Pre Arrival C

 

Pomona, Chablis

Domaine des Fines Caillottes (Jean Pabiot), Pouilly-Fumé, Loire

Domaine Pascal Janvier, Jasnieres, Loire

Domaine Frederic Berne, Lantignie, Beaujolais 

 

 

OFFER CLOSES 14 AUGUST 2025

ESTIMATED DELIVERY - OCTOBER 2025

 

 

Pomona

Our house Chablis/Bourgogne Blanc

 

2023 Pomona Petit Chablis

Pre Arrival $33

Enough tension but not overwhelmingly so supports the ripe green apple & preserved Lemon. Delicate florals.

The palate has zip with a little boiled apple skin breadth that finishes with minerality and grip. 

-Jono Hersey, FWC

2023 Pomona Bourgogne Blanc

Pre Arrival $29

Firm with more purity, transparency & the introduction of a little seaspray tension. A little pillowy brioche & butter complexity but, not overwhelmingly so. 

The palate has a little flesh with poached apple and boiled apple sweets.

-Jono Hersey, FWC

Jean Pabiot et Fils, Domaine des Fines Caillotte - Pouilly-Fumé, Loire Valley

Classic, smoky, and mineral Pouilly-Fumé. Run by Alain Pabiot and his son Jérôme, this historic domaine dates back to 1880. Based in the village of Les Loges, it spans 29 hectares across five communes, comprising 30 distinct parcels.

The varied terroirs contribute to wines of depth and nuance, expressing classic characteristics of Pouilly-Fumé. Sustainable viticulture is practiced. Grapes are hand-harvested and swiftly transported to the winery. After destemming, around 15% of the fruit sees brief skin contact before pressing. Fermentation occurs spontaneously with indigenous yeasts. Each parcel is vinified separately and blended prior to bottling.

Gross lees are removed three weeks post-fermentation, and the wine remains for at least four months on fine lees in underground, glass-lined, tiled tanks.

2023 Pouilly Fume

Pre Arrival

750ml: $42 - 375ml: $25 - 1500ml: $89

An obvious grassy note dissipates & evolves into a chalky, limestone centric focused nose. There is an underlying savoury richness with glimmers of detailed, complex passionfruit that lifts from the glass. 

The palate is subdued for a moment before releasing considerable power, which is both driven but also coating.

-Jono Hersey, FWC

2022 Pouilly Fume 'Kimeride'

Pre Arrival $50

More sophisticated, tight and inline with the nice delicate reduction & smokiness that lifts from the glass. There is a nuance of slightly savoury dried pineapple. 

The palate is unctuous & so tightly coiled with a strong core of minerality wrapped in puppy fat fruit. Long.

-Jono Hersey, FWC

Pascal Janvier - Jasnieres, Coteux du Loir

Pascal looks after no less than 66 parcels of vines covering 9 hectares. The wines are classic in style and are of particular interest, at very reasonable prices. Pascal began his working life as a butcher, turning to the grape life in 1991. Chris Santini of Santini in Auxey-Duresses, put me onto this address. Chris works with Kermit Lynch so the introduction was made.

The Loir estuary sits above the Loire River and is a fertile, beautiful, quieter place to visit than the Loire River. Less touristy, beautiful gardens and quaint waterways. It really is like taking a step back in time. Jasnieres and Coteux du Loir are minute wine regions that are hard to find, both sought after for their structured savoury Chenin Blancs.

Andrew Jefford, The New France...

“Jasnieres and the larger neighbouring AOC of Coteux du Loir. Jasnieres is the cru of these slopes, and it AOC is for white wines based on the Chenin Blanc grape alone, grown on flint, clay and limestone soils into which the tinkling Loir has carved its course. The geology, however, is less important here than topography and latitude: these are, for the late ripening Chenin Blanc, almost arctic conditions, and its cultivation is only possible thanks to south facing slopes and tough minded growers. Great Jasnieres is France’s riposte to Germany’s classical Saar Riesling. These are, in other words, piano wire wines out on the far edge of ripeness. Their apple and grapefruit flavours can have a shocking, jangling intensity; the juices seem drawn from a cold stone well rather than from vines on a sun warm hillside. Yet with late harvesting even these wines can begin to hint at honey and apricot.”

