Antonio Galloni 93-95 points “The 2011 Second Flight is a wine of extraordinary beauty. Rich, dark, seamless and gorgeous, the 2011 flows across the palate with enticing scents of mocha, tobacco, new leather, licorice and plum. This is a remarkably sophisticated, polished wine for the year, with all the elements in the right place. Sweet spices, savory herbs, menthol and licorice all resonate on the finish. The 2011 could use another few years for the tannins to soften, but it is striking today just the same. With time in the glass, the aromatics become even more prominent. Sweet rose petals, spices and mint all add considerable complexity. In 2011 Merlot was less problematic across the board than Cabernet Sauvignon, so it forms the core in this vintage. The blend is 54% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc.” AG
A Work In Progress: Wine Spectator Top 10s for 2014
Chateau Leoville-Las Cases ‘Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de Las Cases’, Saint-Julien 2011 ($219.95) $199 special
Arriving November 14th
Wine Spectator #10 Top 100 2014
Wine Spectator 95 points “This has some toast to shed, but retains a terrific core of crushed plum and blackberry confiture. Has a beautiful ripple of charcoal for texture, honest acidity for balance and a bolt of iron that keeps this firmly grounded. A brick-house Cabernet. Best from 2018 through 2030.”
Paul Avril Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2012 ($149.95) $125 special, Arriving November 14th
Paul Avril Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2012 1.5L ($299.95) $259 special, 5 magnums available here now
Wine Spectator #7 Top 100 2014
Wine Spectator 97 points “A stunner, with a gorgeous cassis aroma that soars from the glass, reinforced by a core of cassis, cherry and plum pâte de fruit, hoisin sauce, warm ganache and well-roasted apple wood notes. Hefty, but suave and seamless. The finish lets graphite and licorice elements glide through. The structure is dense, polished and perfectly integrated, resulting in lovely length. Should be a beauty after cellaring. Best from 2017 through 2032.” WS
Wine Advocate 95-98 points “Tasted from multiple foudres, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape is stunning! Showing surprising depth and concentration in the vintage, with full-bodied richness and texture, all of the samples showed perfumed, complex aromatics, fantastic mid-palates and serious back-end structure. Less forward than the 2011, with plenty of oomph, it will most likely require short-term cellaring to come around, and have a broad drink window.” WA
Also available here now:
Paul Avril Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2005 ($199.95) $148 special
Wine Spectator 98 points “Really tight now, but packed with dark fig, currant, espresso, licorice and chocolate notes. Superfleshy but seriously structured, there’s layer after layer of sweet spice, fruit and minerality pumping through the finish, with lots of latent depth and power. Far more backward than the 2003 or 2004 on release, but since this red typically puts on weight as it ages, it should be a monster–à la the 1990–when it reaches its peak. Best from 2009 through 2030.”
Paul Avril Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2009 ($149.95) $119 special
Wine Spectator 96 points “Sinewy and reserved, with a light dusting of cocoa powder over the tangy damson plum, red licorice and cassis notes. The long, supple finish, with a lovely wafting note of Lapsang souchong tea, is packed with minerality and tight-grained tannins that will need time to fully evolve. One of the more backward 2009s, though this should pick up steam in the cellar. Best from 2013 through 2025.”
Domaine Louis Boillot 2102
Louis Boillot is a name all you Burgundy fans, aficionados, and passionate wine lovers should take note of. With many of the well-known Burgundy producers’ prices skyrocketing over the years, Louis Boillot is quite the special secret, and therefore the value is incredible considering the quality coming from this domaine. Louis Boillot began his winemaking career over 10 years ago, but was equipped with some of the oldest and best vineyard sites in Burgundy. Now one of the most admired states in the Côte d’Or, recognition began when he and his partner, fellow winemaker Ghislaine Barthod, decided to build a cave in Chambolle-Musigny. Along with over 30 years of managing vineyards with no chemical fertilizers or weed killers, and focused pruning for balanced yields, these wines show the meticulous care used both in the vineyard and in the cellar. In Gevrey-Chambertin, his vines have an average age of over 50 years old, including his premier cru vineyard, Evocelles and in Volnay 55+ old vines in the Poisots and Les Angles vineyards. Boillot has been focused on creating wines of traditional Burgundian methods, crafting wines that are delicate, nuanced, graceful, subtle yet precise, and with tremendous aging capabilities.
