Earlier this week we took a close look at the whole of Morey Saint Denis in Domaine Dujac's villages bottling. Today we're going to focus on two small Premier Cruvineyards located in villages bordering Morey Sain Denis, with Chambolle Musigny to the south and Gevrey Chambertin to the north. Within these esteemed villages the names Barthod and Fourrier are legendary, and their two very special 1er Cru cuvées offered are all about location, location, location.

In a land where vineyards were carefully delineated over centuries ago by Cistercian monks we still need to emphasize that today producer will always be the greatest determining factor of quality. However, within each producer's stable there are particular wines that stand out from the pack. While not Grand Cru designated, the vineyards featured today have the real estate to prove they're anything but standard 1ers. Coupled with their mintue size, these are among the most collectible and prized in all of the Côte de Nuits.

I'm very happy to offer a diverse range stretching back to 2002.

Ghislaine Barthod's 1er Les Véroilles (pictured below) sits at the steep southwest portion of Grand Cru Bonnes Mares. Within the village of Chambolle Musigny Barthod is regarded for her very traditional wines that personfiy the ethereal nature of Chambolle. She's also known for a tightly coiled stylistic touch that demands patience as much as any producer here. A great example of how light color and tranparency can be misleading, as her entire lineup is full of sturdy wines that evovle at a glacial pace.

The great reward today is her very special 1er Les Véroilles is available going back to the 2002 vintage, one recognized for it's silken tannins and charming, ripe fruit.

I had the great fortunate of attending Becky Wasserman's 10-year retrospective tasting in 2012 at her home in Burgundy. Among the dizzying array of top producers and their 2002 vintage wines from throughout the Côte d'Or, those of Barthod left an indelible mark. Their youthful freshness and "wound up" style full of energy was amazing to see at 10 years of age.

Jean-Marie Fourrier's 1er Cherbaudes (pictured below) is bordered by Grand Crus, Mazis-Chambertin, Chambertin-Clos de Beze, and Chapelle-Chambertin to its south. Red soil and plate-shaped stones fill this small vineyard that's recognized as producing perhaps the ripest fruit of all the Gevrey 1ers.

Jean-Marie's use of low sulphur and minimal new oak bring a purity to Cherbaudes that's quite the counter to Gevrey's reputation for producing dark earth-inflected wines with firm tannins. Here, elegance is the prime reason for why Fourrier's name has seen a meteoric rise in fame over the last decade.

Fourrier is most noted for his strict reliance on using only old vines for domaine bottlings - averaging 60 years according to my visit in November 2012. After working side-by-side with the fabled Henri Jayer, Jean-Marie returned home to Gevrey in 1994 and took the reigns from his father.

Both wines offered today show the transformative nature of red Burgundy. It's wines like these from Barthod and Fourrier that capture the excitment which led to me to this venture from the start. This is where the aha moment within Burgundy is built upon.

2002 Barthod Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Véroilles
$293 per bottle.

2006 Barthod Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Véroilles
$239 per bottle.

2007 Barthod Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Véroilles
$209 per bottle.

2008 Barthod Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Véroilles
$209 per bottle.

2007 Fourrier Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Cherbaudes 
$176 per bottle.

2008 Fourrier Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Cherbaudes 
$152 per bottle.

2011 Fourrier Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Cherbaudes 
$185 per bottle.

2013 Fourrier Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Cherbaudes 
$169 per bottle.

Also available:

1997 Barthod Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Charmes
$169 per bottle.

2002 Barthod Chambolle Musigny
$149 per bottle

2002 Barthod Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Fuées
$259 per bottle.

2006 Barthod Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Cras 
$219 per bottle.

2009 Barthod Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Cras
$219 per bottle.

2005 Fourrier Griotte-Chambertin
$1,199 per bottle.

2005 Fourrier Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Gruenchers
$339 per bottle. 

2006 Fourrier Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Champeaux 
$229 per bottle.

2006 Fourrier Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques
$419 per bottle. 

2007 Fourrier Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques
$479 per bottle.

2007 Fourrier Griotte-Chambertin
$799 per bottle. 

2007 Fourrier Griotte-Chambertin 1.5L
$1,739 per bottle.

2010 Fourrier Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Gruenchers
$299 per bottle.