Category: Burgundy

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Bloomsday Commemoration: Beaune Odyssey in Six Premier Crus (Father’s Day 6-Bottle Pack $299, Tax Included)

“Glowing wine on his palate lingered swallowed. Crushing in the winepress grapes of Burgundy. Sun’s heat it is. Seems to a secret touch telling me memory. Touched his sense moistened remembered. Hidden under wild ferns on Howth below us bay sleeping: sky. No sound. The sky… O wonder! Coolsoft with ointments her hand touched me, caressed: her eyes upon me did not turn away. Ravished over her I lay, full lips full open, kissed her mouth. Yum…. She kissed me. I was kissed. All yielding she tossed my hair. Kissed, she kissed me.” – James Joyce, ‘Ulysses’

 

In the Roaring Twenties, such literary eroticism had its price: ‘Ulysses’ was banned in the United States from 1922 (the year it was published) to 1933, a period of time that roughly mirrors Prohibition. James Joyce’s iconic novel follows—in minute and exhilarating detail—three Dubliners as they meander through the course of a single day, June 16, 1904, and is today considered one of the most important works of literature ever composed.

 

Much of the action in ‘Ulysses’ takes place in pubs, where Leopold Bloom—the novel’s main protagonist—shows a particular penchant for Burgundy. In a passage that made the very real ‘Davy Byrne’s Pub’ famous, Bloom orders a Gorgonzola sandwich along with his customary glass of Burgundy.

We won’t sell you cheese or bread, because we’re a wine shop. But while Joyce fans across the globe celebrate ‘Bloomsday 2021’ by marathon Joyce readings, pub crawls and bubbly walks through Dublin, we’ll take you on a symbolic stroll along the ancient Route de Bouze, which divides Beaune into two distinct sub-regions, North and South.

We are pleased to offer one bottle of each of the following six wines for an inclusive price of $299. Happy Father’s Day.

 

• • • • SOUTH • • • •

 
 

Domaine Claudie Jobard ‘Gabriel Billard’

 

Claudie Jobard’s mother is considered one of the top oenologists in France and her father was a ‘pépiniériste viticole’ descended from generations of Burgundian vine growing experts. With a pedigree that illustrious, one expects great things from Claudie, the 8th generation in her family to work in wine. The domain was created by Claudie’s parents in the 1970s and named for her maternal grandfather, but prior to 2004, ‘Gabriel Billard’ was sold exclusively to négociants. It was Claudie’s influence that brought these wines directly to the public, under a winemaking principal that she refers to as ‘la lutte raisonnée’, or ‘the reasoned struggle’ which is conscientious organic farming without the stricture of official certification rules.

 

Beaune Premier Cru “Les Epenotes” – Jobard 2014 ($38): The ‘climat’ of Les Epenotes derives its name from ‘épine’—a reference to the thorn-shrubs that once grew here. The wine displays a supple, pretty nose replete with dried cherry and cassis with notes of hazelnut and cocoa; the palate is long and generous, with a hint of smoke and vanilla in the background, finishing with a delightfully rustic piquancy.

 

 

 

Domaine Albert Morot

Virtually synonymous with Côte de Beaune, Domaine Albert Morot was founded in 1820 by a négociant, and by 1890, the family-run business had moved into the same buildings on the Route de Bouze that they occupy today. In 2000, Françoise Choppin—the great granddaughter of the original owner Albert Morot—turned the estate over to Geoffroy Choppin de Janvry, who had prepared for his role by studying agronomy at Montpellier University. The Domaine consists of just under fifteen acres of vineyards split between seven Beaune Premier Cru vineyards: Les Teurons, Les Grèves, Les Toussaints, Les Bressandes, Les Cent-Vignes, Les Marconnets and Les Aigrots.

Beaune Premier Cru “Aigrots” – Morot 2015 ($50): Aigrots is another thorny 1er Cru, this one named for the holly shrubs in the west of Beaune where the terroir is typical of the finest Burgundies—calcareous clay, limestone and scree. The wine is expressive and bright, showing black cherry and raspberry up front with a slightly earthy undertone; moderate spice, mostly cinnamon and cola, which warms the mid-palate and leads to a clean, acidic finish filled with silky tannins.

 

 

 
 

• • • • NORTH • • • •

 

 

Beaune Premier Cru “Toussaints” – Morot 2016 ($49):  More from Morot! Les Toussaints, means ‘all saints’ and lies in the northern sector of Beaune surrounded by some of Beaune’s larger and better-known Premier Crus, including Grèves, Bressandes and Cents-Vignes. Wines from the north tend to be fresher and more elegant than those from the south; this one shows notes of macerating black cherries mingled with rose-petals, lychee and spices accented by chocolate. The structure is powerful and rounded and the finish is satisfyingly long.

 

Beaune Premier Cru “Cent-Vignes” – Morot 2015 ($50): This Morot selection hails from the base of the Beaune hillsides, where the lightweight, sandy-textured is typical of lower vineyards where there is an accumulation of scree. The wine is medium-bodied and aromatic; the vividness of the nose is outstanding, and the on the palate, the fruit tends toward the red side of the spectrum, with tart cherry and wild raspberry along with a soil-driven earthiness.

 

 

 

 
 
 
 

Domaine Rapet

The family estate of Rapet dates to 1765; today, the domain’s 35 acres of vines stretch across the villages of Pernand-Vergelesses, Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune, Chorey-lès-Beaune and Aloxe-Corton. Current owner Vincent Rapet is known for a classical approach to winemaking, both in the field and in the cellar. Along with his wife Sylvette he oversees parcels in three Grand Crus, Corton-Charlemagne, Corton, and Corton Pougets, and nine in Premier Cru vineyards. His Pinot Noir-based wines see an average 15-day maceration period followed by maturation in 228-liter oak barriques, of which about 30% are new wood.

