Tag: Pinot Noir

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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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“The Garden of France” Bounty: Cabernet Franc & Pinot Noir Reds from Six Appellations in the Loire Valley. (6-Bottle Pack $259, All Included.)

The Loire Valley, the fabled stable for thoroughbred whites from Sancerre, Savennières and Vouvray, has often (and unfairly) been dismissed for its reds. In fact, cooler vintages of the past have sometimes resulted in erratic ripening, leading to thin, somewhat green-tasting reds made primarily from Cabernet Franc, Gamay, Malbec (here called Côt) and in the east—closer to Burgundy—Pinot Noir. But a gradually warming climate has made abysmal vintages increasingly rare, and coupled with overall improvements in viticulture, Loire has promoted its red wines from the chorus to a diva role, demonstrating as never before the potential that this marvelous appellation has to shine across the color spectrum.

Although red wines have been produced in the Loire throughout history, four appellations have demonstrated the strongest claim to fame. As improvements are happening everywhere, these four are only getting better, ranging in style from candy-apple crisp to voluptuous, rich and age-worthy. From west to east, they are Anjou (also known for its world-class rosé), fashionable, fragrant Saumur-Champigny, complex and tannin-rich Chinon and crunchy, spicy Bourgueil. Take a leap across the A20 motorway and the forests of Vierzon and you’ll find yourself in a sea of Sauvignon Blanc; Sancerre has earned its undisputed place in the pantheon of French white wine, and the nearby, lesser-known appellation of Menetou-Salon is often cited as a potential rival. But Pinot Noir planted in the chalky soils of Eastern Loire is finally coming into its own, both in quality and reputation. From certain producers, these succulent, fruit-driven reds crackle with acidity that shines through depths that are approaching those of Burgundy.

Six red wines from a choice of the best producers of Loire, ‘The Garden of France’, are featured in this week’s package (6-Bottle Pack $259, All Included)

 

Anjou

Anjou sprawls across 128 communes, mostly south of the towns of Angers in the west and Saumur in the east. Monasteries played the largest role in developing Anjou’s wine trade, as each enclave had its own walled vineyard, but it was French royalty who secured the region’s reputation, beginning nearly a thousand years ago when Henry Plantagenet became King Henry II of England. Anjou’s terroir is a matter of black and white: it’s divided into two subsoils as different as day and night. First, Anjou Noir, composed of blackish, dark, schist-based soil along the south-eastern edge of the Massif Armoricain, then, Anjou Blanc, lighter-colored soils made up of the altered chalk at the south-western extremity of the Paris Basin.

Clau de Nell is also centuries old, but its modern era began in 2008 when Anne-Claude Leflaive (owner and winemaker at Burgundy’s famed Domaine Leflaive) discovered the 20-acre property while on a promotional tour of her biodynamic approach to viticulture. She purchased the domain, finding the situation ideal: a south-facing knoll 295 feet above sea level, from which  the Atlantic Ocean—75 miles away—is visible. The vines are planted in sandstone and red flint overlaying the soft limestone ‘tuffeau’ indigenous to the region; they range in age from 30-90 years. 2016 Clau de Nell “Cabernet Franc” ($59) has reached a prime drinking age; it shows rich, jammy raspberry and dusty pencil graphite, but tension on the palate is sustained as the acids remain charged and energetic.

Clau de Nell – www.claudenell.com

 

Saumur-Champigny

Saumur has been a major focal point for the commercial wine trade since the 12th century, when (under Henry IV) it was the Huguenot capital. As an appellation, its terroir is rich in Loire’s characteristic calcareous rock, much of which was quarried over the centuries, leaving ideal cellars for aging Saumur wines. The hyphenated Saumur-Champigny is reserved for the 8 communes closest to the city of Saumur, and is restricted to around 3,700 acres, generally hilltop vineyards buffered against the west winds. It produces somewhat exclusive wines, representative of Saumur’s finest reds. Saumur-Champigny built around a firm foundation Cabernet Franc, with smaller additions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot d’Aunis permitted.

