Bottle Shop of Spring Lake

Burgundy

Domaine Humbert Frères Gevrey Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2015

Domaine Humbert Frères Gevrey Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2015

During the 2015 Burgundy Barrel Tasting for Frederick Wildman, we tasted through Domaine Humbert's offerings with Emmanuel Humbert. This was the best vintage we have ever tasted from him and a highlight of the entire portfolio that day. Emmanuel and his brother Frédéric are fourth generation vignerons of this family estate. They took over the domaine from their parents in 1989 and have been turning out exceptional Gevrey-Chambertin, Charmes-Chambertin, Fixin and Bourgogne rouge ever since. The exuberant Emmanuel (friends & family call him 'Manu') has been the family's winemaker for over 20 years. He focuses upon manual methods in the vineyard, with organic-leaning practices and emphasizes low yields. 50% new oak is used for the village and Premier Cru's , 100% new oak is used on the Grand Cru's . His 2015 old vine Gevrey here is positively beautiful. Wild cherries, black plums, violets, raspberries and licorice abound in the nose and on the palate. So rich and complex, we suggest cellaring this beauty for a few years and then serving it with juicy lamb chops alongside quinoa or cous cous with nuts and dried cherries; or with wild salmon simmered in fresh herbs, olive oil and pomegranate juice. Burghound reports: "If you're not familiar with the Humbert wines, the style is one that many readers will definitely like. There is a purity to the wines that is really lovely and while there is a nod toward the modern, some of the wines are also made with a significant percentage of stems. Overall, the wines are at once stylish and beautifully rendered with outstanding transparency."

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$89.99 $80.99

Joseph Drouhin Chambolle Musigny 2015

Joseph Drouhin Chambolle Musigny 2015

The Drouhin family has been making fine Burgundy since 1880. Founded by Joseph Drouhin, the Drouhin family has always had a passion for wine. Today, the great grandchildren of Joseph Drouhin, Philippe, Véronique, Laurent and Frédéric, run the family-owned company from their ancestors' house. Each has their own personality, but together, they share a common passion for the vine and the wine. Day after day, they strive for harmony, the hallmark of Joseph Drouhin wines. In 2016, Drouhin was bestowed a great award, as Wine & Spirits Magazine named Maison Joseph Drouhin one of their Top 100 Wineries of 2016. Chambolle is situated in the central part of the Côte de Nuits, surrounded by a sea of vines. Since the Roman times, the old Celtic village of Cambola has always been highly regarded for its vineyards. It is during the Middle-Ages that the monks perfected the art and technique of viticulture. Joseph Drouhin is an important propriétaire of various Premier Cru vineyards in Chambolle-Musigny. The Pinot Noir grape is vinified in the typical Burgundian style: slow maceration (18 days) with daily pumping over and punching down of the cap to extract the famed "gout de terroir" of Chambolle. After 18 months in barrels and fining with egg-whites, the wine is bottled. Joseph Drouhin suggests serving Chambolle-Musigny with delicately prepared dishes, such as "Canard aux cerises" (duck cooked with cherries) or "Boeuf aux morilles" (beef with morels). When serving with cheeses, they should be ripe but not too strong.

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$89.99 $80.99

Domaine Hudelot-Baillet Chambolle Musigny Vieilles Vignes 2015

Domaine Hudelot-Baillet Chambolle Musigny Vieilles Vignes 2015

Domaine Hudelot-Baillet is a true Chambolle-Musigny producer with cellars in the town as well as holdings entirely within the appellation. The domaine was created in 1981 by Joël Hudelot (inherited largely from his father Paul) and his wife Chantal Baillet. Joël retired in 2004 and passed along the reins to his son-in-law Dominique Leguen, who had been working with him at the domaine since 1998. The viticultural philosophy is organic though the domaine is not technically certified. There are no insecticides used and sexual confusion is employed instead to combat problematic bugs. The harvest is performed manually with sorting work done in the vineyards and again at the cuverie if necessary. The fruit is 100% destemmed, and the new oak program averages 30% for the villages wines , 40% for the 1ers and 50% for the Bonnes Mares. The wines are given 12 to 18 months of élevage before being bottled, generally without fining or filtration. Hudelot describes his intended style as one of finesse, succinctly explaining that "all of my appellations are in Chambolle and finesse is what we do best."

