DOMAINE DES LAMBRAYS
BURGUNDY, FRANCE 2024
WHY BUY: Domaine des Lambrays vaulted from good to outrageously great over the past decade, thanks to major investments that upgraded the property in every way, from new cellars to a proper lab to the wholesale ripping up and replanting of the vineyards. As recent vintages have shown, that investment has paid off big time, and 2024 is an absolute bonanza of a year, with a passel of Grand Crus and Premier Crus of unusual depth, finesse, precision … and, of course, pedigree beyond compare. Beyond the historic Clos that counts three distinct terroirs in one legendary walled parcel (Les Larrets, known for its elegance; Le Meix-Rentier, for its backbone; Les Bouchots, for its complexity), there’s also Clos de Vougeot, Puligny-Montrachet, and Morey-St-Denis, the latter of which has delivered a selection of Premiers Crus that would anchor a lesser house's entire portfolio. This is terroir that few can match. And what makes these wines even more incredible, in our estimation, is the fact that Lambrays is so careful in controlling its yields. Which explains why, for instance, we have just 30 bottles each of ‘La Richemone’ and ‘Les Beaux Monts.’ We wish it were more, but then again, that’s how it goes in life: often, the most exalted experiences are the most fleeting or scarce. Snap these up while you can!
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: Vinous's Neal Martin awarded 96 points to the Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru, a wine with a "very composed bouquet" of red fruit, bergamot tea, and undergrowth that is "classic Lambrays in style," with "filigree tannins" and a finish poised on "bay and tea leaf." He praised the Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, in its debut vintage, noting, in his 95-point rave, notes of "brambly red fruit, rooibos, rose petal and crushed stone,” an “attractive mineralité,” a "poised and tender” profile, and "quite a persistent finish." Decanter awarded 95 points to the “opulent,” “floral” and “silky” Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru "La Richemone,” a “sensual” experience of a wine. The publication matched that score on the Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru "Les Beaux Monts," a "seductive wine,” it wrote, “with a flash of chalky minerality and a hint of spice."
OUR TASTING NOTES: We love a Grand Cru that refuses to raise its voice, that keeps steady and controlled, and that conducts itself with a kind of lordliness. A Grand Cru, that is, like the Clos des Lambrays. We loved its stately architecture, and the way its red fruit and dried tea leaf merge into something darker, deeper, and richer the longer it breathes. It’s derived from an eighty percent whole bunch cluster this vintage, and the tannins show it: they're fine as thread, and knit all the elements together without ever gripping too hard. A beaut. The Clos de Vougeot is the discovery here: a first vintage that seems already to have a pretty good idea who it is and what it wants to be. Dried herb and rose petal emerge up front, then comes crushed stone, and, finally, a wonderful mineral undertone. It’s sourced from vines that are rumored to be the oldest in the clos, which is one reason why this newcomer conveys such seriousness and heft. La Richemone address suggests something lighter and more elegant, but this is rich and evocative, with hints of orange peel and dark fruit riding atop a silky, dense frame. Twelve hectoliters per hectare yielded exactly three barrels. Don’t pass this one up. Les Beaux Monts is one of those wines that reels you in from the very first sniff — in this case, a flash of vivid red fruit and chalk, followed by a delicate wave of spice. The palate is deep and developed, and the finish is a thing of beauty, a long and graceful ride.
We could go on and on and on about these wines. But we’ll just leave you with a final thought: from the Grand Crus to the Premiers Crus to the village bottling, the common denominator is that gorgeous limestone signature, which means that every wine speaks the same dialect, regardless of rank, and every wine bears the Lambrays stamp: a stamp of inestimable distinctiveness and character.
THE STORY: The long and epic chronicle of Domaine des Lambrays stretches back, back, back (apologies, C. Berman) to 1365, when Europe was still emerging from medieval darkness and the Renaissance was some kind of far-off dream. The Cistercian monks of Abbaye de Citeaux, who first recorded the "Cloux des Lambrey," had discovered something remarkable about this picturesque slope in Morey-St-Denis. This is the legendary Clos, where three distinct terroirs merge into something transcendent: Les Larrets, perched on precipitous slopes with threadbare topsoil, contributes elegance and grace; Le Meix-Rentier, nestled at the hillside's foundation with richer earth, delivers backbone and authority; and Les Bouchots, kissed by the cooling winds of the Morey Combe, adds intricacy and depth. It’s this magical terroir that sustained a region and a people all the way until the French Revolution, which brought everything to ruin, resulting in the land ending up in the hands of 74 different holders. Reassembling these fragments required nearly a century of determined effort, but all who were involved in this act of painstaking recovery understood that this terroir constituted a regional treasure and, perhaps, a national one, too. When France established its first appellations in 1936, Clos des Lambrays received Premier Cru status, though its most ardent devotees had long recognized that the wines were of Grand Cru caliber. Justice finally prevailed in 1981, when Burgundy's 33rd Grand Cru was named. More than four decades later, it remains one of Burgundy's most admired jewels.
WHAT TO PAIR THEM WITH: As you might expect, these reds are at their best alongside such throwback Burgundian dishes as coq au vin or beef bourguignon, or any kind of wild mushroom preparation. The white wines, meanwhile, are an optimal match for fish and seafood (the creamier the better), thanks to their definition and acidity.
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 began its rebirth after the French Revolution.
OUR GUARANTEE: We always buy and source directly from the estate, so you can rest assured that your wines will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Secure your order bottles and cases today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Spring 2027. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NC, NY, OK, or TN. This offer will expire on Monday, September 21st, 2026.