Beaune Premier Cru “Clos du Roi” – Rapet 2014 ($46): Clos du Roi is a small vineyard, but without doubt one of the best plots in Beaune. Once owned by the dukes of Burgundy and highly favored at Versailles, the site enjoys a perfect south/south-easterly exposure. This produces wines with sinew, rich and flirtatious with flavors of glacé cherries, crushed stone, licorice and mint. A friendly mouthfeel with sweet oak and austere minerality to rein it in.

 

 

 

 
 
 

Domaine Paul Pernot

Paul Pernot’s grandfather was a négociant in Puligny and the fifteen acres he owned had been in the family for over two centuries. Ironically, the ground was largely unsuited to vines—at least, until the advent of modern technology (tractors) allowed the hard limestone surface rock to be worked. Founded in 1959, Domaine Paul Pernot proceeded to do exactly that, and today, 65% of his property is found within the commune of Puligny-Montrachet, including plots in Les Folatières, Les Pucelles, Clos de la Garenne and Champ Canet, and two Grand Cru parcels: Bienvenues Bâtard-Montrachet and Bâtard-Montrachet. As such, he is one of the top growers in Puligny.

Beaune Lieu-dit “Clos du Dessus des Marconnets” Monopole – Pernot 2015 ($49):  Among the 35% of Pernot land not in Puligny, Les Marconnets sits on the east-facing slope of Mont Battois hill in the southern part of the Savigny-lès-Beaune. The wine is round and racy, showing a nice brick rim in the glass behind a pungent nose of plum and truffle and a fragrant herbal thread that winds through. A brilliant example of the lieu-dit, with floral high tones, mineral purity and a vibrant, beautifully integrated tannic structure.

 
 
 
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Pure Burgundy: Chardonnay Never Had It So Good. The Flagship Cuvées of Four of Chablis’ Top-Tier Producers. (8-Bottle Pack $298, All Included.)

When Chardonnay is grown in climates less than ideal, resulting flaws are often tempered by oak. If such wines are described as cedary, buttery, vanilla-like or toasty, and chances are, the taster is defining qualities derived from the barrels used to ferment or mature the wine, because these are not qualities of the grape itself. Mineral notes like chalk, slate, schist or even powdered silica are the domain of the fruit; they are Chardonnay flavors, most of derived from the soil in which the grape vine grows.

Chablis—Burgundy’s most northerly appellation—produces the world’s most bracing and refreshingly uncluttered incarnation of Chardonnay. In Chablis, traditions are born of an ego that is mostly justified, and winemakers insist that the expression of the fruit be pure. That is not to say that no Chablis sees oak; many certainly do. It’s just that the whole approach to what barreling is supposed to accomplish in a glass is viewed differently in this rocky, chilly, outpost, less than a hundred miles from that other bastion of varietal purity, Sancerre.

Chablis is subdivided into four AOPs based on quality factors which nearly all come down to soil and slope and grape yields. The largest of these, simply called Chablis, covers about sixteen thousand acres; the smallest, designated Grand Cru, is only a couple hundred acres in size and is limited to seven vineyards. To Chardonnay fans, these are like the seven celestial Pleiades in Greek mythology; their name on a Chablis bottle is tantamount to magic and an expectation thereof. The Premier Cru designation can be affixed to any of seventeen vineyards on both sides of the River Serein; the best occupy the right bank near the Grand Crus; the rest are southwest of the city of Chablis.

It remains testimony to Chablis’ ‘amour-propre’ that the district is willing to count on breeding, not masking, to show off its wares.

This package includes two bottles from each of Chablis top-tier producers. (8-Bottle Pack $298, All Included)

 

Domaine Billaud-Simon

Credit Napoléon’s loss at Waterloo for the establishment of Domaine Billaud-Simon; Charles Louis Noël Billaud returned home from the war to plant vines on the family holdings in Chablis. A century later, the estate expanded with the marriage of his descendent Jean Billaud to Renée Simon. Since 2014 owned by Erwan Faiveley, the 42-acre site produces wine from four Grand Cru vineyards, including single-acre plots in Les Clos and Les Preuses. The Domaine also owns four Premier Cru vineyards, including Montée de Tonnèrre, Mont-de-Milieu, Fourchaume and Vaillons. Chablis 2017 ‘Tête d’Or’ ($46) is sourced from 28-year-old vines from a parcel sitting at the foot of the Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre in the heart of the Chablis appellation; the name means ‘Head of Gold’ and shows pure green-apple and bitter almond with an almost saline-like intensity. It’s a letter-perfect oyster wine, nicely nuanced with graphite, grapefruit and lemon.
Domaine Billaud-Simon

 

Domaine Laroche

Vines were first planted in the confines of what is today Laroche the same year that algebra was invented; in 2021, both mathematics and Laroche are still going strong. Today, Domaine Laroche is one of the largest landholders of Grand Cru vineyards in Chablis, with 222 acres spread across the entire region. Michel Laroche—whose name is held in the same reverence in Chablis as Michel Chapoutier’s is in northern Rhône or Olivier Humbrecht’s in Alsace—relies on one-man plots, meaning that a single person is wholly responsible for the care of each vineyard parcel, from the pruning, soil conditioning and control of yields to the sorting of the harvest. Chablis 2018 ‘Saint-Martin’ ($32) is named for the patron saint of Chablis, a Roman cavalry officer who became a monk and was elected Bishop of Tours. The cuvée is a blend of the best plots, all sit on Chablis’ legendary Kimmeridgian soil, and produce excellent acidity and remarkable finesse. The wine shows Bartlett pear and lily on the nose, pineapple and honey in the mid-palate and violet and candied lemon on the textured, creamy finish.
Domaine Laroche

 

