Rose of the Day!
Trending Wines of the Week
Burgundy of the Week
Chapoutier’s Ermitage Le Pavillon: A Reference Hermitage
The Rioja Wine of the Vintage?
Is Vincent Paris the Next “It” Winemaker?
Vouvray, and Dry – Two Masters at Work
Hot Temps, Hot Deals: What Will You Find in Our July Sale?
Which Jamet Do You Prefer?
“Seriously Classy for the Price” – 2015 Chezeaux Bourgogne
July Sale Recap
Tavel rosés have the enviable ability to pair with almost anything served alongside them. Their body and structure can go toe to toe against anything grilled or ‘qued and their complexity elevates any patio sipping experience. Pop some on arrival and save a few bottles for the holidays!
The 2017 was reviewer Joe Czerwinski’s top pink pick in the most recent Wine Advocate.
Domaine Lafond Tavel Roc-Epine Rose, Rhone 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Domaine Lafond Tavel Roc-Epine Rose, Rhone 2017 750ML ($249.95) $189 pre-arrival special (that’s only $15.75/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Advocate 93 points “A dependable producer of Tavel and Lirac (and Châteauneuf-du-Pape), the Lafonds have turned out a spice-driven 2017 Tavel that’s bottled under screwcap. Hints of allspice and clove accent watermelon and red berry flavors, while the palate is medium to full-bodied and richly textured, leading into a long, silky finish. Bravo!”
Hot Wines of the Week
Mousse Fils L’Extra Or d’Eugene Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($54.95) $44 special
Case-6 Mousse Fils L’Extra Or d’Eugene Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($299.95) $239 special (that’s only $39.83/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Terry Theise note “80-20 Meunier-PN, disg. 3/2017, a “superior” NV with longer tirage from older material (solera 2003/2012), I am offering this extremely dry Champagne both for those pathologically averse to RS and also to show Cédric’s “serious” side. It has a certain depth and is certainly aligned with the Zeitgeist.”
Big, bold, rich and juicy.
Domaine Font Sarade Vacqueyras Premier Vin, Rhone 2015 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Case-12 Domaine Font Sarade Vacqueyras Premier Vin, Rhone 2015 750ML ($299.95) $259 special (that’s only $21.58/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “My favorite in the line, the 2015 Vacqueyras Le Premier Vin checks in as 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre that spent 14 months in French oak. It’s a killer bottle of wine and has lots of blackberries, cassis, smoked herbs and licorice aromas and flavors. Ripe, sexy and opulent, with low acidity and sweet tannin, drink it over the coming 7-8 years.”
Lumpp is one of the kings of Givry and this wine, at $20 less than usual, is a steal.
Domaine Francois Lumpp A Vigne Rouge, Givry Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($49.95) $29 special
Case-12 Domaine Francois Lumpp A Vigne Rouge, Givry Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($399.95) $319 special (that’s only $26.58/bottle!)
Grapelive 92 points “This Domaine is getting a lot of buzz for value, and I was very excited to try this Givry by Francois Lumpp.…This Lumpp A Vignes Rouge cuvee [is] a single vineyard Premier Cru Givry. Even though it’s a lesser known place, Burgundy fans have long looked here for purity, character and especially value, and with this Francois Lumpp you can see why. Kermit Lynch now imports Lumpp, who was founded in 1991 and produce just about 4,000 cases annually. Every wine François makes is from Givry, and interestingly from vineyards that he planted and nurtured–something that is exceedingly rare in Burgundy today…. This 2013 is astonishingly fresh and deeply flavored with a rich dark garnet/ruby hue and a vivid grapey nose that leads to a textured palate that shines with blackberry, plum, bramble berry and cherry fruits along with a streak of mineral, earth and briar adding sweet woody notes along with hint of tobacco, tangy currant, minty herb and apple skin. The tannins are supple, but firmer than you’d expect of a wine of this vintage and there’s a lot of pop from vital acidity, while being rather lush and dense. Certainly this Burgundy has ages to go and it’s a huge bargain, best with robust cuisine, and it must be said it has resolved almost all the oak making for a real entertaining and stylish wine. Best from 2019 to 2026.”
