Pre Arrival Offer June 2024
OFFER CLOSES 30 JUNE 2024
ESTIMATED DELIVERY DATE LATE SEPTEMBER 2024
Producers included in this offer:
- Domaine Gros-Tollot, Minervois
- Domaine Michel Niellon, Chassagne-Montrachet
- Domaine Anne Gros, Vosne-Romanee
Our fifth vintage of Domaine Michel Niellon. One of, if not my favourite producer from our portfolio. These wines are absolutely stunning and very much worthy of your attention if you have not already engaged with them. As the demand for the Chevalier continues to grow and our allocation remains the same, this wine will not be placed on the website. Instead, if you would like to order the Chevalier please email me with your request. Priority will be based on your support of the other wines.
As many of you rightly guessed Jasper Morris’ praise was for the 2022 Domaine Anne Gros Richebourg Grand Cru. Yes, we welcome Anne and her wines from Burgundy and the South to the portfolio and we could not be more excited! A few people guessed AF Gros and this is not correct, it is 'Anne Gros'. Anne makes the most delicate wines of the Gros family. Excitingly we also see the addition of a Grands Echezeaux to her line up after a little Gros parcel swap (a biproduct of this is Domaine Michel Gros will now have a Richebourg, to be offered later in the year). Just like with the Chevalier from Niellon, the Richebourg will not be on the website. You will need to put forward your request via email to me and allocation will be based upon the support of the rest of her wines.
We also see a small allocation of Domaine Tollot-Gros, a project by Anne and her husband, Jean-Paul Tollot (Domaine Tollot-Beaut of Chorey-les-beaune). Ancient vines from higher aspects of Minervois combined with ancient vines and their approach to producing wines of finesse is a fine combination.
Cheers!
Jono Hersey
Domaine Gros-Tollot, Minervois
2022 Minervois ‘Les Fontanilles’ (Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault) RRP $69
A terroir of roughly 3 hectares amongst shrubland filled with its own ecosystem. Northwest orientation. Marl, sandstone and clay/limestone. Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault with an average vine age between 22 and 50 years. Half barrel, half stainless steel.
Domaine Michel Niellon, Chassagne-Montrachet
2022 Domaine Michel Niellon Chassagne Montrachet Rouge RRP $148
Chassagne-Montrachet was once predominately Pinot Noir, about 70% PN to 30% Chardonnay. However, with the popularity of Montrachet appended wines it became a commercial no brainer to convert the vineyards to Chardonnay. While my preference is Chardonnay in the village there is no denying that Chassagne Rouge is a very good Red Burgundy and even more so when you consider the value. Michel's daughter, Lucie, is in charge of the red wine vinification and excels in this department. The Domaine has 1.5 ha in total.
Kirsch cherry, freeze dried raspberry and overly ripe freeze dried strawberries. It has an ethereal, ever changing flavour profile. The palate has a lovely core of minerality that is wrapped in sumptuous fruit. Lovely minerality. - Jono Hersey, FWC
Bright, fresh and pepper-infused aromas include those of various red berries, earth and a suggestion of spice. There is both good vibrancy and richness to the utterly delicious middleweight flavors that conclude in a mildly rustic and sneaky long finale. This is forward and plump but not simple and offers fine quality for its level in a 'drink me young' style. 89 points. Outstanding, Top Value. - Allen Meadows, The Burghound
2022 Domaine Michel Niellon Bourgogne Blanc RRP $158
From vines situated in front of the winery.
Beautifully detailed with reduction in the form of clementine, gunflint and ever changing. Saline. Brilliant nose. The palate is incredibly energetic and straight with a concentrated core. Fine line of minerality that is ever so slightly showing tiny razorblade like minerality. Very good length for its status. - Jono Hersey, FWC
Smoky aromas of various white orchard fruit, citrus and a floral top note serve as an elegant introduction to the succulent, round and seductively textured middle weight flavors that offer acceptable depth and length on the mildly rustic finale. This agreeably refreshing effort should drink well young. 86 points - Allen Meadows, The Burghound
2022 Domaine Michel Niellon Chassagne Montrachet RRP $247
Showing a little more weight but in the form of detailed dry extract, dried florals, preserved lemon, limestone and apple skin. With more time in the glass it shows more detail and lift. The palate shows more transparency and bones with a thick, chunky core of limestone laced with a line of preserved lemon. - Jono Hersey, FWC
Note: from 8 separate lieux-dits: Classic Chassagne aromas include those of petrol, rosemary soil and white peach along with discreet citrus nuances. The attractively textured and vibrant, if not super-dense, medium weight flavors display good length on the lemon-tinged finale. This could use better depth so a few years of keeping are in order. 88 points - Allen Meadows, The Burghound
2022 Domaine Michel Niellon Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru 'Clos de la Maltroie' RRP $387
A large enclosed vineyard of four hectares with a wall down the middle. The top half is a monopole; Clos du Chateau de la Maltroye. The bottom half is owned by three growers; Guy Amiot, Jean-Noel Gagnard and of course, Michel Niellon. Niellon owns 0.52 hectares that was planted in 1977.