Louis Boillot 2012 Wines Arriving December 2014
Domaine Louis Boillot Gevrey-Chambertin 2012 ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer & Burghound 89-91 points “Good bright red. Lively aromas of red cherry, raspberry and menthol; this smells juicy! Suave, sweet and pure on the palate; creamy but vibrant, with red fruit and floral flavors complicated by a mineral nuance. Finishes with a fine dusting of tannins and lovely floral persistence. Very ripe but without any surmaturite.” ST
Domaine Louis Boillot Gevrey-Chambertin Les Evocelles 2012 ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “Bright, deep red. Superripe red cherry and raspberry flavors show an almost liqueur-like quality yet retain good verve. Fat, plump and sweet; a red fruit bomb in the mouth but enlivened by mineral and floral nuances. Finishes with big but sweet tannins and excellent mineral persistence. For such a ripe wine, this is remarkably juicy and balanced. The yield here was 30 hectoliters per hectare, as the later flowering resulted in less coulure.” ST
Domaine Louis Boillot Volnay Les Grands Poisots 2012 ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Burghound 89-91 points “An ultra-elegant nose of plum, violet and black cherry complements the equally refined and pure middle weight flavors that exude a fine minerality on the precision and vibrant finish. This is firm without being aggressive thanks to the fine grain of the tannins that make themselves felt on the mildly austere finale. Outstanding top value.” BH
Domaine Louis Boillot Les Angles, Volnay Premier Cru 2012 ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 90-92 points “(the crop was cut 60% by hail, according to Boillot): Bright red with ruby tones. Tight nose hints at black cherry and dark chocolate. Intensely flavored and high-pitched, with noteworthy purity to its flavors of black cherry, black raspberry and licorice. Boasts a supple texture but this will need time in bottle to open. Finishes with firm tannins, a hint of saline minerality and excellent fruit-driven length.” ST
Burghound 89-92 points “A complex and agreeably ripe nose mixes notes of red and black pinot fruit liqueur and soft earth aromas. There is good verve and a lovely minerality to the caressing and pure medium weight flavors that possess a sufficient quantity of dry extract to impart a dusty and mouth coating texture to the utterly delicious finish. There is a hint of dryness though I suspect that in this case that it will round out so my projected range offers the benefit of the doubt.” BH
Louis Boillot Wine Available Here Now
Domaine Louis Boillot Les Brouillards, Volnay Premier Cru 2009 ($84.95) $59 special, 3 bottles available
Burghound 90-92 points: “This is also wonderfully expressive with its mix of upper and lower register red berry fruits, earth and mineral hints that carry over to the rich but detailed medium-bodied flavors that also evidence plenty of minerality on the generous, balanced, long and relatively refined finish. This is actually rather powerful and while fine, it’s not quite as fine as the Les Angles yet makes up for this with the heightened sense of underlying tension.” BH
Domaine Henri Gouges 2012
“It is whilst still on the vine that a fine wine matures…” –Gouges family maxim
Producing wines from some of the most famous vineyard sites in the Nuits-Saint-Georges, this eighty-year old family estate is widely considered the top producer in the area. The Domaine was founded by Henri Gouges, who was known for being a leader against fraud and one of the individuals in charge of delineating Burgundy crus. Today, the domaine is headed by his grandsons Christian and Pierre. The vineyards are all low-yielding, with average vine age of between 30-40 years old. The vineyards are planted with grass between rows to help force the vines to dig deep roots. Production averages around 3,000 cases per year. The wines call for cellaring. The house style has moved from dense and long-lived in the 40s and 50s, to light in the 70s and 80s, and back toward a more powerful and structured style today. The grapes are completed destemmed and see only a tiny amount of new oak during aging.
Domaine Henri Gouges Wines Arriving Mid-December 2014
Domaine Henri Gouges Bourgogne Pinot Blanc 2012 ($37.95) $27 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 88 points “The 2012 Bourgogne Pinot Blanc is gorgeous in this vintage. White flowers, white peaches, lemon and mint all take shape in the glass. The flavors are bright and focused, but texturally the wine is pretty, supple and very nicely put together. The style is high-toned and aromatically expressive, which is quite typical of whites from the Hautes Côtes de Nuits.” AG
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Pruliers, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru Blanc 2012 ($159.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 91 points “Smoke, slate, lemon oil, crushed rocks and graphite are some of the many notes that meld together in the Nuits Saint Georges Les Perrières Blanc, which emerges from a parcel planted with Pinot Blanc rather than Chardonnay. A rich, explosive wine, the 2012 impresses for its power, minerality and intensity. The style is broad, creamy and beautifully expressive throughout.” AG
Domaine Henri Gouges Clos des Porrets Monopole, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru Blanc 2012 ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges 2012 375ML ($41.95) $33 half-bottle pre-arrival special
Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges 2012 ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 89-91 points “The 2012 Nuits St. Georges is utterly exquisite. Sweet floral and spice notes lift out of the glass, followed by a host of blue/black fruits, spices, mint and licorice. The flavors are classic Nuits but the villages is surprisingly weightless, aromatic and polished. I especially like the freshness of the finish.” AG
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chaignots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2012 ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 89-91 points “Beams of bright acidity and minerality run through the 2012 Nuits St. Georges Les Chaignots. Freshly cut flowers, mint, dark raspberries and chalk flow effortlessly. This is a decidedly vertical Nuits built on energy. The style is a bit compact, but pretty all the same.” AG
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chenes Carteaux, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2012 ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “Blue and purple fruit, smoke, licorice, violets and cloves flesh out in the 2012 Nuits St. Georges Les Chênes Carteaux. This is an especially round, supple Chênes Carteaux with tons of near and medium-term appeal. The round, silky finish is polished and beautifully resonant, all of which suggest the 2012 will drink better earlier than some of the other wines in this range.” AG
Stephen Tanzer 90-92 points “Bright, full red. Red cherry and smoke on the nose. Juicy, vinous and fine-grained but also with good volume to the sweet red fruit flavors. Lovely peppery acidity gives lift to the wine. Finishes with pliant tannins and excellent saline persistence. Nicely concentrated wine from the south side of the village.” ST
Domaine Henri Gouges Clos des Porrets Monopole, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2012 375ML ($59.95) $49 half-bottle pre-arrival special