“a spectacular wine from Selbach-Oster!”
Selbach-Oster ‘Schmitt’ Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling, Mosel 2014 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special
Grapelive 95+ points “The brilliant and exotic Schmitt comes from the steep slate hill above the church, set back from the Mosel. There is great southern exposure here and it less affected by noble rot, a big plus in 2014. It allowed this rich and lush wine to remain crystalline and focused. This is one of the great wines of the vintage! Johannes Selbach’s top wines are not Trocken/Grosses Gewachs, but are single block wines from Cru sites. They are also heavy weighted, dense and medium sweet, but it is not about the sugar: it is all about the terroir and overall balance. These are wines of hedonism, power, textural pleasure and vitality, especially the Schmitt in 2014. It explores the boundaries of perfection in a fantastically difficult vintage. The was a savage thinning of the crop and a tiny window to get the grapes in to make this masterpiece from the old vines at Zeltinger Schlossberg. It is truly amazing with all the problems and heartbreak endured here that a wine of this quality and gorgeous detail managed to happen at all. Somehow this block come through and made one of the most glorious Riesling wines of the year. The 2014 Schmitt by Selbach-Oster starts with a sweet perfume. This wine shows white roses, dripping jasmine, hints of gardenia and tropical essences that lead to a full bodied, Auslese weight palate with apricot, green apple, lime and mango fruits leading the way along with a mix of spicy mineral and flinty stones, briny sea shore notes, soft honey decadence, creamy verbena and sweet peach flesh. The finish carries over the core of fruit and richness, but there is a burst of dynamic acidity and vibrancy. This is not a flabby wine and you are left with a dreamy/haunting impression with lingering tangerine sorbet, crushed stone and wet steeliness. This is fabulous Riesling and one you’ll want in the cellar. This has 100 Point potential and it will also drink well young. It already has poise and elegance, but should last two or three decades! Don’t be afraid of its sugar levels, it drinks like a lavish Grand Cru Corton-Charlemagne and is a spectacular wine from Selbach-Oster!”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Picked with 105° Oechsle, the 2014 Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Auslese Schmitt displays a stunning freshness and purity on the slightly spicy-toned nose, where stony and flinty flavors–but less botrytis flavors–are indicated compared to the Rotlay. Piquant and salty on the palate, with a nice grip and more purity and freshness, this is the finest and most piquant of the single parcel crus; the finish is as long as it is stimulatingly salty and grippy. White peach and nectarine flavors in the long aftertaste. Great Riesling.”
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Paje’, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Paje’, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($799.95) $699 special, (that’s only $58.25/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast 97 points– Cellar Selection “Forest berry, chopped mint, clove and new leather aromas take center stage on this elegant, full-bodied red. The savory, smooth palate doles out succulent red cherry, raspberry compote and licorice while vibrant acidity and tightly knit, refined tannins provide balance and support. It has great energy and is loaded with flavor but will be even better with a few more years aging. Drink 2020–2038.”
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Pajé is simply fabulous. Sweet floral notes soar from the glass as this deep, beautifully resonant Barbaresco shows off its compelling inner sweetness and total sense of poise. The flavors are deep yet fresh, with wonderful fragrance and impeccable balance throughout. A wine of total harmony, the 2013 is going to be nearly impossible to resist young. The 2013 is one of the best versions of the Pajé I can remember tasting.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Cherry, floral and wild herb aromas and flavors are the hallmarks of this elegant, tensile red. Silky, yet with plenty of tannins underneath, giving overall balance and length. Shows lovely freshness. Best from 2023 through 2036.”
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Muncagota’, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Muncagota’, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($669.95) $599 special (that’s only $49.92/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Like most of the wines in this lineup, the 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is quite potent. A rush of raspberry jam, wild flowers, white pepper and mint make a strong opening statement. Succulent and yet also structured, the Muncagota has so much to offer. It should be one of the first wines in this range to start opening up, although when that will happen exactly is hard to say.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Powerful yet underlined by racy acidity, driving the black cherry, black currant and mineral flavors. Menthol and tobacco notes add depth, keeping this intense. All the components are here, yet this will need time to really sing. Best from 2024 through 2040.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 94 points “You may remember that this wine was once called Moccagatta. Produttori del Barbaresco reverted to the local Piemontese spelling of the name in 2007 to stay consistent with the geographic mapping of local cru sites. The 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota stands apart from the nine other single-vineyard Riservas presented by Produttori del Barbaresco this vintage. Of these various wines, this is the most salty and savory. There is less primary fruit intensity here. The bouquet is laced with grilled rosemary and wild sage. This growing site absorbs loads of morning sunshine with southeast-facing exposures. The mouthfeel is characterized by dry tannins and very long, balsam-like persistence. Dried ginger and herbs appear on the menthol-like finish.”
Domaine Faiveley Les Saint-Georges, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2008 750ML ($129.95) $99 special, 24+ bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 92-94 points “Palish medium red. Medicinal red cherry, minerals, crushed stone, violet, rose petal and white pepper on the noble nose. Wonderfully silky and pure, with ineffable flavors of red fruits, spices, flowers and minerals. This is wonderfully delicate, and not a fleshy wine, yet saturates every square millimeter of the palate with flavor. The long, sweet, rising finish offers terrific cut and floral lift. Should make a worthy successor to the outstanding 2007, which also transcends its village. Hervet says that this will be bottled by hand, without filtration.”ST
A Reference Hermitage
The wines are definitely powerful, the Chapoutier trademark, but with a depth and levity to them that makes them engaging and refreshing. These are wines that have a magnetic field around them—dense and complex. They have all of the qualities one expects from Syrah and are frequently cited by winemakers as being the source of inspiration. Their “Le Pavillon” bottling comes from the most privileged part of the Hermitage vineyard and is remarkable, year in and out.
In other words, a touchstone producer, a touchstone wine.
In Stock Now
M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon, Rhone 2013 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 24+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 98+ points “The star of the show in 2013 is the 2013 Ermitage le Pavillon. Coming from the west and eastern edges of the Bessards lieu-dit and aged in 30% new French oak, its sensational black/blue color is followed by the awesome bouquet of cassis, smoked earth, graphite and caramelized meats that could come from no other terroir in the world. Full-bodied, massive, dense, sexy and with a liquid rock-like character that comes out with time in the glass, it has sweet tannin and a blockbuster finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. It needs 5-6 years of cellaring and will have 30-40 years of more of ultimate longevity.”
Rioja Wine of the Vintage?
In the chilly and challenging 2013 vintage, no Seleccion Especial or Prado Enea was made and grapes were painstakingly sorted to ensure the highest quality. All of the finest fruit at the estate was used for their ‘everyday’ wine – truly elevating it to an unheard of QPR, especially when we have it for the lowest price in the USA. Luis Gutierrez of the Wine Advocate claims that “it has to be one of the best wines in Rioja in 2013…”
When’s the next time the best wine in Rioja can be had for under $20?
In Stock Now:
“one of the best wines in Rioja in 2013”
Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2013 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2013 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
James Suckling 92 points “This is an excellent 2013 with such purity and finesse. Cherry, stone and light cedar aromas follow through to a full body, very fine tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Hints of cedar. It shows a focused energy. Drink now.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “Jorge Muga told me he’s very proud of their 2013 Reserva, which he considers the most challenging vintage he’s seen: cold, rain, botrytis, vigor, mud … horrible! They only produced this Reserva, there’s no Selección Especial Torre Muga or Prado Enea, and they even produced less than the average volume of this bottling. This is the year they introduced optical sorting for the grapes, and they reckon that really helped to achieve the quality of this wine. In this price range and volume, it has to be one of the best wines in Rioja in 2013. It has the classical Muga character, polished and drinkable.”
