Saturday, June 11th, 2016
Salon 2004 – New Review; Dominus; Dujac; French Classics; Beaux Freres 2014; Domaine Huet – New Scores for New Releases; Remelluri; Tissot New Arrivals; White Burgundy; Don’t Panic – We Have More Cameron Dundee Hills
Salon 2004
New Review from Antonio Galloni
Salon ‘Cuvee S’ Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs 2004 ($519.95) $399 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 97 points “The 2004 Salon has been superb each time I have tasted it over the last year or so. Bright, tense and crystalline, with all of the energy that is typical of both Salon and the vintage in the Côte des Blancs, the 2004 bristles with superb precision and cool, pulsating minerality. The 2004 spent a dozen years on its lees. Over the last six months or so, it has gradually begun to open up, but it is very much a wine for the cellar. Two thousand four is remembered as a vintage with record high yields. Salon (and Delamotte) did a terrific job in keeping the vines well balanced. Production was just 46,000 bottles, as opposed to the 60,000 or so that is more typical. Chef de Caves Michel Fauconnet opted for a low dosage of just 4 grams per liter. This is a tremendous showing.”
This is the lowest listed retail price in the USA today
The average listed price is $476
Dominus
Triple Perfection
Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($349.95) $319 pre-arrival special, ETA late June
Robert Parker 100 points “The 2013 Dominus is, to my way of thinking, one of the most profound wines Christian Moueix has yet made in his rather brilliant winemaking history, both in France and in Napa Valley. This wine, with very low yields of only 3,500 cases and a final blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, offers up notes of cedar wood, forest floor, loamy soil and oodles of blackberry and blackcurrant fruit. Very opaque purple in color, super-pure and intense, this wine has low acidity, but ripe, noticeable tannins. This is a 30- to 40-year wine and a profound effort from this famous vineyard in Yountville. Drink it over the next 40+ years.”
Antonio Galloni 100 points “The 2013 Dominus overwhelms all the senses with its magnificent overall balance and towering intensity. Deep and nearly impenetrable in the glass, the 2013 boasts off the charts dry extract and overall power. Violets, smoke, black cherries, menthol, incense, crème de cassis and dark spices are some of the many signatures that take shape in the glass. Even better in bottle than it was in barrel, the 2013 is utterly magnificent. This is a remarkably vivid, nuanced wine considering its sheer size.”
James Suckling 100 points “The aromas to this are multidimensional and fascinating with black truffles, bark, cloves, black currants and citrus – even ginseng. Full-bodied, yet reserved, even austere, with chewy and powerful tannins that remain polished and refined. The flavors are more umami and savory. Then there’s forest fruits and red orange undertones. It lasts for minutes. A wine to age for a lifetime. It’s an experience to taste this. A new classic showing its history and tradition as a source of the greatest wines ever from Napa. A wine to always enjoy.”
Maison & Domaine Dujac
Considering its renown as one of Burgundy’s finest domaines, one might expect Domaine Dujac to have an illustrious history. But the first crush happened in 1969. And the family behind Domaine Dujac is not named Dujac at all. Jacques Seysses bought the impoverished Dujac estate in 1968 then set about making wines in the style of his mentors, Aubert de Villaine of the DRC and Charles Rousseau of Armand Rousseau. They taught him about attention to detail in the vineyard and about whole-cluster fermentation. Soon Domaine Dujac met with success, fashioning some of the finest wines from Morey-Saint-Denis and the neighboring villages.
Today, two of Jacques’ sons head the domaine, and his Napa-raised daughter-in-law makes the wine. A few adjustments to the winemaking have accompanied the new generation. Some of the wines, for example, are no longer vinified with the stems, but this varies by vintage and village. The amount of new oak has changed too: rather than 100% for all cuvées the village wines now get 40%, the Premier Crus 60-80%, and the Grand Crus up to 100%. In 2005, Domaine Dujac acquired more vines in Vosne and Gevrey raising the total acreage to 38, all farmed organically. In 2000, the Seysses started a négociant business, Dujac Fils et Père, offering high-caliber village wine from Morey, Chambolle, and Gevrey at approachable prices.
Domaine Dujac wines are known to be elegant and fragrant, balanced and pure, with backbone for long ageing but not overly acidic. Their Clos de la Roche and Clos Saint Denis define the terroir of Morey-Saint-Denis: yardsticks for that commune, for the Côte de Nuits, and for the Côte d’Or as a whole. In existence for not even five decades, Domaine Dujac has never been much of a secret. The rarity of their wines on today’s market testifies to the Seysses’ long-term vision and impeccable taste.
