News: June 2009
Domaine
du Terme's Côtes du Rhône 2006 has arrived!Ann-Marie Gaudin continues to produce even better-balanced
and seductive wines with each vintage, as the newly arrived Côtes du Rhone 2006 demonstrates!
Features black cherries on the nose, subtle spice, excellent concentration with lovely sweet fruit, well balanced, very good length -- perhaps the finest vintage to date! (JPO/DMO May 009)
In the Pipeline:
We're working to maintain stocks (and supplies) of our best-selling wines
in these not-best-of-times for quality French wines. Intransit or on order are:
2007 Pinot Noir Chanceroy from Mallaard-Gaulin;
2007 Chateau du Coing and Coing de Sevre Muscadets from VGC;
More Compostelle 2005 from Chateau Mas Neuf;
Blanc des Blancs & Rosé Crémants from Vitteaut-Alberti;
2005 Gigondas from Domaine du Terme.
Robert Parker reviews Bressy-Masson
Marie-France Masson has just notified us of the results of Robert Parker's tasting
of her new vintages in
February this
year. "One of the up and coming stars of the Southern Rhone" (For full text please see Bressy-Masson link)
Bear in mind that these are very young wines and that we are not be likely to bring them for a year or two (at least). Where we have earlier vintages available, I've noted this below.
Rasteau "A la Gloire de Mon Père" 2007 -- 90-94 (2003 available -- 90-92 RP)
Rasteau "Cuvée Paul Emile" 2006 -- 93 (2001 just sold out -- stay tuned)
Rasteau "Cuvée Paul Emile" 2007 -- 90-93 (2001 just sold out -- stay tuned)
Rasteau "Cuvée La Souco d'Or" 2007 -- 89-91 (2005 available ***)
Other Recent Releases:
Pinot Noir de Rodern 2002 from Rolly Gassmann is here!
The Gassmanns own extensive plantings of Pinot Noir in their neighbouring village of Rodern, which many consider the finest terroir for Pinot in Alsace.
We've imported several vintages of this cuvée and it is consistently complex and delicious. When they showed us the 2002 last summer in Rorschwihr we were delighted to find such an excellent successor to the 2000.
Refined blend of classic Pinot Noir aromas with a touch of Alsace smoke, very good balance of fruit and terroir in medium weight body – shows a delicate acidic structure and some light tannins, very good length. (JPO/DMO June 2008/March 2009)
Mas Neuf Armonió 2005 has arrived.
This Vin de Pays d'Oc combines 40% Grenach Noir with 30% each of the classic Bordelais grapes: Merlot &
Cabernet Sauvignon. Rigorous selection of fully mature grapes in the vineyard is followed by a careful vinification supervised by Louis Mitjavile (of Terte Roteboeuf in St Emilion) with the juice run off into barrrels from Château d'Yquem where fermentation occurs at 18º C. After 6 months the wine is matured for a further 18 month in new barriques. This young wine is already remarkably mature and powerful — and drop dead delicious — decant 1 hour.
Luc Baudet's tasting note 11/08: "Very dark garnet, buquet of Burlat cherry, mentholated notes, black fruits, tobacco and coffee bean, powerful & spicy in the mouth, then moka, with a muscular and well-defined texture."
The 'new' Aurore Chardonnay is here!
The re-designation
of the Vin de Pays du Val de Loire
appellation has provided an
opportunity for Véronique Günther-Chereau to dress one of
our most
popular white wines in a new presentation for the 2007 vintage.
Introducing Domaine du Coing de St. Fiacre Cuvée D'Aurore Chardonnay
Introducing Domaine du Coing de St. Fiacre Cuvée D'Aurore Chardonnay
From vines planted in a section of
the Muscadet vineyard at Château
du Coing, this un-oaked, cool climate Chardonnay is always clean
and delicious.
"Pretty fruity nose, warm on the palate with candied fruit, pinapple, exotics, white flowers, quite lifted and complex, bright structure, excellent balance, very good length." (JPO/DMO July, 'Le Coing' 2008).
New releases from Pascal Granger!
Chénas 2007 - lovely red fruits on nose, well extracted and rich on palate, excellent structure, very good length. An assemblage of 10 cuvées, selected by Beaujolais Ajourd'hui.
Moulin-à-Vent 2007 - excellent nose of fruit and typical terroir minerality, very good concentration and extraction, very good length.
(Gold Medal - Concours des Grands Vins de France, Maçon)
Juliénas Cuvée Spéciale 2007 - beautiful fruits (cherries in eau-de-vie) on the nose, big sweet rich fruits on palate, very good length.
