Thomas Wilcox, Author at Ansonia Wines

Posted on October 10, 2016October 10, 2016 by Thomas Wilcox

And Now for Something Different: Tuscan Olive Oil

Golden. In our search for expressions of terroir, we never tire of sampling local flavors. Oysters from Belon, chèvre from the Loire, butter from Isigny — these foods represent their regions as much as any stony Chablis or rich Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

When it comes to olive oil, our source of choice is Tuscany. The golden elixir from the rolling Tuscan hills shares only a name with most grocery store varieties. The “real stuff” is one of the world’s greatest culinary elements — a finishing agent that can add a wide range of flavors, including fruit, earth, nuts, and straw.

pogg-oil2

Oil! Many readers know the Fattoria Poggerino from their excellent and well-priced Chiantis; but they’re also responsible for an exceptional, small-batch olive oil. Like another of Italy’s finest exports — real Parmigiano Reggiano — the distance between the genuine article and the cheap imitations is evident. As our extended family can attest, one taste of Poggerino Olive Oil and it becomes hard to serve anything else.

Scientists continue to extol the virtues of a Mediterranean diet, so we’re sure you could find a health reason to buy this olive oil. But in our family, Poggerino’s Olive Oil is the ultimate gustatory luxury. We reserve it exclusively for dishes where it won’t be heated: tossed with salads, or drizzled on roasted fish just before serving. Fair warning: this will ruin most other olive oils for you.

________________________

POGGERINO Olive Oil (500ml tin)
Ansonia Retail: $34
quarter-case: $28/tin

_
AVAILABLE IN 3- 6- AND 12- TIN LOTS

FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON 12 TINS

Email Tom to place an order.

or call Tom: (617) 249-3657

_____________________________

Posted on October 9, 2016October 9, 2016 by Thomas Wilcox

The Height of Burgundian Elegance: New Premier Cru Volnay

Finesse. When we write about minerality, it’s usually in the context of a white wine. The Chardonnay of Chablis and the Rieslings of the Mosel Valley are prized for their stony clarity, drawing minerality from the limestone- and slate-laden soils. But minerality is a quality in red wines as well, and at its best can contribute an ethereal elegance and vibrancy.

The red Burgundies of Volnay are known for their singular, mineral elegance. The soils of Volnay contain a high percentage of limestone, and far less clay than neighboring Pommard — the result is delicate wines that are the height of Burgundian finesse. We’re excited to introduce a new one today — Roger Belland’s premier cru Volnay from the famous “Santenots” vineyard.

santenots

Fruit and mineral. The Belland Domaine is a 6th generation operation in the Côte de Beaune. Their style in pinot noirs is of full, juicy fruit, and ripe, punchy tannins — in Santenay and surrounding towns this creates pleasant, fruit-forward wines that are delicious young. But apply Belland’s juicy style to an exceptional highly mineral terroir of Volnay, and you have an exquisite combination.

Belland’s Volnay 1er cru 2014 is dark and brooding in the nose, with notes of currants, cinnamon, wild cherries, and pine. The mouth is far richer than you might expect from Volnay, but the town’s signature lacy delicacy persists on a long and elegant finish. This will cellar for another 3 or 4 years with ease, adding more woodsy and mushroom notes with every year. But with a decanter and an hour or two of forethought, this would be an elegant pairing for a rack of lamb this winter.

________________________

BELLAND Volnay 1er cru “Santenots” 2014
Ansonia Retail: $70
quarter-case: $59/bot

_
AVAILABLE IN 3- 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS

Email Tom to place an order.

or call Tom: (617) 249-3657

_____________________________

Posted on October 6, 2016October 7, 2016 by Thomas Wilcox

“Remarkable” New Sauvignon Blanc from Pouilly-Fumé.

Discovery. It was last year that we first stopped at the unassuming doorstep of Frederic Michot. We had little more to go on than a brief note in a French wine guide promising small scale, excellent Pouilly-Fumé. The rutted tracks in the ridges above the hamlet led to a modest house with a small tasting room.

