Thankfully Savigny-Les-Beaune has yet to scale the stratospheric price mountains of its neighbours and still offers excellent value. Javillier’s, 100% destemmed, has fine plush tannins over beautifully perfumed red fruits, strawberries and cream with the faintest whiff of char from discretely balanced oak. Long with great persistence, excellent composure, and layers of complexing earth, mineral characters. Delicious rendition.

The Crepuscule Pinot Noir by Idun in Elgin shows a very light ruby colour with bricky tints to the rim. The delightful nose shows Brambles, rose petals, ripe cherries and strawberries. The palate is wonderfully fresh with red fruits and cherries that are delicate and integrated. Idun is a small, boutique winery run by a French-Danish family originating from Mauritius. They produce excellent varietals which are well-balanced, concentrated, and elegant. They produce mightily impressive, French-inspired wines which you would no doubt pay a lot more for if the grapes were from France.

Les Gravières premier cru is on Santenay's border with Chassagne-Montrachet. It gets a bit more sun than most of the commune, and is one of the best Santenay vineyards, for both reds and whites. While the excellent Vincent Girardin is better known for whites, this Pinot is nonetheless reliable, and good value for Burgundy in this particularly good vintage. Plenty of red berry fruit, with earth and subtle spice. It is tangy and vibrant, still youthful. Soft and with lots of savoury interest.

Kate McIntyre is the queen of Mornington, consistently turning out the most critically acclaimed wines from this famous area near Melbourne. "A real treat of a wine, with rhubarb, beetroot, strawberry and spice flavours. A showboater, and while the stemmy character is a strong influence, I think it works brilliantly." 17.5 jancisrobinson.com (2014 Vintage)

A vivid nose of deep florals: dark roses, violets, and an undertow of ripe red fruit. The palate really shows the best of each vineyard that makes up the cuvée. A pure but powerful drive of fruit on a perfect cusp of ripeness, with complexing notes of sandalwood and spice. This is all about harmony and balance with the transparency of fruit allowing the detail to shine through. Silken tannins finish the package. Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate "Felton Road...consistently reviewed by this publication since the 1997 vintage... pacesetting biodynamic producer." "I almost feel like Felton Road should need no introduction by now. If two decades of excellence isn't enough to convince you to try these wines, what more can I say?" The Wine Society "...legendary status for making some of New Zealand's, and the world's finest pinot noir" Berry Brothers and Rudd "Superb Pinot Noir wine, one of the best examples from outside Burgundy..." Jamessuckling.com Felton Road: The Handsome Prince of New Zealand Pinot. “If Central Otago was the Cote de Nuits, then Bannockburn would be likely be the Vosne Romanee, and I’m ging to hang it right out and say that Felton Road would be the top gun, the DRC.” Decanter Top Scoring Wines of 2021 Felton Road the only NZ 100/100. Wine Spectator Felton Rd no. 12 in the Top 100 Wines of the Word 2018. Drinks International 2023 19/100 World’s most-admired wine brands. Felton Road was the second New Zealand company to join International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) and is a Gold Member.

Remi Jeanniard’s neighbours say that he and his wife are always in the vineyards; even on 2nd January, they were seen out pruning the vines. Remi has just over 7 hectares of vines in and around Morey-St-Denis. The vines are much older than average, with all of his Vieilles Vignes village bottlings being at least 50 years old. This gives a natural concentration to the wines which are both well structured and elegant. Dried fruits, figs, cherries, currants, and violets. Exciting. Less plush than the jeunes vignes, but more vibrant and intense. Supple tannins.

Packed full of wild strawberry fruit with hints of raspberry, the palate adds a touch of spice to the sweet fruit and even a touch of coffee. This is a lovely approachable wine. Alain Gras is the reference point for St-Romain. This extremely steep village was considered part of the Hautes Côtes de Beaune until 1947. The vineyards are set back from the main Côte and mostly at higher elevation and have unquestionably improved in quality by the changes in climate and no longer struggle to reach full physiological maturity. The domaine covers 12 hectares with 8ha being planted with Chardonnay and 4ha to Pinot Noir. There are 42 separate parcels but Alain prefers to blend the grapes into one cuvée.

