Recently, we've been tasting more new 2019 Burgundies.. That year turned out to be an excellent one for both red and white wines. Near ideal growing season conditions led to a harvest of perfectly ripened grapes. The whites (Chardonnay) are well balanced and the Pinot Noirs are well structured and the Gamay (Beaujolais) reds the best since 2015. Here's what we've tasted.

2020 Domaine Auvigue Saint Véran, "Moulin du Pont" ($22.99 - wine.com) - 2020 was also a fine year in the Maconnais. Saint Veran is situated between Beaujolais and Pouilly-Fuissé. This wine shows a brilliant lemon-gold color and attractive aromas of pear-apple, white peach, lemon, pear tree blossoms, acacia flowers and hints of butternut and green incense. The flavors are brisk and lively, accented by pear skins, peach stones and calcareous minerals. The back picks up poire and pêche liqueurs, toasted hazelnuts and touches of creme fraiche and lemon zest, followed by a crisp, nicely fruited finish. 18.5/20 points.

2019 Domaine Auvigue Pouilly-Fuissé, Solutré ($33.99 - wine.com) - From vineyards below the Rock of Solutré, one of the best areas for Pouilly-Fuissé, this shows a brilliant gold color and floral aromas of pear-apple, white peach, citrus, apple blossoms, acacia flowers and hints of butternut and yellow incense. The flavors are vivid, with notes of grape and pear skins, peach stones and granitic Solutré minerals. The vivacity continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs and touches of lemon custard and recurring butternut, followed by a ripe persistently minerally finish.  "A wine from Solutrê - fantastic!" says Lynn. 19/20 points.

2019 Domaine Daniel & Julien Barraud Pouilly-Fuisse, Les Crays ($49.99 - wine.com) - From Vergisson, another of the best sites for Pouilly-Fuissé, this is an outstanding white. It displays a brilliant gold color and a lovely, floral nose of ripe pear, white peach, grapefruit, pear blossoms, acacia flowers, wisteria and wet stone. The flavors, as well, are alluring, pure Chardonnay, with white fruits that are imbued with pear skins, peach stones and calcareous minerals. On the back, the wine shows terrific precision, with poire and pêche liqueurs and touches of hazelnut and vanilla oak (20% new) followed by a persistently minerally finish. 19+/20 points.

See the February 1 blog posting below for the Barraud 2019 Pouilly-Fuissé, La Roche.

The following four whites come from Jean-Philippe Fichet, a highly respected negociant in Meursault. These are impressive.

2019 Jean-Philippe Fichet Rully Blanc ($35 - The Thief, Walla Walla) - From the Côte Chalonnaise, south of the Côte d'Or, this displays a brilliant, light lemon-gold color and en5icing aromas of apple, white peach, lime, apple blossoms and wet stone. The flavors are crisp, almost laser-like, with vivid white and green fruits that are marked by apple skins, peach stones and calcareous minerals. On the back, the wine invigorates further with Calvados and pêche liqururs and lime zest, followed by a persistently inertly finish. 18.5+/20 points.

2019 Jean-Philippe Fichet Bourgogne Blanc, Côte d'Or ($35.99- wine.com $36 - The Thief, Walla Walla) - This offers a brilliant gold color and intriguing aromas of pear-apple, white peach and lemon custard, with scents of apple blossoms, wisteria, lemongrass and white incense. The flavors are vigorous, pure Chardonnay, with notes of grape and pear skins and hillside minerals. The resonance continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs, hazelnuts and touches of crème fraiche and lemon zest, followed by an, again, vigorous, finely fruited finish. 18.5+/20 points.

2019 Jean-Philippe Fichet Bourgogne Blanc, Côte d'Or, Vielles Vignes ($44 - The Thief) - This comes from a vineyard adjoining a Premier Cru. It shows a brilliant lemon-gold color and a floral nose of Bosc pear, white peach, grapefruit, pear tree blossoms, acacia flowers, wisteria and white incense. The flavors are vivid, almost laser-like, with vivid white and yellow fruits that are marked by grape and pear skins and distinct old vine minerality. The vigor continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs and touches of crème fraiche and nougat, followed by a persistently minerally finish. 19/20 points.