The average price is $28
The Next “It” Winemaker?
The 2016’s Arrive Friday
It’s pretty clear that Vincent Paris is the next “it” winemaker in the Northern Rhone. Working primarily in Cornas, the wines have everything we love about Northern Rhone Syrah packaged in a clean, direct style. He has the benefit of incredible vineyard material, too, as he now works the vineyards his uncle, Robert Michel, made famous. Stylistically, there’s definitely some of that old-school Michel rusticity, but overall, his wines are far more polished and in line with what we think of as good modern Cornas. Don’t look for new oak here, though there is an elegance about them that has always impressed us.
He makes several wines from Cornas and we’re pleased we get to offer the range—from the bistro-ready Granit 30 through the classic Granit 60 and the monumental “Geynale” made from 100 year old vines. (Incidentally, the “30” and “60” designations refer to vine age, soil type and slope of the vineyards, though finding out exactly which of these informs the number in what form seems to be a fool’s errand.) 2016 is a notable success in the Northern Rhone, producing wines that are classically proportioned but of impeccable purity. This is a vintage for Rhone fans to stock up on.
Arriving Friday:
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30, Rhone 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30, Rhone 2016 750ML ($419.95) $359 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92-94 points “(no new oak) Opaque ruby. Potent, mineral-accented dark berry scents are complicated by floral oil and peppery spice nuances. Smooth and seamless on the palate, offering gently sweet black raspberry, blueberry and violet pastille flavors that become livelier with air. Sappy and open-knit, closing with solid thrust, silky, even tannins and strong persistence.”
Jeb Dunnuck 91-93 points “Looking at the Cornas releases, the 2016 Cornas Granite 30 comes from the Patou and Saint Pierre lieux-dits and was completely destemmed before aging in a mix of barrels. It’s a ripe, vibrant beauty that’s overflowing with fruit. Blackberries, blueberries, violets, spring flowers and hints of minerality all give way to a full-bodied, unctuous effort that has good acidity and sweet tannin. It’s another no-brainer wine from this estate.”
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60, Rhone 2016 750ML ($69.95) $55 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Tasted from tank prior to bottling, the 2016 Cornas Granit 60 has the potential to eclipse the 2015. The nose is an exciting blend of flowers, minerals and fruit, while the palate is full-bodied and generous without the hardness or austerity of the 2015. This standout 2016 finishes long, plush and bright. With only about 5,000 bottles made, shrewd buyers will snap it up on release.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93-95 points “(no new oak) Inky ruby. Smoke-accented black and blue fruits, licorice and olive on the intensely perfumed nose. Plush, sweet and broad on the palate, offering sweet blackberry, cassis and spicecake flavors that are energized by a vein of juicy acidity. Shows excellent depth as well as energy and finishes extremely long and smooth; rounded tannins build steadily and add shape and gentle grip to the lush, creamy dark fruit.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93-95 points “The 2016 Cornas Granite 60 offers a deeper, richer, more profound profile. Blackcurrants, scorched earth, leather and bouquet garni notes all flow to a full-bodied, powerful 2016 that has terrific mid-palate depth and plenty of tannins. Nevertheless, the fruit and texture that’s the hallmark of this estate shine, and it’s going to drink nicely in its youth as well. This cuvée comes from the Patou, Les Mazards, and Sauman lieux-dit and slightly steeper slopes. It was 70% destemmed, aged in a mix of barrels, and there are just over 400 cases made.”
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas La Geynale, Rhone 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 95-97 points ” (vines over 100 years old vines and no new oak) Brilliant purple. A complex, expansive bouquet evokes fresh black and blue fruits, Asian spices, incense, smoky minerals and olive paste. Deeply concentrated yet lively boysenberry, cherry pie, spicecake and bitter chocolate flavors are underscored by a building mineral quality. Shows a compelling blend of depth and litheness and finishes on a youthfully tannic note, displaying remarkable clarity and insistent mineral character. I don’t think I have ever tasted as profound a wine as this one from Vincent Paris, who seems to be one of the most underrated and under-the-radar producers in the northern Rhône.”
