In Today’s Newsletter:
The World’s Finest Sweet Wine?
Domaine Huet’s Rare Cuvée Constance
First Offer from an Oregon Rising Star
Hundred Suns’ 2019 Pinot Noirs
Champagne That Doesn’t Break the Bank
All Under $40
Standout Rhône Wines from Jaboulet
“Mr. Chablis”
Le Domaine d’Henri
Collector’s Corner
James Suckling’s Wine of the Year in 2018
The World’s Finest Sweet Wine?
Domaine Huet’s Rare Cuvée Constance
Domaine Huet makes some of the most undervalued great wine in the world. Take any metric you’d use to adjudicate greatness (complexity, age-worthiness, terroir, aromatic intensity, world-wide praise, etc) and Huet’s Vovray is on the list, at prices far below almost anything else in the world of wine. They own some of the greatest vineyards in the Loire and make sure that they reach their potential year in and out.
Their top wine is the extremely rare sweet wine, Cuvée Constance. Constance is only produced in the very best years—about 2-3 times per decade. Made from botrytized grapes, it’s a full-throttle dessert wine as good as they come. This is “nectar of the gods” type stuff, on par with Château d’Yquem yet rarer and less than half the average price. How can this be? Because the Loire Valley is the last best region in France for value, and Cuvée Constance is one of the valley’s masterpieces.
In Stock Now:
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Cuvée Constance’ Moelleux, Loire 2009 500ML ($199.95) $159 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 98 points “This stunning wine is fresh, pure and driven at first, with seamless ginger, creamed fig and glazed pear fruit, before showing its density and power via the honeycomb-, quince- and heather-filled core. Then the minerality cuts in, turning the finish back to racy despite the range of exotic fruit. A jaw-dropping display of richness balanced by precision. Drink now through 2040. 400 cases made.”
David Schildknecht 96 points “At 11% alcohol and 150 grams of residual sugar, the Huet 2009 Vouvray Cuvée Constance – fourth in the past decade, incidentally – offers a striking nose of honey, white raisin, and concentrated herbal and floral essences. Salted caramel, hazelnut cream, marzipan, white raisin, liquid floral perfume, and honey are all leavened with fresh lime, white peach, and grapefruit. Like a refined cocktail of essence-of-Chenin mingled with fresh fruit juices with dashes of salt and chalk, this finishes with ravishing and invigorating persistence and should be worth following for 3 or more decades.”
Their top wine is the extremely rare sweet wine, Cuvée Constance. Constance is only produced in the very best years—about 2-3 times per decade. Made from botrytized grapes, it’s a full-throttle dessert wine as good as they come. This is “nectar of the gods” type stuff, on par with Château d’Yquem yet rarer and less than half the average price. How can this be? Because the Loire Valley is the last best region in France for value, and Cuvée Constance is one of the valley’s masterpieces.
In Stock Now:
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Cuvée Constance’ Moelleux, Loire 2009 500ML ($199.95) $159 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 98 points “This stunning wine is fresh, pure and driven at first, with seamless ginger, creamed fig and glazed pear fruit, before showing its density and power via the honeycomb-, quince- and heather-filled core. Then the minerality cuts in, turning the finish back to racy despite the range of exotic fruit. A jaw-dropping display of richness balanced by precision. Drink now through 2040. 400 cases made.”
David Schildknecht 96 points “At 11% alcohol and 150 grams of residual sugar, the Huet 2009 Vouvray Cuvée Constance – fourth in the past decade, incidentally – offers a striking nose of honey, white raisin, and concentrated herbal and floral essences. Salted caramel, hazelnut cream, marzipan, white raisin, liquid floral perfume, and honey are all leavened with fresh lime, white peach, and grapefruit. Like a refined cocktail of essence-of-Chenin mingled with fresh fruit juices with dashes of salt and chalk, this finishes with ravishing and invigorating persistence and should be worth following for 3 or more decades.”
This is the lowest listed 500ML price in the USA today!
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Cuvée Constance’ Moelleux, Loire 2015 500ML ($249.95) $159 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 99 points “Stunning from the start, with a silky and refined feel despite the panoply of dried quince, fig, pear and apricot flavors that are exotic in nature. Lovely green tea, orange blossom and persimmon notes fill in the background. Obviously sweet, but with persistent dry almond and orange extract details that lend latent tension through the seamless and nearly endless finish. The first Cuvée Constance bottling since the 2009 vintage. Drink now through 2060.”
John Gilman 98 points “I have been looking forward to the release of Domaine Huët’s 2015 Cuvée Constance ever since I tasted a year ago the rest of the stunning range of wines produced here in the vintage. It is a great vintage for Domaine Huët and the Cuvée Constance is everything one could hope for from the confluence of this great estate and a legendary vintage. The wine is still very youthful, but its ultimate brilliance is very easy to see, as the wine wafts from the glass in a celestial constellation of orange, fresh apricot, incipient tea leaves, a nice touch of soil, hints of lanolin, orange peel, barley sugar and a hint of upper register smokiness. On the palate the wine is pure, full and nascently complex, with laser-like focus, a bottomless core, great acids and marvelous balance on the very, very long, zesty and energetic finish. This is still a very young wine and will need years to start to show its secondary and tertiary layers of complexity, but they are lurking here and in the fullness of time, this will be breathtaking in its beauty. (Drink between 2025-2100).”
Wine Advocate 96 points “Rarely produced and selected from the vineyards Le Haut-Lieu, Le Mont and Clos du Bourg, Huet’s 2015 Vouvray “Cuvée Constance” offers a deep, clear, intense and concentrated nose of ripe stone fruits, peanut butter cookie, spicy, earthy-mineral and some volatile aromas. Sweet, salty, piquant and mineral with a firm structure and very elegant, concentrated, refined fruit, this is a sweet wine with great purity and mineral finesse on the very long, promising finish. The 2016 is still pretty sweet (142 grams of residual sugar) and should be cellared for at least two or three decades. Total production: 2,800 500-milliliter bottles. Tasted February 2018.”
This is the lowest listed 500ML price in the USA today!
