In Today’s Newsletter:
Reintroducing Champagne Nicolas Maillart
A Vinopolis Favorite, Back and Better Than Ever
Trending Wines
Staff Pick
An Under-$15 Red to Write Home About
Merkelbach: Mosel Riesling from Another Time
“Mr. Chablis” Delivers Again
Camigliano’s 92 Point, Under $20 Super Tuscan
Collector’s Corner:
2009 Cathiard Romanee-Saint-Vivant
Reintroducing Champagne Nicolas Maillart
A Vinopolis Favorite, Back and Better Than Ever
A Vinopolis Favorite, Back and Better Than Ever
We’ve carried the Champagnes of Nicolas Maillart in the past, but were blown away when tasting through them recently—enough that we’ve gone deep on the entire lineup. These are some of the most exciting wines from Champagne that we’ve tasted in a while and they’re at prices that keep them firmly within reach.
Nicolas Maillart’s family has a grape-growing tradition in Champagne that goes back at least the 18th’s century (though some documents indicate the family has been farming grapes since the 1500’s) though it wasn’t until 2003 that Nicolas started his namesake winery. Based in the Montagne de Reims, the winery has a variety of excellent holdings in premier and grand cru villages, including an ungrafted parcel of Pinot Noir that informs their top wine. Maillart is clearly a man with drive and ambition and the wines seem like they’re destined for stardom in the near future—though you’ll note that the pricing doesn’t quite catch up to that quality, yet.
The house style is bright, linear and resolutely dry—they marry the inherent power of the Pinot Noir they farm with a tendency to reinforce the bracing side of their Champagnes. The resulting wines were fantastic to taste, with clean, mineral-drenched profiles and a serious side that would make them excellent with meals. Everything here is worth your time and money, from their entry-level “Platine” to their two top end wines, made only in the best years. We’re happy to be working with these wines again and think that as soon as you taste them, you’ll be happy too.
Arriving This Month:
Nicolas Maillart Premier Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML($54.95) $43.50 pre-arrival special
Winery Note “Golden in colour with a fine, lingering bead. Aroma: Intense with notes of fruit and hazelnuts and a sligth toastiness. Taste: The initial impact is wonderfully fresh and vinous, followed by great finesse. Food and wine: Aperitif, white fish like haddock or cod. Pinot Noir is dominant, with a complement of Chardonnay that brings freshness to the blend. The high percentage of reserve wines (30 to 40%), aged in barrels, confers a high regularity and style to this Brut Platine. Only “Grand” and premier crus are used in this wine, with origins in the Montagne de Reims, on vineyards managed by us. With a very gentle process, we keep all the richness of the grapes. Aged around three years on its lees, this Brut Platine develops all its richness. A natural balance and freshness allows a low dosage (3 g/l).”
Nicolas Maillart’s family has a grape-growing tradition in Champagne that goes back at least the 18th’s century (though some documents indicate the family has been farming grapes since the 1500’s) though it wasn’t until 2003 that Nicolas started his namesake winery. Based in the Montagne de Reims, the winery has a variety of excellent holdings in premier and grand cru villages, including an ungrafted parcel of Pinot Noir that informs their top wine. Maillart is clearly a man with drive and ambition and the wines seem like they’re destined for stardom in the near future—though you’ll note that the pricing doesn’t quite catch up to that quality, yet.
The house style is bright, linear and resolutely dry—they marry the inherent power of the Pinot Noir they farm with a tendency to reinforce the bracing side of their Champagnes. The resulting wines were fantastic to taste, with clean, mineral-drenched profiles and a serious side that would make them excellent with meals. Everything here is worth your time and money, from their entry-level “Platine” to their two top end wines, made only in the best years. We’re happy to be working with these wines again and think that as soon as you taste them, you’ll be happy too.