Christian Moreau Père & Fils

The pedigree of the Moreau name dates to 1814 when barrel-maker Jean-Joseph Moreau founded a wine-merchant trading firm in Chablis. Although that original firm has changed hands several times, including a sale to Hiram Walker in 1985 and again to the Boissets of Nuits-Saint-Georges in 1998, the Moreau family never relinquished control of their vineyards. Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils began vinifying at the turn of the 21st century, and is now under the watchful care of Fabien Moreau: “Being the 6th generation of the family producing wines, was and still is a challenge for me, trying to avoid the pressure you could have with this wine heritage. But with the quality of the vineyard that my family passed on, the basis of the expression of our wines is here, and our work is to honor our terroirs.” Chablis 2018 ($36) is a cuvée built from grapes purchased from the bordering villages of Fontenay-Près-Chablis (near Fourchaume) and Béru. It is a taut, compelling wine that reflects a mineral-tinged sharpness that the French describe as ‘goût de pierre à fusil’—gunflint—alongside aromas white hawthorn flowers and a cut of citrus.
Domaine Christian Moreau

 

Domaine Servin

When you’ve been growing wine grapes in Chablis since 1547, post-Napoleonic upstart houses are the new kids on the block. With so many generations of winemakers and a pantheon of awards that span centuries, it is to be expected that the philosophy of Chablis, when uttered by a Servin, should be heeded. Says François Servin, the current winemaker, who was raised on vintages like 1929, 1947 and 1959: “A good Chablis is not a wine which is very elegant when young; Chablis for me is a wine which is good over 20 years.” This keen understanding of older vintages convinced him that malolactic fermentation combined with late bottling increases the ageing capacity of his wines. Chablis 2018 ‘Les Pargues’ ($27), planted in the vineyards behind the Premier Crus Vaillons and Montmains, employs a judicious blend of barrels and stainless-steel vats to create a wine that is concentrated and mineral-driven, showing natural mellowness, a touch of anise and lemon-peel balanced by smoke and earth.

Domaine Servin

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Saturday Sips: Domaine Michel Gay’s Côte-de-Beaune Reds & Beaune’s Lone Red Grand Cru, Corton (6-Bottle Wine-Pack $390, All Included)

We are pleased to announce the return of Saturday Sips! We will be applying in-store tasting protocols to ensure everyone stays safe and will limit the number of people tasting at any given time and adhere to proper social-distancing using assigned tasting spots marked on the floor. Our tasting glasses will be one time use for the day but feel free to bring your own glass if you wish.

Domaine Michel Gay’s Côte-de-Beaune reds and Beaune’s only red Grand Cru, Corton. 6-Bottle Wine-Pack $390, All Included. The all-red 6-bottle selection includes one bottle of each of Corton-Renardes (Grand Cru), Savigny-lès-Beaune Vergelesses (Premier Cru), Aloxe-Corton, and three bottles of Bourgogne “Côte d’Or Rouge.

Domaine Michel Gay et Fils

Great wines may be made in the vineyard, but the finesse is often created on the sorting table. When Sébastien Gay took over Domaine Michel Gay after his father’s 2001 retirement, among the improvements he initiated was a shift to organic farming, doing multiple “green harvests,” limiting yields by hand-pruning the vines and adding a pair of sorting tables where dozens of workers determine the quality levels of individual grapes. According to Sébastien, “Our wines show more balance now because modern techniques allow us to better control the different steps in the winemaking process.”

At just over 37 acres, the estate is relatively small, but it incorporates vineyard plots in communes with storied names and spreads across a kaleidoscope of terroirs, including Chorey‐lès‐Beaune, Aloxe‐Corton, Savigny‐lès‐Beaune Premier Crus Serpentières and Vergelesses, three premier crus in Beaune, Toussaints, Aux Coucherias, and Les Grèves, as well as a small parcel on the Corton hill in the Renardes vineyard. Vines are between forty and sixty years old, and receive the same individualized attention as the grapes do at harvest. A fifth-generation winemaker, Sébastien who recently was joined by his son Laurent, has embraced modernity while revering tradition and the result is a portfolio of wines that see improvement with nearly every vintage.

Corton – Grand Cru

Age is a treasured commodity in wine, but the limestone of Corton, lying between Ladoix and Meursault is younger than anywhere else along the Côte. The largest Grand Cru in Burgundy, Corton forms a natural amphitheater on the northern tip of the Côte de Beaune. Other than the dense woodlands that caps the summit, the renowned hill of Corton is almost entirely planted to grapes, although the Grand Cru designation covers only the southern half. On the western slope, Chardonnay benefits from surface layers of limestone, while the eastern side—being exposed to morning sunlight and richer in marlstone—is perfectly suited to Pinot Noir.

Corton-Renardes Grand Cru “Vieilles Vignes” 2016, $145
Les Renardes is a well-known lieu-dit of the Corton Grand Cru appellation; it sits on an eastern slope of the Montagne de Corton and produces exceptional Pinot Noir. The soils in this corner of Aloxe-Corton are rich in iron oolite, giving the wines a characteristically feral richness, which is both encouraged and embraced by the winemakers. This supple 2016 shows juicy red plum and anise with delicate overtones of smoke and earth resplendent with the leathery layers for which the vineyard is famous.

Savigny-lès-Beaune

The territory between Corton and Beaune is heavy with the remains of French aristocracy; here, land and vineyard owners have included dukes, Cistercians and even Popes. Savigny-lès-Beaune wines are said to reflect that heritage, with a special emphasis on elegance. The whites may appear deep gold with emerald highlights, while the reds—representing more than 85% of the total production—are in equal measure powerful and robust. In terms of terroir, the lower slopes are rich with alluvia from the Rhoin, and the highest plots, at elevations even greater than those of the hill of Corton, are rooted in gravelly soils with a scattering of ironstone.

Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru – Vergelesses 2016, $59
Of Savigny-lès-Beaune’s premier cru vineyards, Les Vergelesses is known for red wines of depth and distinction. It sits on the south-facing side of River Le Rhoin at a point where the valley opens out onto the plains between Beaune and Corton. The 2016 vintage produced low yields of exceptional quality, showing focused wild strawberry and peppery spice wrapped in supple tannins.

