Burgundy has an appeal and a fascination immeasurably greater than its comparatively small production might suggest. Here, over many centuries, plots of vineyard land were gradually demarcated and individually named.
The Burgundy of today has woken from the lethargy of the 1980s; over the past 20 years it has seen a massive increase in the proportion of wine that can proudly wear on its label ‘Grand Vin de Bourgogne.’
The producer profiles and maps in this guide illuminate a journey through both the well-worn vineyard paths and the backstreet wineries of the Côte d’Or, highlighting the most interesting people, places, and wines along the way.
This guide, from Hugh Johnson’s award-winning team, is the sixth in the acclaimed Finest Wines series, and brings the region to life more vividly than ever before. Authoritative, bang up-to-date, and full of actionable information, this essential guide is required reading for all wine lovers and makes a handsome present.
Bill Nanson – by profession a chemist - is more than just an amateur, however; he is a gifted and experienced amateur, who has spent many a year journeying around Burgundy and many an autumn working the vintage. He is more than just a moderate or immoderate imbiber of good bottles. He knows his stuff.
The Finest Wines of Burgundy is up-to-date, easy to read and largely free of mistakes. So this is a good book. Moreover it is attractively presented with copious colour photographs from Jon Wyand. It is confined to the Côte d'Or and the meat of the book is 87 individual domaine profiles, introduced by a how-to-make-wine section and an overview of each Côte (Beaune and Nuits).
I learned something from Nanson's discussion of bio-dynamism...For this information, Mr Nanson, much thanks.
Where I have a criticism of this book is in the choice of who to profile. But this is Nanson's selection, as is his last chapter: his lists of top tens – grands crus, premiers crus, village wines, best domaines, best winemakers, best values and best domaines to visit. Again you can agree or disagree with his choices. A plus point, when he discusses the domaines individually and describes the wines he really favours, is that there is no lack of village wines, even generics, singled out. Nanson has not been unduly seduced by the super-star wines.
Clive Coates, August 2012
The Burgundy of today has woken from the lethargy of the 1980s; over the past 20 years it has seen a massive increase in the proportion of wine that can proudly wear on its label ‘Grand Vin de Bourgogne.’
The producer profiles and maps in this guide illuminate a journey through both the well-worn vineyard paths and the backstreet wineries of the Côte d’Or, highlighting the most interesting people, places, and wines along the way.
This guide, from Hugh Johnson’s award-winning team, is the sixth in the acclaimed Finest Wines series, and brings the region to life more vividly than ever before. Authoritative, bang up-to-date, and full of actionable information, this essential guide is required reading for all wine lovers and makes a handsome present.
Bill Nanson – by profession a chemist - is more than just an amateur, however; he is a gifted and experienced amateur, who has spent many a year journeying around Burgundy and many an autumn working the vintage. He is more than just a moderate or immoderate imbiber of good bottles. He knows his stuff.
The Finest Wines of Burgundy is up-to-date, easy to read and largely free of mistakes. So this is a good book. Moreover it is attractively presented with copious colour photographs from Jon Wyand. It is confined to the Côte d'Or and the meat of the book is 87 individual domaine profiles, introduced by a how-to-make-wine section and an overview of each Côte (Beaune and Nuits).
I learned something from Nanson's discussion of bio-dynamism...For this information, Mr Nanson, much thanks.
Where I have a criticism of this book is in the choice of who to profile. But this is Nanson's selection, as is his last chapter: his lists of top tens – grands crus, premiers crus, village wines, best domaines, best winemakers, best values and best domaines to visit. Again you can agree or disagree with his choices. A plus point, when he discusses the domaines individually and describes the wines he really favours, is that there is no lack of village wines, even generics, singled out. Nanson has not been unduly seduced by the super-star wines.
Clive Coates, August 2012
