2014 Pomerol & Right Bank Bordeaux – From Every Day to Blue Chip Wines

After a string of challenging years 2014 Bordeaux has shaped up to be the best vintage following the historic back-to-back vintages of 2009 and 2010. The long growing season and a glorious autumn allowed for both maximum ripening and maximum concentration. Yet ultimately it was the cool summer weather that has determined the style of the wines, with low pH and good concentration the wines of 2014 Bordeaux will generally show both power and freshness.

We’re looking forward to bringing in literal truckloads of 2014 Bordeaux. With this first shipment we’re focusing mainly on the Merlot-based wines from the clay rich terroir of Pomerol and a few of the “Right Bank” satellite appellations. These wines represent everything from under $20 every day drinking wines all the way to top producer wines capable of decades long cellar development.

We’ll have an assortment of wines open to taste this Saturday. All bottle prices are deeply discounted and based on the purchase of six or more bottles.

Although Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate ratings don’t factor into how we select the wines we carry, we do understand that many drinkers find them useful. You’ll see the ratings for the 2014 vintage of each wine following the text.

The Satellites

$17 Château Carlmagnus (Fronsac) SOLD OUT
The top property owned and run by Arnaud Roux-Oulié. It’s a prime location on the clay and limestone plateau overlooking the town of Fronsac. (90-92)

~$19 Château Mont-Pérat (Premières Côtes de Bordeaux) SOLD OUT
Mentioned in the 1864 edition of the famous Feret Wine Guide as one of the jewels in the crown of the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux appellation area. (88-90)

~$24 Château Montlandrie (Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux) SOLD OUT
An ample wine from perfectionist proprietor Denis Durantou, known for his celebrated Pomerol estate Château l’Eglise Clinet. (89-91)

~$25 Château d’Aiguilhe (Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux) SOLD OUT
Uniquely located between a plateau and a small valley Château d’Aiguilhe is owned by Stephan von Neipperg, perhaps better known for his other estates of Château Canon-la-Gaffelière and La Mondotte. (90-92)

~$25 Château de Chambrun (Lalande de Pomerol) SOLD OUT
Owned and operated by Silvio Denz, known for several high profile estates in Saint-Émilion, including Château Faugères and Château Péby Faugères. (89-91)

~$31 Château La Fleur de Boüard (Lalande de Pomerol)
Managed by Coralie de Boüard. The de Bouard family are well known for their vineyards in Saint-Émilion, including Château Angélus and Château Bellevue. (89-91)

Pomerol

~$27 Château Mazeyres SOLD OUT
Managed by Alain Moueix, who also runs Château Fonroque. Fine terroir that is currently certified organic and heading toward biodynamic in the next couple years. (89-91)

~$45 Château Rouget SOLD OUT
An extensive replanting of the vineyards and complete modernization of the wine making facilities from 2001 brings Château Rouget near the top tier of Pomerol estates. (89-91)

~$50 Château Nenin
A large property by Pomerol standards, Château Nenin is run by Jean-Hubert Delon and his sister Geneviève d’Alton, the proprietors of Château Léoville-Las-Cases. (91-93)

~$77 Château Le Bon Pasteur
Previously owned and still managed by legendary Bordeaux wine consultant Michel Rolland along with his wife Dany. (89-91)

~$82 Clos L’Eglise
Owned, operated, and recently modernized by a line of the distinguished Cathiard family of Château Smith Haut Lafitte fame. (90-92)

~$84 Château Clinet
Since 2004, Ronan Laborde placed all his focus on turning Château Clinet into one of the top wines of Pomerol, the estate has been improving steadily since. (89-91)

~$84 Château Gazin
Château Gazin borders Château Petrus and L’Évangile and even sold 13 acres of vines to Petrus back in the 1960s. This wine could be as close as many of us get to drinking Petrus in our lifetimes. (91-93)

~$93 Château Le Gay
One of Bordeaux’s most respected proprietors, Catherine Péré Vergé brought this storied estate back to prominence in the early 2000s. Her son, Henri Parent, now follows in her footsteps. (90-92)

~$127 Château La Conseillante
Owned and operated by the same family since 1874 and bordering Château Cheval Blanc and Vieux Château Certan, Château La Conseillante is top tier Pomerol. (92-94)

~$161 Château L’Évangile SOLD OUT
Domaines Baron de Rothschild of Château Lafite is among the most prestigious names in Bordeaux. As majority owner of L’Évangile it’s easy to see why this estate produces some of the most sought-after wines of Pomerol. (92-94)

~$246 Château L’Eglise-Clinet
One of the elite properties of Pomerol thanks to perfectionist proprietor Denis Durantou. If this bottle doesn’t fit the wine budget try Denis’ Château Montlandrie from Castillon. (93-95)

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Posted on 2017.04.28 in Bordeaux, Saturday Sips Wines, France  |  Read more...