Domaine Henri Gouges Clos des Porrets Monopole, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2012 ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 92-94+ points “The 2012 Nuits St. Georges Clos des Porrets Saint-Georges is beautifully round and supple. Here the fruit is distinctly red-toned, with hints of iron, earthiness, smoke and tobacco that add complexity. The 2012 will be highly appealing young because of its pure density, but it also appears to have the stuffing to age well for a number of years. This is a great showing from Gouges.” AG
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Pruliers, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2012 ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 93-96 points “Gouge’s 2012 Nuits St. Georges Les Pruliers is less immediate than some of the other wines in the range. Here it is the crystalline purity of the aromas and flavors that stands out most. Violets, plums, licorice, sweet spices and tar are all woven together in a wine that shows the finesse Nuits can at times achieve. The tannins are firm yet also impeccable in their silkiness. Structurally quite classic, the 2012 will reward cellaring.” AG
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Vaucrains, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2012 ($169.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 95-97 points “The 2012 Nuits St. Georges Les Vaucrains explodes onto the palate with a heady melange of dark red berries, freshly cut roses, cinnamon and new leather. The tannins are there, but they are nearly buried by the intensity of the fruit. The sheer luxuriousness of the fruit will tempt readers early, but those who can wait will be rewarded with an extraordinary Burgundy. This is a great showing.” AG
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Saint-Georges, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2012 ($219.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 95-97+ points “A dark, brooding wine, the 2012 Nuits St. Georges Les Saint-Georges boasts stunning depth, power and richness. Smoke, black fruit, tar, tobacco, licorice and menthol all take shape in the glass. The 2012 is classic Saint Georges; explosive, tannic and built for the long haul. Cloves, menthol, licorice and plums reappear on the huge, enveloping finish. Readers who can find the 2012 should not hesitate. It is a gem of a wine.” AG
Domaine Henri Gouges Wines Available Here Now
Domaine Henri Gouges Clos des Porrets Monopole, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2011 ($89.95) $79 special, 33 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “Bright medium red. Liqueur-like aromas of cherry and raspberry. Sweet red fruit and spice flavors are lifted by notes of rose petal, herbs and pepper. Has the freshness and balance to give early pleasure. Finishes with lingering pepper-and-spice perfume and very good length.” ST
Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges 2010 ($69.95) $44 special, 13 bottles available
Burghound 87-89 points “Here too there is mild reduction that renders the nose difficult to read. There is by contrast good freshness and punch to the supple middle weight flavors where the supporting tannins are unusually fine, especially for the appellation, all wrapped in a lingering finish where only a trace of rusticity surfaces. A good if not distinguished villages.” BH
Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges 2011 375ML ($.95) $33 special, 8 half-bottles available
Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges 2011 ($69.95) $55 special, 23 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 87-89 points “Good bright, deep red. Strong animal reduction along with black and red fruits on the nose. Silky and supple for a Nuits villages owing to ripe acidity, with a lovely restrained sweetness to its dark fruit flavors. Finishes with suave tannins and good breadth and length. Very nicely balanced.” ST
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chaignots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2010 ($89.95) $64 special, 24 bottles available
Burghound 88-91 points “Reduction. The round, supple and already readily accessible medium-bodied flavors possess subtle spice notes before the expected punch and focus arrives on the finish where everything immediately tightens up on the mouth coating finish. This is one of those wines that will very likely drink well all of its life.”BH
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chaignots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2011 ($99.95) $79 special, 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 89-91 points “Bright medium red. Precise aromas and flavors of blackberry, violet, licorice, minerals and musky chocolate. Juicy and sharply delineated, with noteworthy intensity of flavor. Spreads out nicely and vibrates on the long, firm finish.” ST
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chenes Carteaux, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2010 ($79.95) $59 special, 21 bottles available
Burghound 89-92 points “Reduction. This is also quite supple and relatively forward but the middle weight flavors retain good delineation and excellent complexity on the persistent finish. This is presently on the tangy side though I attribute this more to the presence of substantial amounts of gas rather than under ripe phenolics. This should amply reward 10 to 12 years of cellar time.”BH
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chenes Carteaux, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2011 ($79.95) $69 special, 33 bottles available
Burghound 89-92 points “A discreet touch of wood surround the ripe and well-layered mix of red berry fruit scents that are liberally laced with earth and underbrush nuances. There is good ripeness to the suave, even seductive middle weight flavors that possess really lovely depth on the persistent, balanced and harmonious finish. This is really quite good and worth considering.” BH
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Pruliers, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2011 ($99.95) $89 special, 21 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Bright medium red. Reticent high-toned aromas of slightly jammy red fruits and earth. Sweet and ripe; richer and deeper than the Porrets Saint-Georges, with silky red cherry, currant and spice flavors enlivened by pungent peppery acidity. Nicely balanced, round wine with good buffering extract.” ST
Domaine Ostertag
“…true quality is that which succeeds in surprising and moving us. It is not locked inside a formula. Its essence is subtle (subjective) and never rational. It resides in the unique, the singular, but it is ultimately connected to something more universal. A great wine is one in which quality is contained. Such a wine will necessarily be uncommon and decidedly unique because it cannot be like any other, and because of this fact it will be atypical, or only typical of itself.” -André Ostertag in Inspiring Thirst
A pioneer, a revolutionary winemaker, an environmentalist… so many terms can be used to describe André Ostertag, the owner and operator of his family’s 14 hectare Alsacian domaine. After training in Burgundy, he drastically improved estate practices by introducing such grape-growing and winemaking techniques as reducing yields and converting to biodynamic.