Frederic himself was away, but his mother greeted us warmly and proudly showed us her son’s two wines — pure, unoaked, beautiful Sauvignon Blanc. Our favorite was an old-vine cuvée, made from vines planted in the 1940s — “juste après la guerre,” as Madame put it. We ordered our first lot a few days after our visit, and then had to re-up very soon after our readers got a taste.

mcihot1-1

Fresh. We’re pleased to report that Michot’s 2014 was not a fluke — his 2015 Vieilles Vignes is just as ripe and round, with excellent intensity and beautiful harmony. This nose shows mango, grapefruit rind, and straw; the mouth shows ripe grapefruit, lime rind, and honey. The wine is at once mouthfilling and electric, with a persistence of richness and freshness that the Guide Hachette called “remarkable.”

Grilled shrimp, pan seared scallops, broiled haddock, steamed Maine lobster — these will all form a harmonious and delightful match with this wine. Or if fruits de mer aren’t your thing, try a glass with another invention of the Loire Valley — goat cheese on a crusty piece of French bread.

________________________

MICHOT Pouilly-Fumé Vieilles Vignes 2015
Ansonia Retail: $24
case, half-case: $18/bot

_
AVAILABLE IN 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS

Email Tom to place an order.

or call Tom: (617) 249-3657

_____________________________

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Thomas Wilcox

A Rarity from the Rhône: White Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Scarce. White Châteauneuf-du-Pape is rare. Nearly 95% of the appellation’s wines are red, and because of the warm climate and abundant sunshine, it’s difficult to make wines with good balance. But in the hands of a careful winemaker, the unusual white grapes can produce beautiful and astonishing wines.

Back in June when we discovered Christophe Mestre, one of our new sources for Chateauneuf-du-Pape, we were drawn to his excellent and well priced red. But his white was so attractive and delicious that we decided to get some as well. For readers that have never tried white CDP, this is an excellent (and affordable) place to start.

Bouquet. Christophe Mestre’s white is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Clairette, and Bourboulenc, all unoaked. From these traditional local white varietals, Mestre crafts a delicious, beautifully balanced wine. The nose is big and expressive, showing exotic fruits like pineapple and kiwi. The mouth is rich but refreshing, with mouthcoating richness that gives way to an energetic, spice-filled and savory finish.

White Chateauneuf is one of the world’s great aperitif wines — a glass before a meal can set the mood like little else. But it’s also a versatile match for a wide array of foods. The richness in the mouth means it pairs nicely with acidic foods, like a salad with vinaigrette, or a roast chicken with lemon. Either way, the aromatics on this wines are enticing — we recommend enjoying it from a Burgundy style balloon glass.

________________________

MESTRE Châteauneuf-du-Pape blanc 2015
Ansonia Retail: $34
case, half-case: $28/bot

_
AVAILABLE IN 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS

Email Tom to place an order.

or call Tom: (617) 249-3657

_____________________________

Posted on October 5, 2016October 5, 2016 by Thomas Wilcox

New Pure Syrah: Blackberries, Cloves, and Violets

Intense. The Northern Rhône is best known for its all-syrah reds from Côte Rôtie and Hermitage. These spiced, inky wines are precise expressions of a unique marriage of grape and land — nowhere else does syrah taste quite like this. Most bottles from Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, however, require diligent cellaring, and start north of $50 a bottle.

Which is why we’re so glad to have found the Domaine Saint Clair in Crozes-Hermitage. Denis Basset’s wines provide an opportunity to enjoy dark, peppery Northern Rhône syrah with greater frequency and lower investment. His 2014 Crozes-Hermitage “Etincelle” is a pure, juicy, classic syrah that we think will convert anyone to this region.

Fruit and Spice. Basset is a young winemaker who is passionate and very talented — the latest issue of the Guide Hachette featured two of his four wines, an impressive feat for a winemaker who started only five years ago. Basset came to winemaking through an accident with a high-voltage wire that nearly cut short his life. Upon leaving the hospital, he decided to pursue his lifelong dream of making wine from his family’s vineyards. Lucky for us.

