In This Newsletter:
Pabiot’s Picnic-Perfect Pouilly-Fumé On Sale Now
&
Blast Off With This Champagne Staff Pick: Clouet’s V6
Jonathan Didier Pabiot
On Sale Now
Pabiot’s Picnic-Perfect Pouilly-Fumé On Sale Now
&
Blast Off With This Champagne Staff Pick: Clouet’s V6
Jonathan Didier Pabiot
On Sale Now
But there is only one region in the world of Sauvignon Blanc that is whispered of reverently and can only rarely be found on shelves: Pouilly-Fumé. Made cult by Didier Dagueneau’s benchmark Silex bottling, you can be forgiven for expecting most top-rates PFs to set you back somewhere in the three figures a bottle range.
Would you even believe me if I said you could find an illustrious producer, one who is of the only 1% of producers in the region to work organically and biodynamically (the first in the region), one who wows the reviewers, and, most importantly, one whose top two bottlings have yet to surpass $70 at our shop? What if I told you that these stunning wines are in stock and on sale now, just in time for your spring dishes?
Jonathan-Didier Pabiot is of course the man in question. He is a fifth-generation winemaker in the Pouilly-sur-Loire, which encompasses Pouilly-Fumé. Young, passionate, and exuberant, he crafts an array of bottlings from his family’s small holdings. Pabiot began his winemaking career under Léon Barral, “perhaps one of the most famous natural wine producers in all of southern France,” per an importer that does not even work with Barral’s wines. Heavily influenced by Barral, Pabiot converted his family’s domain first to organic and then to biodynamic, being the first in the AOC for each of the certifications.
The domain’s twenty hectares of vines include three soil types: Kimmeridgian, Portlandian, and clay-silex on flint. Vines average 30 years old at the estate and easily show how organic and biodynamic viticulture improves the condition of the vines. Unlike his neighbors, Pabiot’s hardy vines are rarely afflicted by disease or mildew. Fermentations are slow and cool, using indigenous yeast and low amounts of SO2, free of enzymes or additives. Ageing takes place in a variety of containers, depending upon the bottling, but all include long lees ageing for added richness and complexity.
These wines are head-turners, sure to impress the stodgiest of palates. The Elisa, showcasing the estate’s Kimmeridgian soils, is the entry-level bottling sourced from younger vines across all three soil types. Like its siblings, this bottling is aged on the lees to create a wine that, according to Polaner imports, is an “early bird bottling [that] punches well above its weight class.” The Léon is the step up, including all three soil types but from more mature vines. This is the estate’s flagship and a true look into the nature of those to come.
At the top end are Eurythmie and Utopia. The Eurythmie debuted to comparisons with Didier Dagueneau’s quality push some decades earlier. The Utopia bottling is not to be missed by insiders. As one of the top wines from this estate, this 100% Sauvignon Blanc hails from one of Pabiot’s best parcels in Les Marnes. The vineyard soils are Kimmeridgian (calcareous clay and limestone), imparting a dense minerality to this generous, long-aging white. This wine was aged in large, oak barrels (demi-muids) with no added sulfites, giving a spicy richness and a decedent, if unusual, hint of oxidation.
Would you even believe me if I said you could find an illustrious producer, one who is of the only 1% of producers in the region to work organically and biodynamically (the first in the region), one who wows the reviewers, and, most importantly, one whose top two bottlings have yet to surpass $70 at our shop? What if I told you that these stunning wines are in stock and on sale now, just in time for your spring dishes?
Jonathan-Didier Pabiot is of course the man in question. He is a fifth-generation winemaker in the Pouilly-sur-Loire, which encompasses Pouilly-Fumé. Young, passionate, and exuberant, he crafts an array of bottlings from his family’s small holdings. Pabiot began his winemaking career under Léon Barral, “perhaps one of the most famous natural wine producers in all of southern France,” per an importer that does not even work with Barral’s wines. Heavily influenced by Barral, Pabiot converted his family’s domain first to organic and then to biodynamic, being the first in the AOC for each of the certifications.
