Side Chalonnaise , the tasting...

Givry , Mercurey , Rully , villages Premier cru wines, red and white 2022-2023

Bouzeron , Montagny , villages and Premier Cru white wines, 2022, 2023

Results, rich in lessons!

The results of this wide-ranging tasting of Côte Chalonnaise wines are rich in information. The first has to do with the color of the wines, with a clear "domination" of reds. We know that 2022 and 2023 are productive years, and after the difficult and "meagre" 2021 vintage, not all winegrowers have clearly managed to control the vigor of their vines and yields. This is particularly striking in 2023. That said, there are fine Chardonnays everywhere in both years, with good balance and better ageing potential in 2022, and more deliciousness and immediate accessibility in 2023. As with the whites, the reds are more than two-thirds selected, with tender, fleshy 2023s that are already very pleasant to taste, and the 2022s having a lot of depth and substance, which is best left to age a little longer, especially in the premier cru.

The other lesson concerns the appellations, and we'd like to emphasize the rise of Rully's red wines. For a long time, we thought that the appellation produced great white wines and good red wines. This is still true for the whites, but we feel that the village's reds need to be taken more seriously. It's clear that a number of winegrowers have turned their attention to the matter, and the results are already spectacular, with wines that have much more flesh, density, silkier tannins and indulgent fruitiness than in the past.

Bouzeron : 32 wines presented – 19 selected – 59.5% success rate.

Givry : 97 wines submitted (28 whites) – 59 selected (13 whites) – 61% success rate (66.5% in rouge , 46.5% in blanc ).

Mercurey : 173 wines submitted (43 whites) – 124 selected (30 whites) – 71.5% success rate (72.5% in rouge 70% in blanc ).

Montagny : 66 wines presented – 32 selected – 48.5% success rate.

Rully : 106 wines submitted (36 reds) – 66 selected (25 reds) – 62.5% success rate (58.5% in blanc 69.5% in rouge ).

Price ranges including VAT, ex-cellar

Premier cru wines: €20 to €45.

Villages €13 to €30.