Basset’s 2014 Crozes-Hermitage is dark and dense, but not the slightest bit heavy. At 13%, it’s chewy and mouthfilling, but doesn’t wear out your palate. The profile is classic Northern Rhône syrah: savory black fruit, black pepper and bacon in the nose, with clove and violets in the mouth.

This is dark but vibrant and lively, a versatile and excellent match for food. Our choice might be something with lamb and mediterranean spices, like Daniel Boulud’s leg of lamb.

________________________

SAINT CLAIR Crozes-Hermitage 2014
Ansonia Retail: $26
case, half-case: $22/bot

_
AVAILABLE IN 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS

Email Tom to place an order.

or call Tom: (617) 249-3657

_____________________________

Posted on October 3, 2016October 5, 2016 by Thomas Wilcox

A Thousand Years of White Burgundy.

Nectar des Dieux. For about a thousand years between the 5th and 15th centuries, French monasteries were the center of the winemaking world. It was the monks, tasting the products of the rich Burgundian soils (and often the soils themselves), who first developed the idea of terroir.

In the south of Burgundy, winemaking culture centered around the Abbaye de Cluny. Cluny’s Abbey was once the wealthiest monastic organization in the Western world, and much of its wealth and fame came from the product of the local vineyards. Today’s wine comes from these vineyards, now in production for over 1100 years.

France profonde. Nicolas Maillet is a passionate young winemaker working in the heart of the Maconnais. His wines are as pure an expression of the Chardonnay grape as we know, with no oak to obscure the gorgeous fruit. They have the purity and clarity of fine Chablis, but the weight and roundness of a Côte d’Or Chardonnay.

Maillet’s winemaking style is hands-off — he allows his fermentations to proceed at their own pace, sometimes taking months longer than usual. He uses wild yeasts and avoids fining and filtering, choosing instead to preserve complexity and originality. Grown about five miles east of the famous Cluny Abbey, and made with little intervention, this is as traditional as white Burgundy gets.

The nose of the 2014 Maillet Macon Villages is exquisite: spring flowers and wild honey, with faint notes of dried straw and apricot. In the mouth it’s a typical Macon — rich and full with bright floral notes, beautiful acidity, and lots of depth. For white Burgundy fans, this is a remarkable value, offering far more complexity than the price tag suggests.

________________________

MAILLET Macon-Villages 2014
Ansonia Retail: $26
case, half-case: $22/bot

_
AVAILABLE IN 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS

Email Tom to place an order.

or call Tom: (617) 249-3657

_____________________________

Posted on September 30, 2016September 30, 2016 by Thomas Wilcox

Plums, Toast, and Chocolate: Everyday Red Bordeaux

Steak. We spend more time in Burgundy than Bordeaux. Our small import business is usually a better fit with the family-run domaines of Burgundy than the large chateaux of Bordeaux. But we’ve been lucky enough to find a few Burgundy-scale producers in Bordeaux: small families making excellent wine away from the spotlight and marketing of the rest of the region.

The Chateau Léhoul is a small estate in Graves, just south of the city of Bordeaux, and their 2012 Graves rouge is the best we’ve yet tasted from them. It’s a classic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and a perfect match for a well-browned steak. And the price leaves room to splurge on a nice cut of beef.

Screen Shot 2016-03-22 at 8.11.37 AM

Voted First. The Fonta family has been making wine at the Chateau Léhoul since 1798, and today it’s still very much a family affair. When we last visited, winemaker Eric was out making deliveries, so it fell to the grandmère to host us. We discovered Léhoul years ago, but the international press has started to take note — in fact, Decanter Magazine ranked this wine first in a tasting of sixty-two 2012 red Graves.

This wine is simply delicious today — a traditional, low-alcohol red Bordeaux at an unusually attractive price. The nose is deep and full, showing notes of plums, toast, and dark chocolate. The mouth is silky and expertly balanced, with fine but round tannins. The fruit is blackcurrant, providing a perfect counterpoint for some cedar and a kick of umami.

With cooler months on the way, we can’t think of a better red to have at the ready for perfectly cooked steak on a cozy evening.