 

Aloxe-Corton

The appellation of Aloxe-Corton stands guard near vinous gates of the Grand Crus of Corton and Corton-Charlemagne, enjoying (if not the prestige) many similar growing conditions, producing almost exclusively red wines known for both a depth of color and an intensity of flavor. With vines facing east, the terroir is soil driven, with flint and limestone rich in potassium and phosphoric acid lending supple firmness to the wines, especially those from the appellation’s southern end.

Aloxe-Corton “Vieilles Vignes” 2016 $59
Drawing from four unique vineyards within Aloxe-Corton—Les Crapousuets, Les Caillettes, Boulmeau and Les Boutières—Michel Gay’s “Vieilles Vignes” refers to vines with an average age of more than 60 years. The complex characteristics of old vine wine are present with deep garnet hues and a toasty reduction of cassis, licorice, currants and silken tannins.

 

 

Bourgogne (Regional)

Authorized in 1937, the designation AOC “Bourgogne” encompasses all 385 villages in the Burgundy region. To use the appellation on a label, the grapes must come from one, or all, of the three departments of Yonne, Côte-d’Or and Saône-et-Loire. Although often considered an ‘entry-level’ Burgundy, few of the vineyards are situated near illustrious vineyards and quality may reflect that. It’s fair to say that whereas some wines bearing the “Bourgogne” deignation may be acidic or harsh, some of the greatest values may also be found here.

Bourgogne Côte d’Or Rouge 2017 $35
The AOC “Bourgogne Côte d’Or” encompasses 40 villages between Dijon and Maranges; as a restriction within the general Bourgogne AOC, it is fairly new, intended to highlight the unique potential of the Côte d’Or to produce wines superior to either Yonne or Saône-et-Loire. Michel Gay’s 2017 displays a solid, fleshy Burgundian profile, with ripe cherry, cinnamon, forest floor and a soft tannic backbone.

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RED FRIDAY – 15% OFF BURGUNDY! – (3, 6, or 12-pack, Name Your Price and We Will Suggest the Selection and Deliver for Free)

Burgundy is much more than Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from France, it’s a winemaking region with more classified geological complexity and nuance than any other in the world. And Elie Wine Company is not an average wine shop, because we keep wine from the best vintages to develop in our temperature controlled shop. Indeed, our selection of Burgundy is deeper in appellations and vintages than most wine shops in Burgundy itself.

One of the most remarkable aspects about the Burgundy region is the breadth of different expressions that can be derived from two grape varieties. We have prime examples of everything from inexpensive regional wines to the inimitable Grand Crus of Montrachet and the Côte de Nuits.

While we are very proud of the fact that we carry some of the greatest and most compelling bottles from one of the world’s most celebrated regions, we couldn’t do it without your support. One of the most satisfying aspects of our business is sharing the history, geography, and producer’s stories. It’s customers like you that allow us that opportunity.

To show our gratitude we’re offering a 15% discount on all wines from the Burgundy region, Friday only. Let us know what you want to spend and we’ll put together a great package of Burgundy for you to enjoy over the holidays. As always, we can deliver it to your doorstep for free (within a reasonable distance of our shop) and leave it there for you to bring in at your convenience.

 

Value Burgundy

Wines from great producers with vineyards in lesser appellations are the lowest priced yet highest-quality entry point into the world of Burgundy. There might not be a better wine to pair with all the foods at a holiday table than the Pinot Noir and Gamay blend of Robert Chevillon’s Passetoutgrain 2017 ($27). Gachot-Monot’s Côte de Nuits-Villages 2018 ($29) is a deeply colored, highly aromatic, full and complex Côtes de Nuits Villages that tastes more like Nuits-St-Georges than village Burgundy. Pierre Bart’s Marsannay “Les Echezots” 2016 ($34) is a customer favorite while Nicole Lamarche’s Hautes Côtes-de-Nuits 2015 ($33) speaks of the pedigree of her Vosne-Romanée estate. There is even value to be had at the Premier Cru level with François Lummp’s Givry Premier Cru “A Vigne Rouge” 2015 ($43). The list goes on…

 

The Slopes of Côte d’Or

In Burgundy, geography is the major factor in the hierarchy of the region’s wines. In the right vigneron’s hands, the patchwork appellations on the slopes of Côtes de Nuits and Côtes de Beaune can produce exhilarating wines with a clear sense of place, from the rich, juicy fruit of Savigny-lès-Beaune, to the broad-shouldered Gevrey-Chambertin, and everything in-between. Here are but a few examples: Vincent Rapet’s Beaune Premier Cru “Clos du Roi” 2014 ($46), Geoffroy Choppin with Albert Morot’s Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru Bataillère 2016 ($47), Vincent Girardin’s old vines parcel in Chassagne-Montrachet 2017 ($50), Paul and his sons, Paul and Michel, with Paul Pernot’s Beaune “Clos des Teurons” 2015 ($55), Stéphane Magnien’s “Aux Petites Noix” Morey-St-Denis Premier Cru ($55), Vincent Mongeard-Mugneret’s old vines parcel in Fixin 2017 ($59), Florence and Simon Heresztyn-Mazzini’s old vines Gevrey-Chambertin 2014 ($64), the list goes on…

 

The Premiers Crus of Côte d’Or

Centuries of experience have enabled growers to establish the widely accepted hierarchy of superior terroir in Burgundy. Some of the region’s greatest and most concentrated wines come from single vineyard parcels known as Premier Crus, or “1er Crus.” At only a fraction of the zone’s production, these are some of the most desirable wines in the world. You can expect even more of Burgundy’s charm in the Premiers Crus from Maurice Chapuis’s Aloxe-Corton 2015 ($71), Sébastien Odoul-Coquard’s Chambolle-Musigny “Les Baudes” 2014 ($81), Rodolphe Demougeot’s Pommard “Charmots” 2015 ($84), Fernand & Laurent Pillot’s Pommard “Rugiens” 2012 ($99), Richard Manière’s Nuits-St-Georges “Les Damodes” 2014 ($93), Dominique Gallois’ Gevrey-Chambertin “La Combe aux Moines” 2014 ($99), the list goes on…and we haven’t even told you about our vast selection of Grands Crus.

