French Wine

A beautifully preserved library release showcasing the age-worthy brilliance of Muscadet. Sourced from vines planted on a distinctive granite vein in Vallet, the 2007 L d’Or marries freshness with graceful maturity. Aromas of citrus zest, white peach, crushed oyster shell, and wet stone unfold alongside subtle notes of almond and herbal lift. The palate is vibrant and refined, with precise acidity, deep minerality, and a long, saline finish that speaks clearly of its terroir. Elegant, complex, and remarkably alive—an outstanding example of mature Muscadet direct from the domaine’s cellar.

A rare, beautifully matured Muscadet from one of the Loire Valley’s benchmark estates. Sourced from old vines rooted in a deep vein of granite, L d’Or shows how extraordinary Muscadet can become with long aging. The 2006 vintage offers layered aromas of lemon peel, crushed stone, sea spray, and gently evolving notes of hazelnut and honey. On the palate, it’s taut yet silky, with remarkable freshness, mineral intensity, and a long, saline finish. A stunning example of terroir-driven Muscadet at peak maturity, released directly from the domaine’s cellar. Perfect for collectors, seafood pairings, or anyone seeking a true Muscadet revelation.

A rare, perfectly aged Muscadet from one of the Loire’s benchmark domaines. “L d’Or” is sourced from old-vine Melon de Bourgogne planted on mica-schist soils, producing a wine of remarkable depth and longevity.

The 2005 shows extraordinary maturity: layers of salted lemon, preserved citrus, crushed stone, dried herbs, and a subtle smoky minerality. On the palate, it’s beautifully evolved yet still vibrant, with the hallmark tension and salinity that define great Muscadet. Long, savory, and deeply textural, this is a stunning library release that proves just how well Muscadet can age.

A rare treat direct from the winery’s cellar — ideal for collectors and lovers of nuanced, maritime whites. Perfect with oysters, scallops, sushi, or aged cheeses.

A masterwork of Côte des Blancs terroir, the 2016 Special Club Grands Terroirs de Chardonnay represents Pierre Gimonnet's most prestigious cuvée—a blanc de blancs of extraordinary depth and complexity from one of Champagne's most revered grower estates.

Critical Acclaim

• 96 Points - James Suckling: "Fantastic aromatic complexity...creamy, sleek and layered. Very soft and fine bubbles."
• 95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck: "Rounded and attractive...elegant mousse, soft texture of citrus oil, and clean, chalky finish."
• 93 Points - Wine Advocate: "Full-bodied and concentrated...admirably consistent and age-worthy cuvée."
• 93 Points - Wine Spectator: "Compact and well-integrated...racy acidity and intensity. Drink now through 2036."
• 92 Points - Vinous: "Bright and focused, with terrific depth...an absolute delight."

Vineyard & Winemaking

• 100% Chardonnay from Grand Cru and Premier Cru parcels
• 58% Cramant Grand Cru (Buissons, Bateau, Gros Mont, Champ du Prévôt)
• 27% Chouilly Grand Cru (Mont Aigu)
• 15% Cuis Premier Cru (Roualles, Croix-Blanche)
• Includes fruit from vines planted in 1911 and 1913, worked with horses
• Pure chalk terroir expressing classic Côte des Blancs minerality
• Malolactic fermentation completed
• Fermented and aged in stainless steel to preserve purity
• Aged 60+ months on the lees
• Disgorged 2023-2024 | Dosage: 4-5g/L (Extra Brut)

Tasting Profile

Shimmering golden hue with persistent, fine bubbles. The nose reveals extraordinary aromatic complexity: walnut, quince, dried apricot, white cocoa, fresh-baked croissant, citrus zest, white flowers, and hazelnut. On the palate, it's creamy yet vibrant—layers of honeyed green apple, lemon oil, juicy peach and pear, blanched almond, and tangerine unfold with elegant mousse and soft texture. The finish is long, caressing, and mineral-driven with racy acidity and chalky precision. This is a Champagne of remarkable balance: approachable now yet built for extended aging through 2036 and beyond.

