Tag Archives: domaine

Domaine de Courcel

October 26th, 2018

Domaine de Courcel

Arriving Mid-November

Of the short list of producers who star in Pommard, Domaine de Courcel needs to be near the top of the list. Without a tremendous amount of fanfare, the Domaine has been turning out some of the most powerful, densely aromatic wines from a village known for long lived brooding Pinot Noir. The Courcel family has been learning how to navigate the animal intensity of Pommard fruit for 400 years. For the past two decades, the quality has steadily increased as the delicate balance between elegance and power is fine tuned.

A region between hills, most of Pommard’s vineyards are on relatively flat, protected sites. Wind and lashing rains may buffet the nearby hillside vineyards, but Pommard stays sheltered from the worst of the effects of the weather. Vineyard management and knowledge of the soils offers up rewards of fruit with dense black currant and cassis notes. The tannins are often firm and plenty, built for long term cellaring, but also offering gentle structure to those bottles opened early. Limestone dots the area but the prominent iron rich clay lends itself to the density of the flavor.

Annual production is usually less than 2500 cases, so it is nice to see these beautiful wines from a deep selection of vintages. The ageing has been done for you – all that is left is the enjoyment.

View the complete list below, or click here to shop.

Arriving Mid-November:

Domaine de Courcel Grand Clos des Epenots, Pommard Premier Cru 1990 750ML Buy Now: $199 pre-arrival special, only 1 bottle available

Domaine de Courcel Grand Clos des Epenots, Pommard Premier Cru 2005 750ML Buy Now: $149 pre-arrival special, only 2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Good deep red. Very ripe, smoky nose showed mounting red fruits with aeration; ultimately much less extreme than the Fremiers. Then similarly huge in the mouth, with smoke and mineral notes complicated by an exotic stone fruit (peach, apricot) character. This silky, voluptuous wine offers superb depth of flavor and slowly mounting, superripe finishing flavors that saturate the palate. Best of all, it seemed to gain in freshness as it opened in the glass.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “This red is rich, round and very accessible, tasting of freshly crushed berry and cherry. A phalanx of ripe tannins lurks in the background, but this is balanced and ends with a spicy note. Best from 2012 through 2026. 250 cases imported.”

Domaine de Courcel Grand Clos des Epenots, Pommard Premier Cru 2008 750ML Buy Now: $89 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91+ points “Good deep red. Deep aromas of cherry, menthol, rose petal and licorice. Sweeter than the Fremiers, showing terrific intensity of red cherry flavor. Plenty of ripe acidity here but today it’s hidden behind the fruit. Finishes with substantial, ripe building tannins that call for six to eight years of patience.”

Domaine de Courcel Grand Clos des Epenots, Pommard Premier Cru 2009 750ML Buy Now: $119 pre-arrival special, only 4 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Gorgeous aromas of toasty oak lead off in this polished red, followed by black cherry, blackberry and spearmint flavors. The structure present, yet ably matched by concentrated, ripe fruit. Best from 2015 through 2025. 160 cases imported.”

Domaine de Courcel Les Fremiers, Pommard Premier Cru 2008 750ML Buy Now: $79 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 91-92+ points “The Courcel 2008 Pommard Fremiers delivers marvelous energy, as well as purity of tart, fresh, ripe black fruits, with nutmeg, cooked ginger, black tea, white pepper, cyanic bitterness of fruit pit, iris, and elder flower all lending complexity. Positively silken in texture though palpably dense, this finishes with vibratory intensity of vividly fresh elderberry, blackberry and cherry; pungent spices; liquid floral perfume; iron filings and crushed stone. Here is an instance of synergy between relatively high acidity and abundant yet fine tannin such as one seldom witnesses in this vintage. Expect at least 15 years of fascination from this formidable yet elegant Pinot that beautifully marries virtues of both Volnay and Pommard, as befits its location.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “Raspberry and red currant notes are married to a supple texture that initially covers its density and layer of tannins, with fine length. Best from 2013 through 2023. 85 cases imported.”

Domaine de Courcel Les Rugiens, Pommard Premier Cru 2008 750ML Buy Now: $89 pre-arrival special, only 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer 92+ points “Bright medium red. Complex, soil-driven nose combines redcurrant, flowers and minerals. Suave and weightless, with sneaky intensity to the brisk red fruit and minerals flavor lifted by a piquant note of orange peel. Finishes quite dry, juicy and classic, with substantial but very fine tannins and rising fruit. Winemaker Yves Confuron compares the marne blanche soil here to that of Gevrey’s Clos Saint-Jacques. This wine was bottled barely two months before my November visit and had not yet shut down.”