Also in Stock from Domaine Huet:
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 97 points “A stunner, with beautiful pear, green fig, yellow apple and quince notes that are creamy and flirtatiously sweet, yet seamless and refined in feel. The extremely long finish lets honeysuckle and verbena notes dance throughout, with a light echo of white ginger at the very end. Best from 2020 through 2040.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Première Trie Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($89.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “This is ripe and broad, taking a slightly more power-driven approach, with a mix of tropical mango and papaya fruit, backed by orchard fruit accents of yellow apple and peach. The long, heather honey–accented finish has light piecrust and crystalized ginger hints. Best from 2020 through 2035.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Huet’s bright golden colored 2016 Vouvray Clos du Bourg Moelleux Première Trie is clear, fresh and intensely fruity on the remarkably precise nose. Medium-bodied yet concentrated, elegant and sweet on the palate, this is a salty, piquant, mineral Chenin Blanc with intense, elegant and well-structured fruit. The wine reveals a chalky finesse and long tensioned finish. Bottled with 84 grams of residual sugar, this is still a pretty sweet but doubtlessly promising Vouvray. Tasted February 2018.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous crystallized ginger, dried quince, glazed pear and warm persimmon notes are seamlessly interwoven here, gliding through a lengthy finish that picks up a lilting green tea accent. Frankly off-dry but wonderfully pure. Drink now through 2035.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “Bright, even exuberant in feel, with a parade of Jonagold apple, green melon, Bosc pear and quince flavors streaming through, gilded with heather, honeysuckle and verbena notes on the long, lithe finish. Remarkably elegant despite the off-dry style. Drink now through 2035.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Première Trie Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2016 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux Première Trie opens with a very clear, deep and flinty/herbal bouquet of ripe concentrated stone fruits intermixed with chalky/smoky aromas, very complex and truly exciting! Light, fresh and tensioned on the palate, that is very pure and salty but also tight and concentrated. The 2016 Le Mont reveals crystalline acidity, delicate but serious tannin grip and a long, complex, stimulating finish. This is Chenin Blanc full of energy and aging potential, provided with concentration, lingering salinity and vibrancy. This is a fascinating Le Mont, surely the top wine of Huet’s excellent 2016 series. Bottled with 92 grams of residual sugar, it tastes less sweet than the corresponding Clos du Bourg. Tasted February 2018.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “Juicy in feel, with an intense beam of glazed peach, dried apricot, fresh ginger and heather honey notes, backed by baked mirabelle plum accents and a flash of almond cream on the long, rich finish. A wonderful balancing act, keeping the exotic fruit and sweetness fresh and delineated. Best from 2020 through 2035.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Love the Loire? We have 90 different options in stock now. Shop the entire selection on our web store including famous names like Clos Rougeard and Dagueneau, as well as more from Domaine Huet.
First Offer from an Oregon Rising Star
Hundred Suns’ 2019 Pinot Noirs
Grant Coulter is one of the Pacific Northwest’s rising stars. The former assistant winemaker at Beaux Frères (under tutelage of the legendary Mike Etzel), Grant’s made a name for himself as Flâneur’s Head Winemaker, as well as with his own label: Hundred Suns. Anyone who loves the Beaux Frères or Flâneur wines needs to be paying attention to what Grant is doing.
Hundred Suns represents one of the most exciting new labels in Oregon and we’ve struggled to keep the wines in stock ever since they first arrived last summer. So take this opportunity to taste the future of Oregon while you still can.
Arriving Mid-March:
Hundred Suns ‘Bednarik Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Hundred Suns ‘Old Eight Cut’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($31.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Hundred Suns ‘Sequitur Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Hundred Suns Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote “This is the final vintage of Shea from Hundred Suns – only 60 cases produced.”
A product of the Willamette Valley, Grant has made a name for himself producing inspired Pinot Noir. However, he is also passionate about exploring the region’s potential beyond its trademark variety. Hundred Suns’ Gamay and Syrah are perfect examples. Both hail from the Willamette Valley, and offer persuasive evidence that both have a future here.
In Stock Now:
Hundred Suns Tualatin Estate Gamay Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Vintage & Vinification: A cool and lengthy growing season gave us wines of modest alcohol and incredible flavor. Once harvested our Gamay was divided into three lots. The first 100% de-stemmed, the second 50% whole cluster and the third 100% whole cluster Carbonic. Aged in a combination of Amphora and neutral oak for 11 months. This bottling is filled with juicy red fruit, crunchy textures and refined acidity. Bottled Unfined and Unfiltered. Vineyard: This historic estate was established in the early 1970s by pioneer Bill Fuller. Our parcel of Gamay (in fact, the only gamay planted at the site) came from a hidden corner of the vineyard and was uncovered by our friend, Evan Martin, who offered us a one-acre piece of this amazing site planted on marine sedimentary soils.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Hundred Suns Super Moon – Vidon Vineyard Syrah, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($49.95) $29 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Winery note “The Super Moon is a rare and beautiful lunar event that occurs when the full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth in its orbit, making the moon seem brighter and more close than usual. It felt an appropriate name for a wine that could only have come to being in this particular vintage. Our Super Moon Syrah was grown on a warm site for the Willamette Valley during a classic, cool Oregon vintage. It was fermented 100% whole cluster in a sealed tank. On the 12th day we opened the tank and foot-stomped the clusters one time before pressing. The resulting wine is initially shy with savory tones of black pepper and beef bouillon, but after time the wine opens to offer juicy pomegranate & cranberry with a light, refreshing palate surprising for Syrah.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Love supporting local wineries? We have over 275 options from Oregon and Washington in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Cameron, Evesham Wood, Goodfellow and more, on our web store now.
Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up
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When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
give us a call, & we’ll bring your order to your car.
(If another adult is picking up for you,
please let us know their name when placing your order.)
www.vinopoliswineshop.com
info@vinopoliswineshop.com
503-223-6002
When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
give us a call, & we’ll bring your order to your car.
(If another adult is picking up for you,
please let us know their name when placing your order.)
www.vinopoliswineshop.com
info@vinopoliswineshop.com
503-223-6002
Champagne That Doesn’t Break the Bank
All Under $40
“An accessible crowd-pleaser”
Aubry Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 91 points “A creamy viscosity complements the texture of this harmonious version. An accessible crowd-pleaser, with lightly juicy acidity and delicate flavors of chopped almond, baked pear, saline and citrus. Disgorged January 2019. Drink now through 2022.”
“Stylish, harmonious”
André Clouet Grande Réserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 André Clouet Grande Réserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($249.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 André Clouet Grande Réserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($499.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “[Reviewed April 2019] The latest release of André Clouet’s NV Brut Grand Réserve Grand Cru is showing well, exhibiting a nicely integrated bouquet of red apple, ripe citrus fruit, honeycomb and blanched almonds, followed by a medium to full-bodied, enveloping palate with a fine mousse, ripe but racy acids and an elegant, understated profile, concluding with a well-defined finish. This is a stylish, harmonious wine that makes for a fine introduction to the Clouet portfolio.”
“Stunning and luxurious bubbly”
André Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 André Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($249.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 André Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($499.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Grapelive 92 points “The beautiful “Silver” André Clouet 100% Pinot Noir non-vintage Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs is one of the best values in Champagne and this recent disgorgement is stunning and luxurious bubbly to enjoy almost guilt free. The Silver is a no dosage Brut Nature, meaning it is exceptional dry and vibrant in style, in a more grower-producer style, but still with regal richness and complexity with plenty of leesy brioche notes and a dense mouth feel showing lemon curd, quince, apple, wet stones, clove spice and hazelnut. With base of 2013 and a blend of reserve wines, this 100% Pinot Noir comes from all estate grown fruit from the mid slopes in the A Bouzy area, famous for Pinot Noir, on chalky limestone and clay soils that highlight the Silver’s mineral notes and ripe flavors. The André Clouet Champagnes are some of my favorite go to bubbly for any occasion, especially their zero dosage Brut offerings that have an additional zesty quality, like this one. The flexible personality, mature profile and charm here makes this Champagne an easy winner for sparkling wine enthusiasts and is also a crowd pleasing bottle for anyone and everyone, from novice to expert and has the substance and crisp detail to go with an array of dishes and flavors… Clouet uses traditional methods from start to finish with this Brut Nature Champagne seeing fermentation and aging in neutral French oak barrels, [and undergoing] full malolactic conversion, which definitely gives this wine added richness and depth. The André Clouet Champagne house is run by Jean-François Clouet, who was born and raised in Bouzy and still lives in the 18th century village house built by his ancestors. [He] strives to continue the regions tradition, but still is driven to elevate the quality levels here. Clouet farms some incredible Grand Cru plots around his home village of Bouzy as well as in the famous and very coveted middle slopes of Ambonnay with many vines in the best lieux-dits in the Champagne region. While great for celebrating events and special occasions, this André Clouet Silver Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, with its beautiful and vivid mouse, goes sublimely well with food and makes for a noble companion with any meal. I am always impressed by Clouet’s lineup of Champagne(s), but especially so this stylish zero dosage Blanc de Noirs, which I highly recommend!”
