2023 Jean Marc Pillot
Funny to think… for years, Chassagne reds were the wine world's best-kept secret that nobody wanted. They were treated like road kill. The cases I had to buy just to get an allocation of the prized whites was the infuriating cost of doing business. More than once, I sold them below my own cost just to clear them off the floor. Grumpy as I was, I’m patting myself on the back now.
Warmer vintages have completely rewritten the script. What was once green, thin, and perpetually underripe has evolved into wines with real depth, flesh, and aromatic clarity.
The textbook example? Jean-Marc Pillot’s Bourgogne Pinot Noir.
I pulled a cork this afternoon and was blown away. Soaring aromatics of raspberry and cherry jump from the glass. But it’s the palate that seals the deal—it’s cool, polished, and has a lip-smacking finish that leaves you craving another sip. This is first-rate Bourgogne in every sense of the word. The transformation is complete.
And sure, the RED is the story of the year (all you late adopters can say you knew all along), but don't sleep on its ol' steady partner, the Bourgogne Blanc. Pillot’s Blanc always sets a high bar, and this one clears it with ease, walking that perfect tightrope between lush ripeness and razor-sharp precision. It’s simply delicious and drinking beautifully right now.
These aren't just "recommended"—they are essential. They're the wines you need around the house to remind you why you fell in love with Burgundy in the first place.
Flat-out pure class. Period
Mid crimson purple, quite a firm red fruit, mainly raspberry. Quite a lot of acidity here and some tannins in the structure. Should settle down nicely though as there is plenty of fruit. Drink from 2026-2028. Tasted Oct 2024.
- Jasper Morris
A super-fresh and very pinot-like nose of bright red berries and soft earth leads to punchy and acceptably dense flavors that offer reasonable depth and persistence on the mildly rustic finale. This could be enjoyed upon release but 1 to 2 years of keeping should help add depth and round off the finish.
- Burghound
Bright aromas of just sliced apple, petrol and straw lead to vibrant and delicious lighter weight flavors that retain good detail on the clean, dry and agreeably citrusy finale. Enjoy young for the fruit.
- Burghound, Outstanding Top Value!
Pale primrose. Energy on the nose looking for finesse. A little more flesh on the palate, crunchy apples, good tension throughout and a fine long finish. This grows on me. Drink from 2028-2033. Tasted Oct 2024.
- Jasper Morris, 91-94
Moderate reduction masks everything but a whiff of petrol character. On the palate though, there is good vibrancy and a lovely freshness to the very fine, though not particularly concentrated, flavors that do deliver solid length on the firm, balanced and youthfully austere finale. Despite the lack of better than average density, this is potentially quite good as well.
- Burghound, 89-92
Pale lemon and lime. I am immediately struck by a sense of magical balance on the nose, nothing too overtly opulent but very nicely done. White apple and pear fruit with a little citrus rinse, impressive linear intensity, very long. Well made. Drink from 2028-2034. Tasted Oct 2024.
- Jasper Morris, 93-95
A wonderfully fresh and expressive nose freely reveals its aromas of mostly pear and apple that are nuanced by hints of citrus peel and acacia along with a similar touch of oak influence. There is impressive density and richness to the caressing medium-bodied flavors that possess slightly better depth on the clean, refreshingly dry and well-balanced finale. This well-made, firm and promising effort is aptly described as powerful yet elegant.
- Burghound, 91-93 Outstanding!
An attractive mid lemon colour. Some depth to the fruit. Clean, clear cut fresh apple at the start, certainly entirely white fruit, nothing too sunny, yet with extra intensity further back, and a return of the stones. Finishes really well Drink from 2028-2033. Tasted Oct 2024.
- Jasper Morris, 92-94
A markedly floral-infused nose is laced with notes of pear, apple and citrus rind trimmed in just enough wood influence to notice. Once again there is a lovely texture, if barely average density, to the attractively vibrant flavors that exhibit solid persistence and reasonable depth on the clean, dry and nicely balanced finale that is firm enough to reward mid-term keeping.
- Burghound, 90-92
