Author: Thomas Wilcox

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Mixed Case: 2016 Craftsman Collection

Ansonia Wines is based on relationships with masters of their craft. The vignerons of France are some of the finest craftsmen in the world, and we’re always excited to discover and share the fruits of their talent. But there’s plenty of talent to be found back home as well.

For this case we’ve chosen the work of six of our favorite French craftsmen, and paired it with a special print from a more local artisan. We’re pleased to introduce our first annual Holiday Print, a limited-edition watercolor map of the wine regions of France by Maine-based painter Greta van Campen. Each Craftsman Collection mixed case comes with a copy of the print.

There’s no particular theme to these wines — just six of our favorites that are drinking beautifully right now. It’s a celebration of craftsmanship and artistic expression from both sides of the Atlantic.

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RAVAUT Ladoix blanc 2015
This exceptional white Burgundy comes from a plot at the base of the Hill of Corton and resembles Corton-Charlemagne. Look for an elegant, rich mouthfeel with notes of mango, white flowers, and toasted lemon.

BARDOUX Brut Traditionnel
There’s just nothing quite like Champagne. This careful blend from a meticulous winemaker drinks well above its price and is the perfect way to begin a holiday meal. Look for creamy notes of crème brûlée and almond.

GROS Nuits-St-Georges 2009
From an excellent vintage at a wonderful stage of its life, this is elegant, silky red Burgundy from a master winemaker. Grown in plots that border Vosne-Romanée, this shows notes of violets, cherries, and toast.

AMIOT Morey-St-Denis 1er cru “Charmes” 2010
This is one of the most delicious red Burgundies we’ve had this year. Amiot’s rich, dark style marries with the stony terroir of Morey-St-Denis. Look for a dense, concentrated mouthfeel, with smoky notes of raspberry and cassis.

LEHOUL Graves rouge 2012
Perhaps the only steak wine you’ll ever need. Made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this 2012 is juicy, rich, and very dense — look for notes of plum and cedar, with ripe tannins and a mouthfilling intensity.

GOUBERT Gigondas 2012
The 2012 may be the finest vintage we’ve had of this excellent wine. A blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan, it’s an approachable, delicious red Rhône with a rich, sunbaked ripeness. Look for notes of lavender and strawberry jam.

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2016 Craftsman Collection

2x   RAVAUT Ladoix blanc 2015:   $50
2x   BARDOUX Champagne Traditionnel:   $54
2x   GROS Nuits-St-Georges 2009: $72
2x   AMIOT Morey-St-Denis 1er “Charmes” 2010:   $72
2x   LEHOUL Graves rouge 2012: $30
2x  GOUBERT Gigondas 2012:   $30


Ansonia Retail: $616
offer price: $495/case

INCLUDES LIMITED EDITION WATERCOLOR

free East Coast shipping    |    save $121

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Terms of sale. Ansonia Wines MA sells wine to individual consumers who are 21 or more years of age, for personal consumption and not for resale.  All sales are completed and title passes to purchasers in Massachusetts.  Ansonia Wines MA arranges for shipping on behalf of its customers upon request and where applicable laws permit.

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At Last: Handmade, Artisan Crème de Cassis.

Discovery. Wine is only one expression of France’s terroir. In our travels around the country we always enjoy sampling the others — from Belon oysters and real Epoisses to pâtés de campagne and fleur de sel. One of our favorite such products is crème de cassis, a blackcurrant liqueur originally from Burgundy.

Most of the cassis available in the US is a far cry from the real stuff, and for years we’ve looked for a real, artisan source to import. At last this summer, we got a tip about a small farm in the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits that has produced cassis for 400 years. We visited the Ferme Fruirouge and sampled their small-batch, hand made crèmes. Fruirouge exceeded our lofty expectations by a mile.

This is the finest crème de cassis we’ve ever tasted. As a bonus, Fruirouge also makes crèmes from framboise (raspberry), pêche de vigne (wild peach), and cerise (cherry). We’re excited to introduce them today.

