The Holdings
Broc Cellars
Alexander Valley Carignan 2013
Domaine Denis Mortet
Mes Cinq Terroirs Gevrey-Chambertin Pinot Noir 2014
On the nose, sweet, floral, dark cherries, touch of plum, black raspberries, raspberries, red licorice/cola, lovely funk, canopy leaf, perfumed red florals and fine, sexy, chalky minerality. The mouthfeel is beautifully crisp...medium body. The fruits are bright and tantalizing. Strawberries, dark cherries with Rainer cherries blended in, cranberries, pomegranate, plum, black raspberry, raspberries, soft, super fine powdery chalkiness, crushed dry rock powder, light beautiful spice, red florals with a touch of violets, perfect acidity and a well balanced, polished finish. Photos of, the property entrance, Chevrey Chambertin vineyard and Arnaud. History and producer notes...Domaine Denis Mortet was founded by Denis Mortet in the early 1990s. Strangely, he took his own life at the age of 51 in 2006. He started with modest holdings to become a very well respected Winemaker in Burgundy with his 1993 wines. His son Arnaud has now taken over. The estate vines are relatively young at 25 years. The Domaine's 10 hectares encompass 14 different Appellations, including two Grands Crus in Clos-de-Vougeot and Chambertin. All their wines including their village wines see new oak. This wine is a blend of all their Chambertin holdings and fermented in around 30% new oak. — 8 years ago
Jean-Marc Pillot
Les Chenevottes Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Chardonnay 2012
Pillot's Holdings in Northern Chassagne are Modest (.29 Hectares / ~ 60 yr. Vines) -- Charged with Almond, Oak, Lemon... — 9 years ago
The Holdings
Vintner's Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Garnet Color. Blueberry. Sweet. Smooth. Nice Tannins. Delicious! — 11 years ago
The Holdings
Vintner's Select Grenache 2010
Excellent Grenache- light & fruity with a clean finish. Great with all foods. — 11 years ago
Louis Latour
Corton Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2001
On the nose; poached strawberries, cherries, bing cherries, cooked rhubarb, dry cranberries, faint spice, light vanilla, limestone and fresh red florals. The mouthfeel is lean to medium and very juicy. Tannins completely resolved. Strawberries, cherries, bing cherries, cooked rhubarb, dry cranberries, cola, steeped tea, faint spice, limestone minerals, loamy soils, faint spice, touch of vanilla, herbal notes, soft high acidity and lean, elegant, long, fruit finish. Even though this was likely a little better two years ago, it's good but certainly a little disappointing for Grand Cru Burgundy. History notes...the Louis Latour family first bought vines in the Cote de Beaune in 1731, with land in some of the top Burgundy vineyards. Louis Latour is currently run by the seventh Louis Latour, Louis-Fabrice Latour featured in the photo. They are a huge négociant with property holdings in Aloxe-Corton (their largest holdings) and Corton-Charlemagne. They also own parts of Corton Clos de la Vigne au Saint Grand Cru, Corton Bressandes Grand Cru, Corton Les Chaumes Grand Cru, Corton Les Pougets Grand Cru, Corton Les Perrières Grand Cru, Corton Clos du Roi Grand Cru, Corton Les Grèves Grand Cru. Also, own parts of the Premiers Crus“Les Chaillots”, “Les Founières”, Chambertin, Romanée-Saint-Vivant and Chevalier-Montrachet “Les Demoiselles." They use French oak vats for short period of fermentation on nearly all their red wines. Then...they spend 12 months in French oak barrels. The red wines of Domaine Louis Latour are still vinified and aged at Corton Grancey featured in the photo. — 8 years ago
Domaine du Clos de Tart
La Forge de Tart Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Pinot Noir
Supposedly exact same vinification and holdings as Clos de tart, but domaine has identified a different style. Pronounced menthol/eucalyptus note on the nose, good fruit but a little tight on nose and palate. Too much oak for my taste, bitter essential oils on the finish. — 9 years ago
Marc Brédif
Vouvray Grand Année Chenin Blanc 1988
Another of Baron Ladoucettes 'holdings. Natalie treated us royally here. This not only tasted great, it still seemed youthful. — 11 years ago
Dönnhoff
Nahe Riesling 2012
A successful vintage for the estate Riesling. Regal, honeyed almost glazed donut rich nose, gets powdered chalk and taut on the palate and finishes with that saliva-inducing twist of the cheeks. Great. I just love it when quality descends to the lowest level of a producer's holdings — 11 years ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
On the nose, nicely concentrated wild dark berries, black plum, notes of blue fruits, vanilla, understated cinnamon, soft, warm spices, Christmas cake and fresh dark, fragrant florals. The mouthfeel is rich & concentrated. The fruits dark are clearly fresh & ripe. Wild dark berries, black plum, plum, dark cherries, poached strawberries, black raspberries, Thompson raisins, light vanilla, soft warm spices, limestone minerals, grainy/silky chalkiness, dark moist soils, crushed rocks, violets, fresh dark florals, touch of mint, beautiful round acidity and amazing long rich beautiful finish that is well balanced fruit & earth. This is a vintage (even though Bourgogne) will cellar around 20 years. My rating could jump 2-3 points with proper storage years in the cellar. It's tasting more like 1st Cru than village wine. Photo tour of the estate, open top fermenters (I believe they ferment all their lots separately) and Lalou Bize-Leroy singing and talking to her precious vines. Producer history and notes...Domaine Leroy is arguably producing the greatest red Burgundy wines in the Cote d`Or at present. Lalou Bize-Leroy started out as a négociant, working for her family's Maison Leroy, which was founded by her father Henri. There are three parts to the Leroy empire; the Maison Leroy based in Auxey-Duresses, Domaine d’Auvenay and substantial holdings in Vosne-Romanée. Lalou Bize-Leroy also owns 25% of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, where she was co-director until the other shareholders ousted her in 1992, partly because she had started a competing winery. Domaine Leroy has been farmed biodynamically from the start and is now certified by ECOCERT. The other exciting, if not controversial, move was the change in training system for the vines. For some time previously the hedging (rognage) of the vineyards had been done by hand rather than more abrasively by machine. However, it is not natural for the vine to be cut back as it affects the vine’s performance both in the current season and the following year. So now, after the flowering, when the shoots are lengthening, they are curled over instead of being cut back. This minimises entrecoeurs and second crop bunches forming, as well as leaving the vine happier and healthier. She also talks and sings to her vines daily. She believes this promotes health of the vines and who could argue with her given what she puts in the bottle. Lalou Bize-Leroy has 23 hectares of vines, mostly Premier and Grand Cru classified. In the vineyard, Lalou practices biodynamism as well as severe pruning and crop-thinning. The result is ridiculously low yields. Yield arguments at DRC were also an issue in her departure. You want to buy this wine. $39.99 at K&L Wine Merchants on pre-arrival. Just bought four bottles.
— 8 years ago