Author: Thomas Wilcox

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Rich, Wintery Chianti Classico.

Rich.  Grape varietals often get their names from a visible aspect of their fruit. The name Sauvignon blanc comes from sauvage (“wild”) because its leaves resemble those of wild grape vines. Pinot Gris refers to the blue-gray (gris) color of its grapes. But our favorite varietal (etymologically speaking) has to be Sangiovese — a wine so inky and black that it is named for the “blood of Jove.”

With damp, chilly weather outside we can hardly think of a cozier wine than Sangiovese. Our source for this grape is the Fattoria Poggerino, a small winery in the hills of Tuscany producing rich, balanced reds. We’ve recently restocked on their excellent 2012 Chianti Classico, just in time for wintery weather.

 

Roses and smoke.  Poggerino’s 2012 Chianti Classico is among the best we can remember. Jancis Robinson called the 2012 “mouthfilling yet poised,” and “savory yet perfumed,” with “wonderful balance.” We found their signature roasted cherries and smoke in the nose, with chocolate, beef, and rose petals in the mouth. The mouthfeel is sturdy and dense, with young but juicy tannins and lots of energy.

The exceptional balance that Jancis Robinson highlighted makes this wine an easy food pairing — a rich tomato sauce on pasta is a near perfect match. With a few years in the bottle, this has rounded into a beautifully elegant wine. It’s certainly among the best sub-$25 bottles in our cellar.

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POGGERINO Chianti Classico 2012
Ansonia Retail: $28
case, half-case: $22/bot

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AVAILABLE IN    6-    AND   12-  BOTTLE LOTS

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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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Golden, Exceptional White Burgundy: “Baby Corton-Charlemagne”

Rich. In a region as small and well trodden as Burgundy, it’s amazing there are any surprises left at all. But today’s wine might be the single most exciting Burgundy of either color we’ve found in the last few years. Hailing from tiny and oft-forgotten town of Ladoix, it’s a wine of extraordinary complexity and depth.

Ladoix sits at the border between the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune, just north of the famous Grand-Cru covered hill of Corton. Our source here is the small family-run Domaine Ravaut, whose Bourgogne blanc we wrote about last week. Today’s post is for the Bourgogne’s more muscular older brother, the 2015 Ladoix blanc.

Thick and elegant.  It was this wine, described by wine writer Bill Nanson as a “baby Corton-Charlemagne,” that first drew us to the Ravaut domaine. We found his comment spot on — the Ladoix is an admirable impression of the famous Grand Cru white, and one that can be had at less than half the price. Ravaut is an old school domaine of the highest quality, and one that continues to sell more than half their wine to loyal individual customers.

Fans of Ravaut’s Bourgogne will love this wine, which shows richness at an unmistakably elevated and refined level. Notes of caramel, herbs and baked lemon melt effortlessly with soft toasted wood and precise minerality. The mouthfeel is long and dense, with a luxurious depth and delicate freshness.

This is a wine to convert anyone to white Burgundy. For those already converted, we can’t recommend it enough.

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RAVAUT Ladoix blanc 2015
Ansonia Retail: $52
quarter-case: $44/bot

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AVAILABLE IN    3-    6-    AND   12-  BOTTLE LOTS

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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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Mixed Decanter Case. (Plus a Free Decanter)

Most wines benefit from a bit of air after the bottle is opened — but some require it. Given an hour or so in a decanter, a wine that seems hard and uninteresting can transform into a complex and delicious bottle. The decanter doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive — in fact we’ve found if it’s not, you’re more likely to use it — just a method to increase exposure to air.

We’ve collected four rich, wintery reds that will benefit from decanting — a left-bank Bordeaux, a premier cru red Burgundy, and two blends from Châteauneuf-du-Pape and its neighbor. We think everyone should have a decanter, so we’re including a free one with a purchase of this case (quantities limited).

Decant one of these when you start making your dinner — by the time it’s out of the oven, you’ll have a wholly different wine to enjoy.

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FLEURON DE LIOT Saint-Estèphe 2014
From a tiny family-run domaine in Bordeaux, this is a classic left-bank red Bordeaux. The blend is Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, and the wine shows dense, ripe tannins, low loak, and notes of cedar, plums, and licorice. Decant up to 5 hours.

