Burgundy Wines: 14 Best From 5 Regions
Expert’s Choice: 14 Standout Burgundy Wines After Tasting 130
Updated June 15, 2025
After recently visiting multiple producers and tasting 130 wines from the Bourgogne region in France, I selected the following 14 bottles from five of its wine producing sub-regions based on thier overall quality and value.
This renowned French wine region is now pressing to be called Bourgogne rather than its English translation of Burgundy.The reasons are varied including that most names of other French wine regions are not translated, and—intriguingly—that the color referred to as ‘Burgundy’ in English is called ‘Bordeaux’ in France and Italy.
Bourgogne includes 84 distinct appellations, divided into Régional, Village (including Premier Cru) and Grand Cru distinctions, and also over 1,800 Climats –delineated vine plots with unique geological, exposure and hydrological characteristics that produce their own signature aromas/flavors.
Prices for wines range widely within Bourgogne, and the region’s overall cachet results in a small percentage of its wines commanding notably high prices (although Bourgogne produces 0.4% of the world’s volume of wine, that accounts for 4% of global wine trade value).
The Selected Wines Below are listed from North to South, with the distinct sub-regions of Chablis & Grand Auxerrois, Côte de Nuits and Hautes Côtes de nuits, Côte de Beaune and Hautes Côtes de Beaune, Côte Chalonnais and Couchois, and Mâconnais.
All wines listed below are made either from white Chardonnay or red Pinot Noir grapes (although a smaller quantity of often excellent wines are made in the Bourgogne using Aligoté, César, Gamay and other grapes).
‘Value’ is determined by my proprietary Vino Value algorithm that normalizes and combines subjective tasting scores with objective bottle prices (retail, at cellar door) to identify wines of good (♫)excellent (♫♫) and superlative (♫♫♫) value—providing optimal ‘bang for the buck.’ Note that prices are local in France, and will be higher in the U.S. due to various factors. Note also that these selected wines represent only a very small sample of many high quality wines of desirable value from Bourgogne.
Chablis & Grand Auxerrois
Domaine des Malandes. Loud. AOC Chablis 1er Cru. 2023. 93-94 points. € 40.00/$ 45.60. Excellent Value ♫♫.
From Amandine Marchive and Richard Rottiers, whose grandmother began making wines in the region 50 years ago. The family ages most wines in a 70/30 blend of steel tanks and 500 liter Burgundian medium toasted barrels with oak from the Vosges forest. This Chardonnay includes complex aromas of honey and layered tropicals from one of the warmest climates in Chablis. Slightly nutty flavors in a crunchy, enticing mouthful of caramel and slight green apples in this chardonnay.
“Our goal is to harvest quickly,” Amandine explained. “Otherwise if it is hot in August you can lose acidity; if it is rainy there is a threat of mildew. We harvest 30 hectares [75 acres] in eight days, hand picking for Premier and Grand Cru plots.”
verret domain. Chardonnay. AOC Bourgogne Côtes d’Auxuerre. 2023. 91-92 points. € 12.00/$ 13.70. good Value ♫.
From an estate with 148 acres (60 hectares), this 12.5% Chardonnay is vinified 50/50 in steel and used oak barrels and includes aromas of herbs, green apples, myrtle and slight salinity. Chewy, oily mouth feel in this semi-complex wine with a finish that includes slight caramel and lemon/line flavors.
Gabin and Félix Richoux domain. Veaupessiot. AOC Irancy. 2021. 92-93 points. €25/$28.50. Excellent Value ♫♫.
Irancy is an outlier—a village and appellation producing only red wines within Chablis, which is renowned for its dominant white wines. The village includes 250 residents, of which 10 are winemakers. With vines located above the River Yonne, these second generation winemaker brothers grow Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and César—a rare grape with big clustered bunches. Most of their visitors come from Paris, which is only two hours away by train.
This Pinot Noir from a cool year vintage aged two years in oak and includes classic Burgundian aromas, including black currants and black cherries as well as some flint and black pepper. Soft and silky tannins.
Côte de Nuits and Hautes Côtes de Nuits
Domaine Le Guellec-Ducouet. Clos field. AOC Gevrey-Chambertin. 2023. 96-97 points. € 44.00/$ 50.20. Superlative Value ♫♫♫.
This domaine is owned by two business partners—one a winemaker and the other with roots in banking. Michaël Le Guellec took control over vines controlled by his family since 1920, although previously leased out. They use no chemicals. “We try to make wines fresh and fruity, which people like to drink soon,” Michaël explained. Wines are exported to Asia, Europe and the U.S.
Vines that produced grapes for this 13.5% alcohol Pinot Noir wine were planted between 1933 and 1985. Classic Burgundian aromas, including black pepper and volatiles. Suave tannins in this powerful, hefty, structured beauty of a wine with spice rack and elegance on the finish. Compelling,classic and a bargain.
Domaine des Beaumont. AOC Morey-Saint-Denis. 2022. 92-93 points. €43.00/$49.00. Excellent Value ♫♫.
brothers Tanguy and Exupèry, both in their 20’s, are 8th generation producers for a family that owns a 13.5 acre (5.5 hectare) estate.
The wine is produced from grapes from five different plots and includes edgy aromas of bacon, petrol and wild fennel. This is a dark and hardy Pinot Noir, remini
What’s next
The author plans to continue exploring and reporting on the best value wines from various regions, providing insights for consumers seeking quality and affordability.