Burgundy: Trip Notes, Vintage Tips, and New In Stock
I have just returned from a nine-day trip to Burgundy where I was able to taste the 2023 vintage from bottle as well as many 2024 wines from barrel. I also spent a lot of time discussing economic global trends with our winery partners. Going over to taste is an annual trip, and I always appreciate re-tasting a vintage in bottle that I had previously tasted from barrel as well as tasting the next vintage we’ll be selling. 2023s are excellent: loaded with fruit and very fresh and energetic, though a tad less rich and complex than their 2022 counterparts. The whites excelled once again while the reds are delicious with wonderful aromas and pure red fruits cores across the board.
The 2024s that I was able to taste were pretty, light, and ethereal, though the 2023s might have a slight advantage on depth and power. The 2024 vintage is marked by incredibly low yields thanks to hail early in the budding process and then mildew later on, which was on a scale never seen before. Yields are down 20-60% on white Burgundy and an astonishing 40-90% on red Burgundy, so my advice is to stock up on 2023s because 2024s will not only be in short supply but likely more expensive.
Getting to go to Burgundy at least once a year to meet with our winery partners means that we build solid relationships and find ways to offer you the best possible wines at the best possible prices. We’ve become big fans of under-the-radar appellations that can offer a better value because they get less spotlight than their famous neighbors—check out some of our wines from Domaine Charles Audoin in Marsannay, for instance, and we think you’ll agree. We’ve recently had several containers of Burgundy land and are thrilled to have so many great wines to offer!
Our latest container was packed with a ton of wonderful wines at fantastic prices. In addition to a trio of highly-rated 2022 Marsannays from Charles Audoin for $59.99 a bottle, we’ve got a bevy of exciting white Burgundies from Pernot-Belicard showcasing how truly great the 2023 vintage is for white wines. From entry-level Bourgogne Blanc and Aligoté to top-notch 1er cru Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault, this is a producer to gobble up. Lastly, we have a trio of affordable whites from Vigneron Associates with a stunning 2023 Vignerons des Terres Secrètes Mâcon-Villages "Les Preludes" $14.99 that drinks like a fine white Burgundy easily double the price! There’s also a wonderful Aligoté for a steal at 2023 Nuiton-Beaunoy Bourgogne Aligoté $14.99, which displays beautiful white fruit notes while still being true to the zippy character of the Aligoté grape. The 2022 Nuiton-Beaunoy Hautes-Cotes-de-Beaune Bourgogne Blanc $17.99 90DC is just a killer value, delivering a much higher-end white Burgundy experience than its price tag.
We have one last container due to land in about three weeks, so stay tuned for some exciting wines to hit our shelves in May. The newest vintage of Château de la Charrière is landing, and the 2023s are excellent as always and represent one of the best value propositions we have at K&L. Every year I am astounded at how good these wines are for their price points. We’ll also have our newest private-label Chablis from Agnes Gleizes, which is made by our friends at Domaine Gautheron. This is the exact same juice that goes into Domaine Gautheron, but the label is all ours. The Agnes Gleizes Chablis are one of the most exciting developments we have in the Burgundy aisle, and I am sure you’ll be amazed by what you get in the bottle for the price!
Lots of exciting things going on here at K&L in regards to Burgundy, so be sure not to miss out.