The Remarkable 2017 Domaine Huet Vouvrays
August Clearance Sale Highlight:
Gobelsburg
The Dark Side of Rosé
OG Cult Cabernet –
The Diamond Creek Single Vineyards
T,T,T,Treennnnddiiiiiiinnnng!
Smart Money Burgundy: Collotte’s 2015’s
The Taste of Latour For Under $100
Bosquets on the Rise
2016 Burgundy Super Stars
August Clearance Sale Roundup
Arriving September 14th
These are wines we stock year in and out and we’re excited to feature the exciting 2017 vintage (you can view the ’15 and ’16’s in stock on our website). 2017 looks to be an exciting year for the estate (as it is across France) with bright, mineral driven wines that showcase the prime terroirs Huet is known for.
If you’re new to the estate, know that they make wines from three vineyards (Le Haut Lieu, Le Mont and Clos de Bourg) at varying levels of sweetness. To that last point, don’t make the mistake of skipping anything past Sec—the Demi-Secs are especially useful at the table and long lived, with the sugar adding fruit and body but not much in the way of perceptible sweetness. Moelleux is a specialty of the Loire and is a beautiful wine that is a perfect partner for cheese and contemplation.
Of the three vineyards, Le Haut Lieu produces wines with the most fruit and the softest texture, accessible young. Le Mont is the most mineral and often requires the most time to find itself as a wine and the Clos de Bourg is a bit of a combination of the two. Gaston Huet thought it the best terroir in Vouvray, but a bottle of well-aged Le Mont Demi is an effective counter argument. Whichever combination you go for, stock up—there have been three short harvests in a row in Vouvray and many producers’ reserves are running low.
Arriving Friday, September 14th:
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Sec, Loire 2017 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The original Huët vineyard is nearly 9 hA. It has the richest soils of the domaine’s three crus—a deep limestone-clay—and the wines are generally the estate’s most approachable. In some vintages, small quantities from nearby estate parcels may be added to Le Haut-Lieu.”
The average price is $36
Importer note “For many insiders, the argument over Vouvray’s greatest vineyard comes down to two sites: Le Mont and Clos du Bourg. Undisputably a grand cru vineyard, Le Mont enjoys a choice site on the Première Côte. With less clay and more stone than Le Haut-Lieu, Le Mont yields young wines of intense minerality. With age, the wines develop great length and finesse.”
The average price is $40
Importer note “Gaston Huët believed this to be the greatest of all Vouvray vineyards. With the Première Côte’s shallowest, stoniest soils, its wines often synthesize Le Mont’s intense minerality with Le Haut-Lieu’s generous texture.”
The average price is $40
Wine Spectator 93 points “Plump and lively, with a core of bold ginger, McIntosh apple and almond notes followed by quince and persimmon flavors. Shows buried minerality, but also an ever-so-slightly off-dry wink on the finish, making this especially fun to drink. Drink now through 2032.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec, Loire 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Delightfully ripe and lively, with a mix of white peach, ginger, yellow apple and quince flavors that are carried by bright minerality and mouthwatering acidity. Light floral hints gild the finish, while the fruit drives through. Thoroughly delicious, and built to age well. Drink now through 2033.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec, Loire 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 93 points “This glistens, with glazed pear, warm persimmon, green plum and quince flavors, all carried by elegant white ginger and verbena notes. A light gilding of piecrust adds to the flattering feel, though there’s ample acidity here for balance and drive. Drink now through 2032.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux, Loire 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “A beauty, with an inviting display of succulent yellow apple, green plum, pear, persimmon and quince flavors that ripples lengthily through the finish, while light verbena, ginger and honeysuckle notes dart around. A long green tea echo runs through the finish. Shows terrific range and purity, with the sweetness easily harnessed for balance. Best from 2019 through 2040.”
Only 2 bottles left!
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Premiere Trie Moelleux, Loire 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 97 points “This sports a flamboyant edge, with apple crumble, ginger cream, quince paste, green tea and honeysuckle notes forming a wide panoply of aromas and flavors, while sweet and racy accents contrast, creating a lengthy finish where everything hangs in harmony. A stunning show of fruit and precision. Drink now through 2040.”
