In This Newsletter:
Marc Colin: New Vintage Arriving
Beaune’s Best kept secret
Down the Rhine and Through the Doneau:
Vinopolis Tours Germany
Shades of Summer:
Rose ‘Round the world
Staff Pick:
Bobet’s Blowout Blend
Best in Bordeaux?
Chateau Palmer’s Challenge to Margaux
Coming Soon:
Domaine du Pegau
Paragon of Châteauneuf
Collectors Corner:
Huet’s Cornucopia of Chenin
Marc Colin: New Vintage Arriving
Beaune’s Best kept secret
ETA Early August
You would be hard pressed to find a more quintessential St. Aubin producer than Marc Colin. Founded in 1970 and working with family holdings that have been in the family for over a century, they have since expanded from their home village of St. Aubin and now farm over 36 acres across Burgundy.
Marc has since retired with his children, Damien and Caroline, taking over as winemakers. As an exclusively family-run operation production has remained incredibly low in spite of their increasing fame around the world. However, as they work with exclusively old vines that are organically farmed their quality is next level.
Most of their production is white, the vast majority being Chardonnay. The domaine describes their house style as “Traditional with ever present fruit and optimum freshness” and delivers with every vintage. 2018 is being lauded as spectacular for white Burgundies, especially in the cooler villages like St. Aubin.
Don’t count out their red that we carry however, as they work with likely the oldest Pinot Noir vines in the entire village of Santenay! The site was planted in 1901 and is an experience of terroir. With only a small percentage of new oak, the varietal character of Sous bois, Keemun Gongfu, Glory Rose, and wild raspberry.
Arriving in August:
Domaine Marc Colin et Fils Bourgogne Chardonnay, Burgundy 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Domaine Marc Colin et Fils Bourgogne Chardonnay, Burgundy 2018 750ML ($479.95) $359 pre-arrival special
Winery note: From vines planted in 1998 and 1972 in clayey soil in Puligny-Montrachet.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Marc Colin et Fils Bourgogne Aligote, Burgundy 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Decanter 91 points “Siblings Damien and Caroline are now making wine at their father’s domaine and this 2018 is a blend of three parcels of old Aligoté vines in Puligny, Chassagne and St Aubin. Complex and distinctive, with nutty, creamy, savoury aromatics plus a fresh note of lemon thyme. There’s a touch of salinity to the fresh, well balanced palate, with notes of candied peel and nuts. Crisp juicy citrus bite to the finish, with a lingering savoury edge. A really interesting wine for food pairing. Drinking Window 2020 – 2024.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Marc Colin et Fils Les Vides Bourses, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin-Vinous 91-93 points “The 2018 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Vides Bourses 1er Cru, which lies just below the Grand Crus in Puligny, has a more distant bouquet than the Chenevottes, a little aloof at the moment but opening nicely with aeration to reveal scents of citrus peel, dry straw and a touch of lemongrass. The palate is taut and fresh, with a fine line of acidity, and quite rich in style. The slightly honeyed, almond-tinged finish needs to muster more mineralité. Otherwise this is a fine Chassagne that should give 15–20 years of pleasure.”