For a region dotted with beautiful historic homes, Château du Hureau is one of the few wine-producing châteaux among them. It is considered a top producer of Saumur-Champigny, with a milieu that is as breathtaking as the vineyard view, including the octagonal tower with mansard roofs and boar-headed weathervane from which the property derives its name. The estate contains multiple terroirs, and releases examples of each as ‘parcellaires’—wine from exclusive parcels. 2014 Château du Hureau ‘Lisagathe’ ($44) is named for fourth-generation winemaker Philippe Vatan’s two daughters Lisa and Agathe; it is made only in exceptional vintages. And only from selected portions of the estate’s best vineyards, located above the underground cellars. Full of mint-fresh young fruit, the wine expresses the classic smokiness of the AOP, with elegant undertones of chalk, flowers, pencil shavings and velvet-smooth tannins.

Château du Hureau – www.chateauduhureau.com

 

Bourgueil

As Loire is known affectionately as ‘the garden of France’, Bourgueil has been christened ‘the birthplace of Cabernet Franc’, which has been cultivated at the Abbey de Bourgueil since it was built on the Roman main road from Angers to Tours. Today, the appellation covers seven communes in the Indre-et-Loire along the right bank of the Loire, where it enjoys a remarkable microclimate due to the heavy forests that protect the vineyards from the north wind. Soil also cooperates; there are three distinct types: The islets of gravel in the alluvial terraces of the Loire on higher terraces, ancient, glaciated sand and clay/limestone soils from the ridge running along the north of the appellation. It is one of the few appellations in the Loire that produces predominantly red wines.

Catherine and Pierre Breton have been coaxing superlative wines from this terroir for decades; they cultivate 35 acres in the village of Restigné, just east of Bourgueil. Poetically, they grow mostly Cabernet Franc—the local term for this varietal is ‘Breton.’ Pierre remains the principal cellar master, although Catherine makes a series of cuvées under the label ‘La Dilettante.’ These wines are into three categories: Natural (for easy, early consumption), Classic (representing a profile of the appellation) and Wines of Terroir (vinified by individual parcel). 2018 Breton ‘Trinch!’ ($24) is an example of the former, produced from young-vine Cabernet Franc and referred to as ‘bistro-style’ for its quaffability. Indeed, ‘Trinch!” is a German variation on ‘cheers!” Lively, crisp and filled with juicy cranberry notes above an herbal-tinged core.  A wine best enjoyed slightly chilled on any delightful and non-pretentious occasion.

Domaine Catherine & Pierre Breton – www.domainebreton.net

 

Chinon

Playwright François Rabelais (a Chinon local boy made good) wrote, “”I know where Chinon lies, and the painted wine cellar also, having myself drunk there many a glass of cool wine.” That wine was likely red: though capable of producing wines of all hues, Chinon’s focus is predominantly red; last year, white and rosé wines accounted for less than five percent of its total output. Cabernet Franc is king, and 95% of the vineyards are thus planted. Rabelais’ true stage was set 90 million years ago, when the yellow sedimentary tuffeau, characteristic of the region, was formed. This rock is a combination of sand and fossilized zooplankton; it absorbs water quickly and releases it slowly—an ideal situation for deeply-rooted vines.

The Baudry family is also deeply-rooted in Chinon, although their education spans appellations outside the Loire, and extends as far in the wild red yonder as Tasmania. Bernard Baudry, the patriarch, studied oenology in Beaune and worked as a vine-tending consultant at Tours. His son Mathieu studied in Mâcon, then in Bordeaux after the year he spent working in Tasmania and California. The Baudry domain covers 80 acres across the AOP Chinon with additional parcels in Cravant les Coteaux; 90% of the property is planted to Cabernet Franc with the remaining to Chenin Blanc. Both father and son refer to the 2018 vintage as “Magnifique!” with a mild winter and springtime producing enough rainfall to recharge the groundwater which fell after a dry 2017. 2018 Baudry ‘Les Grézeaux’ ($25) pays homage to the gravelly soil beneath the parcel; earthy and rich, the wine showcases Cabernet Franc’s meatier persona. A rustic wine with great concentration and delightful spice, winemaker Baudry considers ‘Les Grézeaux’ to be textbook Chinon.