Also Arriving in September:
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Cuvee Constance’ Moelleux, Loire 2015 500ML ($249.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 99 points “Stunning from the start, with a silky and refined feel despite the panoply of dried quince, fig, pear and apricot flavors that are exotic in nature. Lovely green tea, orange blossom and persimmon notes fill in the background. Obviously sweet, but with persistent dry almond and orange extract details that lend latent tension through the seamless and nearly endless finish. The first Cuvee Constance bottling since the 2009 vintage. Drink now through 2060.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “Rarely produced and selected from the vineyards Le Haut-Lieu, Le Mont and Clos du Bourg, Huet’s 2015 Vouvray “Cuvée Constance” offers a deep, clear, intense and concentrated nose of ripe stone fruits, peanut butter cookie, spicy, earthy-mineral and some volatile aromas. Sweet, salty, piquant and mineral with a firm structure and very elegant, concentrated, refined fruit, this is a sweet wine with great purity and mineral finesse on the very long, promising finish. The 2016 is still pretty sweet (142 grams of residual sugar) and should be cellared for at least two or three decades. Total production: 2,800 500-milliliter bottles. Tasted February 2018.”
John Gilman 98 points “I have been looking forward to the release of Domaine Huët’s 2015 Cuvée Constance ever since I tasted a year ago the rest of the stunning range of wines produced here in the vintage. It is a great vintage for Domaine Huët and the Cuvée Constance is everything one could hope for from the confluence of this great estate and a legendary vintage. The wine is still very youthful, but its ultimate brilliance is very easy to see, as the wine wafts from the glass in a celestial constellation of orange, fresh apricot, incipient tea leaves, a nice touch of soil, hints of lanolin, orange peel, barley sugar and a hint of upper register smokiness. On the palate the wine is pure, full and nascently complex, with laser-like focus, a bottomless core, great acids and marvelous balance on the very, very long, zesty and energetic finish. This is still a very young wine and will need years to start to show its secondary and tertiary layers of complexity, but they are lurking here and in the fullness of time, this will be breathtaking in its beauty. (Drink between 2025-2100)
Gobelsburg
Moosbrugger, recognizing this important place in history, maintains the traditions and practices that keep the wines so vibrant and powerful. And the admiration is glowing for the rich, sunbaked Riesling off of the Heiligenstein plateau, to the elegant Gruner coming from the Lamm, Grub, and Renner vineyards gracing the hill behind the castle.
We’re offering an extensive collection of the Gruners and Rieslings on our August Clearance sale. While the top wines could stand toe to toe against Grand Cru white Burgundies, but the pricing has yet to match the value.Most were already the lowest listed price, but we’ve cut pricing even further to share these profoundly delicious wines with you.
In Stock Now:
The best Grüner in Austria?
Schloss Gobelsburg Lamm Gruner Veltliner Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2016 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $44 Clearance Price
James Suckling 96 points “This smells like being in a room full of drying herbs and flowers. Rich and creamy from the high ripeness but with a freshness that’s discrete yet ever present. At no point on this wine’s long glide across the palate does it seem the least bit fat or heavy. Drink now.”
The next best price is $58.99
The average price is $65
Schloss Gobelsburg Heiligenstein Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2016 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $44 Clearance Price
James Suckling 96 points “This is still quite yeasty, but in a rather attractive way. Behind that yeasty creaminess, which will fade somewhat with time, is a great wine that is deep, firm and complex. The finish expands like a concertina until the minerality envelops you. Drink now.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “An aromatic cloud of orange and lemon zest rises from the glass. With air, the citrus notions become more heady and intense. They perform the same trick on the palate, shimmering in an aromatic array of bergamot, lemon, tangerine and orange. There’s a vein of freshness, unforced concentration and the promise of a long future ahead. Drink 2020–2030.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $62.83
Schloss Gobelsburg Gaisberg Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2016 750ML ($44.95) Was $36, Now $28 Clearance Price
James Suckling 95 points “Great lemon, white peach and spice aromas are married to a medium body with a hint of creamy richness at the front. Then comes the austere finish with a ton of mineral power. Drink now and for some years to come.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “The nose of this wine is still subdued. Hints of wet earth and pure lemon notes can barely be discerned. With a few swirls of the glass, tender hints of blood orange zest pervade nose and palate, alongside spiky, bright lemon notes. The body is slender and taut but brims with gorgeous citrus aromas. Lovely now but sure to last. Drink 2018–2030.”
