A particularly fine example of this small and little-known Burgundy appellation, this Pinot Noir is a must for the value seeker looking for off-the-beaten-track wines.

• 

  Colin Talcroft

  Pure fruit on the nose, tending toward strawberries, but overlaid with leather, musk, and darker fruit scents. Delicate yet intense. Keenly focused, with just enough acidity to balance the fruit and light tannins. Rich, seductive mid-palate preceding a moderately long, slightly grainy finish. A very pretty wine, in every sense—but not without substance. Far more refined than commonly encountered Ladoix. That Xavier Durand devotes this kind of attention to this oft-overlooked appellation speaks volumes about his dedication to fine winemaking.

  Food pairing: Duck; roasted chicken dishes; rabbit or other game; mushroom or lentil dishes

Grown just a dirt-road across from Grand Cru Corton Hautes Mourottes, this Ladoix Premier Cru is a refined Pinot Noir with an excellent balance of tannins, fruit, and acidity. Drinkable now, will keep a few more years.

• 

  Cheryl Bringuez

  Light, but intense with great backbone and balance. Offers earthy notes, white mushrooms, raspberry, cranberry, and something a bit dusty on the finish. The solid structure suggests this wine will improve at least through 2017.

  Food pairing: Risotto

Grown on South-facing slopes at the Northern edge of the Côte de Beaune, this Premier Cru Pinot Noir combines the richness and complexity of the Côte de Nuits with the finesse of the Côte de Beaune. Drinkable now, but may benefit from another year of cellaring.

• 

  Deborah Adeyanju

  Complex, evolving nose suggesting iron, meat, blood, black pepper, and cherries, with slightly nutty, oaky notes. Prominent floral suggestions. Good concentration on the palate, which offers red licorice, black pepper, and brambles. Medium body with an ample frame, while prominent acidity lends a lingering zestiness. Still young. A wine to try again around 2016.

  Food pairing: Meat tart