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~~$75.00~~$65.00

Domaine Arlaud Cyprien Arlaud Vosne Romanée 2015

Domaine Arlaud Cyprien Arlaud Vosne Romanée 2015

Domaine Arlaud was born from the marriage of Joseph Arlaud from the Ardèche, and Renée Amiot of Burgundy. Her family owned a few choice parcels of land in the Côtes de Nuits, including within Clos St. Denis and Bonnes Mares. Part of the couple’s wedding gifts included these parcels and so was born Domaine Arlaud. Joseph’s son Hervé Arlaud took over the estate in 1982 and expanded the domaine with purchases of prime vineyards, mostly in their home village of Morey St. Denis. Today, the star of the show is Hevré’s son Cyprien, who in the last ten years, has come into his own as one of the most exciting growers in all of France. Cyprien Arlaud took the reins of the domaine in 1997 with the simple and unwavering vision of making pure, benchmark Burgundy. He knew the only way to achieve this goal was to be forward thinking in the cellar, and most importantly in the vineyards. The same year he was put in charge, he began the conversion of the estate to biodynamics (certified in 2014). He also began using horses to plow domaine vineyards in order to keep the soils as healthy and alive as possible. He has top holdings in Morey St. Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Gevrey-Chambertin, and Vosne-Romanée and his sister Bertille handles the horse plowing. This beautiful Vosne-Romanee is from the lieu-dit of ‘Aux Communes’, considered to be one of Vosne’s finest. Located a stone’s throw from the prestigious Clos des Réas, this extraordinary wine was aged in barrel (20% new) so as not to be too oaky. From a winemaking perspective, Cyprien is what we call non-interventionist. Under Cyprien’s stewardship, elegance has been the focus with lower levels of extraction and the reduction of new wood to zero on the Bourgogne and 15-30% on the rest of the lineup. Partial whole cluster is used on the upper level wines (maximum 30%), purely on the nature of the vintage and if the stems are perfectly ripe. The cellar in Morey St. Denis is one of the coldest in the Côtes de Nuits, helping Cyprien pursue a slow, non-interventionist vinification, with minimal use of SO2. All of his wines are also bottled unfined and unfiltered.

$89.99 $80.99

Domaine Confuron-Cotetidot Vosne-Romanée 2015

Domaine Confuron-Cotetidot Vosne-Romanée 2015

The Confuron's have been vignerons since the seventeenth century during the reign of Louis XIV. Their specialty was and continues to be vine selection and propagation. They have led the way in identifying top selections massales and even have a clone of the noble Pinot Noir in their name: Pinot Confuron. The family crafts village level wines from four villages in the Cotes de Nuits – Nuits-Saint-Georges, Vosne-Romanee, Chambolly-Musigny and Gevrey-Chambertin (as well as Pommard) – and they have an impressive array of premier cru and grand cru sites, including the famed Vosne Suchots (they are one of the largest holders), Echezeaux, Clos Vougeot, and tiny plots of Charmes Chambertin and Mazis Chambertin. Today, Yves Confuron holds the reins at the estate with the help of his oenologist brother Jack in the cellar. Their parents Jacky and Bernadette work the vines as they dutifully have for over fifty years. The vineyards, averaging 65 years of age, have never been treated with synthetic herbicides or pesticides and great attention is taken to minimize yields through regular plowing, short pruning and green harvesting in the spring. At harvest, triage is done both in the vineyard and in the cellar. Grapes are consistently harvested late to ensure ripe stems. Yves follows his family tradition of 100% whole-cluster fermentation, followed by long cuvaisons of two to three weeks and extended barrel ageing of up to two years. The villages wines tend to see 10-20% new oak, only a tad more for the 1er Crus, and up to a maximum of 50% for the Grand Crus. The wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered, and they show remarkable aromatic intensity, spice, purity of fruit, and striking minerality from their fantastic terroirs.

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$79.99 $71.99

Domaine Dominique Gallois Gevrey Chambertin 2015

Domaine Dominique Gallois Gevrey Chambertin 2015

Located in the historic village of Gevrey-Chambertin, Domaine Gallois is run by the ever humble and quality-driven Dominique Gallois. His great-grandfather built the family's wine cellar and home in 1901 among the family's vines in Gevrey. Today, this 12 acre estate has holdings in Bourgogne, village Gevrey, premier cru Gevrey and grand cru Charmes-Chambertin. Dominique believes that 'nature is boss' and he is known to have one of the coldest, oldest cellars in the region for long, slow fermentations and great aging potential for his wines. He also produces the wines with vegan methods (so no egg whites for fining). We tasted and loved this Gevrey, the quality is simply stunning. Ultra smooth and caressing, with red fruits abounding, this is Pinot Noir as it should be. A great wine to introduce the American Pinot Noir drinker.

