And so it begins...
Welcome to the U.S. launch of Mischief and Mayhem Thank you for attending the Mischief and Mayhem Portfolio Tasting. Cream Wine Company is thrilled to be importing these progressive, small batch, high quality burgundy wines. We greatly appreciate partners Michael Twelftree and Michael Ragg visiting Chicago solely to launch their exciting concept in the U.S.. Finally! A way to market Burgundy that demystifies the region, removes elitism and intimidation, and provides thoughtful information for the end consumer. It s pretty simple, offer quality for a fair price and explain yourself. Never mind the fact that the two men behind the project have vast combined experiences selling top wines from all over the world and have worked in virtually every level of the wine business. With an exception of the Baby Meursault (our pet name for the rockin new White Burgundy-Bourgogne Chardonnay which arrive towards the end of October), EVERYTHING IS IN STOCK AND READY TO SHIP. Please note the regular net pricing and special DI or Tasting Only pricing given to event attendees for orders placed this week. Enjoy the M&M show! Cheers, Cream Wine Company
About Mischief and Mayhem is the creation of Michael Twelftree and Michael Ragg, two great friends whose passion for wine, and for Burgundy in particular, caused them to team up and form the company in autumn 2004. Michael Twefltree is the co-founder and driving force behind Two Hands Wines, formed in 1999 yet now producing some of the world s greatest Shiraz based wines from the Barossa Valley, Clare Valley and McLaren Vale. Michael Ragg spent nearly ten years working with leading UK fine wine merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd before moving to Burgundy in spring 2003 and setting up his own wine consultancy and broking business in Aloxe-Corton. With Ragg s experience and contacts on the ground in Burgundy itself and Twelftree s knowledge of the world s emerging markets, the two set out on a mission to uncover, and de-mystify, some of the outstanding wines from arguably the world s most fabled, yet complex region. Mission It is our endeavour to bring you some of the finest wines that Burgundy can produce, sourced from outstanding small domaines and offered at fair prices. We are not the place to source ultra-rare premium Grand Cru cuvées, but we work on the ground in Burgundy with local producers who offer well made, elegant, individual wines that epitomise all that is fine about this great region. Concept The concept of Mischief and Mayhem is for Michael and I to revolutionise and simplify the way the wines of Burgundy are marketed, by offering you the consumer, detailed and relevant back-label notes in English, on both the vineyard site and the producer. Michael and I are continually frustrated that the responsibility and risk of purchasing a bottle of Burgundy is always born by the consumer, as the packaging invariably offers very little detail on the style of the wine and the producer. We believe that Burgundy is a superb region but like consumers throughout the world, find it very hard to pick and choose between the thousand of producers in the Côte d'or. We would therefore like to help both existing lovers of Burgundy and those who are new to the region's wines, by sourcing small parcels of great wine from good producers and offering these wines to you, at a fair price and with as much useful information as possible to help you make an informed choice. Michael will work throughout the whole of the Côte d'or to track down well made, individual wines. We will taste and select together three times a year and then offer our selections to you once the wines have been bottled, labeled and distributed within Europe or exported to the United States. We thank you for your patronage and look forward to sharing our love of this great region with you. Michael Ragg / Michael Twelftree
2004 Mischief and Mayhem White Burgundy Bourgogne Chardonnay (aka Baby Meursault ) Domaine Bohrmann has just over one hectare of Bourgogne Chardonnay vines spread between three excellent sites in the fabled villages of Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault and Pommard. The Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault parcels are sited in limestone soils and the Pommard parcel is based in a chalk soil with plenty of pebbles. These are impressive sites for Bourgogne Chardonnay vines but even better is the vine age here with an average age of 45 years across the three parcels. These factors allied with the greatest care and attention to detail in the vineyard combine to produce a wine of real character, purity and depth. Ans Bohrmann is a young, enthusiastic and talented winemaker who moved to Burgundy from her native Belgium in 1997. She now holds 4.5 hectares in total including parcels of Meursault, Meursault En La Barre and Puligny- Montrachet. The outstanding 2004 vintage was her third in sole charge of the excellent domaine. 2004 Mischief and Mayhem White Burgundy Bourgogne Chardonnay Lively, fresh nose of medium intensity with notes of green apple, lemon zest, toffee and oatmeal. A burst of lovely fresh acidity on the palate which continues both fine and long. Really pure, stony, lemon and lime fruit with notes of hazelnut and cream on the finish. Excellent. 12/750ml $204 net $180 DI net
2004 Mischief and Mayhem White Burgundy Bourgogne Pinot Beurot Catch 22 A couple of years ago, our good friend Ans Bohrmann purchased what she had been led to believe was a patch of Chardonnay vines in Pommard. All went well through the growing season until the grapes started ripening and, much to Ans amazement, started turning PINK! They were not Chardonnay vines at all, but PINOT BEUROT, and Ans was faced with a Catch 22 scenario - rip up or try and make wine! Well, happily for all of us she made the wine and it displays brilliant purity, an exotic bouquet and beautiful depth, weight and balance. We hope you enjoy this Catch 22. Pinot Beurot is an ancient Burgundian synonym for Pinot Gris. This lovely aromatic and fresh Gris bodes well with Asian fare and spicier dishes. Domaine Bohrmann has just over one hectare of Bourgogne Chardonnay vines spread between three excellent sites in the fabled villages of Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault and Pommard. The Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault parcels are sited in limestone soils and the Pommard parcel is based in a chalk soil with plenty of pebbles. These are impressive sites for Bourgogne Chardonnay vines but even better is the vine age here with an average age of 45 years across the three parcels. These factors allied with the greatest care and attention to detail in the vineyard combine to produce a wine of real character, purity and depth. Ans Bohrmann is a young, enthusiastic and talented winemaker who moved to Burgundy from her native Belgium in 1997. She now holds 4.5 hectares in total including parcels of Meursault, Meursault En La Barre and Puligny- Montrachet. The outstanding but challenging 2003 vintage was her second in sole charge of the excellent domaine. 2004 Mischief and Mayhem White Burgundy Bourgogne Pinot Beurot Catch 22 Beautifully exotic nose of fresh ginger, pineapple and marzipan, with hints of white chocolate and greengage fruit. Medium-bodied, dry on the palate with a lovely core of steely acidity and notes of ginger, goosberry, apple and spiced pear. Deliciously pure, with a fine, even finish. Lovely 12/750ml $204 net $180 DI net
2003 Mischief and Mayhem White Burgundy Bourgogne Chardonnay (aka Baby Meursault ) Domaine Bohrmann has just over one hectare of Bourgogne Chardonnay vines spread between three excellent sites in the fabled villages of Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault and Pommard. The Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault parcels are sited in limestone soils and the Pommard parcel is based in a chalk soil with plenty of pebbles. These are impressive sites for Bourgogne Chardonnay vines but even better is the vine age here with an average age of 45 years across the three parcels. These factors allied with the greatest care and attention to detail in the vineyard combine to produce a wine of real character, purity and depth. Ans Bohrmann is a young, enthusiastic and talented winemaker who moved to Burgundy from her native Belgium in 1997. She now holds 4.5 hectares in total including parcels of Meursault, Meursault En La Barre and Puligny-Montrachet. The outstanding but challenging 2003 vintage was her second in sole charge of the excellent domaine. 2003 Mischief and Mayhem White Burgundy Bourgogne Chardonnay 12/750ml $204 net $180 DI net SOLD OUT
2002 Mischief and Mayhem Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru, Les Folatières This vineyard is situated in the middle of the fabled, yet tiny, strip of land, just a five minute walk westwards up the slope from the lovely village of Puligny-Montrachet. The Chardonnay vines are bedded on a steep south easterly facing slope in a top soil of stony, limestone scree that is typically light in colour and quite rich in minerals. The grapes are taken from the Premier Cru vineyard Les Folatières with a vine age of 40 years. Les Folatières is renowned for its purity, richness and elegance. Pierre Albert Ponnelle is the talented 30 year old winemaker who has run this family winery for the last 6 years. Based in beautiful 14th century Cistercian cellars in Beaune, he also vinifies parcels of village Meursault, village Chassagne-Montrachet and grand cru Corton Charlemagne, as well as a number of excellent plots of Beaune premier crus. All of his grapes are vinifed in his ancient cellars just north of the town of Beaune. Produced and bottled by Albert Ponnelle F21200 Beaune for Mischief and Mayhem, 10 Impasse du Puits, Aloxe- Corton. 2002 Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru - Michael Twelftree Very intense nose with a lifted bouquet of lilies, pears and spice, with these elements backed up by a dusty candiness and mineral notes. The palate has excllent mouth weight showing a nice purity of fruit and mouth watering acidity. I love the texture and drive of this wine and would drink it over the next 7-8 years. 2002 Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru - Michael Ragg Straw gold in colour. Really pure, clean citrus and lemon butter nose with flinty notes and hints of white peach and apricot. Fabulous burst of fresh acidity, good weight and structure with hints of toasty yet well intergrated oak - very full and firm. No excess fat and perfect balance throughout, right along the finish which remains intense yet refined. Excellent. 2002 Mischief and Mayhem Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru, Les Folatières 12/750ml $780 net $720 DI net
2003 Mischief and Mayhem Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru This vineyard is situated near the top of the legendary hill of Corton just a ten minute walk up the slope from the beautiful village of Aloxe-Corton. The Chardonny vines are bedded in the south west facing upper slopes of the hillside, in rich marl soils with a high clay content. Domaine Chapuis has three small parcels spread across the vineyard, and these include vines on the Pernand-Vergelesses side of teh hill where the soil is more flinty. This spread of vines, plus an average vine age of 40 years across the three parcels, results in a wine of great richness, power and complexity. Maurice Chapuis, the mayor of Aloxe-Corton, has run this excellent family domaine since 1985. In 2003 he took the afternoon of 26th July off, in order to conduct the marriage of Mischief and Mayhem co-founder Michael Ragg and his wife Fiona. Despite this time away from his vines, he still produced the best 2003 white Burgundy that we have ever tasted and we thank him for that! Produced and bottled by Domaine Maurice Chapuis of Aloxe-Corton for Mischief and Mayhem, 10 Impasse du Puits, Aloxe-Corton. 2003 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru - Michael Twelftree High hopes here, with the wine drawn from three seperate parcels planted in 1951, 1956 and 1988 respectively and bottled at the end of October 2004. This was the first bottle that Maurice had tasted. Tight, dusty nutmeg, very expressive mineral component, very complex with secondary notes of dried apricots, bananas and tropical fruits. Thick, rich and juicy, this is brooding and powerful - a very exciting ride on the palate as it has such purity and underlying, mouth-watering acidity, all finishing deeply and harmoniously at the end. 2003 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru - Michael Ragg Beautiful bright colour - the wine really does shine. Amazing nose, crystallised ginger and pineapple with butter, spice and flambéed banana notes. 2003 Mischief and Mayhem Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 12/750ml $840 net $780 DI net
2003 Mischief and Mayhem Gevrey-Chambertin The magnificent vineyard of Gevrey-Chambertin runs broadly in a line north to south and is sandwiched between the historic vineyards of Fixin and Morey-Saint-Denis. Domaine Christophe Bryczek has just under one hectare of vines in Gevrey- Chambertin, superbly situated just a few metres below the Grand Cru Charmes-Chambertin vineyard on light limestone soils with a covering of gravel and stones. This excellent site, a nicely established parcel of 25 year old vines and immense care and respect of the vineyard, helps the domaine produce wines of great richness, structure and complexity. Christophe Bryczek is a young, talented winemaker, and the third generation of his family to head this domaine, which he took over from his father in 2002. He holds 3 hectares in total including parcels of Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, Morey-Saint-Denis and Morey- Saint-Denis Premier Cru. The outstanding 2003 vintage was his first in sole charge of the domaine's small family winery in Morey-Saint-Denis. Produced and bottled by Domaine Christophe Bryczek of Morey-Saint-Denis for Mischief and Mayhem, 10 Impasse du Puits, Aloxe-Corton 2003 Gevrey-Chambertin - Michael Ragg Bright wine, beautiful colour with blood red core and pinkish rim. Black cherry and rhubarb nose - really attractive, with lovely overtones of Turkish delight, demerera sugar and bitter chocolate. Great intense burst of cherry, mocha fruit. Lovely tannic structure and weight - good grip, powerful and intense, yet with real complexity and a ripe, full finish. Excellent. 2003 Gevrey-Chambertin - Michael Twelftree Nice red fruit tones in the glass, this also displays cloves, mint and spice. The palate is powered by some red cherry notes, with a nice ash element. This starts out quite soft and gentle but becomes very fleshy in the mouth. I enjoy the texture and core of this wine very much. 2003 Mischief and Mayhem Gevrey-Chambertin 12/750ml $408 net $360 DI net
2003 Mischief and Mayhem Vosne-Romanée The vineyard of Vosne-Romanée runs in a line north to south and is sandwiched between the historic vineyards of Vougeot and Nuits-Saint-Georges. Domaine Jean-Louis Raillard has just under one hectare of vines in Vosne-Romanée, spread between three different plots, one each in the north, centre and south of the vineyard area on light but well drained clay and limestone soils with a covering of pebbles and limestone scree. This well balanced spead of vines, coupled with an impressive average vine age of 60 years, helps the domaine produce wines of great complexity, depth and finesse. Jean-Louis Raillard is a youthful and enthusiastic character in his mid-forties who has a deep respect for the environment and the integrity of his vines. He holds three hectares in total, including parcels of Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-Saint- Georges and Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru " Les Hauts Beaux Monts ". His wines are vinified in his small but immaculate cellars in the centre of the ancient village of Vosne-Romanée. Produced and bottled by Domaine Jean-Louis Raillard of Vosne-Romanée for Mischief and Mayhem, 10 Impasse du Puits, Aloxe-Corton. 2003 Vosne-Romanée - Michael Twelftree Very complex, very tight, lovely ripe decaying herbal elements, but will build much greater complexity through maturation. Black in colour, deep and pure. This has a thick, juicy, punchy palate that displays a nice softness and sweetness all wrapped up by long, soft tannins. 2003 Vosne-Romanée - Michael Ragg Excellent nose which displays real complexity with lovely rose petal, red cherry and bitter chocolate notes with hints of liquorice. Tight-knit on the palate with concentrated, yet ripe, fleshy black fruit and a good taut acid structure, underpinned by nice fine tannins. This is a really well made Vosne-Romanée. 2003 Mischief and Mayhem Vosne-Romanée 12/750ml $468 net $432 DI net
2002 Mischief and Mayhem Corton Languettes Grand Cru This vineyard is situated at the top of the legendary hill of Corton, just a ten minute walk up the slope from the beautiful village of Aloxe-Corton. The Pinot Noir vines are bedded in the south east facing upper slopes of the hillside, in rich marl soils with a high clay content. Domaine Chapuis has one single parcel of half an hectare of vines in Corton Languettes, which was planted in 1956. This long established plot of old vines coupled with the excellent aspect of the site, results in a wine of great elegance, finesse and complexity. Maurice Chapuis, the mayor of Aloxe-Corton has run this excellent family domaine since 1985 when he took over the winemaking from his father Louis. He holds Gran Cru parcels of Corton-Charlemagne, Corton Les Perrières and Corton Les Languettes as well as some Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru and a small number of village sites. Produced and bottled by Domaine Maurice Chapuis of Aloxe-Corton for Mischief and Mayhem, 10 Impasse du Puits, Aloxe-Corton. 2002 Corton Languettes Grand Cru - Michael Twelftree Elegance leaps out of the glass, floral and feminine. This is very PINOT NOIR, soft, fleshy with a pretty bouquet of rose oil, lavender and fresh flowers. Starts with a dry entry and agood solid build up of juicy cherry fruit. It's defined and seamless and has a wonderful mouth feel - this is interesting stuff. 2002 Corton Languettes Grand Cru - Michael Ragg Raspberries, red cherries, redcurrants and rose petals. Long, smooth, refined and extremely elegant. Nice weight and balance with really good tannic delineation. Really well structured with layer after layer of soft summer fruits. Very good indeed. 2002 Mischief and Mayhem Corton Languettes Grand Cru 12/750ml $660 net $600 DI net
2002 Mischief and Mayhem Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru, Les Fournières Les Guérets These vineyards are situated on the Corton hillside just 10 minutes north of the town of Beaune, a few minutes walk up from the beautiful village of Aloxe-Corton. The Pinot Noir vines are bedded on a south to south easterly facing slope in top soil that is deep, red in colour and quite rich in iron. This wine is a blend of two Premier Cru vineyards with an average vine age of 45 years, Les Fournières imparting richness and elegance and Les Guérets giving firmness and complexity. Didier Meuneveaux is a young 49 years of age who inherited his vineyard holdings in 1980. Didier owns 6 hectares in total. He holds parcels of Les Bressandes, Les Perrières, Les Chaumes, Les Fournières and Les Guérets, as well as a number of small village sites. All of his grapes are vinifed in his immaculate cellars at the entrance to the village of Aloxe-Corton. Produced and bottled by Domaine Didier Meuneveaux of Aloxe-Corton for Mischief and Mayhem, 10 Impasse du Puits, Aloxe-Corton. 2002 Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru - Michael Twelftree Brilliant purple in colour with a bouquet of rose petals, cut flowers, rich and quite mesmerizing, ripe cedar, cherries, ash, backed by a rhubarb and mineral element. Amazingly layered and complex, this is a breathtaking bouquet for a Pinot Noir. The wine starts out dense and cuts a sway the across the palate. It is layered and focused and defined, showing red to purple fruits that flow through to a lovely long finish with beautifully integrated tannins. An exciting wine that is quite fleshy now, but will age extremely well. 2002 Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru - Michael Ragg Bright, beautiful ruby core with purple rim. Medium intensity cassis, black cherry nose with hints of spice, clove and plum. A rich burst of fruit on the palate with good grip and lovely integrated fruit tannins. Nice structure, full, rich and smooth with a good background of acidity, layered with soft fruit. Long finish with cherry, damson overtones - great balance throughout. Excellent. 2002 Mischief and Mayhem Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru, Les Fournières Les Guérets 12/750ml $456 net $408 DI net
2002 Mischief and Mayhem Pommard Premier Cru, Clos Orgelot This is an interesting vineyard which is solely owned by the Domaine Violot-Guillemard - a monopole - but due to the complexities of Burgundian wine law it is currently recorded as a part of the Pommard Premier Cru Saussilles vineyard. It is situated between the Beaune Clos des Mouches vineyard and the Pommard Pézerolles vineyard, a magnificent south-east facing Pinot Noir site in red, iron rich, stony soils. This fine site with vines dating back to 1915, and an average vine age of 50 years across the parcel, typcially produces a wine of great purity, elegance and length. Christophe Violot-Guillemard, who is the fourth generation of his family to run this excellent 12.5 hectare domaine, has been in charge here since 1992. He holds Premier Cru parcels of Pommard Les Epenots, " Clos Orgelot " and " Clos de la Refène " as well as some Beaune Premier Cru " Clos du Roy " and a number of small village sites in St.Romain. Produced and bottled by Domaine Christophe Violot-Guillemard of Pommard for Mischief and Mayhem, 10 Impasse du Puits, Aloxe-Corton. 2002 Pommard Premier Cru - Michael Twelftree Straight off the bat, a lovely freshness with tar, earth, cola, fly spray and forest floor notes - really alive and packed with some exciting stuff. On the early palate there are some lovely red berry flavours - this is my type of Pinot Noir, a real loaded gun with wonderful fruit flavours, an amazing underlying acid structure, a real core of fruit and a big personality. 2002 Pommard Premier Cru - Michael Ragg Great intensity, red cherries, loganberries and nice mocha, vanilla and nutmeg notes. Good and rich on the palate with excellent sweetness and purity of fruit, well integrated supple tannins and fantastic acidity. Good length and grip on the finish - this is excellent. 2002 Mischief and Mayhem Pommard Premier Cru, Clos Orgelot 12/750ml $600 net $540 DI net
2003 Mischief and Mayhem Corton-Perrières Grand Cru This vineyard is perfectly situated about half-way up the eastern side of the hill of Corton, just a five minute walk up the slope from the beautiful village of Aloxe-Corton. The Pinot Noir vines are bedded in the south-east facing mid-slopes of the hillside, in thin brown limestone soils with a covering of pebbles and a high clay content. Domaine Meuneveaux has three quarters of an hectare in Corton Perrières, made up of 50 year old vines, which typically produce wines of great purity of fruit, depth and complexity. Didier Meuneveaux is a very young 49 years of age who inherited his vineyard holdings in 1980. He holds parcels of Les Bressandes, Les Perrières, Les Chaumes, Les Fournières and Les Guérets as well as a number of small village sites. Produced and bottled by Domaine Didier Meuneveaux of Aloxe-Corton for Mischief and Mayhem, 10 Impasse de Puits, Aloxe-Corton. 2003 Corton Perrières - Michael Twelftree Very tight on the bouquet with earth, berries, tar, nice mint and a flicker of oak. On the palate the wine is big, brooding and looking for a fight, with a big core of ripe black fruit, backed up by some nicely intergrated oak. A little atypical as the tannins were quite reminiscent of a Cabernet-Sauvignon, but I did like the solid tarriness along the palate. 2003 Corton-Perrières - Michael Ragg Made from 50 year old vines. Intense strawberry and red cherry nose with really earthy overtones and a trace of vanilla. On the palate, good grip and power. Excellent acidity, real purity and a lovely fine tannic structure that underpins everything. Very good indeed. 2003 Mischief and Mayhem Corton-Perrières Grand Cru 12/750ml $684 net $648 DI net
2003 Mischief and Mayhem Corton Bressandes Grand Cru This vineyard is situated exactly half-way up the eastern side of the hill of Corton, just a five minute walk up the slope from the beautiful village of Aloxe-Corton. The Pinot Noir vines are bedded in the south east facing mid-slopes of the hillside, in heavy reddish-brown limestone soils with a high clay content. Domaine Meuneveaux has just one quarter of an hectare in Corton Bressandes, made up of 30 year old vines, which typically produce wines of great weight, richness and concentration. Didier Meuneveaux is a very young 49 years of age who inherited his vineyard holdings in 1980. He holds parcels of Les Bressandes, Les Perrières, Les Chaumes, Les Fournières and Les Guérets as well as a number of small village sites. Produced and bottled by Domaine Didier Meuneveaux of Aloxe-Corton for Mischief and Mayhem, 10 Impasse du Puits, Aloxe-Corton. 2003 Corton Bressandes - Michael Twelftree Smoke and ash, still tight but interesting and displaying layers of complexity on the bouquet. This displays really good texture, drive and grip, with boat loads of rich fruit flavour. Takes off like a rocket in the mouth and is backed up by long, pure and silky tannins. 2003 Corton Bressandes - Michael Ragg Rich and fleshy with real power. Blackberry and cherry notes with lovely traces of vanilla and toffee and cinnamon overtones. Great tannic structure and weight with lovely intensity and real grip. Very long and fine. 2003 Mischief and Mayhem Corton Bressandes Grand Cru 12/750ml $684 net $648 DI net