Perfect Pairings

Serve chilled (45-50°F) with grilled scallops, lobster risotto, Dover sole meunière, roasted chicken with herbs, creamy aged cheeses (Comté, aged Gruyère), or simply on its own as an aperitif. This is Champagne for connoisseurs—a wine that rewards contemplation and elevates any celebration.

Special Club is an elite designation reserved for Champagne's finest grower-producers, representing the pinnacle of their craft. Only 250 cases imported to the US.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

The Wine Spectator 92 Points | Distinctive in a very good way, this chooses savory elegance over power. A refreshing and mineral-driven style, with appealing pepper, spice box and chestnut, all surrounding a core of red currant threaded with a stream of herbs. With warm earth on the seductively textured palate, this shows good energy and harmony through the vibrant finish, marked by iron and smoked meat. Well-done. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault. Drink now through 2032. 2,464 cases imported.

Vinous 92 Points | The 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Télégramme kicks off with crushed violets, ripe raspberry, wild strawberry and a pinch of dried herbs. Leafy gradations add more complexity. Round and elegant, the full-bodied 2022 walks off the stage with persistence on the juicy finish.

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | The only wine produced in the vintage due to the devastating tornado just before the harvest, the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Télégramme seems to be a mix of a normal Vieux Télégraphe and a Télégramme. Black raspberries, darker cherries, peppery garrigue, and a Grand Vin sense of salty minerality define the aromatics, and it's medium-bodied on the palate, has rock-solid ripeness, plenty of tannins, and outstanding length.

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | A blend of 85% Grenache and the rest of Cinsault, Syrah and Mourvèdre, the 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Télégramme offers up aromas of flowers, dark cherries and dark wild berries, followed by a medium to full-bodied, structured and concentrated palate with velvety tannins and a long, dense finish.

James Suckling 92 Points | An elegant expression of grenache in Chateauneuf, this has a wealth of red berries and summer flowers. The very solid tannins have been expertly crafted, and they build beautifully in the long finish. Considering how the vineyards were hit by hail just before the harvest, this has turned out very well. 

Expert Reviews - Base 2021

The Wine Advocate 95 Points | Emmanuel Brochet’s NV Le Mont Benoit (2021 base), which includes 40% reserve wines from 2020 and 2019, was disgorged in May 2024 with a dosage of four grams per liter—slightly higher than usual. He notes that this modest adjustment was necessitated by the incisive profile of the base vintage. The wine unfurls from the glass with aromas of green apple, chamomile and peeled almond. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, chiseled, bright and laden with electric acidity, culminating in a long, chalky finish marked by a distinctive bitterness. Stylistically, this bottling slightly diverges from recent iterations shaped by a string of warm vintages, but qualitatively speaking, it is unmistakably the same superb cuvée. While Brochet himself expresses a degree of dissatisfaction due to its higher malic acid, such critique speaks to the standards of a perfectionist. This rendition, in all likelihood, will age beautifully over the coming years.  

Memo Summary Notes

The Emmanuel Brochet Rosé de Saignée Extra Brut "R21" is a highly sought-after, "unicorn" grower Champagne. It is crafted by Emmanuel Brochet, a cult producer based in Villers-aux-Nœuds on the Montagne de Reims, known for his tiny production and extremely meticulous organic farming.

The "R21" notation indicates that the base year for this non-vintage release is the 2021 harvest.

Founded in 1806 by Scottish wine merchant John Lewis Brown of Colstun, Château Cantenac Brown is one of Margaux's most storied estates — a 3ème Grand Cru Classé of 1855, instantly recognizable by its spectacular Tudor-style château. Acquired in 2019 by the Le Lous family, the estate is undergoing a new chapter of modernization, including the construction of a pioneering raw earth cellar designed to deepen the expression of terroir in every bottle.