________________________

LÉHOUL Graves rouge 2012
Ansonia Retail: $30
case, half-case: $24/bot

_
AVAILABLE IN 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS

Email Tom to place an order.

or call Tom: (617) 249-3657

_____________________________

Posted on September 28, 2016June 27, 2017 by Thomas Wilcox

Mixed Case: Gros/Amiot Red Burgundy Sampler

The best known domaines in our portfolio are two sources of classic Red Burgundy: the Domaine Michel Gros and the Domaine Pierre Amiot. Their wineries are just three miles apart, and they both farm plots along the world’s most famous stretch of vines. Winemakers Michel Gros and Jean-Louis Amiot were even grade school friends.

Their styles are slightly different — Gros’s wines tend more towards elegance, Amiot’s towards richness — but they represent some of the finest red Burgundies in our portfolio. We have collected four of our favorites, from four different towns and vintages. These are pure, masterfully made Pinot Noir from some of the most talented winemakers in Burgundy.

gros-amiot

GROS Nuits-St-Georges 2009
The nose is dark and woodsy, showing roasted wild cherries and earth. There’s plenty of round tannin left in this wine, which should carry it easily for several more years. But with a carafe and a half hour, this is elegant and delicious today.

AMIOT Morey-St-Denis 1er “Charmes” 2010
This wine shows a warm, agreeable earthiness, with smoke and toasted red fruit in the nose. In the mouth you’ll find cool dense tannins characteristic of this small but very fine vintage.

GROS Vosne-Romanée 2011
The nose shows the unique, extraordinary spice and floral notes specific to the hallowed town. The mouth is dense and pure, with beautifully silky tannins that show the elegance possible from a perfect marriage of grape and place.

AMIOT Gevrey-Chambertin 1er “Combottes” 2013
From a premier cru vineyard surrounded by five grand crus, Combottes shows unusual depth and intensity. The nose is beautifully dark and floral nose, with notes of spice and mushrooms. The mouth is intense and rich, showing cassis, dark cherries and earth.

________________________

GROS/AMIOT SAMPLER

3x GROS Nuits-St-Georges 2009: $72
3x AMIOT MSD 1er “Charmes” 2010: $72
3x GROS Vosne-Romanée 2011: $74
3x AMIOT Gevrey 1er “Combottes” 2013: $95

Ansonia Retail: $939
offer price: $795/case

free East Coast shipping | save $144

Email Tom to place an order.

HALF CASE ALSO AVAILABLE
(2x Nuits, 2x MSD, 1x Vosne, 1x Gevrey)
offer price: $397.5/half-case

_
–
– _

_____________________________

________________________

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.

Posted on September 27, 2016 by Thomas Wilcox

An Exceptional Discovery from the Rhône Valley. $14.95

Something New. During our trips to France, we like to eat at restaurants with good local wine lists. It’s a great way to broaden our regional palates, and sometimes we even discover a new wine for our portfolio. At dinner on a Séguret terrace this June we had the nicest surprise discovery in red Rhône wine that we’ve had in years.

It took a few days to track down Eric Chauvin after that dinner — his Domaine Souverain has neither an entry sign nor a website. But through several phone calls and a bit of luck, we managed to pick up samples, just to confirm that our enthusiasm wasn’t jetlag-induced. A second taste reinforced our initial impression; and when the price list arrived, we were happier yet.

souverain_label

Diamond in the Rough. The Domaine Souverain is a small-scale organic source in Séguret with no other US importer. Eric Chauvin is as humble as his wines are delicious, and we’re thrilled to have stumbled upon such a source for underpriced Rhône wine. This drinks far more like a Gigondas or Vacqueyras than its Côtes-du-Rhône pricing suggests — before we got the price list we expected to offer it as an excellent and well-priced $25 red Rhône.

Souverain’s Séguret 2014 shows a bright nose of blackberry and lavender, with a cool earthiness that fans of the Mas Foulaquier will immediately recognize. The mouth is beautifully balanced, with softened but present tannins, clean dark fruit, and a faint smokiness in the nose. This is lively, delicious, highly drinkable wine, with a perfect balance for an autumn meal.