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Pure. The Olivier family has run the Ferme Fruirouge for nine generations. Today they raise their fruits organically and biodynamically, and their crèmes are the cleanest, purest, most intense extraction of fruit we’ve ever seen. We’ll admit some skepticism as they explained that they play baroque music in their cave so the auditory vibrations can help the extraction — but one taste of these cremes and you won’t care what they do to make it.

The French most often use these crèmes for a kir or kir royale — a glass of aligoté or sparkling wine with a splash of crème. It’s a refreshing, delightful cocktail that’s distinct, elegant, and festive. We experimented over Thanksgiving with different combinations, and we’ve yet to find one our extended family didn’t enjoy.

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Combinations. The Fruirouge Crèmes are available in three ways. First, on their own, in lots of 3 bottles of 375ml. Second, a four-bottle sampler of one of each. And third, we’ve collected four “kir kits” as part of our Holiday Guide — five bottles of either aligoté, crémant, champagne, or cider, plus a crème of your choice. (Browse the kits here.)

If there’s a foodie, a mixologist, or a craft-food enthusiast in your family, your holiday shopping should stop right here. This is a handmade, artisan product of the highest order, and one they certainly don’t already have. But after you hear how much they enjoy it, you’ll probably want one for yourself as well.

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FRUIROUGE Crème de Cassis
FRUIROUGE Crème de Pêche de Vigne
FRUIROUGE Crème de Framboise
FRUIROUGE Crème de Cerise
Ansonia Retail: $38
quarter-case: $32/bot

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AVAILABLE IN     3-    6-    AND   12-  BOTTLE LOTS

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FOUR BOTTLE SAMPLER
Ansonia Retail: $152
offer price: $128/sampler
(East Coast shipping included)

 

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Terms of sale. Ansonia Wines MA sells wine to individual consumers who are 21 or more years of age, for personal consumption and not for resale.  All sales are completed and title passes to purchasers in Massachusetts.  Ansonia Wines MA arranges for shipping on behalf of its customers upon request and where applicable laws permit.

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Extraordinary New Vintage Grower Champagne.

Celebration.  We like to see Holidays as an opportunity to open special bottles. As family and friends pass through our doors and another year passes into the books, we often mark the occasion with the bottles we’ve been saving — wines too festive and special for a Tuesday in August. Our most recent addition to our end of year lineup is Grower Champagne.

Our source for small-batch Champagne is Pacal Bardoux, whose non-vintage brut and rosé Champagnes have made an enormous number of friends among readers over the past year. Today we’re finally releasing his 2009 Vintage Champagne — an extraordinary wine, as complex as any Champagne we’ve had, and on par with the best wines of Burgundy and Bordeaux.

This is the most impressive wine we’ve tasted from Bardoux. Whatever form your celebration takes next month, a bottle or two of this would be the perfect accessory.

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Masterful.  Pascal Bardoux is a small-scale, fifth generation vigneron outside Reims, whose humble demeanor hides a mastery of his craft. So respected is his palate that he serves as judge for the international “Effervescents du Monde” blind competition, where his own wines regularly win gold and silver. Today’s 2009 Brut Millesimé is a blend of 40% Pinot Meunier, 25% Pinot Noir, and 35% Chardonnay.

This is extraordinarily elegant wine. The nose is floral and perfumed, with notes of toasted bread, apricot, and baked apples. The mouth is exceptionally fine, with a complex array of notes ranging from almond to cream to citrus. The texture is fine and long, with a mouth filling density buoyed by a delicate stream of bubbles.

We’d happily put this Champagne up against a dozen others with bigger names and $150+ bottle prices. At $54, this isn’t exactly an everyday wine; but it’s the time of year for celebration and perhaps a bit of indulgence. We promise you won’t regret it.

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BARDOUX Champagne Premier Cru 2009
Ansonia Retail: $65
quarter-case: $54/bot

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AVAILABLE IN     3-    6-    AND   12-  BOTTLE LOTS

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Terms of sale. Ansonia Wines MA sells wine to individual consumers who are 21 or more years of age, for personal consumption and not for resale.  All sales are completed and title passes to purchasers in Massachusetts.  Ansonia Wines MA arranges for shipping on behalf of its customers upon request and where applicable laws permit.

