Pre Arrival April 2022
OFFER CLOSED 22 APRIL 2022
ESTIMATED DELIVERY DATE JULY 2022
Pre Arrival Offer April 2022 (View Landed Wines)
Producers included in this offer:
- Champagne Cazé Thibaut (Châtillon sur Marne)
- Champagne Bolieu (Bussuet)
- Domaine Alain Chavy, Puligny Montrachet, Burgundy
- Domaine Amiot et Fils, Morey St Denis, Burgundy
- Santini, Auxey Duresses, Burgundy
- Vin Noé, St Aubin, Burgundy
Introduction
When it rains it pours! We are having a run of full-to-the-brim Pre Arrival Offers.
Let's break this offer into three: the first chapter, Champagne! We receive our third release from the Selosse disciple Fabien Cazé of Champagne Cazé Thibaut, and a new producer for us from the satellite terroir of Bussuet, Champagne Bolieu (a tip from Karine of Champagne Guiborat).
The second chapter, grands vins de Bourgogne. Including a couple of FWC staples: the 2019 release from Puligny Montrachet producer Domaine Alain Chavy, and new releases from Pierre Amiot under the guise of Domaine Amiot as we will know them going forward.
We stay in Burgundy for the third chapter but with a twist, our two original minimal intervention producers, Santini and Vin Noé. While they used to both be based in Auxey-Duresses, Jon Purcell of Vin Noé has moved to the cellars of now-retired producer JJ Morel in St Aubin. Chris Santini remains in Auxey Duresses. Both are making delicious wines as always.
Any questions at all, please reach out. Cheers,
Jono
Champagne Cazé Thibaut, Châtillon sur Marne
Fabien Cazé carved out a little under three hectares of vineyards from his family’s holdings to create his own domaine. These are the first wines I have tasted, and they are promising. Organic viticulture and a minimalist style yield Champagnes of notable transparency. All of the wines are aged in neutral oak and bottled with minimal dosage. One of the unique aspects of Champagne is the very long time required to take a wine from harvest to market. These wines are all based on the 2018, 2017 and 2016 vintages. My impression is that future releases will be even more compelling. Fabien Cazé is a name to watch. - Antonio Galloni, vinous.com
2019 Naturellement RRP $126
Terroir: Vallée de la Marne, Rive droite, Châtillon sur Marne Reuil
Assemblage: 100% Pinot Meunier
Vinification: Barrel. No filtration, no fining. Natural cold stabilisation.
Sulfitage: 0.30 in total
As always, there is a welcoming, vinous wildness about the nose. There is a quince, baked apple, cinnamon and spice character with an underlying salinity. The palate is fine yet wild and moreish. More saline than previous years. Lovely. - Jono Hersey, FWC
2018 Jossias Rosé RRP $182
Terroir: Vallée de la Marne, Rive droite, Vandières
Assemblage: Pinot Noir 100 %
Vinification: Barrel. No filtration, no fining. Natural cold stabilisation. Blended rosé 14% red hillside from the same plot, harvested 15 days later.
Organic.
Filled with raspberry and unripe strawberry, rose, a confusingly beautiful and pleasing nose with an array of fruits and florals. The palate is filled with raspberry, orange, grapefruit all with a squeeze of lime juice. Mineral and layered. - Jono Hersey, FWC
2017 Les Chemin des Plants RRP $180
Terroir: Vallée de la Marne, Rive droite, Vandières. South facing.
Assemblage: 100% Chardonnay
Vinification: Barrel. No filtration, no fining. Natural cold stabilisation.
Organic.
"These are all the Chardonnays from the estate, namely Les Fourches (Vandières) and Mont Bernard (Reuil) assembled because in the spring of 2017 we had late frost (May 5). The Chemin des Plants is a mid-slope vineyard road that winds between these plots of the right bank of the Marne Valley from these two neighboring villages." - Fabien Cazé
2017 Les Leriens RRP $210
Terroir: Vallée de la Marne, Rive droite, Châtillon sur Marne. East facing.
Assemblage: Chardonnay 45%, Pinot Meunier 45%, Pinot Noir 10% sélection massale.
