Author: Thomas Wilcox
White Crozes-Hermitage is back.
“Épuisé.” At the start of every tasting, Rhône winemaker Denis Basset gives us small taste of white. “Just to set the palate,” he explains, before continuing on to his rich, syrah-based reds. The white is always lovely — floral and fresh, beautifully expressive, and a perfect way to start a tasting. And every year, when we ask how much we can buy, he smiles and shakes his head. (Loyal local restaurants are to blame).
This year, finalement, we were able to purchase some. Alas, after it was released in April our readers found it as lovely as we did, and we sold out of our entire stock in a day or so. We quickly wrote Denis, and after a bit of hand wringing he managed to find us a few more cases. For those of you who were lucky enough to grab some this spring, the wine needs no introduction. For those who were shut out, here’s your chance to see what all the fuss was about.
Exotic. Denis Basset runs the Domaine Saint-Clair, which he started several years ago after spending the first decade of his working life in the family’s flower business. He has rapidly gained confidence and acclaim; both Decanter and the Guide Hachette have listed him in a dynamic new generation of Crozes-Hermitage winemakers.
Basset’s white is a Rousanne-Marsanne blend (70/30), in the style of a classic northern Rhône. The nose is soft and enveloping, with tropical notes of mango, pineapple, and green tea. The mouth is rich and round, but well balanced, showing nectarine and honey notes. There’s so much exotic fruit in the nose you almost expect this to be sweet, but the mouth finishes cool and soft and dry.
This is a lovely glass for the fall — with bright citrus to match a late summer dinner, but a mouthcoating softness that will carry you into autumn.
________________________
SAINT CLAIR Crozes-Hermitage blanc 2014
Ansonia Retail: $26
offer price: $22/bot
_
AVAILABLE IN 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS
_
or call Tom: (617) 249-3657
_
_
_____________________________
Sign up to receive these posts in your inbox:
_
________________________
________________________
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.
Old-Vine Loire Valley Cabernet Franc. $18
Pastoral. The Loire Valley is known as the “Garden of France.” Its lush rolling hillsides produce nearly every type of wine, from dry to sweet, light to dark, and white and red to sparkling and rosé. One of region’s most distinct styles is an unoaked, juicy Cabernet Franc from the central Loire Valley.
Our favorite source for this style is Chinon, a charming, ancient town that boasts a well preserved 12th century castle. The best reds from Chinon are pure and crisp, drink beautifully in their youth, and provide exceptional value. As WSJ wine writer Lettie Teague wrote recently, “Chinon and nearby towns… produce some of the best-valued wines in the Loire Valley—if not all of France.”
50-year-old vines. Our winemaker in Chinon is the young Fabien Demois, a shy, entrepreneurial fellow who took over his family’s wine production a few years ago and has since gained journalistic praise and more than a few awards. Fabien makes his Chinon “Galets Ambrés” from Cabernet Franc planted in the 1960s. The wine is named for the amber-laden stones found in the vineyard. It’s unoaked, dense, and juicy — an unusually concentrated take on a Loire Valley red.
“Galets Ambrés” is delicious, showing notes of dark chocolate, cool ripe berries, graphite, and a hint of smokiness. The mouthfeel is lively, complex, and croquant (“crackling”), a testament to the increased freshness we often find in organically grown wines. This is refreshing enough to weather the heat waves of late summer, but dark and crisp enough to match a table of autumn cuisine.
________________________
DEMOIS Chinon 2014
Ansonia Retail: $24
offer price: $18/bot
_
AVAILABLE IN 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS
_
or call Tom: (617) 249-3657
_
_
_____________________________
Sign up to receive these posts in your inbox:
_
________________________
________________________
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.
Aligoté at Last: Excellent and Affordable. $19
Forgotten. Aligoté is Burgundy’s other white grape. Forever in the shadow of the finest Chardonnays in the world, Aligoté is rarely profound and never expensive. We’ve searched for years for one to add to our lineup, and have usually come up empty — most are too acidic, unbalanced, or thin.
But in June, we at last discovered the wine we had been seeking. Boyer-Martenot’s Aligoté is unlike any other we’ve had. Vincent Boyer, a highly skilled craftsman of rich, elegant Meursault, has managed to add a bit of his magic to this grape. Forget what you know about Aligoté — Boyer’s is real white Burgundy.