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “There are only about 3,000 bottles of the stunning 2016 Cornas la Geynale. Tasted from tank prior to bottling, it looks every bit the equal of the 2015—oozing with concentrated purple fruit and crushed stone but without that vintage’s massive tannins. The 100-year-old vines Paris works with at this site face south and achieved terrific ripeness, making the wine approachable relatively young.”
Two Masters at Work
We aim to fix that—and are highlighting the dry wines from the top two estates in Vouvray. Huet’s wines have more fruit and are often a bit softer on release, with the Le Haut Lieu as the most approachable young and the Le Mont the firmest. Foreau’s sole bottling is steelier still, a coiled bunch of tension and minerality. No matter what you pick, you’re in for a treat—these are some very special wines.
In Stock Now:
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($47.95) $39 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Green plum and verbena notes lead the way for now, with a flash of quinine on the finish. This is juicy, but still a bit compact overall, with the core of ample pear, quince and ginger flavors in reserve. Just wait for everything to knit together and stretch out, as the purity and length are there. Best from 2018 through 2028.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($229.95) $179 special (that’s only $29.84/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 90 points “From the nine-hectare original vineyard of the Huet family, the 2016 Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Sec shows a citrus color followed by an intense, fresh and chalky-mineral bouquet with lemon and some blossom aromas. Aged in demi-muids and bottled in April 2017, this is a medium-bodied, round, elegant, remarkably lush and delicate Chenin Blanc from calcareous clay soils. The residual sugar of seven grams per liter gives a beautiful exotic fruitiness and balance, the fine tannins a good structure. The 2016 is truly a pleasant Vouvray that already drinks perfectly. Tasted February 2018.”
Jancis Robinson 17/20 “Already has the lanolin character very prominently on the nose, then fairly light-bodied fruit with a ripe, tropical citrus character, plus a bit of peach. Perhaps a little brief, but has lovely typical Chenin funkiness. Drink 2017-2022.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($47.95) $39 special
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($269.95) $219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 93 points “Bright and pure, with delightful pear, green almond and green plum notes laced with a fennel streak, ending with finely beaded acidity and a mineral echo through the finish. Very refined. Drink now through 2027.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “Huet’s 2016 Vouvray Clos du Bourg Sec is clear, pure, fine and fresh on the chalky-mineral, delicately fruity nose. Medium-bodied, round and fruity with good mineral grip and tension but also a charming sweet creaminess, the 2016 is a very elegant and pretty complex Chenin Blanc from the chalky soils of the Clos de Bourg. The salty, persistent finish is aromatic, lush and well structured, indicating a certain sweetness, good grip and very promising aging potential. Tasted February 2018.”
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Sec, Loire 2015 750ML ($59.95) $44.50 special
Neal Rosenthal tasting note “Philippe feels that the 2015 Sec is better than the 2002, and perhaps approaching the great ‘96 Sec. It is a rich and powerful wine, holding 5 grams of residual sugar. Carried mostly by its intense mineral backbone, it presents quite expansive in the mouth. The fruit is quite tart, which is typical of this wine, with apple skin notes, a salty and tonic mineral texture that gives the wine considerable length. Currently the nose is rather closed and shows a flinty white-pepper note. Foreau recommends waiting ideally about seven years for this wine to reach its full potential.”
What Will You Find in Our July Sale?
Bereche’s sublime cuvee: based on a perpetual reserve started in ’85. A staff favorite. Only 16 magnums available!
Bereche et Fils Reflet d’Antan Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L ($299.95) Was $249, Now $199 Clearance Price
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The flagship NV (2012) Reflet d’Antan is quite rich and intense, yet it also maintains striking translucence. Dried flowers, herbs and spices add aromatic nuance throughout, but, as is often the case, Reflet d’Antan is a wine of texture and feel above all else. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. Disgorged December 2016.”