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Half-a-Dozen Wines to Pour on Thanksgiving Day (12-pack for $280 All-Included)

G.K. Chesterton wrote, “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”

Despite (or perhaps because of) the tumult of 2020, we can probably all find something to be thankful for this year. Whether it be health, family, a meaningful life, or just a substantial supply of toilet paper, why not celebrate with a box of tasty wine especially selected to pair with the season’s feast?

The typical Thanksgiving meal is far too diverse with textures, flavors and aromas to labor over perfect pairings. The most important characteristics of the wines on your table is that they are light, refreshing, energetic, with moderate alcohol, lots of fruit, a lively acidity, and versatile.

We’ve selected a list of wines that will enhance any holiday feast: white wines abundant with fruit and freshness, and reds that aren’t too tannic or heavy. You don’t want anything too bold that might become cumbersome and overpower many of the dishes. Best of all, these are all wines that drink well before, during, and after the meal, so there’s no need to get all fussy about what’s getting poured.

Half-a-Dozen Wines to Pour on Thanksgiving Day (12-pack for $280 All-Included)

This 12-Pack contains two bottles of each wine. The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a discount of nearly 15% off the regular price. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to your order.

As usual, we can deliver to your doorstep for free (within a reasonable distance of our shop) and leave it there for you to bring in at your convenience, including on Thanksgiving Day.

 

Domaine Weinbach Riesling (Alsace 2018) Regular Price: $33, WHITE

Domaine Weinbach lies at the foot of the majestic Grand Cru of Schlossberg hill and has been planted with vines since the Ninth Century. A family run estate since 1898, they produce an exquisite range of wines. Domaine Weinbach started farming biodynamically in 1998 and were certified in 2010. With a focus on purity and terroir expression, the wines are made in old oak vats with indigenous yeasts. This is the epitome of Alsace Riesling, dry, rich, concentrated, and intoxicatingly fragrant. A glass is juicy, vivid, ripe and fresh, with a stony finish that speaks deeply of the land.

 

Can Sumoi “Perfum” (Penedès 2019) Regular Price: $25, WHITE 

Can Sumoi is a new project from Pepe Raventós and Francesc Escala to create vibrant wines from the mountains of the Baix Penedès in the Catalunya region of northeastern Spain. True to its name, “Perfum” exudes a heady mix of aromatics, primarily floral notes of jasmine and rose, although there is an abundance of orchard fruit as well. A sip leads with citrus that turns to soft, ripe apples on the midpalate. All that fruit rides a wave of juicy acidity all the way to the finish. The wine is a blend of 50% Moscatel, 30% Macabeo, and 20% Parellada. Although vinified completely dry, the Moscatel (Muscat) variety contributes much of its aromatic character to this wine. Bottled without additives or filtering.

 

Domaine Gachot-Monot (Côte de Nuits-Villages 2018) Regular Price: $34, RED

Fifth-generation vigneron Damien Gachot and his Danish wife, Lise, farm about 30 acres in the village of Corgoloin, in between Nuits-Saint-Georges and Beaune. He has harnessed the ability to balance traditional vineyard management and respect of terroir with more contemporary methodologies in the cellar. His wines are some of the best values in Burgundy. 100% Pinot Noir from vines 40 to 45 years old growing in clay and limestone soils, this is a deeply colored, highly aromatic, full and complex Côtes de Nuits Villages that tastes more like Nuits-St-Georges than village Burgundy.

 

Domaine Robert-Denogent “Jules Chauvet” (Beaujolais-Villages 2017) Regular Price: $25, RED

“Cuvée Jules Chauvet” is made from a three acre parcel of Gamay vines in a 15 acre vineyard that was owned by the late Jules Chauvet – a legend for his pioneering work with organic viticulture in Beaujolais and his leadership in the French natural wine movement. The wine is made with rigorous sorting in the vineyard and minimal intervention in the cellar and then aged for 16 months in seven-year-old barrels. The aromatics are all strawberries and cinnamon, the telltale of a semi-carbonic maceration process that keeps the wine light and lively. A sip is fresh and bursting with berry fruit, a downright pleasure to drink.

 

Cà Viola “Vilot” (Dolcette d’Alba 2017) Regular Price: $19, RED 

Giuseppe “Beppe” Caviola is one of the most important oenologists in Italy. Indeed, in 2002, Beppe was named “Enologist of the Year” by the Italian wine industry’s most important guide, Gambero Rosso. Beppe is focused on showcasing the terroir of the Langhe and employs sustainable vineyard and winemaking practices at all times. A traditional Dolcetto, “Vilot” is produced from 20 year old vines growing on the high, steep slopes of Montelupo in soils rich in calcareous clay marl and sandstone. Fresh blackberries lead into a smooth and balanced finish in this classic food wine.

 

Artuke (Rioja 2019) Regular Price: $17, RED

“Artuke” is made with the carbonic maceration method, a wine-making technique used to enhance aromatics and produce luscious, fresh, fruity wines preferred by Basques in the northern sub-zone of Alavesa. It is a blend of mainly Tempranillo grapes with about 5% of the white grape, Viura, from vineyards in the village of Baños de Ebro. The wine is fermented and aged in concrete for close to six months before bottling. It smells like a four-berry pie. This mouth-watering red wine takes a relatively deep chill which makes it a versatile pairing with pretty much everything on the Thanksgiving table.

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Return of Saturday Sips + (6-Pack Sampler for $220 All-Included) – Accessible Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits Burgundy: “Bourgogne Régional AOC” from 3 Top Producers

Although Bourgogne Régional AOCs are the first step in classification, and around 50% of the greater region’s production, not all of its wines are created equal. A savvy consumer (with the help of their knowledgeable local wine merchant) can find excellent values by purchasing regional wine from the area’s top producers.

