Xavier Monnot 2017 Bourgogne Pinot Noir

Robert Parker 87 Points: The 2017 Bourgogne Pinot Noir displays a rich bouquet of ripe cherries and licorice, followed by a medium-bodied, fleshy and succulent palate that—like its white counterpart—is adapted to near-term consumption.

The genial Xavier Monnot took over the illustrious Domaine René Monnier—named after his grandfather—in 1994, launching his own label in 2005. This 17-hectare estate boasts extensive holdings in both red and white. Monnot is an avowed devotee of the pleasures of the table, and the wines are made in their maker's image: gourmand, charming and expressive, privileging pleasure above all else. Yet it would be a mistake to conflate this generous, pleasure-bent style—descriptors that apply equally aptly to both reds and whites—with a superficially commercial one, as these wines are nicely concentrated and clearly differentiated by site.