Arriving This Month:
Nicolas Maillart Premier Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML($54.95) $43.50 pre-arrival special
Winery Note “Golden in colour with a fine, lingering bead. Aroma: Intense with notes of fruit and hazelnuts and a sligth toastiness. Taste: The initial impact is wonderfully fresh and vinous, followed by great finesse. Food and wine: Aperitif, white fish like haddock or cod. Pinot Noir is dominant, with a complement of Chardonnay that brings freshness to the blend. The high percentage of reserve wines (30 to 40%), aged in barrels, confers a high regularity and style to this Brut Platine. Only “Grand” and premier crus are used in this wine, with origins in the Montagne de Reims, on vineyards managed by us. With a very gentle process, we keep all the richness of the grapes. Aged around three years on its lees, this Brut Platine develops all its richness. A natural balance and freshness allows a low dosage (3 g/l).”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $49.99
The next best price is $49.99
Nicolas Maillart Platine Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Nicolas Maillart Platine Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Nicolas Maillart Platine Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 3L ($349.95) $299 pre-arrival special
Importer note “50% 2015 and 50% 2014. Dosage 5.5 grams.”
Winery Note “Golden in colour with a fine, lingering bead Nose: Intense with notes of fruit and hazelnuts and a slight toastiness Palate: The initial impact is wonderfully fresh and vinous, followed by great finesse. Slow, gentle pressing using gravity-flow techniques. Vinification in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats and a period in the barrel for a certain volume of reserve wines. Average two-year maturing period in the bottle. Disgorged by hand and laid down for at least three months before sale.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Nicolas Maillart Chaillots Gillis Ecueil Premier Cru, Champagne 2012 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Winery Note “Champagne from a specific area from old vines of Chardonnay. Produced only in great years, this Champagne is produced with limited quantity. A wine of Champagne before being a Champagne. Origin of the grapes: Ecueil 1er cru . Sourced from different parcels of old vines only, exposed on the south hills and different plots in the middle of the vineyard. Winemaking and aging: Slow, gentle pressing using gravity flow techniques. This wine is vinified exclusively in wooden vats . This Champagne has had a long maturation on wooden vats and no filtration took place before the bottling. Disgorged by hand and laid down at least six months before sale. Dosage : 0 g/L Tasting notes Eye : Golden yellow with a fine, lingering bead Nose : really delicate with notes of minerality and toasty notes. Palate: A lovely fresh, vinous attack. This is an intense Champagne that will do great justice to a meal.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Nicolas Maillart Franc De Pied Ecueil Premier Cru, Champagne 2012 750ML ($149.95) $136 pre-arrival special
Winery Note “Champagne from a specific area from old vines of Pinot Noir ungrafted on sandy soil. Produced only in great years, this Champagne is produced with limited quantity. Origin of the grapes: Ecueil 1er cru Pinot Noir from un-grafted vines planted in 1973, exposed on the south hills. Winemaking and aging: Slow, gentle pressing using gravity flow techniques. This wine is vinified exclusively in wooden vats and with regular battonage. This Champagne has had a long maturation on wooden vats and no filtration took place before the bottling. Disgorged by hand and laid down at least three months before sale. Dosage: 0 g/L”
Winery Note “Champagne from a specific area from old vines of Pinot Noir ungrafted on sandy soil. Produced only in great years, this Champagne is produced with limited quantity. Origin of the grapes: Ecueil 1er cru Pinot Noir from un-grafted vines planted in 1973, exposed on the south hills. Winemaking and aging: Slow, gentle pressing using gravity flow techniques. This wine is vinified exclusively in wooden vats and with regular battonage. This Champagne has had a long maturation on wooden vats and no filtration took place before the bottling. Disgorged by hand and laid down at least three months before sale. Dosage: 0 g/L”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Nicolas Maillart Brut Rose Grand Cru, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Disgorged 4/2018. 6g/L
Winery Note “Salmon-pink in colour with a fine, lingering bead Nose: Intense with notes of fruit (ripe and from the forest floor) Palate: The initial impact is wonderfully fresh and vinous, followed by great finesse. Maceration on skins for 52 hours Slow, gentle pressing using gravity-flow techniques. Vinification in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats and a period in the barrel for a certain volume of reserve wines. Average two-year maturing period in the bottle. Disgorged by hand and laid down for at least three months before sale Dosage: 6 g/litre.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Trending Wines
Library Owen Roe Syrah from perhaps their best vineyard—at unthinkably good pricing.
