Author: Thomas Wilcox

Posted on by

Late Summer Sampler: $195

We’re not sure what the temperature is where you live, but chez nous it’s hot and humid. Across the pond the Burgundians are sweating it out too, with temperatures in Beaune reaching 100 degrees this week. Wherever you are, we hope you have air conditioning and a fridge full of something chilled.

On that note, we’ve collected a new sampler of cool wines for hot weather — two whites and two reds, all dry and crisp. If it’s too hot to think much about your wine this week, try these four — they’re simple, refreshing, and inexpensive. Serve them chilled and remember that the heat won’t last forever.

 

 

Martin-Luneau Muscadet “Deux Roches” 2012
Dry, crisp, and very refreshing. Grown near the mouth of the Loire River. Drink well chilled with cheese and crackers.

Paget Chenin “Melodie” 2017
Dry, floral, and lively. Grown near Vouvray; notes of pear and minerals. Drink well chilled with appetizers or a salad.

Souverain Merlot 2017
Juicy, fruit-forward, bursting. Grown in the Rhône valley; an organic, fruit-forward take on the grape. Drink cool with grilled anything.

Perrachon Beaujolais-Villages 2017
Crackling, gulpable, juicy. Grown in the Beaujolais (not Nouveau); notes of graphite and berries. Drink cool with goat cheese and charcuterie.

 

____________________________

Mixed Case: Late Summer Sampler
(3 of each wine)

case price : $195

 

Add to Cart



FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING

Posted on by

Brilliant New 2016 Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru

The villages of Puligny and Chassagne sit side by side, sources for the world’s finest white wine. The famous vineyard of Montrachet straddles their border, and while both towns produce extraordinary Grand Crus from their respective halves, as you leave Montrachet in either direction the styles diverge.

Chassagne-Montrachet is known for opulence and richness, wines of grandeur and glamour. Puligny-Montrachet is known for precision and elegance, wines of intensity and finesse. Today’s wine is a premier cru from Chassagne, but in style it borrows much from Puligny.

 

 

Thomas Morey is as much a part of Chassagne as the bell tower or the fields of vines — his family has lived in the village since 1643. His father Bernard’s wines were considered a reference point for the town, and Thomas’s reputation has grown steadily since he started his domaine in 2007.

His style is one of precision and intensity (hence the Puligny comparison, though don’t tell him we said so). His judicious use of oak and careful vinification mean that his wines are more sophisticated and less showy than much Chassagne. But their smoothness and ease of enjoyment reveal their true origin.

Morey’s 2016 Chassagne Montrachet 1er cru Embrazées is exquisite. The name Embrazées roughly translates to “aglow” or “aflame,” and the wine indeed glows with intensity and a smooth sophistication. Look for notes of peach, hazelnut, and lemon — serve with lobster and butter.

____________________________

Morey Chassagne-Montrachet
1er cru “Embrazées” 2016

bottle price : $85

 

Add to Cart



FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES

 

Posted on by

New “Seductive” 2015 Red Bordeaux. $25

The 2015 vintage produced exceptional red wines throughout France. We’ve most recently highlighted some of our favorite examples from Burgundy and the Rhône. But the vintage was just as successful in Bordeaux.

Particularly on Bordeaux’s Right Bank, the results have been stunning. Master of Wine James Lawther found 2015 Right Bank reds “excellent” and “seductive,” explaining “I wouldn’t say it’s the greatest ever, but it’s a very, very good vintage.”

 

 

Today we’re introducing the first of two 2015 Lalande-de-Pomerols just in to our cellar: the Chateau de Marchesseau. It’s a 70/30 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, grown just outside the famous appellation of Pomerol. The neighborhood has perfect clay/gravel soil for Merlot, producing the ripe, intense, velvety tannins for which the grape is known.

The 2015 Marchesseau shows plum and hints of licorice and spice. The mouth is rich and intense, but full of juicy, bursting tannins. Decant this and it drinks like a far fancier wine. It’s classic Bordeaux from an outstanding vintage, at a weeknight price.

