"1er Cru level. Easy." - J-F Coche-Dury

Domaine Berlancourt have done it again! A set of superb 2023s have been produced at this domaine - an initial allocation will be shipped from France at the end of April.

For those that dont know already, these are thrilling wines, made in miniscule quantities, with the meticulous care and attention usually given to a Grand Cru, which anyone who likes good White Burgundy should not hesitate to add to their collection! 

One of Burgundy's smallest Domaines, with just 1.5 hectares of vines, Domaine Berlancourt, based in Meursault, was founded in 2008. Adrien Berlancourt, who was just 20 years old in 2008, had just finished a stint working at Etienne Sauzet, having previously been an intern at Domaine Trapet.
 

Adrien’s father was a highly regarded sommelier, and is very good friends with Jean-Francois Coche Dury and ex-DRC winemaker Bernard Noblet. Both of these Burgundy legends visit the domaine twice a year to taste, always with great enthusiasm, and to offer their advice on the wines. Coche-Dury has himself said that all of the wines are of at least 1er Cru quality. If that wasn’t enough, Adrien himself is very good friends with the team at Domaine des Comtes Lafon who have regularly helped him with his winemaking.
 
The domaine produces a limited number of cuvees in tiny quantities, from separate plots across their 1.5 hectares - four wines bottled as Bourgogne Blanc, one Bourgogne Aligote and the Bourgogne Rouge (from vines which are often used to make a Bourgogne Rose). Three wines - Les Equinces, La Demoiselle and Les Champans are from grapes grown in Puligny Montrachet, whilst Derriere Fretille is from Pernand Vergelesses - think of it as their version of a Corton Charlemagne, alongside three Puligny 1er or even Grand Cru quality wines.

The vines are farmed 100% organically and they have been trying out biodynamics in the La Demoiselle vineyard, although Adrien has no interest in attaining certification due to the size of the domaine. All the work in the vineyard is done by hand. In the cellar, Adrien uses as little sulphur as possible, indigenous yeasts, no lees stirring, fermentation and ageing in new oak up to 3 years old, and each cuvee spends 18-20 months in wood before bottling. No wines are ever chaptalized. Yields are intentionally low in order to make the best wine from the limited holdings – only up to 35 hectolitres per hectare, whilst the maximum permitted in Bourgogne Blanc is nearly twice that, at 68.

Very few producers put this much effort into a Bourgogne and achieve such stunning results - think perhaps Arnaud Ente, Leroy, or Coche Dury himself, and Berlancourt is truly up there with the greats.
 
Only around 300-400 cases are produced annually, and the vast majority sees its way onto the lists of Michelin starred restaurants across Europe, so, as usual, I have only extremely limited quantities to offer. Do let me know if you would like to get hold of any of these wines before everyone else discovers them!

 

 

Domaine Berlancourt 6x75cl (ETA June 2026)

Vintage

Price IB

 

Bourgogne Blanc Cuvee Les Equinces

2023

£220

 

Bourgogne Blanc Cuvee La Demoiselle

2023

£280

 

Bourgogne Blanc Cuvee Les Champans

2023

£495

 

Bourgogne Pinot Noir

2023

£200

 

Bourgogne Pinot Noir

2022

£210

 

 

 

Qty

Domaine Berlancourt 6x75cl (In Stock Now)

Vintage

Price IB

3

Bourgogne Blanc Cuvee Les Equinces

2022

£235

8

Bourgogne Blanc Cuvee La Demoiselle

2022

£295

11

Bourgogne Blanc Cuvee Les Champans

2022

£550

3

Bourgogne Blanc Cuvee Derriere Fretille

2022

£625

1

Bourgogne Blanc Cuvee La Demoiselle

2021

£285

1

Bourgogne Blanc Cuvee Les Champans

2020

£600

4

Bourgogne Blanc Cuvee Les Equinces

2020

£250

3

Bourgogne Pinot Noir

2020

£270

 

The Wines:


 
Bourgogne Blanc Cuvee "Les Equinces"
 

Parcel bought in 2008

15-35 hl/ha

15-25% new oak

Commune of Puligny-Montrachet


 
Bourgogne Blanc Cuvee "La Demoiselle"
 

Parcel bought in 2008

15-35 hl/ha

50% new oak

Commune of Puligny-Montrachet

  
 

Bourgogne Blanc Cuvee "Les Champans"
 

Parcel bought in 2010

Vines around 40 years old

15-35 hl/ha

100% new oak

Commune of Puligny-Montrachet

 

Bourgogne Blanc Cuvee "Derriere Fretille"
 

Parcel bought in 2019

100% new oak

Commune of Pernand-Vergelesses


Bourgogne Rouge

 

  • Miniscule quantities available  - it's only 1.5 hectares!
  • 2023s and 2022 Rouge available May/June 2026
  • Other wines in stock and available immediately.
  • Subject to final confirmation, E&OE