"Pretty fruity nose, warm on the palate with candied fruit, pinapple, exotics, white flowers, quite lifted and complex, bright structure, excellent balance, very good length." (JPO/DMO July, 'Le Coing' 2008).
New releases from Pascal Granger!
Chénas 2007 - lovely red fruits on nose, well extracted and rich on palate, excellent structure, very good length. An assemblage of 10 cuvées, selected by Beaujolais Ajourd'hui.
Moulin-à-Vent 2007 - excellent nose of fruit and typical terroir minerality, very good concentration and extraction, very good length.
(Gold Medal - Concours des Grands Vins de France, Maçon)
Juliénas Cuvée Spéciale 2007 - beautiful fruits (cherries in eau-de-vie) on the nose, big sweet rich fruits on palate, very good length.
Recommendations
for the Spring:
White Wines
Auvigue Pouilly-Fuissé 'Les Chailloux' 2006 (1/2 and full bottles) — limited stock of this highly regarded vintage (2 Gold Medals in France) of classic Fuissé from the Frères Auvigue. Generous nose, lovely concentration of white fruits & flowers, very, very good length. (JPO/DMO Macon July 08.)
Auvigue Macon-Solutré Heretiers 'Cuvée Naturele' 2007 — limited stock of this wonderfully pure bottling showing brioche toast on the nose, clean and fresh flavours throughout , excellent bright structure, super length -- non-certified 'organic'. (JPO/DMO Macon July 08.)
A. Cailbourdin Pouilly-Fumé Cuvée de Boisfleury 2006 — Seductive nose of tropical fruits, white flowers and herbs. Follows onto the palate offering perfect balance between fruits, greens and minerality, finishes with excellent length. (JPO, Toronto, March 2007). One Star, Guide Hachette, 2008.
A. Cailbourdin Pouilly-Fumé Les Cris 2006 — Still discrete but lifted nose of fruit, flowers and minerality, excellent balance between minerals and fruit, complex in the mouth, excellent length (JPO/DMO June 2007).
Maison Mallard Gaulin Chablis 2007 — First allotment of this fine vintage - shortages of Burgundy whites in general and Chablis in particular are vaulting prices and together with the Euro exchange rate mean that the 2007 vintage costs more but with our producer's help we've kept this fine Chablis within reason …
Rolly Gassmann Sylvaner Weingarten de Rorschwihr 2005 — Glorious vintage that opens with a lovely nose of floral and fruit aromas that follow onto the palate with excellent complexity and balance, slight sweetness, and very good to excellent length. (JPO, May 2007).
Rolly Gassmann Gewürztraminer 2004 — Wonderful clean and spicy nose leads to very good concentration on the palate with a slight sweetness that immediately resolves into spice and very good length. Dominique’s favorite! (JPO, December 2005, Rorschwihr).
Rolly Gassmann Pinot Gris 2004 - big hit at our recent tasting! - toast and mineral nose, lovely full mouth, excellent wet finish, very good length.
Red Wines
Grès Saint Paul Coteaux du Languedoc 'Costa Santene' 2005 — Classic Languedoc flavours of garrigue and spices on nose, follows onto the palate with black fruits, well sgtructured, very good length (JPO/DMO Lunel July 08.)
Grès Saint Paul Coteaux du Languedoc 'Antonin' 2005 — Nose of kirsch and red fruits, good concentration on palate, elegant structure, very very good length. (JPO/DMO Lunel July 08.)
Chateau Mas Neuf Costières de Nîmes - Compostelle Rouge 2005 - wonderful concentration on the nose and on palate, beautifully structured and very long (see RP note)
Maison Mallard Gaulin Pinot Noir 'Chanceroy' 2006 — lovely fruit (berries & cherries) and herbal notes on the nose, medium body, beautifully balanced with delicate structure, finishes long with very fine tannins. (JPO March 2008)
Domaine du Terme Vacqueryas 2005 - lovely black fruits and provençal spices on the nose, lifted and balanced on the palate with dusty tannins that promise a future, very good length.
Pascal Granger Chénas 2006 — Spice, bright fruits on the nose, lovely fruit attack on the palate w/hints of smokey bacon, excellent concentration, black fruits, supple tannins, very, very good length. (JPO/DMO Juliénas June 2007)
"This is always one of the very best wines of the Chénas Cru, and received two recent Coup de coeurs (2003 and 2005). The 2006 offers complete satisfaction. Intense ruby in colour, the wine expresses nuances of flint and the scents of flowers and blackcurrant. In the mouth it shows a rich and ample flesh and one finds a palace of floral and mineral tonalities with a persistant length." Two Stars -- 2008 Guide Hachette
Bressy-Masson Rasteau-Villages 2006 — deep nose of black fruits, generous on palate, lovely tannins, good concentration, very good length. (JPO/DMO Rasteau July 2008.)