Packed full of wild strawberry fruit with hints of raspberry, the palate adds a touch of spice to the sweet fruit and even a touch of coffee. This is a lovely approachable wine. Alain Gras is the reference point for St-Romain. This extremely steep village was considered part of the Hautes Côtes de Beaune until 1947. The vineyards are set back from the main Côte and mostly at higher elevation and have unquestionably improved in quality by the changes in climate and no longer struggle to reach full physiological maturity. The domaine covers 12 hectares with 8ha being planted with Chardonnay and 4ha to Pinot Noir. There are 42 separate parcels but Alain prefers to blend the grapes into one cuvée.

To quote Allen Meadows; ‘the quality of these wines is nothing short of phenomenal compared to the usual quality of the respective appellations’. Claude Marechal makes his wines as naturally as possible, taking his inspiration from his late friend Henri Jayer who he trained with early in his career. In common with Jayer he makes wines above and beyond the expectations of his terroirs. His wines are pure and sleek with vibrant fruit and great potential to age. In the vineyard ripeness is the watchword and the vines are maintained in order to maximise phenolic maturity every vintage whatever the conditions. No chemical fertilisers are used and the harvest is hand picked each vintage, Claude says he is usually the last in each appellation to pick which shows on the ripe fruited nature of his wines. After harvest the bunches are sorted by hand and gently de-stemmed before vinification using natural yeasts. The fermenting must is pumped over twice daily and once alcoholic fermentation is finished the wines are placed into oak barrels where they mature for between 10 and 15 months. From tastings of back vintages at the domaine it is clear these are wines that are built to age well. Claude has not changed his prices for the 2021 vintage.

Jérôme and Elisabeth Billard are the 4th generation of his family to have managed Domaine Billard Pere & Fils. Their winery is located in La Rochepot, a village just west of Saint-Aubin. Jérôme has built up the estate's vineyard holdings to an impressive 18.5 hectares, with the largest area in Hautes Cotes de Beaune, as well as Beaune, St Romain, St Aubin, Auxey Duresses and Pommard. Jérôme’s philosophy is "expressing the typicity of the terroir.". Yields are low and grapes are concentrated because of organic farming techniques, extensive pruning and cover crops between vines. His trusty Percheron steed, Raphael, ploughs the vineyards at the estate and for Domaine de la Romanee Conti. Grapes are hand harvested and sorted on a vibrating table to ensure only the best are selected. Winemaking is low intervention. Pinot Noir is foot trodden to gently extract tannins, only natural yeasts are used and wines are left on lees in oak barrels before bottling at the estate. As a consequence of these meticulous efforts, Billard offers high quality wines with layers of complexity and concentration at surprisingly low prices. The Billard Hautes Cotes de Beaune Rouge comes from a plot of 4 hectares with alluvial clay soil. Respecting the delicate nature of Pinot Noir, the extraction is obtained by foot pressing. The wine is then matured in barrel for 10 months. The rigorous bunch selection done in the vineyard before harvest insuring ripe and healthy grapes results in Pinot Noir fruit with a purity to its expression.

Le Finage, which means territory, is the name given to this wine from different Marsannay plots. The vines grow on several clay-limestone soils, producing a fully rounded wine, in which you will find energetic tannins, fruity aromas (raspberry), and spices. Consistency and freshness mark the finish of this perfect ambassador for the appellation. We recommend drinking this wine during its dynamic first 5 years, but it can be kept for longer. It may be necessary to decant certain vintages in their first few years. Depending on the vintage, we use 50% whole-bunch fermentation. The wine is aged for about 12 months in barrels (with 15% of new barrels) and 6 months in stainless steel tanks.