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Rich Châteauneuf-du-Pape for a Winter’s Evening. $29

A dusting of snow this morning reminds us that winter is not far off. In the colder months our palates turn towards richer wines, particularly those from the Southern Rhône valley, where the warm summer sun is baked into every grape. And the undisputed king of the Southern Rhône Valley is Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The Southern Rhône produces plenty of excellent wine outside Châteauneuf — we’ve written recently about great values from Séguret and Gigondas — but last summer we discovered a Châteauneuf producer with unusually good pricing. Most Châteauneuf cuvées sell for over $50/bottle, and those from the famous names reach above $100. Christophe Mestre’s can be had for less than $30.

If you’re scrambling to find a crowd-pleasing wintery red for Thanksgiving, consider this one. We’ve yet to meet someone who doesn’t like this wine. Orders placed today can reach most northeast and mid-Atlantic addresses by Wednesday.

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Christophe Mestre is a young winemaker from an old Chateauneuf family, whose talent and terroir have already begun to bring him acclaim. We opened his 2013 Châteauneuf rouge at our Thanksgiving tasting in Newton yesterday, and those who tasted before seeing the price were universally surprised — this is delicious, classic Châteauneuf at an astonishingly good price.

The nose is explosive, with a wide range of notes from pan drippings and sage to strawberry jam, wild raspberry, and lavender. The mouth is smooth and soft and rich, with a dark red complexion and sun-baked, silky tannins. Vinous’s Josh Raynolds awarded this wine 90 points, pointing out its “very good focus,” highlighting notes of “cherry compote,” and “anise.”

This opens beautifully over a half hour in a glass or decanter. Depending on whom you ask, this may be a long, chilly winter — we’ll certainly be glad to have some of this in our cellar.

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MESTRE Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2013
Ansonia Retail: $35
case, half-case: $29/bot

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AVAILABLE IN     6-   AND  12-  BOTTLE LOTS

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Terms of sale. Ansonia Wines MA sells wine to individual consumers who are 21 or more years of age, for personal consumption and not for resale.  All sales are completed and title passes to purchasers in Massachusetts.  Ansonia Wines MA arranges for shipping on behalf of its customers upon request and where applicable laws permit.

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Elegant Gevrey-Chambertin from 70-Year-Old Vines.

Muscle.  Gevrey-Chambertin is the largest appellation of Burgundy’s Côte d’Or. And because of its clay rich soils, its wines are similarly grand. Known for power and longevity, Gevrey-Chambertin shows dark, intense fruit and a sturdy tannic structure.

Gérard Quivy’s vines in the tiny two-acre En Champs vineyard date to 1945. The yield from these vines has dropped significantly in the decades since, but the quality of their fruit improves each year. Quivy’s style is silkiness and elegance, which harmonizes well with Gevrey’s typical muscular fruit.

 

Cinnamon.  This year’s Guide Hachette, the premier French language wine guide, describes Quivy as “undoubtedly one of the reference points in the appellation.” This confirms what our noses told us last year — Quivy is an uncommon find. Four years on from the harvest this is an exceptionally elegant red Burgundy.

The 2012 En Champs is beautifully expressive in the nose: notes of charcoal, toast, and graham cracker join dense jammy red fruit. In the mouth it is typically Gevrey: plenty of ripe tannin alongside pleasant young briary fruit. As with Quivy’s other village level Gevrey “Journaux,” additional patience will be rewarded, but isn’t required — today this is handsome, crisp Burgundy in unusually elegant dress.

Decant this for an hour and serve it with steaks or other red meat. It will match a wintery holiday meal with ease.