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$69.99 $62.99

Domaine Dominique Gallois Gevrey Chambertin La Combe Aux Moines 2015

Domaine Dominique Gallois Gevrey Chambertin La Combe Aux Moines 2015

This is a stunning Gevrey Chambertin from a small premier cru plot named La Combe aux Moines, which was planted in 1954 (60+ year old vines). Dominique Gallois farms his plot himself and believes that 'nature is the boss.' The result is a wine which is dense and rich but wonderfully balanced with an incredible texture, both sappy and silky. Black fruits and stones abound in this delicious offering. This 12-acre estate has been in the Gallois family since 1901. His Premier Cru wines generally receive 30% new oak for 14 months and since his cellar is so deep, the wines age quite slowly and are known for their finesse, elegance and freshness. He also produces the wines with vegan methods (so no egg whites for fining).

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$125.00 $112.50

Domaine Faiveley Gevrey Chambertin les Cazetiers 2015

Domaine Faiveley Gevrey Chambertin les Cazetiers 2015

Founded in 1825, today Domaine Faiveley combines the principles of modern winemaking methods with the time-honored traditions of France's noble Burgundy region. Domaine Faiveley owns a single 5.06 acre parcel of the total 25 acre Les Cazatiers vineyard. The vineyard is located high on the hillside in the northern part of the appellation bordering the equally famous 1er Cru of Clos St-Jacques. Exposure is due east with soils made up primarily of white marl (clay) and limestone gravel. They only produce about 1200 six packs of this great wine in any given vintage.

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$149.99 $134.99

Best Buys

Château-Roc-de-Minvielle Bordeaux 2015

Château-Roc-de-Minvielle Bordeaux 2015

Growing grapes since before the French Revolution, this estate has been owned by the Gadras family since the 1800’s. Today it is Pierre Gadras taking care of the vines, thinning leaves for maximum sunshine on the grapes and pruning back for fruit concentration. Planted to mostly Merlot with Cabernet Franc, this is exactly what we look for in a lovely petit château Bordeaux. Look for ripe, plump aromas of blueberry, cassis, licorice, plum and bing cherry. Fresh and alluring, this exudes grace versus power and has wonderful flesh and charm.

$13.99 $12.59

Castello di Monsanto Monrosso Toscana 2016

Castello di Monsanto Monrosso Toscana 2016

This is an extraordinary value for an estate-bottled Super Tuscan with a very high pedigree. Aldo Bianchi, a native of San Gimignano, left Tuscany before the Second World War to seek fortune in the North of Italy. In 1960, he came back to the area for a wedding and was enchanted by the view from the terrace of Castello di Monsanto. It was love at first sight which made him buy the property within a few months. But if Aldo was bewitched by the landscape, Fabrizio, his son, immediately fell in love with the wines he found in the cellar. Thanks to a passion for wine handed down to him by his grandmother, who came from Piedmont, and to an innate entrepreneurial spirit, Fabrizio, together with the untiring help of his wife Giuliana, started to plant new vineyards and convert the numerous farmhouses. In 1989, Laura, Fabrizio’s daughter, started to work in the company and gradually learned the land, the people who worked it and her father, the marvels and difficulties of the natural evolutive process which transforms grapes into wine. This is a red Tuscan blend of Sangiovese, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon

$15.99 $14.39

Julia James Pinot Noir 2017

Julia James Pinot Noir 2017

Sourced from a few of California’s best Pinot Noir regions: Russian River, Santa Lucia Highlands and Monterey, Julia James is crafted by a veteran winemaker using sustainable farming methods in the vineyards. ‘How is it possible to make a California Pinot this good at this price? This baby looks like a Pinot, smells like a Pinot and tastes like a Pinot – there’s bright acidity fresh cherries, darker fruits, a light footprint and no oak overkill. My guess in a blind tasting would be that this is a $40 Willamette or Anderson Valley Pinot.’ forbes.com ‘20 best reds under $20’