Smooth. Drawing from vines with an average age of over 40 years, and from the ripest vintage (2015) in over a decade, Boyer’s Aligoté is smoother and rounder than any we’ve had. The secret is his use of 5- and 7-year-old barrels to age the wine — barrels too old to impart much oak flavor, but which aid in microoxygenation and add softness and depth.
In the nose Boyer’s 2015 Aligoté shows wild honey and herbs, with white flowers and classic green apple. The mouth is bright and lively, with a dry, chalky richness that’s nearly unheard of for Aligoté. For readers interested in making kir, in just 5 days we’re introducing an extraordinary source for crème de cassis — a glass of this wine joined by a splash of cassis will be a fantastic match.
But, for once, the cassis isn’t mandatory — this is a crisp, pleasant glass of white Burgundy on its own.
________________________
BOYER-MARTENOT Aligoté 2015
Ansonia Retail: $24
offer price: $19/bot
_
AVAILABLE IN 6- AND 12-BOTTLE LOTS
_
or call Tom: (617) 249-3657
_
_
_____________________________
Sign up to receive these posts in your inbox:
_
________________________
________________________
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.
Advance Order: Exceptional New Grower Champagne
Humble. “Remember gentlemen,” Winston Churchill once told his cabinet, “it’s not just France we are fighting for, it’s Champagne.” Though no one may yet have matched Churchill’s enthusiasm for the stuff, Champagne continues to grow in popularity each year. Last summer we added our very first grower Champagne producer, and have since struggled mightily to keep it in stock.
Pascal Bardoux is a fifth generation Champagne maker just west of Reims, who resembles a professor more than a winemaker. His quiet, thoughtful approach to his wines is a stark departure from the glossy brochures and polished tasting rooms common in Champagne. But Bardoux’s humble style belies the extraordinary complexity and elegance of his wines.
Three new Champagnes will be featured in Part One of our Fall Futures campaign, due out next Sunday. But we thought we’d open up the bidding early on some Bardoux, already a favorite winemaker among our readers after only a year.
Elegance. Bardoux’s Brut Traditionnel is his non-vintage cuvée, and an excellent entree to the collection. A blend of 60% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir, this has the complexity and depth to match the finest bottles from Burgundy or Bordeaux. This year’s Traditionnel contains wine mostly from 2012, and we found it even better than last year’s. The nose shows plum and lemon and buttered biscuits; the mouth is dry, elegant, and smooth, with notes of apple and toast.
We can’t recommend this wine highly enough. For those new to Champagne, this wine will convert you with ease, and at around $32/bot it won’t blow your budget. For those with a more Churchillian perspective on bubbles, this is as delicious and complex as any non-vintage grower Champagne we’ve had, and it’s impossible to match for value.
Bardoux’s other two wines will appear in next Sunday’s September Futures. We’ll accept orders for this one on a first come first served basis, beginning today.
________________________
BARDOUX Champagne Brut Traditionnel NV
Ansonia Retail: $576
Futures price: $385/case ($32.08/bot)
_
AVAILABLE BY THE CASE AND HALF CASE
_
or call Tom: (617) 249-3657
_
_
_____________________________
Sign up to receive these posts in your inbox:
_
________________________
________________________
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.
Honey and Apricot: Sauternes, the Iconic Dessert Wine.
Iconic. As fashion has changed, dessert wines have faded from collectors’ inventories. But no serious cellar is complete without them. We think everyone — even casual wine enthusiasts — should have at least one dessert wine in their arsenal; and if it’s going to be just one, it should be Sauternes.
Sauternes is a famous Bordeaux appellation known for its botrytis-affected dessert wines, most famously Chateau d’Yquem. Winemakers there delay harvesting until their grapes are covered by a special mold, encouraged by fog and moisture from the nearby river. Then they painstakingly harvest the shriveled grapes, extracting and fermenting the sweet, nectar-like liquid.
Most people don’t drink Yquem too often – even half bottles start at over $100 – but it’s far from the only game in town. A few years ago we discovered the tiny Chateau Voigny, a family-owned winery on the banks of the Garonne with just one wine: a delicious and affordable Sauternes.
Mono-vinous. Considering the tiny yields achieved from these shriveled grapes, the low price of this wine is remarkable. Voigny’s nose and mouth are full of the classic honeysuckle, apricots and peaches, but it’s the acidity that keeps this wine lively. Many sweet wines lack acidity and fall flat – Voigny is bursting with freshness to balance out its sweetness.
