Spot Burgundy’s big names in this fantastic auction which is essentially an ode to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. What is more, nearly half of the bottles are new releases! It’s an opportunity to try world famous wines, while also unearthing gems produced by small winemakers.

The big Burgundy merchants: Louis Latour, Louis Jadot, Bouchard, Faiveley, Albert Bichot, Chanson, Joseph Drouhin…

These big names surely evoke many memories. Are you thinking about your first bottle of Burgundy? Or maybe your most recent one?

Before we start talking about the wine, we need to dispel a myth. Being a wine merchant is not taboo! Unmissable in Burgundy – they represent about 60% of the wine from the region – each wine trader stands out in different ways. Some buy wine, while others buy must or grapes. And some traders will be right alongside the winemaker, visiting the vines throughout the year and helping with the harvests, for example.

Some of these companies are part of Burgundy’s history. One example is Domaine Faiveley as Georges Faiveley, head of the estate at the time, created the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin in 1934. Others are known for their winemaking skills such as Maison Albert Bichot which owns 105 hectares of its own vines and vinifies all its Premier and Grand Crus itself. Louis Jadot (which owns 200 hectares) and Bouchard Père et fils (which has 130 hectares) are two major landowners in the Côte d’Or and champion these great Burgundy climats.

Some wines are mythical like the Clos-des-Mouches by Maison Drouhin, Clos des Fèves from Chanson, and Louis Latour’s Corton-Charlemagne. Incidentally, Louis Latour has a close working relationship with iDealwine. Every year at the Hospices de Beaune auction, iDealwine buys some Beaune Premier Cru that has been made by the trading company.

Last but not least, some smaller high-end traders have emerged in recent years with big names such as Dominique Laurent who has 11 hectares and creates wines that connect different eras as the domain uses traditional winemaking and ageing methods. Or there is Philippe Pacalet who owns 16 hectares and produces natural wines without destemming the bunches and with no added sulphur.

New releases and gems

There are two new partner domains to discover.

• Domaine des Terres de Velle: six hectares in the Côte de Beaune, located in Auxey-Duresses, produces no fewer than 18 cuvées. They employ “common sense” when tending to their vines and grow them according to organic and biodynamic principles.
• Domaine du Couvent: 10 hectares in Côte de Nuits, situated in Gevrey-Chambertin, creates about 16 wines. The domain owns the entirety of three vineyards in Gevrey-Chambertin – Le Clos du Couvent (4,000 square metres), Le Clos du Meix des Ouches (1 hectare) and La Romanée Premier Cru (1 hectare).

There are also a few gems to unearth:

Domaine Joblot, based in Givry, offers wines from a range of vintages and climats.

Domaine Heitz-Lochardet releases wines with as much character as the winemaker, Armand Heitz, with bottles from Corton-Charlemagne, Pommard Premier Cru Les Rugiens, Chassagne-Montrachet La Maltroie, Meursault En la Barre, Mazis-Chambertin, and Chambertin.

We have also found an exquisite Clos-de-la-Roche Vieilles Vignes from Domaine Ponsot and some Echezeaux from Domaine des Perdrix. Two wines to keep and enjoy with a special meal in a few years’ time.

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