Owen Roe Red Willow Vineyard Chapel Block Syrah, Yakima Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $33 specialCase-12 Owen Roe Red Willow Vineyard Chapel Block Syrah, Yakima Valley 2013 750ML ($719.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92 points “Bright medium ruby. Musky, earthy aromas of raspberry, roasted strawberry, smoked meat and charred oak. Fat, sweet and deep, with good spicy lift to the very ripe flavors of plum, blueberry, dark chocolate and spices. A very rich, tactile Syrah with sexy sweetness but plenty of ripe, dusty tannins to support a graceful evolution in bottle. Ultimately richer than the Union Gap Syrah but also more tannic.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price in any vintage is $49.50
The average listed price across all vintages is $55
The next best price in any vintage is $49.50
The average listed price across all vintages is $55
This drinks like $100 Hermitage—a testament to Fondreche’s prowess.
Domaine de Fondreche Ventoux Divergente, Rhone 2016 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “Reminding me of one of the Sélections Parcellaires Hermitage from Michel Chapoutier, the 2016 Ventoux Divergente is 90% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre that was mostly destemmed and brought up in foudre. Crème de cassis, black raspberries, peppered meats, graphite, and liquid rock notes all flow to a fat, unctuous, sexy Syrah that has beautiful acidity, fine tannin, and a huge finish. It’s a true “Wow” wine that needs to be tasted to be believed. Put this in a blind lineup of top Hermitage and shock all your friends.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Less immediately showy and approachable than the 2016 Persia, the 2016 Ventoux Divergente is tight and focused, deserving of a couple of years in the cellar. Smoke, black olive and plum notes dominate this full-bodied wine, picking up hints of espresso on the long, tannic finish.-JC”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Excellent Cote de Blancs Champagne that way over delivers for the price.
Diebolt-Vallois Brut Tradition, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $33 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Bright, with citrusy acidity, this harmonious Champagne offers a creamy mousse and a minerally underpinning layered with flavors of apricot, honeysuckle, salted almond and biscuit. A crowd-pleaser. Drink now through 2020. 125 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Big, brooding and mystical—this is a wine of its own.
Domaine Le Clos des Fees Cotes du Roussillon Villages 2015 750ML ($79.95) $54.50 special
Case-6 Domaine Le Clos des Fees Cotes du Roussillon Villages 2015 750ML ($399.95) $299 special (that’s only $49.83/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 96 points “Eighteen months in new French oak barrels has given the 2015 Côtes du Roussillon Villages le Clos des Fées a certain tightness and discipline lacking in the Vieilles Vignes bottling. There’s still massive fruit and buried complexity, full body and rich tannins, but there’s also firmness of structure that shows the serious, age-worthy side of Bizeul’s winemaking. Vanilla and baking spices accent deep, dark cherries and plums, ending in a long, velvety finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $60
The average price is $60
A perfect wine for summer, this is pairs with salads, fish and lighter foods brilliantly.
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese #5, Mosel 2016 750ML ($54.95) $49 special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93 points “Ripe apple and pear garlanded in honeysuckle entice the nose, accompanied by high-toned suggestions of almond and pistachio extracts. A subtly creamy palate displays luscious fruit, heady inner-mouth perfume and rich nuttiness. There is less counterpoint or refreshment here than in the corresponding A.P. #10, but greater opulence has not precluded a delectable sense of delicacy, and the seductively soothing, superbly sustained finish offers a reassuring whisper of wet stone.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2016 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese (AP #5) has a lovey clear, piquant and still reductive nose that indicates tremendous complexity and richness. Round, super lush and elegant on the palate, this is a beautifully balanced and harmonious Spätlese that has an even riper and more textured character compared to the Spätlese #10.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “This offers a gorgeous nose of slightly yellow fruits, ginger and earthy spices. The wine proves quite lively and nicely focused on the palate, with zesty acidity driving the aromatic profile. The wine is nicely elegant and well balanced in the focused and yellow peach infused finish. This is a gorgeous Spätlese in the making. 2026-2041”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
A great bottle of Chateauneuf at throwback pricing.
Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) $29 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Ripe and forward in feel, featuring crushed raspberry and blackberry compote notes, mixed with red licorice, blood orange, rooibos tea and fruitcake hints. Silky from start to finish, with a subtle sanguine thread lacing up the finish. Very enticing. Best from 2020 through 2037. 16,000 cases made, 2,000 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $35
The average price nationally is $35
Staff Pick
An Under-$15 Red to Write Home About
Andy:
When the family from La Fortuna arrived to taste with us back in January, I was excited to revisit their wines as I had not tasted them in a couple of vintages. Such a great surprise when Gino kicked off the tasting with a $14 red that I couldn’t wait to share with the Brunello fans that are always looking for something affordable to drink while they’re waiting for the Riservas to come around. The Fortunello Toscano Rosso is from some of the younger vines from around the property and showcases the youthfulness of the fruit in the best way possible. Bright cherry and raspberry fruits, but telltale cocoa dust and blueberry in the up-front attack on the palate. The finish is to the point, hanging around only long enough to let you know that the wine has the pedigreed family to look forward to meeting. The wine is light, fresh and easy on the alcohol making it an easy choice to open on any casual night with family. Pizza night wine extraordinaire, but will shine with meals with a little more substance as well. We’ve had comparably priced wines in the Italian section that I have recommended, but the overall polish of this wine leaves me wondering how they can make something this pleasant for so inexpensive. Enjoy any time over the next couple of years, but drink it while you can still get more.
La Fortuna Fortunello Rosso Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: A fantastic value, showing pretty varietal notes of red cherries and spice. Moderately rich, savory and expressive.
Winery Note “A wine that first expresses itself through its colour; intense ruby red. Extraordinary via its intensity and absolute pleasure on the palate, vigor, length, freshness and fruity finish. A wine that will improve with age with its scents of raspberry and red berries.”
When the family from La Fortuna arrived to taste with us back in January, I was excited to revisit their wines as I had not tasted them in a couple of vintages. Such a great surprise when Gino kicked off the tasting with a $14 red that I couldn’t wait to share with the Brunello fans that are always looking for something affordable to drink while they’re waiting for the Riservas to come around. The Fortunello Toscano Rosso is from some of the younger vines from around the property and showcases the youthfulness of the fruit in the best way possible. Bright cherry and raspberry fruits, but telltale cocoa dust and blueberry in the up-front attack on the palate. The finish is to the point, hanging around only long enough to let you know that the wine has the pedigreed family to look forward to meeting. The wine is light, fresh and easy on the alcohol making it an easy choice to open on any casual night with family. Pizza night wine extraordinaire, but will shine with meals with a little more substance as well. We’ve had comparably priced wines in the Italian section that I have recommended, but the overall polish of this wine leaves me wondering how they can make something this pleasant for so inexpensive. Enjoy any time over the next couple of years, but drink it while you can still get more.
La Fortuna Fortunello Rosso Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: A fantastic value, showing pretty varietal notes of red cherries and spice. Moderately rich, savory and expressive.
Winery Note “A wine that first expresses itself through its colour; intense ruby red. Extraordinary via its intensity and absolute pleasure on the palate, vigor, length, freshness and fruity finish. A wine that will improve with age with its scents of raspberry and red berries.”
Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up
Don’t want to stop in?
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
When you’re ready to pick up,
just park in our lot, give us a call,
& we’ll bring your order to your car.
#503-223-6002
Don’t want to stop in?
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
When you’re ready to pick up,
just park in our lot, give us a call,
& we’ll bring your order to your car.