Want to see all Domaine de Courcel available to buy now?
Just click here for a full list in our web store.

Wine of the Day: Domaine de l’Ecu La Divina Brut NV 5-7-2016

Bossard DivinaGuy Bossard Domaine de l’Ecu La Divina Brut, Loire NV 750ML ($24.95) Buy Now: $19.90 special

“Domaine de l’Ecu has been organic for 40 years and biodynamic for 25 years.  The land is worked by plowing and vines and grape harvest is completely by hand.  The Divina sparkling wine is made in the traditional method, with the second fermentation in bottle.  It is a blend of Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Melon de Bourgogne and a touch of Folle Blanche.  It has subtle notes of red berries and pineapple with a chalky undertone.  In the mouth, it is tart and dry with a note of lemon curd.  Enjoy this fantastic wine with spring vegetables, goat cheeses and light salads.” -Suzanne

Importer note “This sparkling wine is a blend of Chardonnay, Melon de Bourgogne, and Folle Blanche, with some Cabernet Franc to add complexity and structure. After bottling the wine is fermented a second time with champagne yeasts and let to age on the lees for at least one year.”

JL Chave Hermitage Rouge 2012 – April 2016

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Rouge, Rhone 2012 750ML ($219.95) Buy Now: $219 special

JL Chave Hermitage Rouge 2012Wine Advocate 94-97 points “Looking at the 2012 Hermitage, which is still resting in barrels and getting ready to be bottled, it’s a much more classic, easy to read Hermitage that has lots of ripe, sweet fruit in its full-bodied, concentrated, textured profile. It has copious sweet blackberry and cassis fruit, violet and serious granite-like minerality, superb mid-palate depth and a focused, structured finish. It’s a beautiful, classy 2012 that will have 20-25+ years of longevity.” WA

Josh Raynolds–Vinous 95-97 points “Presented as components from four different barrels: #1, from Beaume: Exotic scents of candied licorice, dark berries and smoky Indian spices. Fleshy and broad on entry, then tighter in the middle, displaying superb depth to its bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors. #2, from Peleat: Explosive red fruit and potpourri aromas, with a bright mineral overtone. Silky and sweet, offering vibrant raspberry and cherry compote flavors and a touch of bitter chocolate. The red fruit note echoes strongly on the back half. #3, from Meal: Fleshier and rounder than the first two components, offering plush dark berry and violet flavors that coat the palate. Chewy tannins build on the finish and fold smoothly into the wine’s dense fruit. #4, from Bessards: Emphatic mineral and dark berry aromas pick up a sexy floral note and a hint of cola. Sappy, penetrating and sharply focused, displaying an impressive array of red fruit and floral qualities and strong finishing spiciness. Jean-Louis Chave told me he thinks this wine will be “classic Hermitage with an emphasis on fruit, not structure, but not lacking in structure at all–just compared to, say, 2010 and 2005.” JR

Domaine Jamet Cote Rotie 2013 – April 2016

Domaine Jamet Cote Rotie, Rhone 2013 750ML ($149.95) Buy Now: $119 special

Domaine Jamet Cote Rotie, Rhone 2013 1.5L ($319.95) Buy Now: $279 special

Jamet Cote Rotie 2013Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Inky ruby. A vibrant spice- and mineral-accented bouquet evokes ripe black raspberry and blueberry, candied flowers, incense and peppery spices. Sweet, palate-staining red and blue fruit compote and violet pastille flavors are complicated by notes of cracked pepper and bitter chocolate, with a spicecake nuance gaining strength in the glass. Velvety, pliant tannins add gentle grip to a strikingly long and incisive finish that strongly repeats the floral and mineral notes.” JR

Jeb Dunnuck-Wine Advocate 93-95+ points “Tasted from multiple barrels, Jean-Paul’s 2013 Côte Rôtie is a peppery, complex and concentrated effort that shows the classic wildness and perfume of the estate. All of the samples had bright acidity and a spine of ripe tannin, so short-term cellaring will be the name of the game here.  Always one of my favorite visits, Jean-Paul is loaded with enthusiasm and passion, and we went through multiple barrels for each of his cuvees. To me, his wines epitomize traditionally made Côte Rôtie. Jean-Paul told me that he was thrilled with his 2013s, but that it was an irregular vintage that will require bottle age. His 2012s are some of the most impressive in the vintage. The news here, however, is the split between Brothers Jean-Paul and Jean-Luc Jamet, who have been running the estate together since 1991. Jean-Paul will continue making the wines, and will maintain the majority of the estate vineyards. What effect, if any, this will have with regard to the wine is yet to be fully determined.”