Burgundy, Domaine Jean-Noël Gagnard, Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune `Sous Eguisons`, France

According to Andy Howard MW, it is "a fantastic advert for that appellation, and proved that leading Côte d’Or producers such as Gagnard are capable of weaving their magic on seemingly less-favoured terroirs." 

95 points - Outstanding
From a 0.41ha plot of 20-year-old certified organic vineyards planted on white marl soils under the Eguisons cliff in the St-Aubin commune of La Rochepot. Made by Caroline Lestimé, who took over the family domaine from her father in 1989, the wine ferments on wild yeasts and ages for up to 15 months in barrel, a third new. Some reductive, edgier notes on the nose and palate, but there is very good concentration and purity, allied to fresh, subtle oak. A fine example.