DAILY DRINK RECOMMENDATIONS

Aromas of cherries, black raspberries and dark chocolate introduce the 2020 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Noirots, a medium to full-bodied, rich and layered wine that’s brooding and muscular, with powdery tannins, a ripe core of fruit and a heady finish. This is one of the larger-scaled wines in the Sigaut range, and it will be interesting to see how it ages.

The 2020 Chambolle-Musigny Derrière la Four has turned out very well, unfurling in the glass with aromas of cherries and black raspberries, mingled with hints of cinnamon, clove and bergamot. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and enveloping, with an ample core of fruit, ripe tannins and succulent acids, it’s gourmand but precise, cut from immensely charming cloth this year.

The NV Largillier Blanc de Noirs Brut is a pure single-vineyard Pinot Noir with a deep and intense bouquet of ripe, concentrated fruits but also complex mineral and salty expressions (marl soils). Pure, highly finessed and fruity on the palate, this is a very elegant and balanced Pinot Noir with remarkable finesse and elegance. Very expressive but also charming.

The NV Largillier Brut Nature is from the southwest-facing part of the lieu-dit, which is located on very old limestone soils. The wine opens with a highly pure and mineral, beautifully clear, fresh, complex and terroir-driven nose with some flint-stone aromas. On the palate, this is a beautifully round, elegant, highly finessed and well-balanced Côte des Bar with a long, intense, juicy and charming finish. This is a gorgeously pure, fine, fresh and complex Champagne of great expression.

The 2018 Cote Rotie Blonde du Seigneur is full-bodied, supple and rich, with ample black cherry and blackberry fruit, a velvety mouthfeel and a long, mouthwatering finish. It’s still a delicious mouthful of Cote Rotie that should drink well for more than a decade.

From a muscovite-based site above Chavanay, the 2019 Saint Joseph Terres d’Encre doesn’t come across as being from a particularly hot vintage. Instead, it offers charming nuances of violets and cracked pepper set against a backdrop of just-ripe cherries. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, simultaneously tart and silky, it finishes long and mouthwatering.

The 2021 Pouilly-Fuissé presents an attractive bouquet, featuring notes of melted candle wax, lemon curd, and subtle slate aromas that unfold with assurance in the glass. On the palate, it offers a fresh entry with a fine acidity. There’s a hint of spiciness and a tang of lemongrass towards the finish, maintaining precision even if it lacks the complexity of the very best. Nevertheless, this wine is thoughtfully crafted and simply delicious.

Disgorged this year with 1.5 grams per liter dosage, the 2018 Extra-Brut Soliste Meunier Pierry 1er Cru Les Gouttes d’Or bursts with aromas of sweet orchard fruit, mango, white flowers and almonds. Medium to full-bodied, ample and pillowy, with a sweet core of fruit that’s framed by chalky dry extract, its fleshy mid-palate segues into a long, precise finish.