The domain’s twenty hectares of vines include three soil types: Kimmeridgian, Portlandian, and clay-silex on flint. Vines average 30 years old at the estate and easily show how organic and biodynamic viticulture improves the condition of the vines. Unlike his neighbors, Pabiot’s hardy vines are rarely afflicted by disease or mildew. Fermentations are slow and cool, using indigenous yeast and low amounts of SO2, free of enzymes or additives. Ageing takes place in a variety of containers, depending upon the bottling, but all include long lees ageing for added richness and complexity.
These wines are head-turners, sure to impress the stodgiest of palates. The Elisa, showcasing the estate’s Kimmeridgian soils, is the entry-level bottling sourced from younger vines across all three soil types. Like its siblings, this bottling is aged on the lees to create a wine that, according to Polaner imports, is an “early bird bottling [that] punches well above its weight class.” The Léon is the step up, including all three soil types but from more mature vines. This is the estate’s flagship and a true look into the nature of those to come.
At the top end are Eurythmie and Utopia. The Eurythmie debuted to comparisons with Didier Dagueneau’s quality push some decades earlier. The Utopia bottling is not to be missed by insiders. As one of the top wines from this estate, this 100% Sauvignon Blanc hails from one of Pabiot’s best parcels in Les Marnes. The vineyard soils are Kimmeridgian (calcareous clay and limestone), imparting a dense minerality to this generous, long-aging white. This wine was aged in large, oak barrels (demi-muids) with no added sulfites, giving a spicy richness and a decedent, if unusual, hint of oxidation.
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of wine from Pabiot
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles of wine from Pabiot
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Friday, May 3rd at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles of wine from Pabiot
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Friday, May 3rd at 9 am Pacific.
We offer 11 options from Pabiot on sale now, including:
Jonathan Didier Pabiot Pouilly-Fumé “Aubaine” 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “From a one-hectare limestone vineyard of roughly 35 years and aged on the full lees for 18 months in subterranean concrete cisterns, the 2020 Pouilly Fumé Aubaine offers a pure, intense, dense and fresh, beautifully iodine and crunchy nose of ripe white fruits. On the palate, this is a full-bodied, intense and structured, stimulatingly pure yet also enormously rich and textured Pouilly with tension and mouthwatering salinity in the finish. A complex and powerful wine with mineral freshness and tension. Gorgeous. 13% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at ProWein in Düsseldorf in May 2022.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Jonathan Didier Pabiot Pouilly-Fumé “Aubaine” 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $44.50, that’s $42.28 at 5% off and $40.05 at 10% off, 24 bottles in stock now
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 90 points “The 2021 Aubaine is aromatic with floral and gooseberry characters. Having spent 18 months in concrete tank on lees and tasted every two weeks to check the condition, it has taken on a richness of texture and breadth that coats the palate. It is suave and ready to enjoy, with a pretty elderflower scent lingering on the medium-length, lightly savory finish.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Jonathan Didier Pabiot Pouilly-Fumé “Elisa” 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $28, that’s $26.60 at 5% off and $25.20 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 91 points “Sold as Prélude until the 2020 vintage, the 2021 Pouilly Fumé Élisa offers an intense, beautifully clear, fresh and spring-like vegetal and crisp as well as spicy but substantial bouquet with leafy and green asparagus aromas. Based on four- to 12-year-old vines, this is a pure, fresh and saline but also stunningly rich and intense Pouilly with this gorgeous leafy and phenolic freshness and bite that I haven’t detected in the Sancerrois for some years. The finish is refreshing and structural and very stimulating. 12.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at ProWein in Düsseldorf in May 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Jonathan Didier Pabiot Pouilly-Fumé “Elisa” 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $29.50, that’s $28.03 at 5% off and $26.55 at 10% off, 18 bottles in stock now
Importer note “The entry-level Pouilly-Fumé Elisa, previously knowns as Prélude, is made from young vines spanning the family’s three primary soil types: limestone, silica and flint. Thanks to shrewd yields, an uncompromising approach in the vineyard, and lees aging over the winter months, this early bird bottling punches well above its weight class.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Jonathan Didier Pabiot Pouilly-Fumé “Eurythmie” 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $54.50, that’s $51.78 at 5% off and $49.05 at 10% off, 4 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: As one of the top wines from this estate, this 100% Sauvignon Blanc hails from one of Pabiot’s best parcels, Les Marnes, a tiny, two-acre plot. The vineyard soils are Kimmeridgian (calcareous clay and limestone), imparting a dense minerality to this generous, long-aging white. This wine was aged in neutral oak barrels before a short stint in stainless steel.
