“These wines are special, and a tremendous treat, as they offer a combination of modern purity and a traditional style…try them…”
- Steen Ohman, Winehog

Domaine Michel Gaunoux likes to do things differently. The ever-increasing demand for the region’s wines has driven an obsession with the latest vintage before it is even on the market, so producers rarely have any older stock to sell, and most restaurant lists are full of great wine that is simply far too young to drink. Michel Gaunoux does not release wines En Primeur in the traditional sense – indeed he doesn’t even produce wines every year – 2000 and 2004 were not up to his high standards, so they were not bottled) instead preferring to keep wines for at least 3 years (following the DRC model) and even then only releasing a small quantity, whilst keeping the majority back to allow him to release older vintages on a regular basis. Along with producers like Daniel-Etienne Defaix in Chablis, this is one of only a handful of producers that offer a wide selection of mature wines – the advantages of this from a consumer’s perspective, of course, are endless, and in this case means I can today offer you three great vintages, all of which have only just left the Domaine and will be arriving in the UK imminently.
 
The advantages to the consumer by way of availability of older vintages is clear, but it does also mean that many of the wines do not end up under the noses of the critics, so it is never easy to find tasting notes for specific wines, but Steen Ohman of Winehog has visited a number of times and written very positively. He says the wines: “have a classic style with some special qualities – firstly very finely grained tannins that gives the wines structure and intensity without being intrusive in appreciating the character of terroir and the vintage. Secondly a fine and fresh acidity that adds to the impression of transparency and refinement. They may be traditional and intense wines – coming from some of the more powerful terroirs – Pommard and Corton – yet somehow they seem to offer a special, effortless and refined pinot experience….these wines combine intensity, airiness in a refined and classic style – presenting the best sides of both the Pommard and Corton appellations.”