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Winemaker(s): Guy and Jean-Yves Sarrazin

Welcome to the village of Jambles. Blink, and you'll probably miss it—this hamlet of just 500 residents southwest of Givry doesn't offer much to entice a wandering tourist. Granted, few tourists are as interested in climbing rocks as we are. What makes Jambles (say zhamBLAYe) special is its vineyard-covered hills, the source of stunningly noble, high-altitude wines that are truly a vinous world apart from the better-known flatland cuvées of Givry.

How does one discover new wine when such places are so hard to find? One starts with the finest source of Burgundy, and then steals his address book. We “found” Guy and Jean-Yves Sarrazin of Jambles through our very talented friend, Frédéric Magnien. When Fred drops names, our ears perk up. We then asked for a couple samples of Sarrazin wine; we tasted them together and were immediately awakened. This was Givry like none we had experienced—deeper and more complex, with precise and very fresh flavors. After this promising tasting, we got out the map and took a drive.

The Sarrazin brothers inherited the wine bug from their father, a pioneer in the hills of Jambles who encouraged his sons to explore the limits of winemaking beyond the town's small borders. Like many family businesses, it's all hands on deck—Jean-Yves, 35, works the fields and cellars while Guy, 42, manages the estate—but both change hats effortlessly. The two are also regulars at Burgundian tasting round tables, hosted by the likes of Magnien, Vincent Dureuil in Rully, and others. The Sarrazin brothers are talented artisans with their finger on the pulse of Burgundy's future—and their very noble, exciting wines certainly back up their ambitions.

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Sarrazin Givry Blanc Les Grognots 2009 France / Côte Chalonnaise-Burgundy A crisp Burgundian Chardonnay from the stony hills surrounding the hamlet of Givry, the source of French king Henri IV's favorite wines. Medium-bodied with plenty of vibrant acidity; a core of succulent white fruits and citrus zest is both thirst-quenching and luxurious. A lovely wine ready to enjoy today or cellar for three to five years. $27.95

Sarrazin Givry Champs Lalot Vieilles Vignes 2009 France / Côte Chalonnaise-Burgundy Sweet, small red berries, a hint of earth and peppery spice flood the nose. Black cherries, raspberries and plums blend with a hint of lavender and pomegranate juice on the juicy, expressive and plush mouth. Gorgeously fresh and balanced and one of our favorite (should be a 1er!) from the Cote Chalonnaise. $34.95

Sarrazin Givry Champs Lalot Vieilles Vignes 2009 375ml France / Côte Chalonnaise-Burgundy Sweet, small red berries, a hint of earth and peppery spice flood the nose. Black cherries, raspberries and plums blend with a hint of lavender and pomegranate juice on the juicy, expressive and plush mouth. Gorgeously fresh and balanced and one of our favorite (should be a 1er!) from the Cote Chalonnaise. $21.60

Sarrazin Maranges 2009 France / Côte de Beaune-Burgundy A seriously delicious red Burgundy with both grace and heft—it's a darker, more chewy and certainly more textured Pinot Noir, thanks to the generosity and richness of the 2009 vintage. The wine's aromatics are out of this world—sassy notes of cinnamon and clove mix with bass notes of licorice with hints of dried roses and plenty of black pepper... $33.00

Sarrazin Bourgogne Cote Chalonnaise Clos de Liron 2009 France / Côte Chalonnaise-Burgundy A classic, pure Pinot Noir chock-full of fresh red berry fruit and silky tannins. Aromas remind of ripe summer berry compote, mixing red raspberries, juicy blueberries and sweet strawberries. On the palate, flavors of black cherries and black raspberries dominate, with hints of pepper and baking spices. $23.25

Sarrazin Givry Champs Lalot Vieilles Vignes 2008 France / Côte Chalonnaise-Burgundy Expressive and fresh yet wonderfully concentrated, with a delightful spicy finish. A structured wine that has the stuffing to cellar, too. Call 1-800-266-6585 to inquire.

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