colour. A little stricter than the Bourgogne Chardonnay, which provides better balance with the undeniable flesh behind. A good thread of acidity, a touch of fennel, a little salinity and persistent. Drink from 2026-2029. Tasted Nov 2024.Jasper Morris | 90 JM

More yellow in the colour, a waxy flesh, slight evolution in the sample, I cannot quite see the stones up front. They do appear on the palate and the wine extends very well through to a flinty finish, with some saline notes right at the back. Drink from 2028-2034. Tasted Nov 2024.Jasper Morris | 91-93 JMThe 2023 Chassagne-Montrachet En Cailleret 1er Cru has a strict, almost sullen nose that demands coaxing from the glass, with hints of chamomile interlacing the orchard fruit, though I seek just a little more mineralité. The palate is well balanced with tropical notes of passionfruit and guava on the entry. Smooth in texture with countervailing acidity, the 2023 finishes open and easy-drinking. Drink just a year after bottling and enjoy this in its youth.Vinous Media | 89-91 VM

The 2023 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Houillères is a level up from the regular Village, with more mineralité and terroir expression. The palate is well balanced and linear in style, with a keen line of acidity, fine weight and a sapid, chamomile-tinged close. Maybe the 2022 had a touch more depth on the finish, but this is worth seeking out.Vinous Media | 91 VMOld vines with a younger plot as well. Mid lemon yellow. The bouquet has a discreet distinction, more in minerals than flesh, one jar again. Tighter and more precise on the palate, with a light ripe citrus note added to the orchard fruit. In bottle. Drink from 2027-2030. Tasted Nov 2024.Jasper Morris | 91 JM

The 2023 Bramìto della Sala is youthfully coy in the glass, opening with fleeting aromas of raw almond, white flowers, vanilla bean and spice. This is far more enticing on the palate, silken and round, with a core of zesty acidity to contrast. Ripe orchard fruits and minty herbal tones swirl throughout. Crunchy mineral tones and sour citrus define the finish. The 2023 tapers off long and mouth-watering, leaving a resonance of lemon custard to linger. Aromatically, the 2023 still needs time to develop, but with such a wonderful balance within, it will be time well spent.Vinous Media | 91 VMThis Umbrian Chardonnay from Antinori’s estate is vinified and aged partly in stainless steel and partly in wood. The 2023 is toasty and slightly tropical, with a mineral, stony quality which runs through the core, and lovely bright acidity. It finishes with some zesty lemon peel and Mediterranean herbs. Nicely balanced and very fresh.Decanter Magazine | 91 DEC

Mid yellow, a little more tension to the nose, thanks to old vines in this hillside site. Thee’s a savoury note too. Slightly more intensity compared to La Romanée, medium plus length. Drink from 2028-2034. Tasted Nov 2024.Jasper Morris | 91-93 JMThe 2023 Chassagne-Montrachet En Remilly 1er Cru, raised in one-third new oak (350-liter barrels) has a little more lift than the La Romanée, with fine delineation as orchard fruit meets light hazelnut aromas. The palate is well balanced with more ripeness and richness by comparison, and perhaps not quite the same tension, though it feels persistent on the finish. Drink this before broaching the La Romanée.Vinous Media | 89-91 VM

The 2023 Rosé Mirabeau en Provence Pure makes a lasting impression as enriching notes of confectionery spice and sweet smoke complement freshly sliced nectarines. It’s silken in form, with stimulating acidity and citrus tones that add lovely depth as ripe pit fruits swirl throughout. The 2023 tapers off with admirable length, spicy and energetic, leaving a mineral tinge that adds a lovely punctuation. - Eric GuidoVinous Media | 90 VM

Mid lemon yellow, almost a green tint. Slightly reductive but still with some flesh behind. Young vines here, planted in 2018, but that doesn’t stop the elegance. Lively, floral, a little lime blossom, no great weight but beautifully balanced in pure white fruit. A small crop as they have just switched this to guyot poussard pruning. Drink from 2027-2033. Tasted Nov 2024.Jasper Morris | 91-94 JMThe 2023 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Fairandes 1er Cru, which was regrafted with Chardonnay in 2017, has a pleasant, reductive nose that will need a few years in bottle. The palate is well balanced with a peachy entry alongside hints of apricot and clementine, leading to a pretty finish with pleasant rondeur. This is well-made and quite delicious, especially considering the youthfulness of the vines.Vinous Media | 90-92 VM

Family-owned winery Craggy Range has an excellent reputation, and its entry-level Sauvignon Blanc shows a lovely purity and balance. The Martinborough region, at the southern tip of New Zealand’s North Island, is a minor player size wise compared to the juggernaut that is Marlborough, but its wines are often more restrained in style. This elegant expression shows a lovely purity of gooseberry, blackcurrant leaf and lime fruit, with added weight from partial, short ageing in French oak. Mix-six price: £15.99Decanter | 90 DEC

The 2023 Albariño is decidedly spicy, mixing apricots and sage with hints of crushed stone. It rushes the palate with mineral-tinged orchard fruits, propelled by juicy acidity as inner herbal tones resonate. A salty flourish lingers as the 2023 finishes long and youthfully tense.Vinous Media | 90 VMA solid, medium-bodied white with ripe and generous fruit character and a polished texture. It offers aromas of candied citrus fruit and peaches with dried flowers and a hint of orange peel. Round-textured and sleek on the palate. Drink now. Screw cap.James Suckling | 90 JS

The NV Champagne Brut Reserve release is equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier, with 25% reserve wine (3-4 years of wines), and it’s based on the 2020 harvest. A bright pale silver/yellow hue, it opens to fresh and fruity notes of graham cracker, ripe pear, fresh flowers, and wet stones. Medium-bodied and inviting, it’s a perfect aperitif, with a fresh and fruity note, a lively mousse, and a clean finish. Lovely, fruity, and refreshing, it can also be enjoyed at the end of a meal. Drink it over the next several years. Disgorged April 2024. 8 grams per liter dosage.Jeb Dunnuck | 91 JD

Grapefruit color with aromas of cherries, strawberries, almonds, pastries and honey. Creamy and rounded, with a medium body and soft bubbles. All nicely integrated. Blend of majority pinot noir with chardonnay and meunier, with 12% red wine. 10g/L. Drink now.James Suckling | 91 JS