There may be no more perfect food-wine pairing than Sauternes with seared foie gras. If your stomach (or conscience) is too sensitive, serve blue cheese as a salty foil instead. Or serve a small glass in place of dessert at the end of the meal. A favorite wine of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, this iconic wine will round out any cellar with style.
________________________
VOIGNY Sauternes 2012
Ansonia Retail: $32
quarter-case: $26/bot
_
AVAILABLE IN 3- 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS
_
or call Tom: (617) 249-3657
_
_
_____________________________
Sign up to receive these posts in your inbox:
_
________________________
________________________
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.
Mixed Case: Rhone Reds
Winemakers in Burgundy often struggle with the weather — between hailstorms, vine maladies, and rain, it’s surprising wine gets made there at all. But two hours south in the Rhône Valley, things are (quite literally) much sunnier. The winemakers of the Rhône are blessed with abundant sun, disease resistant sandy soils, hearty vines, and a healthy north wind called the Mistral.
We’ve collected three of our favorite wines from the warm winemaking paradise along the banks of the Rhône River. These are cool, meaty wines with vibrant energy and hints of their bright, sundrenched origin. Pair them with grilled meats and vegetables, and drink them as the season begins to turn to autumn.
TASTING NOTES:
Malmont Séguret 2014
Grenache/Syrah blend: Nose shows violets and dark burnt cherries, with black pepper and a hint of toast. Mouth is ripe and pleasant with juicy tannin and notes of plum and blackberry.
Goubert Gigondas 2012
Grenache/syrah blend: 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.
Saint Clair Saint-Joseph 2013
Basset’s 2014 Saint-Joseph is already beautiful. The nose shows spices, violets and intense black pepper; the mouth shows blackberry jam with notes of roasted meat and licorice. This intense wine clocks in at only 13% alcohol, so while it’s mouthfilling and chewy, there’s not a bit of heaviness.
Font du Loup CDP 2013
Font du Loup’s 2013 Chateauneuf-du-Pape shows strawberry jam and baked fruits, with hints of sage and menthol. It’s perhaps a bit more elegant than massive, but you won’t miss the heaviness – the smooth, silky texture persists on an exceptionally long palate.
________________________
_
MIXED CASE: RHÔNE REDS
3x MALMONT Séguret 2014: $28
3x GOUBERT Gigondas 2012: $30
3x SAINT CLAIR Saint-Joseph 2014: $32
3x FONT DU LOUP Chateauneuf 13: $46
Ansonia Retail: $408
mixed case price: $325/case
free East Coast shipping | save $83
_
_
–
– _
_____________________________
Sign up to receive these posts in your inbox:
_
________________________
________________________
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.
White Burgundy under $20: a By-the-Glass Summer White.
Bargain Bourgogne. White Burgundy is a near-perfect food wine. With the possible exception of Riesling, no wine goes so well with so many different dishes. Bottles from famous producers can run well past $100 per bottle, but you don’t have to spend top dollar for delicious, classic white Burgundy.
Most Burgundy winemakers produce an entry-level “Bourgogne” wine from lower classified vineyards. These bottles are often great values, priced so you can enjoy them with weeknight meals or as a glass after work. Gérard Thomas, who makes the St-Aubin 1er cru we wrote about two weeks ago, also happens to make an excellent Bourgogne blanc.
Versatile. Gérard Thomas’s Bourgogne blanc has been the house Chardonnay at several renowned restaurants we’ve worked with, as well as at the homes of friends and extended family. There’s just a touch of oak to round out the palate, but a brisk freshness to keep the wine lively. It’s proof that good white Burgundy doesn’t have to be expensive.
This is a perfect backyard barbecue white — great as a glass on its own, versatile enough to pair with pastas, shish kabobs, seafood, vegetables, etc. A favorite family pairing is grilled chicken breasts, marinated at least over night. At the Wilcox house, our simple marinade — canola oil, white wine, Franks Red Hot, soy sauce, garlic, and salt — combined with a glass of Thomas Bourgogne, is the very essence of summer.
________________________
THOMAS Bourgogne blanc 2013
Ansonia Retail: $24
case, half-case: $19.95/bot
_
AVAILABLE IN 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS
_
or call Tom: (617) 249-3657
_
_
_____________________________
Sign up to receive these posts in your inbox:
_
________________________
________________________
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.