Domaine Bernard Baudry – www.bernardbaudry.com

 

Menetou-Salon

Unlike Loire’s ‘Big Four’ red wine appellations, Menetou-Salon produces mostly white wine, predominantly from Sauvignon Blanc. And unlike the Cabernet Franc-dominated reds from the west side of the river, the reds of Menetou-Salon are made from Pinot Noir, which expresses itself in light and strikingly fragrant wines. Extending across ten villages, the soils are predominantly Kimmeridgian limestone sediment. The climate here in the Central Loire is described as temperate with continental influences and wide variations in seasonal temperatures. Spring frosts—one time quite dangerous for finicky Pinot Noir—are becoming increasingly rare, leading to an explosion of popularity for these wines, much more reasonably priced than those from neighboring Burgundy.

M. Rabelais is not the only playwright connected with Loire wines; at the helm of Domaine Philippe Gilbert is Philippe himself, a ‘dramaturg’ (his description) who has written and produced for the stage. Today he is a winemaker foremost, having returned to the village of Faucards in Menetou-Salon to run the family estate, a winery whose history dates back to 1778 and his forefather  Francois Gilbert. His 67 acres, sprinkled across prime sectors throughout Menetou-Salon, make it one of the most representative of the appellation. 2019 Domaine Philippe Gilbert ‘Hors Série’ ($37) comes from a parcel of Pinot Noir planted in 1980 by Philippe’s father; it opens beautifully, with a flamboyant and complex nose, still restrained in youth, but offering great potential behind cherry, spice, smoke and mineral-imbued flavors in a toasted oak frame.

Domaine Philippe Gilbert – www.domainephilippegilbert.fr

 

Sancerre

To many, red Sancerre sounds like an oxymoron, but connoisseurs know that a quarter of Sancerre’s vineyards are Pinot Noir. Like so many French wine regions that had the rug pulled out from beneath them during the phylloxera blight of mid-19th century, Sancerre found itself having to replant all its vineyards, which had—up to that time—been a red-wine producing zone; Pouilly Fumé, just across the river, was the Sauvignon Blanc powerhouse.  For a multitude of reasons, most of the estates replanted using that varietal, and as the white wines of Sancerre soon eclipsed those of her sister commune, there was not much incentive to look back. The reds became an afterthought, and Pinot Noir is not the sort of grape that suffers scorn easily. In the ‘90s, however, certain producers (notably Alphonse Mellot Jr.) began to experiment with lower and more selective yields, and since then, the quality has improved astronomically.

Cousins, Jean-Laurent and Jean-Dominique Vacheron have no issue learning from the masters; having converted entirely to biodynamic viticulture in 2005, they have opted to use techniques from the Burgundy playbook to encourage the most potential from their scant thirty acres of Pinot Noir, which sits primarily on flinty silex soils.  2018 Domaine Vacheron ($56) is nicely structured with focused plum and sour cherry in the mid-palate and a rich, pure and persistent finish.

 

 

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France’s Central-Loire Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Noir: White, Red …. and Rosé for Your Mom, Sancerre-ly. (6-Bottle Pack $298, All Included)

The languid Loire is the longest river in France, and its winemaking locus, occasionally interspersed with cereal crops, covers almost 200,000 acres. Originating in the south—virtually in the Rhône appellation—the river scrambles up through Orléans and hooks toward Tours in the country’s heartland. It is along this final leg, tracing the Loire’s path to the Atlantic, that some of the country’s most heralded wines are born; wines that, during the Middle Ages, were even more highly prized than those of Bordeaux or Burgundy. With a few exceptions, these wines were white, and those of Pouilly Fumé and especially Sancerre have earned a reputation as world ambassadors for French Sauvignon Blanc. As the climate warms, however, more attention is being focused on the Pinot Noir-based reds and crisply aromatic rosés that the Central Loire is increasingly able to produce.

Separated only by the width of the river, Sancerre overlooks Pouilly Fumé with a sort of supercilious smirk. Sancerre’s interpretation of Sauvignon Blanc tends to more finessed, showing less minerality and more fruit than Pouilly Fumé, less flint-spark smoke and more flowering herb aromas and tastes without being as aggressively citrusy or grassy. This is a generalization, of course. Sancerre is comprised of a varied geology, and wines from individual terroirs express one-of-a-kind characteristics. To the east, flinty soils produce wines of almost steel-like elegance and austerity; the central vineyards are chalky and the wines are more floral and delicate and almost Chablis-like, while in the gravelly northwest, Sancerre tends to reflect an array of unusual fruits, many exotic—passion fruit, quince and lychee. All three plead a pretty respectable case that— Marlborough, Willamette and Graves notwithstanding—Sancerre is Sauvignon Blanc’s purest sanctuary. In ways, throughout Loire’s culture, purity is the hallmark, and the folks who live here are reputed to have the purest of all French accents.