Maison Dujac Fils & Pere and Domaine Dujac
Wines Arriving in September
Domaine Dujac Morey-Saint-Denis AOC Blanc 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 86-88 points “The 2014 Morey-Saint-Denis Blanc has a refined bouquet with almond and white peach scents. The palate is well balanced, quite rich in the mouth with a brush of clear honey and almond towards the rounded finish. This is a commendable white Morey.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Maison Dujac Fils & Pere Chambolle-Musigny 2014 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 87-89 points “(vinified with 70% whole clusters): Bright, dark red. Musky black raspberry and mineral aromas and flavors are lifted by herbs and spices. Nicely energized by the stem component. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and a hint of salty minerality.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Maison Dujac Fils & Pere Morey-Saint-Denis AOC 2014 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 87-90 points “Bright, medium ruby-red. Aromas of black raspberry and smoke show attractive perfumed lift. Nicely concentrated and sweet, with a chocolatey ripeness and a rather pliant texture that should give this wine earlier drinkability than the village Gevrey.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Dujac Chambolle-Musigny 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 87-89 points “Musky black raspberry, blackberry and smoke on the nose. Fat, smoky and sweet, showing a chocolatey quality to the blackberry fruit; I might have picked this blind as a Morey-Saint-Denis. A bit chunky for the year, and more tannic than the village Chambolle made under the Dujac Fils et Pere label. This wine will probably last longer but may have less charm.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Dujac Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($499.95) $399 pre-arrival special
John Gilman 93-94+ points “The 2014 Charmes-Chambertin was also late finishing up its malo, and unlike the Eche´zeaux, it was not all that happy about being tasted. This wine had not yet absorbed all its new wood and was showing a bit chewy, but all the constituent components are in place for this wine to snap into place with a bit more elevage. The nose is a promising blend of black cherries, cassis, grilled meat, espresso, dark soil tones and spicy new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, long and rock solid at the core, with fine focus and soil signature, ripe tannins and a long, chewy and adolescent finish.”
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2014 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru has an exquisite bouquet with blackberry, bilberry and cassis fruit. This is very elegant and linear, great precision here. The palate is very well balanced, structured with citrus-infused blackcurrant fruit. There is that titillating prickle of salinity on the finish, a Mazoyères-like Charmes that should age well over the next 15-20 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is nearly double at $744.99
Domaine Dujac Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($599.95) $479 pre-arrival special
John Gilman 96 points “In contrast to the Charmes, the 2014 Dujac Clos de la Roche was in fine spirits and showing enormous potential. The brilliant bouquet offers up scents of cherries, red plums, pomegranate, gamebirds, superb soil tones, woodsmoke, raw cocoa and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very suave on the attack, with a sappy core, fine transparency and a very, very long, fine-grained and elegant finish. A great vintage of Clos de la Roche from the Seysses family this year!”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92-95 points “Bright, dark red. Pure, vibrant, perfumed aromas of raspberry, red licorice, rose petal and spices. Silky, seamless and pristine, with terrific mineral energy to the raspberry, saline and earth flavors. Conveys an impression of sucrosité but this youthfully imploded wine is classically dry. Diana Snowden ventured the opinion that 2014 is a great year for Clos de la Roche.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Dujac Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($599.95) $479 pre-arrival special
John Gilman 97 points “The style of the 2014 vintage perfectly dovetails with the great elegance inherent in this terroir, so it is not surprising that the Domaine Dujac version is utterly stunning this year. The wine soars from the glass in a blaze of cherries, red plums, cocoa powder, fresh nutmeg, a fabulous base of soil tones, woodsmoke, lovely spice tones and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and utterly seamless, with a velvety attack, a sappy core of red fruit, stunning transparency and a supremely elegant, fine-grained and tangy finish. Hauntingly beautiful Clos St. Denis in 2014!”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93-95 points “Bright ruby-red. Subtle perfume of raspberry, red cherry, rose petal and flinty minerality. Silky on entry, then less sweet and more soil-driven in the mid-palate than the Clos de la Roche. But this impeccably balanced wine boasts an insidiously tactile mouth feel and opens out spectacularly on the back end. Finishes wonderfully juicy and suave, with noble tannins and a sneaky whiplash of flavor. I’d love to try this wine next to the Clos de la Roche again in ten years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is (again!) nearly double at $854.99
Domaine Dujac Echezeaux Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($599.95) $419 pre-arrival special
John Gilman 95 points “Despite this being one of the last wines to finish up its malolactic fermentation in the Dujac cellars this year, the wine was really showing beautifully. The bouquet is deep, pure and very vibrant, offering up a complex constellation of cassis, sweet dark berries, bonfire, venison, a complex base of dark soil tones, cocoa and nutty new wood. On the palate the wine is very deep, full-bodied and soil-driven in personality, with a great core of fruit, impeccable focus and balance, fine-grained tannins and a long, seamless and tangy finish of great breed and promise.”
