Fine wines for collectors & discerning drinkers 8 Royal Opera Arcade, London SW1Y 4UY www.assetwines.com
Burgundy 2015 En Primeur The Vintage 2015 is an outstanding vintage for Burgundy. Great wines start in the vineyard and given a competent winemaker then the only requirement for a great vintage is the climatic conditions during the year and in 2015 these were almost ideal. The summer months provided warm weather in June and then hot weather over July and August. 2015 was definitely a hotter year than normal but plentiful rainfall over the autumn and winter months allied with much needed rainfall in early and late August and then further rainfall on the 12 th September saved the vines from excessive stress. Another feature of the summer was the additional luminosity created by weeks of clear blue skies and warm temperatures rather than cloudy warm humid weather and the consequent risk of thunderstorms. The harvest took place in perfect conditions and given the warm dry weather over the growing season the sorting tables were not required. The pickers delivered clean, perfectly ripe, small intensely flavoured grapes to the winemaker. In describing the style of the vintage invariably back vintages are referred to. For 2015 burgundy it is the concentration of the 2005 vintage and the juicy freshness of 2010. The 2015 red wines exhibit luxurious concentration with vibrant energy; they are rich and plump with an alluring freshness. They will drink well young but the best will age really well. The Market The market for wines from Burgundy continues to expand, and demand continues to grow worldwide. Combined with low volume harvests this means that prices continue to rise. And with an upcoming 2016 vintage with the lowest volumes in recent memory, this definitely won t change next year. The top wines are incredibly wines, and if you can afford them then you should be stocking up. However in a vintage like 2015, the less lauded appellations also make very good wines as the extra heat allows even those vineyards to make very ripe grapes. This is the vintage to stock up on drinking wines for the next few years. And at these levels the wines are still not expensive. We also think this year the cooler sites and lower appellations made good early drinking white wines. The top white wines don t have the freshness of the 2014s and won t last as long, so will they have time to develop the complexity needed to justify their price? We think it s a better year to stock up on reds or the lower end early drinking whites. Beaujolais also made great wines in 2015. There is real quality and prices are, dare we say it, cheap! Don t hesitate! Sales at other merchants have been flying out and top wines are selling out instantly. Please be quick if you have interest in these wines. And please balance your orders across the quality spectrum as we unfortunately can t only sell you the top grands crus.
Producer Wine Vintage Case size Bottle size IB Case Offer Price Jayer-Gilles Hautes Cotes de Beaune White 2015 12 75cl 270.00 Hautes Cotes de Nuits White 2015 12 75cl 280.00 Hautes Cotes de Beaune Red 2015 12 75cl 285.00 Hautes Cotes de Nuits Red 2015 12 75cl 290.00 Cote de Nuits-Villages 2015 12 75cl 350.00 NSG «Hauts Poirets» 2015 6 75cl 475.00 NSG 1er Cru Les Damodes 2015 6 75cl 600.00 Echezeaux-du-Dessus 2015 6 75cl 1,000.00 Tortochot Morey-St-Denis 2015 6 75cl 190.00 Gevrey- Chambertin «Les Jeunes Rois» 2015 6 75cl 150.00 Gevrey- Chambertin «Les Corvées» 2015 6 75cl 150.00 Gevrey- Chambertin «Champerrier» Vieilles Vignes 2015 6 75cl 200.00 Gevrey 1er Cru Lavaux St Jacques 2015 6 75cl 260.00 Gevrey 1er Cru Les Champeaux 2015 6 75cl 250.00 Morey 1er Cru Aux Charmes 2015 6 75cl 280.00 Morey 1er Cru «Renaissance» 2015 6 75cl 225.00 Charmes-Chambertin 2015 6 75cl 465.00 Mazis-Chamberin 2015 6 75cl 540.00 Le Chambertin 2015 2015 6 75cl 675.00 Clos de Vougeot 2015 6 75cl 615.00 Domaine Cathiard Nuits-St-Georges 2015 6 75cl 255.00 Vosne-Romanée 2015 6 75cl 270.00 Chambolle-Musigny «Les Clos de L'Orme» 2015 6 75cl 300.00 Georges Noëllat Vosne-Romanée 2015 6 75cl 255.00 Nuits-St-Georges 1er Cru Les Cras 2015 6 75cl 450.00 Jean Grivot Chambolle-Musigny «La Combe d Orveaux» 2015 6 75cl 300.00 Nuits-St-Georges 1er Cru Aux Boudots 2015 6 75cl 660.00 Jerome Billard Bourgogne Aligote 2015 6 75cl 52.00 Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Beaune «La Justice» 2015 6 75cl 75.00 Chassagne Montrachet «Les Morichots» 2015 6 75cl 140.00 Pommard 2015 6 75cl 150.00 Saint Aubin 1er Cru «Les Castets» 2015 6 75cl 120.00 Beaune Premier Cru «Les Chouacheux» 2015 2015 6 75cl 130.00 Bruno Lorenzon Montagny 1er Cru «Les Truffières» 2015 12 75cl 200.00 Mercurey 1er Cru «Champs Martin» 2015 12 75cl 250.00 Mercurey 1er Cru «Pièce 15» 2015 12 75cl 320.00 Mercurey 1er Cru «Champs Martin» 2015 12 75cl 250.00 Mercurey 1er Cru «Clos Champs Martin CARLINE» 2015 12 75cl 260.00 Mercurey 1er Cru «Pièce 13» 2015 12 75cl 345.00
Producer Wine Vintage Case size Bottle size IB Case Offer Price Ballot-Millot Bourgogne Blanc 2015 6 75cl 155.00 Meursault «Les Narvaux» 2015 6 75cl 198.00 Meursault 1er Cru Charmes 2015 6 75cl 295.00 Meursault 1er Cru Genevrières 2015 6 75cl 310.00 Meursault 1er Cru Perrières 2015 6 75cl 330.00 Pernot-Belicard Meursault Vieilles Vignes 2015 6 75cl 145.00 Puligny-Montrachet 2015 6 75cl 155.00 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Perrières 2015 6 75cl 250.00 Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières 2015 6 75cl 275.00 BEAUJOLAIS Domaine le Cotoyon Saint-Amour 2015 6 75cl 75.00 Saint-Amour «Les Champs Grillés» (Single Barrel) 2015 6 75cl 150.00 Juliénas 2015 6 75cl 75.00 Juliénas, Cuvée Fut de Chêne 2015 6 75cl 90.00 Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie, L'Alchimiste 2015 12 75cl 165.00 Fleurie, Clepsydre 2015 12 75cl 175.00 Prices offered IB
Domaine Jayer- Gilles, Nuits-St-Georges Many Jayers make wine in Burgundy, but Gilles Jayer is easily among the best of the bunch. His wines are flamboyant and fleshy, marked by ripe, sweet fruit and lavish, spicy new oak. The estate s Côte de Nuits-Villages is always a perfect ringer in a blind tasting with Burgundies of higher pedigree. Domaine Jayer-Gilles is also well known for its Pinot Noirs from the Echezeaux Grand Cru vineyard. Even the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune and Haute-Côtes de Nuits bottlings reflect the style of Gilles s more highly pedigreed wines. Stephen Tanzer s Wine Access Alan Meadows says As is often the case, Jayer makes excellent wines at the Bourgogne level and 2015 is no exception. The cru wines from Nuits-St-Georges are an obvious leap in quality which display the usual firm texture of Nuits-St-Georges but in 2015 have an additional generosity and layers of deep ripe fruit. The half a hectare of Echezeaux that Jayer-Gilles own is always one of the top wines of this Grand Cru vineyard and both Burghound and Steve Tanzer agree. Gilles Jayer normally only offer his wines once they have been bottled but Asset Wines have persuaded him to release his 2015 vintage en primeur for the first time. We are also offering a limited amount of wines from the 2011 to 2014 vintages. The domaine was devastated by frost in 2016 and quantities will be down by 90% next year! White wines Hautes-Cotes de Beaune 2015 270 case/12 A rare blend of Chardonnay with Pinot Gouges, a unique mutation of the pinot noir grape. A touch of wood sets off the ripe and really very pretty nose of citrus and white orchard fruit that leads to fresh, complex and admirably pure flavours that possess lovely punch and good focus on the ever-so-mildly toasty finish. Hautes-Cotes de Nuits 2015 280 case/12 The impressively rich and solidly well-concentrated flavours possess terrific intensity, precision and persistence for its level. Recommended.
Red wines Hautes-Cotes de Beaune 2015 285 case/12 A cool, fresh and airy nose primarily reflects notes of high-toned red berry fruit aromas. The racy and solidly intense flavours possess good definition and impressive depth and persistence. This is an excellent example of the genre and would make for a great house red. (Alan Meadows, Burghound) Hautes-Cotes de Nuits 2015 290 case/12 Here the slightly more complex nose blends both red and dark berry fruit aromas with a touch of earth. I like the texture of the delicious, pliant and sappy medium weight flavours that, like the nose, possess just a bit more depth on the balanced and moderately firm finish. It's relatively rare to find examples of Bourgogne with this level of quality and particularly so from the Hautes Côtes. Recommended. (Alan Meadows, Burghound) Cotes de Nuits- Villages 2015 (89-91) 350 case/12 Here the restrained nose is more complex still with its spicy and earthy array of red and dark currant scents. The medium-bodied flavors are also richer and with better mid-palate concentration while delivering very fine persistence on the well-balanced finish. This is lovely and should reward 4 to 6 years of cellaring. This too would make a savvy choice for an upper level house red. (Alan Meadows, Burghound) Nuits Saint Georges Les Hauts Poirets (88-91) 475 case/6 A good freshness and punch to the very rich and mouth coating flavours that deliver solid depth and length on the moderately rustic finale. This is sufficiently structured to warrant allowing it 6 to 8 years of cellaring. (Alan Meadows, Burghound) Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Les Damodes (90-93) 600 case/6 A terrific intensity and punch to the muscular and mineral-inflected medium weight plus flavours that possess plenty of palate coating dry extract that also serves to buffer the firm tannic spine on the beautifully complex and persistent finish. This robust effort is going to necessitate at least 5 to 6 years of bottle age first and reward 10 to 12. (Alan Meadows, Burghound) Echezeaux du Dessus (92-94) 1000 case/6 An exuberantly spicy nose displays notes of pepper, violet, sandalwood, plum and Asian-style tea. There is first-rate richness and concentration to the beautifully textured medium-bodied flavors that deliver excellent depth and length on the sappy finale. As good as this appears to be, and it appears to be really good, the 2014 is likely to be even better. I would argue for buying both if you can find them! (Alan Meadows, Burghound) (possible on request)
Domaine Tortochot It s clear that quality is on the upswing here and this is a domaine worth following. Moreover, given the extremely reasonable prices the wines typically sell for, they are bargains, a descriptor one rarely hears uttered in the same breath with Côte de Nuits grand cru. Allen Meadows Tortochot is one of the more famous estates in Gevrey-Chambertin and has been in the Tortochot family for 4 generations. Chantal is one of a growing breed of viticulteurs in Burgundy. She has made it her primary battle to convert the estate into an organic one and received the official certification from the 2013 vintage. When talking to Chantal you realize just how knowledgeable and passionate she is about her vineyards, the terroir and nature itself. It s very important to respect nature and to respect the vines in particular. Morey St Denis 2015 190 case/6 Notes of red currants, tea and earthy traces. There is more volume and richness in 2015 however this is still lighter style of wine. Delicious when young while delivering acceptable depth and length. Gevrey Chambertin, Les Jeunes Rois 2015 150 case/6 Freshness on the nose with notes of red cherry, spice and lavender and subtle earthy nuances. Lighter weight flavours possess a discreet minerality while also offering good depth and length on the well-balanced finish. Gevrey Chambertin, Les Corvées 2015 150 case/6 The minimal use of wood sets off admirably pure red currant aromas that are laced with notes of game, earth and a hint of underbrush. More volume here and mid-palate concentration, delicious and caressing middle weight flavours that continue through the finish. Gevrey Chambertin, Champerrier VV 2015 200 case/6 A highly expressive nose is composed of overtly wild aromas of earth, wild berries and a touch of oak. There is a bit more volume present here as well on the slightly more concentrated flavours that deliver a good length on the finish that also has traces of bitter cherry.
Gevrey 1er Cru, Lavaux St Jaques 2015 260 case/6 A more complex nose reflects notes of red and dark berries, earthy aromas that are trimmed in a touch of wood toast. The supporting tannins are textured and intense. Attractively firm and well-balanced finish. Gevrey 1er Cru, Les Champeaux 2015 250 case/6 A higher-toned nose combines aromas of red cherry, pomegranate, violet and earth. The energetic and well-detailed mineral-driven flavours possess a relatively refined mouth feel. A more refined texture to the tautly muscular and focused middle weight flavours that conclude in a balanced and wonderfully long finish. Morey 1er Cru, Aux Charmes 2015 280 case/6 A deft touch of wood frames elegant and pure aromas of mostly black fruit though there are background floral, earth and spice nuances. There is a solid core of tannins, even a certainly muscularity. A really lovely mouth feel to the round and charming medium-bodied flavours that possess a generous and sappy finale that delivers fine length. Morey 1er Cru, Renaissance 2015 225 case/6 This is a pretty mix of various red berries, floral and soft shades of herbal tea. The textured, supple and relatively refined middle weight flavours possess a fresh mouth feel while remaining focused on the lightly mineral-inflected finish. Grand Cru Clos Vougeot 2015 615 case/6 Fine volume and muscle to the sappy middle weight plus ripe and round largescaled flavours that possess excellent volume and punch before culminating in a seductively textured finish that offers fine depth and length. Charmes-Chambertin 2015 465 case/6 A bright and expressive nose features elegant aromas of assorted red berries, newly turned earth and lovely floral notes. There is notably more volume, grip and tension, solidly concentrated flavours that also possess slightly better depth and persistence on the complex and lingering finish. Mazis-Chambertin 2015 540 case/6 A distinctly different aromatic profile presents itself with a patently greater emphasis on the sauvage with iron-infused earth nuances on the red and dark currant scents. This is also seductively textured but notably more powerful. This will require at least 7 to 8 years before it will have resolved.
Le Chambertin 2015 675 case/6 The aromatic profile displays a highly complex nose of red currant, blue berry, dark berries and ample minerality that continues to dark berry aromas that are again trimmed in enough wood to notice. Red berry fruit and intense earth notes that grandly introduce the big-bodied, powerful and mineral-driven flavours that possess strikingly good definition and punch on the austere and stunningly long finish. Domaine Cathiard Quite simply this was the best tasting to date under the regime of Sébastien. The wines were gorgeously expressive and seemed so wonderfully effortless. Sébastien has reduced the amount of new oak on some of the wines, which perhaps gives them greater purity at this young age but it is surely more than that. As always volumes are very limited so send your requests promptly to avoid disappointment. Vosne-Romanée 2015 (92) 270 case/6 This is really quite a powerful Vosne, with structure and depth but still the tannins and polish entertain the taste buds with their aristocratic air. Nuits-St-Georges 2015 (93) 255 case/6 Considering how backward this is it is really quite a sexy Nuits with red and black fruits interlaced with spice and stone. Lots to come. Chambolle-Musigny Les Clos de l Orme 2015 (94) 300 case/6 This is beautifully fragrant with hints of black cherry and fresh spice. Lovely tannins and control and mouth-watering vibrancy. Domaine Grivot We are in the midst of a changing of the guard at Grivot, as Étienne gradually hands over the reins to his accomplished and confident daughter Mathilde. The domaine is in a very different place to where it was when he took over and the wines he has been producing over the past few years have been nothing short of brilliant. In recent vintages extraction has been more gentle and the fragrance, polish and energy of the wines has been hypnotic. One final legacy will be the smart new terrace and tasting room that has now been completed which overlooks the vineyards of Vosne with an appealing majesty. Little surprise that these 2015s are first rate.
Chambolle-Musigny La Combe d Orveaux 2015 300 case/6 Musigny. This is hedonistically lovely with glacé cherry fruit and seductive, silky tannins, with a fragrance that runs right through the core to the long finish. Lovely. Nuits St George 1er Cru Aux Boudots 2015 660 case/6 Boudots is one of Nuits top sites, lying to the north of the village on the Vosne side and this has at least as much Vosne character as it has Nuits character. Slightly flashy, but in a good way, this has glycerol, polish, some decadence and gorgeous fruit flavours. A nice line of energy runs through it lifting the fruit and highlighting its complexity. Domaine Georges Noellat In a very short space of time Maxime Cheurlin has turned his family s Vosne estate into one of the hottest properties in the Cote de Nuits. Over the last couple of years the wines have become more focussed with a little less emphasis on new oak which has helped take them to an even higher level. The 2015s are great and show terrific concentration, counterbalanced by old vine structure and polished tannins. Vosne Romanee 2015 (94) 255 case/6 This comes from several well-sited parcels and is quite punchy in style with volume and some sappy red and black fruits. A touch of spice and a well-crafted framework. Nuits St Georges Les Cras 2015 (96) 450 case/6 This delightful Nuits comes from the Vosne side of Nuits and has lovely, silky tannins. Lots of gloss and cool fruits and real depth and length. I appreciate the energy conveyed by this Nuits Saint-Georges and it gently fans out towards the confident finish, offering a lovely peppery aftertaste. 91-93pts. Neal Martin
Domaine Ballot-Millot Charles has been on a major roll in recent vintages and has handled this vintage with all the confidence and assurance of someone who knows he is at the top of his game. He has been able to highlight the minerality and stoniness of the wines and focus on their drive and energy, knowing the ripe fruit flavours will take care of themselves. Lovely wines and a fascinating follow on from his excellent 2014s. This is always one of our favourite domains for white burgundy and is always sold out and on allocation. We secured a few cases so grab your allocation now. Bourgogne Blanc 155 case/6 Worth holding for at least a year before drinking. The inherent fruit and richness combined with the racy, linear style of the domaine make for a very classy Bourgogne Blanc. Meursault Les Narvaux 198 case/6 Narvaux is one of Meursault s best non-1ers Crus plots, sitting above Genevrières on well exposed rocky slopes. The minerality sucked up from the terroir combined with the cool but ripe fruit flavours have produced a wine of real bite and intensity. The finish is quite mouthwatering. Meursault 1er Cru Charmes 295 case/6 For a Charmes this is quite cool and floral, with good layers and structure that give it purpose and definition. Plenty to come. Meursault 1er Cru Genevrières 310 case/6 The Ballot-Millot style gives the taut, reductive, mineral core and the gentle use of new oak adds a touch of spice, but there is an opulence to this Genevrières which adds a hedonistic dimension that is impossible to ignore. Lots of substance and great balance. Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières 330 case/6 This is from a 0.6 hectare parcel, and it would be easy to think of this as the signature wine of the domaine. Meursault at its most mineral and racy, with a wine making style that leans towards the reductive. Such intensity and length, it is wines like these that will restore our confidence in laying down white Burgundy.
Domaine Pernot-Belicard The wines see between 20 and 35% new oak and currently drink well after a few years in bottle. The old vine cuvée of Meursault is produced from especially old vines (around 70 years) but there are plenty of old vines throughout the domaine. 2014 was a huge success for Philippe and these 2015s follow on really well. He began harvesting ion 31 st August and ensured the wines have plenty of zip and vibrancy. Puligny-Montrachet 155 case/6 Forty five year old vines create a very classic Puligny. Great intensity and plenty of extract, with minerality and a smokiness. Meursault Vieilles Vignes 145 case/6 Two parcels, which benefit from 70 year old vines, and made with the use of 20% new oak. Real Meursault typicity with lovely rich, rounded flavours. Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Perrières 250 case/6 Just 0.55 of a hectare, with an average vine age of just over 60 years. The 30% of new oak adds a touch of spice, but is otherwise already integrated. Very concentrated with lots of texture and very long flavours. Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières 275 case/6 Philippe s other Perrières but from Meursault this time. This is rich and quite compact with some floral notes mingling with almost lush but balanced fruit. Good density and matter here.
Domaine Lorenzon Lorenzon produces the best wines in the Chalonnaise. Whose opinion is that? Lorenzon was voted as Burgundy wine maker of the year 2013. There are over 2000 winemakers in all of Burgundy. A remarkable achievement for a winemaker from Mercurey. If you taste his wines you will understand. ('Bourgogne Aujourd Hui') Bruno Lorenzon is obsessed. He is obsessed with every little aspect of making excellent wine and will not compromise on any of it. He is obsessed with the planting density (sometimes going up to 20,000 vines per ha, when others rarely reach 10,000 and sometime half of that). He is obsessed with taking care of each vine individually, and could probably name each of his cherished vines. He has a state of the art cellar in perfectly clean condition, pumping argon into his tanks in order to not get too much oxygen dissolved in the tanks (and thus preventing premox), cleaning every tank tap after every use, and making sure the temperature of each one doesn t vary by more than 0.1C from its desired set number. He chooses every tree to make different barrels for each wine each vintage, and ages the wood himself. The corks he uses are usually seen on first growth Bordeaux or the best grands crus of burgundy. And he adds wax to close off each bottle top. The man is intense and driven. If he was a professional cyclist he would not only want to win the Tour de France, but he would make sure he won every single stage of it. The wines he makes are stunning and if tasted blind you would never place them in the less fashionable village of Mercurey. The young Bruno Lorenzon exploits 6 ha in this impeccably run domaine. The wines are serious yet stylish and Lorenzon is slowly making a reputation for consistently creating quality wines. Allen Meadows
We didn t just stumble onto this domaine. It is highly regarded by the cognoscenti of burgundy and Bruno is regarded by many colleagues as a very influential winemaker. His wines are found at the top Michelin restaurants, in the best ones of burgundy, and he counts many well-known winemakers as friends. He wants to bring up the reputation of Mercurey and if he has to do it single-handedly, then he will. Were these wines to come from plots further north, then you would be paying multiples of the price he asks. He won t be expanding the domaine, so his 6ha yields only a little wine for the world which snaps it up. Whites These wines are stunning. They open with a soft attack, then widen to an intense fruit and stone expanse before snapping back to a thin needle of a finish which makes you wonder if your tongue has just been sliced. You are then left with a very long and intensifying finish. By the time you are ready to take another sip, you realise you are still tasting your first. If you buy just one case of white burgundy this year then you should probably get one of these. Highly, highly recommended. Montagny 1er Cru Les Truffieres 2015 200 case/12 Mercurey 1er Cru Champs Martin 2015 250 case/12 Mercurey 1er Cru Pieces 15 2015 320 case/12 The Reds You would never think these wines come from Mercurey. Although historically well regarded, this appellation has been expanded and expanded again into agricultural lands and forest cover that should not be planted with vines. Bruno s vines come from the historical heartland of Mercurey and are all premier crus. The wines are palate coating, intense and long. You will soon be cherishing the few bottles you have and thanking us for your small yearly allocation. Mercurey 1er Cru Champs Martin 2015 250 case/12 Mercurey 1er Cru Clos Champs Martin Carline 2015 260 case/12 Piece 13 2015 345 case/12
Domaine Billard, Pere et Fils Jerome Billard is an affable and gregarious person and this is reflected in his wines, with wonderful results at great value. Domaine Billard produces wines from several different appellations throughout the Cotes de Beaune. Their largest are in the Hautes-Cotes de Beaune with other small plots located in Saint Romain and Saint Aubin 1er Cru. Combining tradition and innovation, Jerome continually strives for quality and whether it is in the vineyard or the cellar he wants the production of his wines to truly express the terroir from which they are grown. The wines are very approachable young and are not meant to be pretentious. These are wines you can open confidently without breaking the bank. This is your weekday burgundy with great results! The whites Bourgogne Aligote 2015 52 case/6 A fresh and exuberant nose features mostly notes of citrus and apple. Delicious and punchy flavours that terminate in a dry and clean if not especially complex finish. Hautes Cotes de Beaune Blanc La Justice 2015 75 case/6 An attractively fresh nose of melon and citrus that slide into unusually generous and rich flavours and good mid-palate concentration. Terrific for its level and would make a fine choice for an inexpensive all-around house white. The reds Chassagne Montrachet Les Morichots 2015 140 case/6 A textured and satiny mouth feel of the extract-rich medium-bodied flavours that deliver stunning good length. Especially good in 2015. Pommard 2015 150 case/6 High-toned nose is super-fresh with its pretty array of mostly red berry fruit and earth scents. There is a terrific sense of underlying tension to the beautifully well-delineated flavours that are at once punchy and powerful yet refined while delivering outstanding length on the firm, balanced and youthfully austere finale.
Saint Aubin, Les Castets 2015 120 case/6 Drop dead gorgeous pinot fruit. Pure, elegant and superb aromatic complexity perfectly complements barely middle weight, mineral-infused flavours and a linear, punchy, edgy finish. Beaune 1er Cru Les Chouacheux 2015 130 case/6 A freshness on the nose offers up airy and notably floral aromas of pomegranate and red cherry. There is both good volume and intensity to the sleek and tautly muscular flavours that possess a more sophisticated mouth feel despite the presence of firmer tannins on the balanced and persistent finish.
BEAUJOLAIS The last three vintages for Beaujolais have been a string of home runs, but 2015 is likely to be the one that delivers the greatest impact and pleasure for most wine lovers. Josh Raynolds, Vinous.com Domaine Le Cotoyon This estate in northern Beaujolais was created in 1979 by Frédéric Bénat taking over some of the vineyard belonging to the family for 8 generations. The winery is based in the burgundy part of Beaujolais in one of the highest villages of the cru Beaujolais area: Pruzilly. They are specialised in producing exclusive Juliénas and Saint-Amour. The wines are made to age, the pride of the winery is to own and still drink some Saint-Amour 1985 that has been awarded Prix Bacchus in 1986, which is the highest recognition you can receive in Cru Beaujolais. 2015 is probably the best vintage yet produced in Beaujolais having even more potential than the famous 1947, 1976 or 1985. Saint-Amour 2015 75 case/6 A little bit lighter and easier to drink, the nose is very aromatic with some aromas of raspberry, fresh flowers and vines leaves. The mouth is very elegant and fresh with some flavours of raspberry and violet. Saint Amour Les Champs Grillés 2015 150 case/6 Small production from the best parcel called Le Paradis, this is the best Saint-Amour of the estate. Juliénas 2015 75 case/6 The nose is very aromatic with cherries, violets and spices while the mouth is smooth, fresh, red & black berries driven. Rich and mineral. Can be drunk in 5 years of aging. Juliénas Fut de Chene 2015 90 case/6 The winery has always been making a cuvee aged in oak only in the best vintages. Dark in colour, intense on the nose with blackcurrant and blackberry and flowery notes. The mouth is voluptuous and generous. Can be drunk with 5 years of aging.
Anne-Sophie Dubois What can be more pleasurable than a fresh, crisp Fleurie, maybe slightly cooled and allowed to warm in your glass. Not much, especially when it comes from talented Anne-Sophie Dubois. She just has the right approach to winemaking adhering to traditional methods of vinification and allowing her Fleurie to sing." (Neal Martin) Anne-Sophie Dubois is one of the rising star in Fleurie. Her parents own a small estate in Champagne, but in early age she decided to take over the family winery in Fleurie. Since then, she always wanted to change to image of the old fashion way of making cru Beaujolais and decided to treat the Gamay like a Pinot Noir in Burgundy. Fleurie, Alchimiste 2015 165 case/12 The Fleurie l'alchimiste, which comes from the lieu-diet of "Les Labourons," is 100% destemmed and fermented 70% in oak cask and 30% in cement. The 2014 Vintage (Neal Martin 91 pts) has a crisp and clean redcurrant and cranberry leaf bouquet that neatly disguises the wood element. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine line of acidity and plenty of lovely tart red cherry fruit on the elegant finish. The 2015 is even better! Fleurie, Clepsydre 2015 175 case/12 A slightly richer and more opulent nose than the Alchemiste without losing any of its precision. The palate is medium-bodied with fleshy, ripe tannin, well-judged acidity and a gentle grip upon the structured finish. This has great potential: a very natural and refined Fleurie. (Neal Martin 92 pts, 2014 vintage)