Disgorgement date: 12/2016
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $246.99
Belle Glos ‘Clark & Telephone’ Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley 2016 1.5L ($99.95) Was $79, Now $69 Clearance Price
Winery note “The color is a deep scarlet-red with lush aromas of blackberry bramble, nutmeg, and hint of caramel. The wine is fresh and exuberant in the mouth with sumptuous strawberry jam, ripe black cherry, cranberry and warm gingerbread. It is perfectly balanced with refreshing acidity, velvety tannins and a hint of toffee carrying through its long finish. When asked to describe this wine, I simply say it’s like a taste of Christmas, all year long!”
Merry Edwards Olivet Lane Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 2014 750ML ($99.95) Was $66, Now $59 Clearance Price, 18 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92 points “Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2014 Pinot Noir Olivet Lane offers an earthy nose of underbrush, moss, dusty soil and truffles over notes of crushed Bing cherries and cranberries, plus a waft of bay leaves. Medium-bodied, elegant and fresh in the mouth, the red berry and earth flavors are well-supported by chewy tannins and give a nice long finish.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $77.43
The average price is $83
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2010 Barbaresco Sorì Paitin Vigne Vecchie hits the palate with fabulous depth and intensity. Savory herbs, smoke, tobacco, incense, menthol and licorice race out of the glass in an intense, structured Barbaresco loaded with class, energy and pure power. There is plenty to look forward to, once the tannins soften a bit. The 2010 has closed down pretty dramatically since the last time I tasted it, about a year ago. Readers will have to be patient. The 2010 spent a total of 30 months in cask.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “Very deep garnet-purple in color, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and 4% Malbec, is scented of red currants, blackberries and wild blueberries with touches of olives and underbrush. Medium-bodied, tightly wound and packed with tense red and black fruits, it has a fine-grained texture and savory finish. 9,600 cases were produced.”
Keep reading for all of the deals on the July Sale!
Jean-Luc Steps Up in 2015
The flagship of the bunch is his ‘Terrasses’ bottling of Cote Rotie. This is his share of the family heritage, a wine that rivals his brother’s as the most emblematic of the AOC. Like the Domaine Jamet bottling, this is a pretty wine with considerable power that’s hidden underneath more charm. This is a wine that’s as scarce as it is good, though, so grab it while you see it! Arriving next week is the 2015, a new benchmark for the estate.
We also have some of his entry level wines in stock—a great chance to dip your toes into a new domaine and see what the house style is all about (hint: very similar, but slightly more modern, relative to his brother). They represent really delicious wines that have all of the flavor and character of Cote Rotie with a much lower price tag. These are very much the Cote-Rotie equivalents of Clape’s Vin des Amis in quality and price. They also make a really wonderful white from Marsanne, Roussane and Viognier.
Arriving August 3rd:
Jean-Luc Jamet Cote Rotie ‘Terrasses’, Rhone 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
John Livingstone-Learmonth – DrinkRhone.com 5 stars “Shiny dark red, a handsome robe. The bouquet is bold, on beef stock, iron, dense black berries, has a poised, integral sweetness, airs of raspberry liqueur, oak smoke. It’s a solid start. The palate has the theme of mineral well placed through it, a lot of mountain of matter, thickening towards the finish. It holds sparkling and dense fruits – cassis, soaked cherries. It is vibrant and very full; there is real flair off its sun-dialled deck. It has great juice; it’s a treat to taste this. Decanting advised. “It has a lot of black fruits, a belle freshness to underpin it; it’s very long,”
In Stock Now:
Jean-Luc Jamet Cotes du Rhone Blanc, Rhone 2015 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
60% Marsanne, 20% Roussanne, 20% Viognier
John Livingston-Learmonth 4 stars “shiny, nice full yellow robe. The nose is starting to evolve, shows white tobacco, ginger, quince plums, toast, bears good freshness. The palate links well to the nose via a fresh, minted spine, spearmint, and a good spring in its step. There’s some oak toast on the end. There is worthy coolness on the palate. This is very enjoyable, has status. This is well blended, can integrate further, is up to St Jo blanc standard. 13°. This will be good with pork. “This year I used one new cask with two young ones, so it was marked by oak, but that is absorbing. It will go well with white meats, crudités,” J-L Jamet.”
