Wines

"Lively and generous Nectar Imperial distinguishes itself by its extravagant fruitiness, its density on the palate and its crisp finish that instantly surprise and delight. Nectar Roses assemblage is built on the intensity of Pinot Noir, the fruitiness of Pinot Meunier, and the freshness of Chardonnay." Winemaker notes

Its red color is sustained and nuanced with coppery shades.Its aromas are intense and deep with ripe berries (wild strawberry, blackberry, black currant) and cherry, nuanced by herbal and heady flowers notes.On the palate it is a succulent blend of richness and elegance, density and creaminess, extreme fruitiness and vibrant freshness.

Ideal for all sweet and sour, fatty-spicy, sugary-spicy or sweet dishes, Nectar Rose offers amazing pairings with foie gras marinated in red wines and red fruits based desserts.

The 2009 is one of the greatest Leoville Las Cases I have ever tasted, which is saying something given the many compelling wines that have been made at this estate. A final blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 9% Cabernet Franc has resulted in a wine that appears to be a hypothetical blend of the 1982, 1986, and 1996. Its 13.8% alcohol is perhaps the only thing that sets it apart from those vintages, which had nearly a full percentage point less. The high alcohol is barely noticeable in this 2009, which boasts an inky/purple color, monumental concentration, and great clarity and purity of creme de cassis, black cherry, spice box, graphite, and wet rock characteristics. Extremely full-bodied with a boatload of sweet tannin nearly concealed by the wine-s power, glycerin, and awesome fruit concentration, this intense effort never tastes heavy or tiring. This remarkable St.-Julien should be accessible in 3-4 years, and will evolve for 40-50. (Tasted once.) - WA96-100

Organic

92 points Wine Spectator 
A graceful rose thats lacy and airy in texture, with finely knit acidity enlivening the flavors of ripe cherry and strawberry fruit and lemon chiffon, accented by hints of smoke and spice. Drink now through 2022. 400 cases imported.

91 points Wine Advocate 
The NV Brut Rose is very, very pretty. This is a fresh, energetic wine that impresses for its length and persistence. The wiry finish suggests the wine will drink well for a number of years, perhaps more if the fruit fleshes out.

Organic / Biodynamic / Natural

The bubbles are gentle, but present in the glass. Lemon danish, dry cream soda, and saline dominate the palate, finishing crisp and minerally. A fresh, clean, zippy and very friendly Pet Nat. Rolle and Ugni Blanc.

Grape Variety: Blend of Pinot Auxerrois and Pinot Blanc Age of vines: about 35 years Vinification: The grapes are picked by hand and crushed whole. Fermentation with native yeast in stainless steel tanks with temperature control. The wine matures for 6 months in tank, then is transferred to bottle, and stored in riddling rack for 12-15 months before disgorgement.

Age of vines: about 28 years
Elevation: average 259 meters (850 feet)
Vinification: The grapes are picked by hand and crushed whole. Fermentation with native yeast in
stainless steel tanks with temperature control. The wine is aged in large oak casks (foudres) and
maturing on fine lees until late Spring. Bottled in August the following year of harvest.
Tasting notes: A classic interpretation of this traditional Alsatian grape variety, this wine is dry and has
citrus, stone fruit, and sweet spice aromas.
Alc: 12.5%

Organic

In 2015, chateau owner Bertrand Gourdou was searching through an old desk when he came across a label that his grandfather had made in the early 1970’s; that wine was called “Le pot-de-vin” which, in French, translates to “the bribe”, which for that era was an audacious play on words for a wine label! This label inspired Bertrand to make a simple, natural wine: biodynamically grown fruit, fermented with native yeast and with a negligible dose of SO2, made in concrete tanks built by his grandfather. The word "pot" also references the old-style bottle shape.

The rouge is 100% Merlot from the IGP Pays d’Oc, made with no oak in a light-to-medium-bodied style with gloriously fruit, freshness and length. It is, simply put, the quintessential French bistro red.

Second wine of Chateau Rieussec.

Another brilliant effort from Gerard Perse, this great vineyard (now just over 90 acres in size with the average age of the vines 45 years) was cropped at 28 hectoliters per hectare. It obviously missed all the damaging hail in mid-May of 2009, and was harvested between October 5 and 15. Everything here is done with extraordinary gentleness and precision. The result is a powerful, full-bodied, remarkably intense wine that is black/purple in color. It will require considerable patience, much like 2000 and 2005. It displays enormous creme de cassis and boysenberry fruit with some cherries, spice box, and crushed rock in the background. It is intense, with loads of minerality, huge extraction, massive power, yet again, the vintage character seems to have given it a freshness and vibrancy despite the wine’s obvious viscosity. The minimum patience required is at least a decade, as this is another 40-year wine from Gerard Perse. (Tasted five times.) - WA96-100

Rich, viscous, nervy, and wonderfully lemony, Domaine Tempier has created a southern masterpiece. A freshly grilled fish and a hot summer day know no better companion.
Blend: 60% Clairette, 18% Ugni Blanc, 19% Bourboulenc, 3% Marsanne

Organic / Natural / No Added Sulfites

Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot from L'Ardeche. 10 day carbonic maceration in cement tanks and aged in fiberglass and stainless steel. A full-bodied, lush red that is seamlessly put together. This is super clean for a natural wine, especially as a sans soufre wine.