Sancerre wishes for a Happy Mother’s Day with a 6-Bottle Pack ($298, All Included) of each of the Central Loire Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Noir: White, Red …. and Rosé

 

Domaine Jean Vacheron

With over a hundred biodynamically-farmed acres and vines with an average age approaching half a century, Vacheron is one of the elite properties in Sancerre and cousins Jean-Laurent and Jean-Dominique Vacheron are among the top artisan winemakers in the Loire. Focused on single vineyard sites while hand-harvesting fruit, the Vacherons have produced primarily Sauvignon Blanc, but are also winning high marks for the twenty-five acres of chalk and silex that they have planted to Pinot Noir. These reds undergo malolactic after primary fermentation in foudres and neutral barriques, softening the acids and showcasing the fruit. The two wines in the package are exemplary both of the Vacheron style and of the appellation. Sancerre White 2019 ($46)displays a bright bouquet of Bosc pear, lime and dried yellow flowers and a rich, mouthwatering palate of citrus and sage with an edge of minerality. Sancerre Red 2018 ($56) highlights the warm vintage, which was especially kind to Pinot Noir, and produced a full-bodied wine that reflects warm cranberry, strawberry compote and tart cherry notes along with taut tannins that form a supple backbone.

 

 

Domaine Joseph Mellot

Domaine Joseph Mellot is unique as the only estate in the Central Loire to own vineyards in all the appellations—Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Pouilly-sur-Loire, Coteaux du Giennois, Menetou Salon, Quincy, Reuilly and Châteaumeillant. Founded in Quincy in 1513, it has been associated with quality Sancerre for over five hundred years. Under the leadership of Catherine Corbeau-Mellot, who has been up-shaping her wines on the path of excellence for the past thirty years, the property has established modern innovations where appropriate, while maintaining its half-millennia of tradition. ‘La Chatellenie’ Sancerre White 2019 ($26) is grown on ‘typical’ flint-rich Sancerre soils, and displays a lively, lovely green apple nose above a core palate of gooseberries, melon, spearmint and nettles. The warm summer of 2019 allowed the fruit to ripen in a lushness that rounds off the bracing acidity that Sauvignon Blanc often expresses in the Loire.

 

Domaine Lucien Crochet

A match made in Sancerre heaven? Lucien Crochet’s marriage to the daughter of Lucien Picard fused not only families, but wine estates; Crochet expanded the work of his father-in-law and, over the next forty years, grew the domain until it encompassed sixty acres of vineyards, nearly all in the village of Bué, but with smaller holdings in the neighboring villages of Vinon and Crézancy. Under the management of his son Gilles, Crochet’s vineyards are planted on shallow clay and limestone soil and on south-facing slopes of varying degrees of severity. The Sauvignon Blanc is fermented in stainless steel to preserve its freshness and clarity; the Pinot Noir macerates for thirty days before seeing 70% oak aging. ‘Le Chêne Marchand’ Sancerre White 2018 ($43) is a stellar example of Sancerre’s shivery, sculpted, steely character. Sharp, with intense minerality reminiscent of crushed rocks, it provides ample stone-fruit in the mid-palate to sweeten the tartness and finishes as clean as the air after summer rain. ‘Cuvée Prestige’ Sancerre Red 2015 ($83) is bright and rich, showing elegant blackberry and blueberry notes with soft vanilla wreathing the fruit’s silken tannins to form a foundation of sophistication and maturity.