White floral focus with detail building in the glass. Preserved lemon but a back seat role. A little grapefruit and a little lime juice energy. The palate is light on its feet with a delicate, fine core of minerality that is wrapped in youthful puppy fat fruit. - Jono Hersey, FWC
Note: from a .94 ha parcel of 25+ year old vines, of which .52 ha is planted to chardonnay in Clos de la Maltroie and Les Places: Here too there is a smoky component subtly suffusing the ever-so-vaguely exotic aromas of white peach, citrus confit and rosemary oil. There is good vibrancy and a lovely texture to the medium-bodied flavors that are also not particularly dense (though by no means dilute), all wrapped in a rich, youthfully austere and bitter zest-inflected finale that is agreeably dry. This could easily be enjoyed young or cellared for 5-ish or so years first. 90 points - Allen Meadows, The Burghound
2022 Domaine Michel Niellon Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru 'Champsgains' RRP $397
Positioned on the mid slope in the centre of the village, on soils of clay and fragmented rocks. Niellon has a 0.44 hectare portion.
A little more flesh and weight with the introduction of orchard fruit, apple, pearskin but not without a little salinity. A nuance of sweet spice. A little rounder in shape on the palate but a little more closed at the same time. Youthful fruit. A little less detailed at present but that will come with time. Closed but good. - Jono Hersey, FWC
Note: from a .44 ha parcel situated in shallow soil that is a mixture of clay and fragmented rock; This is aromatically similar to the Maltroie though with evident floral elements. There is slightly better volume and mid-palate density to the delicious and caressing but punchy medium weight flavors that possess a healthy amount of sappy dry extract while exhibiting better overall depth and persistence. This too should be approachable young but easily repay mid-term keeping. 91 points. Outstanding - Allen Meadows, The Burghound
2022 Domaine Michel Niellon Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru 'Chenevottes' RRP $397
A vineyard with close proximity to Montrachet, that certainly reflects some of the power and brooding nature of said vineyard. Niellon’s parcel is a painfully small at 0.18 hectares.
More detail, more refined, more lift. White florals, lime juice, preserved lemon but not without a little boiled apple sweet that will dissipate and define with age. The palate is another level of minerality, drive, length, definition. Chalk and limestone, little razor blades and salivating aggression. - Jono Hersey, FWC
Note: from Chenevottes proper; A cool, pure and slightly fresher nose reflects notes of green apple, citrus and discreet spice wisps. There is very good delineation to the delicious middle weight flavors that are suffused with a highly appealing underlying tension and fine balance on the clean and dry finale. This is lovely and a wine that would better be kept for a few years first as it's more tightly wound. 92 points. Outstanding - Allen Meadows, The Burghound
2022 Domaine Michel Niellon Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru 'Clos St Jean' RRP $413
Positioned at the top of the slope to the west of the village, just by a large limestone quarry. Many say this vineyard is more suited to red wine, however this wine, for me, is as good as white wine can be. Niellon’s parcel is 0.52 hectares.
More closed than the previous, not mute but showing tighter, more youthful puppy fat that masks some of the detail for now. A little smokiness and clementine oil reduction lifts from the glass with time. A nuance of lime juice. Painfully tight and mineral. Mutes for 6 seconds, during this period it clenches the entirety of ones jaw before slowly releasing absolute power, drive and painfully intense minerality. - Jono Hersey, FWC
Note: from a total of .52 ha of vines planted in the lieux-dits of Chassagne du Clos St. Jean and Rebichets; This is presently firmly reduced and revealing little so be sure to give it some air if you plan to open a bottle in the next year or so. Otherwise, the rich and generously proportioned medium-bodied flavors possess more power if not quite the same refinement on the impressively long, firm and well-balanced finale. This is worth a look provided it is given at least a few years of bottle aging. 92 points. Outstanding - Allen Meadows, The Burghound
2022 Domaine Michel Niellon Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru 'Les Chaumees, Clos de la Truffiere' RRP $429
Situated in the northern end of the village high on the hill. The Clos de la Truffiere portion has particularly light, stony soils which produce vibrant and complex whites.