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QUIVY Gevrey-Chambertin “En Champs” 2012
Ansonia Retail: $54
quarter-case: $45/bot

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AVAILABLE IN   3-    6-   AND  12-  BOTTLE LOTS

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Terms of sale. Ansonia Wines MA sells wine to individual consumers who are 21 or more years of age, for personal consumption and not for resale.  All sales are completed and title passes to purchasers in Massachusetts.  Ansonia Wines MA arranges for shipping on behalf of its customers upon request and where applicable laws permit.

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Violets and Lavender: New Rich 2015 Southern Rhône Red. $25

Rich.  With a chill settled firmly into the air these days, we’re turning towards reds with a bit more substance. The rich wines of the Southern Rhône valley spend the summer soaking in the warmth of the clear Provençal sun — they’re a perfect matches for cold weather. Châteauneuf-du-Pape gets most of the attention in the Rhône, but if you know where to look, there are delicious, affordable wines across the valley.

The rich reds of the Domaine Malmont are a perfect example. Winemaker Nicolas Haeni grew up in the area, and now farms a small vineyard in hills east of Séguret. Malmont is tiny — Nicolas works the vines himself with only one part time employee, and his winery is a small garage attached to his house — but the quality is exceptional. We’ve just received his 2015s into the warehouse, and they’re just the antidote to a cold winter’s evening.

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Garden.  The Malmont vineyard is an extraordinary polycultural environment. Wild herbs and grasses surround Nicolas’s organically-farmed vines, and the gently sloping terraced rows buzz with life. From this verdant plot with a commanding view of the valley, Nicolas crafts an exceptional series of wines. Today we’re excited to release his 2015 Séguret — the Malmont wines seem to get better each year, and this one’s no exception.

The 2015 Séguret rouge is an unusually expressive grenache/syrah blend. The nose is dark and spiced, with notes of baked plums and violets. The mouth is very rich and long, but balanced by a pleasant freshness and sturdy tannins — look for notes of lavender, cassis, black pepper, and raspberry jam. This is dark, wintery wine, as cosy as wool socks or a crackling fireplace.

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MALMONT Séguret 2015
Ansonia Retail: $30
case, half-case: $25/bot

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AVAILABLE IN   6-   AND  12-  BOTTLE LOTS

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Terms of sale. Ansonia Wines MA sells wine to individual consumers who are 21 or more years of age, for personal consumption and not for resale.  All sales are completed and title passes to purchasers in Massachusetts.  Ansonia Wines MA arranges for shipping on behalf of its customers upon request and where applicable laws permit.

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Crisp, Delicious 2015 Old-Vine Chablis. $22

Pure.  Chablis remains among the best bargains in the wine world. Its distinctive wines are always more affordable than their counterparts in the Côte d’Or, a result of damage to the name from imitation “California Chablis” of decades ago. Drawing from the distinctive Kimmeridgean terroir and a tradition of subtle or no oak, the winemakers of Chablis create some of the purest expressions of Chardonnay in the world.

Today we’re excited to introduce a wine back into our lineup after several years — the old-vine Chablis from the Domaine Jean Collet. Collet is an excellent producer with properties in well-known Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards, but we’re beginning this year with his simpler Chablis Vieilles Vignes. This is classic Chablis — crisp, dry, fresh, and brisk.

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Balance.  Collet’s 2015s have just arrived in our warehouse, and they’re simply delicious. Grown in a year with record heat around France, they carry a bit more roundness than Chablis often does — but father and son winemakers Gilles and Romain Collet were careful to pick early enough to retain freshness and acidity.

The result is an excellent balance between crisp chardonnay fruit and stony mineral freshness — the added ripeness means these will drink well immediately. The 2015 Chablis Vieilles Vignes is bright and savory in the nose, with notes of herbs and lime rind. The mouth is dense and electric, with notes of lemon, saline, and white flowers.

With its refreshing mouthfeel, Chablis is a perfect food wine, and there will be more than a few bottles on our Thanksgiving table next week. But with 2015 giving just a bit more softness than usual, this will makes a lovely aperitif as well.