Serve this wine as we enjoyed it on the terrace in Séguret, a bit cool, and enjoy watching it open as it comes up to the ambient temperature. If you have friends along, be prepared to open a second bottle.

________________________

SOUVERAIN Séguret 2014
Ansonia Retail: $19
case, half-case: $14.95/bot

_
AVAILABLE IN 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS

Email Tom to place an order.

or call Tom: (617) 249-3657

_____________________________

________________________

Posted on September 25, 2016September 25, 2016 by Thomas Wilcox

Advance Order: Pure Grenache from 120-Year-Old Vines.

Almost CDP. The year is 1895. The United States number 44, and Grover Cleveland is president. Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey are born, and inventor George Selden receives a patent for the automobile. And cross the ocean in France (then a six-day crossing by boat), a vineyard of grenache is planted just outside Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Those vines (most of them, at least) are still alive and producing fruit from huge, gnarled, bush-like branches. Having outlasted phylloxera and several world wars, their yield is diminished but the quality of their grapes is better than ever.

We’re excited to return the “Cuvée 1895” to our lineup. Next week’s October Futures release will include three wines from the ancient Chateau Maucoil, including a red and a white Chateauneuf du Pape, but we’re opening up the bidding early on this one.

Methusalean. The Chateau Maucoil is built on the site of an ancient spring, once popular among Roman soldiers traveling along the nearby Via Agrippa. The spring is still active today, and while the vines for this cuvée aren’t quite from the Roman era, they’re older than nearly everything else growing in the area.

The vines for “1895” lie just feet outside the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation border drawn in 1937. The wine they produce doesn’t match the complexity or longevity of a Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but it’s likely to be the richest and densest Côtes-du-Rhône Villages cuvée you’ve ever had.

The nose of the 2014 “1895” is dark and beautiful, showing ripe cherry and raspberry notes with dried fruits and leather. The mouth is full of classic grenache spice, wild cherries, and a hint of sweet licorice. This wine will arrive in the states with the rest of the October Futures, likely the first few weeks of November. It should be right at home on a Thanksgiving table, and if there’s any left over, it’d pair nicely with a roast lamb at Christmas.

________________________

MAUCOIL “Cuvée 1895” 2014
Ansonia Retail: $360
Futures Price: $250/case ($20.83/bot)

_
AVAILABLE BY THE CASE AND HALF-CASE

Email Tom to place an order.

or call Tom: (617) 249-3657

_____________________________

________________________

Posted on September 23, 2016September 23, 2016 by Thomas Wilcox

Pure Sangiovese, from the Real Chianti. $15

Dried Roses. Like Chablis, the Chianti name has had a rough time of it over the years. A straw-covered “fiasco” bottle with candle wax dripping down its sides still jumps to the minds of most consumers, and for a long time Chianti’s former reputation as cheap wine of low quality was well deserved.

But the quality of wine made in Chianti has improved in the last three decades as much as any wine in the world. Today the percentage of white grapes allowed is only 2 – down from 30 in the mid 1980s – and the best producers add none at all. Our source here is the Fattoria Poggerino, where winemaker Piero Lanza makes Chianti Classicos from pure, perfectly ripened Sangiovese.

pogglab2

Classic. Nestled in the most charming hills of Tuscany, Poggerino is located in Radda-in-Chianti, one of the four towns included in the region’s original limits set in 1761 by Cosimo III de Medici. Poggerino’s Sangiovese vines could all be classified as Chainti Classico, but Piero reserves the fruit from the “younger” vines (35 years old) for his simpler cuvée, Il Labirinto.

The name Sangiovese refers to its inky color – the name translates to “blood of Jove” – and this dense, tannic grape can produce powerful wine with beautiful floral aromas. The Labirinto 2014 is delicious — the nose is very ripe and juicy, with plum and sweet cherry notes. The mouth is young, earthy, and vibrant, with sturdy tannins under a smooth patina of fruit jam.