Bressy-Masson Rasteau "A la Gloire de Mon Père" 2003 — Gorgeous nose of dark cherry, other black fruits and smoke, carries to the palate with generous fruit, a hint of peach on finale, wonderful finesse, excellent structure, very complex. ***** (JPO/DMO Rasteau June 2007)
“Impressive. Structured with loads of tannin as well as a big sweet, chocolatey nose with notions of scortched earth, ripe black cherry fruit and a candied sweetness, this is an opulent, full-throttle Cotes du Rhone-Villages with soft tannin and high glycerin, alcohol and structure. It is a blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 15% Mouvedre that should drink well for a decade." Rating 90-92 (Robert Parker Jr. The Wine Advocate)
Chateau Mas Neuf Rouge Tradition 2006 - fabulous nose of garrige, concentrated palate of spice & garrigue, huge structure, very good length. (JPO/DMO Gallacian July 08.)
Mas Neuf Compostelle Rouge 2005: 90 points “The 2005 Costières de Nîmes Compostelle is an outstanding wine that has a deep ruby/purple color, a beautiful nose of black chocolate, creme de cassis, and blackberry, followed by full-bodied, lush, intense flavors that are pure and savory. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.”(Robert Parker Jr. The Wine Advocate)
Also noted in DECANTER, April 2008: **** “Rich, polished, ageworthy 70% Syrah-30% Mourvèdre blend with suede-like tannins, aged for 12 months in one-year-old barrels acquired from Bordeaux classed growths.”
Mas Neuf 'Avec des Si Rouge' 2005 : 90 points “ 'Avec Des Si...' is superb. Yields were only 25 hectoliters per hectare, and the wine exhibits a dense purple color, sweet floral and creme de cassis notes with hints of blackberry, melted licorice, and pepper. The wine is ripe, lush, heady, and best drunk over the next 5-7 years”
Vitteaut-Alberti — Crémant de Bourgogne
White Wines
Auvigue Pouilly-Fuissé 'Les Chailloux' 2006 (1/2 and full bottles) — limited stock of this highly regarded vintage (2 Gold Medals in France) of classic Fuissé from the Frères Auvigue. Generous nose, lovely concentration of white fruits & flowers, very, very good length. (JPO/DMO Macon July 08.)
Auvigue Macon-Solutré Heretiers 'Cuvée Naturele' 2007 — limited stock of this wonderfully pure bottling showing brioche toast on the nose, clean and fresh flavours throughout , excellent bright structure, super length -- non-certified 'organic'. (JPO/DMO Macon July 08.)
A. Cailbourdin Pouilly-Fumé Cuvée de Boisfleury 2006 — Seductive nose of tropical fruits, white flowers and herbs. Follows onto the palate offering perfect balance between fruits, greens and minerality, finishes with excellent length. (JPO, Toronto, March 2007). One Star, Guide Hachette, 2008.
A. Cailbourdin Pouilly-Fumé Les Cris 2006 — Still discrete but lifted nose of fruit, flowers and minerality, excellent balance between minerals and fruit, complex in the mouth, excellent length (JPO/DMO June 2007).
Maison Mallard Gaulin Chablis 2007 — First allotment of this fine vintage - shortages of Burgundy whites in general and Chablis in particular are vaulting prices and together with the Euro exchange rate mean that the 2007 vintage costs more but with our producer's help we've kept this fine Chablis within reason …
Rolly Gassmann Sylvaner Weingarten de Rorschwihr 2005 — Glorious vintage that opens with a lovely nose of floral and fruit aromas that follow onto the palate with excellent complexity and balance, slight sweetness, and very good to excellent length. (JPO, May 2007).
Rolly Gassmann Gewürztraminer 2004 — Wonderful clean and spicy nose leads to very good concentration on the palate with a slight sweetness that immediately resolves into spice and very good length. Dominique’s favorite! (JPO, December 2005, Rorschwihr).
Rolly Gassmann Pinot Gris 2004 - big hit at our recent tasting! - toast and mineral nose, lovely full mouth, excellent wet finish, very good length.
Red Wines
Grès Saint Paul Coteaux du Languedoc 'Costa Santene' 2005 — Classic Languedoc flavours of garrigue and spices on nose, follows onto the palate with black fruits, well sgtructured, very good length (JPO/DMO Lunel July 08.)