“Focused and nuanced, not to mention incredibly delicious”
R.H. Coutier Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 31 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 93 points “The Coutier family [has] been a fixture in the famous village of Ambonnay since 1619, with fifth generation vigneron Antoine Coutier, who is working under his father Rene, now leading this artisan estate and making wonderfully distinctive bubblies. The Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut is a lively, but richly-flavored grower fizz with racy citrus and pure apple fruits driving the profile here along with subtle leesy brioche and hazelnut notes adding a sense of luxurious feel to go with the creamy mousse. There is an impression of power and electric energy, which almost gives you reason to think this is an Extra Brut or a non dosage, though when it opens it gets denser and more complex, it fills out to what you’d expect from a top notch Grand Cru 100% Chardonnay Champagne and is sublime with food. This Blanc de Blancs Brut was mostly based the 2016 vintage at close to 60%, a very nice year and with about 40% reserve wines, seeing a low dosage, at just 6.5 grams of sugar per liter and it was disgorged this last February of 2020. I was highly entertained and impressed by this edition of Coutier’s Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs and it was delicious with the Christmas meal and graceful on its own by the fire. The Coutier team hand farms nine hectares, all in Grand Cru vineyards, all sustainably with mostly organic methods, but keep their own production very small. In fact they sell close to 80% of their fruit to the local cooperative, while only selecting the very best grape bunches to craft a maximum of 2,000 cases for their own label. R.H. Coutier is a real grower Champagne house that focuses on freshness of character with almost all of the wines here fermented and aged in stainless with edgy acidity playing a key role with only about half of the Coutier juice going through malolactic fermentation, depending on the vintage and as mentioned a low dosage is used to keep all the vitality in the bottle. While this is beautiful terroir-driven Chardonnay, interesting as Coutier was the first to plant it in the village, has a spectacular set of Pinot Noir vines, for which Ambonnay is most famous for, as well… The more clay based limestone soils and warm exposure give these Champagnes an appealing ripe nature and depth, which comes through here, this is a great value and its very expressive. I highly recommend this elegant stuff for any celebration and what’s left of the holiday meals.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Coutier’s NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is bright, focused and nuanced, not to mention incredibly delicious. The energy of Chardonnay and structure of Ambonnay yield a Champagne that is singular, classy and bursting at the seams with character. This release is based on 2016, with 40% reserve wines. I would give it another 6-12 months in bottle, although, truthfully, it is pretty hard to resist now. Dosage: 6.5 gr/L.”
Importer note “Disgorged 2/2020, 60% 2016 + 40% reserve wine.”
This ‘almost a blanc de noirs’ is the house’s calling card
Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($199.95) $199 special (that’s only $33.17/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 92 points “[Reviewed Nov 2017] This bright and zesty Champagne is lightly juicy and appealing, offering flavors of Honeycrisp apple, ripe white cherry, biscuit and pickled ginger. Balanced and lacy in texture, with a lingering, spiced finish. Drink now through 2022. 2,200 cases imported.”
Decanter 91 points “[Reviewed Oct 2019] Described by Drappier as ‘almost a blanc de noirs’, this Pinot Noir-dominant wine sourced from the Côte des Bar is the house’s calling card. 5% of the cuvée is matured in barrels for a year for added complexity and texture, and it’s bottled unfiltered with a fairly low dosage of 7g/l. There are some melon and apple scents on the nose along with a splash of red fruits, while the palate is intense, with notes of apple, quince and grape wrapped in a red-fruit veil. It’s full-bodied and long, with a lovely texture from the red wine tannins and oak-matured portion.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “[Reviewed Apr 2020] Disgorged in June 2019, the latest rendition of Drappier’s NV Brut Carte d’Or is showing well, bursting with pretty aromas of peach, honeyed orchard fruit and white flowers. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, chalky and incisive, with fine depth and tension and a penetrating finish.”
[Disgorgement may vary from reviews]
This true Demi-Sec is balanced and harmonious
R. Dumont & Fils Douce Cuvée Demi-Sec, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Importer note “The Douce Cuvée is a true Demi-Sec. It is produced from carefully chosen reserve wines which incorporate at least three vintages. The blend which is 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay is matured “sur lattes” for six years before being disgorged. The liqueur used for the dosage, “liqueur d’expédition” is taken from a special glass container of aged wine which has been blended with beet sugar, a local product of the champagne region. The maturing of the liqueur integrates the sweetness into the wine and adds to the balance and harmony of the Douce Cuvée. It is finished at 35 grams of sugar, the minimum for a demi-sec.”
Full-bodied and generous
R. Dumont & Fils Tradition Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 36 bottles in stock now
R. Dumont & Fils Tradition Brut, Champagne NV 375ML ($27.95) $20.90 special, 36+ half bottles in stock now
Importer note “The Dumont Brut NV is a blend of 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay. The grapes from their vineyard have qualities that seem less aggressive and more sumptuous than those from the northern districts. In addition, vinification of whole berries at low temperatures enhances this quality of soft elegance. The NV is a blend of vintages typically between two and five years old. It is aged for two years on the lees before disgorgement. Dosage is 9 grams.”
Guiborat Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Disgorged March 19th, 2015”
“The significant percentage of reserve wines in the blend really adds complexity”
Hébrart Cuvée Réserve Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($54.95) $39 special, 13 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 91 points “The Marc Hébrart “Cuvée de Réserve” non-vintage Brut now in the market is from base year 2017, though this is only forty-five percent of the blend this year. It also includes fifteen percent 2016 juice, ten percent 2015 and fully thirty percent 2014. The blend this year works out to eighty-two percent pinot noir and eighteen percent chardonnay, with the vins clairs raised entirely in stainless steel, going through full malo and aging about twenty months on its fine lees prior to disgorgement in October of 2019, with a finishing dosage of eight grams per liter. The bouquet wafts from the glass in a vibrant blend of apple, a touch of almond, fresh-baked bread, a fine base of soil tones and gentle smokiness in the upper register. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied and nicely balanced, with a good core and mineral undertow, pinpoint bubbles and a long, zesty and complex finish. This is very tasty, with the significant percentage of reserve wines in the blend really adding complexity. 2020-2035.”
Importer note “45% 2017, 15% 2016, 10%2015, 30% 2014.”