Vinification: Barrel. No filtration, no fining. Natural cold stabilisation.
Organic.
The most subdued and harmonious. There is a big squeeze of detailed lime juice over boiled apple and pear. A particular briochey softness also. The palate is so, so, so vibrant. Salty, structured and long. Very fine mousse. - Jono Hersey, FWC
2016 Millesime RRP $185
Terroir: Vallée de la Marne, Rive droite, Châtillon sur Marne
Assemblage: Pinot Meunier 100%
Vinification: Barrel. No filtration, no fining. Natural cold stabilisation.
Organic.
Champagne Bolieu, Bussuet
Third generation winemakers Laurence and Charles Bafford took over the domaine in 1998 and have grown the vineyard holding to 6.5 hectares situated around Bussuet on the slopes of Vitry. The satellite Champagne region has soil with an unusually high percentage of chalk. The domaine is 100% organic. Delicious wines that truly do portray a unique expression of Chardonnay.
NV Pepin de Vigne Extra Brut (70 CH, 30 PM) RRP $104
The nose is full yet fresh and precise. Ripe green apple, apple skin, lemon rind and lovely florals. A very harmonious and vibrant nose without being aggressive. The palate has drive yet is approachable. Lovely energy and structure in the form of ripe orchard fruit skin and pith. - Jono Hersey, FWC
NV Fleur de Craie Blanc de Blancs Brut RRP $114
Preserved lemon, bruised preserved lemon, lemon sherbert, white florals, nuance of croissant and brioche. The palate is very energetic, mineral and vibrant. Lemon, lime acid, lemon pith, chalk, wet stone, slight cut grass and lemon soursob. Very long and pithy. - Jono Hersey, FWC
2013 Carnet de Leone Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut RRP $180
Slight reduction, baby sick, pound pear skin, ripe apple skin, quite restrained. The palate is so structured, mineral and phenolicly-built. Such presence and stature. Still fine. So grippy. So much dried extract. Akin to drinking Chablis Grand Cru Le Preuses, maybe even more mineral! - Jono Hersey, FWC
2008 L'instant B Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut RRP $230
A nose of bruised preserved lemon, cumquat, custard apple, brioche, a little baby sick, cinnamon, cloves. A little tertiary character just beginning to build. A little saline tension. The palate is fresh and straight with a very fine wet rock and moss minerality with a slight lime pith grip. A little cumquat, slight decaying floral character with grapefruit skin. - Jono Hersey, FWC
Domaine Alain Chavy, Puligny Montrachet, Burgundy
Alain and his brother Jean-Louis took over their father's domaine in 1994 and continued to work together until 2003 when they parted ways.
Alain’s style can be explained relatively easily in a series of points: he is one of the first to pick in the village, does minimal to no batonnage, uses minimal new oak and ferments/matures in a cold underground cellar (the first in the village due to a high water table!). The results are precise wines with a lovely reduction that maintain true terroir expression all the while being very quenchable!
2019 Bourgogne Blanc RRP $62
One hectare from predominately within Puligny-Montrachet except for one parcel in Meursault.
Classic nashi pear, gunflint and tension. A nice amount of ripe pear skin. White florals. Brilliant volume and tension. Mineral and salivating. Exceptional Puligny character for a Bourgogne level wine. - Jono Hersey, FWC
The 2019 Bourgogne Chardonnay, which comes from vines within Puligny, raised in used wood, has a ripe and generous, light tropical nose. That follows through on the palate with light honeyed notes, quite spicy with tangy orange peel towards the finish. Fine. 84-86 points - Neal Martin, Vinous.com
2019 Puligny Montrachet RRP $203
Two hectares across various plots in Puligny-Montrachet planted between 1965 and 1974.