2019 Jean-Philippe Fichet Auxey-Duresses ($53.99 - wine.com) - Auxey-Duresses is situated on the slope above Meursault. This wine displays a brilliant gold color and lovely aromas of pear, white peach, lime, pear blossoms and hillside flowers. The flavors, as well, are enticing with precise, pure Chardonnay, white fruits that are marked by notes of pear skins, peach stones and granitic hillside minerals. The resonance continues on the back with pear and peach liqueurs and touches of hazelnut and lime zest, all extending into a lingering, again, precise finely fruited finish. 19/20 points. 

2019 Domaine des Marrans Fleurie "Les Marrans" ($25.99 - wine.com) - This Cru Beaujolais shows a deep ruby color and enticing aromas of wild raspberry. cherry, currant, rosebuds, purple lilac, sweet pea flowers and orange peel. The flavors are supple yet assertive, with deep red fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, cocoa powder, black tea and granitic minerals. On the back, the wine fills out with kirsch and crème de cassis liqueurs and recurring orange peel, followed by a ripe moderate tannin finish lifted by bright fruit acids. 18.5/20 points.

2019 Domaine des Marrans Morgon, "Corcelette" ($25.99 - wine.com) - Deep ruby colored, this emits rich aromas of raspberries, blueberries, red currants, black roses, mulberry, orange peel and incense. The flavors are generous yet robust, with red and blue fruits that are intermixed with licorice, chocolate, roasted coffee beans and calcareous earth. The chewy textured back picks up macerated fruits, framboise and cassis liqueurs, followed by a supple yet sturdy moderate tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2019 Domaine de la Pirolette Saint-Amour ($26.99 - wine.com) - It displays a deep purplish ruby color and lovely aromas of strawberry, raspberry, red currant, crushed roses, purple lilac, sweet pea flowers and sweet incense. The flavors are deliciously supple yet substantial, with bright red fruits that are interwoven with red licorice, cocoa, pekoe tea and minerals. The appeal continues on the back with gently pressed berries, fraise and cerise liqueurs and touches of nougat and grape skin on the soft tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2019 Domaine Besson Givry "Le Haut Colombier" ($31.99 - wine.com) - Givry is situated in the Côte Chalonnaise. The reds are Pinot Noir. This shows a brick red color and enticing aromas of fraises de bois, cerise and cassis with scents of rose petals, orange peel and whiffs of sultry incense. The flavors are deliciously supple yet mouth filling, with red fruits that are imbued with licorice, cocoa powder, pekoe tea and ground earth. The back reveals fraise and cassis liqueurs and orange peel, followed by a sweet-dry moderate tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2019 Domaine Besson Givry 1er Cru, Le Petit Prétend ($39.99 - wine.com) - This is a gorgeous wine. It displays a brick red color and seductive aromas of fraises de bois, cerise, cassis, rose petals, red flowers and whiffs of orange peel and stick incense. The flavors are deliciously supple, pure Pinot Noir, with notes of licorice, cocoa powder, orange pekoe tea, and saline alluvial minerals. The allure continues on the back with pressed fruits, crème de cassis and touches of nougat and recurring orange peel, followed by a lingering soft tannin finish. 19/20 points.

2019 Louis Jadot Côte de Nuits Villages, "Le Vaucrain" ($49.99 - wine.com) - This comes from the communes of Brochon, Fixin, Prémeaux, Corgloin and Comblanchien. It shows a deep ruby color and seductive aromas of strawberry, cherry, currant, crushed roses, bayberry, violets and sweet incense. The flavors are thick and lavish with red fruits that are infused with licorice, cocoa, black tea and granitic minerals. On the back, the wine takes a vigorous turn with pressed fruits, fraise and crème de cassis liqueurs and soft pencil lead, followed by a lingering smooth tannin finish. 19/20 points.

2019 Louis Jadot Marsannay, "Clos du Roy" ($51.99 - wine.com) - Marsannay is situated at the north end of the Côte d'Or. This wine shows a brick red color and lovely aromas of wild strawberries, cherries, black currants, wild roses, bright leaf tobacco, lavender and wafts of orange incense. The flavors, as well, are alluring, with supple yet substantial red fruits that are interwoven with red licorice, cocoa powder, black tea and minerals. On the back, the wine picks up red liqueurs - fraise, framboise and cassis - and a twist of orange peel on the way to a lingering, slightly grainy yet smooth tannin finish. 19/20 points.