#503-223-6002
Merkelbach: Mosel Riesling from Another Time
“Merkelbach’s wines are like the world before anyone wrote poems about it.” – Terry Theise
We adore the wines that Rolf and Alfred Merkelbach make, irrationally and perhaps more than any other grower in the Mosel. These are wines that are as old-school as you can find for the region (the brothers are in their 80’s and haven’t changed styles since they started) and they capture the delicacy and etherealness of Riesling like few other wines we’ve tried. Terry Theise, their importer, describes their wines as “like VAPING Mosel Riesling.”
They have a charm and an energy that’s unlike almost any other wine we’ve tasted. In fact, their closest comparison might not be in the Mosel at all, but rather with Truchot’s wines in burgundy—another producer who managed to create unbearably delicate, ethereal wines that seemed to trigger Stendhal Syndrome anytime you had the pleasure of drinking them. We’d like more people to appreciate these wines while the brothers are still making them (a problem for, say, Truchot) and before the prices go crazy.
Recently Arrived, In Stock Now:
Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Auslese #1, Mosel 2018 750ML ($41.95) $33 special
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “The 2018er Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Auslese AP 01 was harvested from partially botrytized grapes at 101° Oechsle and was fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar (70 g/l). It offers a comparatively opulent and intensely aromatic nose made of apricot, coconut, pear and melon, all pepped up by pungent earthy spices. The wine remains playful and elegant on the almond and fruit infused palate. The finish is smooth but also elegantly refined and long. 2028-2048.”
Terry Theise note “No. 1 is many other growers’ “1-star Spätlese,” so don’t worry it will be too rich. A sheer beauty, it’s a giddy giggle of apples and slate. No. 12 is more the “true” Auslese, both in feel and in concentration.”
We adore the wines that Rolf and Alfred Merkelbach make, irrationally and perhaps more than any other grower in the Mosel. These are wines that are as old-school as you can find for the region (the brothers are in their 80’s and haven’t changed styles since they started) and they capture the delicacy and etherealness of Riesling like few other wines we’ve tried. Terry Theise, their importer, describes their wines as “like VAPING Mosel Riesling.”
They have a charm and an energy that’s unlike almost any other wine we’ve tasted. In fact, their closest comparison might not be in the Mosel at all, but rather with Truchot’s wines in burgundy—another producer who managed to create unbearably delicate, ethereal wines that seemed to trigger Stendhal Syndrome anytime you had the pleasure of drinking them. We’d like more people to appreciate these wines while the brothers are still making them (a problem for, say, Truchot) and before the prices go crazy.
Recently Arrived, In Stock Now:
Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Auslese #1, Mosel 2018 750ML ($41.95) $33 special
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “The 2018er Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Auslese AP 01 was harvested from partially botrytized grapes at 101° Oechsle and was fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar (70 g/l). It offers a comparatively opulent and intensely aromatic nose made of apricot, coconut, pear and melon, all pepped up by pungent earthy spices. The wine remains playful and elegant on the almond and fruit infused palate. The finish is smooth but also elegantly refined and long. 2028-2048.”
Terry Theise note “No. 1 is many other growers’ “1-star Spätlese,” so don’t worry it will be too rich. A sheer beauty, it’s a giddy giggle of apples and slate. No. 12 is more the “true” Auslese, both in feel and in concentration.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Auslese Urgluck, Mosel 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2018er Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese Urglück was harvested at 102° Oechsle in this prime part of the vineyard still planted with ungrafted vines, and was fermented down to fully sweet levels of residual sugar (80 g/l). It offers a beautiful nose made of apricot, cream, strawberry, smoke and herbs. The wine is beautifully playful and delicately zesty on the fruity and nicely creamy palate. The finish is sweet but still remarkably mouthwatering. 2028-2048.”
Terry Theise note “In its sighing way this is as profound a wine as has ever been made here. Without the anvil-solidity of years like 2010 or 2015, nothing obtrudes upon the purity of fruit—and acidity can be distracting, you know. Here it’s not merely “slate and apples” any more. Something para has entered the picture; fruit but also not-fruit; refers to mineral but not “minerally.” Just some arcane synergy, some voice of the vineyard we’ll never quite account for.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Spatlese #5, Mosel 2018 750ML ($41.95) $33 special
Terry Theise note “This is superb. Mineral, archetypal, with rapturous fruit. Eternal youth in a bottle!”