Restrained, tense with good dried extract. Lemon oil, lemon pith, ripe and dried pear skin akin to a real fruit Roll-Up. Really quite coiled up. The palate has weight yet is muted for a moment before showing brooding power and very nice length. Quite granular pear skin phenolics and vivid minerality. - Jono Hersey, FWC
The 2019 Puligny-Montrachet Village, raised in 25% new oak with one-third in large barrels, has a fragrant apple blossom and lemon thyme scented bouquet that is very intense for a village cru. The palate is well balanced with a crisp, mineral opening, fine tension with good weight on the concentrated finish. Drink over the next decade. 88-90 points - Neal Martin, Vinous.com
2019 Puligny Montrachet 'Les Charmes' RRP $228
0.45 hectare plot planted in 1988, 1991 and 1974. A brilliant village level vineyard that is the continuation of Meursault 1er Cru les Charmes, Alain’s parcel sits directly on the border.
More lift, more volume, more defined, more tension. Lovely density that is made up of savoury orchard fruit and dried orchard skin. The palate has beautiful energy but with another layer of poached apple and quince. Savoury nuances. Structured and mineral. - Jono Hersey, FWC
The 2019 Puligny-Montrachet Les Charmes has a fragrant bouquet with apricot, candle wax and light saffron aromas that are already very seductive. The palate is well balanced with good weight, though oddly I find a little more elegance on the Puligny Village comparing the two side-by-side. Hopefully it will gain a little more complexity once in bottle. 88-90 points - Neal Martin, Vinous.com
2019 St Aubin 1er Cru 'en Remilly' RRP $167
St Aubins premier vineyard, steep and stony. It has a beautiful view of Montrachet, Chevalier Montrachet and counterparts. Brilliant value due to the parcel size.
More floral, more high toned. More citrus, lemon juice, preserved lemon, grapefruit pith but with an underlying pear skin component. Finer minerality which is more angular but ever so salivating. A fine structured wine indeed. - Jono Hersey, FWC
The 2019 Saint-Aubin En Remilly 1er Cru was still quite primal on the nose when I tasted it, although it appears rather intense with oyster shell and limestone aromas. The palate is well balanced with lime and touches of lemon thyme on the entry and fine acidity, however there is a little warmth that blurs the edges on the finish. Fine. 88-90 points - Neal Martin, Vinous.com
2019 Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru 'Champs Gains' RRP $268
0.17 hectare plot planted in 1970. High on the hills above Les Folatieres, it is separated by a forest line. Relatively thin top soil at an altitude between 300 and 360 metres above sea level.
More of a lemon citrus spectrum; lemon drop, lemon juice. Grapefruit pith lift. Mountain herbs and a lick of sea spray. The palate shows a baked fruit spectrum with a big squeeze of lemon and lime juice over the top. Firm, long with a slightly round shape that still maintains drive. - Jono Hersey, FWC
The 2019 Puligny-Montrachet Champ Gain 1er Cru, matured in 25-30% new oak, has an impressive, well-defined mineral-driven bouquet that shows off the quality of this appellation. The palate is saline on the entry, fresh and vibrant and conveys plenty of energy. Maybe a little short compared to the Les Folatières, yet it is harmonious and appealing even at this early stage. 90-92 Points - Neal Martin, Vinous.com
2019 Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru 'Clavoillons' RRP $279
0.5 hectares planted in 1955. An infamous vineyard as it is one of the most accessible vineyards offered by Domaine Leflaive (who own the lion's share). Alain and his brother Jean-Louis own the rest. It sits below the steep vineyard of Les Folatieres, in between Les Perrieres and Les Pucelles. The resulting wines have a smokiness which needs to dissipate with time in bottle to then reveal more fruit and minerality.
Higher toned, markedly more mineral, pure and crystalline. Lovely dried florals lift from the glass. So energetic, high toned, mineral, pure, crystalline and long. Such a special sensation. Very, very good. - Jono Hersey, FWC
The 2019 Puligny-Montrachet Les Clavoillons 1er Cru is quite backward on the nose, yet opens to reveal attractive lime, citrus peel and crushed rock aromas, a touch of sea spray in the background. The palate is well balanced with a tang of orange zest on the entry, plenty of energy here with a charming, cohesive finish that conveys the precocity of the vintage without erasing the DNA of the terroir. The spicy aftertaste is an added bonus. 91-93 Points - Neal Martin, Vinous.com
2019 Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru 'Folatieres' RRP $309
1.3 hectares planted in 1982 and 1966. A vineyard favoured by those that adore airy, structured and skeletal White Burgundy. At a 15% gradient, erosion has created a terroir that sits on boney rocks and limestone with a wine to match.