In many cases the vineyards that produce the fruit for these wines lie near (sometimes even in) more prestigious appellations, quite often separated by mere feet. The vineyards tend to be located along the foot of the wine-growing slopes on limestone soils mixed with some clays and marls, depending on the geographical situation.

This Saturday’s tasting and 6-pack sampler is a great introduction into the region that won’t make too much of a dent into the wine budget. And if you’ve already succumbed to the beguiling beauty of Burgundy’s wines, the sampler provides a nice mix to drink now or lay down for a couple of years while you’re waiting for your more prestigious bottles to develop.

(6-Pack Sampler for $220 All-Included) – Accessible Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits Burgundy: “Bourgogne Régional AOC” from 3 Top Producers

This 6-Pack Sampler contains two different bottles from each of these three renowned producers. The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a 10% discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the package.

Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair

Cousin to Vicomte Liger-Belair of La Romanée fame, in 2001 Thibault Liger-Belair took over storied family property in Nuits-Saint-Georges, reclaiming vineyards which had been contracted out to various sharecroppers and creating a new domaine under his own name. The properties include some of the most hallowed vineyards in Burgundy: The Grands Crus of Richebourg and Clos de Vougeot, as well as the Premier Cru of Les Saint-Georges that is one of the few vineyards in modern-era Burgundy to be considered for promotion to Grand Cru.

“Les Grands Chaillots” (Bourgogne 2017) RED Regular Price: $45

100% Pinot Noir. An assemblage of different terroirs located in the Côte d’Or. A third comes from the vineyards of an estate in Nuits-Saint-Georges and two-thirds comes from other appellations such as Marsannay, Côtes de Nuits, Beaune, and Ladoix-Serrigny.

 “La Corvée de Villy” (Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits 2017) RED, Regular Price $50

100% Pinot Noir. Located in the upper reaches of Nuits-Saint-Georges on the Chaux plateau, this 1.75 acre vineyard, planted in 1988, is on very stony soil mainly composed of lava stone.

 

Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret

Vincent Mongeard works about 74 acres spread over 35 appellations. While the estate is based in Vosne-Romanée, like Thibault Liger-Belair he produces wines from some of the most cherished parcels in all of Burgundy, including Richebourg, Grands-Échezeaux, Échezeaux, Clos de Vougeot, and Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots. All parcels are worked sustainably (la lutte raisonée) with a focus on soil health. Fruit is harvested exclusively by hand and manually sorted in the winery. Fermentation begins naturally with indigenous yeasts.

(Bourgogne 2018) RED, Regular Price: $35

100% Pinot Noir from a six acre plot of 28-55 year old vines. Soils are Jurassic in origin with broken stones and limestone grit on a deep clay matrix.

“Les Dames Huguetttes” (Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits 2018) RED, Regular Price: $43

100% Pinot Noir from six acres of calcareous and deep soils on Argovian marls. The average age of vines is 35 years and maturation takes place in one year old barrels.

 

François Carillon 

A most distinguished name in Burgundy, the Carillon estate dates back to 1632. The family still occupies the same site in Puligny-Montrachet, between the church and the old château which belonged to the original nobles of the village. Today François Carillon leads the estate, crafting wines of tradition and finesse. The domaine holds parcels in some of Côte de Beaune’s most famous vineyards: the Grand Cru of Chevalier-Montrachet as well as some of the finest Premier Cru vineyards in Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet.

(Bourgogne 2018) RED, Regular Price: $32

100% Pinot Noir from 60+ year old vines in Puligny-Montrachet and the hamlet of Corpeau. An ambitious regional wine that sees 12 months aging in 10% new oak barrels.

(Bourgogne Aligoté 2018) WHITE, Regular Price: $28

The other white grape of Burgundy, Carillon’s Aligoté is grown below Puligny-Montrachet and in the hamlet of Corpeau. Fleshy and crisp.

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Summer-Aid: $270 “The Uncommon Burgundy” — Explore Out of the Ordinary Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with 6 Bottles (All Included and Delivered)

What makes these Burgundy wines uncommon?

For one it is the apparent dual existence of Chassagne-Montrachet. The commune is recognized for producing some of the best white wines in the world but it has a long history of creating substantial red wines that are quite often compared to the vibrant Nuits-Saint-Georges to the north.

And when was the last time you tasted a Premier Cru wine from the commune of Montagny? Located at the southern end of Côte Chalonnaise, where the warm continental climate and limestone-concentrated soils help create full-bodied wines with fresh acidity, the appellation exclusively produces white wines made from Chardonnay.

Included in The Uncommon Burgundy Wine-Aid Package are two bottles of each:

The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a 10% discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package.

Vincent Girardin “Les Vieilles Vignes” (Chassagne-Montrachet RED 2017) Regular Price $55

The quality of the wines produced at Maison Vincent Girardin are upheld by its “Très Haute Couture” code of winegrowing practices. The fruit comes from vineyards managed according to the following principles: No herbicides or insecticides, deep ploughing, use of natural composts from farms in the Burgundy region, high trellising for better photosynthesis, and manual harvests with sorting in the vineyard and in the vat room. “Les Vieilles Vignes” is 100% Pinot Noir from 50 year old vines situated around the village of Chassagne-Montrachet. Aged for 14 months (10% of new oak) it is a meaty wine with a structure reminiscent of wines from Côte de Nuits.

 

Domaine Langoureau “Les Voillenots Dessous” (Chassagne-Montrachet RED 2016) Regular Price: $45

Husband and wife team of Nathalie and Sylvain Langoureau farm about 24 acres of prime vineyards mainly in the Côte de Beaune villages of Saint-Aubin, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, and Chassagne-Montrachet. This is a heart and soul garagiste operation based in the tiny hamlet of Gamay, nestled between Puligny-Montrachet and Saint-Aubin. Although Chassagne-Montrachet is renowned for its white wines, the commune produces just as much red wine. “Les Voillenots Dessous” is 100% Pinot Noir and a superb value from a parcel located on the border just below the village of Chassagne-Montrachet and across a lane from the Premier Cru parcel of Les Places.