The Château Cantenac Brown Margaux 2021 750ml is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot, with the Cabernet harvested late — between October 4th and 12th — to achieve full phenolic ripeness. Aged in 60% new French oak, it is medium to full-bodied, layered, and seamless, with a perfumed bouquet of black cherry, raspberry, cassis, tobacco, and rose petal. The palate is vibrant and exquisitely structured, with chalky tannins, lively acidity, and a long, elegant finish marked by crushed stone and a touch of bitter dark chocolate. A wine of great character, definition, and classicism.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

• Decanter — 93 Points: "Perfumed black cherries and raspberries on the nose. Waves of juicy, bright red summer berries with creamy, chalky edges. Great character, energy and classicism with slate and crushed stone. Extremely attractive finish."
• Jane Anson — 93 Points: "Excellent quality, well put together, finessed and powerful with black cherry fruits and raspberry purée, with tiny pulses of lemongrass acidity."
• Wine Advocate — 92–94 Points: "Cassis, wild berries, loamy soil and cigar box. Medium to full-bodied, layered and seamless, with good concentration, lively acids and a nicely defined finish."
• Vinous — 92–94 Points: "Sweet red-fleshed fruit, tobacco, incense and rose petal. Vibrant and exquisitely layered. Quite promising."

Wine Details

• 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot
• Margaux AOC, 3ème Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France
• Aged in 60% new French oak
• Vintage: 2021
• 750ml

Gamet Champagne Rosé Brut NV — Vallée de la Marne, Champagne (Base 2021)

Champagne Gamet is a fourth-generation grower-producer — récoltant manipulant — rooted in three villages on both banks of the Marne: Mardeuil on the left bank, and Fleury-la-Rivière and Damery on the right. Founded after World War I by Victoire Garnier and carried forward by Marianne Gamet today, the estate farms eight hectares of practicing organic vineyards and controls every step from vine to bottle. This Rosé Brut NV is a black-grape-only blend — 85% Meunier, 15% Pinot Noir — with 8% red Meunier Coteaux Champenois vinified in foudre, built on a 70% 2021 base with 30% reserve wines back to 2014. Jeb Dunnuck awarded it 92 points. At $57.99, it is one of grower Champagne’s most compelling values.

The wine opens with bright red cherry fruit, chalk, mint, white pepper, and orange peel, lifted by vivid acidity. On the palate, it is powerful and vinous with a thick, creamy mousse, flavors of raspberry purée, juicy apricot, tea rose, and slivered almond, and a clay minerality that gives volume and structure. Aged 25 months on the lees, dosed at 5g/L, and disgorged January 2025. Festive, full-bodied, and built for the table.

"The NV Brut Rosé is a powerful, vinous Champagne. Bright red cherry fruit, chalk, mint, white pepper and orange peel fill out its layers, lifted by bright acids that wrap it all together. This Meunier-driven Rosé is particularly impressive." — Jeb Dunnuck, 92 Points

"A tightly meshed rosé Champagne set on a thick, creamy mousse, with firm acidity defining flavors of raspberry purée, juicy apricot, tea rose and slivered almond." — Wine Spectator, 90 Points

• Producer: Champagne Gamet, Mardeuil, Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France
• Cuvee: Rosé Brut NV (Base 2021)
• Appellation: Champagne AOC
• Sub-Region: Vallée de la Marne
• Blend: 85% Meunier, 15% Pinot Noir (8% vin rouge in foudre)
• Farming: Practicing Organic
• Vinification: Stainless steel with 10% oak; yes malo; 25 months on lees; dosage 5g/L
• Disgorgement: January 2025
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Red cherry, chalk, mint, white pepper, raspberry, apricot, tea rose, creamy mousse
• Cellar Potential: Drink now through 2029
• Best Paired With: Oysters, lobster, salmon tartare, charcuterie, strawberry desserts

A 92-point grower Champagne Rosé from one of the Marne’s most dedicated family estates — Gamet is the benchmark for what practicing organic Meunier can deliver in a glass.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot | Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux / France
Vintage: 2019  |  Size: 750ml  |  Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel · 90+ Rated

Château Le Crock is one of Saint-Estèphe’s most distinguished estates, owned by the Cuvelier family — the same family behind the legendary Léoville-Poyferré in Saint-Julien. Spread across 32 hectares of deep gravel beds overlooking the Gironde Estuary, the vineyard benefits from the river’s natural thermal regulation and soils that express all the power and complexity of the Saint-Estèphe terroir. With an average vine age of 50 years — many planted before the Second World War — and organic farming trials introduced since 2015, this is an estate that takes the long view.

The 2019 is a powerful, classic Saint-Estèphe. Blackberries, currants, loamy soil, cigar wrapper, and a rush of scorched earth, licorice, and tobacco on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, broad and fleshy, with an ample core of succulent dark fruit, ripe powdery tannins, and a long, complex finish with notes of cast iron, dark walnut, and bitter citrus. A wine built for the cellar — best from 2024 through 2035.

“Wafting from the glass with aromas of blackberries, currants, loamy soil and cigar wrapper, it’s medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, with an ample core of succulent fruit underpinned by ripe, powdery tannins.”
— Wine Advocate, 92 Points. (Vintage 2019). 

“Leads off with sweet bay leaf, tobacco and warm earth hints, which are quickly met by a core of steeped plum and black currant fruit. Shows subtle charcoal dusting and a note of cast iron that add fuel to the finish. Best from 2023 through 2035.”
— Wine Spectator, 92 Points. (Vintage 2019). 

“A powerful, burly Saint-Estèphe… rich, virile and packed, the 2019 is big, hearty wine that shows the savory personality of Saint-Estèphe. There is certainly a lot of wine here.”
— Vinous, 92 Points. (Vintage 2019). 

“Lots of blackcurrants and spices with some dried flowers follow through to a medium body with firm, silky tannins and a bitter-citrus and dark-walnut aftertaste. Needs time to soften.”
— James Suckling, 92 Points. (Vintage 2019). 

Pairs with: Roast lamb, duck confit, beef tenderloin, aged hard cheeses, or classic Bordelaise dishes.

Pre-Arrival - Expected date for delivery and/or pick up Thursday February 12, 2026

Expert Reviews

Isabel Ferrando’s reputation for outstanding wines has grown every vintage since her first release in 2003. As a woman owned business and winemaker, Isabel has built a tremendous reputation producing highly acclaimed wines. 

"Proprietress Isabel Ferrando has taken her Saint Prefert estate to France’s highest level, and she’s unquestionably making some of the most profound wines on earth today, including both reds and whites.”   —Wine Critic - Jeb Dunnuck

"Hard work. Subtle tweaks. Responsible farming. An uncompromising dedication to quality. Isabel Ferrando keeps doing things the right way, and her wines are dramatic proof.” —James Molesworth, Wine Spectator.

"one thing that remains constant is the incredible quality that continues to emerge from this talented winemaker.” Jeb Dunuck. 

The Wine Spectator 95 Points | A perfumed, elegant and complex version, with inviting, high-toned notes of red currant and cherry draped with warm licorice. The palate starts out supple, then solid ballasts of graphite and fine tannins firm everything up for a fresh, focused finish that wafts with smoked sandalwood. Brown bread, cinnamon and nutmeg add complexity, with penetrating mineral depth. Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Mourvèdre. 

Winemaker Description

Dark red with delicately organ-colored edge the color, the nose reminiscent of ripe, dark stone fruit. In the mouth, notes of spices join in. The fellow drinker dreamed a club from the deer with cranberries.

Promesse is the second wine from Chteau Franc Maillet and represents wonderful value. This estate is located very close to the Pomerol plateau and bears all the hallmarks for which the region is celebrated for.

On the nose, it has notes of violets and a touch of truffle and black berries, whilst on the palate it is silky and velvety with a rich long voluptuous finish.

Pair with roast beef, lamb, mushrooms or truffles, for an elegant drinking experience

Grape variety: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet franc

Louis Jadot is one of Burgundy's most storied and trusted négociants, with a history stretching back to 1859 and holdings across the Côte d'Or's most celebrated appellations. Their Clos de Malte is a monopole vineyard in Santenay — the southernmost village of the Côte de Beaune — where Jadot's technical director Frédéric Barnier has long championed a philosophy of freshness and balance, blocking malolactic conversion to preserve the wine's natural energy and precision.

The Domaine Louis Jadot Santenay Clos de Malte Blanc 2023 750ml is a 100% Chardonnay from the top of the Santenay slope, aged in one-third new French oak. It opens with forward aromas of ripe apple, pear, white flowers, toasted nuts, and candied citrus. On the palate it is silky and medium to full-bodied, satiny and seamless, with bright flinty acidity that gives the wine excellent energy and length. Charming, expressive, and built for both near-term pleasure and short-term cellaring.

