Editorial

Editorial October 15, 2021

 

Here is our new "Autumn-Winter 2021/2022" selection, the fruit of our research during this last half-year marked by a freedom of movement finally fully recovered (at least in Europe) and, with it, visits and tastings at the winemakers.

The pleasure was more intense as the last vintages, from 2015 to 2020, were, in the Bordeaux region as elsewhere in France, formidable in more ways than one. This catalogue is an echo of our enthusiasm.

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 Bordeaux

The 2019s, once again a great Bordeaux vintage, are arriving in our cellars as soon as they are bottled and we are already offering you :

These 2019s complement the other great Bordeaux vintages 2015, 2016 and 2018, and our columns now look like the Hall of Fame with a profusion of (very) great wines, at all price levels and from all Gironde appellations.

While all four are remarkable and of a high standard, these vintages have different qualities that will satisfy you whatever you are looking for:

  • red 2015: the wines are made from perfectly ripe grapes, with well-coated tannins and rounded textures. We note the evolution of these wines over the last year, which we can begin to taste with great pleasure.
  • red 2016: wines with the perfect triptych of freshness/complexity/richness, which it would be a shame to open now, even if they are suitable. As far as possible, we recommend leaving them to rest in the cellar for several more years.
  • red 2018: particularly concentrated and tannic wines, which should be forgotten in the depths of your cellar. Count on 10 years of ageing for the non classified wines, and double or even triple for the greatest classified wines.
  • red 2019: The wines are in line with the 2015s in their maturity and softness of tannins. Like them, they will evolve quite quickly and will start to be appreciable in 5 years.

In addition, several new Bordeaux wines or crus make their first appearance in our pages:

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Offres Dégustation

This season's Tasting Offers give you the chance to discover four special successes (and as many gifts for the coming holidays) with a discounted price:

  • Domaine de l'Ostal Grand Vin 2017, Languedoc exuberance (Minervois-La Livinière) styled by Bordeaux (Jean-Michel Cazes of Lynch-Bages). This wine has just been awarded a Coup de Coeur ♥ in the Guide Hachette 2022 but remains incredibly good value for money (€19.20 per bottle in a 6-bottle box instead of €22.50),
  • Château Suduiraut 2017, a sumptuous Sauternes 1er grand cru classé, crisp and sapid, with intensity and precision. Only Yquem surpasses it in the 2017 vintage (€55.00 per bottle in wooden cases of 6 bottles instead of €63.00),
  • Millésime 2015 à Giscours, we have put together in a case of 6 bottles (240,00 € the wooden case) the quality of the 2015 vintage in the three wines of Château Giscours: the Haut-Médoc, the second wine (La Sirène) and the grand vin (3ème grand cru classé de Margaux),
  • Château Lynch-Bages 2018, spectacular power and density, a superlative wine set to last for half a century. In this sense, it reminds us of the now legendary 1982 (€125.00 per bottle in wooden cases of 6 bottles instead of €139.00).

In addition, we are maintaining the Tasting Offer which was a great success last season:

  • the 6 first vintages of Montlandrie from 2011 to 2016, fresh, floral, with a crisp, juicy fruitiness. Few Bordeaux wines are as deserving of the term "vibrant wine" as Montlandrie, the Côtes de Castillon of the late Denis Durantou, who sadly passed away last year.

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Ailleurs en France et en Europe

We are expanding our selection of Champagnes, adding:

  • the range of Louis Roederer, a winery undoubtedly at the top of its art today.

In Burgundy, Domaines de l'Arlot and Laurent Roumier are back with their 2019 vintage, plus a newcomer:

  • Domaine Jean Fournier, with 7 wines from Marsannay, Fixin, Gevrey-Chambertin and Clos Vougeot. This excellent estate has just received its first star in the Revue du Vin de France 2022 guide. It produces tasty, deep, fleshy Côte de Nuits and, which is increasingly rare in Burgundy, at an affordable price.

In Italy, we are delighted to welcome the wines of :

  • Sottimano, the most Burgundian of the Barbaresco producers, which enchants with the finesse and fresh fruitiness of its wines.

With Sottimano in Barbaresco,Vietti in Barolo, Gianni Brunelli in Tuscany and Terre Nere in Sicily, we believe we have brought together the best of the most sincere and authentic Italian producers in their respective regions.

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Finally, the original product of this season is JNPR, a French "Gin", based on juniper but without alcohol, the door is open to all possible and imaginable cocktails: with sparkling water, Tonic or Ginger Beer, with the addition of yellow or green lemon juice, grapefruit slice, cane sugar syrup, basil leaf, rosemary sprig...

Imagination (and consumption) to be enjoyed without any moderation!