DOMAINE LUCIEN LE MOINE 1er Cru Grandes Ruchottes, Chassagne-Montrachet Lucien Le Moine is a unique négocianthaute couture is often how they are described. Husband and wife, Mounir and Rotem Saouma source small parcels of wine from many producers. Their contribution to the wine is in the elevage, esoteric regime which changes each vintage relying on Mounirs sensory talents forged in a Trappist monastery in Lebanon and honed in their vaulted cellars in the Cote dOr. Working with the best (Jupilles, FRA), fine-grained new oak, the Saoumas produce a staggering number of Grands and 1er Crus cuvees.

The Moillard Grivot Corton Charlemagne 2021 is a stunning representation of the famed Burgundy region in France. Its pale gold hue catches the light, teasing the senses with its brilliance. On the nose, aromas of ripe yellow apple, pear, and lemon zest dance alongside hints of white flowers and toasted almonds. The palate is lush and full-bodied, with a perfect balance of fruit and oak. Flavors of juicy peach, apricot, and vanilla mingle with a subtle minerality, leading to a long and elegant finish. This vintage, produced by the renowned Moillard-Grivot winery, showcases the true potential of the Corton Charlemagne appellation. Enjoy now or cellar for years to come to experience the full complexity and depth of this exceptional wine.

This wine is made from two parcels which are found on the border of the communes of Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet. The first, which is to the left of the Clos des Perrières, has clay/limestone soil and a subsoil of volcanic rock which allows a healthy root system to develop in this limestone-rich environment. The second is on the upper slope and overlooks the Perrières quarry. Here the soil is heavily limestone, partly as marl and partly as white rock. This is interesting for the way it brings mineral notes to the wine. During tastings it often find notes of white pepper and other spices both on the nose and on the palate.

Like the Latitude, this is 100% Côte des Blancs Chardonnay (the vineyards are in Cramant, Avize, Oger, and Vertus), yet the vineyards from which it was drawn have thinner topsoils and so the vine roots plunge straight into the chalky bedrock. The name here refers to the vertical nature of the geographic locations of the vineyards as well as the style of wine resulting from the very chalky soils of these sites i.e., a more linear, mineral wine. While Larmandiers Latitude is expansive across the palate, the Longitude is all about minerality, line and raciness. William Kelly has called this wine one of the finest non-vintage bottlings to be found in Champagne and, while the are no reviews available for the 2019 base, the high ratio of reserve wines (40%) and the strength of this low-yielding vintage should leave you will little doubt as the quality on offer.