Taut, lifted, very floral with a beautiful gunflint reduction. Showing clarity and purity. A little lemon oil on the nose is the only sign of puppy fat, the rest is pristine youth and quite skeletal. Energetic and showing all of its bones. Long, firm with razor blade minerality. Huge length with citrus oil lingering in the mouth for what seems like eternity. - Jono Hersey, FWC
The 2019 Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières 1er Cru has a cool as a cucumber nose, Zen-like, opening reluctantly to reveal scents of wet limestone, flint and a touch of chalk. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, harmonious and focused with orange zest towards the effervescent finish that lingers in the mouth. One of Chavy’s best offerings this year - excellent. 92-94 points - Neal Martin, Vinous.com
2019 Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru 'Pucelles' RRP $355
0.17 hectares planted in 1992. While we talk of premier crus Le Cailleret, Les Folatieres of Puligny and Les Perrieres of Meursault being the grandest for white on the Cote d’Or, almost everyone will after some thought come back to Les Pucelles as the grandest of them all. Located alongside Batard-Montrachet, Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet and below Le Cailleret at an altitude of between 230 and 250 meteres, with a gentle gradient of 5%. The vineyard experiences near perfect exposure with brilliant drainage.
Classic Pucelles, so incredibly closed, tight, subdued. The quality is obvious yet a genuine amount of time in the cellar will be needed to see this wine unravel. The palate is also subdued but it bursts through so aggressively a few seconds after. A wine for the long haul. - Jono Hersey, FWC
The 2019 Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles 1er Cru was more closed on the nose compared to Chavy’s other cuvées, although there appears to be plenty of energy coiled up inside. The palate is taut and crisp, quite powerful with some of the spiciness evident on the Clavaillons. Fans out nicely on the finish with a touch of orange zest on the aftertaste. Good potential. 90-92 Points - Neal Martin, Vinous.com
2019 Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru RRP $1467
From a 0.1 hectare plot planted in 1976. I have sung its praises before, but Chevalier-Montrachet while it doesn’t demand the price nor top position that Montrachet does, it delivers the ultimate white wine drinking experience. While not as long lived as Batard-Montrachet or Montrachet, it is ready far earlier. Lodged high between Montrachet and the woodland that crowns the hill, there is less top soil and a distinctly different fault line which introduces a much lighter, almost white, grey soil compared to the more iron rich red soil of Montrachet.
A tank sample at the time. Very hazy and hard to read but the length is mesmerizing. No tasting note for now. - Jono Hersey, FWC
The 2019 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru, an exchange with Jean-Michel Chartron, has a reserved bouquet with crushed rocks, touches of yellow plum and light Mirabelle aromas. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, vibrant on the entry, pretty even at this early stage with Clementine, blood orange and touches of ginger on the finish that fans out nicely. A seductive rather than intellectual Chevalier-Montrachet. 92-94 Points - Neal Martin, vinous.com
Domaine Amiot et Fils, Morey St. Denis, Burgundy
From this 2020 vintage onward, Pierre Amiot et Fils is now called Amiot et Fils, the bi-product of a split between Jean-Louis and Didier Amiot and it was in no way a hostile split. Jean-Louis wished to work closer with his son, Leon, who intends to work towards organic and with a lighter touch in the winery for Domaine Amiot et Fils.
I am sorry, but there are no tasting notes on these wines.
A word on the 2020 vintage from Chantal Amiot - "An early and sunny vintage which provides good ripeness and fine tannins. Juices are concentrated due to low yields. Wines are rich and complex. You can already enjoy these wines, knowing that there is great ageing capacity.”
2020 Aligoté RRP $63
We used to receive 1800 bottles of this cuvee but will receive just 90 bottles in this year's allocation!
2020 Coteaux Bourguignons RRP $63
I first tasted this wine by accident. The Amiot family used to reserve it for locals in the village as an affordable, everyday wine for workers. I have been asking for years and they have always politely declined saying the locals need it for their enjoyment. However with the split of the domaine and recent incredibly low yields, the wine has finally been commercialised!