Grès Saint Paul Coteaux du Languedoc 'Antonin' 2005 — Nose of kirsch and red fruits, good concentration on palate, elegant structure, very very good length. (JPO/DMO Lunel July 08.)
Chateau Mas Neuf Costières de Nîmes - Compostelle Rouge 2005 - wonderful concentration on the nose and on palate, beautifully structured and very long (see RP note)
Maison Mallard Gaulin Pinot Noir 'Chanceroy' 2006 — lovely fruit (berries & cherries) and herbal notes on the nose, medium body, beautifully balanced with delicate structure, finishes long with very fine tannins. (JPO March 2008)
Domaine du Terme Vacqueryas 2005 - lovely black fruits and provençal spices on the nose, lifted and balanced on the palate with dusty tannins that promise a future, very good length.
Pascal Granger Chénas 2006 — Spice, bright fruits on the nose, lovely fruit attack on the palate w/hints of smokey bacon, excellent concentration, black fruits, supple tannins, very, very good length. (JPO/DMO Juliénas June 2007)
"This is always one of the very best wines of the Chénas Cru, and received two recent Coup de coeurs (2003 and 2005). The 2006 offers complete satisfaction. Intense ruby in colour, the wine expresses nuances of flint and the scents of flowers and blackcurrant. In the mouth it shows a rich and ample flesh and one finds a palace of floral and mineral tonalities with a persistant length." Two Stars -- 2008 Guide Hachette
Bressy-Masson Rasteau-Villages 2006 — deep nose of black fruits, generous on palate, lovely tannins, good concentration, very good length. (JPO/DMO Rasteau July 2008.)
Bressy-Masson Rasteau "A la Gloire de Mon Père" 2003 — Gorgeous nose of dark cherry, other black fruits and smoke, carries to the palate with generous fruit, a hint of peach on finale, wonderful finesse, excellent structure, very complex. ***** (JPO/DMO Rasteau June 2007)
“Impressive. Structured with loads of tannin as well as a big sweet, chocolatey nose with notions of scortched earth, ripe black cherry fruit and a candied sweetness, this is an opulent, full-throttle Cotes du Rhone-Villages with soft tannin and high glycerin, alcohol and structure. It is a blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 15% Mouvedre that should drink well for a decade." Rating 90-92 (Robert Parker Jr. The Wine Advocate)
Chateau Mas Neuf Rouge Tradition 2006 - fabulous nose of garrige, concentrated palate of spice & garrigue, huge structure, very good length. (JPO/DMO Gallacian July 08.)
Mas Neuf Compostelle Rouge 2005: 90 points “The 2005 Costières de Nîmes Compostelle is an outstanding wine that has a deep ruby/purple color, a beautiful nose of black chocolate, creme de cassis, and blackberry, followed by full-bodied, lush, intense flavors that are pure and savory. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.”(Robert Parker Jr. The Wine Advocate)
Also noted in DECANTER, April 2008: **** “Rich, polished, ageworthy 70% Syrah-30% Mourvèdre blend with suede-like tannins, aged for 12 months in one-year-old barrels acquired from Bordeaux classed growths.”
Mas Neuf 'Avec des Si Rouge' 2005 : 90 points “ 'Avec Des Si...' is superb. Yields were only 25 hectoliters per hectare, and the wine exhibits a dense purple color, sweet floral and creme de cassis notes with hints of blackberry, melted licorice, and pepper. The wine is ripe, lush, heady, and best drunk over the next 5-7 years”
Vitteaut-Alberti — Crémant de Bourgogne
From Rully, in the Côte Châlonnaise, The Vitteaut family make Crémant that rivals any sparkling wine for quality, taste and value.
Rosé Brut — This is beautifully made crémant, poised, elegant and satisfying, and it's lovely to look at – our best selling wine! “Very fine, lively pink bubbly made from pinot noir. Bright, pale pink-salmon colour. Fairly intense aromatics for the genre with cherry, pink grapefruit, spicy notes. Mid-weight, brisk, dry and balanced on the palate, with very good length. Has charm and substance. Excellent value.” Rating 90 Value*** (David Lawrason, Wine Access).
Blanc des Blancs Brut — “This Crémant certainly deserved its Gold Medal in Paris, … delicately proportioned, powerful, with a concentrated nose where the ripe fruits and the dry fruits dominate, of creamy froth and a very beautiful length.” (Millésimes. No 26e, 2005.) Gold Medal, Concours Agricole, Paris 2005. 3 Stars & Coup de Coeur, Hachette Guide to French Wines, 2003 & 2006.