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COLLET Chablis Vieilles Vignes 2015
Ansonia Retail: $28
case, half-case: $22/bot

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AVAILABLE IN   6-   AND  12-  BOTTLE LOTS

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Terms of sale. Ansonia Wines MA sells wine to individual consumers who are 21 or more years of age, for personal consumption and not for resale.  All sales are completed and title passes to purchasers in Massachusetts.  Ansonia Wines MA arranges for shipping on behalf of its customers upon request and where applicable laws permit.

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Almost Champagne: Remarkable New Crémant de Bourgogne

Patience.  The are two main distinctions between Champagne and other French sparkling wine. First, terroir: Champagne’s unique chalky soils contribute to the singular flavors of its wines. Second, time spent on the lees: Champenois must age their wines for a minimum of 15 months on the lees, adding complexity and depth to the wines. (Lees are the dead yeasts that precipitate from fermented wine.)

Today’s wine is a crémant from Burgundy, but it’s the closest thing to Champagne we’ve found outside the region. Though they can’t replicate the soils of Champagne, the winemakers at Louis Picamelot hold their finest wine — the Cuvée JB Chautard — for 36-48 months on the lees, longer than many Champagne houses. The result is an extraordinarily complex crémant, with notes of almond and crème brûlée, reminiscent of Grower Champagne.

Let your guests taste it before you tell them where it’s from — we bet every one of them will guess Champagne.

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Three Star.  The Maison Picamelot in Burgundy’s Côte Chalonnaise was founded in 1926 by Louis Picamelot. Since then they have joined the ranks of the finest Crémant houses in Burgundy, with their wines appearing on the wine lists at Michelin starred restaurants such as the three star Lameloise in Burgundy. Today we’re excited to release their finest wine for the first time — the Cuvée Jean-Baptise Chautard 2012.

The JB Chautard is an exceptionally elegant blanc de blancs, made from Chardonnay and Aligoté. The nose shows peach, lime, and toast; the mouth is very fine, with a rich palate buoyed by delicate freshness and a beautiful mousse of bubbles. There’s nothing quite like Champagne, and if it’s the classic you’re after we can help. But at less than half the price of most good Champagne, this will impress even the most skeptical of sparkling wine enthusiasts.

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PICAMELOT Crémant “JB Chautard” 2012
Ansonia Retail: $38
case, half-case: $32/bot

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AVAILABLE IN   6-   AND  12-  BOTTLE LOTS

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Terms of sale. Ansonia Wines MA sells wine to individual consumers who are 21 or more years of age, for personal consumption and not for resale.  All sales are completed and title passes to purchasers in Massachusetts.  Ansonia Wines MA arranges for shipping on behalf of its customers upon request and where applicable laws permit.

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Extraordinary New 2014 Puligny-Montrachet

Elegance.  “Puligny-Montrachet is where Burgundian Chardonnay is at its most complete,” writes Clive Coates MW. The tiny town, covering over less than one square mile, has made highly sought-after wine for nearly a thousand years. Today many consider it, as Coates puts it, “the greatest white wine commune on earth.”

What makes this tiny corner of Burgundy so special? On the ground, it’s a combination of soil content (limestone, clay, and other minerals), slope, and exposition. Nearly every white Burgundy from the 2014 vintage has impressed us — the year produced wines with a perfect balance of richness and acidity — but the 2014s from Puligny-Montrachet are nothing short of exceptional.

Famous.  Vincent Boyer is a young winemaker who has gained wide critical acclaim in recent years. His remarkable skill and excellent terroir hide behind a shy and humble personality. His domaine and most of his vines are in Meursault, but today we’re offering his village-level Puligny-Montrachet, from the Reuchaux vineyard. It’s a winemaking success as great as any Vincent has achieved.

The 2014 Puligny-Montrachet Reuchaux is elegance personified — the nose is very expressive, showing lime rind, chalk dust, white flowers, herbs and lemon. The mouth is concentrated and rich, but beautifully vibrant and very long, with an exceptional balance of fleshiness and mineral freshness. Look for notes of peach, spring flowers, straw, and white pepper.