2020 Bourgogne Rouge RRP $88
2020 Chambolle Musigny RRP $275
2020 Morey St Denis 1er Cru 'Aux Charmes' RRP $275
2020 Morey St Denis 1er Cru 'Les Millandes' RRP $275
2020 Morey St Denis 1er Cru 'Les Blanchards' RRP $275
2020 Morey St Denis 1er Cru 'Les Ruchots' RRP $312
2020 Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru 'Les Combottes' RRP $355
Santini, Auxey-Duresses, Burgundy
Before I elaborate, I would like to make one thing clear: even if the producer is the best bloke/blokette on Earth, we will not import their wines if they aren’t truly special. Chris Santini could be the greatest soul on this planet, I cannot stress how much respect I have for this person, but yes, his wines are truly special. They are wines for enjoyment, vin de soif at its truest.
Chris’ mother is American and his father is French, from Corsica. Chris moved to Burgundy in 2003 where he completed oenology studies. He always had a desire to work for Kermit Lynch even though his studies were not directly linked to such a business. Nevertheless, he periodically knocked on the office door and asked if there were any positions available and one day he was welcomed with a yes! In 2014 he made some Beaujolais with Christophe Pacalet and in the following years, moved production to Auxey Duresses and with the initial help of Tomoko and Guillaume Chantereves, he started to produce a little Burgundy. He leased an ancient winemaking facility that had never seen an enzyme or chemical and under his licence, he allowed friends to come and produce wine for themselves without payment, just an exchange for help when anyone needed it! He went one step further and leased the house above the cave and let anyone stay there also for free other than to get on the pans, if you can, to cook the team a stellar feed! Some very fun times have been had in that kitchen.
2020 Bourgogne Blanc RRP $96
Orchard fruit of pear, pear skin, lemon, preserved lemon, a little cucmber and cut grass. Very detailed nose with lots of 'wild’ interest. The palate has a little spritz, nice succulent lemon, apple skin, grapefruit juice and lemon juice. - Jono Hersey, FWC
2019 Macon Villages RRP $85
Cucumber, cut grass, bruised lemon, mandarin, fresh pepperberries. The palate is open with grapefruit skin, cucumber skin, fresh crunchy iceberg lettuce. - Jono Hersey, FWC
2019 Grenache Noir RRP $66
Flamboyant plum liqueur, mountain herbs, medicinal herbal character and strawberries. The palate is juicy and open, lavender, blueberry, strawberry liqueur. Lovely olfactory filling perfume. - Jono Hersey, FWC
2018 Lantignie 'Les Bruyeres' RRP $81
Plum bramble, blueberry crumble. Subdued, not necessarily brooding but definitely a darker fruit spectrum and really quite lively. The palate has crunchy blackberry, redcurrent, blackcurrant, apple skin and a squeeze of fresh lime. - Jono Hersey, FWC
Vin Noé, St. Aubin
When I first met Jon Purcell he was making part of his wines at the Santini cave in Auxey-Durresses. Both Chris and Jon helped each other and worked very closely but what I loved most was they both had very different styles. Jon’s wines for Vin Noé, were more voluminous and while very bright and expressive, definitely had a little smooth American Cadillac about them, very velvety and rich! He has since begun leasing the cellars and vineyards of JJ Morel in St Aubin, a respected and famous Burgundian natural winemaker. JJ is famous for wearing black leather pants every day of the year, no matter the temperature or task! Quantities are miniscule and worthy of your attention if you are a fan of minimal intervention wines.
2020 Nas Sans Julie RRP $90
Bright with a violet lift and an underlying black cherry, red plum base. There is some slightly brighterred cherry and mountain herbs. Slight decaying red cherry, red plum, juicy and salivating. - Jono Hersey, FWC
2020 Bourgogne Rouge 'Gueule d'Amour' RRP $120
Bright vibrant violets, squeeze of lime, rose petals and rhubarb. Very bright and fresh with firm granular tannins wrapped in ripe crunchy red fruit. Great length, refreshing and moreish. - Jono Hersey, FWC
