Burgundy Alternatives

Frosts, scarcity and consequent price hikes means that all good sommeliers have been looking for great recommendations that have the Burgundy style but not the price tag.

Sommelier Edit’s new category Burgundy Alternatives will seek out the very best producers who are making great wines that are comparable in quality and style but not in cost.

Pinot noirs and chardonnays are welcome but we are also highlighting those varietals that have an historical, stylist or genetic connection to Burgundy and it’s native grapes are also included, such as spätburgunder, gamay, furmint…

Results

June, 2024

Product Name	Score	Producer	Country	Vintage
Merus Vernatsch Schiava	90	Tiefenbrunner - Schlosskellerei Turmhof	Italy	2022
Purchase	Burgundy Alternatives Region: Alto Adige Subregion: South Tyrol Judges’ Tasting Notes: Showing ripe, red fruit characters - cherry and preserved fruits, with delicate hints of fresh mint. Supple and round, the fruit is underpinned by gentle oak spice through to a beautifully balanced finish. Perfect pairing for steak tartar.
Bolney Estate Chardonnay	89	Bolney Wine Estate	United Kingdom	2022
Purchase	Burgundy Alternatives Region: England Subregion: West Sussex Judges’ Tasting Notes: Rocky minerals, fresh green herbs like watercress and radish, underripe stone fruit aromas and tart citrus. Would be great with a fresh summer salad or raw seafood.
Gathering Field Pinot Noir	90	Thousand Candles	Australia	2019
Purchase	Burgundy Alternatives Region: Yarra Valley Judges’ Tasting Notes: Fruity and elegant aromas and flavours with high acuity and low level of tannis. Integrated and very pleasant. Quite a long finish as well. A heavenly pairing would be a porcini mushroom tart.
Moulin a Vent Vieilles Vignes de 1903	89	Domaine Yohan Lardy	France	2020
Purchase	Burgundy Alternatives Region: Beaujolais Subregion: Moulin-a-Vent Judges’ Tasting Notes: Well-built wine, ruby colour and lots of fruit aromas that are still fresh, but over ripe flowers on the nose. Secondary aromas are evident making this wine great for drinking now. Gripping tannins which implies that theis wine still can age.
Les Pénitents Chardonnay	90	Domaine Alphonse Mellot	France	2017
Purchase	Burgundy Alternatives Region: Loire Subregion: Côtes de la Charité Judges’ Tasting Notes: The nose is quite powerful with green herbs, slightly underripe citrus fruit and yellow flowers. The palate has a fresh minerality but a shorter finish. Softer acidity than expected. A good aperitif wine.
Kidonitsa	89	Oenops Wines	Greece	2022
	Burgundy Alternatives Judges’ Tasting Notes: Floral notes with citrus and herbacious touch. Crisp, minerality with white flowers, fresh apple, pear and intense lemon, wet stone on the palate. Good with grilled sardines or cevicche of scallops
Xinomavro	89	Akrathos	Greece	2018
	Burgundy Alternatives Region: Macedonia Subregion: Halkidiki Judges’ Tasting Notes: Intense developing nose, forest floor, mushrooms, mecerated tea leaves, leather, potting soil, earth, dry fruits. Dry palate, crisp, still noticeable tannin, liquorice, orange zest. Intense and long finish.
Chardonnay TH	90	Undurraga Wines	Chile	2022
	Burgundy Alternatives Region: Valle de Limarí Subregion: Quebrada Seca Judges’ Tasting Notes: Preserved lemon zest, ripe grapefruit citrus, yellow apples and underripe papaya. The palate shows more ripe yellow flowers and a bouquet of tropical fruit. Very smooth, almost oily texture on the palate. A subtle roundness to the wine and lingering fruit aromas on the finish.
Chardonnay	91	Sanford Winery	United States	2021
	Burgundy Alternatives Region: California Subregion: St Rita Hills Judges’ Tasting Notes: The nose is powerful with aromas of citrus and stone fruit, with subtle toasted notes. The palate, it is richly textured with a marked minerality and acidity carrying the pronounced flavours into the long finish. Perfect pairing with Cornish turbot and Oscietra caviar.
Verve Chardonnay	90	Ocean Eight	Australia	2021
	Burgundy Alternatives Region: Victoria Subregion: Mornington Peninsula Judges’ Tasting Notes: Tart citrus of lemon and underripe yellow orchard fruit. The oak on the nose is more balanced on the palate. Subtle, sweet baking spices, the wine has a long finish and a brightness throughout. Would be great paired with a lemon zest and toasted hazelnut risotto.
Infiniment de l'Ou	88	Château de l'Ou	France	2020
	Burgundy Alternatives Region: Roussillon Subregion: Cotes Catalanes Judges’ Tasting Notes: Lemon balm, grapefruit peel, soft roundness to the wine with a delicate creamy finish. Stony minerality through, the wine feels lifted and bright. A fresh acidity lingers on the finish. To be paired with grilled/BBQ prawns and roasted asparagus.
Clos des Vignes Blanc	90	Domaine Gardiés	France	2022
	Burgundy Alternatives Region: Roussillon Subregion: Cotes du Roussillon Judges’ Tasting Notes: Fresh and citrus aromas which are counter-balanced on the palate by wide mid-palate feel. Pleasant, a good food companion. Nice butter and toasty notes on the nose and palate.
Lagrein	86	Cantina Tramin	Italy	2023
	Burgundy Alternatives Region: Alto Adige Judges’ Tasting Notes: Deep, juicy purple colour with fruity redolent cherry aromas, follwoing through onto the palate. High acidity, very forward fruit and some development.
Etna Rosso DOCG	88	Barone di Villagrande	Italy	2020
Purchase	Burgundy Alternatives Region: Sicily Subregion: Etna Judges’ Tasting Notes: Mid-intensity on palate. Simple layering of violet and red fruits with some wet herbs. On the palate this wine is full and rounded. Would work well with meat balls, spaghetti pasta or rich, tomato-based sauces.