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2014 Echézeaux Grand Cru has a clean, precise bouquet, quite broody and introspective, a subtle marine influence infusing the black and red fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, chalky tannin, tightly wound with a strict, saline finish that leaves the mouth tingling long after it has departed. This is a classy, quite sophisticated Echézeaux in the making, one that should be at the upper end of my banded score with requisite bottle age.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $744.99 – that’s over $300 more!
Domaine Dujac Morey-Saint-Denis 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 88-90 points “Musky aromas of black cherry, brown spices and smoky soil tones; more aromatic today than the Chambolle villages. Sweet and harmonious but also juicy and firmly built, showing more flavor definition than the Chambolle. Finishes with good spine and persistence.”
John Gilman 89+ points “The 2014 Domaine Dujac version of Morey villages had not yet been racked and was showing very nicely at the time of my visit, offering up a bright and pure nose of dark berries, cassis, bitter chocolate, woodsmoke and the first hints of the venison to come. On the palate the wine is fullish, focused and tangy, with lovely soil signature, fine-grained tannins and a long, very well-balanced finish. A lovely AC in the making.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $129.99
Domaine Dujac Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($219.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 89-91 points “Healthy dark red. Lovely lift to the aromas of blackberry, blackberry and spicy underbrush. Densely packed, broad and sweet; spreads out horizontally on the palate but retains a juicy quality to its dark berry and spice flavors. Finishes with substantial ripe tannins and very good length.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Dujac Les Beaumonts, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($349.95) $319 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2014 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru les Beaux Monts has a very attractive bouquet, pure and sensual with black cherries, boysenberry and a touch of blueberry. Understated but quite compelling. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, silky in texture, beautifully balanced with very well judged acidity with a touch of salinity towards the finish. This is a very well crafted Beaumonts that deserves several years in bottle.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91-94 points “Bright red-ruby. Very pure aromas of raspberry, red licorice and smoky minerals, plus a hint of animal fur. Plush, rich and fine-grained, offering a silky, spherical texture to its expressive flavors of raspberry, smoke, minerals, game and mocha. Finishes with broad, building tannins and terrific persistence.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Dujac Aux Malconsorts, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($419.95) $359 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2014 Vosne-Romanée 1Er Cru Malconsorts is more opulent and generous on the nose compared to the Beaumonts with blueberry and black cherry fruit, more red plum and strawberry notes evolving with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a gentle grip in the mouth, the whole bunch fruit lending freshness and subtle sous-bois character on the finish. There is a little new wood to be subsumed on the finish, but it has great potential and represents one of the best Malconsorts you will find this year.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Maison Dujac Fils & Pere Arriving Late June
Maison Dujac Fils et Pere Les Damodes, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($99.95) $88 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni–“Dried cherries, tobacco and crushed flowers meld together in the 2011 Nuits St. Georges Les Damodes. The 2011 is soft, juicy and approachable, with plenty of near-term appeal, but less of the structure typical of Damodes.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Dujas Wines Available Here Now
Domaine Dujac Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($499.95) $399 special, 1 bottle available
Antonio Galloni 94-97 points “Another superb, multidimensional wine, the 2013 Clos de La Roche boasts remarkable complexity, starting with exquisite aromatics, finely-sculpted fruit and firm yet polished tannins. Layers of flavor flesh out in all directions in a resonant, expansive Burgundy endowed with pure pedigree. There is a lot going on in the glass, although it is the wine’s totally sublime sense of harmony that is most captivating at this early stage. I can’t wait to taste the 2013 from bottle.” AG
Domaine Dujac Aux Combottes, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91+ points “Captivating aromas of pristine red fruits, minerals and underbrush, plus a whiff of porcini. Juicy and penetrating on the palate, with terrific high-pitched precision to the red raspberry and cherry flavors. Lovely cut here, as well as a tannic spine that calls for four or five years of aging. Jeremy Seysses noted that with the estate’s clonal material, their grapes are riper. “We start pulling leaves on the north side of the vines not long after the flowering, and we get thicker skins,” he told me, adding that the estate’s 2011s are tannic wines.” ST
Domaine Dujac Les Beaumonts, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($319.95) $279 special, 2 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92-94 points “The 2013 Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux Monts is a powerful, deep wine endowed with superb textural richness. Dark red cherry, plum, spice, licorice and new leather all find support in beams of underlying minerality that give the wine its energy and pulsating salinity. The Beaux Monts is shaping up to be a jewel.” AG
Mid-West, East & South
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Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment
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Classics Corner
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru 2006 750ML ($1,999.95) $1,699 special, 1 bottle available, arriving Tuesday!
