Vinopolpick Mid-Week 6-9-21

Weingut Wwe. Dr. H. Thanisch Erben Thanisch is classic Germany, a spectacular Riesling producer that is a mouthful to say. Named after the widow (wwe being the German abbreviation) who inherited the estate in the 19th century, Thanisch has been producing wine since 1636. Already considered one Germany’s most exceptional producers, Thanisch was one of the first estates to join the VDP Consortium in 1910, and the estate has continued to pursue excellence ever since.

Working entirely with old vines and some of the most lauded vineyards in the Mosel, it should come as no surprise that Thanisch holds the crown for highest price ever fetched at auction for a German producer. The wine in question? A bottle of 1921 Berncastler Doctor Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese that had been secretly hidden in their underground cellar for decades. It was sold in 1986 for over $16,000. 

When one thinks of extreme vineyards, most point to the Northern Rhône, Liguria, or the Canary islands. But the verdant slopes of the Mosel hide some of the most dangerous and challenging sites in the world. Any slope over 30 degrees makes mechanized assistance nearly impossible, further exacerbating backbreaking work for farmhands. If that wasn’t difficult enough, the various types of slate found in the Mosel become dangerously slippery when wet, oftentimes requiring safety winches and harnesses for laborers. About half of the estate vineyards farmed by Thanisch have aspects of 60 degrees or more, offering mind-bending views of the village of Bernkastel and the Mosel River. And the resulting wines are absolute marvels across the board.

Germany’s 2019 vintage is expected to be an instant classic, having already been hailed as “Germany’s Breakout Vintage” by British critic Jancis Robinson. While Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate has declared that the 2019s “are worth cellaring for decades”. Thanks to almost perfect weather conditions, 2019 has yielded marvels across the Prädikat spectrum, and Thanisch’s are unsurprisingly some of the finest.

Pre-Arrivals ETA Late-June:

Only 3 cases arriving!
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett Feinherb, Mosel 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2019 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett feinherb is clear, refined and flinty on the crunchy/slatey nose. Round and salty-piquant on the palate, this is a delicate and delicious Kabinett with white stone fruit aromas and a juicy finish with a stimulating slate structure and salinity. Remarkably fine. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2019er Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett Feinherb is an off-dry wine (with 21 g/l of residual sugar) with a superbly complex and refined nose of almond cream, candied grapefruit, laurel, rosemary, mint, and freshly cut lemon. The wine develops a very beautifully juicy and fruity presence on the palate and leaves one with a refreshing feel of ripe acidity in the superbly long finish. The after-taste is beautifully animating and zesty with minty flavors of tangerine and lime. This succulent off-dry Riesling has quite some aging potential. 2024-2039.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Only 2 cases arriving!
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese, Mosel 2019 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 93 points “Vinified in old fuder vats until May and bottled at the end of August this year, the 2019 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese is clear, precise and elegant on the flinty and crunchy nose. On the palate, this is a perfectly round, textured, finessed and stimulatingly salty Spätlese of great elegance and finesse. I tried to spit it three times and always failed. There is this very rare reflex that you can’t avoid, and before you even think about it, you want to swallow it. Gorgeous. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2019er Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese is a sweet wine with a refined and floral nose of whipped cream, vineyard peach, smoke, herbs, orange blossom, and fine spices. It proves gorgeously playful and creamy on the palate and leaves a great feeling of energy and finesse in the finish. This is a great and juicy Spätlese in the making. 2029-2049.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Only 3 cases arriving!
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2019 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 95 points “The 2019er Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Auslese was made from fruit harvested at approx. 100° Oechsle and was fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar. It offers a hugely restrained, aniseed, and smoky nose of honeyed yellow peach, minty herbs, pear, melon, quince jelly, and vanilla touch. The wine coats the palate with ample juicy and exotic fruits, as well as apricot, black berry, and a hint of smoky raisin. The finish is still on the smooth and creamy side, even if the after-taste more than hints already at the depth, complexity, and freshness to come. Patience will be needed for this beautiful Auslese to come around and deliver all its nuances. But the wait will be more than worth it! 2034-2069.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Only 2 cases arriving!
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkastel-Kues Alte Reben, Mosel 2019 ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 90 points “The 2019er Bernkastel-Kues Riesling Alte Reben is a barely off-dry wine (with 12 g/l of residual sugar) made from grapes harvested from 40-year-old vines in the Kueser part of the city. It offers a superbly complex and refreshing nose of anise, pink grapefruit, orange peel, tangerine, mint, lead pencil, and smoke. The wine proves hugely enjoyable thanks its animating presence on the palate and leaves a precise and dry-tasting feel in the long finish. The wine develops more weight and presence with airing, but retains a great sense of grip and playfulness in the animating and beautifully balanced after-taste. Now-2034.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Only 2 cases arriving!
Wwe Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Graben Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Mosel 2019 ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 91+ points “The 2019 Bernkasteler Graben Riesling GG is adjacent to Thanisch’s Doctor parcel yet a bit less warm. From 60- to 70-year-old-vines, this is a smoky, intense and elegant Riesling with very fine, precise and crunchy gray slate aromas. Medium-bodied, intense and complex on the palate, this is a tight, long and structured dry Graben Riesling with a refreshing lemon aroma on the concentrated and refreshing finish. This is complex but very promising and currently pretty closed, although the bottle was opened two days earlier. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Highlights, in Stock Now:

Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($34.95) $24 special, 23 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 91 points “Ripe pear and apple dominate on the nose as well as on a silken, buoyant palate, supported by subtle sweetness. Mouthwatering salinity and transparency to crystalline stony nuances give the long, refreshingly juicy finish a fascinating and delightful sense of shimmer.”

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

Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($39.95) $28 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2016 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese offers a clear, elegant nose with bright fruit, green asparagus and flinty aromas. Racy and lush on the palate, this is a refreshing, elegant but still pretty sweet Spätlese with crystalline, piquant acidity and structure. The finish is long and complex, but the wine needs a decade to integrate all its components into a fine and elegant Spätlese. Tasted March 2018.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2016er Badstube Spätlese offers a nice nose made of pear, white peach, cassis, minty herbs and a hint of whipped cream. The wine is nicely playful and loaded with white fruits and minerals on the palate. The finish is beautifully playful and complex. While still young, this hints at great potential. 2026-2041”

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

Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling Spätlese, Mosel 2017 750ML ($54.95) $39 special, 33 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 95+ points “The coolish, precise and elegant 2017 Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Spätlese (AP 3 18) opens to very fine tropical fruit aromas intermixed with the smoky scents of crushed black rocks. Lush and finessed on the palate, this is a firmly structured, very elegant and persistently mineral Doctor Spätlese whose salty-piquant finish and fine, crystalline structure develops enormous length and tension but also finesse and a highly elaborate style. Highly stimulating. Tasted in March 2019.”

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Love German Riesling? We have over 350 different options (not a typo!) in stock. Shop the entire selection on our web store now, including famous names like Dönnhoff and JJ Prüm, as well as more from Thanisch.

Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini dreamed of living on a vineyard from a young age. However, like it so often does, life intervened.  After stints in both the entertainment and pharmaceutical industries, she followed her heart and purchased the historic Caparzo vineyard in Brunello di Montalcino in 1998.

Although vines had long stood on the Caparzo land alongside olive trees and forest, the vineyard itself wasn’t established until the 1960s. During the intervening years the vineyard passed from several different owners, never receiving the attention and care it deserved. After purchasing the property, Gnudi decided to focus on what she thought the estate would do best: high-quality wines based on Sangiovese.

With the help of Massimo Bracalente, she made investments to improve quality in both the vineyard and cellar, all the while staying true to regional traditions. Today, the results speak for themselves. Under Gnudi, the Caparzo vineyard has become a rising star within the region, and the 2016 bottling is undoubtedly the finest yet. So take advantage of our Subscriber Case Specials before it’s too late!