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $40
Schloss Gobelsburg Zobing Riesling, Kamptal 2016 750ML ($37.95) Was $28, Now $21.90 Clearance Price
James Suckling 90 points “Cooked apple and lime aromas with hints of loam. Full body, layered and rich with lots of fruit. A big and fruity style. Lightly sweet. Medium finish. Drink now.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $29.97
Schloss Gobelsburg Tradition Riesling Reserve, Kamptal 2015 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39 Clearance Price
Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2015 Riesling Tradition has a super clear, fresh, precise and mineral-scented bouquet of white stone fruits and even pineapples and mango. But all is discreet and interwoven with the overall aromatic complexity. On the palate, this is a firmly structured, pure and mineral dry Gaisberg with ripe peach aromas, racy but integrated acidity and fine tannins carrying this Riesling to a long, aromatic, dry and stimulatingly salty finish. This wine is very attractive today but will gain complexity over the years. It is still fruitier compared to the 2014 and thus more difficult to score regarding its true nature. It is a great dry, pure and crystalline Riesling in any case. Tasted in July 2917 at the domaine.”
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $54
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2016 Langenlois Kamptal Grüner Veltliner is sourced from different vineyards of the village including Redling, Geppling, Spiegel, Thal and others and opens with a clear, deep, fresh and slightly flinty bouquet of ripe fruits. Very elegant and mineral on the palate, this is a lovely, mineral, well structured, pretty complex and aromatic Grüner Veltliner that combines the character of the fruity-elegant loess and the vital, racy and gravelly Grüner Veltliner expressions. The wine shows good mineral structure, stimulating salinity on the finish and comes along as a pretty complex wine already.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $27.07
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Fresh lime and ivy hits you first, followed by a leesy hint and some pear on the nose. The palate comes in with salty savoriness that suggests yeasty miso, chervil and lovage, with lots of white pepper accented by a little spritz. Brightened by fresh lemon notes, this makes for a spicy, elegant and slender wine with a light touch and real depth.”
The average price is $30
This is a shame—there’s a lot of delicious rosé out there that ranges from medium-pink to nearly red. At the table, the stuff is incredibly useful. It can fill the role of a red with foods off of the grill like burgers, chicken and lamb as well as well as being a slightly fruitier aperitif. The boldness of the wines better matches the garlicy, spicy flavors of southern Italian and Provencal cooking than its paler siblings, but somehow, still, it’s ignored.
We want to change that and so here are a few of our favorite rosés (and a few Italian rosatos) that are a bit gutsier than the current pale and light fashion. These are wines that are delicious at the table (and by themselves) but seem to be overlooked based on their color. Try a few!
In Stock Now:
A classic pairing with lamb, it’s great with burgers, too.
Domaine Lafond Tavel Roc-Epine Rose, Rhone 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Domaine Lafond Tavel Roc-Epine Rose, Rhone 2017 750ML ($249.95) $189 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!”
Castell’in Villa La Gazzara Rosato Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
100% Sangiovese
Thibaud Boudignon Anjou Rose, Loire 2017 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Light bright pink. Racy and focused on the nose, displaying mineral-accented red berry, orange zest and floral scents and a subtle herbal undertone. Dry and nervy in style, offering juicy red currant and bitter cherry flavors that deepen and become sweeter with air. Clings with impressive authority on the finish, leaving candied rose and chalky mineral notes behind.”
Importer note “100% Cabernet Franc from 37 year old vines grown in shallow soils of grey schist and rhyolite (volcanic soil) and sand. Indigenous yeast fermentation with no malo. Aged 4-6 months stainless steel.”
Bisson Ciliegiolo Rose Golfo del Tigullio, Liguria 2016 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Neal Rosenthal “Ciliegiolo, Golfo del Tigullio: is a traditional red grape variety that is rarely seen. Piero Lugano vinifies it to showcase its light and fruity character. When presenting it, we group this wine with our classic series of Rosés as it is released in the spring following the prior year’s harvest. Lugano proudly maintains this variety in both the Trigoso and Campegli vineyards situated in the hills above Sestri Levante and Chiavari, respectively. It is vinified dry, tastes of red cherry and wild berries and its brilliant cherry color is a particular joy to behold.”
Importer note “When is a rosé not a rosé? We have struggled with whether to officially classify the Ciliegiolo varietal in this category or whether to present it as a light-colored red wine with lots and lots of character (much as we do, for example, the Poulsard from the Jura). No matter what moniker we use, the fact is that this wine is a joyous presence at the table with its bountiful berry flavor, brilliant rose-ruby color and energetic freshness. From the Italian riviera via the talented Piero Lugano.”
