Forays to the south of Burgundy country

A RECENT dinner with wines from the Cote d'Beaune was a welcome change and a much overdue opportunity to renew my acquaintance with them. When thinking red Burgundy, we all too frequently think of the Cote d'Or, and names such as Chambertin, Romanee-Conti, Richebourg and the like flash through our minds. With the exception of the Corton Grands Crus in Corton, there are no First Growths in the rest of the Cote de Beaune, but that is not to mean that there are no reds worth bothering about. Far from the truth.

The Wines:

Whites: Meursault 1er Cru Charmes 2001, Domaine Comtes Lafon

Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru 2001, Domaine Leflaive

Montrachet Grand Cru 1999, Domaine Baron Thenard

Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Ducs 1999, Marq…