Gilles Remoriquet is not a winemaker who rests on his laurels. He is forever looking for ways to improve his wines. Most recently he has been to the Jura to see a specialist about selecting the right blend of manure and has bought a second sorting table which eliminates under-ripe berries by flotation! Cuvaisons are long, giving a light colour yet concentrated, intense fruit flavours. Remoriquet is one of the top estates in Nuits but the prices have yet to catch up. At the top of the range the Vosne-Romannée 1er Cru au dessous des Malconsorts is situated next to La Tâche and tastes like it is! "Good meaty, powdery, cocoa dusted tannin through out. Persistent, savoury, ripe victoria plum and raspberry underneath. Long, serious, elegant"

Jerome Billard is 5th generation winemaker at the family domaine in Le Rochepot, a village in the Hautes Cotes above Beaune. The vineyards cover 17 hectares and spans four AOCs, (Aligoté, Hautes Côtes de Beaune Blanc and Rouge and Crémant) five AOC-villages and three Premier Cru sites, (Saint Aubin Blanc and Rouge and Beaune). Domaine Billard follow biodynamic techniques during winegrowing; using the lunar calendar and restricting machinery on the vineyards Their lovely Percheron horse Raphael ploughs in between rows in none other than Domaine de la Romanee Conti. The house style is for expressive yet gently extracted wines Aromatic, cassis, raspberry, flowerbeds, wild strawberries, and delicate sweet spices of oak. Fresh acidity, persistent fruit, fragrant and spicy. Quite easy and delicious young.

Maranges has got to be one of the best value wines in Burgundy, and one of her best secrets. In the hands of a great producer as Bertrand Bachelet it only goes to extend these opinions. A striking nose, with an aroma of red fruit, blackcurrant. Lovely tannic structure, peppery notes and hint of florality.

Patrick Javillier is a perfectionist. He vinifies parcel by parcel giving the wine its concentration and richness. Raspberry and vanilla go hand-in-hand on the nose. Supple, fresh, this wine is discreet and accessible in its youth. Les Grands Liards is located at the foot of the hillside with a clay and limestone soil rich in pebbles. Asian style beef will be enhanced by this Red Savigny-Lès-Beaune.

A well-woven tapestry from across the Côte d’Or, with contributions which include Vosne-Romanée, Pommard, Volnay and Monthélie, and some seasoning from Dames Huguettes in the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits. It’s rounded, ripe, pure and velvety. One-third of the volume is aged in barrel and SO2 levels are kept to a minimum, enhancing the creamy finish.

Remi Jeanniard’s neighbours say that he and his wife are always in the vineyards; even on 2nd January, they were seen out pruning the vines. Remi has just over 7 hectares of vines in and around Morey-St-Denis. The vines are much older than average, with all of his Vieilles Vignes village bottlings being at least 50 years old. This gives a natural concentration to the wines which are both well structured and elegant. Dried fruits, figs, cherries, currants, and violets. Exciting. Less plush than the jeunes vignes, but more vibrant and intense. Supple tannins.

A wine plenty of fruit with well integrated structure. This full round wine is very long and charming.

Cool, reserved, crunchy. Lovely with rare lamb, light dishes, summer afternoons.

A wonderfully aromatic, fleshy style. Silky smooth but no lack of tension or grip. Very classy Pinot. From Liberty Wines, UK Importer: Giant Steps was founded by Phil Sexton in 1997 and has since forged a reputation as one of the Yarra Valley’s most exciting producers. Giant Steps was acquired by Jackson Family Wine Estates in 2020. According to Phil Sexton, “this partnership brings us the relationships and careful resources of a great wine family who are committed to vineyards, sustainability and faithful expression of site.” Melanie Chester joined Giant Steps as Head of Winemaking and Viticulture in 2021. Supported by Steve Flamsteed, she works with the winemaking team to honestly express each vintage, grape variety and unique vineyard site in the final wines. Her approach embraces meticulous work in the vineyard and minimum intervention in the winery. The Giant Steps Single Vineyard wines are produced from their best sites in great years. Founder Phil Sexton owns the ‘Sexton’ vineyard next to Coldstream Hills and Yarra Yering. This is the heart of the Yarra Valley, where poor soils result in minuscule yields and intense, concentrated wines. Planted by Lou Primavera in 2001, the ‘Primavera’ vineyard is 12 hectares of red clay loam, facing north/northeast. Giant Steps has a long-standing relationship with the Primavera family, having sourced fruit for their vineyard for years. The red friable soil is critical in shaping the complex structure and pronounced perfume of the ‘Primavera’ vineyard Pinot Noir.

