Weekend VinopoPick 11-17-17

New Arrivals: Goodfellow Chardonnay, Ramey’s Finest, Screaming Eagle, Bedrock, Araujo, Pacalet, Huet, Beaucastel and More!; Linne Calodo—Refining Paso; Petrolo’s Royal Tuscan Treasures; Christophe Mignon’s Meunier Champagne

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New Weekend – New Arrivals

Oregon

Goodfellow Family Cellars Richard’s Cuvee Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2015 750ML ($47.95) $39 special
Winery note “Dry-farmed chardonnay from a 1-acre parcel at Whistling Ridge, hand-picked, whole-cluster pressed. After a brief period settling the wine is racked into large French oak vessels. Fermentation and elevage lasts about 21 months on the gross lees. The shallow marine sediment soils and windy environs at Whistling Ridge produce a Chardonnay that is mineral, deep and long with chalky citrus fruit.”

Whistling Dog Cellars Heritage Blocks Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2012 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
VinopolNote: From the Heritage Block within the estate Nuestro Sueno Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills appellation. Aged in 40% new oak barrels from 18 months and bottled in April 2014. 58% Pommard clone and 42% Wadenswil clone. An expressive, earthy and fruity red from one of our favorite value producers!

This is the only listing in the USA today!
California

White:

Ramey Platt Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2014 Chardonnay Platt Vineyard has expressive pink grapefruit, warm peaches and brioche notes with hints of praline and ginger. Medium-bodied with great richness and depth in the mouth, it has a lovely creamy texture offset by a wicked backbone of freshness, finishing long with mineral and savory/yeasty layers.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Ramey Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2014 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard is the most exuberant and layered of David Ramey’s Chardonnays. It is also stylistically the wine that is closest in style to past. Rich, sumptuous and layered, the Ritchie expresses intensity in all of its dimensions. Even with all of its richness, the 2014 confers aromatic intensity and freshness. This, too, is very nicely done.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Youthfully mute at this primary stage, the 2014 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard offers suggestions of lemon curd, white peaches and white grapefruit with underlying notes of honeyed toast and butterscotch. The palate is full-on seduction with an appealingly oily texture and tons of peaches and cream flavors, finishing long with a lively lift.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Ramey Woolsey Road Vineyard Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2014 750ML ($69.95) $56 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Chardonnay Woolsey Road Vineyard is a powerful, intense wine with real phenolic intensity. This is an especially rich, deep and layered wine with exquisite finesse and pedigree. Readers should be prepared to cellar the 2014 for at least a few years. This is a special Chardonnay in the making.”
Wine Advocate 93 points ‘The 2014 Chardonnay Woolsey Road Vineyard has exotic jasmine, pineapple and guava notes with hints of crème brulee and croissant. Medium-bodied with plenty of finesse in the mouth, it gives a nice balance between the fruit and savory flavors, with a silken texture and finishing long and toasty.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Red:

Bedrock Wine Co. ‘The Bedrock Heritage’, Sonoma Valley 2016 750ML ($59.95) $46 special
Winery note “Diane Kenworthy, who has overseen farming at Bedrock Vineyard for the last ten years, has a sage mantra that the best vineyards teach you how to farm them over time.  I think the same can be said of making wines from a great vineyard.  Over time you see the gentle nuances of ripening and subtle variations in a vineyard.  You gain a better understanding of maximizing the potential of a vineyard in a given year rather than attempting to force it into a particular style.  Bedrock Vineyard is always going to have orange-scented perfume and rooted tannins, but outside of that I have been amazed by the variations of vintage. A wine that is well-built, a little gruff at first, but full of nuance, soft eyes, and a well-hewn heart. Composed of the 27 different varieties found in the old vines at Bedrock Vineyard, the wine is dominated by the classic California field blend of Zinfandel, Carignane, Mataro, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Alicante Bouschet.  However, it also has Cabernet, Merlot, Castets, Trousseau Noir, Grenache, Bequignol, Mondeuse, Semillon, Tempranillo, Muscadelle, and more.  From the heart of Sonoma Valley, this is the wine closest to our hearts.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Bedrock Wine Co. Evangelho Vineyard Heritage Red, Contra Costa County 2016 750ML ($41.95) $34.90 special
Winery note “Coming from own-rooted Zinfandel, Mataro, Carignan, Palomino, Alicante, and Mission planted in the 1890s on 40’ banks of granitic beach sand, this wine is a unique expression of a California field blend.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Araujo Estate Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($549.95) $479 special
James Suckling 99 points “Intensely scented dried flowers on the nose in the rose to lilac spectrum. Raspberry and blackberry undertones. Rose perfumes. It’s full-bodied, yet everything’s in finesse. Superfine tannins coat your palate and give you incredible length, and it all last for minutes on the palate. Great resonance. Not the power of 2013 but intellect and persistence prevails here. A joy to taste now, but this will improve for decades ahead.”