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Rose, Rhone 2017 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Limpid orange. Incisive orange pith and red currant aromas are complemented by building herb and floral accents. Silky and round on the palate, offering intense red berry and blood orange flavors firmed by a jolt of bitter cherry pit. Finishes with strong authority, echoing the orange and floral notes.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “Mainly Cinsault (70%) from 80-year-old vines (the balance is split between Grenache and Mourvèdre), the 2017 Gigondas Rose is a medium-bodied wine that captures much of that variety’s elusive fruit and spice character. Hints of melon and redcurrant pick up notes of dried, savory spice on the finish.”
Beautiful and multipurpose. An all-’rounder.
Chateau Valcombe Ventoux Epicure Rose, Rhone 2017 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Grapelive 92 points “Mount Ventoux, which is one of the toughest climbs in the Tour de France, can be seen from across the Rhone’s Luberon standing tall and shimmering white from the chalky soils that make up this regions Marl underpinnings along with hardened clay, sand and ancient river stones. This part of the Southern Rhone is mostly known for their Grenache based reds, but one of their secret pleasures is their dry Rosé wines. Chateau Valcombe [was] founded and crafted by long-time vigneron in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Paul Jeune, formerly of Domaine Monpertuis, who has recently retired. New owners Luc and Cendrine Guénard, who worked under him for years, [are] now at the helm. They certified to 100% Organic and continue the tradition of making outstanding wines. The Valcombe Rosé is vinified via direct press, whole cluster from a blend of Grenache Noir (60%), Cinsault (20%), Carignan (10%) and a touch of Clairette (10%). Interestingly, the vines for the Rosé are of an average age of 40 years, so there is a ton of soul and character found in this is a completely bone dry Rosé. With a bright and vivid pink/salmon hue in the glass this 2017 Valcombe Rosé is explosive in flavor and fresh deal with a cooly crisp personality showing tangy strawberry, watermelon, earthy sour cherry and vigorous citrus notes along with steely mineral, delicate floral tones and zippy spices. Not easy to find, this Chateau Valcombe Epicure Rosé is an exceptional value and a very pleasing summer wine. Imported by Rosenthal Wine Merchant, it is well worth searching out, by the case. Don’t miss their other Ventoux grown offerings either, especially their reds.”
The average price nationally is $17
The Diamond Creek Single Vineyards
Stylistically, these are powerful Cabernets. Although there are distinct differences between the three vineyards, the wines show a common vein of Diamond Mountain ruggedness—an intensity of flavor and minerality that’s unique to the AVA. Diamond Creek manages to harness it to produce wines that dazzle with their complexity and age worthiness; wines that rival the finest in Bordeaux.
We’ve sold through 750’s of the Volcanic Hill, but have stock available on the other two vineyards, plus half bottles of the Volcanic Hill. With these new James Suckling scores, what we have in stock won’t stick around long, either.
In Stock Now:
Diamond Creek Red Rock Terrace Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($249.95) $225 special
James Suckling 97 points “This has amazing aromas of red licorice, tar, lead pencil, dark berries and blackberries. Full body, a very soft texture and fine-grained tannins. Lovely freshness and brightness. Sweet and sour underneath. A wine that gives such enjoyment already but it will improve nicely in the bottle.”
Winery notes: “Red Rock Terrace, a warm microclimate, is 7 acres of north facing vineyard. The red tinted soil is high in iron content. The wine from Red Rock Terrace is the most accessible and earliest drinkable of all our wines. Our winemaker describes Red Rock Terrace as “having velvety tannins, rich and well balanced, medium dark ruby color with cherry, mint and black currant flavors.”
Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($249.95) $225 special
James Suckling 96 points “The aromas of mint, blueberries and blackberries are very intense. Full-bodied, layered and softly textured; yet it delivers a firm and lightly chewy finish. Hot stones, too. This is a wine that will improve with three to four years of bottle aging.”
Winery notes: “Our second coolest micro-climate is our five-acre Gravelly Meadow vineyard. Originally a pre-historic river bed, this stony, gravelly soil drains rapidly and the vines struggle for moisture. Gravelly Meadow is our lowest yielding vineyard. The wines are described as “earthy, cedary, jammy and ripe blackberry with a spicy expansive finish.”
Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 375ML ($149.95) $119 special
Ken’s Wine Guide 96 points “This dark red colored Cabernet Sauvignon from Diamond Creek is Excellent! It opens with a cassis and black cherry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium to full bodied, balanced and super smooth. The flavor profile is a tasty cassis and minerality blend with notes of mild oak. I also detected hints of blueberry and green olive. The finish is dry and its well-managed tannins drift away so nicely. This Cab would be a perfect pairing with a filet mignon. Enjoy – Ken”
James Suckling 94 points “Aromas of hot pumice, flowers, spices and hints of blackberries. Full-bodied, round and very fruit-forward; yet it holds back. Lovely to drink now and even better in the future.”
Winery notes: “Volcanic Hill is comprised of 8 acres of south facing hillside vineyard. It is the warmest of all our micro-climates. The color of the soil is gray, and the consistency is that of fluffy, volcanic ash, originally deposited from the eruption of Mt. Konocti 8 million years ago. Volcanic Hill is the longest lived of our wines. Our winemaker describes these wines as “full bodied, loaded with intense ripe berry fruit, cassis, violets and a smoky richness, finishing with good length and firm tannins. The Volcanic Hill bottling includes a small amount of the extra-ordinary Petit Verdot grape.”
Frank Cornelissen Munjebel Rosso Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Winery note “A rich and fragrant wine of pure Nerello Mascalese from different vineyards, partly from our best parcels where we produce our crus (Zottorinoto-Chiusa Spagnolo, Feudo di Mezzo-Porcaria, Pontale Palino) as well as designated vineyards for this specific wine (Rampante, Piano Daini and Crasà). A classic, traditional Nerello Mascalese with tannins and sweetness of ripe fruit. My vision of a traditional, balanced and rich Northern Valley Etna wine.”
A sommelier favorite, she’s the next Foillard.
Domaine Mee Godard Morgon Cote de Py, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($37.95) $29 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Bright ruby-red. Heady, mineral-accented aromas of ripe cherry and red berries, with a peppery nuance adding vivacity. At once concentrated and lively, offering intense raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a sneaky suggestion of spicecake. Picks up a sexy lavender pastille quality on the incisive, sharply focused finish, which hangs on with outstanding tenacity and building minerality.”
Bereche et Fils Reflet d’Antan Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L ($299.95) Was $219, Now $199 August 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.”
The next best price is $294.99
Domaine Camille et Laurent Schaller Chablis Vieilles Vignes, Burgundy 2016 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
VinopolNote: From 40 year old vines. Aged for 10 months partially in oak barrel.
Collotte’s 2015’s
A vintage like 2015 isn’t just a great year in Burgundy—it’s a great buying opportunity if you know where to look. While the prices for the top wines from the best producers skyrocketed, the value producers’ prices barely budged. That’s an exceptional opportunity, as the floor rises far more than the ceiling in a warm year like ’15. This is a prime chance to chase the best lower tier wines in 2015—Bourgogne, village wines and wines from less heralded terroirs.
A perfect example? Domaine Collotte’s wines from Marsannay and Fixin. You should be stocking up on these wines, and wines like them, in 2015. They’re reasonably priced, from old vines on good soil and made by a real craftsman. In a cooler year, these wines might be a bit rustic compared to their more famous neighbor, Gevery-Chambertin, but in a warm year like 2015 these are the real deal.
We’ve carried these wines for a few years and are always excited to source them, but there’s a marked step up in quality for the 2015’s. Wine Spectator just reviewed a number of bottlings and based on the scores they clearly agree with us—these are wines to snatch up. The best part of the equation is the pricing—the entry level wine (made from 70+ year old vines) is under $20 and the top wines he produces under $40.
In the world of Burgundy, those are steals, especially for this level of quality. We received less than 10 cases of each of them (save the Bourgogne) and they should disappear fast, so stock up soon—a vintage opportunity like this doesn’t come along often.
In Stock Now:
From 71 year old vines!
Domaine Collotte Bourgogne Cuvee de Noble Souche, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($29.95) $19 special
VinopolNote: Surprisingly for an entry-level red, this bottling is from a parcel planted with the oldest vines of the estate: 71 year old vines grown on pebbly Cailloux soil.
Importer note “Bourgogne ‘Noble Souché’ translates to the ‘noble vine’ from almost 70 year old vines planted in 1947 on Marsannay Cailloux soil from Champforeys. Entirely, de-estemmed, slow fermentation with 5 days of pre-maceration. Aged for 11 months 90% in stainless steel tank, this is a lovely, subtlety rich Côte de Nuits wine.”