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 95 points “The 2006 Richebourg is dark and brooding, with tannins that still need time to resolve. A sense of classic austerity runs through the 2006 that I expect will always be present.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 94+ points “Good deep red. Lucid, high-pitched aromas of raspberry, red cherry, minerals and rose petal, with a complicating suggestion of smoky earth. Densely packed and distinctly black in character, but with compelling sweetness to go along with its rather massive, masculine personality. Finishes with muscular but ripe tannins and terrific palate-staining length.”
Arriving in July:
Chateau Rayas Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve 1995 750ML ($1,199.95) $999 pre-arrival special, 5 bottles available, ETA July 2016
Wine Spectator 98 points (in 2006) “Stunning aromas and flavors of plum compote, hoisin sauce, vanilla bean, raspberry jam and violets, with a long, supersilky finish. The fruit is still youthful, the structure still vibrant, the balance impeccable.–1995 Châteauneuf-du-Pape retrospective (2006). Drink now through 2025.” (the highest rated Chateauneuf du Pape of 1995)
Robert Parker 96 points (in 2003) “The 1995 is spectacular. When Emmanuel Reynaud said it was evolving quickly, in essence repudiating this vintage, I immediately drank two bottles of this glorious elixir. It does not reveal the over-ripeness of the 1990, bringing to mind a hypothetical blend of the great 1989 and 1978. Deeply-colored and still young, with black currant/creme de cassis-like characteristics, huge body, yet great structure and delineation, this is a classic Rayas that is totally different than the 1990. It should continue to improve in the bottle and may merit an even higher score. While it can be drunk now, it will be even better with 3-4 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points (in 2007) “Rayas’ 1995 Châteauneuf-du-Pape was sublime. Fresher than the 1998, this beautifully proportioned wine revealed layers of sweet dark fruit, spices and earthiness that danced on the palate with extraordinary finesse.” (the highest rated Chateauneuf du Pape of 1995)
Over the years, Robert Parker has also published 97 point, 98 point, and 99 point ratings on this wine. Here are his notes for the 98 point review (in 2000) “The 1995 is spectacular. When Emmanuel Reynaud said it was evolving quickly, in essence repudiating this vintage, I immediately drank two bottles of this glorious elixir. It does not reveal the over-ripeness of the 1990, bringing to mind a hypothetical blend of the great 1989 and 1978. Deeply-colored and still young, with black currant/creme de cassis-like characteristics, huge body, yet great structure and delineation, this is a classic Rayas that is totally different than the 1990. It should continue to improve in the bottle and may merit an even higher score. While it can be drunk now, it will be even better with 3-4 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $1,155
Beaux Freres
2014 Willamette Valley Arrives Soon!
Beaux Freres Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2014 750ML ($61.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Beaux Freres Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2014 750ML ($299.95) $299 pre-arrival special (that’s only $49.83/bottle!) * Case special not available through the web store – please call or email to order.
Winery note “Composition: This wine is 100% Pinot Noir from the following vineyards: Gran Moraine 43%, Zena Crown 20%, Beaux Frères 11%, Archery Summit 8%, Hyland 5%, Noren 5%, Upper Terrace 5%, Guadalupe 3%. On the nose, this wine has a lush fragrance of sweet dark cherries, baking spices and sandalwood. In the mouth it is very savory, plush, medium acidity and irresistible. This may be the best Willamette Valley cuvée that we have made to date. This wine sees about 33% new French oak. Drink now through 2024. Our Willamette Valley cuvée features fruit grown on select vineyard sites in the Northern Willamette Valley. ¬The wines benefit from the same integrity in the winemaking process as our estate wines. The sites are farmed sustainably and managed to very low yields. We age the wines in the same French oak barrels used in our estate bottling, however the percentage of new oak is intentionally lower. This wine is not fined or filtered.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $59
Domaine Huet
Domaine Huet, founded in 1928 by Victor Huet and his son Gaston, is the first name for the finest Vouvray. Some call it the best Chenin Blanc on the planet. Made according to tradition and terroir, with utmost respect for nature, Huet wines can keep for over a century. Every wine lover should try one, be it an older vintage or new, a sec, demi-sec, moelleux, or sparkling.
Today, Domaine Huet owns 74 acres across three parcels. Le Haut-Lieu vineyard produces the most straight-forward wines. Le Mont’s low-yielding vines make supple wines. And Le Clos de Bourg, whose shallow, clay-limestone soil drains especially well, provides wines of great structure and ageing potential. The three vineyards are vinified separately.
