Albert Lefas Bourgogne Rouge “Les Grandes Carelles” 2019

Sale $19.99

Buy six or more pay $17.99

This is, as the subject line already told you, the best Bourgogne Rouge I have ever tasted. Well, drank actually. Because once I took a sip of this, I knew there was no spitting… and that bottle was getting finished. And my wife almost killed me because I took the last sip. Cardinal sin.

Then I place an order for a 80 cases. This is the single largest purchase of Burgundy I have ever made. Money... meet my mouth. Is it hyperbole then to say this is the "best" when I put up or shut up like this?

I can’t explain it… maybe it was the weather… the other wines I had open… fate, karma, kismet? But when I put this to my noise, I was just floored. I have never experienced such intoxicating aromas at this price point. And the flavors just exploded, cascading for what seemed like an hour. Okay, now I am getting carried away. But then again… sigh…

I'll admit... I was nervous when it arrived. Burgundy is a fickle creature. Would it live up to my own hype? I had Rich take a bottle home to see... whew! And Yee ha! Because he agrees... this is some stunning stuff!

So what's the secret?

Aubert Lefas is one of the best winemakers nobody has heard about. At Domaine Lejeune, his father-in-law's winery, Aubert is executing at the highest level. Oh, his father-in-law? That would be François Jullien de Pommerol, former professor at Beaun's enology school. You think he might have an inside track on adding a few choice parcels to the family holdings? Anyway, back to Aubert... he is fashioning some incredible wines that nobody has even reviewed. Until now... Jasper Morris, of Inside Burgundy, one of the most respected Burgundy critics, finally visited the Domaine and tasted the 2018 vintage. He rated Aubert's Pommard Rugiens 1er Cru at the top of the list, the same as only five other Pommard's, with those having an average price of $193 per bottle! 

The bottom line is Aubert is absolutely killing it, fashioning Pommard that matches any of the most famous names.

"Yeah, but that's Pommard, Todd. What's that got to do with this wine?"

Wel... I mean a great winemaker makes great wine, right? Oh... and... um... shh... this IS Pommard. Sourced from a vineyard just across the road from the Chateau de Pommard from 20-30 year-old vines. 

Oh... and then there is the vintage... 2019! I'm running long here, so suffice to say that many critics and tasters like me are quietly, and not so quietly, saying that 2019 has the potential to be legendary. Once in a 30 year kind of vintage, for both reds and whites, where ripeness is high, but acidity is balanced, and everything is just... well... perfect!

And there you go... this gem just explodes from the glass with wave after wave of perfumed cherry and raspberry fruit, with hints of earth and spices. It carries over into the mouth, with just fruit exploding and crunching in your mouth... but again, that acidity... that delicately earthy spice... it just keeps it all in check. And begs you to come back for more.

"Great! One last question, Todd. So this is great for Burgundy... but I can still get a California or Oregon Pinot at the same price that's better, right? I mean, that's what you've always preached."

Well, if I did say that (and I did), that no longer holds true. The reality is Burgundy, like Bordeaux, is done resting on their laurels and is producing some bang-up values to go along with their mythical cult wines. I am hard-pressed to come up with another sub $20 Pinot Noir from anywhere that I have enjoyed this much in the past few years. I've got a few at $28... but nothing sub $20. My suggestion is grab it up... it'll age for another 7-10 years easily.


Or reply. The wine is available now in Chapel Hill. Friday, as ordered, in Hillsborough.