Subscriber Case Specials expire June 17th

Pre-Arrival ETA Late-July:

Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($49.95) $44.50 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($289.95) $255 pre-arrival Subscriber Case Special ends 6/17 (that’s only $42.50/bottle!) ***case special will not appear online, please call/email/stop by to order***
Case-12 Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($499.95) $479 pre-arrival Subscriber Case Special ends 6/17 (that’s only $39.92/bottle!) ***case special will not appear online, please call/email/stop by to order***
Wine Spectator 96 points “Ripe, sweet cherry and raspberry fruit are accented by floral, mineral and wild herbs in this alluring red. A backbone of dense, dusty tannins provides support, and the ripe fruit returns on the savory finish. Excellent length. Best from 2023 through 2043. 15,000 cases made, 8,500 cases imported.”


Love Brunello? We have 46 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Casanova di Neri, La Fortuna, Sassetti and more, on our web store now.

Charles Heidsieck is one of the great and historic houses of Champagne. However, because of their relatively small size, they tend to be overlooked when compared to other Grande Marques. Their house style is notable for its richness and texture, incorporating long aging on the lees and significant amounts (20+%) of reserve wines in their NV blends. Best known for their classic Brut Réserve, as well as their Blanc des Millénaires prestige cuvée, Charles Heidsieck was also one of the pioneers of the Blanc de Blancs style in the mid-20th century. And after decades of producing some of Champagne’s finest vintage Blanc de Blancs, the house relaunched their NV version in 2018. After tasting the wine, we’re left wondering what took them so long. In just a few short years the wine is already being regarded as one of the best flagship Blanc de Blancs in the region. And of course their Brut Réserve and Blanc des Millénaires remain two of best wines in their respective categories, making Charles Heidsieck’s lineup one of the most impressive in all of Champagne.

In Stock Now:

Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs Champagne NV 750ML ($99.95) $66 special, 24 bottles in stock now
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 92+ points “Based on the 2014 vintage, complemented by fully 40% old reserve wines, the new release of Charles Heidsieck’s NV Brut Réserve was disgorged earlier this year. It’s showing very well, opening up in the glass with notes of green apple, dried white flowers, pear, candied peel and walnuts. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a textural attack and a racier, tighter-knit core than either the 2012- or 2010-base renditions, displaying good concentration and underlying richness. This is a bottling that continues to punch above its weight and which both merits and rewards a few years in the cellar before opening.”
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 92 points “Based on the 2012 vintage, the latest rendition of Heidsieck’s NV Blanc de Blancs incorporates some 20% reserve wines, derived from younger vintages to emphasize what Cyril Brun described as the “youthful” side of Chardonnay, in contrast to the mature expression of that cépage offered by the house’s Blanc de Millénaires. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of citrus oil, white flowers, green apple and walnut oil, complemented by some of the empyreumatic nuances so typical of the base vintage, it’s a medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural and incisive wine that’s lively and inviting. It was disgorged last year with nine grams per liter dosage.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $79.80

Only 3 bottles available!
Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires, Champagne 2004 750ML (199.95) $169 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Decanter – World Wine Awards 2019 98 points “This Blanc de Blancs Champagne is a bright morning gold in colour, with fine-seamed bubbles and rich, expressive and expansive aromas. Beaten cream, pounded hazels, a hint of baking apples, brioche fresh from the oven. But all these notes are drawn with great subtlety, underscoring the fruit quality of the Chardonnay vineyards used in this blend. On the palate, the wine retains all that aromatic grace and amplitude, marrying it to a shapely fruit presence, vibrant though now well-rounded acidity and textural charm, too. A head-turner. Drink 2019-2028.” 


Only 1 bottle available!
Charles Heidsieck Brut Millésime, Champagne 2006 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Decanter 94 points “For those who like their champagne delicate, with the smile of a warm summer, this is the vintage to go for. Fine-drawn and elegant, It has a nice structure and well-defined flavours of red fruits, quince and a touch of apricot, accompanied by a subtle spiciness. The one criticism aimed at 2006 is that the wines can lack acidity – but not this one. Ready to drink now, maybe with blinis. Disgorged in 2017.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Pre-Arrivals ETA June:

Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $44.50 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve, Champagne NV 750ML (359.95) $259 pre-arrival special (that’s only $43.17/bottle!)
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 92+ points “Based on the 2014 vintage, complemented by fully 40% old reserve wines, the new release of Charles Heidsieck’s NV Brut Réserve was disgorged earlier this year. It’s showing very well, opening up in the glass with notes of green apple, dried white flowers, pear, candied peel and walnuts. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a textural attack and a racier, tighter-knit core than either the 2012- or 2010-base renditions, displaying good concentration and underlying richness. This is a bottling that continues to punch above its weight and which both merits and rewards a few years in the cellar before opening.”