Puligny’s freshness makes it an excellent food wine, and a bottle of this would seriously raise the stakes at your Thanksgiving dinner table. But we’d recommend serving it pre-dinner, before the wide-ranging flavors are served. Vincent himself likes scallops with his Puligny, and if you’re looking for an appetizer for Thanksgiving, this one will make you many friends.

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BOYER-MARTENOT Puligny-Montrachet “Reuchaux” 2014
Ansonia Retail: $68
quarter-case: $59/bot

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AVAILABLE IN   3-   6-   AND  12-  BOTTLE LOTS

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Terms of sale. Ansonia Wines MA sells wine to individual consumers who are 21 or more years of age, for personal consumption and not for resale.  All sales are completed and title passes to purchasers in Massachusetts.  Ansonia Wines MA arranges for shipping on behalf of its customers upon request and where applicable laws permit.

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Another Juicy, Delicious 2015 Gamay. $15

Small-batch.  The 2015 vintage continues to impress. An unusually warm and sunny year resulted in wines of deep richness and concentration, even in regions where ripeness is often a concern. In the Beaujolais, home to our new winemaker Jean-Marc Monnet, the Gamay reached a density that resembles northern Rhône syrah.

Many readers picked up some of Monnet’s 2015 Juliénas last month, a dense, chewy, gulpable red Burgundy with exceptional depth. Today we’re releasing his 2015 Chiroubles, a sister cuvée to the Juliénas, with more elegance and finesse. Monnet is an understated producer — his domaine has no road sign, no website, and (until us) no American importer. But the quality of his terroir and skill is evident from the first sip.

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Bargain.  The Chiroubles is prettier than the Juliénas, with a perfumed and floral nose, but the same rich juicy, gulpable mouthfeel. The nose is precise and ripe, with notes of cranberry, violets, graphite and minerals. The mouth is a delight — inky and vibrant, with crackling fruit and delicious, juicy tannins.

As we’ve said before, Beaujolais may be the perfect Thanksgiving red — it’s on our holiday table nearly every year. The combination of supple tannins with ripe young fruit means it pairs perfectly with a wide range of heavy, flavorful foods. But this Chiroubles will make friends long after the 24th. Serve it alongside cheese and crackers at a holiday party, or send it to someone as a gift — just don’t tell anyone what you paid for it.

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MONNET Chiroubles 2015
Ansonia Retail: $19
case, half-case: $15/bot

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AVAILABLE IN   6-   AND  12-  BOTTLE LOTS

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Terms of sale. Ansonia Wines MA sells wine to individual consumers who are 21 or more years of age, for personal consumption and not for resale.  All sales are completed and title passes to purchasers in Massachusetts.  Ansonia Wines MA arranges for shipping on behalf of its customers upon request and where applicable laws permit.

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New Rosé Grower Champagne

News.  Winston Churchill once said of Champagne, “in victory you deserve it, in defeat you need it.” Whichever reaction this morning’s news brings you, we can assure you Champagne is a helpful accessory. We’re excited to introduce a brand new cuvée from our popular Grower Champagne vigneron Pascal Bardoux: his Brut Rosé.

We discovered Pascal Bardoux last year at the suggestion of Burgundian winemaker Michel Gros, a long time friend. Gros served Bardoux Champagne at his wedding, and both winemakers visit each other each year to exchange a trunkful of wine. That’s a pretty impressive endorsement, but even so we were surprised at just how good Bardoux’s wines are.

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Strawberry.  Bardoux is a master craftsman with a humble, contemplative demeanor — his style seems a bit out of place in Champagne, home to glitzy tasting rooms and glossy brochures. But Bardoux’s understatement belies the exceptional elegance and complexity of his wines. His Brut Traditionnel has become a favorite among readers, and we’re excited to add a second today.

Bardoux’s Champagne Brut Rosé is dry and lively, with notes of roses and dried strawberries in the nose. The mouth is full but brisk, with delicate bubbles, and notes of strawberry cream and baked apples. Much mass market champagne runs $75-100 a bottle; Bardoux’s small batch cuvée is a comparative bargain under $50.

