Pre-Sale, Arrives 3/4: Henri Gouges Bourgogne, Pinot Blanc | 2023

The first time I tasted this rare white was in 2009. A friend and I would cherry-pick the shelves at Gulf Liquors on Miami Beach, feasting on their underpriced trove of dusty Burgundy, old Bordeaux, and offbeat Italian bottles. We tore through their hidden gems like kids chasing an ice cream truck, then we discovered Gouges Blanc.

Four centuries of grape farming anchor Henri Gouges as one of the great names of Nuits-Saint-Georges. In the 1930s, while walking his iconic monopole, Clos des Porrets, he noticed an unusual white mutation of Pinot Noir. He named it “Pinot Gouges” and replanted it in the stony quarry of La Perrière. The wine has since become a darling among Burgundy enthusiasts—rare, singular, and still within reach.

Though newer labels denote the familiar variety, “Pinot Blanc,” many still refer to it as Pinot Gouges, one of Burgundy’s old-school originals. In the glass, you’ll uncover the classic lemon and apple, layered with stone and toast. Then, the palate shifts into the coziness of Pinot Blanc—sweet almond, straw, and, in mature bottles, a nostalgic note of candied corn. Call it whatever you like, but one thing is certain — you’re drinking special White Burgundy for an untouchable price. ~Allegra Angelo