We have eighteen different Merkelbach wines in stock and arriving this month.
You can view the entire list on our webstore.
You can view the entire list on our webstore.
“Mr. Chablis” Delivers Again
Great Wines from Domaine d’Henri
With Spring here and Summer approaching, we’re restocking on some of our favorite Chablis out there: the wines of Le Domaine d’Henri. Founded and made by Michel Laroche, a man whose nickname is “Mr. Chablis,” they’re as classic as they come with prices that make them exceptional deals even for an undervalued region. We just secured a restock on these chalky treasures—including some of his rare “Heritage” bottling that represents the top of the range.
Le Domaine d’Henri is a new producer with an old heritage. Michel Laroche has ancestors who farmed grapes in Chablis going back to the 17th century but formed this star producer only (after selling his interest in the Domaine Laroche in 2010. Named after his father, Henri, Michel kept only the oldest, most treasured vines in Fourchaume and some village level vineyards, aiming to have a small, family business that focuses on farming and winemaking on an intimate scale.
The wines he’s making are some of the most beautiful in Burgundy, with rippling minerality, electric tension and pretty fruit framing the palate. They are classically Chablisienne in the best ways, practically the distilled essence of the region. We love drinking these with practically any food, but especially with spring and summer weather.
In Stock Now:
Le Domaine d’Henri Fourchaume Heritage Premiere Trie, Chablis Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Our Cuvée Héritage is dedicated to the memory of Henri. Hand harvested and hand selected, this is a “première trie”, or selection, of the finest grapes from our oldest parcel of vines, planted in 1937. Vinified and aged in stainless steel tanks (70%) and 228-litre oak barrels (30%), this is an elegant, precise yet racy wine, that expresses the tension and refreshing minerality associated with the great Chablis terroirs. For Henri, this was the purest expression of the Chardonnay grape. A grand vin that will start to reveal its full potential between five and twenty years. The Cuvée Héritage encapsulates our savoir-faire. By selecting only the very best grapes, the production is limited to only a few thousand bottles per year an the volume will vary each year, depending on the quality of the vintage. Serve between 14-15° and decant for 15 minutes before serving. This is a bottle for special occasions. Appreciate on its own with fellow wine lovers, or enjoy with fish, lobster, guinea fowl or even an aged Comté.”
Le Domaine d’Henri is a new producer with an old heritage. Michel Laroche has ancestors who farmed grapes in Chablis going back to the 17th century but formed this star producer only (after selling his interest in the Domaine Laroche in 2010. Named after his father, Henri, Michel kept only the oldest, most treasured vines in Fourchaume and some village level vineyards, aiming to have a small, family business that focuses on farming and winemaking on an intimate scale.
The wines he’s making are some of the most beautiful in Burgundy, with rippling minerality, electric tension and pretty fruit framing the palate. They are classically Chablisienne in the best ways, practically the distilled essence of the region. We love drinking these with practically any food, but especially with spring and summer weather.