AMIOT Morey-St-Denis 1er cru “Ruchots” 2012
With a few years in the bottle this excellent red Burgundy is already drinking beautifully. Look for dark, woodsy fruit in the nose, and briary blackberries and spice in the mouth. Decant this for 30min to an hour.

GOUBERT Gigondas Cuvée Florence 2010
This flagship cuvée of the Domaine les Goubert is a 50/50 split of syrah and grenache. Made in the style of a Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this wine is long, elegant, and silky, with notes of lavender, chocolate, and plum jam. Decant for 1-2 hours.

ANDRÉ Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge 2012
From an iconic Châteauneuf-du-Pape source, this comes from unusually old vines. This cuvée famously ages well, and there’s no rush to open. But in a decanted bottle look for notes of licorice, wild cherry, rosemary, and raspberry. Decant for 1-2 hours.

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Mixed Case: Decanter Case

3x   FLEURON DE LIOT Saint Estèphe 2014
3x   AMIOT Morey-St-Denis 1er cru “Ruchots” 2012
3x   GOUBERT Gigondas Cuvée Florence 2010
3x   ANDRÉ Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge 2012


Ansonia Retail: $678
offer price: $575/case

INCLUDES FREE GLASS DECANTER

free East Coast shipping    |    save $103

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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, Velvety New Côtes-du Rhône. $20

Brand. Côtes-du-Rhônes are a dime a dozen these days. From bistro chalkboards in Paris, to Costco’s “Kirkland Signature” labels, it’s one of the most recognizable brands in the wine world. And as you might expect, the quality varies as much as the colorful labels. Among our very favorites is the Domaine Malmont’s version in Séguret.

Malmont’s Côtes du Rhône is unique and delicious — richer and far more interesting than the vast majority of other bottles in its category. It owes its distinctiveness to an unusually high percentage of syrah (60%), which contributes dark berry and black pepper notes, and keeps the wine lively and fresh. Where many Côtes du Rhônes are rich and full of baked fruit, Malmont’s is cool and crisp, with pleasant tannins and a long, balanced finish.

 malmcdr15

Olive and Plum. Malmont is the project of Nicolas Haeni, a young Swiss winemaker who founded the domaine nearly a decade ago. His grapes grow on terraced vineyards in the hills above Séguret, and his wines have already met with wide acclaim from the international wine press. The his 2015 Côtes du Rhône is especially rich, owing its depth to the unusually warm growing season.

Though it’s not raised in oak, there’s a pleasant note of toastiness in this wine. Look for notes of plum jam, lavender and thyme, presented with a round but lively mouthfeel. The ubiquity of Côtes du Rhône means it’s also a crowd pleaser, particularly on a snowy evening in December. Sit back with a glass of this, a good book and a crackling fireplace, and the weather outside won’t seem quite so frightful.

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MALMONT Côtes-du-Rhône 2015
Ansonia Retail: $24
case, half-case: $19.95/bot

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AVAILABLE IN    6-    AND   12-  BOTTLE LOTS

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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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Density and Elegance: New Premier Cru White Burgundy

Opportunity.  Chablis remains one of the best bargains in the wine world. Forever playing second fiddle to the rest of Burgundy, the brand suffered damage from the jug-wine “California Chablis,” and has yet to recover fully. The wines themselves, however, have never been better.

Today we’re offering one of our favorites from Chablis — the premier cru Montée de Tonnerre. Considered one of the three finest premier crus in Chablis, Montée de Tonnerre produces firm, dense, and elegant wines year after year. Our source for this vineyard is the young winemaker Romain Collet, who has turned in an exceptional effort with the 2015 vintage.

Balance.  Record high temperatures in 2015 made ripening easy but harvest timing tricky. The Collet family was careful to pick early, retaining acidity in the fruit, and ensuring balance in the final product. The 2015 Montée de Tonnerre is a triumph — beautiful, long, rich mouthfeel, attractive, ripe fruits, and a crisp, lively acidity and minerality to maintain freshness.

Premier Cru white Burgundies are among the finest white wines in the world. But it’s good to remember they don’t all come from Puligny and Chassagne, and they don’t all cost north of $60 per bottle. The 2015 Collet Montée de Tonnerre is a comparative bargain — look for notes of honey, lime rind, and salt air in the nose; the mouth shows intense, concentrated fruit, with notes of almond, pineapple, and herbs.

