Went to a tasting and was blown away. It was my first time trying burgs. I was kind of hoping I wouldn’t think they were that great but the wines exceeded my expectations. 2017 GCs from Lucien Le Moine. Now I want that experience again but it’s tough price point. Did a little research and read that GC accounts for 3% of burg production. I see a large range of prices from several GCs. In my mind it seems like one could buy the wines priced in even the lower quartile and have a great experience but then with the way market forces work I must be wrong.
Before I go dump $200 in a lower priced GC what can the experienced wine drinkers here tell me to help me along in my journey? Thx
there are literally hundreds of threads that discuss this. Use the search option.
Don’t waste your money on a young g cru red that is decades from peak. Go to tastings, start a wine group, read, and drink lower level wines to get grounded.
And my advice is that it’s “producer, producer, producer” in Burgundy, not vineyard.
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That’s not how it works and a recipe for disappointment. Dr Weinberg’s advice is excellent and you should follow it.
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This thread’s a good place to start: Thoughts on Buying and Consuming BURGUNDY. Echo the other posts though, just search burgundy and start reading!
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FWIW, 2017 is a very charming and approachable vintage, so that probably helped these wines show well.
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Please please don’t make the mistake of assuming the GC classification makes everything better than “lesser” wines. You will find many poorly made GCs, or GCs from poorly placed parcels. Or badly farmed. Just because a vineyard received a certain classification doesn’t mean only great wines will come out of it. The opposite can be said, on the opposite end, for lesser vineyards - many outstanding wines come from these. Taste broadly and deeply and, at least to start, without label bias.
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I’m thrilled to hear about your memorable experience with the 2017 Grand Crus from Lucien Le Moine. Burgundy wines, especially Grand Crus, can indeed offer unparalleled complexity and elegance. Navigating the world of Burgundy can be daunting due to its vastness and the price points involved. However, it’s possible to find exceptional Grand Cru wines that provide great value. Let’s delve into how you can continue enjoying these wines without overspending, and I’ll recommend at least five specific bottles for you.
Understanding Burgundy Grand Crus
Firstly, it’s essential to recognize why Grand Cru wines are priced differently:
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Terroir Variation: Even within Grand Cru vineyards, microclimates and soil compositions can vary, affecting the wine’s quality.
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Producer Reputation: Renowned producers with a history of excellence often command higher prices.
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Vintage Conditions: Exceptional vintages increase demand and prices.
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Market Demand: Global interest, especially from emerging markets, can drive up prices.
Finding Value in Lower-Priced Grand Crus
You are correct that some lower-priced Grand Crus can offer remarkable experiences. Here’s how to find them:
• Explore Lesser-Known Vineyards: Some Grand Cru vineyards are less famous but still produce outstanding wines.
• Seek Out Emerging Producers: Newer or smaller domaines might price their wines more affordably.
• Consider Vintages: Slightly less acclaimed vintages can offer great value and are often more approachable when young.
Recommendations
Based on your interest and budget (around $200), here are five specific Grand Cru Burgundy wines to consider:
- Domaine Chandon de Briailles Corton Les Bressandes Grand Cru 2017
• Approximate Price: $150
• Why It’s Worth Trying: This wine offers a beautiful expression of the Corton hillside, with red fruit aromas, earthy undertones, and silky tannins. The 2017 vintage is approachable and showcases the finesse of the vineyard.
- Louis Jadot Corton-Pougets Grand Cru 2016
• Approximate Price: $170
• Why It’s Worth Trying: Louis Jadot is a respected négociant and producer. This wine is known for its depth and structure, offering notes of black cherry, spice, and minerality. It’s a great example of a high-quality Grand Cru at a reasonable price.
- Bouchard Père & Fils Le Corton Grand Cru 2015
• Approximate Price: $180
• Why It’s Worth Trying: From one of Burgundy’s oldest houses, this wine from the excellent 2015 vintage provides richness and complexity. Expect dark fruit flavors, hints of oak, and a long, satisfying finish.
