Arguably the best new addition to our Burgundy direct-import portfolio in the past two years, Domaine Michèle et Patrice Rion have delivered a series of expertly crafted stunners beginning with the 2022 Nuits-St-Georges 1er Crus, followed by an entire range of spectacular 2023s, and now continuing with the arrival of the exceptional 2024s. It's no secret that this was a tough growing season in the Côte de Nuits, the Rions were certainly hard hit in terms of yield (only 8 hl/ha). However, the wines they produced defied the challenges and remain excellent examples of Maxime's top-tier skills.
Many of you are familiar with the domaine's outstanding Bourgogne Rouge Les Bons Batons, which was a runaway best-seller in 2023. This year, that vineyard was blended into the regular Bourgogne Rouge, and the resulting wine was made all the better for it. The 2024 Bougogne Rouge "is clearly elevated by the inclusion of the Bon Baton fruit and as such comes recommended," according to Neal Martin. It's a "sleek and delicious" everyday charmer that'll provide a Burgundy fix on a budget every time. The 2024 Nuits-St-George 1er Cru Téte de Cuvée, blended from all three NSG 1er Cru sites due to such depressed yields, is "a very good wine that I hope to never make again," as Maxime described it to our buyer. It is, in fact, "absolutely delicious" as Martin notes, and both Jasper Morris and Allen Meadows concur. The 2024 Nuits-St-Georges Vieilles Vignes is another wine that benefits from the blending of a parcel typically made on its own. Meadows tagged it with his Outstanding designation for its "rich and solidly voluminous flavors" and "succulent mouthfeel."
Moving from Nuits to the domaine's other sites, the "beautifully textured and energetic" 2024 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Charmes is yet another exemplary rendition from this excellent cru, with rock-solid press from both Morris and Meadows. Finally, the 2024 Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Beaux-Monts is once again the crown jewel of the range, a potential 95-point wine according to Morris. Nabbing another Outstanding nod from Meadows, its "super-fresh nose" and "supple, delicious and attractively textured flavors" make for a Vosne of complete class and distinction that remains one of the more affordable examples from the appellation.
Also, don't miss the last handful of bottles left from the exemplary of 2023 vintage, which shows Maxime Rion's precise and thoughtful winemaking style in clear fashion.
"[Rion's] 2023s are in fact charming and very appealing while offering excellent quality." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Each wine is a pure reflection of its terroir and the outstanding 2023 vintage, offering undeniable collectible appeal for the cellar. The "harmony and beauty" of the 2023 Nuits-St-Georges 1er Cru Clos des Argillieres kicks it off with 96-point potential from Jasper Morris, while the "lovely" 2023 Nuits-St-Georges 1er Cru Les Hautes Pruliers, from a top-of-slope parcel in the famed 1er cru, shows 94-point potential per Neal Martin and quintessential appellation character.
As great as the NSGs are, don't overlook the "racy, beautifully detailed and solidly concentrated" 2023 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Charmes, a wonderfully suave and savvy buy that can punch with much more expensive expressions, or the stupendous value of the sub-$40 2023 Cote-de-Nuits Village Vieilles Vignes, which offers solid proof that "Rion takes things seriously at every level of their line-up."
We're thrilled to present these impressive, under-the-radar Cote-de-Nuits standouts to our Burgundy clients at our unbeatable, domaine-direct pricing, so don't miss this opportunity to load your cellar with some of the sharpest collectible buys in the acclaimed 2023 vintage, as well as standout efforts from 2024.
Glowing ruby purple, with an invigorating density of fruit on the nose. Once again the mouth is filled with a concentrated raw fruit, this time with much greater purity of fruit to finish. Notable length. Drink from 2030-2036. Tasted Nov 2025.
92-95 points, Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy (Jan 2026)
Enough wood to notice is present on the equally spicy and super-fresh nose of ripe dark currant, violet and Asian-style tea scents. The supple, delicious and attractively textured flavors are not particularly dense but they are markedly finer while exuding eventually minerality on the balanced, long and very stylish finale. This is lovely and also worth considering. *Outstanding*
91-93 points, Allen Meadows, Burghound (Jan 2026)
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