Burgundy is simply put, one of the most highly regarded wine regions in the world. It is the “holy grail” to many wine drinkers. Burgundy has a fascinating history which stretches back to the Roman times, when the first vines were planted here, through the middle ages, when monks from monasteries nearby farmed the land, and begin identifying specific sites and plots which stood out consistently, year after year, for the quality of the wine produced from those grapes. This leads us to today with a complex layered system of regional, village, premier cru, and grand cru vineyards from which these beautiful bottles come from.

One of the beautiful things about wine is that especially in such important regions such as Burgundy, year after year, it keeps turning. New wines, some of the same Domaines for decades, and then of course, new Domaines being established. This is where things get interesting. Because Burgundy has become such a bright star on the wine map, it has drawn more and more people to it who are looking to make their own piece of history in this special region. We now speak of the “New Wave” Burgundy, these are primarily younger producers, either taking over family Domaines and changing things in the vineyards and the cellar, or people from other parts of France, or even other parts of the world who are drawn to Burgundy and want to put their own spin on the wines from the region, while still respecting the history. This is the Burgundy that is the most exciting to us, because there is a renewed focus on the farming aspect of the winemaking. Seeking healthy soils and sustainable methods for treating the vines against disease pressure. Also, in the cellar, seeking purity and a loud expression of the land and the people. Finally, focusing on parts of Burgundy that were previously overlooked or considered lesser, such as the Haute-Côte de Beaune and the Haute-Côte de Nuits, or the Côte de Nuits Villages, Macon, and the Côte Chalonaise. Additionally, some villages such as Saint-Roman and Maranges, Monthelie and Marsannay. 

Some of the producers we are the most excited about leading this charge are people like Seiichi Saito, of Domaine Petit-Roy, originally from Japan, but drawn to Burgundy by its magic charm and the presence of other Japanese winemakers who came before him. His beautiful bottlings from the Haute-Côte reflect a renewed desire for freshness. Or French-born Jérémy Recchione, who is now makes stunningly deep and special wines in some of Burgundies undiscovered terroirs in the Haute Côte de Nuits.

We are spoiled today to have so many interesting wine makers with access to some of the best terroirs of the world. It is the best time to explore these energetic, new wave bottlings.