Wife and I are getting away to Blackberry Farm later this year and they have an absolutely brilliant wine and food program. I’ve got some wine categories well covered, but would like to hit a couple burgs while we’re there.
I’d love some recos, but please keep bottle price below $650 (which should give a lot of options).
I would struggle with reds. For white, Chablis is the sweet spot for me. My first choice would be the 2022 Louis Michel Grenouilles. Then either of the 2017 Dauvissat 1er, or the 22 village chablis.
Michael’s mugnier chambolle rec is a good one, though I haven’t actual had the wine in that vintage.
Sometimes it pays to just give the somm your budget, point to a couple of wines that interest you, and see what he comes up with. Not unheard of that a somm might offer a deal on something.
2012 Domaine des Tours Blanc 105
2013 Domaine des Tours Blanc 75 (my pick)
2015 Domaine des Tours Blanc 80
2001 Château de Fonsalette Blanc 315 (my pick at the next price point)
2005 Château de Fonsalette Blanc 365
The Rayas Blanc prices are also very good
2005 Château Rayas Blanc 545
2006 Château Rayas Blanc 520
For Rayas reds I would go with the either the Vacqueyras (much better than the regular Ch des Tours yet same prices) or the Fonsalette Cuvee Syrah (which very rare and very special)
2009 Château des Tours Vacqueyras Rouge 185
2010 Château des Tours Vacqueyras Rouge 180
2011 Château des Tours Vacqueyras Rouge 190
2005 Château de Fonsalette · Syrah 435
2006 Château de Fonsalette · Syrah 390
2007 Château de Fonsalette · Syrah 360
here are couple of red burgs that appealed
1999 Joseph Drouhin ∙ Clos Sorbé 235
1995 Louis Jadot · Clos St. Denis 285
I only skipped around, and there are some gems on the list at very attractive prices, but they’re definitely few and far between. Most of the deals seem to be on wines that are older and presumably overlooked, with no real updates in price since they were added.
Their prices on Valentini Trebbiano seem pretty incredible. Practically current release retail, but for aged bottles–and they should be in a great drinking window right now (and absolutely incredible wines). Also would be seriously tempted by the 2015 Comando G Tamboril Blanco, which is priced below current-release retail and should be a lights-out wine. (Alas the red Comando Gs seem to be marked up pretty fully.)
The back vintages of Littorai Pinots seem pretty reasonably priced, given the age and track record for those wines (I might go for the '05 Savoy for $275). I think the '96 Leeuwin Artist Series Cab would be tempting for $175.
2005 n rossignol savigny les lavieres for $150 seems solid. there is also a surprisingly large assortment of aged half bottles especially from gouges, perrot minot, etc. could be worth taking a few swings there as well.
2002 Girardin Clos St Denis. Just drank a bottle of this in September. My notes - Decanted and returned to cellar for two hours. Really fine. Balanced and delicious.
I don’t know where he was sourcing his wine, but Girardin put together really outstanding grand crus in 1999-2002. This one is well below your maximum price ($415).
I’ve always wanted to stay at Blackberry Farm.
It’s a huge and odd list. prices oscillate somewhat wildly. On whites–I know not your priority–the 1997 Bonneau du Martray ∙ Corton Charlemagne would tempt me. (When these are on, they are marvellous) The Valentini Trebbiano also is well priced and can be special. On red burg, the Mongeard-Mugneret Esch or Grand Esch would be ones I might consider. The pricing is good for what they are; they would definitely need a good decant–maybe request ahead of time.
The older Joguet 375mls for $40 would be tempting to take back to room.
At dnner the 1991-1998 Chave Blanc 375mls would be interesting.
On Burgs the Perrot Minot Cuvee Ultra wines were always excellent, especially La Combe d’Orveau as it abuts Musigny with 80 year old vines and La Richemone. Some good Clavelier wines too and Mortet.
This list was written with someone from Martine’s way back when, I recognize so many of these.
If you want good old fashioned earthy, meaty burgundy with incredible aromatics there are 4 bottles here of particular note that are under your ideal limit of $650. The Serafins may be a bit on the young side, but if I were at the table I would order any of these 4 with great confidence,
2016 Claude Dugat Gevrey-Chambertin
2012 Serafin Gevrey-Chambertin Les Corbeaux
2017 Dujac Morey St. Denis
2005 Serafin Chambolle-Musigny Les Baudes
What a sensational community. This is so much fun for me. I’m enjoying looking through these suggestions, will do some homework, and will report back after the trip!
We went in May and I generally avoided buying Burgs because they were priced at a premium (I BYOed my own). The Bruno Clairs and Claveliers were the deals I found but the CT notes on them generally weren’t great. There were also lots of sharply priced white burgs from 2000-2010 that would be a premox minefield. Don’t forget though - anything you order includes a 30% service fee on top of the bottle price.
The list has some amazing deals on non-French Rhone varietals and American wines. I ordered a '97 Grange one night for $525 as I recall. It was wonderful. '03 Rayas Blanc was arguably my favorite wine of the trip that included '12 DRC RSV and '85 Krug Collection. There were also some great deals on back vintage Oregon Pinots. I had an excellent '04 Beaux Freres BF Pinot at Blackberry Mountain one night.
Feel free to DM me if you want a full download on the trip.