$13.99 $12.59

Château-Siaurac Lalande de Pomerol 2015

Château-Siaurac Lalande de Pomerol 2015

Our family has had a long-time love affair with Ch â teau Siaurac in Lalande-de-Pomerol. The estate has been producing beautiful wines for 200 years, in the 'satellite' appellation of Lalande-de-Pomerol. Long associated and marketed with Château Pétrus in Pomerol, we always considered Siaurac such an incredible value for an authentic, velvety, delicious red Bordeaux. As a 'satellite' of the esteemed Pomerol area, Lalande-de-Pomerol has a similar climate and similar soils to its famous, luxurious neighbor. The owners of Siaurac are oriented toward quality, not quantity, and strive to express the unique typicity of the soils and climate (which we call the terroir ) . The Ch â teau has also been certified organic since January 2009. The average age of the vineyard is between 25 and 30 years. Today, Siaurac is owned by the owner of Château Latour, Francois Pinault and the Artemis group. It i s therefore made by an exceptional, world class team : the technical director from Chateau Latour, Penelope Godefroy, has worked with Jean-Claude Berrouet, the winemaker at Pétrus for 40 years. The 2015 Siaurac is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. It tastes rich, velvety and pure with notes of cherry, mocha, licorice and rose petals. We have enjoyed many bottles at home over the last 25 years of this under-the-radar, classic Bordeaux red. Pair with filet mignon, lamb chops, roasted pork, Comté Gruyere cheese, Petit Basque sheep's milk cheese, meat pâté and/or cured meats.

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$27.99 $25.19

Melville Estate Pinot Noir 2015

Melville Estate Pinot Noir 2015

Owned by father and son Ron and Chad Melville, Melville is an estate driven winery, which focuses upon Burgundy and Northern Rhone style wines. Located in the heart of Santa Rita Hills, in Santa Barbara County, the estate has 85 acres planted to vineyards. Winemaker Greg Brewer makes Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Viognier for the family. After having owned vineyards in Napa, Ron Melville came to Santa Rita and never looked back. Calculated composting, complex cover cropping practice and deficit irrigation, matched with a tremendous amount of crop reduction and canopy management are the critical components to Melville’s strength as wine growers. This is 100% Melville fruit from Melville's Sta. Rita Hills estate, and is a collection of 16 pinot noir clones. 40% of the fruit was fermented as whole-clusters with 60% gently de-stemmed in small (1.5 ton) open-top fermenters. Total skin and stem contact averaged 30 days (7 day cold soak, 2 + weeks of fermentation and 1 + week extended maceration). From the press, the wine was transferred directly into neutral barrel (old French oak), where it remained sur lie without sulfur until June, when it was gently racked for the first time and prepared for bottling in August. Yields were 3.6 lbs/vine (3.3 tons/acre).

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~~$39.99~~$29.99

Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

The Raymond family arrived in Napa Valley in 1933 and became connected to the Beringer family via marriage in 1936. Roy worked as winemaker for Beringer from 1933-1970, when in 1970, he and his two sons set out on their own with the 90-acre estate property in Rutherford where the winery is located. They released their first commercial wine under the Raymond Vineyards label in 1974 and never looked back. Today, the Raymond winery is owned by Boisset Family Estates. Jean-Charles Boisset serves as president of Boisset, one of the world’s leading family-owned wine companies, with wineries in Burgundy, Beaujolais, the Rhone Valley, the South of France, and expertise in French sparkling wines. Boisset’s August 2009 purchase of Raymond Vineyards expanded the company’s footprint in the New World, which already included properties in Canada and California’s Russian River Valley, making it one of the top twenty-five producers in the US.

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~~$49.99~~$39.99

Marques de Murrieta Rioja Reserva 2014

Marques de Murrieta Rioja Reserva 2014

Tasted and loved by our staff, Marques de Murrieta has a long, meaningful history at the Bottle Shop. When we were first learning about wines, it was very important to our dad for us to know the best, most classic wines of every great winemaking region in the world. In Spain, Marques de Murrieta was at the top of his list. We had the opportunity to taste old wines from Murrieta from vintages such as 1968 and 1959 with him while we were still in the infancy of our wine training. The estate is very much a traditional estate in style. While rich and deep in flavor, the fruit is multi-layered but not 'New World jammy'. Red and black fruits, cedar, leather, hints of spices, even hints of tar are revealed. We would pair this with Spanish-inspired cuisine, especially pork or lamb dishes. WINE ADVOCATE reports: 'Yes, this is one of the oldest wineries in Rioja, created back in the 19th century, and they keep their traditions, but now but each wine is selected from specific plots, something that they have done since the year 2000, a year that marked a big change in the winery. I feel more balance and better integration of the oak with the wine in recent vintages. I really liked the wines I tasted and was very excited to be shown a tank sample of the 1986 Castillo de Ygay Gran Reserva Blanco. Yes, you have read it correctly, it was a tank sample which is waiting to be bottled after almost 21 years in wood and 6 years in tank that will be released sometime in the future. I simply loved it.'