Burghound 90-93 points “Outstanding. There is a whiff of the exotic to the fresh and ripe mix of white and yellow orchard fruit aromas that exhibit subtle spice and petrol wisps. Once again there is fine volume to the exceptionally rich medium weight plus flavors that are both seductive and generously proportioned, all wrapped in a sappy, balanced and complex finale. This is very Vide Bourse in basic character.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90-92 points “Aromas of pear, fresh peach, honeycomb and pastry cream introduce the 2018 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Vide Bourse, a medium to full-bodied, textural and enveloping wine that’s rich and unctuous, concluding with a mouthwateringly saline finish. This is one of the more dramatic, riper wines in the cellar.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $109.99
The next best price is $109.99
Domaine Marc Colin et Fils Les Castets, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($74.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Burghound 91 points “Outstanding Top Value. Wafting aromas of petrol, white flowers and citrus give way to markedly intense and delineated middle weight flavors that brim with minerality while delivering excellent length on the clean, dry and focused finale. I like the balance as well as the depth and this should amply reward mid-term keeping. Worth checking out.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 91 points “The 2018 Saint-Aubin Les Castets 1er Cru has a very compelling, stony, terroir-driven bouquet that contains plenty of energy. The palate is well balanced with plenty of weight, fine salinity with a touch of stem ginger towards the finish. You could almost drink this now although I would prefer to wait another 12 months.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 89-91 points “Scents of citrus oil, almond paste and white flowers introduce the 2018 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Castets, a medium-bodied, open and expressive but precise wine, derived from a south-facing site characterized by poor, stony soils.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Marc Colin et Fils Les Combes, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin-Vinous 92-94 points “The 2018 Saint-Aubin les Combes comes from more clayey soils in a small dip, as indicated by its name. It has a complex, engaging bouquet of Golden Delicious apples mixed with lemon thyme, menthol and crushed stone. The palate is fresh and taut on the entry. This has real bite and tension, great poise and salinity and an edgy, harmonious finish that lingers in the mouth. An awesome Saint-Aubin that should age with style.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2018 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Combes offers up notes of green apple, pear, white flowers and clear honey, followed by a medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural palate that’s lively and precise. This hails from a parcel situated in a combe planted in 1985.”
Burghound 90 points “Top Value. Here there is no reductive funk as the nose is fresh, bright and ripe with its layered array of white orchard fruit, and in particular pear, along with wisps of citrus, wood and floral hints. There is again fine volume and intensity with a lovely minerality on the rich and sappy finale. This needs to add more overall depth but it’s already very pretty.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Marc Colin et Fils En Montceau, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2018 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Montceau is also performing well from bottle, mingling aromas of pear, pomelo, orange oil, fresh bread and ginger. Medium to full-bodied, racy and tensile, with fine depth at the core but a more open, giving profile than the 2017 vintage, this will offer a broad drinking window.”
Burghound 92 points “Outstanding. Like the Charmois, the nose is presently dominated by residual sulfur though the underlying fruit does seem fresh and ripe. Otherwise there is almost painful intensity to the solidly dense and serious middle weight flavors that ooze minerality on the youthfully austere and beautifully chiseled finish. This excellent effort seems to be constructed from liquid rock and is really quite impressive. Note well though that in contrast to some of the prior wines, this is one that’s going to need patience so buy accordingly.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 90-92 points “The 2018 Saint-Aubin en Montceau 1er Cru has a more northerly exposure with less limestone but more marn soils, which tend to ripen later than the other cuvées. This feels much more primal and lacks the harmony of Colin’s other cuvées; perhaps it is going through an awkward stage in its barrel maturation. The palate is a little reduced at the moment but demonstrates fine weight and a slightly waxy texture, almost as if there was a splash of Aligoté on the finish. Not bad at all, but it’s difficult to see how it will develop once in bottle.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $70
The average price is $70
Domaine Marc Colin et Fils Santenay Vieilles Vignes, Cote de Beaune 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special, 36 bottles available
Neal Martin-Vinous 90-92 points “The 2018 Santenay Vieilles Vignes comes from 115-year-old vines, which must be some of the oldest in the region, yielding only around 20hl/ha. It has a lovely, very pure black currant and raspberry bouquet full of nascent joie-de-vivre. The medium-bodied palate matches fine-grained tannins with a bead of acidity; this is all about elegance and purity. The caressing finish is tinged with cassis and iodine. A gorgeous Santenay from Damien and Caroline Colin.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 89-91 points “Offering up aromas of red berries, cassis, orange rind and rose petals, the 2018 Santenay Vieilles Vignes is medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated, its powdery tannins concealed by a layered core of fruit. This may well prove to be a sleeper of the vintage.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Shop our full selection of White Burgundies on our webstore!
Shop our full selection of White Burgundies on our webstore!
Down the Rhine and Through the Doneau:
Vinopolis Tours Germany
Vinopolis Tours Germany
“In these great and exceedingly rare wines of the Saar, there is a combination of qualities which I can perhaps best describe as indescribable – austerity coupled with delicacy and extreme finesse, an incomparable bouquet, a clean, very attractive hardness tempered by a wealth of fruit and flavor which is overwhelming.” – Frank Schoonmaker, The Wines of Germany (1956).
