The iconic bottles that define Burgundy: what they are, who makes them and what they cost.
The iconic bottles that define Burgundy: what they are, who makes them and what they cost.
The monopole that defines Burgundy. Around 450 cases a year of profound, perfumed Pinot Noir from a single 1.8-hectare Vosne-Romanee climat.
Tasting notes: The Vosne monopole at its most ethereal: rose, spice and dark berry layered over a silken, near-weightless palate of extraordinary persistence. Source: producer and critic notes (Burghound, Vinous, Decanter).
DRC's 6-hectare monopole, a darker and brawnier counterpoint to Romanee-Conti, with violet, game and spice over a long savoury frame. Drinks well 12-40 from vintage.
Tasting notes: DRC's other monopole: darker and more muscular than Romanee-Conti, with violet, black fruit and a spiced, savoury core. Source: producer and critic notes (Burghound, Vinous, Decanter).
Rousseau's Chambertin: the reference grand cru of Gevrey, powerful and structured with a long, age-worthy mineral frame. Drinks well 15-40 from vintage.
Tasting notes: The grand vin of Gevrey: powerful and structured, with dark fruit, spice and a long, mineral, age-worthy frame. Source: producer and critic notes (Burghound, Vinous, Decanter).
Roumier's Musigny: from a sliver of a parcel, ethereal perfume over a deep mineral core, among the rarest reds on earth. Drinks well 15-40 from vintage.
Tasting notes: From a tiny parcel, one of the most sought-after wines in the world: ethereal perfume over a deep, mineral core. Source: producer and critic notes (Burghound, Vinous, Decanter).
Roumier's Les Amoureuses: the most coveted premier cru in Burgundy, silky and floral with a sensual mineral finish. Drinks well 10-30 from vintage.
Tasting notes: The most coveted premier cru in Burgundy: silky and floral, with rose, red fruit and a mineral, sensual finish. Source: producer and critic notes (Burghound, Vinous, Decanter).
Leflaive's Montrachet: the white-Burgundy reference at its summit, profound and saline with an endless finish. Drinks well 10-30 from vintage.
Tasting notes: The white-Burgundy reference at its summit: profound, saline and tightly wound, with citrus, honey and an endless finish. Source: producer and critic notes (Burghound, Vinous, Decanter).
Coche-Dury's Corton-Charlemagne: a cult grand cru white, flinty and reductive with gunflint and an endless finish. Drinks well 10-30 from vintage.
Tasting notes: A cult grand cru white: flinty and reductive, with citrus, hazelnut, gunflint and a saline, endless finish. Source: producer and critic notes (Burghound, Vinous, Decanter).
Lafon's Meursault Les Perrieres: Meursault's grand cru in waiting, mineral and intense with citrus and saline depth. Drinks well 8-25 from vintage.
Tasting notes: Often called Meursault's grand cru in waiting: mineral and intense, with citrus, hazelnut and a saline depth. Source: producer and critic notes (Burghound, Vinous, Decanter).
Fevre's Chablis Les Clos: the benchmark grand cru, powerful and saline with citrus, oyster shell and a long mineral finish. Drinks well 8-25 from vintage.
Tasting notes: The benchmark Chablis grand cru: powerful and saline, with citrus, oyster shell and a long mineral finish. Source: producer and critic notes (Burghound, Vinous, Decanter).
Raveneau's Chablis Les Clos: the most collected grand cru, intensely mineral and saline with an endless finish. Drinks well 10-30 from vintage.
Tasting notes: The most collected Chablis grand cru: intensely mineral and saline, with citrus, oyster shell and an endless finish. Source: producer and critic notes (Burghound, Vinous, Decanter).
Comte Armand's Pommard Clos des Epeneaux monopole: dense and age-worthy, with dark fruit, iron and a firm frame. Drinks well 10-30 from vintage.
Tasting notes: A dense, age-worthy Pommard monopole, with dark fruit, iron, spice and a firm, savoury frame. Source: producer and critic notes (Burghound, Vinous, Decanter).
De Vogue's Musigny Vieilles Vignes: from the largest owner of the cru, aristocratic perfume over a profound mineral core. Drinks well 15-40 from vintage.
Tasting notes: The largest owner of Musigny makes its grandest wine from old vines: aristocratic perfume over a profound, mineral core. Source: producer and critic notes (Burghound, Vinous, Decanter).
Peak wine-travel season in Burgundy is spring through autumn, with harvest the standout window.
classified-growth and grand-cru estates require booking days to weeks ahead; smaller family domaines often take walk-ins midweek.
most estates open 10:00 to 17:00 by appointment, often closed Sunday and Monday.
tipping is not expected at tastings; buying a bottle from the cellar door is the customary thank-you.
If you only open one bottle, open Romanee-Conti Grand Cru by domaine-de-la-romanee-conti. It is the wine most associated with Burgundy.