The next best price is $23.99
Domaine Collotte Fixin, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Appealing aromas of burning vine cuttings and sweet spices give way to cherry and currant fruit in this smooth, smoke-tinged red. Long and satisfying, leaving a hint of mint on the finish. Drink now through 2025. 35 cases imported.”
Importer Note “The Fixin is from two parcels of Village Fixin both both with eastern exposition on calcareous clay soil. Aged in oak, 25% new, to round the tannins.”
Domaine Collotte Fixin Les Crais de Chene, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “A pure dose of cherry, strawberry, sweet spice and mineral marks this harmonious red. Firm and focused, with a lingering finish of spice. Shows plenty of class. Best from 2020 through 2030. 50 cases imported.”
Domaine Collotte Marsannay Les Boivins, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Wine Spectator 90 points “The core flavors of black cherry and blackberry are wrapped in oak, lending vanilla and sweet spice details along with a layer of tannins. Just needs a little more time. Best from 2020 through 2028. 110 cases imported.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Silky, this red evokes cherry, strawberry and graphite flavors, with bright acidity keeping this fresh and focused. Harmonious and long, offering a light chalky feel on the finish. Drink now through 2023. 150 cases imported.”
Importer Note “The Marsannay Champsalomon is from the village of Couchey. The 40+ year old vines are on the marl soil of the Ostrea Acuminata.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Linear and intense, featuring cherry, raspberry and mineral flavors defined by the taut structure. Balanced and long, with a spicy aftertaste. Best from 2021 through 2030. 100 cases imported.”
The next best price is $34.98
Domaine Collotte Marsannay En Combereau, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Round and supple, presenting the ideal foil for the rich cherry and floral aromas and flavors. Features hint of oak and tannins on the lingering finish. Drink now through 2027. 100 cases imported.”
The average price is $32
Grapelive 91 points “Exploring value priced Burgundy usually ends in huge disappointment, but sometimes you find a jewel. The wines of Philippe Collotte are just that, especially his old vine Marsannay, where there are 5 parcels of 50+ year old vines that make up his excellent super-value Marsannay Cuvee Vieilles Vignes. It way over-delivers for the price… He bottles everything unfiltered per his importer’s request (Weygant Metzler). It makes for an expressive and mineral-driven Pinot Noir of wonderful delicacy, but with solid fruit intensity which forms its perception of depth flavors. While starting with classic Burgundy subtly and brightness, things gain a darker feel with air allowing layers of black cherry, strawberry and earthy vine-picked berries to come through on the medium bodied palate. The mouth-feel and length are quite impressive for a wine of this price. Rose petals, chalk dust and cedar notes along with a mixed spice note add to the whole here. There’s no question this will surprise a few people. The vintage with its concentrated ripe profile certainly helped and the old vines give a charm that with put a smile on many a face. It did mine! Drink this Marsannay over the next 3 to 5 years. It’s a no-guilt Burgundy to get by the case!”
For Under $100
Latour has changed their release model recently, deciding to hold back wines until much closer to maturity, so there was much speculation about when the next vintage (2013) would be released. We now have an answer—it lands a mere ten days from now, in perfect time to stock up on for fall drinking. This is made with the same style and care as the flagship wine, but is crafted for earlier drinkability, in other words, a perfect Latour for less-than-momentous occasions.
Arriving Tomorrow:
Chateau Latour Le Pauillac de Latour, Pauillac 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 90 points “A firm and silky red with currant, plum and berry character. Medium body, fresh finish. Stone and dark fruit. Drink now.”
Bosquets on the Rise
Arriving in September
Wine Spectator 95 points “Bright and juicy, with lovely plum, anise, boysenberry and black cherry compote flavors. Racy acidity and a fine chalky spine give this an elegant profile overall, with a silky texture and refinement in the end. Best from 2019 through 2035.”
Famille Brechet Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas La Colline, Rhone 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “This delivers a gorgeous display of fruit, with raspberry, boysenberry and blackberry notes in lockstep as they race through, infused with light anise, bergamot and rooibos tea accents along the way. The racy, chalky structure holds the finish, giving this sleek tension. Best from 2020 through 2036.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Deliciously ripe, featuring a bright and lively display of red currant, raspberry and blackberry coulis flavors that race along, underscored by fine but persistent chalky tannins and backed by lilac, violet, rooibos tea and savory notes along the way. The long finish ripples with fresh acidity. Best from 2020 through 2036.”
Domaine Dujac
Just head to our website or check out the full list below!