A cellar pick with loads of character and complexity
Henriot Brut Souverain, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 35 bottles in stock now
Allen Meadows – Burghound 91 points “There is a whiff of quinine to the softly yeasty and citrus-inflected nose of mostly green apple and brioche scents. I like the intensity of the middle weight flavors that have an equally firm effervescence, all wrapped in a clean and very dry finish. This is notably drier than the 8 g/L dosage would suggest and while this is not an especially refined Champagne, I like the depth and character. (10/2019)”
John Gilman 91 points “The new bottling in the market of Henriot “Brut Souverain” is composed of a blend of fifty percent chardonnay, forty-five percent pinot noir and five percent pinot meunier. It spent three years aging sur latte and was finished with a dosage of less than eight grams per liter. The wine offers up a vibrant and precise bouquet of apple, pear, plenty of smokiness, chalky soil tones, fresh-baked bread and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied and fairly youthful in structure, with bright acids, lovely focus and grip, a good core, elegant mousse and a long, nascently complex finish. This non-vintage cuvée has a fine record of aging in my cellar and I would not hesitate to tuck this away for a few years and really let it blossom completely. (Drink between 2019-2040) (5/2019)”
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “The standard nonvintage from this producer benefits from its policy of blending in a high percentage of older reserve wines. That gives the wine its richness and smooth, ripe character. Hints of apples are still there along with a good balance between acidity and toastiness. Drink now. (8/2018)”
91 points Wine Spectator “A touch of vanilla-laced pastry cream sweetness accents this fresh and focused Champagne, with a fine mousse. This is well-balanced by crunchy acidity and flavors of lemon peel, green pear and spring blossom. Drink now through 2022. (11/2019)”
Drinking beautifully today
Lombard & Cie Premier Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Roger Voss-Wine Enthusiast 89 points “With its high proportion of Pinot Meunier, this wine is soft and has developed quickly and attractively in bottle. It is dry but the fruitiness balances that taut, mineral texture with a ripe, full aftertaste. Drink now.”
Importer note “30% Pinot Noir (Sermier and Villedommange), 30% Pinot Meunier (Coulommes-la-Montagne), 40% Chardonnay (Cote des Blancs villages of Grauves & Vertus). Disgorged 12/2/2019. 4 g/L dosage. Aged for 3-4 years sur lattes.”
A staff favorite
Nicolas Maillart Platine Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Nicolas Maillart Platine Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 375ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ half bottles in stock now
Importer note “63% Pinot Noir, 23% Chardonnay, 14% Pinot Meunier. 50% 2015 and 50% 2014. Dosage 5.5 grams. 70% Villers Allerand, 20% Ecueil, 10% Bouzy.”
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.”
“One of the finest wines in its style”
A. Margaine Cuvée Traditionelle Premier Cru Demi-Sec, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $39.90 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 90 points “Margaine’s NV Le Demi-Sec is without question one of the finest wines in its style. For this cuvée, Margaine uses the same blend as Le Brut, but adds 30 grams per liter of dosage, which really amplifies the wine’s citrus confit, orchard fruit and floral qualities while adding textural depth. Refreshing, light on its feet and flat-out delicious, the Demi-Sec is terrific. Although it is hard to see drinking an entire bottle of this, I am surprised I never see Demi-Sec on tasting menus. This is such a beautiful and expressive Champagne. Dosage is 30 grams per liter.”
Importer note “88% Chardonnay, 12% Pinot Noir. Assemblage Base 2016 48%, Reserve wines 52% (2015, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2006). Village/vyd 100% Villers-Marmery 1er Cru. Malo 1/3 Malo. Elevage Stainless steel. Sur latte 18 months.”
“The two great exceptions that prove the rule about the maturing potential of Pinot Meunier are Krug and José Michel”
José Michel & Fils Tradition Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($44.95) $33 special, 4 bottles in stock now
José Michel & Fils Tradition Brut, Champagne NV 375ML ($27.95) $19.90 special, 35 half bottles in stock now
Importer note “The non-vintage Brut is a blend in which the 70% Pinot Meunier forms the base and 30% Chardonnay adds complexity and finesse. In addition to the base vintage (typically 2 years old), the NV Brut benefits from being blended with reserve wines that are often 4 or 5 years old. The champagne is typically 2+ years “sur lattes” and carries a dosage of 9 grams.”
Louis Nicaise Réserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($55.95) $39 special, 22 bottles in stock now
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
“A charming Rosé Champagne”
Thierry Triolet Brut Rosé, Champagne NV 750ML ($44.95) $33 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Importer note “The Rosé Champagne combines a base of Chardonnay with 35% red wine. The red wine is a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. In very ripe vintages, M. Triolet will keep a vat of “Pinot” and allows it to mature in the cellar. The red wine is blended with Chardonnay and the “assemblage” undergoes the second fermentation followed by an extended period “sur lattes”. It is bottled with the “liqueur de triage”, a blend of sugar and yeasts (11 grams sugar), to produce a charming Rosé Champagne.”
Arriving May 2021:
Diebolt-Vallois Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($44.95) $37 pre-arrival special
No reviews for the current disgorgement. Reviews and notes for the prior disgorgement provided for reference.
Wine Spectator 91 points “A harmonious Champagne, light-footed and bright, with a lacy mousse carrying delicate notes of Asian pear and slivered almond, backed by a minerally overtone of oyster shell and brine. Disgorged September 2018. Drink now through 2022. 4,616 cases made, 870 cases imported.”
Peter Liem note “Diebolt has been steadily increasing the proportion of grand cru Chouilly in this blend, although the majority continues to come from Cuis and Epernay. This version certainly shows the Cuis backbone in its racy, tense structure, filling out on the palate with fragrant, harmonious depth. While it’s not hugely complex, it feels composed and inviting, buoyed by lively acidity.”
Love Champagne? We have over 190 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Bérêche, Eric Rodez, Pierre Péters and more, on our web store now.
Aubry Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 91 points “A creamy viscosity complements the texture of this harmonious version. An accessible crowd-pleaser, with lightly juicy acidity and delicate flavors of chopped almond, baked pear, saline and citrus. Disgorged January 2019. Drink now through 2022.”
“Stylish, harmonious”
André Clouet Grande Réserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 André Clouet Grande Réserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($249.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 André Clouet Grande Réserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($499.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “[Reviewed April 2019] The latest release of André Clouet’s NV Brut Grand Réserve Grand Cru is showing well, exhibiting a nicely integrated bouquet of red apple, ripe citrus fruit, honeycomb and blanched almonds, followed by a medium to full-bodied, enveloping palate with a fine mousse, ripe but racy acids and an elegant, understated profile, concluding with a well-defined finish. This is a stylish, harmonious wine that makes for a fine introduction to the Clouet portfolio.”
“Stunning and luxurious bubbly”
André Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 André Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($249.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 André Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($499.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Grapelive 92 points “The beautiful “Silver” André Clouet 100% Pinot Noir non-vintage Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs is one of the best values in Champagne and this recent disgorgement is stunning and luxurious bubbly to enjoy almost guilt free. The Silver is a no dosage Brut Nature, meaning it is exceptional dry and vibrant in style, in a more grower-producer style, but still with regal richness and complexity with plenty of leesy brioche notes and a dense mouth feel showing lemon curd, quince, apple, wet stones, clove spice and hazelnut. With base of 2013 and a blend of reserve wines, this 100% Pinot Noir comes from all estate grown fruit from the mid slopes in the A Bouzy area, famous for Pinot Noir, on chalky limestone and clay soils that highlight the Silver’s mineral notes and ripe flavors. The André Clouet Champagnes are some of my favorite go to bubbly for any occasion, especially their zero dosage Brut offerings that have an additional zesty quality, like this one. The flexible personality, mature profile and charm here makes this Champagne an easy winner for sparkling wine enthusiasts and is also a crowd pleasing bottle for anyone and everyone, from novice to expert and has the substance and crisp detail to go with an array of dishes and flavors… Clouet uses traditional methods from start to finish with this Brut Nature Champagne seeing fermentation and aging in neutral French oak barrels, [and undergoing] full malolactic conversion, which definitely gives this wine added richness and depth. The André Clouet Champagne house is run by Jean-François Clouet, who was born and raised in Bouzy and still lives in the 18th century village house built by his ancestors. [He] strives to continue the regions tradition, but still is driven to elevate the quality levels here. Clouet farms some incredible Grand Cru plots around his home village of Bouzy as well as in the famous and very coveted middle slopes of Ambonnay with many vines in the best lieux-dits in the Champagne region. While great for celebrating events and special occasions, this André Clouet Silver Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, with its beautiful and vivid mouse, goes sublimely well with food and makes for a noble companion with any meal. I am always impressed by Clouet’s lineup of Champagne(s), but especially so this stylish zero dosage Blanc de Noirs, which I highly recommend!”
