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$79.95
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WE 95
WS 94
RP 92
France
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Rhone
-
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In stock,
1
available
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List $92.00
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95 points Wine Enthusiast: "One of the big names of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and this wine justifies the fame of the Perrin family’s property. It is a rich style, but, more importantly, it is beautifully made, structured, dense, with red jelly fruits, a touch of vanilla and a fat, full-bodied, but firm aftertaste. This is a wine for aging...give it at least five years before touching it. (12/31/05)"
94 points Wine Spectator: "[$90 list] Young and tight, with garrigue and roasted game aromas peeking out from a core of ripe black currant, plum and fig fruit. Lots of toast tobacco and iron as well. The finish is well-endowed with tannins, but they are ripe and pure. Best from 2008 through 2025. Highly Recommended. (5/31/06)"
92+ points Robert Parker: "The 2003 Beaucastel Châteauneuf du Pape turned out as well as I could have hoped and is certainly an outstanding wine, deep ruby/purple with a tight but promising nose of black fruits, loamy, earthy notes intermixed with pepper, smoke, licorice, and dried herbs. The wine is somewhat closed in the mouth (but it had been bottled 30 days prior to my visit), has full bodied, moderately high, slightly rustic tannins, but big-impact flavors with plenty of texture, density, and purity. Give this wine 3-5 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following 20 years. (Feb 2006)"
92 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Dark red. Vibrant raspberry, blackberry, floral and spice aromas convey impressive purity and freshness. Supple and sweet, with deep red fruit flavors, hints of floral pastille and baking spices and gentle tannins. This wine has more grenache than usual for the property, which makes it one of the most graceful (despite the hot vintage) wines I've had from the Perrins. Clean and energetic on the finish, which echoes the red fruit and floral qualities. (Dec 2008)"
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$63.95
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WS 94
RP 91
France
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Rhone
-
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In stock,
1
available
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94 points Wine Spectator: "Big wine, with a wall of structure around a core of black currant, blackberry and fig fruit. Plenty of exotic spice, dark chocolate, licorice and graphite notes skitter in the background, with a long finish that drips with fruit. Best from 2008 through 2025. (4/30/06)"
91 points Robert Parker: "A brilliant wine, the dark ruby/purple colored 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape exhibits a distinctive and possibly controversial nose of spearmint and eucalyptus intermixed with melted black chocolate, roasted meats, and plenty of herbs and black cherry liqueur. It is deep, fleshy, full-bodied, and savory. I would drink this wine over the next decade without hesitation. (Feb 2006)"
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$99.95
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WS 95
BD 95
RP 94
France
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Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock,
6
available
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95 points Wine Spectator: "Loads of crushed berries, with mineral, lightly toasted oak and licorice. Full-bodied, with big, velvety tannins and a long, caressing finish. This is the sleeper of the vintage. Best after 2010. (3/31/06)"
95 points Bettane & Desseauve's Guide to the Wines of France: "Very elegant shape and structure, with a dreamily velvety texture. The flavor has more pronounced notes of cabernet sauvignon than most of the other Second Growths from this appellation. Great follow-through on the palate. Drink: 2011 up to 2025. (2011)"
94 points Robert Parker: "This extraordinary 2003 tops the scale at only 13% alcohol, but it exhibits a similarity at this stage to the brilliant 1982. A dense plum/purple color is followed by a big, sweet, ripe nose of blackberries, kirsch liqueur, earth, and hints of truffle and licorice. The wine is opulent, even unctuously textured, with low acidity, but powerful, concentrated, dense, chewy flavors. The wine is high in tannin, but it is sweet and well-integrated. Madame Gasqueton thinks it is an atypical but brilliant wine for Calon-Segur. By the traditional standards practiced at this estate, the 2003 is a more precocious and flamboyant effort. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2030. (Apr 2006)"
<94 points Wine Enthusiast: "A powerfully velvety wine, which still packs a walloping punch of Saint-Estèphe tannins. The fruit, under these tannins, is pure, ripe, black and generous. But there is the proper dryness that shows how the team at Calon-Sègur managed to tame some of the excesses of the 2003 vintage. This will develop, slowly, into a great wine. (May 2006)"
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$37.95
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France
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Burgundy
-
Cote d'Or White
In stock,
1
available
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A full-bodied and ageworthy White Burgundy with notes of roasted almond, vanilla and fresh fig.
Clive Coates (The Wines of Burgundy): "Claude Chevalier, tall, handsome and in his fifties now, is in charge here; father Georges, who first started bottling in 1959, retired some 10 years ago. Since 2000 there have been a number of changes for the better here. Yields have been reduced, and the wines are altogether more sophisticated. This is one of the best addresses in the village (of Ladoix)."
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$250.00
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RP 98
WS 97
BD 97
France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock,
7
available
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98 points Robert Parker: "The prodigious, fantastic 2003 Cos d’Estournel is a candidate for 'wine of the vintage.' A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon (unusually high for this chateau), 30% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, 17,500 cases were produced from low yields. An inky/blue/purple color is accompanied by a compelling perfume of black fruits, subtle smoke, pain grille, incense, and flowers. With extraordinary richness, full body, and remarkable freshness, elegance, and persistence, this is one of the finest wines ever made by this estate. The good news is that it will be drinkable at a young age yet evolve for three decades or more. Kudos to winemaker Jean-Guillaume Prats and owner Michel Reybier. (Apr 2006)"
97 points Wine Spectator: "Gorgeous aromas of blackberry, spice and mineral. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a long, long finish. This is first-growth quality. Best after 2012. (3/31/06)"
97 points Bettane & Desseauve's Guide to the Wines of France: "Magnificent color, powerful aromas dominated by spice, oak well integrated on both the nose and palate. A wine with all the body and structure of a great vintage. Tannins are neither aggressive nor tight; tremendous length. A superb wine, very generous. Drink: 2011 up to 2025. (2011)"
95 points Wine Enthusiast: "With its aromas of new wood, spice and black fruits, this promises from the start to be a powerful, polished wine. It is dense, very ripe (from the high percentage of Merlot in the blend), but still packed with tannins. It’s a massive wine, bringing together the heat of 2003 with the big tannins of Saint-Estèphe. (Apr 2006)"
94 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Red-ruby. Knockout nose combines currant, espresso, earth and exotic spices. Wonderfully round and sweet, with outstanding volume and density. A spherical, seamless wine that saturates the entire palate. The huge but lush tannins coat the teeth. This is accessible now but has the sheer material for long aging. (May/Jun 2006)"
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$98.95
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IWC 93
France
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Rhone
-
Hermitage/Crozes-Hermitage
In stock,
1
available
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List $125.00
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93 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "[$125 list] Dark ruby. Powerful aromas of roasted red berries and plum jam, with a hint of prune. Then chewy but vibrant in the mouth, with building flavors of fresh raspberry and cherry. Very concentrated and long, finishing with strong tannins and lingering red berries. (Jan/Feb 2006)"
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$149.95
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IWC 92
France
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Champagne
In stock,
1
available
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List $200.00
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92 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Deep pink. Red berry preserves, baking spices and dried flowers on the nose, along with subtle notes of toasty lees and vanilla bean. Lush and creamy, with deep, smoky red fruit and poached pear flavors and a hint of allspice. This broad, weighty example finishes with very good cling and gently sweet persistence. (Nov/Dec 2010)"
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$745.00
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RP 100
WE 99
France
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Rhone
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Cote Rotie
In stock,
1
available
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100 points Robert Parker: "Dense purple to the rim with a nose of graphite, creosote, earth, olives, and black, black, black fruits, the primordial, full-bodied, monumental 2003 Cote Rotie La Landonne is amazing stuff. I suspect this is more akin to a dry vintage port than most Cote Roties ever tend to be, but the purity, the richness, the texture, the length are all out of this world. This wine does need some patience on the part of its purchasers, probably five years, more likely 8-10, but then one of the world’s most compelling elixirs will be at its peak for another 20-30+ years. (Apr 2007)"
99 points Wine Enthusiast: "Dense and rich but also incredibly complex, long and elegant, this is a momumental Côte-Rôtie. It’s darkly fruited and superripe, yet doesn’t lose its essential sense of terroir, remaining marked by scents of pepper and espresso to go with the chocolate and cassis fruit. Velvety in texture, this is the one of Guigal’s 2003 Côte-Rôties that demands a few years of cellaring. Drink 2010-2040. A Cellar Selection. (Sep 2007)"
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$449.95
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RP 93
France
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Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock,
7
available
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93 points Robert Parker: "A spectacular value as well as a sleeper of the vintage is the 135,000-bottle cuvee of 2003 Carruades de Lafite (50% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Cabernet Franc). This amazing effort rivals such superb second wines as the 1989 Bahans-Haut-Brion and 1982 Forts de Latour. A serious red, it is sexy, opulent, rich, and luscious with silky tannin, enormous body, and wave after wave of mocha-infused black cherry and cassis fruit. It is almost too good to be believed. While drinkable now, it should evolve for 12-15 years or longer."
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$149.95
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RJ 92–96
WA 94
JG 94
France
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Champagne
In stock, 12+ available
|
List $169.00
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92-96 points Richard Juhlin (Jun 2012).
94+ points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "[$169 list] The 2003 is one of the most unusual Dom Perignons I have ever tasted, going back to 1952. Readers will remember that 2003 was a torrid vintage across northern Europe, especially during the critical month of August, when temperatures remained very hot for well over a month. The harvest was the earliest on record, until 2011, that is. I suppose its not that surprising Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy chose to make a 2003 Dom Perignon, given his penchant for risk-taking, an approach that has yielded so many memorable wines that stretch the perception of what big brand Champagne is and can be. The 2003 Dom Perignon is a big, broad shouldered wine. It does not have the seductiveness of the 2000, nor the power of the 2002. It is instead very much its own wine. In 2003 Geoffroy elected to use more Pinot Noir than is typically the case, and that comes through in the wine’s breath and volume. The 2003 is a big, powerful Champagne that will require quite a bit of time to shed some of its baby fat. The trademark textural finesse is there, though. I expect the 2003 to be a highly divisive Champagne because of its extreme personality, but then again, many of the world’s legendary wines were made from vintages considered freakish at the time. The 2003 is an atypically, rich, powerful, vinous Dom Perignon loaded with fruit, structure and personality. It is not for the timid, but rather it is a wine for those who can be patient. No one has a crystal ball, but personally I will not be surprised if in 20 years’ time the 2003 is considered an iconic Champagne. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2038. (Nov 2011)"
94+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 2003 Dom Perignon, which I had not had a chance to taste when it was initially released, is really a quite stunning example of the vintage. When I had initially heard that Moët et Chandon was planning to release a Dom Perignon from this torrid summer, I was a bit surprised, but figured that the superb track record Dom Perignon has had over the last several decades was sufficient evidence to not judge the wine before it was tasted. So, I was not disappointed to find that the 2003 Dom Perignon is indeed a young and classic wine in the making, with plenty of structural integrity and customary youthful snappiness. The lovely and very fresh nose wafts from the glass in a blend of quince green apple, complex minerality, young Dom herbal complications, sourdough bread, citrus peel and a nice touch of white flowers in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, young and very well-balanced, with a rock solid core, superb mineral drive, refined mousse, outstanding acidity and fine focus and grip on the very long and youthful finish. A lovely Dom in the making that is quite classic in profile and needing time in the cellar to really start to offer up its secondary layers of complexity. 2019-2040. (Jan/Feb 2013)"
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$159.95
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RJ 92–96
WA 94
JG 94
France
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Champagne
In stock, 12+ available
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Dom Pérignon by David Lynch is a limited-edition bottling designed by the famous director, David Lynch. Displaying a bronze label with metallic designs, it is marbled with grantie tints, glitters of mica, shot through with bright trails for a flourish of modernity. The silver signature of David Lynch stands out as a hallmark of elegance.
92-96 points Richard Juhlin (Jun 2012).
94+ points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 2003 is one of the most unusual Dom Perignons I have ever tasted, going back to 1952. Readers will remember that 2003 was a torrid vintage across northern Europe, especially during the critical month of August, when temperatures remained very hot for well over a month. The harvest was the earliest on record, until 2011, that is. I suppose its not that surprising Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy chose to make a 2003 Dom Perignon, given his penchant for risk-taking, an approach that has yielded so many memorable wines that stretch the perception of what big brand Champagne is and can be. The 2003 Dom Perignon is a big, broad shouldered wine. It does not have the seductiveness of the 2000, nor the power of the 2002. It is instead very much its own wine. In 2003 Geoffroy elected to use more Pinot Noir than is typically the case, and that comes through in the wine’s breath and volume. The 2003 is a big, powerful Champagne that will require quite a bit of time to shed some of its baby fat. The trademark textural finesse is there, though. I expect the 2003 to be a highly divisive Champagne because of its extreme personality, but then again, many of the world’s legendary wines were made from vintages considered freakish at the time. The 2003 is an atypically, rich, powerful, vinous Dom Perignon loaded with fruit, structure and personality. It is not for the timid, but rather it is a wine for those who can be patient. No one has a crystal ball, but personally I will not be surprised if in 20 years’ time the 2003 is considered an iconic Champagne. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2038. (Nov 2011)"
94+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 2003 Dom Perignon, which I had not had a chance to taste when it was initially released, is really a quite stunning example of the vintage. When I had initially heard that Moët et Chandon was planning to release a Dom Perignon from this torrid summer, I was a bit surprised, but figured that the superb track record Dom Perignon has had over the last several decades was sufficient evidence to not judge the wine before it was tasted. So, I was not disappointed to find that the 2003 Dom Perignon is indeed a young and classic wine in the making, with plenty of structural integrity and customary youthful snappiness. The lovely and very fresh nose wafts from the glass in a blend of quince green apple, complex minerality, young Dom herbal complications, sourdough bread, citrus peel and a nice touch of white flowers in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, young and very well-balanced, with a rock solid core, superb mineral drive, refined mousse, outstanding acidity and fine focus and grip on the very long and youthful finish. A lovely Dom in the making that is quite classic in profile and needing time in the cellar to really start to offer up its secondary layers of complexity. 2019-2040. (Jan/Feb 2013)"
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$275.00
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RP 98
BD 97
WS 96
France
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Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock,
9
available
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98+ points Robert Parker: "The 2003 Pavie (7,080 cases; 13.5% alcohol) is closest in style to the 2000, but slightly more evolved and exotic. Its dense plum/purple color is accompanied by an extraordinary perfume of charcoal, creme de cassis, melted licorice, espresso roast, and blackberries. The wine, which hits the palate with a dramatic minerality, comes across like a hypothetical blend of limestone liqueur intermixed with black and red fruits. With massive depth, richness, and body, this tannic 2003 should be forgotten for 4-5 years, then enjoyed over the next four decades. The integration of acidity, tannin, and wood is flawless, and the wine is incredibly pure, rich, and intense. (Apr 2006)"
97 points Bettane & Desseauve's Guide to the Wines of France: "With age, this wine is showing its expansive dimensions and demonstrating its nobility and class. The bouquet is still lively with notes of black fruit and figs; the rich, deep, and unctuous body is becoming supremely elegant. Drink: 2011 up to 2030. (2011)"
96 points Wine Spectator: "Dark purple. Shows intense aromas of raisin, coffee and treacle tart. Very, very ripe. Full-bodied, superrich and velvety. This is so layered and powerful. Blockbuster. Best after 2008. (7/31/06)"
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$119.95
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RP 95
WE 94
BD 94
France
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Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock,
2
available
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List $142.00
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95 points Robert Parker: "The brilliant, opulent, fleshy 2003 Pichon Lalande (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot) possesses a high pH of 3.8 as well as 13% alcohol. Reminiscent of the 1982 Pichon Lalande (which never shut down and continues to go from strength to strength), the dense plum/purple-colored 2003 offers gorgeous aromas of blackberries, plum liqueur, sweet cherries, smoke, and melted licorice. Fleshy, full-bodied, and intense, displaying a seamless integration of wood, acidity, tannin, and alcohol, this beauty can be drunk now or cellared for 20 years or more. (Apr 2006)"
94 points Wine Enthusiast: "[$142 list] Normally one of the most elegant of Pauillacs, the 2003 is big and dense. These dark tannins mask delicious black fruit, flavors of spice and layers of acidity. This is going to develop relatively fast, despite the density of the wine, just because it is so rich. (May 2006)"
94 points Bettane & Desseauve's Guides to the Wines of France: "Noble cedar aroma with a dab of red pepper. Generous, open, and very sappy with very fine-grained tannins, this wine already has a great, persistent presence. Drink: 2011 up to 2025. (2011)"
93 points Wine Spectator: "Very pretty aromas of plum, blackberry, chocolate, espresso and cherry follow through to a full-bodied palate, with ultrasilky tannins, refined fruit and a long, caressing finish. This is fine and refined with a wonderful texture. Not quite the 2000, but excellent. Best after 2011. (3/31/06)"
93 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Good deep red. Flamboyantly expressive aromas of raspberry, currant, earth, smoked meat, chocolate and pepper. Fat, full and voluptuous yet somehow light on its feet. This has a texture of liquid velvet. Wonderfully opulent wine with considerable inner-palate flavor complexity: raspberry, game, leather, mocha and chocolate. Finishes with very fine-grained tannins that coat the entire palate. A wonderful success for the year, and a wine that can be enjoyed already, even if its sheer material promises 15 to 20 years of life in bottle. (May/Jun 2006)"
17.5/20 points Stephen Brook (The World of Fine Wine): "Very deep red, with none of the premature evolution that marks 2003s from some other top estates. The nose is blackberry-scented and stern, a touch baked, but that's certainly not the dominant character. The palate is rich, juicy, and fleshy, with virile tannins and admirable concentration. The overriding tone is solemn and close to dour, but although this has plenty of grip, there are no green or hard tannins. Despite slightly low acidity, this has ample presence on the palate with a chocolaty finish that betrays the vintage. Very good for 2003, with fairly good length. (Issue 23; 2009)"
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$59.95
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WS 90
France
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Champagne
In stock, 12+ available
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List $85.00
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90 points Wine Spectator: "[$85 list] This floral Champagne pairs its open-knit texture with mouthwatering acidity and flavors of green pear, pastry, ground clove and cardamom, as well as graphite and honey. Moderate finish. Drink now through 2016. 1,500 cases made. (2011)"
Ployez-Jacquemart is recognized as being a top producer regularly by the Wine Spectator, Jancis Robinson, La Revue de Vin de France, Peter Liem, View From the Cellar and the Wine Advocate. John Gilman offers that the wines of Ployez-Jacquemart are "one of the best-kept secrets in the realm of world class bubbly. The wines have never varied from their classic, complex and beautifully balanced style that emphasizes stunning purity of fruit, superb minerality, gentle leesy tones, very refined mousse and simply stunning complexity."
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$69.95
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IWC 90–93
AM 90
France
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Burgundy
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Cote d'Or Red
In stock,
1
available
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90-93 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Deep red. Subdued but pure aromas of raspberry, smoke, tar and earth. Sweet, pliant and dense, with a flavor of crushed cherries. There's more mid-palate stuffing here to support the wine's tannins. The chalky minerality brings finesse. A pliant, fine-grained wine with lovely sweetness and a finishing note of licorice. (Mar/Apr 2005)"
90 points Allen Meadows (Burghound): "Despite the power of the Bressandes, the Clos du Roi is bigger and more powerful still with plum, cassis and prune notes that introduce incredible dense and thick, mouth coating flavors blessed with an impressive amount of sap if not elegance. This is a more masculine effort that is very ripe but not enough to lose its sense of balance. Drink: 2013+. (Apr 2005)"
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$43.95
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France
-
Other
In stock,
11
available
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Importer notes: "An estate reflecting the image of an ever-changing Jura and family enterprise that was created in the early '40s by Désiré Rolet. A native vineyard consisting of 60 hectares distributed over the best hills of the Arbois and Côtes du Jura AOC vineyards, the Rolet Estate is the second largest winegrowing estate in the Jura. Tasting Notes: Its beautiful amber color reflects the presence of the Poulsard. The wine clings to the sides of the glass showing its level of concentration. 2003 was the ideal year for the harvest of straw wine. A confit of dry fruit, fig, apricots and quince dominates the nose. On the mouth, it is concentrated, persistent, and vivacious. This vintage is marvelous as an aperitif, paired with foie gras, dessert or simply by itself. Poulsard 20%, Chardonnay 40%, Savagnin 40%."