The Saar is one of the coldest areas in the entire Mosel, and has one of the smallest production footprints compared to the other sub-areas. This is largely due to the exposure to the frigid east winds, which causes temperatures to drop precipitously almost as soon as the sun sets. This results in a race to harvest in most vintages, but is rapidly changing due to climate change.
In previous decades this was a growing area known for producing a good vintage 3-4 times every 10, not unlike the Port and Champagne region’s in the same time window. Due to the challenge of ripening the majority of the styles of wine coming from this area feature high acids, delicate stonefruit character and a steely minerality with plenty of age potential regardless of how much sweetness is still present at bottling. We carry a number of producers from this area including Lauer, Molitor and Haart!
Peter Lauer ‘Kern’ Ayler Kupp Fass 9 Riesling Mosel 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott-Jamessuckling.Com 94 points “Tropical and creamy, but it also shows a very firm core — Kern means core in German. This is another stunningly original wine from Peter Lauer. A lot of power at the finish. Drink or hold.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2017er Kern Fass 9 comes from old vines in a prime south-west-facing part of the original Ayler Kupp hill situated well into the side valley and was fermented down to almost fruity levels (40 g/l of residual sugar). It offers a delicately vibrant nose of candied grapefruit, cassis, lemon zest, ginger and fine herbs. The wine is beautifully focused and just fruity-styled on the palate and leaves a vibrant feel of zesty acidity and bitter lemon in the long and delicately tart finish. This is a beautiful expression of fully off-dry tasting Riesling in the making! 2022-2032.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Markus Molitor Alte Reben Riesling Trocken Mosel WK 2018 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2018 Riesling Alte Reben Saar offers a clear, pure and spicy, quite deep and intense bouquet with slatey pastry notes. Round and juicy on the palate, this is a complex, elegant and long yet still slightly astringent Riesling with enormous power and richness. The wine has a positive astringency that is crystalline and phenolic and asks for patience. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Julian Haart Riesling, Mosel “1,000L” 2020 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 27 bottles in stock now
Importer Note: As with Lauer, it makes sense to speak of the “terroir wines” and the “Prädikat wines” as two distinct categories. The terroir wines are those that ferment naturally, finding their own balance that is nearly always dry tasting, though the wines might have a lil’ more sugar than would allow them to be legally called “Trocken,” or dry. In this grouping of wines we begin with the “1000L.” This wine is made from Fuder(s) of Julian’s wines that he doesn’t think are good enough for any of the above classifications. Thus I buy the entire Fuder (the traditional 1,000 liter barrel of the Mosel) and call the wine “1000L.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Shades of Summer:
Rose ‘Round the world
Rosé and summertime are an inseparable pairing, or at least we think so. Nothing quite illustrates that better than Ameztoi’s Rosado. This is easily our best-selling rose in house, and rightly so! A blend of both Hondarribi Beltza and Zuri sourced from a series of organically farmed, high elevation sites in the Basque Region with the oldest vines being over 100 years old. Fermented in the traditional style of the Basque region which leaves it slightly sparkling and naturally low in sulfur! Fully dry and incredibly nuanced yet delicate with a whole spectrum of fruits ranging from strawberry to white peach.
Our most popular rosé year in, year out
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2020 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2020 750ML ($319.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Importer note “The pink sibling of Ameztoi’s flagship white, this vibrant rosé is made from a mix of red and white indigenous grapes and is bottled with a little residual carbonation to give it a light spritz.”
Looking for a style of rose that can stand up to heartier fare like barbequed meat, but is still at home with lighter options like sheep’s milk cheese? Try our Malbec rose from Cahors! Tu Boi Coa is a rarity in that it is the only non-red wine that they make at Domaine Berangeraie, a portfolio otherwise dominated by Malbec based blends. The rose is a perfect example of the fruity and playful side of Malbec, yet with a solid backbone of minerality evocative of the gravely loam and native Causses (Limestone plateaus). Additional flavors include crushed blue and blackberries, strawberry and bing cherry with medium plus acidity and aromatic intensity.
