The 2020 Dominique Laurent Bourgogne Cuvée "MCMXXVI" is a standout value from one of Burgundy’s most famed micro-négociants. Dominique Laurent, a former pâtissier turned winemaker, has built a cult following since the 1990s by sourcing fruit from old vines and championing minimal intervention and élévage in custom-crafted demi-muids. The “MCMXXVI” cuvée, named in honor of his father’s birth year (1926), is sourced from multiple parcels of old-vine Pinot Noir in the Côte de Nuits, all organically farmed and vinified with native yeasts and no fining or filtration. 2020 was a concentrated, low-yield vintage with small berries and thick skins, favoring producers like Laurent, who excel at preserving finesse alongside power. This bottling shows a depth and structure rarely found at the Bourgogne level—fine tannins and vibrant acidity frame dark cherry, earth, and spice notes. A serious Pinot that outperforms its designation, with mid-term aging potential. This is a rare find and top buy for the category, and right now, these are the only bottles available in the USA.

Tasting note by Burghound "Firm reduction blocks an evaluation of the nose. Otherwise, there is fine density to the attractively textured medium weight flavors that possess unusually good power for a wine at this level, all wrapped in a firm and youthfully austere finale. This is really quite good and worth checking out."