2020 Monthelie-Douhairet-Porcheret 1er Cru Le Meix Bataille Monthelie

You are looking at the family estate of André Porcheret, the legendary winemaker hired by Lalou Bize-Leroy to craft the first vintages of Domaine Leroy—wines that now sell for over $4,000 a bottle. When you drink this Monthelie, you are tasting the direct lineage of the man who managed the Hospices de Beaune (twice) and helped build the most expensive winery in the world, all for a price that feels decades old.

While the label says "Monthelie," your palate will scream "Volnay." The Premier Cru Le Meix Bataille is widely considered one of the finest sites in the village, bordering the famous Volnay Clos des Chênes. If you walked ten yards east, this wine would cost three times as much. Today, the estate is run by André’s granddaughter, Cataldina Lippo, who has preserved the "old school" magic: 100% destemmed fruit, native yeasts, and a refusal to filter heavily. This is Burgundy with soul, not makeup.

The 2020 vintage was warm and sunny, producing small berries with thick skins. This bestowed the wine with a darkness and concentration that elevates it far beyond the "rustic" reputation Monthelie sometimes carries. It is plush, structured, and deeply aromatic, offering the elegance of a top-tier Volnay with the wild, earthy undercurrent that makes real Burgundy lovers swoon. It is a masterclass in value from a family that helped write the history of the region.