$100 and over
Domaine Christian Moreau Père Et Fils Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos
Product Information: From a single 2.9ha plot of vines that goes from the very bottom of the slope to close to the top of the vineyard. This remarkable holding is arguably the most representative Les Clos from the whole vineyard. Vines here are aged mostly from 45-75 years of age. Expect an excellent richness and concentration from Les Clos, balanced with salinity and tension delivered with superb precision towards the finish. At least moderate patience will be required. The wine is aged about 1/3rd in barrel (about 10% new) and 2/3rds in stainless steel tanks. Maker: Domaine Christian Moreau is a historic name in the world of Chablis. The current generation, led by Christian Moreau and his son Fabien, continues to uphold the family's legacy. With their exceptional vineyard holdings, which include nearly 8 hectares of Grand Cru out of Chablis' total 92 hectares, this small yet remarkable estate has quickly established itself as one of the leading producers of Chablis, consistently crafting outstanding wines. Their holdings in Petit, village and 1er cru Chablis are impressive and relatively small, but the true highlights lie in their range of Grand Cru vineyards. They possess a single holding of approximately 3 hectares in Les Clos, along with 41 hectares in Clos des Hospices dans Les Clos, as well as smaller holdings in Valmur, Blanchots and Vaudesir. Christian Moreau are consistent producers of the classic must-try climats of Chablis. Vineyard: These exceptional vineyard sites, combined with old vines, meticulous winemaking and careful attention to every step of production, have resulted in wines that are widely regarded as some of the finest in Chablis. The estate's commitment to organic farming, certified since 2013, has further enhanced the expression of their vineyards. With investments in new tanks and other winemaking techniques, the results are evident in each vintage. The wines of Domaine Christian Moreau Pere et Fils are known for their precision, clear typicity and elegance. They have the ability to age gracefully while providing immense pleasure throughout their lives Fabien Moreau, who took over as winemaker in 2002, has already made a significant impact. With previous experience in New Zealand and a deep respect for terroir, Fabien is a visionary winemaker. The wines of Christian Moreau Pere et Fils are authentic, distinctive and of exceptional quality. Nose - White Fruit, Yellow Plum, Wet Stone Smelling of ripe citrus and passion fruit laced with toast, Palate - Intense, Ripe Fruits, Bursting Acidity Lushly ripe fruits are spun by bustling acidity on the palate, keeping everything fresh and bright. Finish - Saline, Mouth Coating, Stony There is excellent richness and concentration to the markedly powerful larger-scaled flavors that coat the palate on the overtly stony, dry and compact finale.
By Farr Côte Vineyard Chardonnay
Lowestoft La Meilleure Chardonnay
The Fogarty family first landed in Tasmania from Ireland in the mid-1800s, and have recently returned to their roots with their exciting project Lowestoft. Produced from the close-planted (8,300 vines per hectare) vines at Lowestoft planted in 1986. The fruit was hand-picked and matured in large-format French oak (35% new) for ten months.
Domaine Roux Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Jadis Blanc
This emblematic domain in Saint-Aubin is also a major producer in the Côte d’Or, and other quality areas of Burgundy. Their expertise has been handed down from father to son since the 19th century, along with groundbreaking work to help the appellation Saint-Aubin to shine. Domaine Roux was started in 1885 with a plot of vines bought by Louis Roux in the village of Saint-Aubin. His grandson Marcel Roux, born in 1927, played a pivotal role in the development of the domain, extending the holdings to over 25 hectares in Saint-Aubin, Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault and Santenay. He was a leading light in establishing the reputation and value of the Saint-Aubin appellation around the world. The Saint-Aubin appellation extends over an altitude vineyard that produces white wines of good quality, and whose reputation continues to grow. Its area is 1.6 square kilometres, on an area set back from those of Puligny and Chassagne. The wine landscape is very hilly and is therefore home to several climates with very variable exposures and soils. Local appellations and wines classified in Premier Cru are spread over four zones. This Saint-Aubin has a beautiful coloration with golden highlights. When young, it combines aromas of white flowers, flint, green almond, and orange-flower. Richer fragrances come with age: beeswax and honey, marzipan, ambergris, and cinnamon. This is a firm and flattering wine - it becomes fleshier and fuller with time. This is a wine with real breeding.
