December '24 Burg Club

Burgundy enthusiasts, the year is drawing to a close, and what better way to celebrate the season than with some delightful wines from the world's best region? December 15th, 2024 marks the latest release for our Drink Burgundy Club. As always, we'll delve into the producers and regions so we can all learn a bit more about the magic of Burgundy. Without further ado, let's get to the wines!

White (both club levels): Jérémy Arnaud Bourgogne Tonnerre Les Huées 2022

About Jérémy Arnaud: Jérémy Arnaud is a name to watch in Burgundy. Based in the less-heralded region of Tonnerre, just north of Chablis, he's quickly gaining recognition for crafting wines that are both precise and expressive. Unlike the Côte d'Or to the south, the wines from the Tonnerre area are usually on the lighter, leaner side with more steely and mineral notes, however this shows weight without the use of new oak. He's a young vigneron, but he brings experience from working with some of the best producers in Burgundy and a clear vision for his estate and the region. It's exciting to see what he's doing with a focus on organic farming and terroir expression.

About Tonnerre: Tonnerre is a subregion within Burgundy often overshadowed by its famous neighbor, Chablis. However, the area is producing more and more impressive wines. While Chardonnay is king, there are also a few spots that are seeing some interesting experiments with Pinot Noir. Tonnerre's wines are known for their bracing acidity, pure fruit, and minerality, coming from the Kimmeridgian limestone soils. It offers an excellent contrast to the richer, more opulent whites of the Côte de Beaune. This Bourgogne Tonnerre comes from his parcel "Les Huées", which typically gives wines that are more aromatic with great energy.

Red (Village Level): François Mikulski Monthelie Rouge Les Toisieres 2022

About François Mikulski: François Mikulski is a name that needs no introduction for Burgundy lovers. While well-known for his Meursault whites, he also produces some fantastic red wines from his holdings in Monthelie. He is a detail-oriented producer, with meticulous vineyard work and a focus on expressing the unique character of each parcel of land. His reds, while still less famous, are made in the same style as his whites; they are classic, refined and elegant. The grapes are fully destemmed and aged in 20% new French oak. 

About Monthelie: Monthelie, a small village nestled just west of Volnay, is often considered one of Burgundy's hidden gems. While it doesn't have the prestige of its neighbors Volnay and Pommard, its wines are increasingly being appreciated for their vibrant fruit, charming earthiness and accessibility. The wines are often medium bodied with red cherry and cranberry fruit and a delicate floral aroma. This parcel, "Les Toisieres", sits above the village and gives wines with structure and tension. We chose this wine as it is the perfect wine to drink with dinner without the need to wait many years.

Red (1er Cru Level): Domaine Anne et Herve Sigaut Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Noirots 2022

About Domaine Anne et Herve Sigaut: The Sigauts are unassuming but genuinely committed vignerons. Hervé Sigaut and his wife Anne took over from Maurice Sigaut in 1990, and have since made significant improvements in both the vineyard and the cellar. Anne is deeply passionate about their 7 hectares of vineyards, while Hervé takes a refreshingly logical approach, paying close attention to the lunar calendar for key interventions and even using horses to plow certain parcels. They have a strong commitment to bio-dynamic farming, aiming to preserve the natural balance of their vineyards. In 2004, they revamped the winery, adding a sorting table and stainless steel tanks that are sunk into the floor to aid with fermentation. They aim to touch the wines as little as possible, racking only once. Their new oak usage is kept below 40%, with barrels sourced from several coopers and no barrel being older than 5 years old, aiming to drop the rotation to a 3 year cycle. 

About Chambolle-Musigny & Les Noirots: Chambolle-Musigny is widely celebrated for its delicate, perfumed Pinot Noir. The wines are known for their silky textures, floral aromatics, and exceptional finesse. While not known for the power of wines from Gevrey-Chambertin, they have a haunting grace and complex minerality, and often are the most elegant of all red Burgundies and my personal favorite village. The 1er Cru vineyard Les Noirots sits just below Grand Cru Bonnes Mares in the sweet spot of the slope. The vines for this cuvee range in age from 20 to 55 years. It is a perfect representation of all that Chambolle-Musigny has to offer and the most generously full of the Sigaut 1er cru wines. 

I hope you all are as excited as I am for this release!