Organic / Biodynamic

This historic estate was established in 1834. Claude de Nicolay took over from her mother as winemaker in 1988 and crafts traditionally styled wines from one of the Cote d'Or's great terroirs, the hill of Corton and its surrounding villages.  The vineyard management has been fully biodynamic since 2005 and organic since 1998. Claude's brother, Francois de Nicolay joined the domaine in 2001.

Organic / Biodynamic

93 points Decanter
There is an alluring blackberry fruit with an edge of violets and a hint of liquorice. The grapes were picked very ripe and then allowed a five-day maceration before fermenting entirely as whole bunches, mainly pumping over and punching down lightly at the end. The grapes come from two parcels, one at the base of the slope replanted 10 years ago, the other at mid-slope. The soils here are compact clay and yellow marl that give a very lush result.

This historic estate was established in 1834. Claude de Nicolay took over from her mother as winemaker in 1988 and crafts traditionally styled wines from one of the Cote d'Or's great terroirs, the hill of Corton and its surrounding villages.  The vineyard management has been fully biodynamic since 2005 and organic since 1998. Claude's brother, Francois de Nicolay joined the domaine in 2001.

"This shimmers with its flavors of apple and lime, its hint of toast and its soft finish. It's finely balanced, a great selection that is ready to drink now." 94pts WE

"All the lightness of white floral notes: hawthorn blossom, linden blossom and white clover. A fresh, stylish wine with good structure, silky and elegant, based on the mineral notes of the best Chardonnay Grand Crus. The floral, fruity notes give way to subtle spicy hints for a pleasant finish on the palate." Winemaker notes

96+ Points Wine Advocate
The NV Ros?? 27??me Edition, much like the Grande Cuv??e 171??me Edition, was created based on the 2015 vintage and is complemented with 38 reserve wines sourced from nine different years (which makes up 55% of the blend). The youngest reserve wine dates back to 2015, while the oldest goes all the way back to 2005. Additionally, the blend includes 10% Pinot Noir, sourced from A?? and Mareuil-sur-A??. This delightful ros?? boasts a stunning, fresh bouquet of peony, blueberry, grapefruit, blood orange, warm biscuits and spring flowers. It has a medium to full-bodied texture and is both tense and crystalline, with a delicate yet concentrated structure and a salty, lingering and mouthwatering finish. I find the mid-palate particularly fascinating, as it is both fleshy and delicate. This lively and pure Champagne ros?? from Krug is made up of 57% Pinot Noir, 23% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier.

93-95 points Burghound
Exuberantly fresh black fruit aromas are liberally laced with notes of earth, clove, anise and wood. The succulent yet muscular and powerful big-bodied flavors possess excellent mid-palate density while exhibiting seriously good length on the mouth coating and strikingly long finish. Note that this is very much built-to-age and a wine that may well require 20 years to reach its apogee. Excellent!

This exceptionally rich, thick Lafite came in with the highest level of natural alcohol (13.5%) ever achieved at Lafite Rothschild. To put that in its proper context, the 2009 and 2005 were 13.3% and in the hottest Bordeaux summer ever recorded in over 200 years, the 2003 achieved 12.8%. A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Merlot, all harvested between October 9 and 14, the 2010 exhibits an extraordinarily dense color, an unctuous texture and sweet black currant fruit intermixed with graphite, charcoal and truffle notes. A director Charles Chevalier told me, between July and the October harvest, Bordeaux had its driest weather since 1949, but it never got excessively hot. Hence the tiny berries, freshness and extraordinary precision of Lafite Rothschild. This superb effort will undoubtedly shut down slightly once it is bottled despite a pH of 3.8. It needs no building up because much of Lafite Rothschild has now become an obsession with the wealthy Chinese and most of it will undoubtedly be consumed before it ever hits its prime. Ideally, it should be cellared for 10-15 years and drunk over the following 50+ years. -WS 98-100

This beautiful, elegant 2003 is a top-notch success for Margaux. More accessible and softer than usual, it boasts a deep ruby/purple color as well as a beautiful bouquet of flowers, black currants, plums, and underbrush. Medium-bodied, velvety-textured, opulent, and complex, it can be consumed now and over the next 10-15 years. - WA90