The Vineyards Behind Greatness

Over my many years in the wine business, one of the questions I hear is the most is: why is one wine more expensive than another? There’s rarely a simple answer, but most often, it comes down to the vineyard itself. Having a perfectly situated vineyard can make all the difference in the world – and sourcing fruit from those prized parcels comes at a significant cost, driven by Burgundy’s tiny vineyard holdings, soaring land prices, and labor-intensive viticulture.

Burgundy is a vast and intricate landscape, often daunting and confusing even for seasoned collectors. It’s not hard to just go out and buy a Premier Cru, or even Grand Cru level wine, but as the savviest of us know, not all these vineyards are created equal. Some yield much more superior wines than others. Today, I’m excited to share that knowledge with you, along with a curated selection of wines to explore.    

Vosne-Romanée

Regarded as the pinnacle of Pinot Noir in Burgundy, Vosne-Romanée is home to some of the most celebrated vineyards in the world, yet a few remarkable gems remain lesser known. Among the Grands Crus are La Romanée, perched just above Romanée-Conti, and La Grande Rue, contiguous with La Tâche, all four of which are Monopoles. Speaking of La Tâche, Les Malconsorts sits just alongside and carries a Premier Cru designation, as does the tiny plot of Les Gaudichots. The so-called “Little Hill” (Les Petits Monts) is wedged between the powerhouse 1er Crus Cros Parantoux and Reignots, just above Richebourg. Finally, Les Suchots (another 1er Cru that could be mistaken for a Grand Cru), between Romanée-Saint-Vivant and Richebourg, is every bit as seductive as its two famed neighbors.        

Chambolle-Musigny & Morey-Saint-Denis

We start in Chambolle, with a thrilling selection of Les Amoureuses, located just across the way from Musigny, and a wine that many collectors will say should be elevated to Grand Cru. Speaking of Grand Cru (and yet another Monopole), Clos des Lambrays sits in the middle of the five Grands Crus of Morey-Saint-Denis, and right across the way, Clos Sorbé, made famous by the legendary Jacky Truchot, whose ethereal, traditional style captured the vineyard’s delicacy perfectly. 

Meursault

While Meursault has no Grand Cru vineyards, the most sought-after and most celebrated is the Perrières vineyard. Sitting at the southern end of the village not far from Puligny-Montrachet, this vineyard is the epitome of what Meursault is all about: mineral-driven, cool-climate Chardonnay that never lacks for texture or mouthfeel. Situated just a touch north of Perrières is Genevrières, another gem of a 1er Cru that should not be missed.

Puligny-Montrachet & Saint-Aubin

Our smallest section today is Saint-Aubin, but this key region should not be overlooked. Tucked just up the hill from Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet, Saint-Aubin has become a go-to for great Burgundy values. Les Pucelles sits contiguous to both Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet and Bâtard-Montrachet and offers much of the richness of these Grands Crus. With his Haute Densité bottling, Hubert Lamy pushes the limits -27,000 vines per hectare instead of the typical 10,000 – forcing the vines into fierce competition for nutrients and water, yielding remarkable concentration and depth.

All wines are in-stock and no tariffs!