Forman Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “A weightless, translucent wine, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon exudes class. Vibrant and finely sculpted, the 2014 possesses striking nuance from start to finish. Scents of lavender, rose petal, mint and sweet spice notes give the 2014 its brightness and sense of energy. Today, the 2014 is a bit compact relative to how it showed from barrel. I expect the wine will put on a bit more weight during its aging. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2014 at least a few years. Even today, though, the 2014 is a very pretty and pure wine.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, St Helena 2014 750ML ($349.95) $269 special
Wine Advocate 95+ points “Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and displaying a deep garnet-purple color, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard opens with pronounced crème de cassis, mocha, black forest cake and cloves over lavender, bay leaf and menthol nuances. Full-bodied, concentrated and seductive, it has a gorgeous velvety texture and plenty of freshness lifting the opulent flavors, finishing with a spices and herbs kick.
Antonio Galloni 95 points “One of the highlights in this range, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard is superb. Beams of tannin give the 2014 its rich, explosive personality. Crème de cassis, graphite, gravel, smoke, licorice and blueberry jam hit the palate. Exuberant and yet also structured, the 2014 is shaping up to be a real gem. The Piedras is the most brooding and tannic of the Hobbs Cabernets. It also is highly representative of site.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville 2014 750ML ($519.95) $449 special
Wine Advocate 98+ points “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard reveals notes of blackberry preserves and blueberry compote with chocolate box, star anise, sandalwood, dried meat and black loam nuances. The full-bodied palate is earthy and muscular, with a solid frame of ripe, grainy tannins and just enough freshness to support the taut earthy and savory flavors, finishing on a lingering spicy note. 840 cases were made.”
Wine Advocate 96-100 points “The first-growth 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard flirts again with a potential perfect score when it is finally in bottle. Opaque purple in color, with notes of charcoal, graphite, incense, blueberry and blackberry fruit, and a touch of new oak followed by a full-bodied, massively concentrated mouthfeel. This is an amazing wine for a 2014, and the good news is that there are 800 cases of it, compared to only 638 in 2013. It should drink well for 20 or more years.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Ramey Annum Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Antonio Galloni 91-94 points “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Annum is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. Rich, unctuous and powerful, as it was last year, the 2014 is endowed with layers of dark, silky fruit, striking inner sweetness and gorgeous aromatics, all qualities that are typical of the eastern portion of Oakville.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Ramey Pedregal Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville 2014 750ML ($219.95) $169 special
Antonio Galloni 92-95 points “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Pedregal Vineyard is another hugely promising wine from David Ramey. Exotic in its aromatic profile, with tons of depth, the 2014 is exceptionally beautiful, layered and nuanced. This is a gorgeous and highly nuanced wine with a bright future.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Screaming Eagle ‘Second Flight’, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($699.95) $599 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Second Flight bristles with all the energy and tension that is such a signature of the vintage. Dark flavors abound, with plenty of black cherry, mocha, espresso and graphite overtones layered throughout. The 2014 is an especially muscular, brooding Second Flight. Accordingly, it is likely to require at least a few years to come into its own. The juiciness of the Merlot gives the wine its center of fruit and overall palate feel, but the Second Flight is also quite closed down today, most likely because of its recent bottling. Tasted alongside the flagship Screaming Eagle, Second Flight seems more affected by the bottling, but that is not all that unusual for Merlot-based wines, especially in this vintage.”
France – Burgundy

