Isaac Pirolo

9.4

This recently caught my eye, mostly because it was a $75 bottle of rosé — it’s rare to come across any rosé more than $40 (aside from Champagne), but also because of its distinctive design (I should’ve trademarked the drip).

The origin of Château Minuty dates to the early 18th century. The Matton-Farnet family has owned the estate since 1936, with its third generation, brothers Jean-Etienne and François Matton currently at the helm.

The Château’s vineyards are situated on limestone and schist hills outside the Provençal village of Gassin and overlooking the bay and city of Saint-Tropez. They exclusively produce rosé.

For their cuveé 281, a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault, the Mattons enlisted Hubert de Malherbe to design the bottle, who worked on several Veuve Clicquot designs as well as Dior perfume bottles and stores. The blue is said to represent the Mediterranean Sea and sky, both of which have significant influence in shaping the wine’s character. The exact shade of blue is Pantone 281.

The wine opens with melon, citrus peel, and stone fruit, all of which translate through to the palate. That’s where the intensity ratchets up, with pungent, rocky minerality set against a backdrop of herbs and a generous seasoning of sea salt. Everything melds together before taking the long ride home on a bright beam of acid. Superb. — 6 years ago

Nadia Kralovic

9.1

Sour black cherry goodness — 6 years ago

with Joe

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

If you read my posts, it's no secret I really enjoy their Rosé Champagne. Always consistently great and delicious. On the nose; spring florals, sea spray, chalky minerals, tangerine, black cherry, raspberry, watermelon & strawberries. On the palate; tangerine, black cherry, raspberry, watermelon & strawberries, saline, beautiful sticky palate chalkiness, pink roses, baguette, amazing minerality, finish and acidity. Photos of; their house, vineyard and cellar. Producer history and notes...Bilecart was founded in 1818, by husband and wife Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon. For nearly two hundred years, the Billecart family has been making exceptional champagne. Today the House remains independent and is run by the family’s seventh generation under François Roland-Billecart. The Billecart-Salmon House covers around 50 hectares, and gets its grapes from a total of 170 hectares of land. Meaning...they also have a number of great relationships with grape growers. At the foot of the Mareuil-sur-Aÿ hill, the Billecart-Salmon family cultivates one hectare of Pinot Noir on a single, enclosed parcel; the Clos Saint Hilaire. Billecart uses modern and innovative technology to constantly improve the quality of its champagne. From the Côte des Blancs to the Reims Mountain and the right bank of the Marne River are some of the greatest sites for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. These grapes/sites are all used to make beautiful Billecart champagnes.

— 7 years ago

Ethan Forrest

9.6

Find this very good wine and drink some at once — 7 years ago

Jonathan Gray

9.0

Nice wine. Wish the palate was as precise as the nose. On the nose, it's killer - like steel ball bearings coated in dirt and dunked in spring water over and over again... plus toast from barrel. I'd say if you have a stash of this wine, wait. — 8 years ago

Benjamin Parniuk

8.9

Chewy and fresh. — 9 years ago

Pollyana Gomes

9.0

Vintage 2008. — 9 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.2

This is some damn impressive Saint Joseph. It has all of the expected blackberry and smokey goodness atop resonating notes of mushroom grit and blackboard eraser. A true standout in this appellation. — 9 years ago

with Elena

Alain Sauvager

8.9

Surprenant je ne connaissais pas le Sinsault, et ajouté au grenache, syrah et cabernet c'est vraiment pas mal — 11 years ago

Nenad Marovac

9.8

Very good wine and value for money! — 11 years ago

Rick K

9.2

Broad almost viscous mouthfeel. Ripe but balanced. Great for drinking now. — 6 years ago

Donald Patz

Owner/Winemaker Patz & Hall

9.6

Wow. Complex, ripe but deliciously structured, runs a line with aromas that remind me of a top Burgundy but then again... no. Not a super powered Syrah but a refined, elegant, complex, and cerebral kind of Saint Joseph. Challenges all the great regions of the Northern Rhône. 2010 — 6 years ago

Kate Clason

9.0

This 2015 was a gem. Oxidative is not the term to use for this wine. Apple and gasoline sorbet. Medium sexy body that sticks to the glass. Salud. — 6 years ago

Ed Lehrman

9.2

Was Chassagne and delicious. — 7 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.5

This is fantastic! Such great balance with rocks/mineral, apples, honeysuckle. Beautiful wine. — 7 years ago

Kate Gingold

9.0

fresh, light & bright vin de soif. slightly reductive on the nose but so chuggable. — 7 years ago