- Domaine Faiveley Echezeaux Grand Cru 2017
• Approximate Price: $200
• Why It’s Worth Trying: Echezeaux is a renowned vineyard, and Faiveley is known for producing wines with elegance and depth. This bottle offers floral notes, red berry fruit, and a touch of spice.
- Domaine de la Vougeraie Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2016
• Approximate Price: $195
• Why It’s Worth Trying: This biodynamic producer crafts wines that are true to their terroir. The Charmes-Chambertin is lush with red fruit, earthy nuances, and fine tannins, making it both accessible and age-worthy.
Additional Tips
• Consider Premier Cru Wines: Some Premier Cru vineyards, especially from top producers, can rival Grand Crus in quality but at lower prices.
• Focus on Chablis Grand Crus: If you’re open to white wines, Chablis Grand Crus like Les Clos offer exceptional quality for less than their Côte de Beaune counterparts.
• Buy From Trusted Merchants: Ensure you’re purchasing from reputable sources to avoid counterfeit bottles and guarantee proper storage conditions.
Conclusion
Venturing into Burgundy’s Grand Crus doesn’t have to be prohibitively expensive. By exploring wines from less-hyped vineyards and producers, you can find bottles that deliver the exceptional experience you’re seeking. The wines recommended above are excellent starting points that combine quality with relative affordability.
Feel free to reach out if you have more questions or need further assistance in your wine journey. Cheers to discovering more great Burgundies!
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Love Burgundy 
I generally agree with the advice given. However, it is not easy to follow anymore. When you search for great produces they are extremely expensive and not quality for money anymore (unless you are lucky to be a VIP customer). So the sweet spot is up and coming producers and to my experience, mid level GCs can also provide great experiences. I enjoy many e.g. 15 Drouhin Charmes Chambertin, Faiveley Echezeaux 09 and Moine Clos Roche 13 to mention some. Recent vintages are getting expensive, but look for 15-16-17 that still can be found at lower prices if you are lucky. Especially 17 for drinking now, had a Grivot Echezeaux 17 recently that was singing (but this is bit more expensive).
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There was a very recent thread with a question more or less along the same line:
There’s a good bit of discussion there that might be helpful.
In terms of value play, there’s a ton of great advice above and elsewhere in the forum, but if you can find a particular producer that you personally like but isn’t so popular or even disliked by others–then you can also get some great value that way. It’s hard because those producers tend to be disliked for a good reason.
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@ybarselah Excellent demonstration of the use of ChatGPT (or similar LLM)!
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Thank you! Really appreciate your reply.
#Camus 
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I was wondering but didn’t want to ask 
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Generally speaking how is Jadot thought of?
This needs to be engraved on your brow. Been drinking burg for over half a century. Still don’t know very much. But I do know one thing: producer, producer, producer.
Start at the most basic levels (villages or even Bourgogne) and try different producers. There are wildly different styles that appeal to different palates. Find a few you like then move up the prestige real estate curve — slowly.
The domaine wines can be very good.
They’re priced that way for a reason. Some of the worst value in wine is in lower priced Burg producers. (at least not as poor a value as 90% of Napa though)
Thank you ChatGPT!
As an aside this both shows how stupid the existing models are for wine, (here’s a bunch or random GC wines at a ~$200 price point based on a really limited amount of training data not at all related to the wine you say you liked) and how quickly it will get to be really interesting when they can access broader datasets online through things like tastry which combine data science on the chemistry to understand similarities in taste.
That is if those useful wine AI companies don’t just get acquired by Brown Forman or Constellation to micro target the masses which is probably more likely.
Jadot used to have a legendary head winemaker - Jacque Lardiere. He retired (or was forced to retire by French law). I have a bunch of wines from his era and they are not only good but were excellent values.
Since he retired, I have not liked the newer vintages as well and the wines have gotten more expensive. So, I have not bought any.
For wines made in a somewhat similar style to the classic Jadot wines, but much better, look for wines from Rossignol-Trapet from Bourgogne to Chambertin. Their villages Gevrey Chambertin can provide a very nice blend of excellent quality and good relative value.
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ChatGPT or Gemini? 
Edit: Sorry, just saw i was late to the game on this one!
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