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~~$29.99~~$23.99

Montes Classic Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Montes Classic Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

This Cabernet has been a huge success at the Bottle Shop. Made of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot, this was aged for 6 months in French oak, and has good body with cassis, black cherry, mint and spice complexities. Made from grapes grown in Chile's Colchagua Valley, which has become famous for good Cabernet's, this is one of the greatest value in Cabernet in the market. Winemaker/Owner Aurelio Montes was named "Winemaker of the Year" by Wine Spectator in the years 2002 and 2006. Montes and his partners run a great, quality-driven operation in both Chile and in Argentina at Kaiken.

$11.99 $10.79

Hess Allomi Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Hess Allomi Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

The Allomi vineyard lies in the gently rolling hills of northeastern Napa Valley, where the combination of long, warm growing seasons with well-drained soils create the optimal ripening conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon. The 210-acre vineyard is sustainably farmed and grows 35 unique growing blocks with six different Cabernet clones. In 1978 Donald Hess arrived on Mount Veeder , acquiring his first land on Mount Veeder. Although he purchased 900 acres to develop vineyards, he set aside 600 acres as undeveloped land to support wildlife corridors, fish friendly farming practices and biodiversity. He believed that vineyard development begins with the direction to “nurture the land and return what you take.” Fast forward to 2008, and the Hess Collection was among the first ten wineries to receive certification as a Napa Green Winery. “Earthy flavors enhance the fruit flavors in this wine, especially with foods such as herb roasted chicken, grilled pork, caramelized onions, eggplant, sautéed greens, roasted potatoes or vegetables and aged Jack and Gouda cheese.” – Chad Hendrickson, Executive Chef at Hess

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$29.99 $26.99

Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

In 1971 Charlie and Lorna Wagner asked their young son Chuck if he would be interested in joining them in starting up a winery and he leapt at the opportunity. They produced their first vintage in 1972, consisting of 240 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon and they continue to focus their efforts on top quality Cabernet Sauvignon to this day. Caymus Vineyards remains 100% family-owned by the Wagners. Charlie, Lorna Belle, and Chuck worked together as a remarkable team for over 30 years building Caymus Cabernet. Today, Chuck, his two sons, Charlie and Joe, and one daughter, Jenny, have joined the family team. Farming grapes remain the priority with the family farming about 350 acres of prime Napa Valley land. The Wagners took the name Caymus from the Mexican land grant known as Rancho Caymus, given to George Yount in 1836, which encompassed what eventually became the town of Rutherford and much of the surrounding area. Caymus Vineyards produces two Cabernets Sauvignons - a "Napa Valley" and the venerable "Special Selection". Both Cabernet bottlings have aromas and flavors which can only be achieved through "hang time" - a technique which chances the loss of crop if early winter sets in. Leaving the fruit to "hang" on the vine unusually long develops suppleness, increases color, and matures the tannins of the grapes. The wines are abundant in textural tannins yet soft as velvet. Crop thinning, allowing measured sunlight to reach the vine's fruit zone, and waiting for increased ripeness are all part of our viticultural practices. Caymus Cabernets offer a wide array of aromas and flavors including cocoa, cassis and vanilla.

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~~$124.99~~$99.99

Our Favorite Picks

Lucien Albrecht Cremant d'Alsace Brut Rosé

Lucien Albrecht Cremant d'Alsace Brut Rosé

Made of 100% Pinot Noir using the classic methode champenoise , this has strawberry red raspberry and vanilla suggestions that are enhanced by the wine's wonderful ripeness and freshness, with saline and toast notes on the creamy, lush finish. The history of the Albrecht family as winegrowers can be traced back to 1425 with Romanu Albrecht, who lived in the town of Thann in the Haut-Rhin department of Alsace. During this time in the fifteenth century, Alsace experience a golden era. The Winegrowers Guild of Alsace was founded and each year, the most deserving wine grower was elected by the guild as Bangard, a highly respected position. Between 1520 and 1698, it was held by 8 generations of Albrecht's. Domaine Albrecht experienced a major development under the guidance of Lucien Albrecht, the father of Jean, to become one of the most important in Alsace with holdings in 9 villages surrounding Orschwihr. In 1972 Lucien Albrecht was also a pioneer of Cremant d'Alsace. Today the Cremant is one of the house's specialties. The cellar dates back to 1772 and houses large oak barrels, some of which are over 100 years of age…