100% Malbec from Cahors, this is a rosé made for barbeque
Domaine de la Berangeraie ‘Tu Bois Coa’ Rosé, IGP Cotes du Lot 2019 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer note “Malbec rosé. Sustainable. Ripe cherry flavors with fresh strawberry and raspberry. Medium body with a long finish.”
Winery note: 100% Malbec. Very aromatic (raspberry, wild strawberry, blueberry), with a pronounced pomegranate color. The palate is rich, vinous, and unctuous. Drink as an aperitif, or with BBQ and exotic fruits.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Ayres Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2020 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
Staff pick – Suzanne: Borderline steely, this is a bright and refreshing local rose with a creamy mouthfeel and elegant profile. Notes of raspberries, fresh lemon zest, rhubarb, and a fun hint of caraway on the finish. Always a favorite among the staff, winemaker Brad McLeroy makes this from a single block within the estate vineyard specially reserved for rose production each year. Bravo!
This is the only listing in the USA today!
We’re Open for In-Store Shopping!
10AM – 6PM Daily
We will not be shipping from our facility from 07/20/21-07/29/21
We also offer Curbside Pickup
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
10AM – 6PM Daily
We will not be shipping from our facility from 07/20/21-07/29/21
We also offer Curbside Pickup
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
Staff Pick:
Bobet’s Blowout Blend
Priorat remains one of the most sought after and highly lauded wine producing regions in all of Spain. The high concentration of old vines; cult level producers, high elevation and Mediterranean climate have made it a hotbed for Spain’s fine wine revolution. Priorat wines are largely based around Grenache and Carignan, grapes usually associated with being medium bodied and fruity. However they take on a whole new dimension on the terraced vineyards of martian-esque shale. Called llicorella by the locals it’s famous for the savory minerality that’s imparted to the grapes, in addition to ripening grapes faster by heat radiation.
Ferrer Bobet’s Vinyes Vielles is a perfect example of what happens at the confluence of meticulous farming and exactingly precise winemaking. Exclusively sourced from 70-100 year old Carignan with a third of Grenache of the same pedigree and farmed without any synthetic inputs. The winery practices minimal handling through gravity feeding and electing not to fine or filter the wine at any point.
From the first pour there are effusive notes of lavender crushed Marionberries, oregano flower, cinnamon, and Amarena cherries. The flavors continue to develop and refine after time in the glass; revealing grilled strawberry, sage, black licorice, za’atar, wet slate and ash salt. Impressively lifted for how full bodied and tannic the other elements are but provides balance and synergy. This is beautiful now but promises to become a work of art after more time in the cellar to shed its baby fat.
Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($74.95) $36 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Case-12 Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles Priorat DOCa 2015 ($699.95) $389 special (that’s only 32.41 per bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The old vine 2015 Vinyes Velles checks in as a Carignan-dominated blend from vines just outside the village of Porrera that includes one-third Grenache, all of which spent over a year in French oak. It’s a bigger, riper, sexier wine than the Ferrer Bobet cuvée and boasts a deep purple color as well as rocking notes of black plums, black licorice, ground pepper, violets, and new leather. Ripe and full-bodied, with moderate acidity and terrific balance, it’s a seamless Priorat to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years or so.”
James Suckling 94 points “This really captures the freshness of the carignan grape with its bright cherry character. Medium-to full-bodied with spice from the grenache and excellent vitality on the long, crisp finish. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Best in Bordeaux?
Chateau Palmer’s Challenge to Margaux
We only managed to secure a case of this gem and have it priced at nearly 50% less than Château Margaux from the same year! We were lucky enough to secure one of the best recent examples of this vintage from Château Palmer in Margaux. 2011 was the first year that the château began to practice biodynamic farming, something their next-door neighbor Château Margaux hasn’t even initiated yet in 2021.Couple that with old vines ranging from 25-70 years old and ideal soil conditions, you can see why people compare them favorably to their first growth neighbor.
Château Palmer has reinvented itself with modern winemaking in the past 25 years, transitioning to temperature controlled fermentation and using gravity to transport wines instead of pumps. Palmer is famous for their rigorous standards, with only 45% of the wine produced in 2011 actually being labeled under the Château’s first label –the rest went into a separate bottling called Alter-Ego. With a house style described as “silk wrapped in satin with layers of velvet”, this is one of the most collectable houses in general before price is even factored in.
