Flavour of the Year 2024 – Candidate No. 1

I find it extremely gratifying to promote new, talented people and estates. This is also what many buyers and collectors are looking for in a world of ever-increasing prices. This is also why one of the primary goals of the Winehog is to explore new producers.

To explain this initiative a bit more, while I find the work of young vignerons like Charles Lachaux truly admirable, these well-known producers already have the complete attention of the wine world and, furthermore, often plenty of great vineyards with which to express themselves.

Young, small, negociants and estates do not have the same exposure or access to noble terroirs, although their efforts are at least as admirable and enjoyable.

The Winehog Flavour of the Year award is for these young and/or new talents in Burgundy.

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Flavour of the Year winners

Bastian Wolber of Laisse Tomber in 2023

Les Horées in 2022

Domaine Cassiopée in 2021

Marthe Henri in 2019

Domaine Garcia in 2018

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Domaine Chantereves (2017)

Domaine Nicolas Faure (2016)

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Before Flavour of the Year

Before I created Flavour of the Year, I also had strong candidates. In 2017 I would have pointed at Maison – now Domaine – Chantereves, which still holds a strong place in my Burgundy heart. Great aligotés, and great wines in general.

I got the idea in 2016, when I first tasted the fabulous wines of Nicolas Faure, the Henry Jayer of lesser terroirs, and the Henri Roch of the manual vertical press. Mostly, Nicolas Faure is simply himself, making no-fuss vins d’émotion.

A change for 2024: three candidates

Three candidates will be selected, and the final selection will, as in previous years, happen in the spring of 2024.

Candidate No. 1

Domaine Maxime Dubuet-Boillot

The first candidate is Domaine Maxime Dubuet-Boillot, is based in Volnay, and making very good wines. It is, however, Maxime’s semi-carbonic cuvees Volnay Sur Roche and Volnay Carelle Sous la Chapelle that merit this candidacy. These two cuvees are really sparkling. The energy is truly magnificent – what a delight! The other wines are very good, but lack the sheer energy and liveliness of these two.