In Stock Now:
Le Domaine d’Henri Fourchaume Heritage Premiere Trie, Chablis Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Our Cuvée Héritage is dedicated to the memory of Henri. Hand harvested and hand selected, this is a “première trie”, or selection, of the finest grapes from our oldest parcel of vines, planted in 1937. Vinified and aged in stainless steel tanks (70%) and 228-litre oak barrels (30%), this is an elegant, precise yet racy wine, that expresses the tension and refreshing minerality associated with the great Chablis terroirs. For Henri, this was the purest expression of the Chardonnay grape. A grand vin that will start to reveal its full potential between five and twenty years. The Cuvée Héritage encapsulates our savoir-faire. By selecting only the very best grapes, the production is limited to only a few thousand bottles per year an the volume will vary each year, depending on the quality of the vintage. Serve between 14-15° and decant for 15 minutes before serving. This is a bottle for special occasions. Appreciate on its own with fellow wine lovers, or enjoy with fish, lobster, guinea fowl or even an aged Comté.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Le Domaine d’Henri Fourchaume, Chablis Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “In 2012, we started a massal selection from our oldest Fourchaume vines, planted in 1937, before the existence of clones. These vines provide us with a unique heritage that we absolutely want to preserve…In addition to the fundamental work on the vine canopy, we have joined forces with renowned soil specialist, Claude Bourguignon, and his son, Emmanuel, to gain a better understanding of our soils. The soil is a very complex, living environment that deserves to be better understood. It is, after all, the soil that will allow the vine to reach its full qualitative potential. It is important to understand the living organisms present in the soil: microbial, bacterial, vegetal and animal, such as worms that will help break up and aerate our soils.”
Winery Note “In 2012, we started a massal selection from our oldest Fourchaume vines, planted in 1937, before the existence of clones. These vines provide us with a unique heritage that we absolutely want to preserve…In addition to the fundamental work on the vine canopy, we have joined forces with renowned soil specialist, Claude Bourguignon, and his son, Emmanuel, to gain a better understanding of our soils. The soil is a very complex, living environment that deserves to be better understood. It is, after all, the soil that will allow the vine to reach its full qualitative potential. It is important to understand the living organisms present in the soil: microbial, bacterial, vegetal and animal, such as worms that will help break up and aerate our soils.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Le Domaine d’Henri Chablis ‘Les Allees’, Chablis 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 18 bottles in stock now
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Le Domaine d’Henri Chablis Saint Pierre, Burgundy 2017 750ML ($34.95) $27 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Le Domaine d’Henri Chablis Saint Pierre, Burgundy 2017 1.5L ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special – ETA Mid-June
Winery Note “The combination of the Kimmeridgian soils that are so typical of the appellation, and a continental climate allow the Chardonnay grape to produce this fine, elegant and racy Chablis, with a distinct minerality. Made from vines planted in 1988, 1989 and 2001 and vinified uniquely in stainless steel tanks, this is a great example of grapes harvested at full maturity. Marked by a beautiful acidity, this Chablis can be drunk as soon as its first year, but will continue to improve for 5 to 7 years.”
Arriving ETA Mid-June:
Le Domaine d’Henri Fourchaume Heritage Premiere Trie, Chablis Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Winery Note “Our Cuvée Héritage is dedicated to the memory of Henri. Hand harvested and hand selected, this is a “première trie”, or selection, of the finest grapes from our oldest parcel of vines, planted in 1937. Vinified and aged in stainless steel tanks (70%) and 228-litre oak barrels (30%), this is an elegant, precise yet racy wine, that expresses the tension and refreshing minerality associated with the great Chablis terroirs. For Henri, this was the purest expression of the Chardonnay grape. A grand vin that will start to reveal its full potential between five and twenty years. The Cuvée Héritage encapsulates our savoir-faire. By selecting only the very best grapes, the production is limited to only a few thousand bottles per year an the volume will vary each year, depending on the quality of the vintage. Serve between 14-15° and decant for 15 minutes before serving. This is a bottle for special occasions. Appreciate on its own with fellow wine lovers, or enjoy with fish, lobster, guinea fowl or even an aged Comté.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Le Domaine d’Henri L’Homme Mort Vieilles Vignes, Chablis Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($59.95) $47.50 pre-arrival special
Le Domaine d’Henri L’Homme Mort Vieilles Vignes, Chablis Premier Cru 2017 1.5L ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Winery Note “Planted in 1970, this parcel reflects the nobility of the Fourchaume appellation, with notes of forest floor and a racy, balanced palate, underlined by a good acidity. The Kimmeridgian escarpment of Fourchaume is reputed to produce some of the best Chablis wines and the South West exposure of the vines means that they bask in the warm afternoon sun. Vinified in stainless steel tanks (75%) to preserve the minerality and freshness, and in oak barrels (25%) of 228-litres so as to add more complex notes, this wine will continue to improve for the next 15 years or so. Serve at 14-15°C, this wine will benefit from being decanted 15 minutes before serving to allow the aromas to develop. The perfect partner for turbot or a grilled côte de veau.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Camigliano’s 92 Point, Under $20 Super Tuscan
Camigliano is one of our favorite producers of Brunello (we have their excellent Brunello arriving next month and their Rosso di Montalcino in stock now), but their entry-level Super Tuscan “Poderuccio” is perhaps the best value in their entire lineup. This powerful 92 point Bodeaux+Sangiovese blend is a quarantine special—under $20 and ready to drink now.