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$19.99 $18.99

Domaine Dominique Gruhier Bourgogne Blanc 2016

Domaine Dominique Gruhier Bourgogne Blanc 2016

The village of Epineuil is located just northeast of Chablis, sharing the same Kimmeridgian soils. Bourgogne Epineuil is the regional AOC, created in 1993, for the reds which are 100% Pinot Noir. For the whites, the wines are labelled either as a simple Bourgogne like this one, as Bourgogne Tonnerre, the regional AOC for whites made of 100% Chardonnay, for an area that includes six villages: Epineuil, Dannemoine, Junay, Molosmes, Tonnerre and Vézinnes. The AOC was created in 2006, prior to that the whites were also part of the Bourgogne Epineuil AOC. We tasted and positively adored this Bourgogne Blanc, made only a stone's throw from Chablis. Fresh, clean, crisp and juicy, the minerals from the soils mingle perfectly with citrus, apricot, wflowers and hints of vanilla. Dominique Gruhier hasn't had it easy, getting his domaine to this point. Throughout his many troubles which included frozen vineyards, fires and lawsuits, he remained one of the warmest, most charming, welcoming, well-mannered, and smiling men in Burgundy. As his domaine and his relatively obscure appellation began to attract more customers, he has been able to make the investments and changes that were necessary to let his talent shine. What beautiful wines have emerged!

$29.99 $26.99

Chateau Prieure-Lichine Margaux 2016

Chateau Prieure-Lichine Margaux 2016

The history of Châteaux Prieure Lichine is long and interesting. It started out as a priory for Benedictine monks. The monks produced Bordeaux wine for dinner and various religious ceremonies. Like many estates during the French Revolution, Prieure Lichine was seized, split up and sold at auction. In 1789 parts of Prieure Lichine were bought by numerous surrounding Châteaux in the Margaux appellation. Since that time, the vineyard has sold wine under several different names including La Prieure and Prieure-Cantenac. By the time the noted author and merchant Alexis Lichine arrived in the Medoc to buy Château Prieure, the vineyard was down to only 11 planted hectares. Because the estate was no longer in the best condition, Château Prieure-Lichine was sold for a song. Rumors are, the estate was bought for the ridiculous sum of only 8,000 British Pounds! In 1951, Alexis Lichine put together a group to purchase the chateau along with several other chateaux in Margaux at the time, including Château Lascombes.After the estate was purchased, it was renamed Château Prieure Lichine, to honor the previous name and history of the property they retained the first part of the name, Prieure, and next they added the last name of the new owner. Thus Château Prieure Lichine was born.

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~~$59.99~~$49.99

Francois Baur Sang du Dragon Pinot Noir 2015

Francois Baur Sang du Dragon Pinot Noir 2015

This Pinot Noir from the Alsace region is an absolute beauty and a wonderful example from northern France. With its perfumed aromas of red and black fruits, mocha, vanilla, forest and stones., Sang du Dragon Pinot is smooth, silky and pure, with a perfect balance of fruit, acidity and gentle tannin. Pair at home with salmon in dried cherry sauce, roasted chicken or fine cheeses and charcuterie. Continuous vine growing in Alsace dates back to Roman times; viticulture in the Brand area was recorded in 1328 from documents of Paris and the abbeys of Munster. Red wines have been traditionally rare in Alsace because of the region's cool growing season and northerly location, but today we are seeing more and more reds produced with changing climates and organic winemaking methods. The name for this Pinot, 'Sang du Dragon' comes from an old legend...when the valley of the Rhine was still underwater, a dragon emerged from the waves to rest on the protruding Brand hilltop. The sun was too fierce, however, and its rays eventually pierced the dragon's scales, drawing blood. Gravely wounded, the dragon dragged itself to a cave where it then died. Many centuries later, wine growers came to plant vines in this area. Still fertile with the dragon's blood, legend has it that the vines even today produce a wine of fire. Today, Baur's wines carry the dragon's image. In an email we received from Virginie Baur, she told us : "Sang du Dragon means dragon's blood. There is a legend that a dragon was slain in this vineyard (the Brand vineyard), and the blood of the dragon made the vines strong. 'Brand' means "land of fire" in German and is a Grand Cru Vineyard but only Muscat, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Riesling can have the Grand Cru Appellation according to the AC laws, so we named the wine 'Sang du Dragon'." The story is fun for sure, but the wine itself is amazing. We drink it at home often, it is a wonderfully terroir -driven treat! Over the past several years, Baur has converted his vineyards to fully biodynamic production--a totally natural approach to the cultivation of vines that makes every attempt to respect the plants, the soil and the environment. No weed killers or insecticides are used; instead, certain types of grasses are encouraged to grow between the vines which actually strengthen the soil. To provide aeration, the earth is plowed manually a few times a year. Only natural products are used on the leaves of the vine itself: Work is scheduled according to the phases of the moon, often at night while the vines are resting and not fatigued by the sun. Studying in the same biodynamics class as Jean-Michel Deiss, one notes the fervor with which Pierre Baur (Virginie's father) now addresses his work; it has become a religion to him and, he trusts nature explicitly in his vineyards.