Kate McIntyre is the queen of Mornington, consistently turning out the most critically acclaimed wines from this famous area near Melbourne. "A real treat of a wine, with rhubarb, beetroot, strawberry and spice flavours. A showboater, and while the stemmy character is a strong influence, I think it works brilliantly." 17.5 jancisrobinson.com (2014 Vintage)

An early ripening clone of Pinot Noir that was hand harvested in October from our own small parcel and Martin’s Lane vineyard in Essex. 50% semi-carbonic maceration using a fruit-forward yeast strain and 50% crushed fruit using a classic Burgundian yeast. Tasting Note

Intense nose of real concentration. Vibrant and jewelly – like essence of Central Otago but with a drier finish than many. Still very youthful and savoury. Great stuff! 2020 Vintage Jancis Robinson MW

Organic. natural, sustainable viticulture As Greg Sherwood MW says of the 2015 vintage of this wine: "This is what top quality German Pinot Noir is all about" Super-serious grower, family-owned since 1849, organic, natural sustainable viticulture. Based in the prime Pfalz vineyards around Deidesheim and Forst, Von Buhl is up there with the best in this classic region - relatively warm by German standards, just north from the French Alsace wine region along the Rhine. As Jancis Robinson OBE MW notes this is a super spot for wine bargains. The nose shouts Pinot Noir: strawberry; spice; warm hay; all the classic markers. A whiff of oak, less animal than Burgundy, less plump than California. On the palate more classically German with bright elevated acidity, a cool lift. Let it breathe long, this is a bargain serious Pinot in the pale and mysterious idiom, well worth a look!

Rolly-Gassmann is a domaine like no other and has a unique style. It is located at Rorschwihr, a sleepy village on the northern rim of Haut-Rhin. The vineyards are located in Rorschwihr and the neighbouring Rodern and Bergheim. The wines are small masterpieces with very good definition. The colour is vibrant red and the aroma is full of ripe red forest berries. The taste is concentrated and nicely full-bodied with nuances of pepper, raspberry and blueberry.

Winemaker Larry Cherubino has crafted a delectable cool-climate Pinot from specially selected vineyards across the Yarra Valley. Tasting notes from the winemaker: "Lovely varietal intensity in the wild strawberry and cherry, lightly savory spectrum, vibrant and juicy, with gentle French oak influence."

Redcurrant jelly and raspberries on the nose lovely juicy fresh raspberry fruit on the palate with gentle, ripe tannins and some complexity but deliciously drinkable!

A blend of three parcels from premier cru vineyards this shows more spice and is a little less open, while showing more density and weight. Great concentration and a lovely, juicy, cherry fruited finish. 0-5 years.

Remi Jeanniard is a hands on grower working just over 7 hectares of vines in and around Morey-St Denis. When asked who helps him at harvest time, the answer is simple: he does. The vines are much older than average, with all of his Vieilles Vignes village bottlings being at least 50 years old. This gives a natural concentration to the wines which are both well structured and elegant. Remi is a firm believer that wines are made in the vineyard and this shows through in the pure, concentrated style of the wines and the cautious use of new oak. Remi practices partial whole bunch fermentation, keeping 20% of the stems for Villages wines, 30% for 1er Cru wines, and 50% for Grand Cru.