 

Jean-Marc Boillot (Montagny Premier Cru WHITE 2018) Regular Price: $40 

After vinifying 13 vintages at Domaine Henri Boillot (his family’s estate), Jean-Marc Boillot left to pursue his own fortunes. He became the winemaker for Olivier Leflaive for the next four years while also producing wines bottled under his own label. Today, Jean-Marc runs his domaine from his grandfather Henri Boillot’s house and cellars in the village of Pommard. He has inherited some of Burgundy’s most exceptional parcels from both Henri Boillot as well as his maternal grandfather, the late Etienne Sauzet. His Montagny Premier Cru is 100% Chardonnay. Fermentation and aging take place in oak barrels (30% new) with weekly bâtonnage to build a rich and powerful white wine.

We are committed to providing you with your wine needs in the safest way possible. We do encourage you to take advantage of our back door pick-up or free delivery. We can easily process the payment of your purchase over the phone and load you up without you needing to get out of the car. Or we can deliver it to your doorstep for free (within a reasonable distance of our shop) and leave it there for you to bring in at your convenience.

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$210 “The Molly Bloom” Wine-Aid Package – 6 Bottles of Regional Burgundy (All Included and Delivered)

Introducing The Molly Bloom, a $210 Wine-Aid package that includes six bottles of Burgundy (four red, two white) from some of the top producers in France. Although these regional wines are just the first step in classification, they offer the highest-quality entry point into the world of Burgundy. The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a deep discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package. 

Molly Bloom is one of the three central characters in the fictional novel Ulysses by James Joyce. An opera singer, and the unfaithful wife of Leopold Bloom, Molly makes a derisively mocking parallel to Penelope, the faithful wife of Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey. In Episode 18, the last section of the book, Molly (in bed with her husband) engages in a celebrated soliloquy, one of the most famous dramatic monologues in literature.

Molly is essentially Joyce’s equivalent of an earth goddess and these wines can certainly conjure a sense of connection to the land they come from. 

 

Included in The Molly Bloom Wine-Aid package are two bottles each:

Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair “Les Grands Chaillots” (Bourgogne Rouge 2016) Regular Price $46

Cousin to Vicomte Liger-Belair of La Romanée fame, in 2001 Thibault Liger-Belair took over storied family property in Nuits-Saint-Georges, reclaiming vineyards which had been contracted out to various sharecroppers and creating a new domaine under his own name. The properties include some of the most hallowed vineyards in Burgundy: The Grands Crus of Richebourg and Clos de Vougeot, as well as the Premier Cru of Les Saint-Georges that is one of the few vineyards in modern-era Burgundy to be considered for promotion to Grand Cru. “Les Grands Chaillots” is a well-structured Bourgogne from a plot in Nuits-Saint-Georges.

 

Domaine François Lamarche “Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits” (2014) Regular Price $35

Vineyard holdings don’t get much more impressive than the Grand Cru sliver of La Grande Rue that runs parallel to Romanée-Conti and La Romanée. Lamarche is the sole owner (monopole) and winemaker Nicole Lamarche turns it, and all of their vineyard production, into wines that are natural, elegant, and highly expressive of their terroir. “Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits” is matured In oak casks for between 16 and 20 months (between 60 and 100% new oak depending on the vintage). It is bottled without fining or filtering. On the palate it is silkyand pure, exporessing tart red cherry and strawberry fruit with a hint of spice toward the finish. 

 

Vincent Girardin “Cuvée Saint-Vincent” (Bourgogne Blanc 2017) Regular Price $26

The quality of the wines produced at Maison Vincent Girardin are upheld by its “Très Haute Couture” code of winegrowing practices. The fruit comes from vineyards managed according to the following principles: No herbicides or insecticides, deep ploughing, use of natural composts from farms in the Burgundy region, high trellising for better photosynthesis, and manual harvests with sorting in the vineyard and in the vat room. “Cuvée Saint-Vincent” is 100% Chardonnay. It is matured in French oak casks of 500 liters (10% of new oak) with indigenous yeasts for 11 months. A fresh and mineral wine with aromas of orchard fruit and flowers. 

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$240 “The Leopold Bloom” Wine-Aid Package – 6 Bottles of Burgundy from Côte Chalonnaise (All Included and Delivered)

Introducing The Leopold Bloom, a $240 Wine-Aid package that includes six bottles of red Burgundy from some of the top producers in Côte Chalonnaise. Côte Chalonnaise continues as a regular chain of hills along the same lines as the Côte d’Or to its north. But the countryside is much less uniform and turns into a jumble of limestone slopes on which vineyards appear amongst orchards and pasture. These are some of the best value Pinot Noir-based wines in Burgundy. The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a deep discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package. 

Leopold Bloom is the fictional character whose wanderings through Dublin during one 24-hour period on June 16, 1904, form the central action of James Joyce’s novel Ulysses. Though he never leaves the streets of Dublin, Bloom is a wanderer like the Greek mythological hero Odysseus, to whom he is compared throughout the book. 

Bloom is introduced to the reader as a man of appetites and even drinks a glass of Burgundy on his odyssey. This Wine-Aid package will surely sate your own appetites for world-class Pinot Noir.  

Included in The Leopold Bloom Wine-Aid box are two bottles each:

Domaine François Lumpp “A Vigne Rouge” (Givry Premier Cru, 2015) Regular Price: $50

For close to 30 years François Lumpp and his wife Isabelle have been leaders in Givry, illustrating how meticulous attention to producing the highest quality fruit can create wines that rival some of the finest in the Côte de Beaune. Using cuttings of older bud wood (sélection massale) François developed his domaine around Givry’s best Premier Cru sites, emerging as a benchmark producer for this small region. “A Vigne Rouge” is from a six acre plot of Oxfordian superior Nantoux limestone benches separated by thin marl on an ideally exposed and well-drained mid-slope. Notably ripe yet extraordinarily fresh, a glass emanates aromas of crunchy cranberry, redcurrant, and an earthy spice.