With Bordeaux vintages becoming increasingly ripe as a result of climate change, it’s easy to forget the region’s historical predilection to unusual weather events. One of the best examples if this was 2011, which resulted in some of the lowest yields ever seen in recorded history for the appellation. After concurrent frost, rain, hailstorms and disease pressure some producers lost as much as 60% of their fruit before harvest. What remained was intensely perfumed, packed with flavor and primed to aging.
In Stock Now:
Château Palmer, Margaux 2011 750ML ($349.95) $279 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Robert Parker 96 points “The opaque blue/purple-colored 2011 Palmer reveals a stunning bouquet of licorice, truffles, camphor, spring flowers, black raspberries and black currants. One of the superstars of the vintage, this brilliant 2011 possesses superb concentration and purity, medium to full body, and remarkable length of close to a minute. A tour de force in winemaking, the Palmer team merits accolades for achieving this level of quality in a more challenging vintage than either 2009 or 2010. The wine of the vintage in Margaux, tiny yields of 20 hectoliters per hectare, a final blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and a severe selection (only 55% of the production made it into Palmer) are the reasons for this success. Winemaker Thomas Duroux continues to fine tune this already brilliant estate, producing first-growth quality wines year after year.”
Love red Bordeaux? We have 56 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Léoville Barton, Mouton Rothschild, Pichon Baron and more, on our web store now.
Coming Soon:
Domaine du Pegau
Paragon of Châteauneuf
Arriving ETA August, 2021
We’ve carried Domaine du Pegau for a number of years here at Vinopolis, and this year we’ve been able to snatch the best price we’ve seen for it in 7 years! Being one of the few houses that uses all of the 13 permitted varietals in the Chateauneuf De Pape appellation, this caliber of producer quality are normally wines that sell for $100 or more. With an average vine age of 60 years old, biodynamic practices and some of the best sites in Chateauneuf under their banner, this is among the most cellar-worthy out of the entire appellation!
Domaine du Pegau was founded in 1987 by father/daughter team Paul and Laurence Feraud (the family was formerly bottling the wine under the name of Domaine Feraud). Their family has farmed the area since the 17th century. Their Cuvee Reservee is hand-picked blend of 80% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 4 % Mourvedre and 10% other permitted varieties (not destemmed). The grapes are grown in stony soils with a mix of clay, chalk and iron rich sand. The wine is fermented with the stems in cement vats with natural yeast and without temperature control. The wine is aged for two years in old oak barrels.
Pre-Arrival ETA August:
Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee, Rhone 2018 750M ($69.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special
Decanter 96 points “Grown on varied lieux-dits around the appellation on a mix of soils, this was fermented in concrete then aged for 24 months in foudre. All whole bunch, which is evidenced by the pleasantly stemmy aromatics. Very full-bodied and concentrated, savoury despite the oak, with bay leaf and thyme. Very tannic, quite hard on the palate in fact. It’s well balanced despite the alcohol, thanks to its concentration and intensity. It’s an outlying style due to its darkness, hardness and brooding character. It will be fantastic in time however. But wait.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92-95 points “The 2018 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée is full-bodied but quite approachable and easy to drink, loaded with black cherries and plummy fruit and tinged with licorice. A blend of 80% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 4% Mourvèdre and 10% other permitted varieties, it finishes long and silky.”
Jeb Dunnuck 91-94 points “Not yet bottled, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Réservée continues to show beautifully and is a soft, charming example of this cuvée that’s going to drink nicely right out of the gate. Loads of blackcurrants, peppery herbs, bloody meat, and violet notes emerge from the glass and it’s medium to full-bodied, has a seamless, elegant texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It reminds me of an improved 2014, and despite its upfront appeal, it’s going to evolve nicely for 15 years or more. This estate has a long track record of off vintages aging and drinking beautifully far longer than anyone would predict, and I’m sure the same will be the case with the 2018.”