Blanc Brut - In half bottles only - perfect for sparkle anytime!
Cuvée Agnès Brut — Composed of 100% Chardonnay from the Vitteaut’s best cuvees, this will give any very good bubbly a run for its money: “Very fine nose of toast and light fruit is followed on the palate with very discrete and subtle fruits (citrus) and toast; very fine mousse, very long and elegant.” (JPO/DMO, July/October 07).
Andre
Petit et Fils — Pineau
des Charentes
This mistelle is made by blending old Cognac with freshly
harvested grape juice and aging the blend for four to six years; this
traditional aperitif and desert wine contains 17% alc./vol."Red Label" Blanc — Steve Thurlow of Wine Access noted (in 2005): "The nose is quite delightful with herbs, marzipan, orange, ripe pear; elegant and enticing. The palate is delicately balanced, perfectly smooth with great integration of acid fruit and alcohol. Very sophisticated with excellent length, leaving lingering orange nutty and herby flavours. Rating 91."
"Red Label" Ruby — A rare ‘red’ Pineau des Charentes, made with 100% Merlot juice. It’s remarkably deeply coloured and flavoured, full and satisfying in the mouth — rather reminiscent of a ‘rimage’ style Banyuls. Smooth throughout and not overly sweet, very good length. (JPO, July 05)
Cuvée Yann Very Old — This ‘new’ cuvée of rare old Pineau is 18 years old. David Lawrason commented on an earlier bottling: “This [very] old [Pineau] is a stunning, outstanding example with intriguing mead-honey, orange, raisin, lychee, tealeaf and licorice flavours. It's very sweet but elegant with fine balance, warmth and acidity. Excellent to outstanding length. Very pure and complex. Rating 96.”
Cognac — Vieille Réserve Napoléon 15 years old — “This Napoleon is aged 15 years in oak. …aged, nutty, spicy notes …sweetish but quite refined palate, with excellent length.” Rating 89. (David Lawrason, Wine Access).
Cognac & Poire William Cocktail — For years, this seductive liquor was available exclusively through Fauchon, the well-known Parisian gourmet shop. The pears are grown especially for this blend. A charming substitute for heavier ‘orange’ liquors… “Pure pear aromatic with sweet lightly caramelized, smoky, orangy cognac notes. Thick, very sweet, warm and spirituous on the palate. Quite sugary but finely tuned. Very good to excellent length.” Rating 91/Value **. (David Lawrason, Wine Access)
Rolly
Gassmann - Rorschwihr, Alsace
Gewürztraminer Oberer Wiengarten 2004 — A classic Gassmann Gewürtz that opens with a good deal of mineral on the nose, generous and filling in the mouth with lots of spice and ripe yellow fruits, typical RG structure that shapes and holds the complex flavours and leads to excellent length. (JPO, December 2006).
Riesling Rorschwihr ‘Cuvée Yves’ 2002 — Bright start with striking minerality combined with highly floral scents, lean in the mouth and very complex and interesting flavours, excellent finish. (JPO/DMO, July 07).
Riesling Rorschwihr ‘Cuvée Yves’ Vendages Tardives 2000 — big nose of spicy fruits and petrol, waxy spice and fruits on the palate, spice and acid frame, very, very, very long. (JPO/DMO, July 07).
Tales from the Wine Trail
We visited most of our winemakers in France this summer and we're posting tasting notes and other news from the vineyards and elsewhere including some of the challenging issues that the rapidly changing and consolidating world of wine is creating -- particularly for small producers and their representatives. Nowhere are these challenges more pertinent than the recently imposed changes made by the LCBO to the Consignment Program through which our wines are made available here in Ontario.
Special to Lexcellent Wines -- the latest in wine delivery technology!
Très direct! -- "USB Wines" -- see for yourself!
We attempt to maintain (near) continuous supplies of our
best
selling wines
incuding:
Crémant Rosé Brut, Château du Coing
Classique & Coing de Sèvre Muscadets,
Aurore Chardonnay, Rasteau Cuvée Souco d'Or,
Pouilly Fumé
Boisfleury, Terme's Côtes du Rhône &
Gigondas.
(DISPLAY PROBLEMS: We've discovered that our new website doesn't display as intended in Internet Explorer on Windows PCs. To wit: the menu of 'Winemakers' that should appear as a column on the right-hand side of your browser appears below the main text. This doesn't occur in Netscape on PCs (or at all on Macs). I'm trying to figure out how to fix things but meantime do explore our winemaker pages by scrolling down until you see the menu!!