The nose combines all of the elements of the previous wines with beautiful gun flint and mandarin oil reduction, limestone minerality, seaspray and an underlying savoury component which is both pleasing and completely complexifying. The palate has the same intensity as the Clos St. Jean but showing its bones a little more. More transparency with a plethora of little sharp corners and edges spread across a raged piece of limestone. So, so, so long. - Jono Hersey, FWC
Note: from a .54 ha parcel of leased vines that the domaine has exploited since 1988 and believed to have been planted in 1939; Beautifully layered aromas of smoky pear, spice and a lovely array of white orchard fruit nuances are trimmed in hint of just sliced citrus. I very much like the texture and vibrancy of the slightly bigger-bodied yet more refined flavors that display excellent length on the balanced, clean, dry and impressively long finish. This is excellent and a wine that always repays extended keeping and the 2022 version should be no exception. 93 points. Outstanding, Sweet Spot - Allen Meadows, The Burghound
2022 Domaine Michel Niellon Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru RRP $2475
Another painfully small parcel for Niellon at 0.22 hectares. Situated above La Cabotte and below Bouchard, this is their only plot within Puligny. Situated on the limestone plateau, it took explosives to be able to plant the vines in 1968 and 1972.
The nose is almost completely mute showing just glimmers of staple white florals and limestone. With very aggressive coaxing the nose does begin to slightly reveal a little of its future potential. Again the palate is painfully closed and muted for almost a minute before showing hints of minerality and its future potential. Do not open this for at least 7 years. - Jono Hersey, FWC
Note: from a .23 ha parcel of vines planted in '62 and '68; This is the first wine to display any appreciable wood influence and even here it's quite subtle and easily allows the equally smoky nose of mineral reduction, acacia blossom and beautiful array of spice elements to be appreciated. The wonderfully refined, if not especially dense, middle weight plus flavors exude an evident stoniness on the strikingly long and impeccably well-balanced finale. This does need to develop better depth but the track record of the Niellon Chevalier is beyond reproach. 94 points - Allen Meadows, The Burghound
Domaine Anne Gros, Vosne Romanee
2022 Domaine Anne Gros Hautes Cotes de Nuits Blanc 'Cuvee Marine' RRP $148
This could pass for a Chablis on the nose with its cool and very aromas of iodine, shellfish and petrol nuances that add breadth to the mostly apple scents. The delicious middleweight flavors flash a lovely bead of minerality on the chiseled and bone-dry finish that is shaped by citrus-tinged acidity. This is really quite good for its level and worth considering. 86-89 points. Outstanding - Allen Meadows, The Burghound
Pale lemon colour, light bouquet and then a huge concentration of fruit behind, yellow plums but also saline, as the name sort of suggests. Long finish. 87-88 points - Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy
2022 Domaine Anne Gros Hautes Cotes de Nuits Rouge RRP $148
A fresh, bright and airy nose freely reveals its aromas of essence of various red berries and a spice wisp. The energetic and precise, if not especially dense, flavors exude a subtle minerality that adds to the refreshing and inviting finish. 86-88 points - Allen meadows, The Burghound
Planted in the 1990s. Clear pink purple, very pretty nose, in a lifted fresh raspberry fruit, with significant density behind. What more could one want? Paul thinks this is the best he has made since he started in 2018, and I see no reason to quarrel. Lovely fresh red fruit aftertaste. 88-90 points - Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy
2022 Domaine Anne Gros Bourgogne Rouge RRP $148
A slightly riper and earthier nose offers up aromas of both red and dark pinot fruit. There is also a bit more concentration to the suave and rounded middleweight flavors that are slightly firmer and definitely more rustic. This should benefit from 2 to 4 years of keeping. 86-88 points - Allen Meadows, The Burghound
The Bourgogne comes from three plots below Vosne. A deeper dark crimson to purple. The fruit has a more solid depth to it on the nose, a darker fruit than the Hautes Côtes de Nuits. Just sniffing it absolutely makes me smile. This is the sort of vintage which brings the density which the Anne Gros style needs. Degenerate vines help concentrate the fruit, Paul notes. 89-91 points. Red, 5 star wine - Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy
2022 Domaine Anne Gros Chambolle Musigny 'La Combe d'Orveau' RRP $359
A cooler and much airier nose of essence of red cherry, spice and a floral wisp leads to racy and refined medium weight flavors where the sense of refinement contrasts markedly with the short, slightly drying and clipped finale. It's hard to say whether the dryness is just a phase, but it would be fair to describe this as awkward at present. 86-89 points - Allen Meadows, The Burghound
