Jaboulet Ermitage Rouge 2018
$117.99
Philippe Jaboulet and his son, Vincent, carry on long-established family winemaking traditions at Domaine Philippe & Vincent Jaboulet in Crozes-Hermitage. Located in the northern Rhône Valley about one mile south of Tain l’Hermitage, the domaine was founded in 2006 following the sale of Maison Paul Jaboulet Ainé, where Philippe managed the family’s vineyards and handled all grape purchasing. After the sale, Philippe and Vincent retained about 32 acres of the family’s vineyards, including most notably a parcel of the original Thalabert vineyard, which is situated in the Crozes-Hermitage appellation. (Philippe and Vincent Jaboulet acquired another 37 acres to add to the newly formed domaine, including a small plot in Cornas-1.7 acres.) The parcel from the Thalabert vineyard that belonged to Paul Jaboulet Ainé was renamed Nouvelère, commemorating the ‘new era’. The domaine’s Nouvelère wine is produced from the vineyard’s oldest vines, up to 80 years old.
The domaine owns other vineyard holdings in Crozes-Hermitage, where relatively younger vines yield full-bodied reds from the Syrah variety. These wines are aged in tanks and both small and large oak barrels; no new wood barrels are employed.) These reds are released two years after the vintage. The domaine’s Crozes Hermitage white wine comes from the Marsanne grape.
In Hermitage, the Syrah wines are sourced from 30-year-old vines in the Les Dionnières lieu-dit; the grapes are raised carefully: organic fertilizer and no chemical insecticides. The family also produces limited quantities of Hermitage white wines, made from 100% Roussanne grapes; in Cornas, a small amount of red wine is produced.
The entire domaine has received the High Environmental Value certification from the French Ministry of Agriculture, recognition of the domaine’s efforts to implement environmentally respectful practices, according to Vincent Jaboulet.
Chateau Haut Bailly II
$116.99
Haut-Bailly’s reputation as one of the great wines of Bordeaux dates from the 19th century, and the word “outstanding” most often associated with the château reflects its superb quality. The late Robert G. Wilmers purchased the chateau in 1998, and it is now owned by his son Chris. He and the current manager, Véronique Sanders, have very demanding standards that entail using the best of traditional and modern methods, with full respect for the environment. A quarter of the vines at Haut-Bailly are a hundred years old, and the estate has a unique terroir that accounts for wines of amazing regularity. These great wines have an inimitable style, finesse, and elegance, whatever the vintage. This is the second wine of the chateau, selling for less than half the price of the flagship bottling but coming very close in style and structure.
Clos Henri Pinot Noir
$55.99
Situated in Sancerre, France, the family estate of Henri Bourgeois has been passed down through the family for 10 generations. Now one of the most established winegrowers in Sancerre, and one of the most renowned family wineries in France, the Bourgeois Family is immensely respected for their commitment to terroir-driven expressions of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.
Their vineyard in Marlborough tells the journey of a family who have cultivated both an anchorage in Sancerre - in the village of Chavignol - and in Marlborough, New Zealand.
Moric Blaufrankisch Reserve
$79.99
David Schildknecht, the Austrian specialist for Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, describes Roland Velich and his Moric wines this way: "Roland Velich is no longer working with his brother Heinz at the family estate in Apetlon, but is pursuing his dream, working with old vines in the heart of “Blaufrankisch country” – Mittelburgenland, specifically Lutzmannsburg and Neckenmarkt.
(Only his winery is located in Grosshoflein.)