Value Premier Cru Red Burgundy from Top Producer in Givry

The Côte Chalonnaise continues as a regular chain of hills along the same lines as the Côte d’Or to its north. But the countryside is much less uniform and turns into a jumble of limestone slopes on which vineyards appear amongst orchards and pasture. Local weather patterns are equally varied, giving importance to long proven zones like Givry, where most all of the production is Pinot Noir.

The Ragot family has winemaking roots that go all the way back to the mid 1700s. Presently it’s young Nicolas Ragot at the helm of this family domaine considered to be in the top tier of all producers in the Côte Chalonnaise. After studying winemaking in Beaune and work in South Africa, Nicolas moved back to the family estate in 2002, eventually succeeding his father Jean-Paul in 2008.

Nicolas manages a little over 22 acres that includes a fair share of 40+ year old vines. Cultivation is approached lutte raisonee, albeit with one hectare farmed organically with plans to expand that across all their holdings in the future. All of the fruit is hand-harvested and only indigenous yeasts are used.

Domaine Ragot “La Grande Berge” (Givry, Premier Cru 2014)
Special 6-pack price: $226 (~$38/bottle)

This Premier Cru is located in the south of the appellation, along a rocky, east-facing slope with excellent drainage. The Ragots have five parcels here, totaling a bit over five acres with vines varying between 15, 30 and 50 years. Aging takes place in French oak (30% new) for between 12 and 15 months. Grande Berge produces wines that are known for their subtlety and finesse and this 2014 is a prime example. A glass is bursting with aromatics, the foremost a heady floral component reminiscent of Chambolle-Musigny. Alongside are fresh berries, red licorice, and baked stone. A sip is simultaneously concentrated and spry, with a long, energetic finish. Drink now or squirrel some away in the cellar for another four to seven years.

Other Wines Available from Domaine Ragot

Domaine Ragot “Clos Jus” (Givry, Premier Cru 2014)
Special 6-pack price: ~$42

Representing the top cuvée from Ragot, the Premier Cru Clos Jus vineyard lies at the very top end of Givry. This bottling comes from a 2.5 acre parcel on a slope of red clay and limestone that faces due east and was planted in 1990. Aging takes place in French oak (30% new) for between 12 and 15 months. This wine will reward the patient drinker after a few years in the cellar and continue to develop for most of a decade.

Domaine Ragot “Teppe des Cheneves” (Givry 2014)
Special 6-pack price: ~$36

A new parcel for the Ragot family. The vines were planted in 2009 in a vineyard that lies along nearly two acres that had been previously covered by forest. After clearing the east-facing slope, the Ragots planted Pinot Noir in high density on clay and limestone soils between 950 and 1,050 feet altitude. This is a wine more forward than Clos Jus and lighter on its feet than La Grande Berge.

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Posted on 2017.04.19 in France, Saturday Sips Wines, Burgundy  |  Read more...

Ethereal Sauvignon Blanc from the Limestone Landscape of the Northern Adriatic

Mix and match any six bottles for special discount prices:
~$30 Edi Kante Sauvignon Blanc (Venezia Giulia 2013)
~$53 Edi Kante “Selezione” Sauvignon Blanc (Venezia Giulia 2009)

In the rugged Carso district in the far northeastern corner of Italy, Edi Kante is generally considered the forefather of quality winemaking in an area that many considered too difficult a terrain to invest in viticulture. This unique micro-climate is sandwiched between the Adriatic Sea to the south, the Alps to the north, the low hills of Collio to the west, and the Balkan peninsula to the east. The temperatures are cool at night and grey limestone is everywhere.

A child of these crossroads of Italian, Slovenian, and Croatian culture, Edi is a non-conformist at heart. He began to bottle the family estate’s wines by varietal in the late 1980s. After experimenting with various styles, including some pioneering efforts of the orange wine movement, he settled on the direction he has followed for almost two decades: Making pure, consistent wines that reflect their region, stand the test of time, and provide pleasure at the table.

His wines are frank, authentic and exemplary interpretations of the terroir. They mature for a year in older barrels, then six months or more in stainless steel on the lees, before being bottled unfiltered. All this takes place in an incredible three-story cellar carved by dynamite out of solid stone beneath his house.

~$30 Edi Kante Sauvignon Blanc (Venezia Giulia 2013)

The 2013 Sauvignon Blanc is in no way a blowsy grapefruit expression of the variety that one might find from warmer climates. Lemon essence, thyme and stone-filled grassy meadows greet the nose. That bright lemon vibe remains on the palate followed by salty minerality on the lengthy finish. It’s almost as if the wine was made from a parcel carved out of Sancerre and then placed high in the Alps. This kind of crisp purity in a white wine almost demands to be paired with some sweet flesh from the sea.