This is lively and pleasantly drinkable on its own, but like most wines, it’s best enjoyed with the other fruits of its home terroir. Try a homemade pizza (good recipe for the dough here) or a pasta with a tomato based sauce.

________________________

POGGERINO Labirinto 2014
Ansonia Retail: $19
case, half-case: $15/bot

_
AVAILABLE IN 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS

Email Tom to place an order.

or call Tom: (617) 249-3657

_____________________________

________________________

Posted on September 21, 2016September 23, 2016 by Thomas Wilcox

Elegant New Red Burgundy

Approachable. Burgundy can be a difficult region for budding wine enthusiasts. Confusing classifications, high entry fees, and finicky grapes can make it a tough region to crack. But to those looking for a good place to start, we can think of no better one than the Domaine Roger Belland.

Belland’s wines are, put simply, highly drinkable. His whites are rich and fresh, his reds are juicy and pleasant. They can be complex and ageworthy, but are always approachable and delicious in their youth. Last week we released Belland’s Santenay 1er cru blanc, a mouthfilling, lively white Burgundy with exceptional balance. Today we’re releasing its twin in red.

beaur1

Jubliant. Belland’s Santenay 1er cru Beauregard rouge from 2014 is a delight. The nose is classic Belland, with bright red fruits, spring flowers, and intense berries. The mouth is punchy and dense, with attractive, juicy tannins and palate bursting with raspberry and wild cherries. This opens beautifully over an hour or two, and was already wowing visitors to our warehouse tasting two weeks ago.

This is unpretentious, classic red Burgundy — a wine that requires neither patience nor a second mortgage. For Burgundy lovers, this is a silky, elegant, fruit forward red that won’t break the bank. For those looking to begin exploring this legendary region, here’s a great place to start the trip.

________________________

BELLAND Santenay 1er “Beauregard” rouge 2014
Retail Price: $40
quarter-case: $35/bot

_
AVAILABLE IN 3- 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS

Email Tom to place an order.

or call Tom: (617) 249-3657

_____________________________

________________________

Posted on September 20, 2016September 21, 2016 by Thomas Wilcox

Iconic Old-Vine Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Old School. The organic wine movement is alive and well in France. Every year we see more producers transitioning to organic winemaking, or at least making steps in that direction. Some have been at it longer than others, but no one boasts a longer history than our newest source in Châteauneuf-du-Pape: the domaine Pierre André — organic for 35 years, and biodynamic for 24.

The Andrés’ long experience with low-intervention winemaking is evident. They own neither a destemmer nor a filter, and believe in painstaking and meticulous vineyard work. “Wines are made first in the fields,” Jacqueline André explained to us in June. “No matter how good a chef you are, if your ingredients aren’t perfect, there’s only so much you can do.”

The final element that makes André’s wines so exceptional is the age of their vines. The domaine’s vines average more than 75 years old, and yield wines with remarkable density. One particular plot of mourvèdre — planted in the sandy soils next to the famous Rayas — contains vines over 140 years old.

andre2

Polished. Like many of the best small-scale Chateauneuf-du-Pape domaines, André makes only two wines — a white and a red. With no luxury cuvée or reserve bottling, all of their finest grapes go into every bottle. We’re excited to release our first André wine today — the 2012 Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is always a long-lived wine, but André’s 2012 rouge is a treat even now. The nose shows stone fruit jam, with browned butter, lavender, and cedar. The mouth shows prune and black raspberry, with intense licorice and wild cherry on the very long finish. The wine is classically rich and long, but expertly balanced with a cool earthiness that keeps it fresh.

Decant this for a half hour, or keep it in your cellar for a half-decade. Either way, this is magnificent wine, made with precision, history, and care.

________________________

ANDRÉ Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2012
Retail Price: $60
quarter-case: $48/bot

_
AVAILABLE IN 3- 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS

Email Tom to place an order.

or call Tom: (617) 249-3657

_____________________________

________________________

Posted on September 16, 2016September 16, 2016 by Thomas Wilcox

New Crisp Sauvignon Blanc. $16

Discovery. Sauvignon Blanc has seen a surge in popularity in recent decades. It’s hard to find a wine list these days without examples from New Zealand, California and Washington. But the original source for Sauvignon Blanc is France’s Loire Valley, where the grape (known there simply as “Sauvignon”) has been grown since the 1700s.