____________________________

Marchesseau Lalande de Pomerol 2015

bottle price : $25

 

Add to Cart



FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES

 

Posted on by

Smooth, Dry, Refreshing: New White Bordeaux. $18

Bordeaux is a region best known for wines that are expensive, ageworthy, and red. So in the spirit of keeping readers on their toes, we’re introducing a new Bordeaux today that is the complete opposite: inexpensive, drink-now, and white.

We’ve bought our Sauternes from the Chateau Voigny for years now — it’s an excellent source for the classic dessert wine. But this spring we got to try their simple dry white, and found it refreshing and easy to like.

For heat like we’re having these days, our wine criteria are dry, fresh, and inexpensive. The new Bordeaux Blanc sec fits the bill perfectly.

 

 

Most dry white Bordeaux is predominantly Sauvignon with a dose of Semillon. This wine is the reverse, and we found the taste was as good as the price. (We’re not the only ones: the wine won a gold at the Concours de Bordeaux).

The nose shows grapeskins, minerals, melon, and herbs. In the mouth there’s lemon/citrus and a brisk, clean, very dry mouthfeel. It will be a good match for anything that goes with white Bordeaux, and at a by-the-glass price of under $4, you won’t need to think to hard before opening it.

Chill it down and serve it with cheese and crackers after a long summer day like this one.

____________________________

Voigny Bordeaux Blanc sec 2016

bottle price : $18

 

Add to Cart



FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES

 

Posted on by

Refreshing New Red Sancerre: Strawberries and Stones

Sancerre has always been the star of the Loire Valley. Though recent years have seen interest explode in the region’s other appellations, Sancerre remains the best known and among the best-liked. It’s popular, easy to drink, easy to pronounce, and pairs well with lots of dishes.

Today’s wine is classic Sancerre — mineral, bright, refreshing and summery… it just happens to be red. Nearly a quarter of the appellation is planted to Pinot Noir. Like the Sauvignon Blanc used to make white Sancerre, Pinot Noir deftly and elegantly expresses the minerality of Sancerre’s terroir.

It’s a perfect summertime red wine, particularly when served cool.

 

 

The whites of the Domaine de la Garenne have already received a warm welcome from our readers — their Sancerre 2017 is cool, lively, and refreshing; their Sancerre “Bouffants” 2017 is full of intensity, minerality, and elegance. Garenne’s Sancerre rouge is in the same line: refreshing and well balanced, with no new oak and an unusually complex palate.

If the words “Sancerre rouge” call to mind a simple fruit-forward wine, this wine should expand that notion. There’s indeed beautiful red fruit with violets and honey, but also a complex earthiness, both from stones and forest floor. The smooth, relaxed tannins make this go down surprisingly easily — you’ll be amazed how fast a bottle disappears from your summer table.

Serve this wine cool or chilled, with goat cheese on crackers.

____________________________

Garenne Sancerre red 2016

bottle price : $28

 

Add to Cart



FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES

 

Posted on by

Elegant New Chassagne-Montrachet from a Legendary Family.

It’s not every day we add a Burgundy producer to our portfolio. Burgundy is a small region, with well-trodden paths — many winemakers are exclusively represented or have very little wine. But every once in a while the stars align and a top notch producer falls into our lap.

Thomas Morey’s wines may be new to our warehouse, but his winemaking is full of experience and history. He’s a 10th generation Morey working in Chassagne, and his father Bernard ran one of the town’s most famous and well respected domaines until his retirement in 2005.

Morey is a rare find, and his wines are every bit as good as his reputation. We’re excited to introduce our first wine from him today.

 

 

Thomas Morey’s style is elegance and charm. Where some Chassagnes seem to strive for Californiaesque butteriness, Morey’s aim for sleekness and precision. His production is entirely organic, using low vineyard intervention and only ambient yeasts at harvest. Most interestingly, Morey limits his wines to only 20% new oak, even on his Grand Crus — the result is clarity and purity unlike much else in Burgundy today.

Morey lost 50% of his crop to hail last in 2016, so his village Chassagne-Montrachet is a blend of the fruit from seven parcels. The nose is clean and refined, showing delicate white flowers and golden fruit, all with a sophisticated style. The mouth is very intense and long, gaining its opulence from the fruit and soil rather than over oaking.

