Tag Archives: wine of the day

Wine of the Day: Stift Goettweig Messwein Rose Pinot Noir Kremstal 2015 7-11-16

Stift Goettweig Messwein Rose Pinot Noir, Kremstal 2015 750ML ($21.95) Buy now: $18 special

Stift Goettweig Messwein Rose Pinot Noir, Kremstal 2015

Fine wines have been made at Stift Goettweig since the 11th century. Originally a Benedictine alter wine (messwein), this rosé from Austria’s Kremstal region is made entirely of Pinot Noir. Light and dry, its strawberry, cherry, and raspberry notes mingle deliciously with some spice. Note the Rococo cherub on the label, and the screw cap’s pastel god reclining in horse-drawn chariot! A touch of old-school class for a divine little rosé. – Daniel

Wines of the Day: Chassagne Rouge from Morey, Gagnard, Moreau, & Pillot 7-10-16

Domaine Jean-Noel Gagnard Chassagne-Montrachet Cuvee L’Estimee, Cote de Beaune 2011 750ML ($37.95) Buy Now: $29 special

Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge Vieilles Vignes, Cote de Beaune 2013 750ML ($69.95) Buy Now: $59 special

Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge, Cote de Beaune 2013 750ML ($49.95) Buy Now: $39 special

Thomas Morey Chassagne-Montrachet Vieilles Vignes Rouge, Cote de Beaune 2013 750ML ($39.95) Buy Now: $36 special

Chassagne Rouge from Morey, Gagnard, Moreau, & Pillot

It’s tough to straightjacket wine, though laws and preconceptions sometimes try. Most of us think of Burgundy’s Chassagne-Montrachet as a white wine village, for good reason: they’re some of the world’s finest Chardonnays. Yet only a few generations ago Chassagne produced more red than white. The soils, of course, didn’t change. Limestone marl dominates portions of Chassagne’s vineyards, to the joy of Pinot Noir. And fortunately, no law or bias forbids growing reds in the white wine country of the Côte d’Or. Chassagne Rouge still exists, and remains delicious. The wine’s earthy, fruity, straight-forward character is a nice break from Burgundy’s more serious (and spendy) wines, though there is Premier Cru Chassagne red. And it reminds the palate of Oregon’s own Pinots. Serve a red Chassagne blind at a tasting and no one will guess its origin, while the wine’s humble-yet-dignified nature will no doubt impress. -Daniel

Wine of the Day: Domaine Robert Chevillon Bourgogne Passe-tout-grains 2013 7-9-16

Domaine Robert Chevillon Bourgogne Passe-tout-grains, Burgundy 2013 750ML ($36.95) Buy Now: $18 special
Case-12 Domaine Robert Chevillon Bourgogne Passe-tout-grains, Burgundy 2013 750ML ($359.95) Buy Now: $189 special

Domaine Robert Chevillon Bourgogne Passe-tout-grains 2013

I repeat, I repeat: Passetoutgrain wines have a special place in my heart. For one, throwing a little Gamay into the Pinot terrain makes for a more playful, textured wine. To be frank, it’s not all that fashionable a wine, which is fine by me: the underdog status keeps the price down!

Domaine Robert Chevillon is a time-tested, reliable producer whose Nuits-Saint-Georges single-vineyard bottlings exhibit a wonderfully diverse taste of various terroirs. The Bourgogne PTG in question is a 2/3’s-to-1/3 blend of Gamay and Pinot derived from 45-year-old vines planted in clay and limestone soils. Cherry-fruited accents come to the forefront, with a hint of smoke and earth rounding out the wine nicely. The bottle is tasty, if a little tight at the moment, and will carry on aging with real grace. A pretty fabulous bargain, here! – Tyler

Wine of the Day: Holden Wine Company Johan Vineyard Chardonnay 2014 7-8-16

Holden Wine Company Johan Vineyard Chardonnay 2014 750ML ($27.95) Buy Now: $24 special

Holden Wine Company Johan Vineyard Chardonnay 2014

I’ve been training myself off of superlatives lately – wine sales and criticism bear no shortage of ’em, after all, and ‘Best Ever’ doesn’t carry the same weight after a half-dozen or more proclamations. Even so, I’ll proudly confess that this year, I have yet to experience a white wine as lovely as Holden’s 2014 Chardonnay.

Holden’s offerings are marked with an energetic, unique edge; you’re welcome to call them anything you’d like outside of ‘boring.’ While value is meaningless without quality and quality suffers when value is lacking, their Chardonnay delivers such a lovely combination of the two. I can’t really say enough good things about their lineup, so I’ll wrap things up with a few thirst-inspiring descriptors…

The Johan Chardonnay is layered and nuanced, going through malolactic fermentation while being spared overmanipulation. Effects of lemondrop, honey, and wild herbs coat the palate gently with a breezy, acid-tinged finish bringing it all together. It’s rich without being oaky and complex without seeming distracted. Oregon Chardonnay lovers, as well as anyone else searching for a hidden gem, might find themselves right at home here. – Tyler

Wine of the Day: Domaine Henri Boillot Les Lavieres, Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru 2011 7-7-16

Domaine Henri Boillot Les Lavieres, Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($69.95) Buy Now: $49 special

Domaine Henri Boillot Les Lavieres, Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru 2011

A very distinguished gentleman came into Vinopolis today looking for fine Burgundy. Before buying a case of 2011 Domaine Henri Boillot Savigny 1er Cru Les Lavières, he asked us to open it, so we did. Lucky us. The Côte de Beaune’s unmistakable perfume wafted out of the glass like ripe roses in early summer: raspberry, plum, red currant, and hints of earthy sous-bois. Exquisite. On the palate, the wine revealed its 2011 character, which is light-bodied, with fine tannins and perky acidity. Refreshing. Our esteemed customer was kind enough to leave the open bottle for us to appreciate, and with time we noticed how nicely the wine opened up even more. The finish became increasingly elegant, lingering like Mademoiselle Savigny had kissed us on the cheek. – Daniel