Love Champagne? We have over 165 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Bérêche, Nicolas Maillart, Pierre Péters and more, on our web store now.

Daniel Bouland makes gutsy old-vine Beaujolais from some of the region’s premier appellations. You often hear that they’re traditionally made and, although that’s true, it doesn’t begin to describe what makes the wines unique. These are bottles that recall what Beaujolais would have been like before industrial farming and certainly before industrial winemaking. They’re special, powerful and age-worthy.
 
From a winemaking perspective, the closest comparison to what Daniel Bouland is doing is probably Domaine Dujac. The cross-regional comparison probably violates some sort of law of wine-writing, but when you look at what Bouland does with his grapes, it makes sense. There’s almost exclusively whole cluster fermentation at both houses and Bouland’s wine show as muscular and robust—capable of very long aging and transformation into profound wines.
 
The difference, of course, is that working with Gamay, Bouland’s wines are more immediately drinkable than anything from Dujac (Bouland also doesn’t use new oak on his wines). And the prices are far below what top Burgundy can command. Young, the Bouland bottles show both intense fruit and structure—you wouldn’t necessarily think to drink Beaujolais with steak, but these are incredible pairings with even very hearty foods –especially since Gamay has a zesty freshness to it that can lighten, nay elevate, any meal. The 2019s just landed and we’re thrilled to feature them again today at national best prices.
 
In Stock Now:
 
Daniel Bouland Chiroubles Châtenay, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($37.95) $28.80 special, 23 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Exuberant aromas of raspberries, blackberries and cherries introduce the 2019 Chiroubles Châtenay, a medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy wine that’s round and enveloping, with a charming core of fruit and melting, delicately powdery tannins. It will drink well young.”

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Daniel Bouland Morgon Corcelette Vieilles Vignes Cailloux, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($41.95) $31.90 special, 20 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2019 Morgon Corcelette Vieilles Vignes Cailloux is once again quite structured this year, though it’s not as brooding and muscular as its 2018 counterpart. Revealing aromas of raspberries, cherries, burning embers and sweet soil tones, it’s medium to full-bodied, with a deep core of fruit, lively acids and a chassis of fine but abundant tannins.”

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Daniel Bouland Corcelette Vieilles Vignes Sable, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($41.95) $31.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2019 Morgon Corcelette Vieilles Vignes Sable is excellent, unfurling in the glass with aromas of cherries, plums, violets and orange rind. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and muscular, built around succulent acids and powdery tannins, it’s elegantly structured and built to age, even if it’s charming enough to be enjoyed young—the 2011 vintage from my own cellar is drinking brilliantly.”

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Daniel Bouland Côte de Brouilly Cuvée Mélanie, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($37.95) $29.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Offering up aromas of red plums, berries, raw cocoa and spices, the 2019 Côte de Brouilly Cuvée Melanie is medium to full-bodied, supple and velvety, with a fleshy core of fruit, melting tannins and lively acids. Bright and charming, it’s produced from a south-facing site near Château Thivin.”

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Daniel Bouland Morgon Bellevue Cailloux, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 30 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Derived from older vines in rockier soils, the 2019 Morgon Bellevue Cailloux is even more sensuous and textural than its Sable counterpart. Mingling notions of raspberries and plums with hints of rose petals and spices, it’s medium to full-bodied, velvety and enveloping, its powdery tannins almost entirely cloaked in succulent, perfumed fruit.”
 