 

Clément & Florian Berthier

Like many French wine estates, Domaine Berthier is a family affair. Founded in the early 1980s by Jean-Marie Berthier near Sainte-Gemme-en-Sancerrois, his wife’s hometown, the couple took over the Domaine de Montbenoit in the Coteaux du Giennois, one of the smallest AOPs in the Loire. The domain is now run by brothers Florian and Clément, who combined strengths to maintain sixty acres to their parents’ standards; Florian first honed his skills in vineyard management in Burgundy while his elder brother Clément studied winemaking in Canada and in the United States. Today, they produce a number of wines from a variety of terroirs, none more remarkable than that salmon-colored, fruit-forward Sancerre Rosé 2019 ($27), made entirely from Pinot Noir grown on slopes along the ancient river terraces at Gien. The wine is juicy and crisp with strong notes of peach blossom, honeysuckle and wild strawberry; a delightful afternoon sipping wine.

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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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Champagne Society December 2020 Selection

Champagne Leclerc-Briant Millésime 2009 (Extra Brut)
Price for The Champagne Society members: $75, limit 2 bottles

Founded in the village of Cumières in 1872 by Lucien Leclerc, Champagne Leclerc Briant saw five successive generations of Leclercs that were true innovators and who are counted amongst the pioneers of organic and biodynamic viticulture in Champagne. Today, enologist Hervé Jestin continues the legacy of this visionary house.

The estate holds 24 acres of vineyards divided between the Premier Cru villages of Cumières, Hautvillers, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Bisseuil in the Vallée de la Marne, Villers-Allerand and Rilly la Montagne in Montagne de Reims and the Grand Cru village of Le Mesnil Sur Oger in the Côte des Blancs. Their holdings also include one tiny plot, called La Croisette, right in the heart of Epernay.

In recent years, the premises have been extensively refurbished and improved with the aim of creating wines of the utmost quality. Their extensive cellars are more than a half of a mile in length and over 100 feet below the surface — ideal for maturing champagne.

Certified biodynamic, Leclerc-Briant Millésime 2009 is produced from 40% Chardonnay; 40% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier from the Premiers Crus villages of Hautvillers and Cumières as well as the village of Verneuil located on the right bank of the Marne. The wine was fermented and aged for seven to eight months in stainless steel and cement tanks followed by nearly eight years in bottle before disgorgement in June of 2017 when it received a low dosage of just 4 grams per liter. Only about 800 cases were produced.

Long maturity and the ripe 2009 vintage gives the wine a lushness to balance a brisk low dosage and salty finish. Notes of lemon curd, white flowers, and brioche add to its elegance. A beautiful Champagne inside and out as the label design was inspired by the influential publishing house Éditions Gallimard’s iconic book cover design.

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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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The Champagne Society August 2020 Selection

Champagne Joseph Perrier “Cumières – La Côte à Bras” Blanc de Noirs (Premier Cru, Brut Nature 2010)

Price for The Champagne Society members: $85 (regular price $99)

Champagne Joseph Perrier owns 51 acres of vineyards, situated in the heart of the Vallée de la Marne on the right bank of the River Marne, around the villages of Hautvillers and Cumières – both classed at an impressive 93% in the Échelle des Crus system. Founded in 1825, the estate has been owned and run by the same family since 1888. Current proprietor Jean-Claude Fourmon represents the fifth generation. The estate’s cellars stretch almost two full miles and date back to the Gallo-Roman period.

Vallée de la Marne is noted for its powerful Pinot Noir grown on south-facing slopes. Naturally, Champagne Joseph Perrier’s vineyards are mostly planted with Pinot Noir. Indeed, the limited release “Cumières – La Côte à Bras” Blanc de Noirs is 100% Pinot Noir from a single parcel named La Côte à Bras in the Premier Cru village of Cumières. The wine is aged a minimum of seven years and there is no added sugar after disgorgement.

Winemaker Notes:
“A quiet autumn peacefully guided the vines towards the winter break. January experienced very cool temperatures that continued until March.  Flowering was delayed due to some cool nights in June. After that the heat arrived and the month of July ended with some violent storms. The grapes had plenty of water but the September sun dried the soil. The late ripening resulted in berries arriving at the press with very good sugar levels.

The appearance is of yellow gold straw, with amber highlights. The nose opens with tangy, delicate and captivating aromas revealing notes of freshly squeezed citrus fruits – grapefruit and mandarin. The palate is vinous and with plenty of attack, with pronounced mineral notes. The finish is long and harmonious, dominated by a zesty lemon freshness so characteristic of Joseph Perrier.”

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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.