This wine ages beautifully for a few years, but thanks to 2015s added ripeness there’s no need to wait — in fact this is a leading contender for the white at our Christmas dinner table in a few weeks.

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COLLET Chablis 1er “Montée de Tonnerre” 2015
Ansonia Retail: $38
case, half-case: $32/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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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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2012 Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru: Red Burgundy at its Finest.

The Pearl.  No town in France is more celebrated for its wines than Vosne-Romanée. Responsible for the some of the world’s finest and most sought-after bottles, Vosne is undoubtedly the most famous Pinot Noir village on earth. Michel Gros is a lifelong resident of Vosne. His family has made wine there for centuries, and his mother was once the mayor.

Gros farms small plots of vines across the tiny appellation, and today’s offer is for one of our favorites: the premier cru “Aux Brûlées.” Located just 10 feet from the famous “Richebourg” Grand Cru, this vineyard turns out extraordinary wine year in and year out. The 2012 vintage has begun to offer delightful drinking already, and we’re pleased to offer the 2012 Aux Brûlées today.

This is the height of Burgundian elegance — farmed and crafted by a master winemaker, and drawn from his family’s historic and hallowed land.

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Historic.  Vosne-Romanée is a tiny appellation, covering only half of a square mile. Founded in the 6th Century, the town has been famous for its wines for almost as long. Monks from the nearby priories of Vergy and Saint-Vivant noticed the quality of the wines from the land west of Vosne in the 9th century, and they’ve gotten pricier and more exclusive ever since.

Whether you have the Burgundy bug or just an interest in beautifully crafted wine, Gros’s Vosne-Romanée 1er cru “Aux Brûlées” is exceptional. It perfectly marries the depth and richness of high-level red Burgundy with the silky elegance found only in Vosne Romanée. Look for notes of plum, cassis, stewed cherries, and violets. Allen Meadows (Burghound) called this wine “generous and fleshy,” and found “excellent length and simply terrific complexity.”

Vosne-Romanée is jewel of any Burgundy enthusiast’s collection, and while it’s never cheap (particularly as a premier cru), it rarely disappoints. We’re selling this in lots of two bottles, East Coast shipping included. If you want a gift for a serious wine lover, you won’t need to include a gift receipt with this one.

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MICHEL GROS Vosne-Romanée 1er cru “Aux Brûlées” 2012
Ansonia Retail: $140
pair price: $119/bot

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AVAILABLE IN    2-   6-    AND   12-  BOTTLE LOTS

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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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Richness in Balance: New Classic White Burgundy. $24

Round.  Some of the finest wines in our cellar are White Burgundy. Grown in a small collection of vineyards where Chardonnay reaches its highest expression, White Burgundy can be as profound as any red wine. Burgundy is where Chardonnay strikes its most elegant balance between soft, mouthfilling fruit, and crisp, refreshing acidity.

No one walks this line between fullness and crispness better than the Domaine Ravaut. The Ravaut family’s whites include some of the best we know, including an extraordinary, age-worthy Grand Cru Corton-Charlemagne. But today’s offer is for their simplest — a Bourgogne blanc that combines the golden texture of elegant Chardonnay with a vibrant line of freshness.

 

Pears.  The Ravaut Family is a low-profile domaine in an often-forgotten town. They continue to sell a majority of their wine to loyal customers who visit their front door, and during our tastings their cellars are often crowded with visitors from Paris and elsewhere in France. The Ravauts fly mostly below the radar of the international wine press, and we feel lucky to have found them.

From a ripe, early drinking year, the Ravaut Bourgogne Blanc is a treat already. The nose is expressive and attractive, showing pear and coconut, with a hint of lemon peel. The mouth is round and soft, with notes of almond and toast balanced by green apple freshness. There’s more chalky length than you’d expect from a wine of this level.

With Holiday dinners and cocktail parties coming up this month, this is a great wine to have on hand. White Burgundy pairs flawlessly with food, particularly fish, chicken, and cow’s milk cheeses — but in this case, it’s a lovely glass on its own as well.

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RAVAUT Bourgogne blanc 2015
Ansonia Retail: $29
case, half-case: $24/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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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: 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.

crafstman-collection

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.

cremes

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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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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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.

 brdx09

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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

_

 

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.