Importer note “The vines are forced to work harder and struggle on this poor soil. This means that this plot requires more attention, but then again, that is the case with most of the best plots for making great wines. The vines face the south and the southwest… We find notes of citrus, chalk, white flowers, flint, and a long and smooth finish. This wine was aged 12 months in neutral oak, followed by 6 months in stainless steel. This could be paired with oysters, scallops, ceviche, lobster, and goat cheeses.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Jonathan Didier Pabiot Pouilly-Fumé “Léon” 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $33, that’s $31.35 at 5% off and $29.70 at 10% off, 4 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 93 points “The father and son team of Didier and Jonathan-Didier Pabiot farm their twenty hectares of densely-planted vines biodynamically and are Demeter-certified. They were the first domaine in the appellation to receive the Demeter imprimatur. The grapes are hand-harvested, fermented with native yeasts and aged five months on their fine lees in stainless steel tanks. The cuvée Léon, named for Jonathan-Didier’s son, is made from thirty-year-old vines and the 2020 version offers up a deep and refined nose of lime, gooseberry, citrus peel, flinty soil tones, gentle grassiness and a bit of upper register smokiness. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, focused and complex, with a great core, superb soil signature, bouncy acids and a long, beautifully poised and balanced finish. This is first class Pouilly-Fumé! 2022-2032. (Jul/Aug 2022)”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “The former Florilège comes with a new name this year. Predominantly from limestone soils but also silex, the 2020 Pouilly Fumé Léon offers a clear, deep, fresh and spicy, quite complex and iodine bouquet with great precision and mineral intensity. Aged in stainless steel, concrete and 20% oak barrels (228 and 500 liter), this is a rich and round, very elegant and aromatic Pouilly-Fumé with good mineral and fruity freshness and a long, intense and tensioned finish that reveals fine tannins and crisp grip. This is a substantial wine with excellent aging potential. Bottled in March this year with 13% stated alcohol and a natural cork. Tasted at ProWein in Düsseldorf in May 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Jonathan Didier Pabiot Pouilly-Fumé “Léon” 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $33, that’s $31.35 at 5% off and $29.70 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
Jonathan Didier Pabiot Pouilly-Fumé “Léon” 2021 1.5L Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 6 magnums in stock now
“The 2021 Léon accounts for most of the domaine’s production (70%). It has a bright, gooseberry and elderflower-like character. Fermented partially in concrete (40%), stainless steel (40%) and barrel (20%), it has a silky charm while remaining light-bodied. This is a really lively number that has charm and brightness. Very easy to like, made with a delicate hand.” -Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Jonathan Didier Pabiot Pouilly-Fumé “Luminance” 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “From Kimmeridgian limestone, the 2020 Pouilly Fumé Luminance (known as “Prédilection” until the 2019 vintage) is excitingly pure and mineral on the saline and complex nose that indicates ripe and concentrated fruit. On the palate, this is a rich and intense, finely tannic, bitter yet stimulatingly fresh and saline Pouilly with a long and powerful finish. 13% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at ProWein in Düsseldorf in May 2022.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Jonathan Didier Pabiot Pouilly-Fumé “Luminance” 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 23 bottles in stock now
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 93 points “The 2021 Luminance is pure with tangy green gooseberry and elderflower flavors. While light in body, it initially has a silken texture but ties tight on the finish. The naturally low yields create a highly concentrated style with tension and precision. There’s a touch of attractive phenolics on the drawn-out finish.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Jonathan Didier Pabiot Pouilly-Fumé Utopia 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $66, that’s $62.70 at 5% off and $59.40 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: As one of the top wines from this estate, this 100% Sauvignon Blanc hails from one of Pabiot’s best parcels in Les Marnes. The vineyard soils are Kimmeridgian (calcareous clay and limestone), imparting a dense minerality to this generous, long-aging white. This wine was aged in large, oak barrels (demi-muids) with no added sulfites.