Philippe Pacalet Puligny-Montrachet, Cote de Beaune 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “This is sappy, evoking nut oil, white flowers, lemon oil, peach and sweet spices. Harmonious and long, with a terrific aftertaste of citrus oil, spice and mineral. Delivers amazing texture and length. Drink now through 2027.”
Vinopolnote: From the cool, clay-limestone climats of Les Noyers Brets, Les Petits Noizerots, and les Reuchaux. On the nose are white flowers and lime, while the palate is rich and mineral, with a savory finish.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Philippe Pacalet Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Burghound 89-92 points “This is also exuberantly fresh with its assortment of red currant, plum, and violet aromas that are liberally interwoven with notes of forest floor and earth. While there is more volume and concentration to the medium-bodied flavors it remains wonderfully vibrant with ample minerality to the mouth coating, powerful and moderately firm finish. This is an excellent Gevrey villages and highly recommended.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Philippe Pacalet Aux Argillas, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Burghound 92 points “A cool, pure and ripe nose offers up layered aromas of dark pinot fruit, red currant, earth and plenty of floral elements. The vibrant, detailed and mineral-inflected medium weight flavors possess a lovely mid-palate mouth feel that contrasts moderately with the mildly rustic finale that is both sneaky long and beautifully complex. This is a relatively refined Nuits 1er that is built-to-age yet not especially austere and thus should drink well after only 5 to 7 years of age.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Philippe Pacalet Pernand-Vergelesses Les Belles Filles, Cote de Beaune 2015 750ML ($59.95) $52.50 special

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Philippe Pacalet Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($419.95) $369 special
Burghound 92-95 points “A conspicuously spicy, floral and sauvage-inflected nose displays a notably ripe yet wonderfully fresh combination of red currant and dark raspberries. The rich, intense, sleekly muscular and overtly mineral-driven flavors culminate in a youthfully austere, backward and hugely long finish. This is very Gevrey in style and be aware that this will need extended cellaring as it’s definitely very firmly structured.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
France – Beaujolais

Dupeuble Pere et Fils Beaujolais Nouveau, Beaujolais 2017 750ML ($21.95) $17 special
Dupeuble Pere et Fils Beaujolais Nouveau, Beaujolais 2017 1.5L ($41.95) $36 special
Importer note “Tradition runs deep in the family, but each generation has also managed to add something new, including increasing the property. Today it is comprised of one hundred hectares, about forty percent of which is consecrated to vineyards. Strong advocates of the lutte raisonnée approach to vineyard work, they tend their vines without the use of any chemicals or synthetic fertilizers. The vineyards, planted primarily to Gamay, face Southeast, South, and Southwest, and about two thirds of the property is on granite-based soil. The grapes are harvested manually and vinified completely without SO2. The wines are not chaptalized, filtered, or degassed and only natural yeasts are used for the fermentation. The wines of Dupeuble represent some of the best values in the Beaujolais today and are widely regarded for their very high quality and eminently reasonable price.”
France – Loire 

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
#6 – Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2017 
Wine Spectator 95 points “This tilts toward the flattering side of off-dry, showing a plump feel to the core of creamed pear, white peach and yellow apple fruit. Lovely verbena, honeysuckle and mineral accents keep this balanced and driven, with a long finish that lets the fruit echo. Drink now through 2032.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($47.95) $39 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Green plum and verbena notes lead the way for now, with a flash of quinine on the finish. This is juicy, but still a bit compact overall, with the core of ample pear, quince and ginger flavors in reserve. Just wait for everything to knit together and stretch out, as the purity and length are there. Best from 2018 through 2028.”
France – Rhone

Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Wine Spectator 97 points “A stunner from the get-go, with waves of thoroughly seductive boysenberry, plum, blueberry and raspberry reduction forming the core, while roasted apple wood, rooibos tea, bergamot, and anise notes flash throughout. Has plenty of bass, with a Turkish coffee accent and a hint of alder driving underneath. Everything moves in lockstep through the seriously long finish. Best from 2020 through 2045”
Wine Advocate 96 points “Bottled in late July, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape is an amazing effort, especially when one considers the production volume. Loaded with black cherry fruit and cola-like spice, this full-bodied, richly textured wine never seems heavy or warm, while exotic Indian spice notes linger on the finish. It should drink well for at least 20 years.”

