When it comes to iconic Pinot Noir, Burgundy is the undeniable heavyweight champion. This region is synonymous with some of the most prestigious and costly wines in the world, making it a magnet for serious collectors and connoisseurs. But as it turns out, the story of Burgundy’s wines is more complex—and sometimes contradictory—than the classic Emersonian idea of “building a better mousetrap.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson famously suggested that if you built a better mousetrap, the world would beat a path to your door. In wine, however, especially in Burgundy, it appears you can be better or bigger—but rarely both. Burgundy’s Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines reach heights of quality and price rarely matched elsewhere, but their popularity in online searches tells a different story.
Big Scores and Even Bigger Price Tags
Burgundy’s critical acclaim is unparalleled. Among the 25 highest-scoring wines in the database, only one Burgundy wine falls below an aggregated score of 96, a testament to the region’s consistent excellence. Burgundy wines attract huge scores year after year, with many achieving near-perfect ratings.
The price tags are equally impressive, especially for red Burgundies. Nine out of the 10 most expensive wines in the database hail from Burgundy. The legendary Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) leads the charge with its Romanee-Conti Grand Cru averaging a staggering USD 24,251 per bottle. Other DRC wines like La Tâche and Richebourg also command high prices, alongside producers like Domaine Armand Rousseau and Domaine Leroy.
The World's Most Wanted Red Burgundies on Wine-Searcher:
| Wine Name | Score | Ave Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanee-Conti Grand Cru | 98 | $24,251 | |
| DRC La Tâche Grand Cru | 97 | $6838 | |
| Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin Grand Cru | 96 | $4423 | |
| DRC Echezeaux Grand Cru | 94 | $3641 | |
| DRC Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru | 95 | $4154 | |
| DRC Richebourg Grand Cru | 96 | $5094 | |
| Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüe Musigny Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes | 95 | $1097 | |
| Rousseau Clos Saint-Jacques | 95 | $1976 | |
| Clos de Tart Grand Cru Monopole | 95 | $725 | |
| Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru | 98 | $48,957 |
The dominance of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in search popularity is clear—it accounts for half the top 10 wines. Intriguingly, Domaine Leroy, despite commanding some of the highest prices in Burgundy, is less frequently searched. While Leroy boasts 100 wines on Wine-Searcher, only seven appear in the top 100 most searched Burgundies, with its Musigny Grand Cru making it to 10th place.
Popularity vs. Price: A Tale of Two Markets
This disparity likely comes down to price sensitivity. Leroy wines, prized by trophy collectors, have seen a dramatic price rise—most notably, the Musigny Grand Cru, which increased by over USD 10,000 in the past year. In contrast, DRC wines, although still expensive, have seen average prices decline by approximately USD 3,500 since mid-2023.
Interestingly, the overall trend for Burgundy wines on this list shows falling average prices over the past year. This suggests that collectors and buyers are increasingly hunting for value rather than just big names and big scores—even in the rarefied world of Burgundy.
Burgundy’s Curious Position in the Market
Despite Burgundy’s fame and profitability, its wines underperform in search traffic compared to Bordeaux, Italian wines, and even whiskey. However, Burgundy is the undisputed leader in the rapidly growing Pinot Noir search category, which hints at strong ongoing interest in its signature varietal.
In sum, Burgundy offers a fascinating case where quality, price, and popularity sometimes diverge. It remains a symbol of luxury and excellence but also a market where savvy buyers look beyond the headline names, seeking wines that deliver both pleasure and potential value.
Source: Wine-Searcher