With Thanksgiving and Christmas on the way, there should be plenty of opportunity for bubbles in the future.

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BARDOUX Champagne Rosé Brut NV
Ansonia Retail: $54
quarter-case: $45/bot

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AVAILABLE IN   3-   6-   AND  12-  BOTTLE LOTS

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Terms of sale. Ansonia Wines MA sells wine to individual consumers who are 21 or more years of age, for personal consumption and not for resale.  All sales are completed and title passes to purchasers in Massachusetts.  Ansonia Wines MA arranges for shipping on behalf of its customers upon request and where applicable laws permit.

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Mixed Case: the Best of Burgundy

Stretching a mere thirty-two miles, Burgundy’s Côte d’Or is responsible for finest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the world. From only two grape varietals, the winemakers of Burgundy produce an astounding range of expression. Every town has its own identity and style; each is part of a tradition of winemaking that stretches back nearly a thousand years.

For this case we’ve chosen six of our favorite Burgundian towns — Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet, Vosne-Romanée, Chambolle-Musigny, Morey-St-Denis, and Gevrey Chambertin — and collected some of our favorite wines from each. It’s an example of the extraordinary variety possible from only two grapes planted on this famous stretch of land.

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BELLAND Chassagne-Montrachet 1er cru Morgeot “Clos Pitois” 2014
Roger Belland’s premier cru Chassagne-Montrachet is unusually lush and aromatic. The wine’s exotic bouquet leaps from the glass, with notes of pear, hazelnut, and baked lemon. Grown in a monopole vineyard first planted in 1421, this is classic and delicious Chassagne-Montrachet.

BOYER-MARTENOT Puligny-Montrachet 2014
From one of the finest vintages for white Burgundy in recent years, Vincent Boyer’s Puligny-Montrachet “Reuchaux” is elegance in a glass. Look for graceful notes of mineral and lime rind, alongside a mouth of honeysuckle and white flowers.

GROS Vosne-Romanée 2011
From a master winemaker, this is a classic Vosne. The nose shows the unique, spice and violets. The mouth is dense and pure, with beautifully silky tannins that show the elegance possible from a perfect marriage of grape and place.

AMIOT Morey-St-Denis 1er “Ruchots” 2012
Brothers Jean-Louis and Didier Amiot craft rich, lively Burgundies in a style that combines traditional earthiness with modern extraction. Look for notes of smoky cherries and charcoal in the nose; in the mouth find briary blackberry jam.

GROS Chambolle-Musigny 2011
Michel Gros’s village level Chambolle-Musigny drinks more like a premier cru, with the majority of the grapes coming from a plot adjoining the famous Grand Cru Musigny. Look for meaty notes of underbrush and raspberries, and a rich and supremely silky mouth.

BOURÉE Gevrey-Chambertin “Justice” 2011
From a village monopole where a guillotine once stood, this is exceptional wine in an old school style. The nose shows a collection of dark, stewed fruits, dried cranberries, cloves, and baked apple. The mouth is surprisingly smooth, with a softened palate that remains long and tense.

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BEST OF BURGUNDY

2x   BELLAND Chassagne-Montrachet 1er 14:   $78
2x   BOYER Puligny-Montrachet 2014:   $64
2x   GROS Vosne-Romanée 2011: $72
2x   AMIOT Morey-St-Denis 1er 2012:   $85
2x   GROS Chambolle-Musigny 2011: $74
2x  BOURÉE Gevrey-Chambertin 2011:   $78


Ansonia Retail: $902
offer price: $725/case

free East Coast shipping    |    save $177

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Terms of sale. Ansonia Wines MA sells wine to individual consumers who are 21 or more years of age, for personal consumption and not for resale.  All sales are completed and title passes to purchasers in Massachusetts.  Ansonia Wines MA arranges for shipping on behalf of its customers upon request and where applicable laws permit.

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Exquisite New Condrieu: Nectar of the Northern Rhône.