Domaine Guillaume Gilles Cornas, Rhone 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 special

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Hirotake Ooka Domaine de la Grande Colline Le Canon Rouge, Rhone 2016 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Importer Note “Immediately drinkable, this bottling is sourced from 30-year-old Syrah and Grenache, which spend a few days undergoing carbonic maceration. Then punch downs are done daily for 15-20 days in tank. Wine ages in tank and is bottled unfined, unfiltered and without SO2.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Hirotake Ooka Domaine de la Grande Colline Saint-Joseph, Rhone 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Importer Note “25-year-old Syrah vines growing in granite are harvested manually and fermented with whole clusters. After a few days of carbonic maceration, there are daily punch downs over two to three weeks of maceration in tank. After pressing, the young wines age twenty-four months in old barrels before bottling with no fining, filtration and zero SO2.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Hirotake Ooka Domaine de la Grande Colline Cornas, Rhone 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 special

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Italy – Piedmont

Massolino Moscato d’Asti DOCG, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Winery note “Appearance: bright straw yellow, with fine and persistent perlage; it maintains limited pressure, as recommended by the tradition of this wine. Bouquet: tempting, immensely fresh and intense, it reveals decisive fruit notes, with a clear predominance of sage. Flavour: expansive and enveloping, but not too sweet; the typical aroma of Moscato grapes is naturally prevalent and it has a very long and delicious finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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Linne Calodo

The Search for the Perfect Paso Pour

“Not a year goes by when Matt Trevisan doesn’t tell me that he’s still fine-tuning his style and thinking as much as possible about ways to reach his potential as a winemaker–and, increasingly, as a grower. A quick look at the names of his wines gives one an idea of his curious nature and he’s one of the more reflective producers that I visit, anywhere. He reminds me a lot, in fact, of Jean-Louis Chave, another young vigneron who, like Trevisan, is constantly questioning his own work even though his wines are consistently among the very best examples of his appellation.” – Josh Raynolds – Vinous

It takes a lot of drive to reach the top of an appellation. The amount of time and energy that a young winemaker has to spend thinking about and refining his/her craft to be considered one of the top producers in a region is enormous.  To reach the top, then, and continue to obsessively refine one’s craft takes a certain mindset that’s uncommon—it’s very easy to rest on your laurels.

Linne Calodo has become one of the preeminent producers of Paso Robles wines—made from creative blends that increasingly are coming from estate fruit off of their 20 acre vineyard.  They continue to refine and work, though—they’ve moved to increasing amounts of large-format cooperage and although the wines are still massive they’ve become increasingly refined.   These are special wines, up there with any big reds coming out of the state and they deserve your attention.

Linne Calodo ‘Perfectionist’, Paso Robles 2014 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Deep ruby. A highly complex, spice-laced bouquet evokes black and blue fruit preserves, incense and Moroccan spices, and a smoky mineral quality adds lift. Stains the palate with concentrated, sharply delineated boysenberry and cassis liqueur flavors that are energized by a spine of juicy acidity. Definitely rich, but shows outstanding energy and clarity as well. Finishes sweet, velvety and extremely long, leaving notes of candied flowers and spicecake behind.”
72% Syrah, 23% Grenache, 5% Mourvèdre

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Linne Calodo ‘Problem Child’, Paso Robles 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 94+ points “A blend of 74% Zinfandel, 19% Mourvèdre and 7% Syrah, the 2015 Problem Child has a deep garnet-purple color and nose of blueberry preserves, dried mulberries and preserved plums with touches of baking spices, violets and raspberry leaves. Full-bodied and full-on rich and seductive, it has lovely spicy and berry preserves palate with plush tannins and a long, peppery finish.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 94 points “Dark purple. Deeply perfumed, spice- and mineral-accented cherry liqueur, boysenberry and black currant aromas are complemented by a sexy floral nuance. Shows impressive depth as well as nerve to the sweet black and blue fruit liqueur and floral pastille flavors, which are sharpened by a jolt of juicy acidity. Supple, harmonious tannins sneak in steadily, adding focus and shape to an impressively long, mineral-laced finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Linne Calodo Rising Tides Red, Paso Robles 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Vivid ruby. Intense red fruit liqueur, spicecake and floral pastille aromas develop suggestions of licorice and smoky minerals in the glass. Sappy and deeply concentrated yet impressively energetic as well, offering palate-staining raspberry and cherry compote flavors given lift and spine by a core of juicy acidity. Shows a striking combination of richness and elegance and finishes extremely long and seamless; supple tannins sneak in slowly to add shape and grip.”
54% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 14% Syrah, 2% Tannat

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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Petrolo: Tuscan Royalty

The legacy for wine at Petrolo is certainly older than most; there are examples of Etruscan names associated with the area dating back 3000 years. The pedigree on the wines goes back to 1715 when a Medici Duke decreed that the Val d’Arno di Sopra was one of only four specific areas in which grape growing was recommended especially for wine production. The fact that the mention of “French Grapes” having been cultivated alongside Sangiovese as early as 1815 makes it seem only natural that the most famous wine of Petrolo is their Galatrona; a hands-down stunner comprised of 100% Merlot. This is one for the Massetto or Pomerol fans. It’s rich with chocolate, black fruit and dusty leather and mushroom; Galatrona is a wine of serious nature, but isn’t brooding or heavy. Even the 2010, which has years to tell its entire story, isn’t beyond enjoyability even now. For those who love Super-Tuscans, this is a bargain of the highest order.