Perfectly-Aged, 15-year-old Premier Cru Red Burgundy.
Careful aging does fascinating things to a bottle of wine. Tannins soften, ripe fruits turn to cooked, and the palate adds fascinating secondary notes: mushrooms, underbrush, nuts, and tobacco. Not all wines require aging to reach their potential, but for those that do, there’s no substitute for time.
Today’s wine is a perfectly aged, 15-year-old premier cru red Burgundy. From the perennially overlooked town of Morey-St-Denis, this wine is emblematic of its tiny village — humble, honest, and elegant. A Morey-St-Denis will never be the loudest wine in a lineup. But for elegance and ageworthiness, we’d happily put them next to any other red Burgundy.
Pierre Bourée is an old-school winemaker based next door in Gevrey-Chambertin. The Bourées build wines for the long haul, and then age many themselves. This Morey-St-Denis sat in the Bourée cellar from the time it was bottle until this spring. Bourée’s low intervention style involves wild yeasts, whole cluster fermentation, and a long maceration.
Their wines can be tannic and dense in their youth, but with patience transform into bottles of elegance and beauty. The 2001 MSD 1er cru “Baulets” is deep, intense, and woodsy in the nose, showing stewed prunes, barnyard, mineral, and spices. The mouth is velvety and smooth showing mid-weight fruits that have perfectly melted into the structure and toast.
This is a red Burgundy to sit with and contemplate. It has reached our warehouse after 15 years and 3500 miles, and we invite you to share in its delicious final act.
________________________
BOURÉE Morey-St-Denis 1er cru “Baulets” 2001
Ansonia Retail: $78
quarter-case: $66/bot
_
AVAILABLE IN 3- 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS
_
or call Tom: (617) 249-3657
_
_
_____________________________
Sign up to receive these posts in your inbox:
_
________________________
________________________
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.
Gigondas and the Joy of Living.
If enjoying life were an olympic sport, the French would certainly be on the medal stand. (Italy might well win the gold, but it’d be a photo finish.) Particularly in the south, things seem to move just a bit more leisurely. With warm sun and a cool dry breeze at your back, the bustle of Paris up north seems futile and far away.
Two thousand years ago the town of Gigondas was a vacation spot for Roman soldiers. They named the place jucunditas, a latin word that means enjoyment, delight, and pleasure. The spelling has changed a little since then, but the charm of the place has not. Today it’s as quaint and pleasant a town as any in France — and it’s got delicious wine to match.
The Domaine les Goubert’s Gigondas is among the most consistent wines in our lineup. Jancis Robinson and Robert Parker consider them a “reference point” for the village. We’ve been enjoying their Gigondas since the early 1990s, and we haven’t seen a bad vintage yet. But the 2012 is nothing short of exceptional. It’s dark and smooth and full, with pleasant red fruits playing beautifully off the provencal spices below.
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. Serve this with grilled meats, rustic salads, or hard sheep’s milk cheese, particularly on a picnic.
If you’re ever in the South of France, we strongly recommend a visit to Gigondas — you’ll see why the Romans came back year after year. But if it’s charm and enjoyment and joie de vivre you’re after, this bottle will get you most of the way there.
________________________
GOUBERT Gigondas 2012
Ansonia Retail: $30
case, half-case: $25/bot
_
AVAILABLE IN 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS
_
or call Tom: (617) 249-3657
_
_
_____________________________
Sign up to receive these posts in your inbox:
_
________________________
________________________
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.
Meursault Premier Cru: History, Luxury, and Charm.
Rare. Meursault is one of the oldest villages in Burgundy. The monks of Citeaux first planted vineyards here in 1098, and over the last 900 years the wines of Meursault have developed a reputation as some of the finest in the world. They were favorites of Thomas Jefferson, and today grace the wine lists and Instagram feeds of the celebrity sommelier class.
The wines of Meursault are known for their rich, honeyed aromatics, and for a near-perfect balance between mouth coating texture and acidity. Our source for Meursault is the Domaine Boyer-Martenot, a small producer in the heart of the town whose star is rapidly rising. Wine writer Allen Meadows (Burghound) was direct, writing that “Vincent Boyer produced simply terrific wines in 2013.”