This should improve for a few years, but it’s hard to put down after one glass today.

____________________________

Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 2016

bottle price : $65

 

Add to Cart



FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES

 

Posted on by

72 HOUR SALE: 93-95 point 2015 Red Burgundies from Michel Gros

We are hardly alone in our enthusiasm for the 2015 red Burgundies. The hype began even before the harvest, and critics now consider it one of the finest vintages in recent memory.

Many of Michel Gros’s 2015s top our list of favorites from the vintage. Just this week, The Wine Spectator’s Burgundy writer Bruce Sanderson concurred, including some Gros 2015s in his list of favorites. And while we try not to accept the critics’ views uncritically, it’s always nice when they agree with us.

So we’re highlighting five of those Gros 2015s today. Enter the code GROS for an extra 10% off your order. Sale lasts through Sunday midnight.

 

 

Nuits-St-Georges 2015
Ansonia Notes: This is Michel’s parcel near the Vosne-Nuits border, and the wine shows an enticing mix of meaty Nuits strength with Vosne-Romanée finesse.
WS Notes: Offering a mix of graphite, cherry, raspberry and smoky, spicy flavors, this red is complex and structured. A little disjointed now, with all the components in the right places, so give this some time. Fine length.
WS Score: 93

WS Price: $85
Ansonia Price: $69

ADD TO CART >

 

 

Nuits-St-Georges “Chaliots” 2015
Ansonia Notes:  This classic Nuits is from the southern half of the appellation, where the clay-rich soils give excellent intensity and richness.
WS Notes:  Aromas and flavors of macerated cherry are intense, surrounded by earth, mineral and spice accents. Dense and meaty, this red also delivers vibrant acidity.
WS Score: 93

WS Price: $85
Ansonia Price: $69

ADD TO CART >

 

 

Chambolle-Musigny 2015
Ansonia Notes:  Always one of Michel’s most elegant cuvées, this is silky and smooth with a very long finish and notes of toast, cassis and violets.
WS Notes:  Bright, infused with violet, black currant, blackberry and stone flavors, this red is harmonious and expressive, extending nicely on the finish.
WS Score: 93

WS Price: $102
Ansonia Price: $85

ADD TO CART >

 

 

Vosne-Romanée 1er “Clos des Réas” 2015
Ansonia Notes:  From Michel’s flagship vineyard, this wine is terrific every year, but in 2015 it’s extraordinary. Look for notes of roses, toast, and cherry jam.
WS Notes: A smoky cast to the cherry and spice flavors and a hint of vegetal notes mark this rich red. Firm and long, with a lingering echo of smoke and spice on the finish.
WS Score: 94

WS Price: $180
Ansonia Price: $159

ADD TO CART >

 

 

Vosne-Romanée 1er cru “Aux Brûlées” 2015
Ansonia Notes: Grown a mere 10 feet from the famous Grand Cru Richebourg, Aux Brûlées comes from legendary terroir. Look for smoky cherries and lace-like minerality.
WS Notes:  Intense, yet with finesse and detail, this red is sophisticated, complex and alluring. Cherry and strawberry fruit and mineral and oak spice flavors mingle on an elegant frame, while a subtle yet supportive structure balances the whole. Stays persistent from start to finish.
WS Score: 95

WS Price: $170
Ansonia Price: $139

ADD TO CART >

Posted on by

Two New Samplers: Red & White Burgundies Under $40

Burgundies span a wide range of prices. We try to find values at every level, from simple, everyday house wines to ageworthy Grand Cru trophy bottles. Today we’ve collected two new samplers: white and red Burgundies under $40/bot.

Wherever $40 fits on your price scale, here are eight wines we think you’ll love. As usual, East Coast shipping is included for each. Limited quantities; first come first served.