“Focused and nuanced, not to mention incredibly delicious”
R.H. Coutier Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 31 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 93 points “The Coutier family [has] been a fixture in the famous village of Ambonnay since 1619, with fifth generation vigneron Antoine Coutier, who is working under his father Rene, now leading this artisan estate and making wonderfully distinctive bubblies. The Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut is a lively, but richly-flavored grower fizz with racy citrus and pure apple fruits driving the profile here along with subtle leesy brioche and hazelnut notes adding a sense of luxurious feel to go with the creamy mousse. There is an impression of power and electric energy, which almost gives you reason to think this is an Extra Brut or a non dosage, though when it opens it gets denser and more complex, it fills out to what you’d expect from a top notch Grand Cru 100% Chardonnay Champagne and is sublime with food. This Blanc de Blancs Brut was mostly based the 2016 vintage at close to 60%, a very nice year and with about 40% reserve wines, seeing a low dosage, at just 6.5 grams of sugar per liter and it was disgorged this last February of 2020. I was highly entertained and impressed by this edition of Coutier’s Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs and it was delicious with the Christmas meal and graceful on its own by the fire. The Coutier team hand farms nine hectares, all in Grand Cru vineyards, all sustainably with mostly organic methods, but keep their own production very small. In fact they sell close to 80% of their fruit to the local cooperative, while only selecting the very best grape bunches to craft a maximum of 2,000 cases for their own label. R.H. Coutier is a real grower Champagne house that focuses on freshness of character with almost all of the wines here fermented and aged in stainless with edgy acidity playing a key role with only about half of the Coutier juice going through malolactic fermentation, depending on the vintage and as mentioned a low dosage is used to keep all the vitality in the bottle. While this is beautiful terroir-driven Chardonnay, interesting as Coutier was the first to plant it in the village, has a spectacular set of Pinot Noir vines, for which Ambonnay is most famous for, as well… The more clay based limestone soils and warm exposure give these Champagnes an appealing ripe nature and depth, which comes through here, this is a great value and its very expressive. I highly recommend this elegant stuff for any celebration and what’s left of the holiday meals.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Coutier’s NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is bright, focused and nuanced, not to mention incredibly delicious. The energy of Chardonnay and structure of Ambonnay yield a Champagne that is singular, classy and bursting at the seams with character. This release is based on 2016, with 40% reserve wines. I would give it another 6-12 months in bottle, although, truthfully, it is pretty hard to resist now. Dosage: 6.5 gr/L.”
Importer note “Disgorged 2/2020, 60% 2016 + 40% reserve wine.”
This ‘almost a blanc de noirs’ is the house’s calling card
Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($199.95) $199 special (that’s only $33.17/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 92 points “[Reviewed Nov 2017] This bright and zesty Champagne is lightly juicy and appealing, offering flavors of Honeycrisp apple, ripe white cherry, biscuit and pickled ginger. Balanced and lacy in texture, with a lingering, spiced finish. Drink now through 2022. 2,200 cases imported.”
Decanter 91 points “[Reviewed Oct 2019] Described by Drappier as ‘almost a blanc de noirs’, this Pinot Noir-dominant wine sourced from the Côte des Bar is the house’s calling card. 5% of the cuvée is matured in barrels for a year for added complexity and texture, and it’s bottled unfiltered with a fairly low dosage of 7g/l. There are some melon and apple scents on the nose along with a splash of red fruits, while the palate is intense, with notes of apple, quince and grape wrapped in a red-fruit veil. It’s full-bodied and long, with a lovely texture from the red wine tannins and oak-matured portion.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “[Reviewed Apr 2020] Disgorged in June 2019, the latest rendition of Drappier’s NV Brut Carte d’Or is showing well, bursting with pretty aromas of peach, honeyed orchard fruit and white flowers. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, chalky and incisive, with fine depth and tension and a penetrating finish.”
[Disgorgement may vary from reviews]
This true Demi-Sec is balanced and harmonious
R. Dumont & Fils Douce Cuvée Demi-Sec, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Importer note “The Douce Cuvée is a true Demi-Sec. It is produced from carefully chosen reserve wines which incorporate at least three vintages. The blend which is 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay is matured “sur lattes” for six years before being disgorged. The liqueur used for the dosage, “liqueur d’expédition” is taken from a special glass container of aged wine which has been blended with beet sugar, a local product of the champagne region. The maturing of the liqueur integrates the sweetness into the wine and adds to the balance and harmony of the Douce Cuvée. It is finished at 35 grams of sugar, the minimum for a demi-sec.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
R. Dumont & Fils Tradition Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 36 bottles in stock now
R. Dumont & Fils Tradition Brut, Champagne NV 375ML ($27.95) $20.90 special, 36+ half bottles in stock now
Importer note “The Dumont Brut NV is a blend of 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay. The grapes from their vineyard have qualities that seem less aggressive and more sumptuous than those from the northern districts. In addition, vinification of whole berries at low temperatures enhances this quality of soft elegance. The NV is a blend of vintages typically between two and five years old. It is aged for two years on the lees before disgorgement. Dosage is 9 grams.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Guiborat Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Disgorged March 19th, 2015”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
“The significant percentage of reserve wines in the blend really adds complexity”
Hébrart Cuvée Réserve Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($54.95) $39 special, 13 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 91 points “The Marc Hébrart “Cuvée de Réserve” non-vintage Brut now in the market is from base year 2017, though this is only forty-five percent of the blend this year. It also includes fifteen percent 2016 juice, ten percent 2015 and fully thirty percent 2014. The blend this year works out to eighty-two percent pinot noir and eighteen percent chardonnay, with the vins clairs raised entirely in stainless steel, going through full malo and aging about twenty months on its fine lees prior to disgorgement in October of 2019, with a finishing dosage of eight grams per liter. The bouquet wafts from the glass in a vibrant blend of apple, a touch of almond, fresh-baked bread, a fine base of soil tones and gentle smokiness in the upper register. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied and nicely balanced, with a good core and mineral undertow, pinpoint bubbles and a long, zesty and complex finish. This is very tasty, with the significant percentage of reserve wines in the blend really adding complexity. 2020-2035.”
Importer note “45% 2017, 15% 2016, 10%2015, 30% 2014.”