The other featured prearrival from Petrolo is the Inaro, the entry level, but certainly drinkable rosso from Petrolo. Formerly known as the Toscano IGT, the rebranded Inaro is the tribute to the local wines being made in the hills around Petrolo. The wine is not complicated, and this is a good thing. It is juicy, deep and lightly spiced; not a shy wine, but not one to overwhelm your palate. Inaro is clearly riding the coattails of the rest of the Petrolo lineup, and the trickle down of fruit, oak and skill makes it possible to enjoy a wine that is clearly reflecting a luxury pedigree, at an affordable price. The boldness will surprise and please you.

In Stock Now:

Petrolo Torrione Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2009 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 17 bottles available
James Suckling 94 points “Aromas of lightly stewed fruit, with hints of fresh herbs and spices. Full bodied, with soft tannins and a fruity finish. This is balanced and long, with a caressing finish. Best ever. Mostly Sangiovese, with a hint of Merlot. Better after 2013” JS

Petrolo Torrione Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2010 1.5L ($69.95) $59 special, 6 magnums available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2010 Torrione is exception and a very reasonable value. It opens with elegant richness and soft tones of black cherry, licorice, spice and dark leather. The style is opulent and confident for this mostly Sangiovese-based wine. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.”

This is the only magnum listed in the USA today!

Petrolo ‘Inarno’ Rosso Valdarno di Sopra 2012 750ML ($19.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Petrolo ‘Inarno’ Rosso Valdarno di Sopra 2012 750ML ($219.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 89 points “(100% sangiovese): Good deep red. Expressive aromas of candied raspberry, licorice, tobacco and underbrush. Dense and sweet on the palate, with lovely depth to its raspberry and superripe red cherry flavors lifted by bright acidity. Finishes smooth, long and light on its feet.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Arriving ETA December:

Petrolo Galatrona Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2010 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “A massive expression of Merlot, the 2010 Galatrona is heaven-sent. The layers are infinite here spanning dark fruit, spice and chocolate. I fall in love with this wine year after year. The mouth is caressed with stirring complexity and fine tannins that feel silky and smooth. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030.”
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of black olives, violets and fresh fruit follow through to a full body, with a dense palate of dark fruits and olives. Long and polished. Handmade wine. You sense it. Pure Merlot sensation.”

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Arriving Next Month:

The Stunning Meunier Champagne

Of Christophe Mignon

Christophe Mignon Champagne is made following the rules of tradition, which involves, “cultivating the vine with love and patience in order to be able to reap the best fruit.” Their primary goal is finding “balance between heaven and earth, roots and branches, minerals and fruit, aroma and taste.” This sort of love and patience and finding that particular balance is through the strict practices of biodynamics.

Christophe’s great grandparents planted the 16 acres of vines, which are comprised of about 30 different plots and planted with primarily Pinot Meunier, the underdog of Champagne varietals. The differences in soils help to define the fruit that is so meticulously cared for. Mignon chooses to employ one person per hectare (about 2.5 acres) in his vineyards, an extremely costly decision and just another highlight of his testament to quality.

Mignon’s unique approach to his viticulture practices not only involves biodynamics, but also phytotherapy, homeopathy and geobiology. His ingenuity has led to creations such as special footing blades for his tractor to achieve the ideal width and depth when working soils in the vine rows. He has followed the lunar calendar for over 20 years, allowing the moon’s cycles to dictate his work both in the vineyards and in the cellar. He strives to follow the rhythm of nature and explains, “the moon for a vigneron is like a metronome for a musician.”

This is a great opportunity to try some of the highest quality small grower Champagne and at an incredible value. Christophe Mignon is so wonderfully passionate about the wine he makes and possesses a great amount of tenacity both in the vineyard and in the cellar.

Arriving ETA Late December:

Christophe Mignon Brut Nature ‘Pur Meunier’, Champagne, NV 750ML ($59.95) $46 pre-arrival special
Blend of 2013 & 2014 vintages

Thanks for reading!