 

2023 Jasnieres 'Cuvee de Silex'

Pre Arrival $27

Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc. Vine Age: 15-40 years. Terroir: the entirety of Jasnieres is 128 hectares, Pascal’s vines are divided into four plots totalling 2 hectares. The soils consist of limestone, flint and clay.

A relatively full & rich nose with chamomile, orange peel, and lanolin. 

The palate is searing with rock salt salinity with good drive wrapped in orange oil & drenched in salivating grapefruit juice.

-Jono Hersey, FWC

2023 Coteux du loire Rouge 'Cuvee henri Quatre'

Pre Arrival $25

Grape Varieties: Gamay, Cabernet, Cot, Malbec and Pineau d’Aunis (60%). (6000 vines per hectare). Vine Age: 20-40 years. Terroir: divided into four parcels in the commune of Ruillé l’Homme. Clay limestone soils.

Very delicate, very perfumed. White florals with an underlying white strawberry detail.

Energetic and lively palate with unripe strawberries. Salivating.

-Jono Hersey, FWC

Domaine Frederic Berne - Lantignié, Beaujolais

I can’t remember if the first producer we imported was Champagne Guiborat or Frédéric Berne. But I do remember my first day in Beaujolais buying for FWC.

I visited two new producers that day: Marc Delienne in Fleurie, who had just released his inaugural vintage in 2015, and Frédéric Berne, whose first was in 2014. The Delienne visit was entertaining, an eccentric, wealthy Parisian who had bought a grand château in Fleurie. Money clearly wasn’t an issue; we jumped into his V10 Audi station wagon and quite literally rallied through the vineyards. When I say rallied, I mean airborne. Not many words were exchanged. The wines were already being ‘celebrated’, despite it being his debut vintage.

Next was Frédéric Berne in Lantignié, a quiet, humble, and tall Frenchman with family roots in local farming. He’d tried life in Paris but quickly realised it wasn’t for him and returned to pursue wine. We strolled to the edge of Château des Vergers, which he leases under a sharecropping agreement, and spoke gently for nearly an hour. He explained the terroir of Lantignié, his farming philosophy, and the reasoning behind every stage of his process.

Then we tasted the wines. The detail and care in his approach shone through. With yields lower than Grand Cru Burgundy and a mindset that balances open-mindedness with precision and drive, Frédéric Berne produces a lineup of Beaujolais that stands shoulder to shoulder with the very best.

It was an easy pick who we would begin with.

2023 Beaujolais Lantignie-Granit Rose

Pre Arrival $39

The 2023 Beaujolais Lantignié Granit Rose has a more intense nose than the Pierre Bleu cuvée. It’s quite assertive, with powerful blackcurrant, wild strawberry and iris flower scents. The palate is medium-bodied, vibrant and fresh, with svelte, crisp tannins and a bright, zesty finish that beckons you back for more. Well done.

88 points

Neal Martin, Vinous.com

2023 Beaujolais Lantignie-Pierre Bleue

Pre Arrival $39

The 2023 Beaujolais Lantignié Pierre Bleue has a clean, fresh nose with lively black cherry and raspberry aromas. The palate is medium-bodied, sorbet-fresh and vibrant, with a bright, joyful finish.

88 points

Neal Martin, Vinous.com

2022 Beaujolais Lantignie-Les vergers

Pre Arrival $49

2022 Regnie Aux Bruyeres

Pre Arrival $49

2022 Chiroubles Les Terrasses

Pre Arrival $49

2022 Morgon Corcelette

Pre Arrival $52

2022 Beaujolais Lantignie-Harmonie

Pre Arrival $77