In This Newsletter:
Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot Sale
Close-Out Featurette: Rocca di Montegrossi
Explore the Ancient Magics of Jura
Stock Up & Save On:
Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot
Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot Sale
Close-Out Featurette: Rocca di Montegrossi
Explore the Ancient Magics of Jura
Stock Up & Save On:
Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot
The Jura wine region in eastern France is easy to overlook. Home to unusual wines, unusual labels, and unusual characters (we’re looking at you, Ganevat), it doesn’t scream “user friendly.” But to leave the region entirely to the wine nerds is a serious disservice to the wonderous and elegant experiences captured within these oddly-shaped bottles.
At the crossroads of authentic terroir expression and uncommon though not impenetrable deliciousness are the wines of Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot. Are the wines unusual? Yes, but not in the love it or hate it sense. Unlike most Jura producers, the Tissots shy away from the more typical oxidative styles that at best add sherry-like notes of bruised apples and toasted walnuts (described unhelpfully by the esoteric wine term “rancio”). Instead, these are unusual because of their precious rarity and surprising class. Once you pop the cork or dive a bit deeper, you discover familiarity in their uniqueness: like how a unicorn resembles a horse in every way except for its horn and magic.
One such example is their Rose Massale Chardonnay. Well, Chardonnay is familiar, what could be magical about that? Would you believe the wine is bottled from the grapes of only four vines? Okay, rare, but again not magical. But why just four? Because these four vines produce pink grapes. Chardonnay, but magical.
There are other Chardonnays in the Tissot’s extensive portfolio. You’ll find familiar aromatics, such as citrus, alongside the unexpected, such as flint and bitterness. Perhaps it is the ancient-beyond-memory soils that impart a sense of mystery and depth. We need the vines the translate these eldritch tones into sensations we can only experience through flavor and aroma. At over 150 million years old, the soils whisper in ways our tongues can know but not reproduce. But I digress…
The three signature grapes of the Jura are Trousseau, Poulsard, and Savagnin. Those must be unusual, right? Well…
Trousseau is a red grape that leans towards heft and weight. Though indigenous to the Jura, it was once on heavy rotation in Rioja, of all places, until phylloxera wiped out those plantings. (Leave it to the Bordeaux winemakers who helped restore Rioja to favor their own grapes and styles.) Chez Tissot, these include some of the estate’s oldest vines, imparting complexity and impact without the often overpowering New World new oak treatment.
Poulsard is Trousseau’s delicate and elegant counterpoint. The wines lean light in color and body with heady perfumes of wild cherries and herbs, and a near complete lack of tannins. These intoxicating potions can be subbed for any aromatic white at table, making it a great change up if you’re bored with Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.
Last but not least in our grape explorations is Savagnin. If you instinctively shutter at the word (or perhaps are trying to figure out if I misspelled “Sauvignon”), you’ll be in good company. This is where the wine nerds and the average wine drinker really diverge. Savagnin is the star of the rustic, oxidative show in the Jura, responsible for the most esoteric wine styles of Vin Jaune (fully oxidative, like a waxy Sherry), Vin de Paille (a dessert wine), and sous voile (slightly oxidative wines). But another style is available made without oxidation. How does it taste? Most descriptions of the grape confuse the aromas natural to an oxidative winemaking style with what the grape itself imparts. So, what does it taste like unfunkified? You might be surprised to learn that only through genetic testing was it discovered that many Albariño plantings are actually Savagnin. It’s citrusy and floral, with hints of tropical fruits. Its progeny are better known, including Gewurztraminer and Sylvaner, both of which produce wildly aromatic whites.
Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot make the argument that the region, its terroir and grapes are all that are needed to evoke these mysteries. Why encumber them further? We could label these an intro class to the Jura, since the wines are more approachable and comprehensible than many other estates. But that would be a disservice to the complexity, purity, and authenticity of these magical, unicorn wines.
At the crossroads of authentic terroir expression and uncommon though not impenetrable deliciousness are the wines of Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot. Are the wines unusual? Yes, but not in the love it or hate it sense. Unlike most Jura producers, the Tissots shy away from the more typical oxidative styles that at best add sherry-like notes of bruised apples and toasted walnuts (described unhelpfully by the esoteric wine term “rancio”). Instead, these are unusual because of their precious rarity and surprising class. Once you pop the cork or dive a bit deeper, you discover familiarity in their uniqueness: like how a unicorn resembles a horse in every way except for its horn and magic.
One such example is their Rose Massale Chardonnay. Well, Chardonnay is familiar, what could be magical about that? Would you believe the wine is bottled from the grapes of only four vines? Okay, rare, but again not magical. But why just four? Because these four vines produce pink grapes. Chardonnay, but magical.
There are other Chardonnays in the Tissot’s extensive portfolio. You’ll find familiar aromatics, such as citrus, alongside the unexpected, such as flint and bitterness. Perhaps it is the ancient-beyond-memory soils that impart a sense of mystery and depth. We need the vines the translate these eldritch tones into sensations we can only experience through flavor and aroma. At over 150 million years old, the soils whisper in ways our tongues can know but not reproduce. But I digress…
The three signature grapes of the Jura are Trousseau, Poulsard, and Savagnin. Those must be unusual, right? Well…
Trousseau is a red grape that leans towards heft and weight. Though indigenous to the Jura, it was once on heavy rotation in Rioja, of all places, until phylloxera wiped out those plantings. (Leave it to the Bordeaux winemakers who helped restore Rioja to favor their own grapes and styles.) Chez Tissot, these include some of the estate’s oldest vines, imparting complexity and impact without the often overpowering New World new oak treatment.
Poulsard is Trousseau’s delicate and elegant counterpoint. The wines lean light in color and body with heady perfumes of wild cherries and herbs, and a near complete lack of tannins. These intoxicating potions can be subbed for any aromatic white at table, making it a great change up if you’re bored with Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.
Last but not least in our grape explorations is Savagnin. If you instinctively shutter at the word (or perhaps are trying to figure out if I misspelled “Sauvignon”), you’ll be in good company. This is where the wine nerds and the average wine drinker really diverge. Savagnin is the star of the rustic, oxidative show in the Jura, responsible for the most esoteric wine styles of Vin Jaune (fully oxidative, like a waxy Sherry), Vin de Paille (a dessert wine), and sous voile (slightly oxidative wines). But another style is available made without oxidation. How does it taste? Most descriptions of the grape confuse the aromas natural to an oxidative winemaking style with what the grape itself imparts. So, what does it taste like unfunkified? You might be surprised to learn that only through genetic testing was it discovered that many Albariño plantings are actually Savagnin. It’s citrusy and floral, with hints of tropical fruits. Its progeny are better known, including Gewurztraminer and Sylvaner, both of which produce wildly aromatic whites.
Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot make the argument that the region, its terroir and grapes are all that are needed to evoke these mysteries. Why encumber them further? We could label these an intro class to the Jura, since the wines are more approachable and comprehensible than many other estates. But that would be a disservice to the complexity, purity, and authenticity of these magical, unicorn wines.
5% off any 4-8 in-stock bottles of Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot
10% off any 9+ or more in-stock bottles of Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Friday, August 15th at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 9+ or more in-stock bottles of Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Friday, August 15th at 9 am Pacific.
We offer nine in-stock Stephane Tissot options on sale now, including:
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Benedicte & Stephane Tissot Arbois ‘Rose Massale’ Chardonnay, Jura 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $64.50, that’s $61.28 at 5% off and $58.05 at 10% off, 26 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 91+ points “From four vines of pink Chardonnay that Tissot found planted on one hectare in his vineyards, he produced the 2022 Rose Massale, which shows larger and less reductive than some years. Not all 2022s Chardonnays are in bottle. It’s going to be a more immediate vintage of rounder wines with more ripeness and less acidity. Whereas 2021 was a complicated year for the variety, but the results were very good. The Pink Chardonnay is a little more aromatic, and this year, it’s a little more exotic but keeps the freshness, poise and balance.”
Benedicte & Stephane Tissot Arbois ‘Rose Massale’ Chardonnay, Jura 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Benedicte & Stephane Tissot Sursis Chardonnay, Côtes du Jura 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2020 vintage. 2022 review provided for reference.
Nicolas Greinacher-Vinous 92-94 points “The flinty 2022 Chardonnay Côtes du Jura Sursis mingles reductive notes with grapefruit and lemon flesh. Forward and expressive, I suspect the medium-bodied 2022 won’t need much time to come around. Discrete bitterness adds to the sapid finale of this barrel sample.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Benedicte & Stephane Tissot Arbois Savagnin Amphore, Jura 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2020 vintage. 2019 review provided for reference.
Decanter 93 points “With intense aromas of red apples, nectarine and blood orange, followed by macerated herbs and sweet spice, this is a Savagnin (indeed an Arbois) like no other. Fermented and aged on the skins, in amphorae, for five months, the assertive texture adds persistence to the apricot, crushed mint and blood orange flavours. Decant and allow to breathe for two hours. Biodynamic. (Drink between 2023-2033).”
Benedicte & Stephane Tissot Arbois Trousseau Singulier, Jura 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 17 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 93-94 points “The 2022 Trousseau Singulier, still unbottled, was harvested a little later and also destemmed by hand, pressed and put into 600-liter barrels, but unlike Poulsard that likes cold, Trousseau likes heat. This has the textbook earthiness and the slightly dusty tannins that call for food.”