$39.99 $35.99

Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Rosso di Montalcino 2016

Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Rosso di Montalcino 2016

Ciacci Piccolmini is one of the most sought-after producers in Montalcino. This ancient estate has 35 hectares of superior holdings in the prized Castelnuovo dell'Abate zone, including the 'Pianrosso' vineyard (from which the best grapes are selected for the Brunello di Montalcino) and the 'Fonte' vineyard, which produces grapes for the Rosso di Montalcino. This Rosso is made of 100% Sangiovese Grosso, with bright and rich red fruit, earth, dried citrus zest and gentle spices. The vineyard is organically farmed and the wine is fermented in stainless steel and concrete vats before being transferred to large Slovenian oak where it rests for 12 months. Only 1000 cases are typically produced in each vintage.

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$22.99 $20.69

Château-Siaurac Lalande de Pomerol 2015

Château-Siaurac Lalande de Pomerol 2015

Our family has had a long-time love affair with Ch â teau Siaurac in Lalande-de-Pomerol. The estate has been producing beautiful wines for 200 years, in the 'satellite' appellation of Lalande-de-Pomerol. Long associated and marketed with Château Pétrus in Pomerol, we always considered Siaurac such an incredible value for an authentic, velvety, delicious red Bordeaux. As a 'satellite' of the esteemed Pomerol area, Lalande-de-Pomerol has a similar climate and similar soils to its famous, luxurious neighbor. The owners of Siaurac are oriented toward quality, not quantity, and strive to express the unique typicity of the soils and climate (which we call the terroir ) . The Ch â teau has also been certified organic since January 2009. The average age of the vineyard is between 25 and 30 years. Today, Siaurac is owned by the owner of Château Latour, Francois Pinault and the Artemis group. It i s therefore made by an exceptional, world class team : the technical director from Chateau Latour, Penelope Godefroy, has worked with Jean-Claude Berrouet, the winemaker at Pétrus for 40 years. The 2015 Siaurac is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. It tastes rich, velvety and pure with notes of cherry, mocha, licorice and rose petals. We have enjoyed many bottles at home over the last 25 years of this under-the-radar, classic Bordeaux red. Pair with filet mignon, lamb chops, roasted pork, Comté Gruyere cheese, Petit Basque sheep's milk cheese, meat pâté and/or cured meats.

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$27.99 $25.19

Robert Moncuit Grand Cru Brut Champagne

Robert Moncuit Grand Cru Brut Champagne

A family-run estate with organic vineyards, Champagne Robert Moncuit has a five generation history. Alex Moncuit started the vineyard in 1889, and in 1928 his grandson Robert created his first cuvée and Champagne Robert Moncuit was born. Robert continued to produce this exceptional Champagne until his death in 1987. His daughter Francoise took over the estate, and her son Pierre has been winemaker since 2000. Until 2000 all the wine was sold in France. The estate has 8 hectares under vine in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger which is the same renowned village where Krug's famous 'Clos du Mesnil' vineyard designate is made, and the Le Mesnil-sur-Oger is where the Salon family first realized and then convinced the world that this area was beautifully suited for Champagne made from 100% Chardonnay. The Moncuit family produces all 'Blanc de Blancs' Champagne, meaning 100% Chardonnay. Their vines are tended without the use of pesticides and herbicides. The fruit is hand-harvested and sorted, with each parcel vinified separately to optimize the outcome of blending. All of the wines are fermented and raised in tank, the goal being contact with the lees. The malos happen naturally, they don't filter or chapitalize. The base wine for this Brut is 2010 with about 20% reserve from 2009. Approximately 30% of the cuvée is aged in oak. This is the only wine in his range that sees any oak so as not to mask the beautiful chalkiness of the Mesnil soils. Made with 8g dosage.

