Frédéric Magnien is widely regarded as one of the shrewdest and sharpest young winemakers working in the Côte d'Or today. In the winery, Frédéric adopts a hands-off approach as much as is practically possible, enabling each wine to display its individual vineyard origins. His wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered and are as modern as the presentation. The small commune of Vosne-Romanée is the Côte de Nuits’ brightest star, producing the finest and most expensive Pinot Noir wines in the world, and boasting no fewer than eight Grand Cru vineyards. Its wines have an extraordinary intensity of fruit which manages to combine power and finesse more magically than in any other part of the Côte d’Or. The best examples balance extraordinary depth and richness with elegance and breeding.

Saint Veran Domaine de la Croix Senaillet is a truly magnificent example of Maconnais Chardonnay from one of the area’s leading producers. It is a fleshy wine with vibrant lemon notes, apple and floral aromas all would round a fresh mineral finish. It’s posh enough for special occasions but affordable enough for Wednesday nights. Since the early 1990’s, brothers Richard and Stéphane Martin have been farming this Domaine along strict organic principals. They have grown their holdings from 6 to 25 hectares in that time with the majority in the Davaye commune. Their wines offer tremendous value from a region that is seeing prices escalate. Their attention to detail and quality is quite something to behold and really shines through in their wines.

Prélude is the entry-level Montagny, sourced from the vineyards of Le May (Saint-Vallerin) and Les Coères (Montagny). It was raised for 10 months, in a combination of tank (60%) and older barrels (40%). In contrast to the Mon Blanc, the villages cuvée displays more volume, yet it remains braced by a consistent thread of acidity. A feeling of nervy tension as well as a finely honed citrus flavour contribute weight to the solid skeleton - structure supports richness. It’s delicious, charming value, and has been described by Jasper Morris as "An exemplary source of characterful Montagny".

2019 Score Robert Parker Wine Advocate 91/100 The 2019 Mâcon-Chardonnay Les Crays is lovely, offering up aromas of honeyed orchard fruit, white flowers and pastry, followed by a medium to full-bodied, lively but gourmand palate, concluding with a saline finish. The Bret Brothers' négociant house is a fine source of elegant, classy Mâconnais wines derived from fruit that's either organically farmed or in organic conversion and deftly vinified by this talented and industrious duo. Fermentations with ambient microflora, long élevage and discretion with oak are the order of the day at this address. More concentrated than the giving, open-knit 2018 vintage, the 2019s at this address nonetheless avoid the potential excesses of the year, too. Seamless and nicely balanced, it's a fine success.