A cellar pick with loads of character and complexity
Henriot Brut Souverain, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 35 bottles in stock now
Allen Meadows – Burghound 91 points “There is a whiff of quinine to the softly yeasty and citrus-inflected nose of mostly green apple and brioche scents. I like the intensity of the middle weight flavors that have an equally firm effervescence, all wrapped in a clean and very dry finish. This is notably drier than the 8 g/L dosage would suggest and while this is not an especially refined Champagne, I like the depth and character. (10/2019)”
John Gilman 91 points “The new bottling in the market of Henriot “Brut Souverain” is composed of a blend of fifty percent chardonnay, forty-five percent pinot noir and five percent pinot meunier. It spent three years aging sur latte and was finished with a dosage of less than eight grams per liter. The wine offers up a vibrant and precise bouquet of apple, pear, plenty of smokiness, chalky soil tones, fresh-baked bread and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied and fairly youthful in structure, with bright acids, lovely focus and grip, a good core, elegant mousse and a long, nascently complex finish. This non-vintage cuvée has a fine record of aging in my cellar and I would not hesitate to tuck this away for a few years and really let it blossom completely. (Drink between 2019-2040) (5/2019)”
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “The standard nonvintage from this producer benefits from its policy of blending in a high percentage of older reserve wines. That gives the wine its richness and smooth, ripe character. Hints of apples are still there along with a good balance between acidity and toastiness. Drink now. (8/2018)”
91 points Wine Spectator “A touch of vanilla-laced pastry cream sweetness accents this fresh and focused Champagne, with a fine mousse. This is well-balanced by crunchy acidity and flavors of lemon peel, green pear and spring blossom. Drink now through 2022. (11/2019)”
Drinking beautifully today
Lombard & Cie Premier Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Roger Voss-Wine Enthusiast 89 points “With its high proportion of Pinot Meunier, this wine is soft and has developed quickly and attractively in bottle. It is dry but the fruitiness balances that taut, mineral texture with a ripe, full aftertaste. Drink now.”
Importer note “30% Pinot Noir (Sermier and Villedommange), 30% Pinot Meunier (Coulommes-la-Montagne), 40% Chardonnay (Cote des Blancs villages of Grauves & Vertus). Disgorged 12/2/2019. 4 g/L dosage. Aged for 3-4 years sur lattes.”
A staff favorite
Nicolas Maillart Platine Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Nicolas Maillart Platine Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 375ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ half bottles in stock now
Importer note “63% Pinot Noir, 23% Chardonnay, 14% Pinot Meunier. 50% 2015 and 50% 2014. Dosage 5.5 grams. 70% Villers Allerand, 20% Ecueil, 10% Bouzy.”
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.”
“One of the finest wines in its style”
A. Margaine Cuvée Traditionelle Premier Cru Demi-Sec, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $39.90 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 90 points “Margaine’s NV Le Demi-Sec is without question one of the finest wines in its style. For this cuvée, Margaine uses the same blend as Le Brut, but adds 30 grams per liter of dosage, which really amplifies the wine’s citrus confit, orchard fruit and floral qualities while adding textural depth. Refreshing, light on its feet and flat-out delicious, the Demi-Sec is terrific. Although it is hard to see drinking an entire bottle of this, I am surprised I never see Demi-Sec on tasting menus. This is such a beautiful and expressive Champagne. Dosage is 30 grams per liter.”
Importer note “88% Chardonnay, 12% Pinot Noir. Assemblage Base 2016 48%, Reserve wines 52% (2015, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2006). Village/vyd 100% Villers-Marmery 1er Cru. Malo 1/3 Malo. Elevage Stainless steel. Sur latte 18 months.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
“The two great exceptions that prove the rule about the maturing potential of Pinot Meunier are Krug and José Michel”
José Michel & Fils Tradition Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($44.95) $33 special, 4 bottles in stock now
José Michel & Fils Tradition Brut, Champagne NV 375ML ($27.95) $19.90 special, 35 half bottles in stock now
Importer note “The non-vintage Brut is a blend in which the 70% Pinot Meunier forms the base and 30% Chardonnay adds complexity and finesse. In addition to the base vintage (typically 2 years old), the NV Brut benefits from being blended with reserve wines that are often 4 or 5 years old. The champagne is typically 2+ years “sur lattes” and carries a dosage of 9 grams.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Louis Nicaise Réserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($55.95) $39 special, 22 bottles in stock now
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
“A charming Rosé Champagne”
Thierry Triolet Brut Rosé, Champagne NV 750ML ($44.95) $33 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Importer note “The Rosé Champagne combines a base of Chardonnay with 35% red wine. The red wine is a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. In very ripe vintages, M. Triolet will keep a vat of “Pinot” and allows it to mature in the cellar. The red wine is blended with Chardonnay and the “assemblage” undergoes the second fermentation followed by an extended period “sur lattes”. It is bottled with the “liqueur de triage”, a blend of sugar and yeasts (11 grams sugar), to produce a charming Rosé Champagne.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Arriving May 2021:
Diebolt-Vallois Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($44.95) $37 pre-arrival special
No reviews for the current disgorgement. Reviews and notes for the prior disgorgement provided for reference.
Wine Spectator 91 points “A harmonious Champagne, light-footed and bright, with a lacy mousse carrying delicate notes of Asian pear and slivered almond, backed by a minerally overtone of oyster shell and brine. Disgorged September 2018. Drink now through 2022. 4,616 cases made, 870 cases imported.”
Peter Liem note “Diebolt has been steadily increasing the proportion of grand cru Chouilly in this blend, although the majority continues to come from Cuis and Epernay. This version certainly shows the Cuis backbone in its racy, tense structure, filling out on the palate with fragrant, harmonious depth. While it’s not hugely complex, it feels composed and inviting, buoyed by lively acidity.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Love Champagne? We have over 190 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Bérêche, Eric Rodez, Pierre Péters and more, on our web store now.
“Mr. Chablis”
Le Domaine d’Henri
Founded and made by Michel Laroche, a man whose nickname is “Mr. Chablis,” the wines of Le Domaine d’Henri are as classic as they come. Even better, they’re pricing makes them exceptional deals even for an undervalued region. We have several of these chalky treasures remaining in stock—including two of his rare “Héritage” bottlings 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 estate 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. His aim was 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 weather.
In Stock Now:
Le Domaine d’Henri Fourchaume Héritage Première Trie, Chablis Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special, 25 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 only listing in the USA today!
Le Domaine d’Henri Fourchaume Héritage Première Trie, Chablis Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 14 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 L’Homme Mort Vieilles Vignes, Chablis Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($59.95) $47.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Le Domaine d’Henri L’Homme Mort Vieilles Vignes, Chablis Premier Cru 2017 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special, 6 magnums in stock now
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!
Le Domaine d’Henri 821 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs de Chardonnay 2018 750ML ($35.95) $29.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer note “Produced from 35+ year old vines in the Chablis appellation using the Méthode Ancestrale meaning that the alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats and bottled before aging with the CO2 necessary for the long haul already in the bottle. Aged on its lees for 24 months, it is then disgorged with no added sugar. 821 refers to the minimum total number of days necessary to produce this wine from the beginning of the growing season to the moment the bottle leaves the cellar. Delightful toast and citrus notes with some exotic tinges lead into a serious wine with high mineral tension, full fruit in the middle and a very fine and persistent bead. This is an impressive wine that will surprise many.”
Love Chablis? We have 46 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Fèvre, Servin, Vocoret and more, on our web store now.
