We've now been in France for just over a week and today was our first full day in Burgundy's Côte de Beaune.

It was also one of my favourite days of the trip so far.

We spent the day visiting two producers we already work with, but what struck me most was how much they had in common.

Both are family estates.

Both are being pushed forward by a younger generation.

And both feel like producers whose best years are still ahead of them.

Our first stop was Domaine Glantenay in Volnay.

Volnay has always held a special place in my heart. The first truly serious bottle of Burgundy I ever drank was a Michel Lafarge Volnay from the 1999 vintage. I was about 20 years old, just getting into wine, and I still remember how different it felt from anything I'd tasted before.

That's what great Volnay does.
It isn't loud.
It isn't powerful.
It's elegant, refined and incredibly detailed.
For me, it's what Burgundy is all about.

This was the first time I'd met the family behind Domaine Glantenay and the visit didn't disappoint.
Alongside their Volnay vineyards, they also produce wines from neighbouring Pommard, including a village wine and two Premier Cru bottlings.

The quality across the range was outstanding, but one wine in particular stood out.

Their Bourgogne Rouge Côte d'Or comes from vineyards in both Volnay and Pommard and delivers incredible value for Burgundy.

The quality was far beyond what the label might suggest and I can already imagine good restaurants pouring it by the glass.

Those are exactly the sorts of wines we're always looking for.

Wines that overdeliver.

Wines that introduce people to a region without requiring a second mortgage.

The timing of the visit was perfect as well.
Our first shipment is almost ready to leave France, so it was a chance to taste through everything one last time and decide whether we wanted to add anything else to the order.

The answer was yes.

Quite a few things, actually.

After the tasting we headed into Meursault for lunch at L'Épisode, where I had one of the best dishes of the trip so far, a seafood risotto that was absolutely sensational.

Then it was on to our afternoon visit with Maxime Lafouge at Domaine Lafouge in Auxey-Duresses.
If Volnay is one of Burgundy's classic villages, Auxey-Duresses is one of its hidden gems.

The village sits just behind Meursault and historically its wines were sometimes considered a little rustic compared to its more famous neighbours.

These days, that's changing quickly.

As temperatures continue to rise, vineyards at slightly higher elevations are becoming increasingly valuable because they retain freshness and balance.

And freshness is something every producer is talking about.

It was 36 degrees today.

People are already discussing the possibility of picking grapes in mid-August.

A generation ago that would have sounded ridiculous.

Today it feels entirely possible.

One thing I've noticed throughout this trip is how many younger winemakers are coming back into family businesses and pushing things forward.

Maxime is a great example.

At just 28 years old he's already worked in Oregon and South Africa before returning home to Burgundy.

He's ambitious, thoughtful and completely committed to improving the wines.

You can see it everywhere.

The vineyards. The cellar. The attention to detail. The wines themselves were superb.

Bright red fruit, incredible freshness and the sort of elegance that keeps drawing you back for another glass.

What excites me most, though, is where the domaine is heading.

In 2021 the family acquired a remarkable vineyard in Meursault called Clos des Rougeots.

It's a monopole vineyard, meaning it's owned entirely by one producer, something that is increasingly rare in Burgundy.

The purchase was a huge step for the family and, judging by the wine, one that could transform the estate's future.

We're fortunate enough to receive a tiny allocation, just 30 bottles.

It's not much, but we're thrilled to get any at all.

By the end of the day, I found myself reflecting on what we're really trying to achieve at Vintrepid.
Nobody comes to Burgundy looking for bargains anymore.

Those days are long gone.

But what you can still find is value.

You can find producers making wines that should probably cost more than they do.

You can find talented families quietly improving every year.

And you can find villages like Auxey-Duresses that sit just outside the spotlight but consistently overdeliver.

That's what we're looking for.
Not necessarily the biggest names.
Just the right ones.

Tomorrow we head north into the Côte de Nuits, with our first stop in Gevrey-Chambertin.

I'm very excited to see what we find next.

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