This was one of France’s pioneers in biodynamic viticulture. Horses still plough between the rows. In the winery, the recipe remains relatively simple. Fermentation takes place half in stainless steel, half in old oak, without malo. After only six months, the wines are bottled and then laid to age in a cellar dug from tuffeau rock, no air conditioning required. From here the Huet work is done: the rest is up to nature, Vouvray, and what eventually tastes like divine intervention. Who wouldn’t want to acquire some of that?
Domaine Huet Wines Arriving in September
Domaine Huet Vouvray Petillant Brut 2012 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Grapes sourced from several estate parcels on Vouvray’s esteemed Premiere Côte in limestone-rich clay soils. All grapes are harvested by hand. Bottled before primary fermentation is finished, resulting in a lower pressure sparkling wine – pétillant – because only a portion of the fermentation occurs inside the bottle. Yeast is added to ensure the fermentation progresses smoothly. Once finished the wine is disgorged. Dosage = 10 g/l and is made up of cane sugar and demi-sec or moelleux wines from a previous vintage.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Sec 2015 750ML ($37.95) $30.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Solidly ripe, with a full-bodied core of ginger, pear and persimmon notes allied to a racy spine that lengthens the finish, letting ginger, quince and green almond accents play out. This should age well in the cellar. Best from 2017 through 2027.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Sec 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33.60 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 93 points “A light echo of baked apple leads off, followed by quince, powdered ginger and verbena notes at the core. The long, minerally finish features rippling acidity. Still tight, so let this unwind in the cellar. Best from 2017 through 2027.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Huet Vouvray Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec 2015 750ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Importer note “This ancient, walled vineyard has the estate’s shallowest, stoniest soils. The wines are rich and intense. Many consider this to be Vouvray’s finest single vineyard site. Size: 6 hectares Orientation: South-facing Soil: Limestone-rich clay soils — the stoniest of the three crus. Viticulture: The vines are farmed using biodynamic methods and harvested by hand. Vinification: Undergoes temperature-controlled fermentation in large, old oak demi-muids as well as stainless steel vats. There is no encouragement of the malolactic fermentation, thus many Huet wines remain rich in malic acid, a character that brings an age-worthiness to the wines. The concentration of residual sugar in demi-sec cuvées is traditionally around 10-20 g/l.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Demi-Sec 2015 750ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Features a wide range of apple, green melon, ginger and green plum notes gliding throughout, with the off-dry edge imparting a flattering feel. Latent minerality lengthens the finish. Best from 2017 through 2030.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Huet Vouvray Clos du Bourg Moelleux Premiere Trie 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 97 points “Concentrated, with a core of intense Jonagold apple, glazed Bosc pear, ginger cream and dried quince flavors, carried by filigreed acidity and backed by green tea, verbena, chamomile and persimmon notes. The finish is extremely long. Best from 2018 through 2040.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Moelleux Premiere Trie 2015 750ML ($64.95) $51.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “Gorgeous from the get-go, featuring creamed melon, yellow apple and persimmon notes that glide effortlessly, inlaid with hints of green tea, verbena, heather and quince. The long finish has beautiful flow, with a buried mineral edge imparting freshness while the fruit plays out. Best from 2018 through 2040.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Moelleux 2015 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Offers a big, broad feel, with layers of glazed pear, apple and peach falling over each other, backed by fresh ginger, honeysuckle and quince notes. Everything pulls together through the finish, with green tea accents and racy minerality providing the foil. Drink now through 2035.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux 2015 750ML ($51.95) $44 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Offers ginger- and hibiscus-infused creamed yellow apple, quince and pear notes, gilded with a whiff of piecrust. All the elements meld through the long, rippling finish. Drink now through 2035.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Two Cuvees from Domaine Huet Available Here Now:
Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg Premiere Trie 2008 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “Starts with a tangy crème fraîche note before giving way to green almond, green tea, chamomile, powdered ginger and mineral notes. So precise it almost comes off as dry in feel, but the finish belies its late harvest with a showy candied citrus peel note. Drink now through 2025. 880 cases made.” WS
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Moelleux 2005 375ML (34.95) $26 special, 15 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “Reflecting a combination of botrytis and sheer desiccation, the 2005 Vouvray Moelleux Le Haut-Lieu smells of spiced apple and quince jelly, grapefruit zest, peony and buddleia, ethereal, honeyed secretions of botrytis and snuffed candle wick. Elegant, wafting and bright on the palate, this finishes with superb clarity and concentration, honeyed richness yet a restrained impression of sweetness (albeit at around 50 grams residual sugar) and offsetting hints of bitterness. Certainly it will in time (and then probably for well more than a decade) serve admirably with a wide array of cuisine but ought on no account be treated as ‘dessert wine.'”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Remelluri 2010 Reserva
New ETA & Case Deal
Arriving Late June
Settled into a valley surrounded by scrubby hills and peaks, Remelluri occupies a privileged place in the Riojan wine country and its history. Protected from wind and frost, the area around Remelluri has provided a home, and crops, to people since prehistoric times, including winegrowers like Romans, monks, and hermits. Then, in 1967, the estate and twenty acres of vineyard were purchased by the current owners, who have since recovered all of Remelluri’s 260 acres and added another 121 acres of vineyard.