In Stock Now:
Castello di Camigliano Poderuccio Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($21.95) $17.70 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Castello di Camigliano Poderuccio Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($299.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 92 points “A ripe style, verging on overripe, boasting plum and blackberry flavors, with iron, leather and wild herb notes. Broad and powerful, revealing a dense layer of tannins on the long, savory finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. Drink now through 2028. 3,333 cases made, 580 cases imported.”
In Stock Now:
Castello di Camigliano Poderuccio Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($21.95) $17.70 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Castello di Camigliano Poderuccio Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($299.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 92 points “A ripe style, verging on overripe, boasting plum and blackberry flavors, with iron, leather and wild herb notes. Broad and powerful, revealing a dense layer of tannins on the long, savory finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. Drink now through 2028. 3,333 cases made, 580 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Collector’s Corner
2009 Cathiard Romanee-Saint-Vivant
Of the great Grand Cru’s in Vosne-Romanée, Romanée Saint-Vivant sits well above Echezeaux , but below La Tâche or Romanée-Conti itself. In other words, it’s probably the best vineyard in Burgundy whose wines actually hit the open market. (The consensus among Burgundy élites seems to be that among the top producers, Romanée Saint-Vivant has eclipsed Richebourg in terms of prestige and wine quality). The vineyard itself borders Romanée Conti, Richebourg, La Grande Rue and Suchots—the most expensive set of vineyards (bar La Tâche) in the world.
Stylistically, Romanée Saint-Vivant displays far more grace than Richebourg—this is a wine that manages to feature near-weightless intensity when done well. The aromatics are soaring—with all of the spice and excitement you’d expect from one of the top vineyards in the world—and also a collection of the world top winemakers working with it. In fact, this variation in winemaking style might be the most fun thing about Romanée Saint-Vivant: there’s more than just DRC to choose from, so it’s possible to see the vineyard character distinctly apart from style.
Cathiard makes the most desirable collectable version out there (that’s not DRC) and we’ve got a precious few bottles of their legendary 2009 in stock right now. ’09 was a fantastic year in Burgundy and there’s a reason that Allen Meadows called this bottling “a wine of indisputable class” with a “finish of monumental length.” Stephen Tanzer thought the wine was so good that he “Can’t spit this!”—a huge complement from a seasoned pro.
In Stock Now:
“a wine of indisputable class” – Burghound
Sylvain Cathiard Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2009 750ML ($2,799.95) $2,499 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Burghound 94-97 points “A dazzlingly complex, perfumed and pure nose reveals a bit of wood influence yet remains strikingly elegant with its superb scope of spicy red berry fruit aromas that are followed by ripe, seductive and beautifully intense flavors that display marvelous depth and perfect balance on the sappy and naturally sweet finish of monumental length. This is a wine of indisputable class and a model of grace and understatement that should age effortlessly for 20 to 30 years.”
Stephen Tanzer 94-97 points “Deep saturated red. Knockout tangy aromas of raspberry, wild cherry, exotic spices, flowers and blood orange. Huge, velvety and sweet but with superb mineral lift. This has at least as much palate-drenching concentration as the Malconsorts but more energy and definition. Conveys a powerful sense of solidity, yet the building, nuanced, extremely long finish leaves the palate vibrating. Can’t spit this!”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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