 

Domaine Ragot “Teppe des Cheneves” (Givry 2014) Regular Price: $40

Nicolas Ragot  manages a little over 22 acres that includes a fair share of 40+ year old vines. Cultivation is approached lutte raisonee, with a few acres farmed organically and plans to expand that across all their holdings in the future. All of the fruit is hand-harvested and only indigenous yeasts are used. A newish parcel, the vines at “Teppe des Cheneves” were planted in 2009 in a vineyard that lies along nearly two acres that had been previously covered by forest. After clearing the east-facing slope, the Ragots planted Pinot Noir in high density on clay and limestone soils between 950 and 1,050 feet altitude. Loads of luscious Pinot Noir fruit on a lithe frame make this wine a summer pleaser. 

 

Domaine Jean-Baptiste Ponsot “Molesme” (Rully Premier Cru 2014) Regular Price: $40

Third-generation winemaker Jean-Baptiste Ponsot farms a total 21 acres in the Rully appellation. With a deep respect for the land that his family has been fostering for decades, he focuses on the intrinsic health of the ecosystem and his vines, choosing to cultivate using organic methods. His goal is to produce wines of intensity and depth, wines that can be considered both taut and ripe. “Molesme” is aged 12 months in barrels (40% of new oak). The wine shows a mildly herbal perfume underneath ripe and juicy fruit. A sip is velvety yet focused. 

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$270 “A Dozen Rosés” Wine-Aid Package — Crisp, Cool Climate Rosé + A Rosé Sparkler (All Included and Delivered)

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.” — Rainer Maria Rilke

Whether you’re social-distancing with friends on the patio, grilling in the backyard, or just relaxing on a cozy chair with a good book and all the windows thrown open to the warm breeze and birdsong, this weather calls for a glass of fresh rosé by your side.

Introducing A Dozen Rosés, a $270 Wine-Aid package that includes twelve bottles of dry, pink wine mainly from the cool climate wine regions of France, plus a world-class sparkling rosé from a top producer in Spain. The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a deep discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package.

These are all fresh, current release wines, not close-outs of last year’s wine that has been languishing in warehouses. With this variety you’ll find everything from delicate wines redolent of flowers and early strawberries to rich and herbal wines big enough to pair with grilled meats and possibly even satisfy the most ardent red wine drinker.

We are committed to providing you with your wine needs in the safest way possible. We do encourage you to take advantage of our back door pick-up or free delivery. We can easily process the payment of your purchase over the phone and load you up without you needing to get out of the car. Or we can deliver it to your doorstep for free (within a reasonable distance of our shop) and leave it there for you to bring in at your convenience.

Included in A Dozen Rosés Wine-Aid Package are two bottles each:

Pascal & Nicolas Reverdy “Terre de Maimbray” (Sancerre 2019) Regular Price $32

Based in the tiny hamlet of Maimbray surrounded by chalk hills of the Loire Valley, Pascal Reverdy and his wife Sophie produce wines of place from almost pure “Terres Blanches” soils of fossilized Marne/Kimmeridigian limestone and clay. The Reverdys harvest exclusively by hand, and do not filter any of their wines. “Terre de Maimbray” is 100% Pinot Noir with vibrant, mineral accented strawberry and tangerine scents over sappy redcurrant and citrus fruit flavors.


Domaine Collotte Rosé (Marsannay 2019) Regular Price $24

Philippe Collotte and his daughter Isabelle produce some of Marsannay’s best values. They focus on sustainable viticultural practices and fruit yields well below the appellation’s allowances. All fermentations are done with indigenous yeasts only. This Pinot Noir-based rosé is made from 30 to 60 year-old vines growing on classic Burgundian clay and limestone soils. In the glass it exudes an exuberant floral and red cherry vibe. A richer rosé, the medium-body delivers ripe red fruit, herbs, and a hint of mineral funk.


Pierre-Marie Chermette “Griottes” (Beaujolais 2019) Regular Price $19

Strict traditionalists, Pierre-Marie and Martine Chermette were among the first in Beaujolais to use sustainable agricultural practices, shunning the use of chemicals in the vineyard and encouraging as much life in the soil as possible. The wines are made with minimal intervention: wild yeasts, minimal sulphur additions, and no filtering if possible. Their poundable, Gamay-based rosé is pale in color but deep in flavor. Fruit and flowers on the nose are enhanced by a hint of gravel.


Château de la Bonnelière “Rive Gauche” (Chinon 2019) Regular Price $18

Château de la Bonnelière is a certified organic domaine situated in the heart of Chinon. Marc Plouzeau has been running this small, 37 acre family domaine since 1999, taking over from his father who started renovation and replanting back in the 1970s. All of Marc’s wines are produced with minimal intervention. “Rive Gauche” comes from the gravel and sand-based alluvial soils on the left bank of the Vienne river. High-toned aromatics of raspberry and peach hover above a fresh and juicy glass of this Cabernet Franc rosé.



Domaine La Bérangeraie “Malbec Rosé” (IGP Côtes du Lot 2019) Regular Price $14

The 86 acre Domaine La Bérangeraie began in 1971 when André Berenger came to Cahors from Provence with his wife Sylvie and planted their vineyard on the red clay and iron stone soil near the small village of Grézels in the Lot department in south-western France. 100% Malbec, ripe strawberry and raspberry aromas and flavors are complemented by a hint of spice. A core of juicy acidity balances a silky fruit profile and a pinch of residual sugar adds to the body.


Raventós i Blanc “de Nit” (cru Conca del Riu Anoia 2017) Regular Price $30

Biodynamically farmed and rivaling many a grower Champagne in quality terms, “de Nit” is a blend of Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada with the addition of a small amount of red Monastrell for complexity and to give the wine its pale pink color. Aged for at least 18 months on the lees before release this is a wine of balance, with subtle minerality. Creamy, with aromatics of flowers, orchard fruits, and almonds, we suggest drinking this sparkling wine from a white wine glass to experience everything it has to offer.