Remelluri organically farms its nutrient-poor, deeply rooted vineyards. The grapes are hand-harvested, then sorted in the vineyard and cellar. Tempranillo, Grenache, and Graciano, all red grapes, go into the Reserva wine, with a little white Viura and Malvasia as well. The wine matures in oak barrels of different sizes and ages for 17 months. This is classic, traditional Rioja, given a modern touch by one of Spain’s rising-star winemakers, Telmo Rodriguez, whose parents bought Remelluri back in ’67.
The 2010 vintage has been rated outstanding. The wines are powerful yet poised, with good acidity and tannins for long ageing. The Remelluri 2010 Reserva is undoubtedly a wine to include in the Spanish nook of any cellar.
Arriving Late June:
Remelluri Granja Nuestra Senora de Remelluri Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Remelluri Granja Nuestra Senora de Remelluri Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($419.95) $359 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Peñín Guide to Spanish Wine 96 points – Podium Award: Exceptional Wine “(tempranillo, garnacha, graciano). Colour: cherry, garnet rim. Nose: ripe fruit, spicy, creamy oak, complex, expressive. Palate: flavourful, toasty, round tannins, balanced, elegant.”
James Suckling 95 points “A wine with beautiful finesse and depth. Dark fruits, dark chocolate, hazelnut and floral character. Polished and refined. Full body. Long and beautiful. Tasty finish. The first recent vintage 100% made by Telmo Rodriguez. Drink or hold.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The wine that represents the house style and also the biggest volume here with around 350,000 bottles produced is the 2010 Reserva which was cropped from an almost perfect growing season. A blend of the reds Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano and the whites Viura and Malvasía Riojana, it fermented with indigenous yeasts in a combination of stainless steel and oak vats then matured in French oak barrels for 17 months. The nose has earthy aromas and notes of ripe orange peel giving old-style character to the wine marked by very well-integrated oak and an obvious Rioja character. There are cherries, plums and spices with licorice and ink aromas. The day after, it has more strawberries with very good freshness, so the evolution in bottle should be good. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and good acidity that ends with sweet fruit flavors and something earthy, very pleasant and easy to drink. It grows on you.”
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Why pay $38.99 – $39.95?
Stephane Tissot
To the east of Burgundy, across the Saone valley, the pre-Alpine mountains rise to create a kaleidoscope of soil types, under a cool climate, and it’s no wonder that fine wine grows here. The Jura is better known for Comté cheese and the Jurassic era, but its vin jaune, red, and white wines are quickly rising in fame, partly thanks to Domaine Tissot. Masters of experimentation and militant stewards of the land, the Tissots make thirty-some unblended cuvées from 113 acres of biodynamically-farmed, low-yield vineyards.
Vin jaune is perhaps the best known Jura wine, and Tissot makes several. A cold cellar leads to very long fermentations, and all the while the wine, from the local Savagnin white grape, rests protected from oxygen by a layer of flor, just like sherry, hence the nutty aromas. Other wines include the Amphore, which ferments in clay amphorae, just like in ancient times, and a minerally Pinot Noir reminiscent of the great reds from across the valley. Chardonnay, too, grows well in the Jura, happy to have a meagre limestone footing. Jurassic geology may not be for everyone, but who doesn’t wish for a chunk of aged Comté and an eclectic wine – jaune, white, or red – while contemplating yet another exciting, lesser-known wine from France?
Newly Arrived from Stephane Tissot:
Stephane Tissot Arbois Rouge DD Sans Soufre 2014 ($29.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “The first red was the 2014 Arbois Rouge DD, produced with one third each of the red grapes form Jura, Poulsard, Trousseau and Pinot Noir; it’s his light red wine with no sulfur. It was bottled one month before I tasted it in April 2015, after three months of maceration. It has an organic nose that mixes blood oranges and sour cherries. The palate is sharp and a little edgy, but it is easy to drink. 2010 was the first vintage for this wine.”
Stephane Tissot Trousseau Amphore 2013 ($49.95) $39 special, 25 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “There are two reds in amphorae (420-liter ones) with six months of maceration, starting with the 2013 Arbois Trousseau Amphore. The grapes were hand-destemmed and it doesn’t show because I felt some stemmy character there; it’s somehow herbal with aromas of green tea and white flowers. It’s very open now, aromatic and exotic I’d say. It’s tasty and somehow earthy with a fine-grained texture. He likes to do this wine for fun.”
Stephane Tissot Chateau Chalon 2008 620ML ($99.95) $79 special, 23 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “When tasted next to the other vin jaunes from the same vintage, the 2008 Château Chalon felt very different, and you noticed the extra freshness of Chalon compared to Arbois. It has more green hazelnut, citrus and morel aromas, and is already showing some notes of curry. It is fine, straight and elegant. This is simply superb.”
Stephane Tissot Vin Jaune La Vasee 2008 620ML ($89.95) $79 special, 20 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2008 Arbois Vin Jaune La Vasée was closed and austere — a fresh style of vin jaune. It is salty, so this would be ideal with oysters. This is both powerful and concentrated with lots of iodine; it is a very salty, marine, characterful wine, and is sharp.”
White Burgundy
Not that a season exists for drinking fine white wine, but Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune whites do satisfy especially well in hot weather. The bouquet of honeysuckle and blossoms, the richness of hazelnuts and almonds, the fresh, round sweetness of apples and cream, all backed by a cooling minerality and acidity: Chardonnay exalted. From the legendary whites of Corton-Charlemagne in the north, to the celebrated crus of Puligny, Meursault, and Chassagne in the south, plus tucked-away villages like St. Aubin, a wine lover could spend a thousand summers tasting here.
Côte de Beaune Blanc
Watching over the renowned wine town of Beaune, the Côte de Beaune communal appellation sits on the Montagne de Beaune, just above the excellent Bressandes Premier Cru. The calcareous, silty white soil here lends itself to the production of fine Chardonnay. Full of fruit and gloss, with enough backbone to challenge the village wines, this is a proper introduction to the whites of the Côte de Beaune.
Domaine de la Vougeraie Côte de Beaune Pierres Blanches Blanc 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 10 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2012 Côtes de Beaune Les Pierres Blanches is marked by its fabulous energy and precision. Green pear, lemon, slate and grapefruit jump from the glass in a precise, finely cut white to drink now and over the next few years.” AG
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Corton-Charlemagne
Known for its spice, vigor, and mineral notes (perhaps stemming from the stony, chalky white limestone soil), this is one of Burgundy’s greatest whites, hence its Grand Cru status. Myth relates that the Emperor Charlemagne wished for a magnificent wine that wouldn’t stain his pearly beard. True or not, Corton-Charlemagne needs up to a decade of bottle time to display its royal pedigree, and after that it can reign supreme for another few dozen years.
Olivier Leflaive Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2011 750 ML ($149.95) $115 special, 16 bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 points “This is well-marked by new oak, with plenty of stuffing underneath. Notes of lime, white flowers, apple, sweet spice and petrol ride a wave of vibrant acidity as this stays linear and defined through the long finish. The lime and mineral accents are enhanced by spice details in the aftertaste. Best from 2017 through 2028. 62 cases imported.” WS
Domaine Faiveley Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 14 bottles available
Burghound 92-94 points “Here too the wood treatment is quite deft which allows the cool Granny Smith apples, pear, wet stone and spice scents to shine. There is also a seductive mouth feel to the broad-shouldered, supple and round flavors that brim with dry extract before displaying plenty of power and punch on the seriously long finish. This is easily the most backward wine in the range at present yet the impression is unusually fine, both in the context of the appellation but also in the context of this wine in general as it’s usually more robust. Be all of that as it may, this is very, very promising.”BH
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Meursault
A soft, rich favorite of many, Meursault seduces on the first sniff. Buttery hazelnuts combine with apples and white flowers to create a rounded, luscious wine that can be enjoyed with or without food: Meursault is that delicious. The village lacks Grand Cru vineyards, but its Premier Crus represent some of Burgundy’s best, and its village-level wines often perform at Premier Cru level.
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Meursault Clos du Cromin 2011 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 23 bottles available
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 92 points “The 2011 Meursault Clos du Cromin is all about freshness, energy and vibrancy. Lemon, white flowers, jasmine and a hint of spice are supported by clean veins of minerality that add tension and brightness. With time in the glass, the wine becomes increasingly more focused, vibrant and persistent. I very much like the sense of energy here.” AG
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Domaine Remi Jobard Le Poruzot Dessus Meursault Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($99.95) $69 special, 30 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “A deep, earthy wine, the 2011 Meursault 1er Cru Poruzots-Dessus hits the palate with tons of muscle and power. The style is bold and direct. There isn’t a whole lot of complexity here, but there is plenty of pure stuffing. It will be interesting to see where the 2011 goes over the coming year. Today structural elements dominate over fruit.” AG
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Puligny-Montrachet
The wines of Puligny may well provide the most concentrated expression of white Burgundy. Besides its share of Le Montrachet, where the Chardonnay grape indisputably finds its apogee of finesse, concentration, and complexity, Puligny possesses an elite family of Premier Crus. The array of floral, apple-peachy, and almondy nuances often resists description, while a vital acidity keeps the wine refreshing and on its feet for many years. There’s a purity, a full-bodied viscosity, and a depth of flavor to Puligny whites that will leave you forever asking questions, and searching for more.
Lucien Le Moine Les Folatieres Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($149.95) $133 special, 7 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 91-94 points “The 2011 Puligny-Montrachet Folatieres is going to need serious time to come together. Today, it is the wine’s persistence and textural finesse that stand out most, even if all the elements haven’t fully come together just yet. There is a lot to look forward to here. It will be interesting to see if the wine retains the powerful personality that is on display today, or if further time in barrel tames some of the exuberance.” AG
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Domaine Henri Boillot Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 10 bottles available
Burghound 94 points “This is also notably ripe but the aromas do not run to the exotic as the honeysuckle, apricot, white peach and subtle spice notes are entirely classic. There is an appealing succulence to the delicious, intense and strikingly fine medium-bodied flavors and while there is certainly a sense of focused power present on the long, clean and refined finish, this is essentially a Bienvenues of finesse.”BH
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Chassagne-Montrachet
Also reputed for its portion of Le Montrachet vineyard, Chassagne ironically made its name with red wine. Until Chardonnay reached global fame in the 20th century, that is. Chassagne borders Puligny to the south, and actually tastes a bit warmer: Juicy, citric (lemon), and less acidic than Puligny, the wines of Chassagne testify to the mesmerizing diversity of Burgundian terroir.
Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Chassagne-Montrachet Les Ancegnieres 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 12 bottles available
Burghound 88-91 points “Strong sulfur-based aromas presently dominate the nose. By contrast there is a lovely sense of purity to the broad-shouldered and robust medium weight flavors that brim with dry extract on the very generously proportioned, long and well-balanced finish. This is a big wine by the typical standards of villages level wines and one that should also be approachable after only a few years of bottle age.” BH
Jean-Marc Pillot Les Vergers, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($89.95) $66 special, 18 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92 points “Pale, bright yellow. Showy aromas of pear, orange zest and minerals. Fruitier and sweeter than the 2014 version, offering a fleshiness that that wine currently lacks. (“The 2014 is rigid, like the 2010,” notes Pillot.) This lovely pliant, harmonious wine finishes with excellent lemony lift.”
Louis Jadot Montrachet Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($419.95) $349 special, 3 bottles available
Burghound 94-97 points “Here the nose is notably more reserved with aromas of citrus zest, spice, wood toast, fennel and spice hints. This is also a very imposingly-scaled wine with its big, muscular and wonderfully complex flavors that culminate in a long, focused and explosive finish of breathtaking length and intensity. This overtly powerful effort should reward at least a decade in the cellar and drink well for another. A ‘wow’ wine.” BH
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St. Aubin
Just above Puligny lie the vineyards of St. Aubin. These are not the region’s most famous whites, but they are among the most refreshing and approachable. Upright, lively, with earthy notes, they mimic Puligny in style, but not in price. Fine white Burgundy, off the beaten path: St. Aubin is for those in the know, for everyday Côte de Beaune drinking.
Domaine Hubert Lamy Derriere Chez Edouard Blanc Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 22 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2013 Saint Aubin 1er Cru Derrière Chez Edouard has a marvelous, mineral-driven bouquet that soars from the glass with hints of wilted white flowers in the background. The palate is very well balanced, very harmonious, a wine where you can taste the vineyard’s white marn soils. It gradually builds to a very poised slightly peachy finish. Superb.”
Domaine Hubert Lamy Clos du Meix Blanc Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 20 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points ‘Everything is in the right place in the 2010 St. Aubin Clos de Meix. A round, seamless and totally alluring white, the Clos de Meix impresses for its fabulous balance. Although quite open at first, the 2010 turns weightless and a bit ethereal on the gracious finish.” AG
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You can choose from 93 white Burgundies and 424 Red Burgundies in our store or online here at www.vinopoliswineshop.com
That’s right – thousands of bottles and hundreds of cases!
Don’t Panic!
We have more Cameron Dundee Hills
Our pick for the best value in Oregon Pinot in the 2014 vintage:
Cameron Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($31.95) $24 special
This is all declassified Abbey Ridge and Clos Electrique Pinot Noir that shows its pedigree: there are classic notes of dusty Dundee spice with fresh thyme and black raspberry. It’s elegant. It’s age-worthy. And it’s simply the best value we’ve tasted from the 2014 vintage. Only 400 cases made.
Have a lovely weekend!