The twin villages of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé are the hometowns of Sauvignon. Here the grape takes on a distinctly mineral and citrus character. As the name suggests, the wines of Pouilly-Fumé also feature notes of smoke and gunflint, a result of the soils’ high flint content.

Last summer we discovered a terrific new winemaker in Pouilly-Fumé — a small scale family vigneron with no US importer and excellent wines. His two 2015 cuvées have just arrived in our warehouse, and we’re excited to introduce the first today.

michotpf

Dry and fresh. Many readers are familiar with Frederic Michot’s old-vine cuvée from 2014 — we ran out twice last year, and it continues to drink well today. Today’s wine is from his younger vines, but has added richness from the ripe 2015 vintage. The nose is fresh and expressive, showing honey and ripe grapefruit and lime. The mouth is brisk with a midweight palate and a dry smoky finish.

This is pure, unoaked, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc — perfect as an aperitif or next to a plate of fish. This should be a welcome opener for houseguests from now through Thanksgiving dinner. Or if you’re hungry, try roasting a branzino or other small fish whole — season it with lemon and rosemary, roast it for 15 minutes, and serve it next to a glass of this Pouilly-Fumé. It’s a match made in Mediterranean heaven.

________________________

MICHOT Pouilly-Fumé 2015
Ansonia Retail: $20
case, half-case: $16/bot

_
AVAILABLE IN 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS

Email Tom to place an order.

or call Tom: (617) 249-3657

_____________________________

________________________

Posted on September 14, 2016September 14, 2016 by Thomas Wilcox

Mixed Case: Autumn Sampler

Autumn has begun to make its entrance. The days may still be warm and long, and for some there may be baseball left to play. But as the harvest begins once again in France, and the most precocious leaves catch fire, the season’s change is undeniable.

For us, that new chill in the evening air means a shift in the style of the wine in our glasses. We’ve put together a mixed case to lead us into fall — two whites with dense mouthfeel and rich, floral bouquets; and two reds with baked dark fruits and a cool earthy freshness. These are fresh enough to serve at an outdoor lunch, and rich enough to match a cool evening.

autumn1

GOUBERT Gigondas 2012
We’ve been enjoying this Gigondas since the early 1990s, and we haven’t seen a bad vintage yet. But the 2012 is nothing short of exceptional. The nose shows bright red flowers and dark rich fruit, hitting high notes and low notes simultaneously in a harmony unusual even for the Cartier family. The mouth is sturdy and meaty, with cool dark tannins and impressive length.

MAILLET Macon-Verzé 2014
The is among the best Maillet has made, from an exceptional vintage. The nose is remarkably complex, with a range of notes from white flowers and green tea to tangerine and apricot. The mouth is classic Maillet — rich and long and pure, but with striking freshness and a beautiful baked lemon core.

BAGATELLE Veillée d’Automne 2013
The Clos Bagatelle is a centuries old domaine that makes delicious, refreshing syrah-based reds. The “Veillée d’Automne,” is majority syrah but also includes carignan and cinsault. The nose shows 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.

MICHOT Pouilly-Fumé VV 2014
This year’s Guide Hachette called Michot’s 2014 Pouilly-Fumé “powerful; at once unctuous, fresh, and persistent…remarkable in its intensity and harmony.” We agree, and are happy to report that it’s drinking beautifully. The nose shows grapefruit rind, mango, and wild herb honey. The mouth is rich and concentrated, with grapefruit and lime rind freshness.

________________________

MIXED CASE: AUTUMN SAMPLER

3x GOUBERT Gigondas 12: $30
3x MAILLET Macon-Verzé 14: $30
3x BAGATELLE Veillée d’Automne 13: $24
3x MICHOT Pouilly-Fumé VV 14: $24

Ansonia Retail: $324
mixed case price: $269/case

free East Coast shipping | save $55

Email Tom to place an order.

_
–
– _

_____________________________

________________________