Benedicte & Stephane Tissot Arbois Trousseau Singulier, Jura 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $51.90, that’s $49.31 at 5% off and $46.71 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 93-94 points “In 2023, the Tissot’s got their largest crop ever. The wines are fresher and with more fluidity than in 2022. A preview of the 2023 Trousseau Singulier had a lifted nose, expressive and floral with hints of bubble gum. It felt a little different, as it had had three weeks of carbonic maceration. They have only produced a handful of carbonic maceration reds and are experimenting a little more. It seems to polish the varieties’ tannins. 2023 is a cool year for reds, bright and vibrant with tension, like 2016.”
Benedicte & Stephane Tissot Arbois Rouge DD, Jura 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $41.90, that’s $39.81 at 5% off and $37.71 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Benedicte & Stephane Tissot Poulsard Sur Lias, Jura 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $44.50, that’s $42.28 at 5% off and $40.05 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: Crafted in place of the Poulsard VV, this bottling was composed of vines in a cooler portion of the vineyard in the Lias section, where the north-facing slopes offer clay-rich soils. This red was macerated for three months before pressing. It was aged in demi-muid and bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with no added sulfur.
Benedicte & Stephane Tissot Arbois Poulsard Vieilles Vignes, Jura 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
Chianti remains one of the best value regions in Italy, despite its great international acclaim. Case in point? The wines from Rocca di Montegrossi. Those looking to get to know the rare, indigenous red variety Pugnitello can experience the “Ridolfo” bottling, a Cab-Pugnitello blend available exclusively in magnum.
These are a superb collection of bold wines that offer incredible density and impact balance by the suave elegance and terroir found only in the best wines of the Chianti region.
In Stock & On Sale Now:
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Rocca di Montegrossi ‘Ridolfo’ Toscana IGT 2015 1.5L Was $179, Now $159, 14 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 98+ points “The 2015 Ridolfo is a new Cabernet Sauvignon/Pugnitello blend from Marco Ricasoli bottled only in magnum. Vibrant and finely sculpted, the 2015 impresses right out of the gate. A whole range of savory aromatics, lavender, spice, licorice and mocha open with time in the glass. Sweet rose petal and cinnamon appear later, adding brightness and lift. Cabernet Sauvignon and Pugnitello are not obvious varieties to blend, as they are, on paper, more similar than complementary. Even so, the combination works so well. I can’t wait to see how this ages. The 2015 is a total knock-out!”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Rocca di Montegrossi Vin Santo del Chianti Classico, Tuscany 2009 375ml Was $89, Now $79, 18 half-bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2009 Vin Santo is a rich, exotic wine, as it always is. Readers will find one of the richest most intense Vin Santos being made today. Plush, tropical and ample in feel, Rocca di Montegrossi’s Vin Santo is bold and racy to the core. The 350 grams of residual sugar leave the wine with tremendous textural plushness.”
These are a superb collection of bold wines that offer incredible density and impact balance by the suave elegance and terroir found only in the best wines of the Chianti region.
In Stock & On Sale Now:
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Rocca di Montegrossi ‘Ridolfo’ Toscana IGT 2015 1.5L Was $179, Now $159, 14 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 98+ points “The 2015 Ridolfo is a new Cabernet Sauvignon/Pugnitello blend from Marco Ricasoli bottled only in magnum. Vibrant and finely sculpted, the 2015 impresses right out of the gate. A whole range of savory aromatics, lavender, spice, licorice and mocha open with time in the glass. Sweet rose petal and cinnamon appear later, adding brightness and lift. Cabernet Sauvignon and Pugnitello are not obvious varieties to blend, as they are, on paper, more similar than complementary. Even so, the combination works so well. I can’t wait to see how this ages. The 2015 is a total knock-out!”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Rocca di Montegrossi Vin Santo del Chianti Classico, Tuscany 2009 375ml Was $89, Now $79, 18 half-bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2009 Vin Santo is a rich, exotic wine, as it always is. Readers will find one of the richest most intense Vin Santos being made today. Plush, tropical and ample in feel, Rocca di Montegrossi’s Vin Santo is bold and racy to the core. The 350 grams of residual sugar leave the wine with tremendous textural plushness.”
We offer 85 wines on our Close-Out Sale in stock now.
Shop the sale on our webstore now!
Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:
Brovia
5% off any 3-7 in-stock bottles of Brovia wines
10% off any 8+ or more in-stock bottles of Brovia wines
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Brovia sale ends Wednesday, August 13th at 9 am Pacific.