The plot is tucked away at the end of the valley, this a cooler site. Pink crimson colour with a very elegant fresh red fruit nose, with some sensuality. Fruit and finesse, a senior partner to the Hautes Côtes de Nuits in style. Very persistent though. 90-93 points - Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy
2022 Domaine Anne Gros Vosne Romanee 'Les Barreaux' RRP $470
In contrast to the expressiveness of the prior wines, here the nose is firmly reduced and reveals nothing. More interesting are the fresh, vibrant and beautifully textured medium-bodied flavors that already possess solid depth and very fine length on the balanced if firmly structured finale. Lovely. 89-91 points - Allen Meadows, The Burghound
A solid core of ruby purple. What a beautiful nose! Global warming says a friendly hello to cooler sites such as Les Barreaux. More oak this year because of the shortage of one year old barrels, and that shows a touch at the back at the moment but will all integrate. Very lively and extremely fine, with a greater depth of fruit than the Chambolle. The pinot fin plant selection is showing its class here. 91-94 points - Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy
2022 Domaine Anne Gros Echezeaux 'Les Loachausses' Grand Cru RRP $866
Note: from a .94 ha holding; Moderate wood influence can be found on the exuberantly spicy and smoky nose of mostly dark currant and violet scents. There is good energy to the delicious if not especially dense middleweight flavors that conclude in a firm finale that exudes focused power as well as a touch of warmth. 91-93 points - Allen Meadows, The Burghound
A lovely mid purple. Very perfumed and with density, I suspect with detail to follow as well. Succulent, and with amazing depth plus magical length. One or two darker fruit notes, stopping short of chocolate. But this is a profound and sensual Echezeaux from a domaine noted for its lighter style. 96-98 points. Red, 5 star wine - Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy
2022 Domaine Anne Gros Clos Vougeot 'Le Grand Maupertui' Grand Cru RRP $1018
Note: from a .93 ha parcel originally planted in 1904; This is also quite spicy and even more aromatically restrained with its fresh nose of earthy red pinot fruit. The denser and even more powerful larger-bodied flavors deliver excellent length on the impressively long and very much built-to-age if decidedly austere finale that flirts with rusticity. This is a classic CV and one that should age accordingly. 92-95 points - Allen meadows, The Burghound
The vines were planted in 1904. A richer deeper ruby purple. A flamboyant pure fruit on the nose, sort of unexpected for Clos Vougeot. Excellent tension on the palate, all the structure that a Clos Vougeot needs but nothing in excess. Seamless, sensual, yet with all the strictness it should have. Very fine. 95-98 points - Allen Meadows, The Burghound
2022 Domaine Anne Gros Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru RRP $1790
Note: from a .30 ha parcel; 2022 is the first vintage; This is also aromatically attractively airy, pretty and cool with its array of red cherry, raspberry, sandalwood and exotic tea scents. I very much like the seductive texture of the solidly powerful medium weight flavors that display better power and length on the dusty and youthfully austere finale. This could use better depth but more should reasonably develop over time. 91-94 points - Allen Meadows, The Burghound
New at Anne Gros. A fine pink purple colour. The nose is elegance personified but with a suggestion of fruit depth behind. A gorgeous suavity of fruit, fine at the front of the palate and continuing through behind. Little red berries and a faint touch of liquorice. More refined than Bas des Beaumonts (see under Paul Tollot-Gros), less detail but more substance than Loachausses. 95-98 points - Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy
2022 Domaine Anne Gros Richebourg Grand Cru RRP $2636
Note: from a .6 ha parcel; Here too there is a plethora of spice elements present on the slightly more elegant nose of violet, lavender, exotic tea, and red and dark currant scents. The impressively scaled flavors are not nearly as dense as those of the CV but they're notably finer and more mineral-inflected as well, all wrapped in a balanced and hugely long finale. This is certainly classier than the CV but good as it is, it's not necessarily qualitatively better. 92-95 points - Allen Meadows, The Burghound
A brilliant purple, with a fascinating touch of spice to add to the depth of dark yet royal fruit. Just keeps getting more profound on the nose. Incredibly intense through the middle, excellent mineral acidity behind, and a length well above the others. Thank you for this perfection. 96-99 points. Red, 5 star wine - Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy