La Combe Grisard

“The Montagne de la Combe Grisard is the thickly forested hill that looms above the Grand Cru vineyards of Gevrey-Chambertin. Many Burgundy lovers have hiked it and traversed the abandoned railway tunnel that cuts through it, and for American winemakers Eric Railsback and Matt Murphy, that quintessential wine-geek hike inspired the name for their new label.

Like a lot of Burgundy fanatics, Matt and Eric really wanted to have a go at making some of their own, and with the help of a very well-placed friend—Jeremy Seysses of Domaine Dujac—they’ve done just that. The 2016 vintage is just the second for La Combe Grisard, but everything we’ve tried from them thus far has all the authenticity and assurance a Burgundy drinker could ask for. Through Seysses, they’ve connected with top-quality growers to source the fruit for their wines, which are farmed, harvested, and vinified under the supervision of the Dujac team. Eric and Matt share Dujac’s preference for whole-cluster-fermented Pinot Noir, and in today’s 2016, from the “Champ Franc” lieu-dit in Gevrey-Chambertin, you get not only a spot-on expression of that village but the combination of power and polish that makes Dujac such a sought-after (and expensive) label. La Combe Grisard is a confident, convincing foray into the most hallowed Pinot Noir ground on earth. I tip my hat to these guys!" – Ian Cauble, Master Sommelier www.SommSelect.com