His are wines in a style you will not encounter anywhere else in Austria: Blaufrankisch vinified as if it were Grand Cru Burgundy, and from hillsides (including terraces) and pre-clonal vines the like of which you will not find being cultivated in most of Mittelburgenland. One sip is an Oz experience (and I don’t mean Aussie, mates!). From his dreams to his vines to his vinification, to his retro label, Velich is in a world of his own. He calls his project “Blaufrankisch Unplugged” (and Moric – the derivation of which I shall explain another time – is pronounced like “Moritz”). "
Raymund Usseglio Les Argiles
$33.99
Cuvée Esprit d’Argiles is sourced from vineyards planted on clay-limestone and blue clay. This blend of Grenache and Syrah mixes the richness typical of the blue clay soil with the freshness of grapes grown on lighter clay-limestone soils. Located in Rasteau, Domaine La Colliere is run by the talented Georges Perrot. Robert Parker has this to say about this value-driven Rhone: "Made from 80% Grenache and 10% Syrah, vinified in concrete, the 2017 Rasteau Esprit d'Argiles is a beautiful Rasteau that offers the classic dark fruits, scorched earth, pepper and roasted herb aromas and flavours of these steep, south-facing hillside parcels. Possessing terrific minerality, medium-bodied richness and a supple finish, drink it over the coming 5-7 years"
Blue Mountain Gamay Noir
$39.99
Blue Mountain is the wild and respected territory of which the Mavety family are blessed to be the guardians. As a family business with a strong connection to the South Okanagan site, the goal of Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars is to realize the potential of the individual sites of the land in which the grapes are grown. Overlooking and tending, the Mavety’s life work is an ongoing process of creating something simple yet powerful, to be expressed in the glass and enjoyed. The philosophy of Blue Mountain is to focus on the potential of each variety, continually improving its range across Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gamay Noir, and Traditionnelle Methode sparkling wine.
Blue Mountain’s strong focus on viticulture across the site allows for an increased representation of individual terroir when the grapes reach the winery.
Rougeot Cote D or Rouge Les Lameroses
$81.99
In the center of Meursault village, Pierre-Henri Rougeot has been quietly producing impeccable, minimal intervention, low-sulfur wines since he returned to the family domaine in 2010. The 18th century stone cellar was originally built for the Hospices de Beaune to press fruit from the adjacent orchards, and was purchased Pierre-Henri’s great-great-grandfather in the 19th century. Today, the orchards have been transformed into an elegant garden and stamp-sized monopole vineyard, and the cellar has been renovated to comfortably hold two vintages from Rougeot’s 13 hectares of vines in and around Meursault.
Pierre-Henri’s experience traveling throughout France gives him a unique vision that hews strongly to Burgundian tradition, marked by a soft touch inspired by the vins natures made by his friends in Saumur, Cahors, and beyond. Today, the Rougeot vineyards are farmed organically, and Pierre-Henri’s minimal sulfur vinification effortlessly balances a natural wine approach with traditional Burgundian technique to create wines with energy and balance.
While all of the wines are vinified sans soufre, each barrel is tasted regularly throughout élevage. Small amounts of SO2 are added when needed to individual barrels. When possible, Rougeot keeps each barrel completely sans soufre and bottles it under the alternate diagonal stripe label, though these quantities are always very limited for the village and premier cru wines.
Rougeot Pommard Clos Des Roses
$177.99
In the center of Meursault village, Pierre-Henri Rougeot has been quietly producing impeccable, minimal intervention, low-sulfur wines since he returned to the family domaine in 2010. The 18th century stone cellar was originally built for the Hospices de Beaune to press fruit from the adjacent orchards, and was purchased Pierre-Henri’s great-great-grandfather in the 19th century. Today, the orchards have been transformed into an elegant garden and stamp-sized monopole vineyard, and the cellar has been renovated to comfortably hold two vintages from Rougeot’s 13 hectares of vines in and around Meursault.
Pierre-Henri’s experience traveling throughout France gives him a unique vision that hews strongly to Burgundian tradition, marked by a soft touch inspired by the vins natures made by his friends in Saumur, Cahors, and beyond. Today, the Rougeot vineyards are farmed organically, and Pierre-Henri’s minimal sulfur vinification effortlessly balances a natural wine approach with traditional Burgundian technique to create wines with energy and balance.
While all of the wines are vinified sans soufre, each barrel is tasted regularly throughout élevage. Small amounts of SO2 are added when needed to individual barrels. When possible, Rougeot keeps each barrel completely sans soufre and bottles it under the alternate diagonal stripe label, though these quantities are always very limited for the village and premier cru wines.
Mee Godard Brouilly Cuvee
$45.99
Mee Godard moved to the Beaujolais and launched her domaine in 2013 with three very special climats of Morgon: Corcelette, Grand Cras, and Côte du Py. Since then she has had one goal in mind: to make vin de garde from great terroirs. Beaujolais is one of the few places in France where an aspiring vigneron can bootstrap the start of their own winery. We aren't using the word "bootstrap" lightly either. Mee Godard is a one-woman show that prunes, farms, and runs a precise cellar. She is poised to be a big part of our perception of Morgon as the identity of Beaujolais continues to evolve with a new generation.