He produces three levels of wines: fruit-driven, terroir-driven (Vins de Pierre) and time-driven. The Vins de Pierre include single-vineyard bottlings from the Fronholz vineyard, Heissenberg vineyard and the Muenchberg Grand Cru vineyard. Fronholz has white sand and quartz soils, and all varietals except the Pinot Gris are sourced from vines over 40 years old. These wines show the most minerality and acidity, and are more reserved in youth. Heissenberg is composed of pink sandstone and granite with an average vine age of over 25 years. These wines are more forward and exotic from this warmer site. The Grand Cru vineyard, Muenchberg, has volcanic soils. It is named for the Cistercian monks that were the first to plant vines in the area. The vineyard produces wines of great elegance, purity and depth of flavors.
Domaine Ostertag Wines Arriving November 18th
Domaine Ostertag Gewurztraminer Vignoble d’E 2013 ($41.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Domaine Ostertag Muscat Fronholz 2012 ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Domaine Ostertag Pinot Blanc Barriques 2013 ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Domaine Ostertag Pinot Gris Fronholz 2012 ($59.95) $44 pre-arrival special
Domaine Ostertag Les Vieilles Vignes de Sylvaner 2012 ($24.95) $19 pre-arrival special
Domaine Ostertag Riesling Vignoble d’E 2012 ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Domaine Ostertag Riesling Fronholz 2012 ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Domaine Ostertag Riesling Heissenberg 2012 ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Domaine Ostertag Riesling Muenchberg, Alsace Grand Cru 2012 ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Domaine Ostertag Riesling Muenchberg, Alsace Grand Cru 2011 ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Ostertag’s 2011 Riesling Muenchberg mingles fresh, very ripe apple and pear with candied grapefruit and kumquat rinds, caramelized parsnip, caraway, and fresh ginger, all wreathed in peat-like and charred smokiness, and putting me in mind of a Riesling dosed with Gewurztraminer. There is an uncanny combination of body and high glycerol with brightness here, leading to a finish of exuberant juiciness, zesty cut, interactive complexity and formidable sheer grip. I would anticipate this meriting return visits though at least 2025.” WA
Domaine Ostertag Pinot Noir Vignoble d’E 2013 ($29.95) $27 pre-arrival special
Domaine Ostertag Pinot Noir Fronholz 2012 ($59.95) $44 pre-arrival special
Domaine Ostertag Wines Available Here Now
Domaine Ostertag Riesling Vignoble d’E 2011 ($29.95) $19 special, 3+ cases available
Wine Advocate 93 points “Ostertag’s 2011 Riesling Vignoble d’E displays a remarkable combination of lushness, glycerol-richness and textural tenderness with clarity and exuberantly bright refreshment. Representing as usual the first grapes of this variety that he picked, which was however not until September 30. Luscious white peach and honeydew melon are mingled with nut oils and saliva-drawing saline-sweet, iodine-tinged lobster shell reduction, garlanded in peony, and dusted with invigoratingly biting white pepper, leading to gloriously mouthwatering and vibrantly interactive finish. It’s hard to imagine a village-level Riesling getting much more exciting than this phenomenal value. Plan to revisit it through at least 2020.” WA
Domaine Ostertag Pinot Gris A360 G.C. 2008 ($67.95) $53 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “Winter pear and a hint of litchi; smoked meat and musky floral perfume follow the Ostertag 2008 Pinot Gris Muenchberg A360P from its striking nose onto a deeply-rich, glossy-textured palate, and into a long finish whose undulating layers of fruit, flower, meat, and mineral matter are tinged with vanilla. A faint hint of heat from 14.5% alcohol detracts only slightly from the effect of a wine unusually lush if less vivacious than usual for its vintage. This should show well for a half dozen or more years.” WA
Domaine Ostertag Fronholz Riesling 2010 ($44.95) $36 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The Ostertag 2010 Riesling Fronholz leads with bittersweet, perfumed iris; then delivers piquant walnut, juicy grapefruit and pip-tinged fresh apple on an expansive and glycerol-rich palate, finishing with vibrantly interactive complexity, eye-opening invigoration, mouthwatering salinity, as well as ample sheer refreshment. Plan to follow this beauty through at least 2022.”