Standout Rhône Wines from Jaboulet
The hill of Hermitage is one of the most famous wine landmarks in the world. The story goes that the hill of Hermitage was the home of a knight seeking solace from the horrors of the Crusades. Upon his return, he planted the vineyards that would become Hermitage and then built a chapel to pray in. That building, the Chapel of Saint Christopher, is the defining marker of the hillside. The name, Hermitage, takes the name of the hermit’s refuge.
Jaboulet purchased the Chapel of Saint Christopher and the surrounding plot of land in 1919—possibly the choicest part of the whole appellation. This is the core of their blend for La Chapelle, which for many is the Northern Rhône’s defining wine. While La Chapelle deservedly receives the headlines, Jaboulet’s entire lineup is exceptional. These are big, dense wines, characterized by archetypical Syrah flavors that never seem to quit through extremely long finishes. The Northern Rhône enjoyed a string of excellent vintages between 2016-2018, and we’re excited to once again feature Jaboulet’s standout wines from those vintages today.
In Stock Now:
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Domaine de Thalabert Crozes-Hermitage, Rhône 2016 750ML ($47.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Domaine de Thalabert Crozes-Hermitage, Rhône 2016 750ML ($279.95) $179 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2016 Crozes Hermitage Domaine De Thalabert offers a rocking (and classic) bouquet of ripe black fruits intermixed with notions new saddle leather, pepper, garrigue, and hints of bacon fat. This ripe, medium to full-bodied, silky wine has remarkable purity, is already complex, and finishes with serious length. Drink it over the coming 10-15 years.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The classically styled 2016 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert boasts savory scents of black olive and leather. Medium to full-bodied, it’s plummy and rich, creamy and ripe but savory and earthy, not jammy at all, with a lingering, velvety-textured finish. It drinks well now, but it should continue to evolve and drink well through 2035.-JC”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92-94 points “(20% new oak) Bright violet. Highly perfumed, mineral-accented dark berries, cherry liqueur and candied violet on the nose. At once rich and energetic, offering juicy, focused black raspberry and cherry cola flavors along with a hint of smokiness. Turns sweeter on the lively, penetrating finish, which features sneaky tannins and a strong echo of smoky minerality.”
James Suckling 92-93 points “This shows pretty dark fruit along with cloves, dark berries and hints of black pepper. Medium to full body and a juicy finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Domaine de Thalabert Crozes-Hermitage, Rhône 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94-96 points “From a scorcher of a vintage that had tiny yields, the 2017 Crozes Hermitage Domaine De Thalabert offers a deep purple color as well as a classic Thalabert bouquet of black fruits, black olive, iodine, and peppery herbs. It’s a rich, rounded, sumptuous beauty that has plenty of sweet fruit, moderate tannins, and a great finish. It’s not going to match the 2015, but it’s a rocking wine I’d be thrilled to drink.”
Grapelive 94 points “Drinking more like a great Cote-Rotie than a Crozes-Hermitage, the 2017 Domaine de Thalabert Crozes Rouge by Caroline Frey and Jaboulet is a profound effect considering the searing heat of the vintage with an intense inky color and beautifully elegant detailing. This is a stunning pure Syrah wine that thrills the palate. This black/purple hued Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aîné Croze-Hermitage “Domaine de Thalabert” starts with some flair and flamboyance highlighted by crushed violets, creme de cassis and espresso roast before classic flavors unfold on the full bodied palate with boysenberry, damson plum, kirsch, blueberry compote and loganberry coulis as well as black licorice, grilled herbs de Provence, a touch of earth, peppercorns, tapenade and sweet cedar notes along with a faint mocha element. While heady, this wine is wonderfully drinkable with a very stylish and balanced form. It comes in at about 13.5% natural alcohol, so it can be enjoyed without any oppressive heat showing, or aggressive tannins, making it easy to enjoy in its youth and sublime with food, especially roast meats, savory mushroom dishes and rustic cuisine. It has enough sweet fruit to go with Turkish lamb or Korean BBQ Pork… Air brings out a fuller expression of the succulent dark fruits as well as allowing hints of camphor/graphite and delicate mineral tones. This wine lingers on and on heavenly in the glass. This is a Syrah to spend some time with to enjoy it in its complete performance. It is truly excellent until the last drop leaves the bottle… The Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aîné, now owned by the Frey family, led by the talented winemaking tigress Caroline Frey, has been an iconic estate in the Northern Rhône and one of the big three in the region along with Guigal and Chapoutier. [The Domaine is] best known for their fabled La Chapelle vineyard in Hermitage, Syrah’s most holy site! There have been wines made here since pre-Roman times, but it was Antoine Jaboulet’s plantings in 1834 and focus on quality which really started to establish the area as one of the major wine producing appellations of the world. After he passed, the land was passed on to his two sons Henri and Paul. The Frey family, who bought the fade glory Jaboulet in 2006, have become big time players in premium French wine production having serious quality properties in Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux, which includes Chateau La Lagune in Haut-Medoc and Château de Corton André in the Cote de Beaune. Caroline, who studied in Bordeaux is one of France’s rising stars and has her hand in many projects, with even a biodynamic high elevation vineyard in Switzerland under her care… [Her efforts] have certainly brought this estate back to the elite status it enjoyed in the 1950s and 1960s. The Thalabert parcel, a special terroir, is located in Crozes’ pebble-strewn granite soiled lieu-dit of Les Chassis, which has owned by Jaboulet since its founding back in 1834 and is regarded as maybe the greatest set of vines in the Crores-Hermitage AOC, all organic and biodynamic. Frey uses partial whole bunches and well-judged use of new wood, really putting the focus on the vintage and trying for transparency and luxurious texture in her recent releases. This 2017 is proving to be a very tasty version, maybe not as serious as 2015 and 2016 for the cellar. This is one to drink up and offers a stunning value.”
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Domaine de Thalabert Crozes-Hermitage, Rhône 2018 750ML ($37.95) $29.90 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2019 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine De Thalabert showed well, with a floral, pepper, and sappy herb style as well as plenty of darker cherry and currant fruit. With medium to full body, a vibrant, elegant texture, present tannins, and good acidity, this is a classic, balanced Thalabert to hide for 2-4 years and enjoy over the following decade or more.”
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “Although the fruit sourcing has changed from the old days, the 2018 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert remains a solid offering in the Jaboulet lineup. Violets accent blackberries and plums on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied, lush and velvety, underscored by doses of salinity and licorice on the lengthy finish.”
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle, Rhône 2016 750ML ($269.95) $225 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The 2016 Hermitage La Chapelle is slightly denser than the 2017 and is a bigger, richer, more structured wine than the La Maison Bleue. Crème de cassis, blackberries, crushed rocks, ozone, scorched earth, and violet notes all emerge from this beautifully classic, elegant, seamless wine that carries full-bodied richness, building tannins, and a big finish, all while staying in the classic, elegant, balanced style of the vintage. It has plenty of tannins and is a quintessential La Chapelle that will have three decades of longevity.”
James Suckling 97-98 points “Very spicy and peppery with blue-granite aromas plus hints of grilled and smoked meat. Cloves and nutmeg. Full body, round and juicy tannins and a super spicy finish that almost burns with so much character yet turns fine and focused at the end. A beauty.”