Agrapart & Fils 7 Crus Extra-Brut Non-Vintage
Product Information: The NV Brut 7 Crus is a very pretty. Bright, mineral and intensely vibrant, the 7 Crus is full of energy and refreshment. 7 Crus is a blend of two harvests: in this case, 60% is 2021 from 1er Cru sites; and 40% is 2020 from Grand Cru sites. The reserve wine was raised in neutral, 600-litre oak casks from François Chidaine and Didier Dagueneau. The breakdown is 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir. Even at this first level, the wine is aged for three years on lees. It was disgorged with 6 g/L dosage. This is the most immediately seductive cuvée in the Agrapart range, yet it is still extremely fine. It’s long, deep and saline with some gentle grip. Sadly, we do not get nearly enough. The reviews below refer to a previous disgorgement. Disg. March 2024. The Agrapart range begins with a non-vintage wine called 7 Crus. The name refers to the seven Côte des Blancs villages from which the wine derives. These include Avize (from younger vines aged 20 to 40 years), Cramant, Oger, Oiry, Avenay-Val-d’Or, Coligny and Vauciennes. Like all Agrapart wines, the fruit is from 100% estate-owned and farmed vineyards. Maker: In 1894 at the beginning of France’s lively Belle Époque “the beautiful era” or Europe's golden era between 1871 to 1914. Arthur Agrapart started the family domaine that would become Champagne Agrapart & Fils. The estate has weathered many storms, including World War I, an economic depression, and the German Occupation during World War II, which devastated stock by millions of cases throughout the region. In the 1950s, Arthur’s grandson Pierre set out to rebuild the family business by making wines of quality rather than following the commercial trends of the day. Pierre’s sons Pascal and Fabrice took over the reins in 1990, farming their own vineyards along the prestigious Côte de Blancs, as well as blending and bottling their own wines. By the early 2000s, upon realising the brothers did not have the same goals for the future of the estate, Pascal began the long-term process of dividing the estate in two. His vineyards would become the backbone of Domaine Pascal Agrapart, focusing on the unique single vineyard cuvées that he had championed since the early 1990s and the remaining family vineyards would provide the fruit for the assemblage cuvées, 7 Crus & Terroirs, still bottled under the Agrapart & Fils label today. Pascal has been joined by his eldest son Ambroise and their ultimate goal is to produce only wines bearing the Pascal Agrapart label. Philosophy: The winery is based in the grand cru village of Avize, famous for its cuvees of 100% Chardonnay. Pascal and Ambroise farm 10 hectares from some 60 different vineyard plots in the Côte de Blancs, including Oger, Cramant, Oiry and Avize. They farm using only homeopathic vine treatments, composts, manures, and regular plowing. The Agraparts were one of the first families to bring the draft horse back to the vineyards, and named a cuvee in honour of their first four-hooved friend, Vénus. In plowing the old-school way, they expose the clay and limestone soils to immune-boosting properties of the wind and sun. While they once were the object of ridicule, they now lead a return to authentic, ancestral practices. Their quality control extends to manual harvests, a selective triage of the grapes, and the use of native yeasts during fermentation. Malolactic fermentations are employed to round out the intensity of these mineral-driven Champagnes. The wines age on their lees for an extended period of time, and then are racked to both stainless steel and neutral oak barrels—the latter being a rarity in Champagne before Pascal started using them. All wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered. Nose - Apricots, Pears, Fennel Vibrant fruit here, with peaches, apricots, lemons, pears, almonds and spicy anise notes. Palate - Intense Minerality, Pillowy Palate, Citrus Peel medium to full-bodied, ample and pillowy palate. Finish - Chalk, Lingering Citrus, Saline White flowers, chalk and citrus linger.
Billecart-Salmon Brut Blanc de Blanc
This Chardonnay cuvee has been elaborated from five grand cru vineyards of the Cote des Blancs with the blend of this wine coming from two different years. The palate reveals the special qualities of Chardonnay - rich and creamy with buttered brioche. The finish is utterly persistent with a fresh and elegant sweetness.
Besserat De Bellefon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru
The house of Besserat de Bellefon was founded in 1843 near Ay in Champagne, and is now based in Epernay. The hallmark of the house is the lower than normal pressure that the wine is kept at under cork. This lower than normal pressure does not reduce the effervescence, but softens it, allowing the wine to partner better with food. The Blanc de Blancs - delicate and subtle citrus displaying a pure form of elegance. Aspect: Vivid, yellow, pure, brilliant Bouquet: Airy, acacia blossom, sea brine Palate: Tense, chalky, chiselled, vital, precise Assemblage : Chardonnay
Jean-Noel Gangnard Les Caillerets 1er cru Chassagne-Montrachet
Jean Noel Gagnard handed his eponymous Domaine to his daughter Caroline Lestimé in 1989. She had studied business in Paris, before returning to the village to take over the reins of the family estate, and had to handle male chauvinism at its most rampant. Nonetheless, she has followed her own convictions, and enhanced (rather than diminished) the reputation of this fine producer. In the vineyard, she uses no fertilisers or herbicides, but has not taken hold of the biodynamic bible.- James Halliday The exact meaning of Les Caillerets is uncertain but it is an old French word for stones, and the soils of this first-growth vineyard are very pebbly. The JNG parcel, barely more than one hectare facing south-east at 300-310m at the southern end... gives a beautifully balanced, precise wine with marvellous purity of fruit and a long crisp finish (Norman & Taylor, Great Domaines of Burgundy).
Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Grand Crus Valmur
Precision, strength and freshness are words that form the signature of Brocard's winemaking philosophy. The domain is among the most important of Chablis. Brocard wines represent the higher end of expression at each quality level. The Chablis Grand Cru Valmur forms a valley which offers subtle variations in terms of exposure: one part faces northwest and the other the south. With a well-balanced mineral character, the Valmur is imposing through its strength and surprising fruitiness. The wine comprises of 100% Grand Cru chardonnay, aged in old French oak for 14 months. A multitude of flavours can be discovered, including lemon, pepper, brioche, licorice and toast with mineral strength underpinning all.
Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir
Surrounded by Chablis vineyards on all sides, the family estate was founded in 1973 by Jean-Marc Brocard, who has since been joined by his son Julien. The estate spans almost 200 hectares, 66 of which are certified organic. Of all the Chablis Grands Crus, Vaudésir is the most delicate. Its lively, elegant character is utterly seductive. The slopes of the Vaudésir valley are steep and allow the grapes to express refined minerality. Appearance: Yellow with green glints. Nose: Precise and charming with toasted brioche aromas and orange and lemon notes. Palate: Refined and velvety with buttery notes. A powerful and persistent wine.