 

____________________________________________________

WHITE BURGUNDIES UNDER $40

Collet Chablis 1er cru “Forets” 2015: classic, mineral-driven Chablis with low oak, excellent freshness, and beautiful, elegant floral notes

Ravaut Ladoix blanc 2015: rich, mouthfilling, exotic white Burgundy made in the style of a Corton-Charlemagne; look for white flowers and baked lemon

Gros Fontaine-St-Martin blanc 2015: smooth, round, floral white Burgundy from the hills; notes of herbs, mango, lime, and chalk

Thomas St-Aubin 1er cru “Murgers” 2016: classic, sophisticated, precise white Burgundy with lots of depth; look for notes of hazelnut, lemon cream, and stones

3 of each wine, free East Coast shipping

_____________
Suggested Retail: $543
Sampler Price: $450/case

Add to Cart

 

____________________________________________________

RED BURGUNDIES UNDER $40

Gros Fontaine-St-Martin red 2015: precise, earthy, mineral red from the hills; notes of violets, slik, cherries and stones

Desvignes Givry 1er cru “Clos Charlé” 2015: hearty, lively red Burgundy with unusual polish; look for wild raspberry jam, briary fruit, and a clean, rugged finish

Belland Santenay 1er cru “Comme” 2015: juicy, ripe, elegant red Burgundy; lace-like texture, with minerals, herbs and strawberry fruit

Arlot Clos du Chapeau 2014: dark, delicate, woodsy red Burgundy from a top producer; intense briary flavor layered over a meticulously structured texture

3 of each wine, free East Coast shipping

_____________
Suggested Retail: $543
Sampler Price: $450/case

Add to Cart

 

Posted on by

Dry, Exuberant New Chenin Blanc from a Vouvray Neighbor. $19

Nicolas Paget is one of the most exciting (and excited) new producers we’ve found in years. All of our winemakers care deeply about their craft, but Paget is unusually committed. After 90 minutes of tasting with him, we were running more than an hour late for our next tasting; but when he begged us to join him for a quick visit to his vines, it was impossible to turn him down.

His excitement is well founded. Paget crafts delicious white wines from Chenin Blanc, a grape responsible for the great wines of the central Loire Valley, particularly Vouvray. Paget’s Chenins are much like our favorite Vouvrays, though they come from the less known nearby appellation of Touraine-Azay le Rideau.

Like much Vouvray, Paget’s whites range from very dry to very sweet, with much in between. Our favorite of his cuvées, and the one we suggest today, is his 2017 Chenin “Melodie.”

 

 

Melodie is everything we went searching for in the Loire: dry, expressive, organic Chenin Blanc with good balance and all of Chenin’s signature aromatic complexity. We found pear and melon in the nose, with a dose of citrus and white flowers. The mouth is exceptional — lively and complex, with delicate freshness, bright minerality, and notes of dried orchard fruits.

Melodie was in our July Futures issue that closed last week, but we were so excited that we pre-ordered a few cases last month in time for summer enjoyment. Since their arrival a few weeks ago, Melodie has already wowed family gathered on our porch and tasters last weekend at the depot. For dry, exuberant, summery white wine under $20, there may be no better option.

____________________________

Paget Chenin “Melodie” 2017

bottle price : $19

 

Add to Cart



FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES

 

Posted on by

Exquisite New 10-year-old Grand Cru Grower Champagne.

For a few years now Pascal Bardoux has supplied us with his exceptional Champagne — from his charming Rosé Brut to his elegant Vintage blends to his remarkable 15-year-old magnums. (Watch this space for more magnums later this year.)

This spring we stumbled across another excellent Grower Champagne source — the Domaine Daniel Petit-Lebrun. They’re located in the famous Côte des Blancs, and their wines are all 100% chardonnay. Their Grand Cru classified vineyards produce classic Côtes des Blancs wines — linear and elegant with long finishes and delightful complexity.

At first glance their 2008 Vintage Champagne wine struck as well-made and straightforward — but as we found out, good things come to those who wait.

 

 

Like still wines, Champagne opens up as it is exposed to warmth and air. Decanting Champagne usually doesn’t often happen, but the more air you can get to this wine the better. At our Newton Owner’s Hours yesterday this was lovely when we opened at 10am, and magnificent by the close at 4pm.

Now a decade after harvest, this wine is as complex and delicious as any Champagne we’ve had lately. Look for butterscotch, confectioner’s sugar, toast, grape skin, and flowers in the nose. It’s a Brut so the mouth is dry, but the baked fruit and raspberry tart notes are simply enticing.