We’ve carried Domaine du Pegau for a number of years here at Vinopolis, and this year we’ve been able to snatch the best price we’ve seen for it in 7 years! Being one of the few houses that uses all of the 13 permitted varietals in the Chateauneuf De Pape appellation, this caliber of producer quality are normally wines that sell for $100 or more. With an average vine age of 60 years old, biodynamic practices and some of the best sites in Chateauneuf under their banner, this is among the most cellar-worthy out of the entire appellation!
Domaine du Pegau was founded in 1987 by father/daughter team Paul and Laurence Feraud (the family was formerly bottling the wine under the name of Domaine Feraud). Their family has farmed the area since the 17th century. Their Cuvee Reservee is hand-picked blend of 80% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 4 % Mourvedre and 10% other permitted varieties (not destemmed). The grapes are grown in stony soils with a mix of clay, chalk and iron rich sand. The wine is fermented with the stems in cement vats with natural yeast and without temperature control. The wine is aged for two years in old oak barrels.
Pre-Arrival ETA August:
Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee, Rhone 2018 750M ($69.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special
Decanter 96 points “Grown on varied lieux-dits around the appellation on a mix of soils, this was fermented in concrete then aged for 24 months in foudre. All whole bunch, which is evidenced by the pleasantly stemmy aromatics. Very full-bodied and concentrated, savoury despite the oak, with bay leaf and thyme. Very tannic, quite hard on the palate in fact. It’s well balanced despite the alcohol, thanks to its concentration and intensity. It’s an outlying style due to its darkness, hardness and brooding character. It will be fantastic in time however. But wait.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92-95 points “The 2018 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée is full-bodied but quite approachable and easy to drink, loaded with black cherries and plummy fruit and tinged with licorice. A blend of 80% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 4% Mourvèdre and 10% other permitted varieties, it finishes long and silky.”
Jeb Dunnuck 91-94 points “Not yet bottled, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Réservée continues to show beautifully and is a soft, charming example of this cuvée that’s going to drink nicely right out of the gate. Loads of blackcurrants, peppery herbs, bloody meat, and violet notes emerge from the glass and it’s medium to full-bodied, has a seamless, elegant texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It reminds me of an improved 2014, and despite its upfront appeal, it’s going to evolve nicely for 15 years or more. This estate has a long track record of off vintages aging and drinking beautifully far longer than anyone would predict, and I’m sure the same will be the case with the 2018.”
Huet’s Cornucopia of Chenin
“Domaine Huet’ means ‘I make the best damn Chenin Blanc on the planet’…” – Mike Steinberger, Wine Diarist
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 Vouvray is on the list, at prices far below almost anything else in their class.
The estate has long been ahead of its time. This is one of France’s pioneers in biodynamic viticulture. Today, horses still plough between the rows, and in the winery the recipe remains relatively simple. Fermentation takes place half in stainless steel, half in old oak, without malolactic fermentation. After only six months, the wines are bottled and then laid to age in a cellar dug from tuffeau rock, no air conditioning required. From here the Huet work is done: the rest is up to nature, and what eventually tastes like divine intervention.
2016 was an exceptional vintage across much of Europe, and the Loire also enjoyed ideal harvest weather that year. Although the Loire produced solid wines across the board, 5 years on it appears that the region’s (and especially Vouvray’s) sweet white wines will be the standouts from 2016.
Few producers anywhere in the world make better off-dry to sweet white wines than Domaine Huet. These are wines that offer near-unmatched flexibility at the table, and Domaine Huet’s reputation guarantees long ageing potential. Made according to tradition and terroir, with utmost respect for nature, Huet wines can keep for decades. Fortunately, the 2016s are already entering their first (likely of many) fantastic drinking window, so now if the perfect time to take advantage of our Subscriber Special pricing and see what you’ve been missing.
In Stock Now:
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $39 Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous, with creamy-edged nectarine, yellow and green apple, pear and quince flavors that are brightly defined from start to finish, flecked with verbena and honeysuckle hints and backed by a off-dry edge on the finish. Stays fresh and pure throughout. Tempting now but there’s no rush. Drink now through 2032.”
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 Vouvray is on the list, at prices far below almost anything else in their class.