Domaine Ostertag Riesling Heissenberg 2010 ($44.95) $36 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90 points “Lemon and kumquat deliver scents and flavors so brightly intense that one imagines wanting to don sunglasses to taste Ostertag’s 2010 Riesling Heissenberg. Oily in texture and exuberantly zesty while retaining an admirable degree of primary juiciness, this bottling finishes with forceful intensity as befits what went before, though along with a bright glow of citrus oils is generated just a bit of alcoholic heat. While not notable for its complexity or refinement, it’s impossible not to be impressed with this bottling, and it should be fascinating to witness what comes of it through at least 2018.”
Domaine Ostertag Pinot Noir Fronholz 2010 ($49.95) $41.90 special, 9 bottles available
Importer note: Fronholz vineyard. Vines average 40+ years old, soil is White Sand, Quartz, Clay, Marl
Louis Jadot – 2012s – Arriving Next Week
“Our aim is to express the true nature of Burgundy through our wines, a terroir that can be both proud of its past and optimistic about its future.” – Maison Louis Jadot
Maison Louis Jadot was founded in 1859 by the Jadot family, beginning their estate with the Clos des Ursules vineyard still in the family’s posession to this day. A significant core of Jadot’s domaine vines were assembled some 60 years prior to the formation of Maison Jadot, this holding of eleven grand and premier cru vineyards totaling about 16 hectares were all left to the Jadot family and have been a part of the Jadot estate ever since. These original domaine holdings are highlighted on their respective bottle labels as Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot.
Today, Jadot is one of the largest winemaking and negotiant houses in the world, with over 100 various vineyard holdings throughout Burgundy, Beaujolais, and Macon. After the death of the last male members of the family, long-time manager André Gagey took over running the business which was subsequently purchased by the Koch family, owners of Jadot’s US importers, Kobrand. The company is today run by Pierre-Henry Gagey, who maintains Jadot with a team of 70 people, including the house’s winemaker as of 2010, Frederic Barnier. Together, this team works to maintain the Jadot ideology of expressing the true nature of Burgundy’s wines, guaranteeing quality throughout their whole range. Vinification balances tradition and technology, focusing on the truest expression of each wine’s terroir, with restrained use of new oak to allow the pure flavors of the wine to show.
2012 in Burgundy, like many vintages of the past decade, promised the worst and came through with the best. Though yields are low, making these sought after reds and whites even more difficult to find, 2012 is looking to be another great year for Burgundy, offering up glamorous reds and superbly concentrated and intense whites. Variation in style and flavor profile are to be expected as Jadot’s holdings run the expanse of Burgundy, but there is one consistency in Jadot’s winemaking: value. Whether a Grand Cru or village level bottling, Jadot’s prides itself on producing the top quality level in every area they grow or source from.
Jadot 2012 – Wines Arriving Next Week
White Burgundy
Louis Jadot Chassagne Montrachet Cote de Beaune 2012 ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
From the Winery “This traditional vinification in oak casks brings forth the rich, plump fruit and full body of the wine, which shows a vigorous, aromatic bouquet and persistent, earthy finish.
These great wines should be kept for special meals : foie gras, entrées and fish in cream sauces, fine charcuterie and white meats in rich sauces.”
Louis Jadot Puligny Montrachet Cote de Beaune 2012 ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
From the winery “The wines of Puligny Montrachet are generally characterised by greater firmness and depth than those of Meursault, and by greater refinement and delicacy than those of Chassagne. They are characterised by very distinctive aromas : almond, fern, exotic fruit, amber and white flowers. His acidity in the mouth is rather subtle. They can be kept between 8 and 12 years.These great wines are destined to honour Haute Cuisine as wonderful shellfish cooked in bouillon, creamed and poached fish, poultry liver pâtés. Also with the tastes of very strong-smelling cheeses : Munster and mature Comté.”
Louis Jadot Morgeot Clos de la Chapelle Monopole Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru 2012 ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
From the Winery “The Chassagne Montrachet 1er cru “Morgeot” Clos de la chapelle’ is a very well balanced wine, showing us a lot of concentrated aromas of honey, white fruit and flowers. This wine is full bodied, powerful and rich. It should be kept for special meals like foie gras, fish in cream sauces, shellfish and white meats in rich sauces.”
Louis Jadot Clos de la Garenne Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Cote de Beaune 2012 ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
From the Winery “This wine is full and generous and at the same time elegant wine, with nice aromas of dry grass. This great white wine can accompany shellfish cooked in a court-bouillon, poached fish, poultry, liver pâtés, and cheese such as Comté.”