Expert Reviews

• Decanter — 92 Points: "Easy to love, with forward aromas of ripe apples, pears and a hint of white flowers. The whole task is to keep the freshness and balance — his tactics seem to have worked."
• James Suckling — 91 Points: "Attractive toasty and nutty aromas married to generous candied citrus fruit on the silky, medium- to full-bodied palate. Bright, flinty acidity gives this excellent energy."
• Wine Advocate — 90 Points: "Aromas of peach, pear, orange zest and toasted nuts. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and seamless. Charming and expressive — another solid performance for this reliable bottling."

Wine Details

• 100% Chardonnay — Clos de Malte monopole
• Santenay AOC, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France
• Aged in 1/3 new French oak | Malolactic blocked
• Vintage: 2023 | 750ml

Pierre Paillard Les Parcelles Extra Brut Grand Cru — Bouzy NV

Pierre Paillard’s Les Parcelles is the definitive expression of Bouzy Grand Cru — a mosaic cuvée assembled from approximately 25 distinct parcels across the village’s sun-drenched, south-facing slopes. The blend is 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, based on the 2020 harvest with 20% reserve wines, and it captures everything that makes Bouzy one of Champagne’s most celebrated Grand Cru villages: power, structure, and a chalky subsoil that keeps the wine focused and precise. Fermented in 350-liter oak barrels and cellared three years on the lees before disgorgement, the wine is dosed at just 2 g/L — Extra Brut in spirit and in fact. Rated 92 points by The Wine Advocate.

The bouquet is expressive and layered: pear, ripe citrus, and warm spices mingle with toasted bread, orange zest, and a whisper of brioche. On the palate, the wine is medium- to full-bodied with a lively, luminous fruit profile driven by racy acidity. The Pinot Noir from Bouzy’s south-facing slopes delivers depth and structure, while the Chardonnay adds finesse and brightness. The finish is long and pronounced, with a saline, chalky mineral drive that is the hallmark of great Bouzy terroir.

Wine Advocate 92 — “Livelier, more luminous fruit… racy acidity and a pronounced saline finish. A precise expression of Bouzy terroir.”

• Producer: Pierre Paillard, Bouzy, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France
• Appellation: Champagne Grand Cru
• Village: Bouzy (south-facing slopes)
• Blend: 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay
• Base Vintage: 2020 (with 20% reserve wines)
• Parcels: ~25 distinct parcels across Bouzy
• Style: Extra Brut
• Vinification: 350-liter oak barrels
• Lees Aging: 3 years before disgorgement
• Dosage: 2 g/L
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Pear, ripe citrus, warm spices, toasted bread, orange zest, brioche, racy acidity, saline chalky finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, grilled fish, roast chicken, duck, charcuterie, aged cheeses, mushroom dishes

92 points from The Wine Advocate. 25 parcels. 3 years on the lees. 2 g/L dosage. Pierre Paillard’s Les Parcelles is Bouzy Grand Cru Champagne at its most precise and compelling.

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

Pascal Janvier Coteaux du Loir Blanc bears a unique aromatic signature. Exotically perfumed with hints of guava, musk, and clove, it finishes dry and quite flinty. 

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Citrus and lemon aromas with slight notes of fresh grass. The mouth is balanced and structured.

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Light gold in color and green highlights, this Savagnin surprises with its mineral, floral and fruity notes. This complex wine offers lemony, mineral notes, aromas of white flowers and substance for a long, pleasant finish.

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The perfect association between the elegance and finesse of Chardonnay, with white flowers and white fruits aromas, pleasantly combined with roasted almond and hazelnut notes brought by the Savagnin.

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In the nose, this wine is powerful and complex, It develops smoked and toasted aromas, and more particularly aromas of brioche associated to the notes of honey and vanilla. The mouth is frank, round and rich. This wine is perfectly balanced.

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to five business days to fulfill.

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to five business days to fulfill.

A fresh and engergetic Chardonnay that expresses the true character of Burgundy’s signature white grape variety. Perron de Mypont Chardonnay is sourced from selected vineyard parcels in the classic Chardonnay areas of the Côte de Beaune, Côte Chalonnaise, and Chablis. 