Garnet in colour, mostly opaque and bright. The nose takes a few minutes to open and then shows cherries and black cherries with some spice. On the palate, this is full bodied with a nice nice texture. Lots of black cherry fruit. A bit of anise on the long finish. Blind, I think I would have guessed Oregon or maybe California here due to all the ripe fruit. Still quite young, perhaps another two or three years will calm it down for those looking for more elegance. I quite enjoyed this as is. It will continue to drink nicely for a decade. Great on its own, this will work well with classic Pinot dishes such as roasted duck.

A lovely Pinot Noir. Light with a soft welcoming nose of autumn fruits. Soft smooth & spicy flavours throughout with generous soft fruit flavours & a pleasing aftertaste.

Pinot Noir from the Chalonnaise region of Burgundy that borders the Cotes de Beaune to the North. Intense ruby colour with hints of purple. A wide palette of aromas dominated by morello cherry and red fruits. Hints of smoke and leather, finely balanced with harmonious tannin. This wine may be enjoyed young and it is also ideal for laying down for a couple more years.

A smooth, fruity Pinot Noir from the Casablanca Valley. Red cherry flavours with a sweet, ripe fruit finish. A portion of the wine is matured in French oak barrels which adds a roundness and a hint of spice to the finished wine.

The Kerruick family bought this small 5 hectare farm near Bendigo at the beginning of the century, originally planting only Pinot Noir. The Estate Pinot Noir has consisitently won plaudits from wine critics since the 2008 vintage, only their second release. The Ballasalla is made for earlier drinking. 100% destemmed Pinot Noir, aged in oak barriques for 6 months. Deep coloured, the wine exhibits dark ripe fruit characters as well as truffle, spice and subtle toasted oak on the palate. A fulsome, structured and well rounded Pinot Noir with a soft acidity and generous mouthfeel

Crazy good-value new Pinot from Plantagenet Wines, a long-established and famed Western Oz family winery. Delicate though richly complex, silky-smooth, nutmeg and clove spiced, subtle in all respects, a real charmer. Very, very good value at half the price of their signature wines - rarely in the wine world is one so surprised at a Pinot Noir being so underpriced. Plantagenet, founded 1974, have been awarded 5-Star Winery status ten years running by Australia's leading wine critic James Halliday. All fruit hand-picked and estate-grown, just a little oak, a fine, proud example of cool-climate Oz Pinot.

A top class Bourgogne from vines on the slopes north of Marsannay near Dijon. The soils here are gravelly, rather like those of Beaune Greves. 30% whole bunch fermentation, the whole estate is farmed organically. At 14.5% the long hot summer is evident - deep colour, plenty of stuffing and grip, just beginning to open nicely, after a few hours bags of deep fruit come through, like a young Gevrey in style. A cracking example of vibrant Cote De Nuits. Since 2012 Château de Marsannay has been owned by the Halley family, at the same time they bought the Château de Meursault. They own 34 hectares of superbly situated vines, and as with Château de Meursault, have invested heavily in realising the estate’s huge potential. The Domaine is managed by Château de Meursault’s Stephane Follin-Arbelet, who is overseeing a quality revolution, but Château de Marsannay have their own winemaking team, lead by the fantastic, and award-winning, Sylvain Pabion. Winemaking is classic and adaptive, largely de-stalked but with whole bunches when necessary, a cold-soaked prior to fermentation and then ageing in a mixture of new and used oak barriques for over a year. Alongside Château de Meursault, this is on course to become one of the largest organic certified estates in the Côte d'Or.

This is the most grown up Cornish Point yet. It has all the classic components (vibrantly fruited, voluptuous and rounded mouthfeel...), but with a structural complexity we have rarely seen before. Indulgent but serious tannins demand a thoughtful conversation in this 15th rendition. Baritones and altos all in harmony leading to a crescendo of a finish.

96/100 An intense, inviting nose with lots of spicy liveliness and layers. Rich and quite bold in style but never heavy. Plenty of red and black fruits. Rounded, supple and mouthfilling, with lovely spice, dried herbs and sweet fruit. Fine, firm tannins drive the length; good acidity, too. An interesting, sophisticated... Points 96 Decanter magazine