We may be the first American importers for this wine, but if it continues to show this much magic in the glass we certainly won’t be the last.

____________________________

Petit-Lebrun Champagne Grand Cru 2008

bottle price : $75

 

Add to Cart



FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES

 

Posted on by

New Organic $15 Merlot. (Yes, Merlot.)

Merlot has had a rough decade. Though it plays a starring role in some of the world’s rarest and priciest wines (Petrus, Cheval Blanc, Ausone), the Sideways effect has dampened sales and made the grape unfashionable. And we’ll admit, there’s plenty of bland, boring Merlot out there.

That’s usually our lead up to pitching a right bank Bordeaux, but today we have something different. A few years ago we stumbled across the Domaine Souverain in the Rhône Valley, a tiny producer with no website and no road sign — he even shares his barrel room with his neighbor. But the wines are honest, straightforward, and, as one customer recently put it, “highly drinkable.”

We’ll have his popular Séguret in a Futures offering later this year, but we picked up a bit of his refreshing gulpable Merlot in time to enjoy this summer.

 

 

Souverain’s Merlot isn’t sophisticated or serious like Bordeaux; nor is it rich and velvety like the a New World Merlot. In style it’s almost more akin to a well made Beaujolais — bursting, ripe fruit and a clean balanced mouthfeel. Chauvin practices low intervention winemaking, and his wines show the hallmarks of a natural style — low alcohol (13%), complex earthiness, and great freshness. There’s no oak and lots of fruit.

In the nose Souverain’s Merlot is intense and lively, with bright notes of raspberry jam, lavender, earth and honey. In the mouth it’s juicy and perfectly balanced — intense fruit, solid freshness, present but approachable tannin. Pair this with a picnic and a sunny afternoon and you’ll think you’re in Provence.

Don’t overthink this wine — it’s not complex or sublime or expensive. It’s just fun.

____________________________

Souverain Merlot 2017

bottle price : $15

 

Add to Cart



FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES

 

Posted on by

New 92-point Northern Rhône White: Roussanne from Saint-Péray

If you have trouble finding Saint-Péray on a map, you’re not alone. The tiny Northern Rhône appellation is tucked just south of Cornas on the Rhône River, and covers only three tenths of a square mile. But Vinous’s Josh Raynolds calls it “currently the most exciting appellation in the northern Rhône Valley.”

The wines of Saint-Péray are perfumed and highly expressive, and Raynolds claims the best examples “rival Hermitage blanc for quality.” Made from Marsanne, Roussanne, or a blend of the two, they’re exotic, aromatic white wines that show tropical notes and low acidity, perfect for apéritifs. Saint-Pérays are complex, rare, and, when you can find them, delicious.

Most interesting for us, however, is Raynolds claim that “Stephane Robert, for my money, is making the best St-Perays out there right now.”

 

 

Stephane Robert is the winemaker at the Domaine du Tunnel, our newest source in the Northern Rhône valley. Tunnel is famous as one of the top sources for Cornas, and indeed it was their excellent reds that led us to their door. But we were so taken with their Saint-Péray that we just couldn’t skip it.

Tunnel’s 2016 Saint-Péray explodes from the glass. Peach, honey, tangerine, and apricots mix with tropical flowers and pears. The mouth is rich and intense; it coats the mouth with dried fruits and concludes with a beautifully balanced finish (13.5%) of minerals and zest. Think Condrieu, but with yellower fruits and a slightly sun-baked feel.

We could go on about the complexity and seductiveness of this wine, but to get the complete picture you’ll need a glass yourself.

 

____________________________

Tunnel Saint-Péray 2016

bottle price : $45

 

Add to Cart



FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES

 

Posted on by

New “Premier Cru” Sancerre: Stones, Grapefruit, and Pear

If Sancerre had a grand cru vineyard, it would be the Monts Damnées. This most famous of Sancerre’s terroirs abuts the hamlet of Chavignol west of the town. Sancerre produces popular wine from every corner of its appellation, but the hillside of the Monts Damnées is special.