Louis Jadot Puligny Montrachet Les Referts 1er Cru Cote de Beaune 2012 ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2012 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Referts has a poised, mineral nose that displays good intensity at this early stage. The palate is nicely balanced with a fine line of acidity, hints of tangerine and spice, leading to a nicely composed, vibrant finish. This is a mild mannered but well-crafted Puligny.”
From the winery “The Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Referts” is rich, less tight than “les Combetes” with various smells of fruit. This great white wine is destined to honour haute cuisine : shellfish cooked in a court-bouillon, creamed and poached fish, poultry liver pâtés, ripe cheeses like Munster and mature Comté.”
Louis Jadot Chevalier- Montrachet Les Demoiselles Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru 2012 ($479.95) $399 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2012 Chevalier-Montrachet Les Demoiselles Grand Cru has a strict, aristocratic, stony bouquet that is taut and focused – no messing about here. The palate is very intense on the entry with a mineral core wrapped up in precise orange zest and spicy notes that fan out sensually across the slightly saline finish. This is a Chevalier that you have to think about, unfurling in the glass, surely with hidden facets that will be revealed with age. This is a regal grand cru.”
From the winery “Maison Louis Jadot produces limited quantities of this grand cru, which in many vintages equals or surpasses Le Montrachet in concentration and complexity. Its bright, golden colour and penetrating fragrance of toast and honey predict the rich, mellow fruit flavours, velvety elegance and intense finish of this wine of exceptional grace and breed.
This wine best suits turbot, monkfish, scallops with white truffles, roasted lobster, grilled foie gras, braised veal, free range chicken ”
Louis Jadot Domaine des Heritiers Louis Jadot Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru Cote de Beaune 2012 ($219.95) $159 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2012 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, which comes from Les Pougets (the same as the red), has a bewitching floral, mineral-laden bouquet with flinty scents that should become develop once bottled. The palate is nicely balanced with a tense, yet slightly mellifluous entry. There is a fine bead of acidity here that cuts through the leesy, citrus fruit. The finish is mild-mannered but nicely focused. Very fine.”
From the winery “Corton Charlemagne is powerful, rich, and mineral with an intense flavour of fruits and flowers and spicy aromas of pepper and cinnamon. It goes very well with haute cuisine, fish and shellfish, white meat and poultry with cream sauces.”
Louis Jadot Batard Montrachet Grand Cru Cote de Beaune 2012 ($359.95) $279 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2012 Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru has a richer, more tropical-scented bouquet compared to the Bienvenue. The palate is smooth and rounded, rich and mellifluous in the mouth with a long, seductive finish that needs just a little more tension and poise.”
From the winery “Bâtard Montrachet is a full bodied wine, rich and powerful. It stuns the drinker with intense flavor of almonds, ripe apple, white flowers, honey and spices. In addition, the length in the mouth is remarkable. Batard Montrachet is the perfect partner for elegant dining: foie gras, appetizers, lobsters, scallops. ”
Louis Jadot Le Montrachet Grand Cru Cote de Beaune 2012 ($699.95) $599 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 94-97 points , Wine Advocate 92-94 points “There are five barrels of the 2012 Montrachet Grand Cru in 2012 compared to the usual ten. The nose is surprisingly reticent at first, opening gradually in the minerality poking its head from under the covers. Coming back after three minutes, the aromatics are accelerating away. The palate is very well-balanced as one would hope, very focused with subtle, spicy notes under the carapace of citrus fruit.”
From the winery “Le Montrachet has a very nice, bright and shiny gold colour. It is a complex and powerful wine. Its comparable depth, intense fruit elegance, and layers of complex, textural richness, reflected in a sublime bouquet reminiscent of honey toast, culminate with a persistent finish. This wine best suits « haute cuisine » : crustacés à la nage’, poached fish in cream sauce, liver pâtés.”
Red Burgundy
Louis Jadot Cotes de Nuits Village Le Vaucrains 2012 ($41.95) $37 pre-arrival special
From the winery “Côte de Nuits-Villages « Le Vaucrain » is silky and shows a nice colour. The tanins are elegant. When it is young it has aromas of little red berries and liquorice. It matches very well red meat, grilled or roasted as well as cheese. In some tannic vintages it can even allow game.”
Louis Jadot Beaune 1er Cru Les Bressandes Cote de Beaune 2012 ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
From the Winery “This Premier Cru is an elegant wine, quite full in body with red fruit aromas, spices and vanilla notes. It will perfectly accompany delicate meat dishes as well as most cheeses.”
Louis Jadot Gevrey Chambertin Cotes de Nuits 2012 ($59.95) $51.90 pre-arrival special
From the winery “Jadot Gevrey-Chambertin shows the qualities characteristic of the commune : deep color, with a multi-faceted berry and red fruit bouquet, a full, tannic structure and mellow texture carry into a lasting finish. This powerful and perfumed wine require elaborate and strong-tasting food : lamb, boeuf bourguignon, game pâtés, strong cheeses.”