Jeff Coles

8.9

A little funky! — 7 years ago

Michael Delacruz

9.8

Cedar wood, cigar box, dried sweet tobacco, bottled nutmeg, oolong tea. Antique garnet color with highlights of citrine. Beautifully integrated, balanced 61-year-old wine with a youthful subtlety from the remaining acidity. Dinner celebrating years of friendship with François, Marie Claude, Fanie et Nicolas. — 8 years ago

with Fanie

Patrick Dorsey

9.1

François Villard consistently amazes me at taking white varietals that I tend not to get too excited about, and making wines out of them that make me want to sit down, stare off into space and think about stuff. 70% Marsanne, 30% Roussanne, non-sparkling St Peray. Evolves aromatically mid-whiff.......impressive. — 9 years ago

with shiri

Christine Havens

9.0

I was lucky to have had dinner with François Thienpont earlier this spring, and to taste several vintages of VCC. Bellevue is managed by his brother, Nicolas and Stephane Derenoncourt. Bellevue is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cab Franc. The 2000 offers up a bouquet of spring flowers, lavender, black currants, and minerals. Finely-hewn, with well-integrated tannins, and notes of leather, black fruit and graphite. It's just now entering its prime drinking window, with plenty of acidity to carry it forward. — 9 years ago

Vin Naturel

9.9

Pink Bulles Rosé 2013 - Jean Maupertuis.

Alors que nous préparons doucement notre "top 15 des meilleurs vins en 2014", il nous semble impossible de ne pas évoquer le fabuleux Pink Bulles rosé de Jean Maupertuis.

C'est dément ce que l'on peut faire avec du Gamay et c'est Gamay de faire des trucs aussi déments ! Et c'est aussi dingue de constater le nombre de gens talentueux que l'on trouve en Auvergne : Hervé Souhaut : Saint-Épine, Destezet - Nicolas Carmarans : Selves, Mauvais Temps - Frédéric Gounan, Pierre Beauger, François Dhumes, etc.

Oui, Jean Maupertuis fait partie de ces vignerons qui faisaient autre chose dans une autre vie et puis il y a des rencontres qu'on n'oublie pas, comme celles avec Marcel Lapierre et Pierre Overnoy, lors de sa formation viti-œno. Ces fameuses rencontres qui font basculer un destin d'un état solide à celui de liquide. Du travail au plaisir.

Dans un superbe article de Libération, qui lui est consacré, on peut lire ceci : "Robe rose pâle, bulles très fines, nerveuses. Arômes de fruit délicats, pointe de sucre résiduel équilibrée d’une très belle acidité. Ce vin pétillant abordable, «Pink Bulles», tenait haut la dragée au champagne réputé". Et vous savez quoi ? C'est exactement ça !

Sauf que, ce qui n'est pas dit, c'est que ce vin enchanteur est léger et subtil. Un pétillant qui marie les attentes et les exigences que l'on peut avoir pour un excellent champagne, tout en y apportant une fraicheur et une jeunesse que celui-ci possède rarement. Mais, c'est de l'insolence ? Oui, tout à fait mais surtout un peu de folie avec beaucoup de maîtrise. C'est vrai, souvent, les pétillants natures sont fous mais peu peuvent revendiquer le fait d'être aussi raffinés que celui de Jean Maupertuis.

A 12 euros, vous tenez peut-être ici la clé du bonheur, ou en tout cas, la clé d'un bon moment entre amis autour d'une boisson enthousiasmante. Il ne reste plus qu'à trouver la cachette, bon courage (!) et bonne dégustation ;)

#vin #vinlibre #vinnature #vinnaturel #vinsauvage #vinslibres #wine #wineporn #winelover #wineaddict #winestagram #naturalwine #winetasting #wineoftheday #france #gamay #petillant #auvergne — 9 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

On the nose, bright, ripe, ruby; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, blue fruit mix, strawberries, creamy raspberries, plums, cranberries, black tea, loamy soils, dry clay, dry stones, limestone minerals, saddlewood, crush dry rocks, dark moist soils, dark chocolate, vanilla, field of violets, lavender and fresh red florals.
The palate is medium-full yet a little lean. The fruits are elegant, ruby, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, blue fruit mix, strawberries, creamy raspberries, plums, cranberries, black tea, loamy soils, dry clay, dry stones, limestone minerals, used leather, cedar, crush dry rocks, dark moist soils, dark chocolate, vanilla, field of violets, lavender and fresh red florals. The acidity is very good. The length, balance and length are nice. The structure a little lean. It a well polished rich fruit finish, but is a little short.

Photos of; the Chateau, Owner Patrick Maroteaux (may he RIP), Estate grapes and their barrel room.