Josh Raynolds 96-98 points “(raised in 20% new oak) Dark purple. A highly expressive, mineral-accented bouquet evokes fresh blackberry and blueberry, candied flowers, incense and exotic spices. Sweet, palate-staining black and blue fruit liqueur and violet pastille flavors are complicated by suggestions of cracked pepper and bitter chocolate; a spicecake nuance gains strength with aeration. Steadily building tannins add shape and grip to the extremely long, incisive finish, which emphatically repeats the floral and mineral notes. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this wine turn out as well as the amazing 2015 version.”
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle, Rhône 2017 750ML ($219.95) $189 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2017 Hermitage La Chapelle comes from the firm’s vineyards on the western half of the Hermitage slope, primarily Le Méal, but with substantial contributions from Les Rocoules and Les Bessards. Classic notes of cassis, black olives, mocha and roasted meat are joined by hints of baking spices in a wine that’s full-bodied, deep, dense and rich, with a velvety texture and a lingering finish. It’s lower in alcohol than the 2018, less voluptuous and maybe just a step behind that monumental wine, but it’s still a serious collectible with three decades of evolution ahead of it.-JC”
James Suckling 98 points “The icon is in dangerously seductive form. Such pristine dark cherries, blackberries and dark plums, dark chocolate, finely crushed spices and plenty of crushed dark stones on offer. The palate is very intense, very slick and fine tannins deliver an almost playfully soft impression. The oak is super integrated. Like La Maison Bleue, this approachability is an aberration, as it has immense power, concentration and length with such regal and alluring swagger at the finish. But there is so much more to come. Try from 2024, better after 2030.”
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle, Rhône 2018 750ML ($219.95) $189 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 98-100 points “Jaboulet’s 2018 Hermitage La Chapelle features scents of crushed stone, violets and cassis. It’s a classic trio, backed by a wine that’s full-bodied, rich and powerful yet also airy, somehow carrying intense plum and black olive flavors without any sense of heaviness or excess weight. Then the wine finishes long and softly dusty, with tannins that accentuate its savory character, picking up delicious hints of licorice at the very end. The proportion of new oak has been trimmed back to a very reasonable 20% and is hardly noticeable in the wine.”
Jeb Dunnuck 98+ points “As I wrote last year from barrel, the 2018 Hermitage La Chapelle is a backward, primordial Hermitage built for the ages. Incredible crème de cassis, blueberries, scorched earth, burning embers, and liquid violet-like aromas and flavors dominate the bouquet, and this beauty is full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful on the palate. With just hints of the smoky, meaty, beefy character that emerges from all aged examples of this cuvée, it has incredible tannins, perfect balance, and a monster of a finish. Don’t think about touching bottles for at least 7-8 years, and it’s going to keep for 50 years or more.”
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Petite Chapelle – La Maison Bleue, Rhône 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59.50 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Full-bodied, creamy and supple, the 2017 Hermitage La Maison Bleue looks to be a thrilling Hermitage to drink over the next 10-15 years. It’s loaded with mixed blueberries and raspberries, adds subtle notes of mocha and baking spices and picks up a savory hint of black olives on the long, silky finish. Don’t make the mistake of thinking only the La Chapelle is worth drinking, this should be a real beauty when it’s released next year.”
Josh Raynolds 94 points “Glass-staining magenta. A complex, expansive bouquet evokes ripe dark berries, potpourri and incense. Exotic spice and mineral notes build with air. Sweet, focused and penetrating in the mouth, offering spice-tinged boysenberry, cherry preserve and violet pastille flavors that are braced by a core of juicy acidity. Blends concentration and energy smoothly and finishes with strong, gently tannic persistence.”
James Suckling 94 points “This is utterly delicious and has a very plush and sweetly fruited core of flavor with a sweepingly fleshy, rich and quite plush feel. The tannins are very fine here; sleek and assertive, they seem to suggest early drinking. It’s so balanced, too. However, this deserves to be reserved for later, as there’s a lot more to come. Try from 2024.”
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Petite Chapelle – La Maison Bleue, Rhône 2018 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94-96 points “The 2,000-case 2018 Hermitage Maison Bleue comes from the eastern side of the appellation and is a much more fleshy, opulent wine compared to the more mineral-laced La Chapelle. Jammy blackberry and cassis fruit, notes of ground herbs, graphite, and violets, full-bodied richness, beautiful concentration, and a great finish all make for a compelling Hermitage. It’s going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age.”
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2018 Hermitage La Maison Bleue offers up aromas of mocha, raspberries and a hint of black olive. It’s full-bodied, velvety and plush, with a finish that’s marked by hints of maple syrup and a slightly open-knit quality. It should drink well for at least a decade after release.”
Also in Stock from Jaboulet:
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Saint-Joseph Domaine de la Croix des Vignes, Rhône 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 95 points “The only Saint Joseph produced, the 2012 St Joseph Domaine de la Croix des Vignes is another incredible effort from this team. Coming from steep, granite soils and a vineyard located just beside the famed Vignes de Hospice, this beauty knocks it out of the park with its massive minerality, currants, rare beef and tapenade-like aromas and flavors. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured and still lively and elegant, it too will knock your socks off over the coming 15-20 years.”
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Collector’s Corner
James Suckling’s Wine of the Year in 2018
Château Canon is one of the Right Bank’s most respected estates. Their distinguished wines are revered by critics and collectors alike, and their 2015 Saint-Émilion is perhaps their finest vintage to date.
But don’t take it from us. The wine received a perfect 100-point score from three of Bordeaux’s most prominent critics. Antonio Galloni described the wine as a “masterpiece”, Neal Martin called it “astonishing”, and James Suckling declared it “perfect”. All of these accolades beg the question: is a Bordeaux collection complete without a bottle of this benchmark wine?
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Château Canon, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($399.95) $349 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 100 points “From the very beginning, the 2015 Canon has made an eloquent case for itself as one of the wines of the vintage. Multiple tastings from bottle only confirm what several early tastings hinted at: the 2015 Canon is simply extraordinary in every way. Sumptuous and exotic, with no hard edges and exceptional balance, the 2015 grabs hold of all the senses and never lets up. A rush of red fruit intermingled with floral notes, spice and smoke notes effortlessly runs up the wine’s vertical structure as the 2015 thrills with every twist and turn. The 2015 Canon is a rare wine that is both hedonistic and intellectual – well, maybe it is a bit more hedonistic-leaning. It doesn’t matter. Don’t miss it. This 2015 is masterpiece from General Manager Nicolas Auderbert and his team at Canon.”
Neal Martin 100 points “The 2015 Canon was a benchmark wine that seemed to revitalize this historic estate. I was crossing my fingers that it would not disappoint in bottle and I am glad to say that it delivers the goods. It has a very intense bouquet (just as it showed out of barrel) with laser-like precision offering wild strawberry, raspberry preserve, wet limestone and hints of truffle. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, clean and fresh with pure black and red fruit whose every atom appears infused with minerals. The mouth is tingling long after the wine has exited and your brain is thinking…when is the next sip coming? It is frankly heads and shoulders above almost every Saint Émilion this vintage, to reaffirm, a benchmark for this historic estate that will give pleasure to many over the coming years. Astonishing.”
James Suckling 100 points “Seductive. The nose draws you in deep: It’s like staring into a well of pristine dark cherries, dark plums, blackberries and mulberries. All the oak is perfectly subsumed. The palate’s flawless with immense depth and power and it’s so balanced as to appear to float. Immaculate fresh dark-berry and plum flavors. Silky and deep, ribbon-like finish. Perfect. Best from 2022.”
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