Louis Jadot Chambolle Musigny Cote de Nuits 2012 ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
From the winery “Louis Jadot produces a deeply coloured wine which develops a red berries fruits – and undergrowth aromas when older. Full bodied, delicate this wine has a silky finish. The soil is responsible for Chambolle Musigny’s exceptional delicacy and a character not possessed by any other wine of the Côte de Nuits. It will perfectly match with delicate dishes, not too spicy like red meat, game and quite strong cheeses.”
Louis Jadot Savigny les Beaune Clos des Guettes 1er Cru Cote de Beaune 2012 ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 89-91 points “The 2012 Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Guettes comes from the lower slopes of the clos. It demonstrates very good intensity on the nose with rounded, almost plush dark plum and raspberry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, good substance. Overall, you might describe this as a ‘solid’ Savigny that attests to the low yields. Excellent.”
From the winery “Maison Louis Jadot produces a red Savigny les Beaune of medium-deep colour. The bouquet is elegant, powerful with blackcurrant and cherry aromas. Supple, nicely tannic, it has a fine structure, producing a feminine image. This wine will be perfect with any light dishes, red or white meat or feathered game. Highly flavoured sauce will be perfect with an old wine.”
Louis Jadot Domaine des Heritiers Louis Jadot Beaune Clos des Ursules Monopole 1er Cru Cote de Beaune 2012 ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2012 Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Ursules is one of their premier holdings with a propensity to age with class. It has a fragrant, more floral bouquet with fine delineation – perhaps more feminine than the other Beaune premier crus. The palate is ripe and generous on the entry. This has good substance and breeding, the quality of the terroir really coming through on the persuasive finish that lingers long in the mouth. This Clos des Ursules is brimming over with confidence and class. Bravo!”
From the winery “Beaune Premier Cru “Clos des Ursules” is a full, firm and rich wine. It is fine, with a slightly earthy bouquet and long, lush finish, converge in a wine which perfectly balances elegance and power. It works harmoniously with delicate meat dishes as well as most cheeses.”
Louis Jadot Domaine des Heritiers Louis Jadot Corton Pougets Grand Cru Cote de Beaune 2012 ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 93-95 points “Black cherries, plums, smoke, licorice, new leather and cloves jump from the glass as the 2012 Corton Pougets shows off its personality. Rich, concentrated and voluptuous to the core, the 2012 is unusually opulent in this vintage. The tannins are nearly buried by the pure resonance of the fruit. This is going to be a fascinating wine to follow.”
From the winery “This exceptional site yields a wine of sumptuous brilliance and complexity, powerfully structured and richly fruited. The aromatic Pinot Noir bouquet and deep, layered berry and oak flavours culminate in a seductive, persistent finish. The red wines will complement roast meat or meat in a highly-seasoned sauce, game and most cheeses.”
Louis Jadot Nuits St Georges Les Boudots 1er Cru Cotes de Nuits 2012 ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 91-94 points “Healthy dark red. Lovely lift to the complex aromas of red and black fruits, minerals, violet and licorice. Suave on entry, then fine-grained, vinous and brisk, boasting terrific mineral energy and peppery lift to the flavors of blackberry, flowers and menthol. This wonderfully silky, shapely wine finishes with noble tannins and captivating mineral and floral perfume.”
From the winery “Maison Louis Jadot produces a characteristically firm and full-bodied Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru « Les Boudots ». Rich and vigorous on the palate, with a deep, pungent bouquet, it shows considerable dimension and structure, acquiring a mellow depth and softness with bottle age. It will be a good partner for red wine sauces, marinated or roasted game, medium tasting cheeses.”
Louis Jadot Corton Clos du Roi Grand Cru Cote de Beaune 2012 ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 89-91 points “The 2012 Corton Clos de Roi Grand Cru has a straightforward, tightly knit bouquet with seaweed-tinged red berry fruit that lift nicely from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a succulent entry. There is plenty of fruite here that probably belies the structure on the finish. This is a ‘solid’, dependable Clos du Roi.”
From the winery “Corton Clos du Roi is very aromatic, very subtle and elegant, full of breed. This Grand Cru is the perfect companion to red meat and game.”
Louis Jadot Vosne Romanee Les Suchots 1er Cru Cotes des Nuits 2012 ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2012 Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Suchots has a typically more floral and feminine bouquet, erring more towards the red fruit spectrum: raspberry, crushed strawberry and Morello emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a rounded, fleshy opening. There is good weight and extract here, although it remains linear, preferring not to fan out on the finish, but remain ‘correct’ and perhaps ‘conservative’. Again, this will require 5 to 6-years in the cellar.”
From the winery “It will be perfect with game, meats in sauce and strong cheeses.