$49.99 $47.49

Domaine Drouhin Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2015

Domaine Drouhin Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2015

Domaine Drouhin Oregon is a long-time favorite wine estate of the Murray family. We met winemaker Véronique Drouhin-Boss when she first embarked upon her Oregon winemaking adventure in the early 1990's and was releasing her first vintages of 1988, 1989 and 1990. Visiting Oregon wine country was a revelation back then, and the Drouhin family's positive influence on the Willamette Valley is legendary. Véronique Drouhin-Boss always seeks to capture the essence of what nature has provided in the estate's vineyards each year, rather than trying to dictate a particular style. The wines at Domaine Drouhin are hallmarked by elegance, finesse, purity, and the capacity to improve gracefully with age. Domaine Drouhin Oregon uses approximately 20% new oak for their Pinot Noirs, which allows the character of the wine and vintage to show through. Barrels are custom made in Burgundy, using oak from France's best forests. The goal is to produce Pinot Noirs with balance, elegance and finesse. Domaine Drouhin is home to 90 acres of hillside vineyards in the heart of Oregon's Red Hills of the Willamette Valley, producing stunning Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays that are noted internationally for their pure expression of fruit, superior balance, silky texture, and classical elegance. The 90 acres of hillside vineyards that ribbon the 225-acre estate are at the very heart of Domaine Drouhin wines. Situated atop the Dundee Hills, between 400 and 800 feet in elevation, the site was selected for its remarkable similarity in climate, latitude and aspect to the legendary vineyards of Burgundy. ' Domaine Drouhin remains one of the standards against which other Oregon Pinot Noirs must be measured.' - The Wine Advocate

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$49.99 $44.99

Melville Estate Pinot Noir 2015

Melville Estate Pinot Noir 2015

Owned by father and son Ron and Chad Melville, Melville is an estate driven winery, which focuses upon Burgundy and Northern Rhone style wines. Located in the heart of Santa Rita Hills, in Santa Barbara County, the estate has 85 acres planted to vineyards. Winemaker Greg Brewer makes Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Viognier for the family. After having owned vineyards in Napa, Ron Melville came to Santa Rita and never looked back. Calculated composting, complex cover cropping practice and deficit irrigation, matched with a tremendous amount of crop reduction and canopy management are the critical components to Melville’s strength as wine growers. This is 100% Melville fruit from Melville's Sta. Rita Hills estate, and is a collection of 16 pinot noir clones. 40% of the fruit was fermented as whole-clusters with 60% gently de-stemmed in small (1.5 ton) open-top fermenters. Total skin and stem contact averaged 30 days (7 day cold soak, 2 + weeks of fermentation and 1 + week extended maceration). From the press, the wine was transferred directly into neutral barrel (old French oak), where it remained sur lie without sulfur until June, when it was gently racked for the first time and prepared for bottling in August. Yields were 3.6 lbs/vine (3.3 tons/acre).

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~~$39.99~~$29.99

Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Loveblock is the project of husband and wife team, Kim and Erica Crawford. After selling their enormously popular brand Kim Crawford, they forged ahead with this organic vineyard in Marlborough, believing deeply in embracing a natural life and protecting the environment. Kim is the winemaker and has fashioned a deliciously pure and balanced Sauvignon with white peach, fig and herb notes in the nose and mouth. This will pair particularly well with sushi and sashimi, lemon grass-accented Asian fare, green salads and crispy asparagus dishes.

$22.99 $20.69

Sottimano Barbera d'Alba Pairolero 2016

Sottimano Barbera d'Alba Pairolero 2016

This is an exceptional Barbera from the Sottimano family who is well-known for high quality Barbaresco wines. While Nebbiolo may be 'king' in Piedmont (Nebbiolo is the grape used in Barbaresco and Barolo), the other two main red grapes of the region, Dolcetto and Barbera, are becoming more exciting due to the commitment of high quality growers such as Sottimano, Sandrone and Clerico. The 'Pairolero' Barbera is a blend of two different vineyards of Barbera in Neive; Curra' and Basarin. Winemaker Andrea Sottimano uses only natural, indigenous yeasts in the winemaking and the malolactic fermentation is completed in French barrels, where the wine remains for approximately 15-16 months. 25% of the barrels used for aging are new, the remaining 75% have previously been used for up to 4 times. There is no filtering and no fining prior to bottling. Barbera has become one of our favorite 'everyday' reds with a full range of foods. Serve with white meats, light red meat dishes, bright tomato-based sauces, cheeses, olives, cured meats and more.

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$24.99 $22.49