2019 Francois Lumpp Givry 1er Cru A Vigne Rouge (Pre-arrival)

“The finest wine I have ever tasted from this important estate is the 2019 Givry 1er Cru A Vigne Rouge, a striking cuvée that wafts from the glass with aromas of cassis, plums, wild berries, sweet soil tones and spices. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it’s bright and vibrant, with superb depth at the core and a long, penetrating finish.

Pierre and Anne-Cécile Lumpp are now taking over the reins at this Côte Chalonnaise reference point, and the 2019 vintage confirms that they are building on the success of their parents, as it’s the most brilliant I’ve ever tasted at this address. Farming is organic without certification, and many of the domaine’s parcels have been replanted in the last couple of decades with superior vine material taken from Burgundy’s best domaines—something that’s essential if the Côte Chalonnaise is to make qualitative progress. In the winery, the Lumpp family eschews stylistic extremes in the cellar, fermenting destemmed fruit with temperature control and maturing their wines in barrels: 70% new for the reds and 30% new for the whites. As I’ve written, these bottles are a staple of France’s best restaurants’ wine lists for good reason; and the sumptuous, succulent and expressive 2019 vintage merits especially ardent pursuit.”