~$53 Edi Kante “Selezione” Sauvignon Blanc (Venezia Giulia 2009)

The most exciting part of Kante’s production are his “Selezione” wines that are only released in small quantities from select vintages. The 2009 Sauvignon Blanc “Selezione” bottling represents Edi Kante’s pick of the best barrels, aged an additional four years in tank after the customary year in neutral wood. It is easily one of the greatest wines from Friuli, and clearly a world-class Sauvignon Blanc that can be drunk upon release or aged for many years to come.

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Posted on 2017.04.12 in Saturday Sips Wines, Italy, Friuli Venezia Giulia  |  Read more...

Fresh & Perfumed Red from Northwest Spain

Fento “Xabre” (Val do Bibei, Galicia 2015)
Special 6-pack price: $140 (~$23/bottle)

Hard-working vigneron Eulogio Pomares is a rising star in the far northwest corner of Spain where he receives accolades from critics and consumers alike. Although perhaps best known for his work with the region’s Albariño variety as the seventh generation winemaker at Zárate, his family’s estate, Eulogio can’t be contained and is branching out into some of “Green Spain’s” other subregions.

Fento is a partnership of Eulogio with his wife Rebeca that works with both rare and common indigenous grapes found within Galicia. Organic viticulture is difficult in the region due to humidity and mildew pressure, but Eulogio is acquiring the methods to bring the Fento vineyards into full organic cultivation, relying on native cover crops and natural products to do most of the work.

Only 3,000 bottles produced, cuvée Xabre [SHAH-bray] is named after the weathered, sandy granite soils of Ribeira Sacra. It’s a blend of 90% Mencía with the remainder made up of Sousón, Mouratón and Garnacha, all from vines ranging between 15 and 80 years old. The fruit comes from the Quiroga-Bibei sub-zone, from terraced vineyards between 900 to 2,100 feet in elevation. In past vintages, Eulogio has bottled Xabre as classified Ribeira Sacra DO but he prefers to capture the story of the vintage and the land without necessarily having to adjust the wine to fit within the appellation rules.

Extraordinarily perfumed, Xabre radiates notes of citrus peel, green tea, violets, fresh berries and warm terra cotta. It is clearly a wine influenced by the cool Atlantic climate. A sip is lively, graceful, fresh, dancing over the palate before velvety tannins linger on the close. With just a slight chill it’s an ideal wine to keep you company while tending the grill. Pair with everything from thick-skinned vegetables to lean red meat.

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Posted on 2017.04.03 in Saturday Sips Wines, Spain DO, Ribeira Sacra  |  Read more...

Pure 2014 Red Burgundy from Pommard and Beaune

Domaine Gabriel Billard Red Burgundy. Mix and match any six bottles for special discount prices:
~$40 “Les Epenotes” (Beaune Premier Cru 2014)
~$44 “Les Vaumuriens” (Pommard 2014)
~$58 “Les Charmots” (Pommard Premier Cru 2014)

Winemaker Claudie Jobard produces from 23 acres in both Rully and the Côte de Beaune, including prime parcels in Pommard. She’s the daughter of Laurence Jobard, Joseph Drouhin’s winemaker/enologist of 30 years. Her family has been propagating and selling vines in Rully for the last 60 years. Clearly, wine is in her blood.

Under her own name, Claudie produces a range of excellent wines from Rully, one of the top production zones in the Côte Chalonnaise. But it’s the family property in the Côte de Beaune that offers the most exceptional vineyards. These plots, adding up to less than four full acres, were owned by Claudie’s grandmother, Gabriel Billard, until being passed on to her mother Laurence. Now that Laurence is retired, it is Claudie who takes care of the wines and vineyards.

Claudie cultivates the vineyards with the philosophy of “lutte raisonnée” (reasoned struggle) applying treatments with the overall health of the vineyard in mind. Some of the tilling is even undertaken by horse in Pommard. Her goal is always to reveal the delicate purity of the terroir.

~$40 “Les Epenotes” (Beaune Premier Cru 2014)
One tiny parcel with two different ages of vines produces a wine with ripe fruit aromas and soft tannins. This vineyard is located next to the famous Epenots Premier Cru vineyard in Pommard and just below the renowned Clos des Mouches vineyard in Beaune.

~$44 “Les Vaumuriens” (Pommard 2014)
From four parcels of vines with an average age of 70 years. The Vaumuriens vineyard (loosely translated as “better than nothing”) is located just above the lauded Premier Cru of Rugiens. It’s name was derived from pointing out that this parcel on the higher hillside “is not the Rugiens, but better than nothing.”

~$58 “Les Charmots” (Pommard Premier Cru 2014)
A remarkable terroir of south-southeast facing slopes planted with vines approaching a Century in age. Although Claudie notes that it’s a parcel difficult to cultivate, the wines from this plot are rich, concentrated, and capable of medium to long term cellar development.

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Posted on 2017.03.29 in France, Saturday Sips Wines, Burgundy  |  Read more...

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