To ensure elegance and delicacy in the wine, the grapes were picked at optimal ripeness during cool mornings early in the harvest. Following fermentation, the wine was matured for nine months in used French oak barriques and 600-liter demi-muids to develop texture and complexity, while maintaining freshness. T

he finished wine is rounded and well balanced, with an aroma of white fruits and delicate flowers atop a fine mineral structure.

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

This fresh herbal wine is full of tangy, zesty fruits. It is bright, with a tight texture that will open out. Drink this attractive wine from late 2021.

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A very brilliant ruby red with beautiful purple nuances. Immediate and generous, the nose opens with notes of fresh red and black fruits such as cherry and blueberry, then it is enriched with cocoa powder and a delicate hint of licorice. Round and concentrated from the start, this wine develops a balanced structure on the palate. Present but delicate tannins and a tasty acidity highlight the fruit so well that it lingers on for a long time.

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Vinous 95 Points | The 2019 Clos de la Dioterie is a sophisticated, seductively perfumed style—brooding yet aromatic. Its concentrated flavors are pure; it remains light and elegant, with a delectable, chalky, veil-like texture residing on your tongue as the finish draws out with precision, sinew and line. This is a fine, texturally intriguing wine.

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Mainly from Mourvèdre, which gives it this character that is both powerful and subtle, it expresses all the richness of a terroir on the shores of the Mediterranean. The Gueissard red asserts itself as a gastronomic wine that can be enjoyed now or in a few years.

Winemaker Description 

Daniel and Julien Barraud’s 2023 Clos la Verchère Pouilly-Fuissé comes from the south facing ‘La Maréchaude’ premier cru vineyard comprised of Chardonnay vines with more than 60 years of age grown on limestone rich soils. Fermented and aged in oak barrels, 20% of which are new, brings forth a wine of richness and precision. Aromas of orchard fruits, wild flowers and roasted hazelnuts on the bouquet with energetic acidity and purity on the palate and a long mineral rich finish.

Made from certified organic estate grown grapes.

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Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | A great vintage for this cuvée, the 2022 Gigondas Terrasse Du Diable comes from higher elevation sites and pure limestone soils. (It's mostly Grenache.) Rocking levels of kirsch, ripe cherries, chalky minerality, melted licorice, and white flowers all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a round, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's one hell of a sexy, ripe, impossible-to-resist Gigondas.

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A long, light but enveloping robe… Aromas of fresh fruits and spices… Curves of Grenache spiced with Mourvèdre and Syrah, blending with the connections of sandstone and pebble plots, delicately draped in clay and sand. What could be more sensual and elegant?

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Situated at the entry to Burgundy’s Elysian Fields, Gevrey-Chambertin is a historic village where Pinot Noir reaches its pinnacle. The village’s vineyards, with their prime east to southeast exposures, thrive on a blend of brown limestone soils and clayey marls rich in fossil deposits. This unique terroir imparts elegance, delicacy, body, and firmness to the wine. From the first sip, this wine indulges the senses with a vibrant blend of fresh strawberries and violets, which will transition to complex notes of licorice and leather as the wine matures. It is a true representation of the best that Burgundy has to offer.

Memo Summary Notes

• Complex bouquet of dark red and blue fruits (black cherry, black raspberry), floral notes (violets, potpourri), and earthy/mineral undertones.

• Palate: Full-bodied for a Beaujolais, with a seamless texture and a fleshy, concentrated core of fruit. Expect good acidity, subtle spice, and a tactile, mineral-driven finish. It has the structure to age for several years.

From over 50-year-old southwest-facing vines on sandy, granitic soils, La Croix des Rameaux is a rich and elegant Gamay made with close attention paid to managing extraction, so the wine maintains lift and energy.

Pair with

• Roast chicken or turkey (especially with herbs).

• Rich Dishes: Beef bourguignon, a savory mushroom risotto, or a hearty stew.

• Meats: Cured meats, lamb tongue, or any roast white meat.

• Casual: Gourmet pizza or dishes with red sauce.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Expert Review - Vintage 2015

Alison Napjus of the Wine Spectator writes 97 Points |  Like a racing spinnaker, this is tightly trimmed yet voluminous in character. Toasty notes of roasted almond and vanilla wafer are deftly integrated with sun-dried black cherry, baked peach, blood orange sorbet and candied ginger flavors, all well-defined by racy acidity and a subtle streak of salinity. This is long and fragrant, with pain d'épices, graphite and tea rose notes playing on the finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged February 2024. Drink now through 2040.