Importer note “Thanks to this terroir and the talent of Jonathan Pabiot, we find here a wine of exceptional purity. We find a slightly oxidized and spicy nose in this wine, with notes of candied quince and pears. This could be paired with ceviche, lobster, and hard cow cheeses like Comté or Beaufort.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Shop our 11 selections on sale now on our webstore!
Staff Pick Featurette:
Andre Clouet V6
We adore the Champagnes of Andre Clouet. They are the epitome of value without skimping in the slightest on quality. Though the two entry-level NVs are killer, the Dream Vintages exquisitely poised and mineral, and the underpriced tête de cuvée “Un Jour de 1911…” is profound, the sweet spot of the lineup for me is the V6.
The grapes for the V6 are grown in the Grand Cru village of Bouzy where Pinot Noir reigns supreme. This Champagne sees extended aging on the lees, imparting a rich, toasty, and decadently creamy feel to this enchanting sparkler. It’s wildly flexible with food. Its bright acidity and subtle berry notes pair nicely with fruit and veggie dishes as well as seafood, while its heft and richness mean it could tango with chicken, cream sauces, pizza, and cheese courses.
I stand by what I’ve said for years: this stellar Champagne is the pinnacle of quality:price:packaging.
Andre Clouet The V6 Experience Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $51.90 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “Aged for six years on the second lees, the yellow-golden NV Brut The V6 Experience is a Bouzy Pinot Noir that displays great purity and intensity but also reduction on the mineral-scented nose. This is deep and complex, but it needs all our patience and perhaps even a decanter or at least a big glass and lots of aeration. The palate is rich and powerful, firmly structured, very tight and still astringent on the finish, but there is so much finesse paired with power, concentration and fruit, which give the V6 a promising future. The wine just starts a bit slowly (like a rocket, which is pictured on the label), but it will most probably go very steep in a couple of years. I have ever had this cuvée before, so I can only guess, though.”
The grapes for the V6 are grown in the Grand Cru village of Bouzy where Pinot Noir reigns supreme. This Champagne sees extended aging on the lees, imparting a rich, toasty, and decadently creamy feel to this enchanting sparkler. It’s wildly flexible with food. Its bright acidity and subtle berry notes pair nicely with fruit and veggie dishes as well as seafood, while its heft and richness mean it could tango with chicken, cream sauces, pizza, and cheese courses.
I stand by what I’ve said for years: this stellar Champagne is the pinnacle of quality:price:packaging.
Andre Clouet The V6 Experience Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $51.90 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “Aged for six years on the second lees, the yellow-golden NV Brut The V6 Experience is a Bouzy Pinot Noir that displays great purity and intensity but also reduction on the mineral-scented nose. This is deep and complex, but it needs all our patience and perhaps even a decanter or at least a big glass and lots of aeration. The palate is rich and powerful, firmly structured, very tight and still astringent on the finish, but there is so much finesse paired with power, concentration and fruit, which give the V6 a promising future. The wine just starts a bit slowly (like a rocket, which is pictured on the label), but it will most probably go very steep in a couple of years. I have ever had this cuvée before, so I can only guess, though.”
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
Vietti
5% off any 3-5 in-stock wines from Vietti
10% off any 6 or more in-stock wines from Vietti
Southern Rhône Wines from Saint Cosme
5% off any 6-11 in-stock Southern Rhône wines from Saint Cosme
10% off any 12 or more in-stock Southern Rhône wines from Saint Cosme
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Vietti sale ends Wednesday, May 1st at 9 am Pacific. Southern Saint Cosme sale ends Thursday, May 2nd at 9 am Pacific.