In wine, Burgundy (Bourgogne, France) is seen as the ungettable get. There are many of these wines that retail for thousands of dollars. It can seem like it’s only a wine for “true” and I say that loosely for connoisseurs and for those with unlimited funds.
In 2018, I visited Oregon wine country for the first time as a media guest for The International Pinot Noir celebration. It was the first time I was able to taste many pinot noirs at one time. A majority was from Oregon, but other regions as well - New Zealand, California, and Burgundy. For years, I was trying not to go down the Pinot Noir/Burgundy rabbit hole. One, because many wine professionals have a habit of trying to make people feel inadequate if they haven’t had the really expensive bottles and two, because when you really start tasting and understanding the region it can become an obsession. And I already feel this way about champagne.
Recently, a bottle of 1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) sold for $812,500 at Acker’s La Paulée auction. This news obviously broke the wine world. You might be asking yourself, Julia, how and why? There are many reasons such as a famous producer, a rare pre-phylloxera vined Burgundy, only 600 bottles made, and from the personal cellar of Robert Drouhin of Maison Joseph Drouhin, a very famous family in Burgundy. Its provenance was well-documented and the wine was more than likely preserved in the best way possible.
With information like this, I always ask myself, “how does this work for the rest of us?”
The key is starting within your budget and taste, taste, taste. I highly encourage you to visit a local wine store, where when you walk in “everyone knows your name” and they want to help you find the best wine for you at your price point. Start with premier cru Burgundy’s, take notes, and keep an open mind. Have with your favorite foods and your favorite snacks.
I get how the right glass of Burgundy can be transcendent. A few years ago, I had a glass of Burgundy in London that brought me to tears. Tears. The big fat kind. It was totally unexpected. So unexpectedly, my friend Claire started filming me crying about this glass. (Video evidence below).
Was this glass everything I expected a great Burgundy to be and why do people give Burgundy googly-eyes? Yes.
Are there Burgundy’s that are for everyday and still within a realistic budget for most? Yes.
Here are three Burgundy’s that won’t break the bank and very delicious.
Bouchard Pere & Fils Beaune du Chateau Premier Cru Rouge 2022.
Joseph Drouhin Beaune Clos des Mouches Premier Cru Rouge 2021.
A great wine deserves a great glass. Here are two of my favorites SCHOTT ZWIESEL Forté Burgundy Goblets and Zalto Denk’Art Burgundy Red Wine Glasses. Zalto’s are VERY fragile. I feel like if you look at them they break. Be kind to them. Take your time cleaning them.
And yes, these are real tears over a glass of wine.
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