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The domaine has an impressive portfolio of vineyards with several Grands Crus and the revered Premier Cru of Les Suchots. The Confurons have always taken the greatest care in the vineyards, performing their own massale selection of vines (ie selecting and using the healthiest plants for propagation), which are on average 65 years old. Unusually for Burgundy, their vineyards have never been treated with herbicides or pesticides, and the vine roots penetrate deep into the soils, giving the grapes a minerality that defines our terroir.

Thomas Bouley is very much the insiders secret, more famous with his fellow vignerons than with collectors chasing the next 'superstar' seen on social media. That Thomas resists putting his name on the front label of his wines (preferring to keep his father's) is typical of his humble and low key approach. Based in Volnay may also add to his relative anonymity, however we suspect this is changing rapidly as word gets out of just how spectacular his wines are, and of the continual improvement seen since he began working with his father in the early 2000's. Meticulous attention to detail in both the vineyard and winery are notable here, and key to why Thomas is so highly regarded by his peers. Yields are moderate, and in the cellar whole cluster ferments are used more with his clay rich sites (Pommard Fremiers, Volnay Clos des Chenes), while those with thin white soils (Pommard Rugiens-Hauts, Volnay Caillerets) are largely destemmed. New oak use is minimal, and each wine spend two winters on fine lees before bottling.

DOMAINE DE LA COTE Bloom's Field Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills The Bloom’s Field is one of the Domaine's five single sites, on a southwest-facing hillside with clay on Monterey Shale bedrock. The Pinots from this windy spot are perhaps the lightest in colour and weight yet loaded with complexity both aromatically, and throughout the palate. Whole-bunch wild herbs and leafiness blend with cherry and pomegranate notes and the palate is awash with lush dark red fruits, fresh minerality, and a deep long finish.

Made from fruit grown in ultra close planted vineyards Bass Phillip wines are eerily like Pinots from Burgundy. Fully mature now, the wine has lovely spice and earthy characters ready to be enjoyed now.

Just after Patrick Landanger purchased Pousse dOr in 1997 he sold the Santenay Les Gravières but acquired a massive 3 hectares of Corton, Clos du Roi. Half of this is leased out to Louis Latour who exploited all 3 hectares previously. Aged in French oak barrel (30% new) for 18 months with minimal sulphur addition and bottles, unfined and unfiltered, this is modern corton; relatively approachable in its youth but can be cellared long term too.