Gardenia.  In France, vineyard location is paramount. Syrah grown at different latitudes tastes vastly different; in Burgundy, Pinot Noir’s character changes within the distance of a few feet. Viognier is aromatic and floral wherever it’s grown, but the complexity and elegance depends entirely on its origin. And nowhere else in the world does Viognier reach such expression as in Condrieu.

Located just below Côte Rôtie in the Northern Rhône Valley, about 20 minutes south of Lyon, Condrieu is a tiny appellation — just over half a square mile of vines. But it produces one of the world’s great white wines, as complex aromatically as it is elegant and mouthfilling on the palate. For fans of Viognier, there’s Condrieu, and then there’s everything else.

 BAT Condrieu Cote Chatillon 2012

Honey.  Our source for Condrieu is the brothers Bonnefond, a domaine best known for their excellent Côte Rôties. Their 2015 Condrieu is superb — the nose is extraordinarily complex and perfumed, with notes ranging from gardenia, herb honey, apricot, green tea, and dried mango. The mouth is smooth and rich with notes of peach and pear, and a beautiful grape-skin briskness that balances the mouthcoating texture.

With a chill in the air these days, we often prefer whites with some fullness and texture, and as an aperitif, this wine is unmatched. So complex and diverse is the array of flavors that it requires no accompaniment from food. Should hunger force your hand, a simple French salad is the best choice.

Final note — serve this in your largest Burgundy-style balloon glasses, and let the wine come up to room temperature in the glass. It’s an aromatic experience unparallelled in the world of food.

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BONNEFOND Condrieu 2015
Ansonia Retail: $56
quarter-case: $48/bot

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AVAILABLE IN   3-   6-   AND  12-  BOTTLE LOTS

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Email Tom to place an order.
or call Tom: (617) 249-3657

 

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Terms of sale. Ansonia Wines MA sells wine to individual consumers who are 21 or more years of age, for personal consumption and not for resale.  All sales are completed and title passes to purchasers in Massachusetts.  Ansonia Wines MA arranges for shipping on behalf of its customers upon request and where applicable laws permit.

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Smooth, Rich Syrah Blend for Wintery Weather. $18

Balance. For winemakers in Burgundy, finding enough sun is a perennial concern. An unusually rainy year like 2016 can make ripening difficult. In the Languedoc, France’s southernmost region, the concern is just the opposite: how to harvest grapes with enough acidity to preserve freshness.

It makes sense, then, that our favorite Languedoc wines often come from high-elevation zones, where cool breezes help encourage freshness. The best wines of the Languedoc are a careful balance between sundrenched Southern ripeness and refreshing minerality acidity. The Clos Bagatelle in the hills of Saint-Chinian walks the line between richness and energy as well as any domaine we know.

Richness.  Located high in the schist-laden hills of the central Languedoc, the Clos Bagatelle is a centuries-old domaine making classic syrah-based southern reds. Today we’re suggesting their “Veillée d’Automne,” a smooth, meaty syrah blend that also includes carignan and cinsault. The nose is ripe and clean, showing plums and dark fruits; the mouth is chewy and dense, with a hint of toast and a crisp mineral line that balances the ripe fruit.

With winter weather on the way we’re reaching more and more for wines from the South. This is meaty, rich red wine that will warm you up as well as a crackling fire. Serve this with a beef stew, roasted vegetables, or a cassoulet; it’s also sure to make friends on your Thanksgiving table in a few weeks.

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BAGATELLE St-Chinian “Veillée d’Automne” 13
Ansonia Retail: $24
case, half-case: $18/bot

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AVAILABLE IN   6-  AND  12-  BOTTLE LOTS

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Email Tom to place an order.
or call Tom: (617) 249-3657

 

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NOTE: If it’s variety you’re after, consider our Wintery Reds mixed case for Thanksgiving, which includes this wine and 3 others.

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Terms of sale. Ansonia Wines MA sells wine to individual consumers who are 21 or more years of age, for personal consumption and not for resale.  All sales are completed and title passes to purchasers in Massachusetts.  Ansonia Wines MA arranges for shipping on behalf of its customers upon request and where applicable laws permit.