Daniel Bouland Morgon Les Delys, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($49.95) $34.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2019 Morgon Les Delys Vignes plantées en 1926 has turned out brilliantly, wafting from the glass with aromas of ripe cherries, blackberries, strawberries, sweet soil tones and spices. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it’s seamless and multidimensional, and with striking concentration, succulent acids and powdery tannins, it’s long and penetrating. While this is carrying less puppy fat than the 2018 at the same age, it’s still quite a demonstrative, fruit-driven vintage of Les Delys, and while it will be long-lived, it can also be approached young.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

 
Daniel Bouland Morgon Bellevue Sable, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($41.95) $29.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2019 Morgon Bellevue Sable is showing beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of raspberries, cherries, orange rind and plums. Medium to full-bodied, supple and succulent, it’s bright and fleshy, with powdery tannins and a generous core of fruit, girdled by lively acids. Bottled only a week before I tasted it, I suspect it will perform even better with six months’ bottle age. As readers will remember, this cuvée comes from younger vines, planted on Viala rootstock in sandy soils—as the “Sable” newly added to its label makes clear.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Love Beaujolais? We have over 40 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Anne-Sophie Dubois, Daniel Bouland, Clos de la Roilette and more, on our web store now.

You’ve heard of Cristal and Dom Pérignon; but did you know that there is an even rarer top offering from a Grand Marque? Produced only 12 times in its 46 year history, Piper-Heidsieck’s Rare lives up to the name. Dom Pérignon, by comparison, has been made 45 times in 100 years.

The wine is crafted by an exclusive Chef de Cave named Régis Camus who, until 2018, was in charge of all of Piper-Heidsieck’s production. Under the direction of Camus, 8 times honored as the ‘Sparkling Winemaker of the Year’, there is nothing short of artistry at work here. Citing a commitment to “balancing fruit, minerality and freshness and to still be young in 20 years” Rare is aged a minimum of 10 years prior to release, with most see even longer bottle age (2008 was just announced after over 13 years). Every vintage is given a title by Camus, meant to offer a “photograph” of the vintage and resulting Champagne. For the 2006 (in stock now), the word is “Sunny”, offering the promise of richness and great phenolic development.

If that’s not exclusive enough, we also carry their first ever Rare Rosé from the 2007 vintage. Described as “provocative” by Camus, the 2007 rosé stood alone until this week when Rare announced a 2008 release. Perfectly juxtaposed between subtlety and exuberance, it almost defies language with its unbridled expression. 

In Stock Now:

Piper-Heidsieck Rare Brut Millésime, Champagne 2006 750ML ($179.95) $169 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “Aromas and flavors of toasted brioche and grilled nut enrich the yellow plum, nectarine and grated ginger notes of this rich and creamy Champagne. Finely woven and beautifully integrated, with a firm backbone of mouthwatering acidity providing precise balance for the lush range of flavor. Drink now through 2029. 14,000 cases made, 1,800 cases imported.”


Only 3 bottles available!  
Piper-Heidsieck Rare Brut Rosé Millésime, Champagne 2007 750ML ($499.95) $379 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96+ points “Another sensational Champagne, as well as the first vintage for the cuvee, the 2007 Rare Rosé (56% Chardonnay and 44% Pinot Noir) offers that beautiful complexity and nuance you only get from top rosé Champagnes. Orange blossom, strawberries, spice, dried flowers, toasted bread, and orange peel notes all emerge from this richly concentrated, medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured 2007. With a fine, yet layered mousse, incredible complexity, and a great finish, this blockbuster effort will be better with 2-3 years of bottle age and shine for 10-15 years or more.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “The salmon colored 2007 Rosé Millesimé Rare has a clear, fresh, slightly oaky-nougat and pretty vinous bouquet. It is a rich and slightly sweetish yet pure, refined, elegant and well-structured Rosé Champagne with good grip and tension as well as a long, intensely aromatic and powerful finish. This is great and enormously complex Champagne with an extraordinary, complex finish. The 2007 is based on 56% Chardonnay and 44% Pinot Noir. Tasted in November 2017.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $399.99

Also in Stock Now:

Piper-Heidsieck Prohibition Edition Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Winery note “To commemorate the 100th anniversary since the beginning of Prohibition, Piper-Heidsieck invites you to enjoy its Cuvée Brut with a ‘Roaring Twenties’ ambiance.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Looking for epic Champagne? We have over 165 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like De Venoge, Georges Laval, Philipponnat and more, on our web store now.