And just a half mile to the east along the same slope lies “Les Bouffants.” Its soil is similarly full of “Caillotes” (large limestone stones), and it’s from this plot that today’s wine hails. Bouffants’s slope isn’t quite as steep as its famous neighbor, but you’d want someone who knew what they were doing driving a tractor up the hill from you.

Last week we introduced our exciting new source for Sancerre, the Domaine de la Garenne. Their 2017 regular cuvée is delightful and everything we look for in a Sancerre. But “Bouffants” is truly something special.

 

 

Made from pure, unoaked Sauvignon Blanc, Bouffants is more dense and serious than Garenne’s regular cuvée. The 2017 is distilled and long, full of mineral intensity and dried fruit. Look for notes of pears and grapefruits, with a long, clean, very dry finish. Think of the ripe fruitiness of a classic Sauvignon combined with the mineral intensity of a Muscadet.

Bouffants is a perfect food wine and can stand up to a wide range of diverse flavors. Last week we served Garenne’s regular cuvée as an aperitif during the sunset, and the Bouffants with steamed lobster for dinner; each match was superb.

 

____________________________

Garenne Sancerre “Bouffants” 2017

bottle price : $28

 

Add to Cart



FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES

 

Posted on by

Sparkling Blanc de Noir from Burgundy. $28

Most wines made from Pinot Noir are red, whether light and elegant or rich and fruity. But in fact the juice of Pinot Noir grapes is clear. The color of Pinot Noir rouge comes from soaking the grape skins in the juice — press the juice off the skins and ferment it without them, and you get a wine that’s much closer to a white.

In France this is called a Blanc de Noirs (white from black), and it’s most often sparkling. The Champenois often include uncolored Pinot Noir juice in their Champagnes, and today’s example from Burgundy borrows this idea. Made from a small plot of 100% Pinot Noir, the Maison Picamelot’s “Terroir de Chazot” is an exceptional and unusual example of terroir-based, single-varietal sparkling wine.

 

 

Most crémant in Burgundy and Alsace is a blend of several varietals from different locations, and the winemaker composes a mixture of notes and flavors. For “Terroir de Chazot,” Picamelot decided to isolate a single grape from a single plot and bottle it unblended.

The result is a finer, more intense and earthy sparkling wine, with notes of roasted apples and herbs. The bubbles are fine, and the finish is elegant and dry. It’s perhaps not as refined as Champagne, but it’s far more flavorful and interesting. And next to most mass-market Champagnes starting around $90, it’s less than a third of the price.

Serve it at a fancy backyard soiree, or dress up your next barbecue with a bit of celebration — you guests will assume you dug much deeper in your wallet.

 

____________________________

Picamelot Crémant Chazot NV

bottle price : $28

 

Add to Cart



FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES

 

Posted on by

Mixed Case: Loire Valley Sampler

The Loire Valley is a pastoral land of magnificent chateaux and humble goat cheese makers. The range of wines across its 250 mile expanse is just as dramatic: sparkling and still, dry and sweet, and everything from almost-clear Muscadet to deep purple Chinon. There’s a wine here for every palate.

For this case we’ve selected four wines from across the region: three whites and a red. All four are single varietal wines from four of the Loire’s most famous grapes: Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne, and Cabernet Franc. Each is pure, unoaked, and delightful — exuberant expressions from the “Garden of France.”

Garenne Sancerre 2017
Pure sauvignon blanc; lively, round, and fresh. Classic and smooth; look for grapefruit and flint.

Martin-Luneau Muscadet “Deux Roches” 2012
Melon de Bourgogne grown near the Atlantic Coast. Very dry and refreshing; melon and salt air.

Paget Chenin “Melodie” 2017
Organic chenin blanc in the style of Vouvray. Dry, floral, complex, exquisite; pear and stones.

Demois Chinon VV 2015
Unoaked old-vine Cabernet Franc from Chinon. Dense, juicy, and balanced; graphite and plums.

 

____________________________

Loire Valley Sampler
(3 of each wine)

Suggested retail: $316
sampler price : $250

 

Add to Cart



FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING