March Newsletter: Saving Biancu Gentile, New from the Bruniers, 2012 Boillot P-A

The March newsletter is now available.
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Highlights from this month’s newsletter…

 THE ARTISTRY OF GRAMENON 

by Dixon Brooke

Michèle Aubéry-Laurent and her son Maxime François Laurent (whose wines are vinified at Gramenon) are among the precious few winemakers in Europe making grand, age-worthy wines that are vinified with almost zero sulfur dioxide. When you find the combination of a winemaker, a terroir, and a grape that are capable of this feat, the results can be glorious. Attention: there aren’t many of them. Attention again: aging these wines requires a cellar with perfect conditions.

© Gail Skoff

2012 CÔTES DU RHÔNE
“SIERRA DU SUD”

The only Syrah in the mix, this is a heady and potent glass of wine, with spices, réglisse, smoked meat, a basket of ripe fruits, and a dollop of black olive.

$32.00 per bottle $345.60 per case

2012 CÔTES DU RHÔNE VILLAGES
“LES LAURENTIDES”

Vinsobres is an absolutely breathtaking corner of the Côtes du Rhône that sits high up in the hills and looks down into the valley where you’ll find many of the other crus (Roaix, Cairanne, Sablet, Séguret, etc.), with the Dentelles de Montmirail in the distance. This is perhaps the most special of the Gramenons, named after Michèle’s late husband, Philippe Laurent. Always showing explosive energy and deep, complex dark berry fruit and garrigue, it is a tour de force from Gramenon.

$33.00 per bottle $356.40 per case

2011 CÔTES DU RHÔNE “POURPRE”
MAXIME FRANÇOIS LAURENT

This more serious wine from Maxime emphasizes the garrigue from this corner of the Rhône Valley along with the fruit. Pure Grenache, as with the Soif above.

$32.00 per bottle $345.60 per case

Mixed cases of Gramenon and Laurent wines receive 25% off

BONs VIVANTS OF

THE BEAUJOLAIS

by Jane Berg

2011 RÉGNIÉ “GRAIN & GRANIT”

CHARLY THÉVENET

While cruising around the Beaujolais on his moped at the age of fifteen, Charly stopped short in his tracks at the sight of the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen: the freshly plowed soils of Marcel Lapierre’s vineyards, beaming from the landscape. Inspired by what he saw, Charly landed himself an apprenticeship with Marcel and later purchased his own vines of Régnié, which he revitalized through rigorous biodynamic farming techniques. Today, a true vigneron, Charly makes a frank and pure wine with nothing to hide and plenty to say. Allow this one a little time to breathe if you’re looking for the full experience.

$31.00 per bottle $334.80 per case

2012 BEAUJOLAIS • DOMAINE DUPEUBLE

In the wine world it’s a common mistake for succeeding generations, as soon as they take over, to squander years of tried-and-true artisanal winemaking in the name of progress. Lucky for us the Dupeubles have remained true to their ancestry and continue to make honest wines, as they’ve been doing for the past five hundred years. This one is a classic-style Beaujolais, approachable and lean, lacing brambly ripe fruit to a velvety framework. It’s worth mentioning that 2012 is a special vintage in the Beaujolais. There’s not much of it, but what little exists is particularly delicious.

$14.95 per bottle $161.46 per case

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