Producer notes & history...Branaire Ducru has a long history has a long history that dates back to 1680. In those days, Branaire Ducru was a part of a larger Beychevelle. When the owner of Beychevelle passed away, he left behind a huge Bordeaux vineyard that was seriously in debt. To pay off the debt, the vineyard was broken up and sold. Several new estates were created in Saint Julien, which include Chateau Branaire Ducru. Jean-Baptiste Braneyre created the estate in 1680. As was was tradition in Bordeaux, the owner gave the estate his name, which is where the first part of the properties name came was given. Braneyre was later altered to Branaire. Braneyre bought the land we know as Branaire Ducru because of the terroir. He understood that Cabernet Sauvignon grew best on the deep gravel soils found in the Medoc. With that, we have the birth of Branaire Ducru. Or, at least the Branaire part. The middle name was gained through marriage. Marie Braneyre married Pierre de Luc which as you can guess, gave us the Branaire Duluc (the name of their 2nd wine). Almost 100 years later, the first winery at the property was constructed in 1824. It took almost 200 years for the Ducru portion of the wines name to make its way to the label. In 1875, with no direct descendants, Gustave Ducru, a more distant relative took over the property and added his name to the label making it, Chateau Branaire Ducru.

Patrick Maroteaux bought Branaire Ducru in 1988 from the Tapie family who had owned It since 1919. Prior to his ownership of Branaire Ducru, Patrick Maroteaux had no prior experience in the wine business. His background was in banking and then a president of the massive sugar company, Eurosucre. Patrick Maroteaux also served as the President of the UGCB, Union of Grand Crus Bordeaux, and as the President of the Saint Julien appellation.
Since his purchase, Patrick Maroteaux has focused much of his efforts on performing extensive work in the vineyards and in the cellars. He also began reducing the yields. Additionally, he increased the size of their vineyards by 10 hectares. Patrick was also modernized their winemaking techniques.
In fact, Patrick Maroteaux was one of the first producers in the Left Bank to being filling his tanks entirely by gravity. He did this beginning with the 91 vintage. This was done with the help of Philippe Dhalluin.

Philippe Dhalluin left Branaire Ducru in 2004 and took the same position as the director for wine making at Chateau Mouton Rothschild. Philippe Dhalluin was replaced by Jean Dominique Videau.

Chateau Branaire Ducru is a family business. The son of Patrick Maroteaux, François Xavier Maroteaux has carried the family business and joined the estate. Sadly, on November 19, 2017, Patrick Maroteaux passed away at the age of 67. His son, François Xavier Maroteaux took over the full time responsibilities of managing the property.

All the new technical improvements at Branaire Ducru quickly paid off for Patrick Maroteaux. Beginning with the 2000 vintage, Branaire Ducru became one of the top Saint Julien wines. It’s also one of the better values for high quality Bordeaux.

The 60 hectare vineyard of Branaire Ducru is planted to 65% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. The vineyard is very close to the size it was during the time of the 1855 Classification.

The terroir is deep gravel with clay soils. The best terroir is located near the chateau, closest to the Gironde river. They also have blocks further inland, with a small section of vines placed close to Chateau Lagrange and Chateau Talbot. The vineyard can be divided into 15 different blocks with 70 different parcels of vines. On average, the vines are close to 35 years of age. However, the estate has older vines as well. The oldest vines date back close to 90 years of age. The vineyard is planted to a vine density that ranges from 6,700 to 10,000 vines per hectare. The higher levels of vine density are for the newer plantings. The goal of the property is to continue increasing the vine density in all of their better terroirs.

Branaire Ducru, fermentation takes place in 28 temperature controlled, stainless steel tanks. The 28 vats vary in size. The vats range in size from as small as 30 hectoliters and up to 210 hectoliters. Each vat is sized for the needs of each specific vineyard parcel. Each vat is filled using the gravity based system.
Branaire Ducru is aged in 60 to 65% new, French oak barrels for between 16-20 months. The amount of new oak varies depending on the quality, character and style of each vintage. On average, the annual production is about 25,000 cases depending on the vintage. — 6 years ago

Taavi Davies

9.1

At François and Liisa's. Delicious — 7 years ago

Aske Munck

9.3

Yowzaaaaaaa! — 8 years ago

with Christina and jams

Mika Jo

9.2

2015.12.22 at la cave de noa
— 8 years ago

Collin Moody

9.3

Damn petnat. — 9 years ago

with Nelson

Eric Manago

9.1

Great minerality with light earthiness. Pairs beautifully with shellfish. — 9 years ago

Frej Helstrand

9.0

White, chenin blanc — 9 years ago

Ian Burch

9.1

Beautifully made. The nose unfolds well. really pretty wine with plants of life. Great drink. — 11 years ago

Grant Hamilton

10

Happiversary! A delicious red we brought back from France. — 11 years ago