2021 Chauvet Freres Bourgogne 750 ml

Nearly four years ago, we found a shooting star of a red Burgundy. Chauvet Frères delivered exactly what we—and our members—look for in a go-to Burg. Bright fruit, pine forest undertones, hints of mushroomy earthiness and some spice. Drawn from old vines, it overdelivered on its price, and case after case left for cellars across the country.

Then it was gone.

They left their old importer. None was to be had. Our customer service team fielded email after email, replying only with bad news. We saw reviews from our members like this: “Excellent red burgundy. Classic for the region. One of the Best Buys I’ve made on Wine Access and I buy a ton of wine here. This is the number one wine that I hope comes back in stock (but I doubt it).”

Well, Chauvet is finally back. Grown on 30- to 70-year-old vines, showing fantastic concentration and sappiness from the historic vintage, this bottle hails from a producer who’s had roots planted in the south of Burgundy for nearly a century. And we have our friend Julia to thank for the introduction.

Just before New Year’s Eve a half-decade ago, on a rainswept evening in Paris, our VP of Wine Eduardo Dingler went to dinner with his importer friend Julia. They met at her favorite bistro.

"I have the perfect wine for you to try," she said as she pulled the Chauvet Frères Bourgogne Rouge out of her bag. Fittingly, it turned out to be the ultimate rainy-night bistro wine. She cracked it as they ordered some duck confit and frites, then washed down every bite with this delicious Burgundy.

Chauvet absolutely NAILED this Bourgogne Rouge in the classic 2021 vintage. Expressive, elegant, and enticing, the glass uncovers layers of vibrant ruby and intriguing garnet. The nose transports the senses to a piney forest decorated with wild cherry, wild mushroom, mint, and savory herbs. It’s the kind of bottle you want on hand whenever there’s a good friend or a great meal close by.