The estate has long been ahead of its time. This is one of France’s pioneers in biodynamic viticulture. Today, horses still plough between the rows, and in the winery the recipe remains relatively simple. Fermentation takes place half in stainless steel, half in old oak, without malolactic fermentation. After only six months, the wines are bottled and then laid to age in a cellar dug from tuffeau rock, no air conditioning required. From here the Huet work is done: the rest is up to nature, and what eventually tastes like divine intervention.
2016 was an exceptional vintage across much of Europe, and the Loire also enjoyed ideal harvest weather that year. Although the Loire produced solid wines across the board, 5 years on it appears that the region’s (and especially Vouvray’s) sweet white wines will be the standouts from 2016.
Few producers anywhere in the world make better off-dry to sweet white wines than Domaine Huet. These are wines that offer near-unmatched flexibility at the table, and Domaine Huet’s reputation guarantees long ageing potential. Made according to tradition and terroir, with utmost respect for nature, Huet wines can keep for decades. Fortunately, the 2016s are already entering their first (likely of many) fantastic drinking window, so now if the perfect time to take advantage of our Subscriber Special pricing and see what you’ve been missing.
In Stock Now:
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $39 Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous, with creamy-edged nectarine, yellow and green apple, pear and quince flavors that are brightly defined from start to finish, flecked with verbena and honeysuckle hints and backed by a off-dry edge on the finish. Stays fresh and pure throughout. Tempting now but there’s no rush. Drink now through 2032.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $39 Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “This delivers a beautiful display of purity and grace, with creamed Jonagold apple, star fruit, white peach and chamomile notes flowing seamlessly, backed by wet stone and fresh verbena accents. Subtle but persistent energy ripples through the very long finish. Drink now through 2035.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
#6 Wine of the Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “This tilts toward the flattering side of off-dry, showing a plump feel to the core of creamed pear, white peach and yellow apple fruit. Lovely verbena, honeysuckle and mineral accents keep this balanced and driven, with a long finish that lets the fruit echo. Drink now through 2032.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 Subscriber 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 Subscriber 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.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $39 Subscriber 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 Subscriber 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 Subscriber 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.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Also in Stock & Priced to Move:
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Cuvée Constance’ Moelleux, Loire 2015 500ML ($249.95) $159 Subscriber Special, 11 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 Cuvee Constance bottling since the 2009 vintage. Drink now through 2060.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Moelleux, Loire 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 Subscriber Special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 96 points “The apricot/golden colored 2015 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux shows a very intense, elegant and also subtle bouquet of ripe fruit intermixed with flinty aromas. Dense, piquant and concentrated on the palate, this is a great and tension-filled Chenin with grip and persistence, but also great finesse and elegance. This is a highly complex and energetic, but also light-footed and stimulating wine with lots of mouthwatering salinity. A fascinating Chenin with great aging potential.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Moelleux, Loire 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 Subscriber Special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “A beauty, with an inviting display of succulent yellow apple, green plum, pear, persimmon and quince flavors that ripples lengthily through the finish, while light verbena, ginger and honeysuckle notes dart around. A long green tea echo runs through the finish. Shows terrific range and purity, with the sweetness easily harnessed for balance. Best from 2019 through 2040.”
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “The 2017 Le Mont Moelleux shows the classic progression from the vibrancy of the Sec to the more layered, slightly honeyed Demi-Sec to this richer, sweeter, yet no less impressive Moelleux release. Brilliant notes of quince, honeyed tangerines, apple peel, and orange liqueur all emerge from this full-bodied, layered Vouvray that has a stacked, dense, concentrated mid-palate, high yet integrated acidity, impeccable balance, and a great finish. I couldn’t pick a favorite between this and the Demi-Sec, and both are brilliant wines. Smart readers will buy a handful of bottles of each (a six pack of each is what I intend to do) for drinking over the coming 2-3 decades.”
Love the Loire? We have 85 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.
Vinopolis is an independent wine shop in Portland that opened in 2004. Our goal has always been to offer the finest, broadest, and largest selection of wines at the best prices to our customers in Portland, in Oregon, across the West Coast, and throughout the United States.
Thank you for reading and for continuing to support our team!
Stay safe, be well, & drink well.
Thank you for reading and for continuing to support our team!
Stay safe, be well, & drink well.