May Premium Pack 2021 - Alternative Burgundy Pack

There is no doubt that the prices in Burgundy are starting to move beyond what us mere mortals can afford. So, to remedy the situation we have put together a cracking compliment of great burgundy from a selection of the regions underrated regions.

The slightly warmer reached of Burgundies south offer an up a diverse set of topographies and soils that are the perfect foil for pinot. These are regions that fly under the radar and while they may not be getting the attention they deserve they are producing some fantastic pinot with real character and charm.

These ‘satellite’ appellations, as they are often referred too, are coming into there own and with savvy winemakers and growers recognising the awesome potential now has never been a better a better time to explore.

We start with Marsannay and along with Santenay probably one of the better know quality producers of pinot outside of the most famous villages of the Cote de Nuit. In style it resembles its close neighbours in Fixin and Gevrey Chambertin with a morello cherry attack, black currant fruits and a mellow and generous body that often flows into a meaty, savoury finish.

The wines of Collotte already offer incredible value and given the quality of the two plots of limestone rich soil this comes off as an impressive wine. The husband-and-wife team use only a touch of new oak on there more premium cuvees allowing a purity and sense of sauvage to shine through here their other cuvees.

Fruther south Santenay and Auxey Duresses are also close neighbours and remain a part of the Cote-de-beaune. Santenay sits off to the far southern tip with Auxey nestled in between Volnay, Mersault and Puligny Montrachet.

Auxey includes 9 premiere crus with its mid-weight black and red fruits often off-set by some velvety, fine boned but moderate tannins. The Domaine Florence Cholet wines harness this beautifully with grace and charm. The wines have incredible buoyancy and racy-ness that is hard to not be a little taken by – fantastic stuff

Santennay follows in the footsteps of the Beaune with soft and round edges to the wines and a floral lift reminiscent of the wines of Volnay. They are a touch more supple in their nature then their northern cousins but with a slight more wild fruit profile.

Abbaye de Santenay are firmly focused on the vineyards where Ludovic and his team maintain the vines in a rigorous way to obtain high quality fruit. The philosophy of the domaine is to get the best of the terroirs, respecting nature and preserving the finesse of the wines.

Further south in the Cote Chalonnaise as the land broadens out and the sun gently warms the rolling hills. Its like of top-quality sites when compared to its cousins in the north is more than made up by its consistent quality and excellent value.

Mercurey in particular is amongst one of the best villages to source and even producers such as Faiveley have actively been involved in the region for decades, recognising the potential for quality. It bears a few premier cru sites that sit in best positions and offers up some of the more full bodied firmer wines, particularly in their youth.