Brothers Xavier and Arnaud Desfontaine are the 12th generation of their family to farm wine grapes in Burgundy. Along with their mother, they own an incredible collection of vineyards in the southern Burgundy zone of Côte Chalonnaise and, remarkably, they make all their wines in a 17th century castle!
Last year, we met and tasted with Arnaud at their property. While we liked all the wines, two stood out as decidedly outstanding. Today we bring you these two wines.
The deliciousness of these two wines, however, is only part of the story. Thanks to our acquiring this wine through a boots-on-the-ground French wine broker, we’re able to offer today’s delicious old vine Bourgogne Pinot Noir and Premier Cru Chardonnay for un-Burgundy-like prices. Check out the stories, then click the Big Green Button to place your order!
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2022 Château de Cary Potet Bourgogne Pinot Noir
Burgundy, France
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A classic Red Burgundy that combines delicious fruit with authentic terroir and sells for only $25.99? Sounds like a headline from 2015, not 2025. Yet, here we are!
Arnaud and Xavier make this yummy red from organically farmed Pinot Noir, including some from vines over 70 years in age! They do everything by hand, and they do not use enzymes or cultured yeasts - very natural winemaking here.
Arnaud raised this young wine in previous-use barrels for 12 months, then allowed it further rest in bottle prior to release. When we tasted it with him at the castle last year, we knew right away we’d be buying it. It’s got all the classic fruit, earth and structure we look for in a Burgundy.
Leading with a bright palate, this 2022 bottling becomes more open with each swirl. We found sophisticated flavors of fresh red cherry, wild strawberry, red apple blossoms, clay, limestone, hints of wet leaves, spice, and vanilla. This Pinot will find friends with both Oregon and Burgundy lovers, and it confirms that red Burgundy can still be found at super fair prices, if you know where to look!
This wine will drink quite nicely for the next 5+ years. Less then 200 cases made their way to the USA and we managed to get the entire Illinois allocation. While the days of quality twenty-five buck Bourgogne Rouge are mainly in the rearview mirror, they are not completely gone. Drink this Burgundy beauty now and over the coming 5 to 7 years.
Vin Chicago Price: 25.99
2022 Château de Cary Potet "Les Jardins" 1er Cru Blanc
Montagny, Burgundy, France
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Arnaud and Xavier own a tiny 0.75 hectare slice of 50-year-old Chardonnay vines in the “Les Jardins” Premier Cru vineyard in Montagny.
This dry white manages to simultaneously be lithe and plump, boasting delicious ripe tones of lemon creme, baked pear, and white peach. Featuring lifted minerality, beautiful salinity, and muted notes of white flowers and baking spice, this fantastically priced Premier Cru White Burgundy has the soul of a Puligny-Montrachet with a Chalonnaise price.
Yummy, long, sexy, serious, it is a very strong 92+ Points on our scale. If this tiny plot of land were 30 minutes north in Puligny-Montrachet, the price of this delicious wine would be at least three to four times higher.
We found just one online listing, at $63. Our direct-to-Chicago price is dramatically less. With only 80 cases imported for the entire country, our supply is quite limited, and this beauty will go fast!
Vin Chicago Price: 39.99
