98-pt Clos des Lambrays! This Is the Wine of the Vintage!

 

Why Buy: Great Burgundy is always scarce, but truly transcendent Burgundy like this comes along rarely — and even more rarely lands in your glass. We've secured allocations of these extraordinary 2022s from Domaine des Lambrays, widely and justly celebrated as the "Jewel of the Côtes de Nuits," but quantities are extremely limited. The Jewel’s crown jewel is the Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru, produced in small quantities from a tiny clos (or walled vineyard). It’s a great bottle, a 98-pointer that more nearly resembles a 100-pointer, and all by itself would be cause for excitement, but the portfolio also includes several 95-point Premier Crus — scores that are vanishingly rare, as you know, when it comes to Burgundy. Folks, this is one of our most treasured Black Book estates, and we know you’re going to fall as hard for these wines as we have. Do yourself a great favor and secure them while you can!
 

What They're Saying: The critics have been struck by the exceptional quality of these releases. Neal Martin awarded a potential 98 points to the Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru, praising its “tender and complex” character and mineral-rich finish, and declaring it "undoubtedly great wine with a long-term future." The “elegant and fine” Morey St. Denis 1er Cru "Clos Sorbè" garnered 95 points from Decanter, marking an auspicious first vintage for this site made famous by Burgundy legend Jacky Truchot. The Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru "Les Beaux Monts" equaled that score, with Decanter hailing its "impressively complex aromas" and fascinating "saline, savory" character. The Morey St. Denis 1er Cru "Les Loups" rounds out the 95-point wines; Decanter swooned over its "luminous blackberry fruit" and magnificent structure.
 

Our Tasting Notes: Throughout the range, you'll find the hallmark precision and energy that makes these wines so compelling – and so age-worthy. The structural integrity suggests these wines will evolve beautifully over decades, though the purity of fruit makes them surprisingly approachable even now. The Grand Cru Clos des Lambrays, blending eleven different cuvées with 80% whole bunches, delivers waves of black fruit and wild berries, undergirded by that unmistakable limestone minerality that marks the greatest wines of the Côtes de Nuits. Among the Premier Crus, each site expresses its unique character brilliantly. The Clos Sorbè brings forth red cherries and pomegranate, with an ethereal perfume that speaks to its privileged location. Les Loups offers darker fruit, with fascinating violet notes and remarkable depth. The Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux Monts captivates with its saline complexity and remarkably pure fruit expression, while La Richemone from Nuits-Saint-Georges is all structure and refinement. The Premier Cru whites from Puligny-Montrachet show exceptional tension and minerality; the Clos du Cailleret and Les Folatières both evince the crystalline purity that marks great white Burgundy. 
 

The Story: : Though its history stretches back to 1365 – when Chaucer was crafting The Canterbury Tales and just before the Ming Dynasty would transform China – Domaine des Lambrays spent much of the 1990s as a sleeping giant. Despite its ancient pedigree and extraordinary terroir, the estate had yet to realize its full potential. That all changed with major investments in both the vineyards and cellar, pumping new life into this historic property. Under the precise and passionate direction of winemaker Jacques Devauges, the estate has undergone nothing short of a renaissance. Today, these heritage vineyards are producing wines of rare precision and depth. The heart of the estate is its namesake Clos, where three distinct terroirs create something truly magical. Les Larrets, with its steep slopes and shallow soils, provides elegance and lift. Le Meix-Rentier, from the base of the hill, contributes power and structure. Les Bouchots, influenced by cool breezes from the Morey Combe, adds layers of complexity. Through meticulous viticulture, careful sorting, and precise vinification, Devauges and his team are showing us all just how exceptional this terroir really is, in wines that pay honor to their historic roots while expressing all the energy, freshness, and vitality that defines the contemporary style of Burgundy.
 

What to Pair Them With: These wines shine alongside classic Burgundian dishes – coq au vin, beef bourguignon, or wild mushroom preparations. The whites pair beautifully with fish and seafood preparations, the creamier the better, or a wedge of ripened, aged Comté.
 

Fun Fact: The estate's garden features a magnificent cedar tree that's over 300 years old – meaning it was already a century old when the vineyard was reassembled after the French Revolution.
 

Our Guarantee: Remember, friends – we always buy and source directly from the estate, so you can rest assured that your wine will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance.