Wine & Spirits

Vinous: 94 Points Coulon's NV Extra Brut L'Hommee 1er Cru is gorgeous. Powerful and ample in the glass, with tremendous resonance, the L'Hommee dazzles with its energy and persistence. Orchard fruit, wild flowers and spice overtones take on shades of exoticism with time in the glass. L'Hommee is is a blend of Pinot Noir, Meunier (done in oak) and Chardonnay (done in steel) from Vrigny and Pargny. 

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Deep ruby red colour. Pronounced nose with dark plum, blackberry, tobacco, sweet spices, leather and black pepper. Pronounced taste of dark plum, blackberry, tobacco, sweet spices, leather, cedar and black pepper. Long and dry finish. High acidity. High tannins. Medium body. An outstanding St. Emilion that has great potential for development going forward. Needs at least five more years. Goes well with beef or lamb. --William

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Winemaker Notes Faiveley's old vines are over 35 years old and produce an exceptionally intense and aromatic wine that reflects the unique character of its terroir. With its deep, clear ruby red hue, it reveals notes of black fruits and excellent strength and concentration. Serve with beef bourguignon or a platter of mature cheeses.

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Winemaker Notes:  Chateau Cheval Blanc is one of the greatest and most famous wine estates in the world. The winery is located in the right bank of Bordeaux, in Saint-Emilion, which is known for its rolling hills, ancient vineyards, and exceptional wine production. The winery is committed to producing high-quality wines that reflect the unique terroir of the region. They use traditional winemaking techniques, such as fermenting the grapes in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, to produce wines that are both expressive and balanced.CRITICAL ACCLAIMDecanter - "Love this wine, and it has taken a leap in depth and character since the addition of Sémillion as of the 2018 vintage. Fleshy citrus comes through in the rich texture and a contrasting scrape of fresh acidities pulls everything in. Gooseberry and lime zest flavours pick up the pace with a bright Sauvignon Blanc character, all balanced out by the steadying hand of Sémillon. A clean finish, this is an excellent vintage of this wine."

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96pts Jasper Morris Full rich purple with a bevy of complex ripe fruits on the bouquet. An excellent wealth of fruit here on the palate but beautifully balanced, a little bit of blood orange in with the raspberry and cherry. The flavours linger beautifully across the palate. A peach note to finish, but the balance of freshness remains in place. 95pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate From holdings located exclusively in lieu-dit En la Chapelle, Trapet's 2018 Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru offers up an inviting bouquet of cassis, plums, dark chocolate and pungent spices, framed by a deft touch of toasty new oak. Medium to full-bodied, it's deep, layered and fine-boned, built around elegantly chalky tannins that are cloaked in a lively core of fruit.

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Happy Bordeaux Sunday everyone! Not sure what Vita in Vinum had in mind this week, but I went with a St-Julien left bank beauty, off the menu at the golf club. Château Beychevelle is Grand Cru, a fourth growth producer. This is a blend of Cab Sauv, Merlot, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot (54, 38, 5 and 3%). From the fabulous 2010 vintage. Very floral, with licorice, graphite, red and blue berries, and earthy notes. --Mike Benson Every parameter is on high level, acidity and tannins are strong enough to support this wine to develop in the following two or three decades. Very impressive to me, before swirl it in glass, giving nose of cedar, forest floor and tea leaves, when swirl it, fruity aromas energetically pop up, with currants and cherries. Like a mystery lady opening her heart but still hide a lot to make you guess. --Olivine Hou

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N° 14 is the third opus from the “COLLECTION AYALA,” a set of cuvees produced in limited quantities, unveiled only as they approach their peak level of drinkability. This ephemeral cuvee is 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir — including Grand Cru Aÿ red wine. Thanks to its extended ageing in the cellar and a low dosage of 5.3 grams/liter, N° 14 expertise, the ephemeral cuvée N°14 is composed of the five emblematic Grands Crus that form the backbone of the House’s blends. Caroline Latrive wanted to work the crus in equal proportions, exclusively from the 2014 vintage and for the first time in a rosé version.

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Fleur de Miraval shows a very gentle and bright rosé colour, a vivid mousse with fine bubbles. The nose starts out elegantly – layered and nuanced with chalky notes, roasted hazelnut, marzipan, fresh butter, pink citrus and lemongrass. After some time in the glass the Pinot enters with crushed raspberry, cherry and pain d´épice notes. The palate is nicely built, showing great flavour intensity and an invigorating freshness. It´s classically bone dry (4,5 grams of dosage) with a chalky presence , balanced by a mellow creaminess. Flavours of marzipan, confit de citron and peach with layers of mature nuttiness and fine pastry. Elegantly built with great persistency and precision. Drinks truly well today but should certainly improve from further cellaring.

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Winemaker Notes These Côte-Rôtie vines include holdings in the Le Champin, Leyat, Côte Blonde, Les Moutonnes, La Brosse, Fongeant, and Le Champin lieux-dits. The vineyards are split between the steep inclines guarding the slopes above the town of Ampuis and the flat plateau, which has been planted since the 1960s. Critical Acclaim Jeb Dunnuck Closer in style to the 2018 than the 2017, the 2019 Cote Rotie is a big, rich, powerful Côte Rôtie that has loads of meaty, gamey black fruits, smoked herb, pepper, and chocolate-like aromas and flavors. With full-bodied richness, a round, layered texture, terrific tannins, and a great finish, it's a powerhouse yet traditional Côte Rôtie that will need 4-5 years to shed its baby fat yet evolve for 20+ years.Barrel Sample: 93-95 Decanter Very ripe, dark plum aromas with a touch of currant and cinnamon. It is dense and deep, with marked acidity for the vintage. A good sense of freshness, with some floral hints behind the ripe fruit. Not extracted, no heaviness – it's medium-bodied, but with impressive impact and detail. The wood is noticeable at this early stage, but it's well-judged and I think it will meld nicely into the wine with time. There’s precision, freshness and lightness of touch even though the fruit is very ripe. Impressive.

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About the Wine According to Decanter, Gevrey-Chambertin has “enjoyed a preeminent place in the world of fine wine for several hundred years. These wines can be considered as holding the first rank among those of the Côte d’Or” Gevrey-Chambertin’s wines had a special place in Napoleon Bonaparte’s heart, who “was reputed to drink a bottle of Chambertin every day.” They also have a very special place in our hearts. Domaine Harmand is a small family-owned winery that dates to the 19th century. The estate covers about 22 acres of vineyards located in some of the greatest terroirs of Gevrey-Chambertin in the Côte-d'Or appellation. The vineyard is planted with old vines of 50 years on average, but some of them can reach over 85 years. Since its inception, Domaine Harmand has followed traditional winemaking, where the wines shine thanks to their classic and extraordinary taste. The vineyard is managed with sustainable practices and careful and respectful viticulture. 2019 Vieilles Vignes is a selection of fifty-year-old vines located in Champeaux. The result is a complex, elegant Pinot Noirwith spicy notes and fine tannins. Suited for long aging. 2019 was an incredible year for Burgundy, this is a vintage to stock up on, a vintage to collect, and a vintage to enjoy. It was awarded a 98-point review and called a "hedonistic" vintage, and stated to be "perhaps rival 1865, the greatest vintage of all."

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jebdunnuck.com, November 2022 Showing more finesse and elegance than the Pignan, yet still with plenty of density and concentration, the 2010 Châteauneuf Du Pape Reserve is a sensational effort from this estate that has a kaleidoscope-like array of framboise, darker cherries, sappy flowers, garrigue, and spice. Opening up beautifully with time in the glass as well, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, silky tannins, and a great finish. Reminding me slightly of the 1990, it is heavenly today and will be heavenly in another 15+ years as well.  WA 97 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, October 2011 (94 - 97 points) The three component parts of the 2010 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape show it to be a deeply colored vintage with terrific fruit intensity of licorice, raspberries and sweet, jammy cherries. Medium to full-bodied and ripe with 15+% natural alcohol and sweet, soft tannins, this ethereal 2010 is reminiscent of the 2005 although the tannins in the 2010 are more silky.- RP 

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