John Livingston-Learmonth 4 stars “dark red. The nose is becoming assured, settling, has floral airs peeping through, fat and cooked plums, nice ripeness, a good sphere. There is a Pinot side to it, with hints of oak, wild strawberries. This has an easy attack, bears squeezy and rounded red fruits such as strawberry, a willing orb to please. The tannins are discreet, bring an extra layer with the oak, so there is a gummy nature late on before ending on light menthol clarity. This is notably charming, with tinkly, rightly simple fruit at its centre. 12.5°. 2028-29 Mar 2018”
Jean-Luc Jamet Cote Rotie ‘Terrasses’, Rhone 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
VinopolNote: Made from vineyards originally belonging to Domaine Jamet (and kept in his split from the domaine). The 2013 is the first vintage for Jean-Luc Jamet and a promising start that shows the class of the terroir he’s working with.
Jean-Luc Jamet ‘Valine’, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes 2014 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
John Livingston-Learmonth 4 stars “this is the second of the two bottlings, in September, a year after the harvest: has a safe bet red robe. Mulberry, cherry liqueur airs, a spot of eau de vie and violet perfume feature on the nose. This is tight, mineral, a bit on the wire, but aided by floral/rose, primrose touches. The finish has dry notes, vegetal. The nose leads the palate – it is aromatic, quietly round. The palate is more challenging, spare. “There is white tobacco on the palate,” Jean-Luc Jamet. 2022-23 Mar 2018”
Jean-Luc Jamet ‘Valine’, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes 2015 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
John Livingston-Learmonth 4 stars “dark red. Has a brewed, brothy aroma, sweet, crushed blackberry fruit with a hint of grilling, vegetal. The palate has iron, blood in its delivery, good black fruits with vigour and spark and real consecutive flow. There is commendable detail in the fruit. The aftertaste is salted. Cool and good. It’s a very good, Rock on Tommy vin de pays; the stems contribute good crunch – it’s well lifted. “it came together nice and steadily,” Jean-Luc Jamet. 12.5°. 2026-27 Mar 2018”
Grapelive Raves About Chezeaux’s Bourgogne
Grapelive 91 points “One Burgundy’s under the radar stars, Jérome Chézeaux follows historic guidelines using ultra traditional methods in the cellar, he’s a genuine and studied “non-interventionist” employing natural indigenous yeasts after a cold maceration his fermentations last 2 to 3 weeks with about a 30% new oak regime. What sets Chezeaux apart is the purity and delicacy in his wines from vines in and around Nuits-Saint-George mainly, though he also has holdings in Vougeot and Vosne-Romanee as well. The basic cuvee, the Bourgogne Rouge is from parcels near the estate in Prémeaux-Prissey just south of Nuits-Saint-Georges, as well as Nuits-Saint-Georges itself, only Cote de Nuits fruit is used and the wine reflects the local terroir of these sites and of the clay, sand, gravels and limestone soils. This wine usually is fresh in detail, bright and with a slightly restrained character along with having a earthy/savory edge, but with the 2015 vintage there seems to be a deeper sense of fruit to be found with classic Burgundy charm and elegance. This is a killer value, starting with a touch of reduction that quickly fades into bing cherry, plum and briar laced raspberry fruits with a hint of loamy earth, minty herb, orange rind and soft floral tones, adding a bit of body with air, it got even better the next day picking up a slightly dark character, this ruby/garnet Pinot is seriously classy for the price.”
