Visit to Domaine Julien – tasting the 2025s

Being a wine writer has its advantages and drawbacks depending on one’s mood and energy. Tasting the same producers year after year gives you the basic structure of the new year’s article… and it is therefore tempting to keep quite a lot of the lyrics unchanged for the article – as this is often viable.

The start of the 2023 article is very simple … yet so much the feeling I get when I visit Etienne in 2026

“Always a pleasure to visit Etienne Julien in Comblanchien. It is straightforward and without unnecessary yadayada …

The world would be an easier place to live in if we just got to the core of the topic quicker.

…. to the core!”

The 2025s from Domaine Etienne Julien

No need to beat around the bush – the 2025s from Etienne Julien are amongst the very best I have tasted from this estate,

The Comblanchien estates are often forgotten … and this is really sad, as they produce some great wines.

The 2025s has the balance, the energy and vitality to bring this beautiful vintage home. Fruit is pure and vivid … taking the wines to another level. The vintage is great, but I also feel that the new cuverie has a positive impact,

Étienne had a period experimenting with more new oak, but has luckily returned to a more modest use of oak … I like this …

These are lovely wines! – the best from Étienne so far … get some!

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Tasting notes from August 19th 2026

I enjoyed a fine tasting with Étienne, so let’s go to the notes!

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Domaine Étienne Julien Aligoté 2025

The Aligoté is fresh and delicate with a lovely fruit. It is sort of old-school style-wise, but made very well. Can bring pleasure as both an aperitif and as a companion to light to medium-intensity food … it’s quite a treat.

(Drink From 2026) – Very Good – (88p)

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Domaine Étienne Julien Bourgogne Blanc 2025

The Bourgogne Blanc is a treat … lovely fruit and acidity. Not terribly complex but delivers a lovely and delicate drinking experience.

(Drink From 2026) – Very Good – (87-88p) –

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Domaine Étienne Julien Bourgogne Rouges 2025

The Bourgogne Rouges is a lovely wine … light-footed and quite delicate. A surprise as it offers so much drinking pleasure for the money.

We sometimes forget these lesser cuvees as they are not always presented at the tastings … as they often are bottled before the bigger wines. Quite many top-end producers make some rather rare Bourgogne Rouges that can blow your socks off – Cathiard and Georges Roumier are examples.

(Drink From 2026) – Very Good – (87-88p) –

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Domaine Étienne Julien Côte de Nuits Villages 2025

This is a blend from several different plots in the Comblanchien area. Very well balanced with a lovely and deep fruit for this level. Entry-level Côte de Nuits Village … should not be overlooked.

(Drink From 2029) – Very Good – (87-88p) –

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Domaine Étienne Julien Côte de Nuits Villages Essard 2025

A cuvée from the Comblanchien area made from the terroir of Essard. Lovely fruit and backbone … just drinks so well. Quite a step up from the regular Côte de Nuits Villages – beautiful fruit and depth … this is a real treat.

(Drink From 2032) – Very Good – (88-89p) –

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Domaine Étienne Julien Côte de Nuits Villages Armand 2025

A cuvee from the Comblanchien area named after Étienne’s grandfather, this is a blend of four lieux-dits – Les Plantes du Bois, Les Essards, La Julbigne, and La Dominode. This is bigger and better structured – a bit more serious but still playful. Has this lovely salinity and will no doubt provide lovely drinking as the years pass.

(Drink From 2035) – Very Good – (89-90p) –

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Domaine Etienne Julien Aloxe-Corton Les Valoziéres 1er Cru 2025

The Aloxe-Corton is showing beautifully… it just drinks well. Deep fruit … pure and delicate… love the style. Has really improved since the 2023 vintage … this is a good vintage for this Aloxe 1er cru.

(Drink From 2034) – Very Good – (90p) –

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