Selections from "The Artist's Great Estates Collection, Part II" and "The Tech Coast Collection, Part V:"
Roccolo Grassi Soave La Broia 2011 "The 2011 Soave Vigneto La Broia is gorgeous. Slate, peach, apricot and spice notes flesh out in a generous, soft Soave to drink now and over the next 2-3 years. A generous, caressing white, the 2011 shows the more voluptuous side of Soave and Garganega. This is an exceptional and totally delicious wine from proprietor Marco Sartori." 90 | Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Rapet Bourgogne Rouge En Bully 2002 ". . . grown at an altitude of 350 meters on the slope facing Les Hautes-Côtes on the locality named La Grande Corvée de Bully. The soil here is marly with a shallow top-layer. Bully was an ancient property, no longer existing, which at the time belonged to Abbaye de Maizières . . . . Ageing takes place in barrels of which 20% are new. Racking by the means of a bellow eliminates the need for a pump." Domaine Rapet Père & Fils
Germain / Domaine du Château de Chorey Bourgogne Château Germain Vieilles Vignes 1999 This lovely, masculine-styled Bourgogne emanates from very low-yielding 80-year-old vines that abut the Château.
Domaine de Fontbonau Côtes du Rhône 2010 "Medium garnet-purple colored, the nose is of warm berries, black cherry compote and dried Provence herb aromas with hints of cumin seed, cardamom and violets. Full, opulent and seductive on the palate, it is superbly structured with a nice acid backbone and a medium to firm level of very finely grained tannins, finishing long and spicy. Delicious now, it should develop beautifully to 2020+." 90 | Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Advocate
Domaine Boisson Côtes du Rhône-Villages Massif d'Uchaux Clos de la Brussière 2009 "Even better is the 2009 Clos de la Brussière from the Massif d’Uchaux, the newest Côtes du Rhône-Villages appellation. A dark ruby/purple color is followed by deliciously ripe fruit in this seriously stacked and packed effort. Revealing lots of kirsch liqueur, loamy soil, garrigue and lavender notes, this full-bodied, richly fruity, pure, well-balanced 2009 should drink well . . ." 91 | Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
Domaine de Fontbonau Côtes du Rhône 2009 "Medium garnet in color, this 2009 has fragrant aromas of kirsch, mulberries, spice cake, Indian spices and black pepper with hints of earth, iron ore and lavender. Very full, rich and concentrated, it presents medium to firm velvety tannins to support the voluptuous fruit and enough acid to lend balance and lift to the long finish. Still youthful, it should age a further 7-10 years+." 91+ | Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Advocate
Domaine du Vieux Chêne Côtes du Rhône Villages Cuvée Beatrice 2007 100% organically-grown Syrah. The vineyards that supply the Cuvée Béatrice are located in Sérignan at the foot of the Massif d'Uchaux. The vines are planted on sloping clay and sand soils on the Aigues terraces. The wine is vinified in both stainless steel and in concrete, and it is aged 12 months in neutral, 3-year-old oak.
Domaine du Vieux Chêne Côtes du Rhône Villages Cuvée des Seigneurs 2007 The Cuvée des Seigneurs comes from a warm, windswept area called the 'Piécaud' on the Plan de Dieu plateau in Camaret-sur-Aigues and is composed of equal parts organically-farmed Grenache and Syrah. These vines grow in soils composed of limestone, large river stones, and red clay. The wine is vinified in stainless steel.
Château Gigault Cuvée Viva 2005 "Ripe cherry and berry, with a mélange of fresh herbs, olive and a hint of coffee and chocolate on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied, intense and silky, with loads of fruit pushing through the long finish. Delicious even now. This is always excellent value." 91 | James Suckling, Wine Spectator
Domaine les Goubert Gigondas 2003 "For many decades, this estate owned by Jean-Pierre Cartier has been a reference point for high quality Gigondas. Cartier was among the first producers to experiment with small barrels (for his Cuvée Florence), and he appears to have gotten the equation of oak and the wonderful fruit produced in the southern Rhône correct." Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
Château La Fleur Jonquet 2002 This very small, family-owned Château is located in the commune of Arbanats near the banks of the Garonne river. The soils boast a high proportion of gravelly river rock and clay, an ideal composition for the high proportion of Merlot planted here. The vineyard also features some of the oldest vines in Graves: vines range 40-80 years in age.
Domaines Pochon Château Curson Crozes-Hermitage 2001 100% Syrah. Proprietor Etienne Pochon has farmed his vineyards organically since he left the cooperative Cave de Tain l'Hermitage over 25 years ago. Pochon employs 100% destemming and cask aging for his bolder Château Curson wines.
Marc Sorrel Crozes-Hermitage 2001 ". . . One of the finest examples he has made . . . . The 2001 Crozes-Hermitage exhibits sweet red currant and cherry fruit, good acidity and freshness, and considerable aromatic dimensions. It is a solidly built, deep example."
Domaine du Vieux Chêne Côtes du Rhône Villages Cuvée Beatrice 2001
100% organically-grown Syrah. The vineyards that supply the Cuvée Béatrice are located in Sérignan at the foot of the Massif d'Uchaux. The vines are planted on sloping clay and sand soils on the Aigues terraces. The wine is vinified in both stainless steel and in concrete, and it is aged 12 months in neutral, 3-year-old oak.
Domaine du Vieux Chêne Côtes du Rhône Cuvée de la Haie aux Grives 2000 This cuvée is the product of (sélection massale) old-vine Grenache and old-vine Syrah planted in stony, red soils in the Piécaud of Camaret-sur-Aigues. As with Vieux Chêne’s other wines, the Cuvée de la Haie aux Grives is organically farmed, carefully sorted, and naturally fermented.
Château Lafleur Grangeneuve 1998 Situated on the second terrace below the Pomerol plateau, just northwest of Château Trotanoy, Lafleur Grangeneuve boasts very old vines (with plantings dating back to 1955) planted in sand, gravel, and ironstone. The wine is typically composed of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc.
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