2019 Bouchard Père et Fils, 1er Cru Beaune du Château, Rouge, $55

Winery Info: Founded in 1731, Maison Bouchard Père & Fils is one of Burgundy’s oldest wine merchant houses.  

Today they have 130 hectares of vineyards, many of them Grand and Premier Cru, and they strive to convey the most faithful expression of each terroir in their wines. The domaine is housed on the site of the Château de Beaune, a former royal fortress built by King Louis XI in the 15th century and purchased by the family in 1820. The cellars, which run deep underground beneath the property, provide perfect conditions for aging their wines. They have been producing the Beaune du Château Cuvée since 1907.

Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir, aged 12 to 14 months in 30% new French oak.

Vineyard: A blend of 17 Premier Cru Vineyards, chosen for their complementary qualities and vinified separately. The soils are pebbly, marly limestone.

Flavor Profile: This Pinot is a very approachable and accessible reflection of the terroir of Beaune. It is relatively rich and ripe, with aromas and flavors of red fruit, a hint of mocha, and good minerality. The oak aging adds soft texture, fine tannins, and a touch of spice.

Availability: There is not a lot left of this vintage.

Drinking Window: Approachable now or over the next two or three years.

Food Pairing: The winery suggests meat dishes in white sauce or poultry. Or you could enjoy it with boeuf Bourguignon.

2020 Domaine des Pierres-Sèches, Saint-Joseph Blanc, $45

Winery Info: Sylvain Gauthier grew up in a winemaking family in Moselle, in northeast France. He began his winemaking studies in Beaune, in the heart of Burgundy, after which he worked with famed Châteauneuf-du-Pape producer Michel Chapoutier, and Stéphane Robert in Saint-Peray. When it came time to found his own winery, in 2007, he chose the northern Rhône appellation of Saint-Joseph. The name, “pierre sèches” (dry stones), was inspired by the ancient, hand-built stone walls that support the terraced vineyards on the steep slopes of the northern Rhône. Sylvain farms organically and uses minimal sulfur at bottling.

Grapes: 100% Roussanne from vines ranging 10 to 20 years in age. Aged six months in older French oak barrels. Bottled unfined, with minimal added sulfur.

Vineyard: From estate hillside vineyards facing south/southeast in the communes of Sarras and Ozon. The soils are mostly schist and loess and the vineyards are worked exclusively by horse or by hand.

Flavor Profile: The importer notes that Sylvain produces wines with “serious soul, deeply flavored, yet effortlessly elegant.” This one is deep golden in color, with ripe, honeyed, floral aromas, flavors of orchard fruit, and rich, silky texture, balanced by juicy freshness and crushed stone minerality.

Availability: This wine is in limited supply.

Drinking Window: Enjoy now or over the next two to three years.

Food Pairing: Great with charcuterie, grilled chicken, mushroom risotto, or roasted fall vegetables. Or you could try it with spicy sushi or Asian fare with wasabi.