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$24.95
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France
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Bordeaux
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Red
In stock, 12+ available
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List $29.00
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WHWC Staff Notes: "After cranking out cases of the 1999 vintage, I was truly excited to see this favorite St.-Emilion return to the store. For those of you not familiar with Simard, it's important to note that this property shares the same ownership as the legendary Château Ausone. Historically, Château Simard has only produced one wine, which is bottled and aged in the cellar long before release. This gives the wine the time to develop its fragrance and for the flavors to develop complexity, nuance and finesse. Hence, we're currently selling the 2003 vintage. It is well aged and ready for drinking right now. After tasting it recently with some customers at our wine bar, I had to bring a bottle home to serve alongside my trusted crock-pot (beef, potatoes, and carrots). It has a brilliant ruby color with a ripe nose and silky finish. This vintage is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. If you're still hanging onto any misgivings about Merlot, you need to give this 10-year-old wine a try." - Mark Menchyk
Producer notes: "70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Brilliant ruby color with some brick tones.The nose has aromas of ripe, red fruit, plum jam and leather with a touch of cinnamon. In the mouth the wine is both silky and fleshy, with a full and round structure. This wine can be enjoyed with red meats, stews and grillade. It is well aged and ready for drinking now. Alcohol 12.5%."
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$55.95
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France
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Other
In stock, 12+ available
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17/20 points Gault & Millau: "The top 'vin jaunes' (yellow wines) are among the greatest wines in the world--as evidenced by this incredibly complex and rich wine, which displays aromas and flavors of nuts, curry, and notes of marc. The mouthfeel is worthy of a great Burgundy. Nose: fruity, spicy. Mouth: powerful white, creamy. Food Accompaniments: white meat (chicken, veal, sweetbreads), spicy Asian cuisine (curry, Thai, Indian); cheeses with refined and powerful aromas, hard cheeses. Alcohol 15%."
Produced only in exceptional vintages, this Savagnin wine is aged in old oak barrels for at least 6 years without any topping up to replace the portion of wine that evaporates. A thin later of yeast called 'voile' forms on the wine's surface similar to flor in the making of fino sherries. The result is a dry wine that ages well, rich in alcohol, very spicy and very aromatic.
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$99.95
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WS 93
France
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Champagne
In stock,
5
available
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List $146.00
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93 points Wine Spectator: "[$146 list] A silky, mouthwatering version, with appealing aromatics of apple blossom, spun honey, and ground anise and cardamom accenting flavors of persimmon, lemon meringue pie and tangerine. Full of finesse through to the lasting finish. Drink now through 2027. 78 cases imported. (12/15/12)"
Michael Edwards (The Finest Wines of Champagne): "Vilmart was one of the estates setting the gold standard for grower Champagnes in the late 20th century... Laurent Champs directs everything with meticulous care. The wines are fermented in oak casks, most being large foudres. His perfectionist approach pays off best in his top-of-the-line Vintage Champagnes... The line reaches its apogee in the vintages of Coeur de Cuvée. As the name implies, the wines are made from the best part, the 'heart' (or first pressings) of the cuvée. They are fermented in 225-liter barriques. The wood can dominate this great wine for several years until it approaches its maturity, but from about 9-13 years of age, it shows great class and new complexities every time you taste it. So give it plenty of air--or better still, decant and serve it in wine glasses rather than flutes. (2009)"
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