Typically, « Suchots » combines the richness of Le Richebourg with the delicacy of Romanée Saint Vivant. Concentrated and velvety, yet with a restrained elegance and refinement, it marries ripe fruit and tannins to notes of exotic spices and oak, with a subtle, perfumed bouquet and extended silky finish.”
Louis Jadot Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru Cote de Nuits 2012 ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 91-94 points “Good bright, deep red. Very ripe aromas of black cherry, licorice, dark chocolate and espresso; less floral than the Gevrey premier crus that preceded it in my tasting. Backward but brisk, with good minty lift and energy to the liqueur-like black cherry, menthol and spice flavors. For all its ripeness, this wine also shows an enticing coolness. Finishes with substantial ripe tannins, very good cut and plenty of structure to support a slow evolution in bottle.”
From the winery “The Clos-Vougeot is a wine of power and depth which retains an elegant complexity It has a full fragrant and distinctly floral bouquet. Maison Louis Jadot “Clos Vougeot” will accompany “haute cuisine” dishes. With its delicate yet powerful aromas, one would choose red meat, roasted or served with a sauce, roasted pheasant, leg of wild boar or venison and ripe cheeses which are not too strong : Camembert, Brillat-Savarin, Citeaux.”
Louis Jadot Gevrey Chambertin Clos St Jacques 1er Cru Cotes de Nuits 2012 ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2012 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jacques has a fragrant bouquet: floral at first with touches of violet, later revealing a stony scents, hints of chalk dust and flint surfacing with time. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins and impressive focus. It feels composed in the mouth with good matiere, yet it remains sophisticated and tense right to the finish. There is nothing flash here, just pure quality.”
From the winery “The Gevrey-Chambertin « Clos Saint Jacques » is a fullbodied and complex wine. It shows a broad palet of aromas, both powerful and elegant, with an impressive length in the mouth. It will perfectly match game, meat in sauce, mushrooms and strong cheese. This wine really comes from a very original place giving a particular complexity to the Pinot Noir grape.”
Louis Jadot Echezeaux Grand Cru Cotes de Nuits 2012 ($279.95) $219 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2012 Echezeaux Grand Cru has a sensual, expressive, kaleidoscopic bouquet with wonderful vibrant blackberry, cassis and blueberry scents infused with minerals. The palate is beautifully balanced with fine, sappy red berry fruit, a citric thread of racy acidity that neatly offsets the extravagant finish. There is plenty to savour on the vibrant, vivacious Echezeaux.”
From the winery “Louis Jadot Echezeaux is a solid, well constituted, powerful as well as a delicate wine. It develops fine and intense Pinot Noir fruity aromas as well as spices notes. It is very long in the mouth. It will be perfect with roasts, game, meats in sauce and fine cheeses.”
Louis Jadot Bonnes Mares Grand Cru Cotes de Nuits 2012 ($419.95) $349 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93-95 points,Wine Spectator 93-96 points “The 2012 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru, which underwent a tardy malolactic fermentation, is surprisingly well behaved on the nose strict at first and preferring to unfold in piecemeal fashion to reveal saturnine black fruit laced with inkwell and Indian spice scents. The palate is very well balanced packed full of dense black fruit and struck through with a keen, almost racy acidity. The finish is very solid and structured for Bonnes-Mares that I suspect will age extremely well. In its youth, I suspect this will be impressive more than pleasurable…at least for the first decade of its life.”
From the winery “Louis Jadot produces a wine of great distinction, with a powerful yet refined perfume of violets and red berries and a finely balanced, fruit richness on the palate. The subtle tannins carry into a prolonged finish. It will perfectly match with delicate dishes not too spicy (red meat in sauce, cheeses).”
Louis Jadot Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru Cotes de Nuits 2012 ($419.95) $359 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2012 Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru is more mild-mannered and serious on the nose when compared to the Echezeaux–poker-faced black fruit hand in hand with tertiary aromas. The palate is very refined with silky smooth tannins. This is very harmonious with impressive weight and sensuality towards the finish that fans out with more precision and grace than the Echezeaux, retaining tight control at every moment. Excellent.”
From the winery “With a deep colour, Louis Jadot produces a powerful wine with intense red fruits and spices aromas. It is a structured wine with a very nice balance. It will perfectly match with sophisticated dishes like red meat “in sauce” (boeuf bourguignon), marinated game or quite strong cheeses.”
Louis Jadot Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru Cote de Nuits 2012 ($479.95) $399 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “The 2012 Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru, which like the Chapelle-Chambertin is domaine-owned, has a more voluminous, multi-faceted bouquet with engaging incense and mineral notes infusing the beautifully defined black fruits. The palate is very well balanced on the entry with more tension and nervosite than the Chambertin, building effortlessly towards a quite regal, sophisticated finish whose mineralite lingers long in the mouth. Outstanding.”
From the winery “Louis Jadot produces a rich and sumptuous wine with an extraordinary balance of power, elegance and finesse. The brilliant, brocaded texture finishes with a long, lingering note of berries and oak. It will perfectly match sophisticated dishes like meats en sauce’, game and strong cheeses.”
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