Charming. The Meursault premier cru vineyard “Charmes” lies along the border with Puligny-Montrachet, but its identity is firmly in Meursault. The nose of Charmes is woodsy and classically Meursault, showing buttered toast, lemon, and faint notes of herbs. The mouth is extraordinarily long and intense, with notes of white flowers, almond, mango, and vanilla.
If you’ve never tasted a Meursault before, try this one — it could convert anyone to the town. Just in case the wine itself isn’t rich enough for you, we note that Vincent suggests serving it with foie gras and truffles. While we can’t argue with that mouthwatering pairing, we’d suggest chicken with white wine and crème fraîche. Charmes is a perfect wine for a Sunday afternoon meal — a bottle of history, luxury, and charm.
________________________
BOYER-MARTENOT Meursault 1er “Charmes” 2013
Ansonia Retail: $75
quarter-case: $64/bot
_
AVAILABLE IN 3- 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS
_
or call Tom: (617) 249-3657
_
_
_____________________________
Sign up to receive these posts in your inbox:
_
________________________
________________________
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.
White Burgundy, with Bubbles.
Devil’s Wine. Sparkling wine is one of the culinary world’s most interesting creations. Many compete for the credit: the monks of Limoux in the South of France claim 1531 as the date of genesis; the Champenois, with their stories of widows and Benedictine monks, have certainly won the publicity war; and even the Brits, who invented glass thick enough to contain the pressure, stake a claim in the world of bubbles.
Whomever you credit with its creation or taming, the world has become quite fond of Champagne and its sparkling cousins over the past few centuries. We’re excited to have three new wines from our Champagne producer Pascal Bardoux in the September Futures notes; but until they arrive, we’ll continue to enjoy the delicious crémants from the Maison Picamelot.
Wine first. Picamelot’s “Les Terroirs” combines three grapes from three corners of Burgundy — Pinot Noir from the Côte de Nuits, Chardonnay from the Côte de Beaune, and Aligoté from the Côte Chalonnaise. After its first fermentation, the wine ages on its lees for over a year, gaining complexity and richness. The result is a delicious wine that’s as honest a representation of Burgundy as any still wine.
In the glass (we suggest skipping the flute), “les Terroirs” is bright and lively, with nice dryness and pleasant, delicate mouthfeel — an extraordinarily versatile food-pairing wine. It’s hard not to feel just a bit like royalty when you open a bottle of sparkling wine, and this bottle is sure to dress up your meal, whether as an aperitif for a dinner party, or with dinner en famille on a weeknight.
________________________
PICAMELOT Crémant “Terroirs” NV
Ansonia Retail: $24
case, half-case: $18/bot
_
AVAILABLE IN 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS
_
or call Tom: (617) 249-3657
_
_
_____________________________
Sign up to receive these posts in your inbox:
_
________________________
________________________
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.
“Plum, Cassis, and Violets”: Affordable Red Burgundy from Michel Gros
Classic. Burgundy isn’t always the most accessible of wines. The classification system is confusing, many bottles need cellaring, food pairing can be tricky, and there’s often a hefty entry fee. So we’re are always on the lookout for entry-level Burgundy — wine that drinks well young and that won’t break the bank.
One of our favorite sources for affordable Burgundy is the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits — a beautiful rural patchwork of vineyards, meadows, and monasteries just west of the more famous Côte d’Or. Michel Gros, our best-known winemaker, produces a wine from the Hautes-Côtes that retains the signature silky, smoky style of his more famous wines from Vosne-Romanée and Chambolle-Musigny. It’s an affordable chance to see what all the fuss is about.
“Among the Best…” Wine Critic Allen Meadows (Burghound) was effusive about the 2012 Hautes-Côtes de Nuits rouge from Michel Gros, including it in his regional list of the best values of the vintage. Citing a “beautifully well-layered nose of plum, cassis, and violets,” Meadows went on to call it “among the best that I have seen from him.”
We agree with Burghound, and are happy to report the 2012 Gros Hautes-Côtes rouge is drinking better than ever. Today the wines shows juicy wild cherry fruits, a concentrated earthiness, and a vibrant mouthfeel. It’s a great Burgundy to have around when you’re not feeling the need for Chambolle-Musigny, and it comes in at less than half the price.
________________________
GROS Hautes-Côtes de Nuits rouge 2012
Ansonia Retail: $35
case, half-case: $29/bot
_
AVAILABLE IN 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS
_
or call Tom: (617) 249-3657
_
_
_____________________________
Sign up to receive these posts in your inbox:
_
________________________
________________________
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.
The Insider’s Premier Cru White Burgundy.
A Secret Source. Beside Chablis, the best secret in a white Burgundy lover’s cellar is his stash of St. Aubin. The village is easy to miss, wedged in a valley between Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet. And though it rightly plays second fiddle to these two giants, it’s still a source for what wine writer Rajat Parr calls “some of the best-value Chardonnays in the world.”
We too have found remarkable bargains in St. Aubin, and perhaps none more impressive than the 1er cru St. Aubin from Gérard Thomas. This wine comes from from the Murgers des Dents de Chien vineyard, a plot of vines high on a ridge from which one can see north and south along the golden slope.
Consistent. The 2014 vintage in White Burgundy received glowing press right from the start, and we were mildly skeptical that the wines would all live up to the hype. But we needn’t have worried — across the board the 2014s are rich, energetic, complex, and beautiful. We never worry about this St-Aubin — it’s consistently delicious, despite a few difficult meteorological years in Burgundy — but the 2014 is the best in years.
The nose shows lemons and toast, with almonds and wild honey in the mouth. It’s a bit prettier than the past few vintages, with an added note of elegance and grace. We drink this year round and with a wide range of foods, but it’s perhaps best with a rich fish — think lobster risotto or grilled swordfish.
Whatever the occasion, when white Burgundy is called for, this is a delicious and affordable example that punches well above its weight.
________________________
THOMAS St-Aubin 1er cru 2014
Ansonia Retail: $40
case, half-case: $34/bot
_
AVAILABLE IN 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS
_
or call Tom: (617) 249-3657
_
_
_____________________________
Sign up to receive these posts in your inbox:
_
________________________
________________________
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.
Mixed Case: Red Burgundy Under $40
Burgundy is expensive and luxurious by reputation. And with high demand and small supply, the number of Burgundies breaking the $100 per bottle threshold grows every year. We’re always on the hunt for honest, complex red Burgundy that won’t require a second mortgage.
So we’ve put together a collection of 6 red Burgundies under $40/bot. They’re from all over the Côte d’Or, and cover a wide range of vintages — from Santenay to Gevrey, and from 2001 to 2013. This mixed case showcases the range of Burgundian terroir: are pure Pinot Noir, but hail from six different towns and six different winemakers.
GROS Hautes-Côtes de Nuits 2009
This juicy red Burgundy is grown in the hills to the west of the Côtes de Nuits. From a perfectly ripe year, this shows dense cherry fruits and cool, smooth tannin.
BELLAND Chassagne-Montrachet 1er cru 2013
As late as 1930, four fifths of all wine from Chassagne was red. This delicate, minerally red Burgundy is bright and lively, with wild berry fruit and pleasant earthy tannin.
MEGARD Pommard 2013
The vines for this Pommard lie on the Volnay border, and this classically muscular wine has a bit more finesse and elegance than usual. Stewed cherry fruits and silky tannins.
RAVAUT Ladoix “Clos Royer” 2013
Ladoix is the northernmost town in the Côte de Nuits, and its wines show some of the darkness from Burgundy’s north. Look for violets and a ripe juicy mouthfeel.
BOURÉE Santenay 1er cru Gravières 2001
This 15 year old Santenay was resting in the cellar where it was made until a few months ago. It shows dried plums, mushrooms, and rose petals; mouthfeel is smooth.
QUIVY Gevrey Chambertin 2012
Gérard Quivy produces delicate, elegant red Burgundy with impeccably clean mouthfeel. Look for notes of graham cracker and briary raspberry.
________________________
_
RED BURGUNDY UNDER $40
2x GROS Hautes-Côtes de Nuits 2009: $36
2x BELLAND Chassagne 1er red 2013: $54
2x MEGARD Pommard 2013: $50
2x RAVAUT Ladoix “Royer” 2013: $38
2x BOUREE Santenay 1er “Gravièvres” 2001: $54
2x QUIVY Gevrey-Chambertin 2012: $56
Ansonia Retail: $576
mixed case price: $475/case
free East Coast shipping | save $101
_
_
–
– _
_____________________________
Sign up to receive these posts in your inbox:
_
________________________
________________________
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.