Ropiteau – Bourgogne Chardonnay – 2024
Bourgogne AOC – Burgundy – France 🇫🇷
Overview
A regional Bourgogne Chardonnay that highlights the accessible and versatile side of Burgundy. Crafted to be approachable, clean, and easygoing, this wine reflects the broader regional style, fresh, balanced, and unfussy, without the intensity of village-level expressions.
Aromas & Flavors
Light citrus, green apple, and subtle orchard fruit, with a gentle hint of floral tones. Straightforward and clean, without heavy oak influence.
Mouthfeel
Light to light-plus body with moderate acidity. Smooth, approachable, and easy on the palate, offering a soft and balanced finish without sharp edges.
Food Pairings
Grilled chicken, light pasta dishes, soft cheeses, salads, or casual appetizers. Also works effortlessly as a standalone sipper.
Verdict
A simple yet well-executed Chardonnay that delivers exactly what it promises, clean, approachable, and versatile. Not about complexity, but about everyday enjoyment and wide appeal.
Did You Know?
“Bourgogne” AOC wines can source grapes from across the entire Burgundy region, making them ideal entry points to understand the house style before stepping into village or Premier Cru wines.
🍷 Personal Pick
A perfect “anytime Chardonnay”, easy to enjoy, easy to pair, and a reminder that not every Burgundy needs to be complex to be satisfying. — 2 months ago
A wonderful Mount Veeder Cab that has aged elegantly.
The nose shows blackcurrant, blackberry, and plum laced with savory notes of cedar, tobacco and dried herbs. The palate is concentrated yet vibrant with silky tannins has firm grip, finishing long with hints of cocoa and espresso.
Restrained power and finesse, Yannick brought both Veeder’s rugged characters and French precision. Last bottle. — 9 months ago
Good wine, soft tannins, nice aromas — 3 years ago
Medium light ruby , quite wide light ruby rim . On the nose shows good complexity with sous bois , truffle , cherry and raspberry. On the palate this is again more tertiary in character , with those cherry fruits complementing the earthy sous bois notes . With time this shows a mineral , stony undertow , but stays fresh and vital , with those cherry and raspberry notes . Very fine , ripe but grippy tannins . Fresh acidity and good balance , good velvety mouthfeel . This is great now though improves with time in the glass , so there is absolutely no rush here , from now and over the next 10 years perhaps. An excellent showing for this challenging year . At Auberge de l’ill, Illhaeusen. — 11 days ago
Ropiteau Frères – Meursault – 2023
Meursault AOP – Côte de Beaune – Burgundy – France 🇫🇷
Overview
A classic expression of Meursault Chardonnay, showcasing the richer, broader style of the Côte de Beaune. The 2023 vintage leans into ripeness and texture while maintaining balance, delivering a layered and refined interpretation of this iconic village.
Aromas & Flavors
Stone fruit leads the profile, ripe peach and apricot, supported by baked apple and subtle citrus. Notes of toasted hazelnut, light vanilla, and a gentle touch of oak add complexity without overwhelming the fruit.
Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with a broader, more enveloping texture. Creamy yet balanced by fresh acidity, creating a harmonious and polished palate. The finish is smooth, layered, and persistent.
Food Pairings
Lobster, scallops, roasted chicken, creamy pasta, or mushroom-based dishes. Also shines with richer seafood preparations.
Verdict
A sophisticated and well-balanced Meursault that captures the essence of Côte de Beaune richness, textured, layered, and quietly complex. Elegant without being heavy.
Did You Know?
Meursault is famous for its nutty, buttery nuances, often enhanced by lees aging and oak influence, yet the best examples, like this, keep everything in balance rather than leaning too rich.
🍷 Personal Pick
A beautiful step up in texture and complexity, when I want Chardonnay with depth, presence, and that unmistakable Burgundy signature. — 2 months ago
Gonzalo @modern — 4 months ago
Nice rosé. Wish we had more. — 2 years ago
super cool and different white, pounded it with grilled oysters with hot sauce/tarragon butter — 4 years ago

Deep ruby with aromas of black cherry, plum, and stewed fruits, On the bud there is black pepper spice notes with a slight tartness. Finish is medium with good body. — a month ago
Medium body, earthy, interesting citrus notes, minerals, spices, etc — a month ago
Luis martinez sergio gomez lora masseria — 2 months ago
Medium ruby , garnet rim. Quite open and fruit driven nose , cherry , strawberry , earthy porcini. On the palate this is still quite fruit driven red cherry , raspberry , velvety mouthfeel and rounded tannin , fresh acidity, good length. Quite intense with quite primary , fruit forward , cherry , raspberry . Well balanced and fresh . Though really enjoyable will probably improve over the next 5-8 years . At Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud , Dublin , 22nd January 2026 — 5 months ago
Domaine Derey Frères – Marsannay “Les Vignes Marie” 2021 🇫🇷
Marsannay AOC, Côte de Nuits – Burgundy, France
Overview
100% Pinot Noir from Marsannay, the only Côte de Nuits village allowed to produce wines in all three colors (red, white, and rosé). “Les Vignes Marie” is a standout parcel that shows the classic finesse of Burgundy Pinot while keeping Marsannay’s hallmark freshness and approachability.
Aromas & Flavors
Bright red cherry, raspberry, and wild strawberry lead the nose, with hints of rose petal, subtle spice, and earthy forest floor. A touch of mineral undertone brings lift and precision.
Mouthfeel
Elegant and medium-bodied with silky tannins, lively acidity, and a refined structure. Balanced and supple, finishing with freshness that keeps you coming back for another sip.
Winemaking Notes
The Derey family has been established in Marsannay since the mid-17th century, and their work focuses on organic farming and gentle cellar practices. The 2021 vintage, cooler and classic in style, emphasizes delicacy over power.
Food Pairing
Perfect with roast chicken, duck breast, mushroom risotto, or a charcuterie board. Its finesse makes it versatile across light meats and earthy vegetarian dishes.
Verdict
A graceful Burgundy Pinot that captures Marsannay’s balance between Côte de Nuits structure and charming approachability. For me, this sits as one of my most favorite wines in the Côte de Nuits — at a very affordable price point, it punches well above its weight and shows how Burgundy can still deliver tremendous value.
📚 Educational Sidebar – Why Marsannay Matters
Marsannay, at the northern gateway of the Côte de Nuits, is often overshadowed by its neighbors like Gevrey-Chambertin. But its wines deliver exceptional value, showing Pinot Noir with purity, finesse, and terroir character — a smart entry point into Burgundy without the Grand Cru price tag. Cheers! — 9 months ago
Light enough for fish yet heavy enough for duck — 3 years ago
Andrew Cullimore
Quite deep ruby with a relatively thin ruby garnet rim . Really aromatic , with rose , truffle , sweet cherries , blackberries , fresh cut herbs and some earthy undertones . After a while some dry spices. On the palate this is dense but incredibly well poised and balanced with fresh acidity , a mix of summer fruits , herbal tinges . Suave polished but quite noticeable tannins , this very long detailed and precise with wonderful refreshing acidity. Chalky mineral finish . Just gets better and better in the glass , a real crescendo becoming more mineral and precise , but maintaining all those cherry and summer fruits. Lovely now , but surely will improve further over the next 5 -10 years , and will last well a further 10 . The pinnacle of red burgundy in this challenging vintage? In all difficult to imagine a better 2013 , it has pretty much everything , a simply spectacular showing . At Auberge de l’ill in Illhaeusen , paired to perfection with a ‘simple’ roast Bresse chicken and a rich truffle sauce . Quite simply a match made in heaven . — 12 days ago