2013 Burgundy: Cote Chalonnaise

26 Jan 2015

Francoise Lumpp, Givry producerHead south for quality and value

The authorities have put signs up in Chagny, so it's much harder to take the wrong road and end up in Macon by mistake. Once south of this semi-pedestrianised little town the landscape has changed and you are as likely to see a cow as a vine. Land here is much less uniformly suited to the grape than it is further north. Don't be fooled, however, there is plenty of interest here for every budget and at every level. If you are concerned by the ever escalating demand for wines from the posher postcodes on the Cotes de Nuits and Beaune, then you definitely need to be looking down here for high quality and great value from these carefully chosen growers.

The space afforded to Marie Jacqueson in her still new and enormous cellars continues to aid the precision and delicacy of her winemaking. She can now carry out tasks when they need to be done, not when there is enough space and her 2013s have all the best aspects of the vintage in both texture and just-ripe flavours.

Every visit to Francois and Isabelle Lumpp continues to impress on me what superstars they are. If you want an example of people in control of what are some superb terroirs, then this is all you need, and at prices for premier crus that won't get you Bourgogne rouge at some addresses further north. /CW

View the wines listed so far

Offered subject to remaining unsold for shipment 2015/16