William Kelley of the Wine Advocate writes 96 Points | Bollinger's 2015 Brut La Grande Année Rosé was disgorged in May last year with seven grams per liter dosage. Offering up deep aromas of orchard fruits, blood orange, mandarin rind and peach mingled with nuances of coffee, praline and fino sherry, it's medium to full-bodied, pillowy and layered, with a broad attack that segues into a vinous palate framed by high levels of structuring dry extract that makes its presence felt on the sapid, nutty and penetrating finish. Given the skin maturity and inherent structure of the year, the Bollinger team elected to include only 4.5% of still red wine in the blend, a comparatively low percentage.

Winemaker Description 

A good balance of fresh but softly perfumed ripe red currant and strawberry fruits with a touch of rosewater and anise. The nose leads to well-rounded but lively crunchy red fruits on the palate with spice and chalk notes on the elegantly tailored finish.

After being founded in the 1750s, in the mid-18th century, the Domaine de Montille century extended over 12 hectares. The family's financial problems meant that Etienne de Montille, the manager at that time, had to abandon certain parcels of land and focus on 3 hectares, mainly in Volnay. With the arrival of Hubert de Montille, Etienne's grandson, the domaine took off in another direction. Like his father, Hubert was a lawyer, however he would go on to lead a double life as a wine grower and a lawyer. He decided to produce his own wines from A to Z. Within a few decades, he would become one of the finest examples in the region, perfectly expressing the terroir of each climat with pure and elegant wines.

Today, the domaine is managed by Etienne and Alix de Montille, Hubert's children who also were originally steered towards a legal career. The domaine now has 20 hectares of vines, including 15 of grand and premier crus, on the best climats of Burgundy, in white and red! Domaine de Montille now produces its wines using biodynamic methodology, perpetuating the tradition of innovation and excellence introduced by Hubert de Montille. Etienne and Alix also created a mini trading structure, Maison Deux Montille Soeur Frère.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018 

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points | From one of my favorite estates in Pomerol, the 2018 Château Le Gay knocks it out of the park and has that classic Pomerol mix of sexy opulence paired with an incredible sense of finesse. Offering an already complex bouquet of crème de cassis, black cherries, white truffle, camphor, tobacco, and acacia flowers, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless, expansive texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. I'd be thrilled with bottles in the cellar. It's going to put a smile on any wine lover's face over the coming 20-25 years.

James Suckling 97 Points | Aromas of plums, violets and mushrooms with earthy notes. Fleshy and succulent texture to the full body with round, firm tannins and a salivating, savory finish. Very persistent. Opulent and reserved at the same time. Contrastive wine. Drink after 2025.

Wine Advocate 95 Points | Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Le Gay has a beautifully perfumed nose of lavender essence, chocolate-covered cherries and preserved plums, leading to a fragrant undercurrent of kirsch, licorice and fertile loam. The concentrated, full-bodied palate (15% alcohol) delivers bold, black fruit flavors with compelling red berry sparks and a plush texture, finishing long with just enough freshness.

Vinous 94 Points | The 2018 Le Gay is unusually reticent today. Lavender, rose petal, mint, blood orange and crushed red berry fruit emerge over time. Deceptive in its mid-weight structure, the 2018 packs serious punch. It is one of more sensual wines of the vintage in Pomerol, but readers will have to be patient, as the 2018 is in no mood to show its cards just yet.

Wine Spectator 93-96 Points | Plum, boysenberry and açaí berry flavors give this a slightly exotic character, with a polished texture and lingering anise notes. Shows latent grip on the finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Winemaker Description 

Expert Review

Burghound Allen Meadows 93 Points | Much more layered aromas are comprised by notes of wet stone, citrus confit, Granny Smith apple and pretty spice wisps. The dense but sleek and highly energetic larger-bodied flavors display impressive power and length on the compact, austere and impeccably balanced finale. This is excellent and a wine that is built to repay extended keeping.