Bouland, Daniel 2016 Chiroubles "Chatenay"

Breton, Guy 2011 Morgon Vieilles Vignes

Coudert (Clos de la Roilette) 2011 Fleurie Clos de la Roilette

Alain Coudert has again in 2011 produced beautiful wines at the Clos de la Roilette. A bit softer and fuller-bodied than the lean 2010, this wine has lovely black and red fruit aromas with hints of earth and spice. The palate is full but structured, certainly lower in acidity that the 2010, but quite long and earthy and promising at least mid-term aging. In other words another delicious wine from Alain, and a great value, that will drink well now and over the next 6 to 8 years. Bravo!

Coudert (Clos de la Roilette) 2011 Fleurie Griffe du Marquis

Coudert (Clos de la Roilette) 2012 Fleurie Griffe du Marquis

Alain Coudert's homage to his father Fernand is a superb Fleurie that will need three to five years in the cellar and should drink beautifully over the next ten to fifteen years or more. This is the same juice as the great 2012 Cuvée Tardive, aged in two to six year-old barriques and bottled a year later. From eighty year-old vines on clay and granite soil.. Deep aromas of meaty blackberry and strawberry confit, violets and mint. Intense palate of berry liqueur, plum, stone and earth with fabulous length and firm, even slightly bitter acids. Earthy fruit coats the palate in the finish — ripe but balanced at 13% alcohol. This will be a great mature wine, perhaps best between 2020 — 2025.

Coudert (Clos de la Roilette) 2014 Fleurie Cuvee Tardive

From eighty year-old vines on clay and granite soil in Alain Coudert's beautiful Clos de la Roliette, just over the border from Moulin-a-Vent. By "Tardive," Alain Coudert implies that one should wait for this wine to mature, in this case probably about 5 to 7 years, although those unable to wait will certainly enjoy drinking it now. In the cavalcade of great Cuvee Tardives, the 2014 weighs in at 13% and shows a more weight and flesh than the racy and wonderful 2012, and a bit less structure than the 2010 (our favorite of recent vintages) and is brighter and more balanced than the monumental 2009. In other words, it's a fabulous wine that should be in the cellar of any lover of Beaujolais! The wine is a deep red/black color and shows fresh, high-toned aromas of blackberry liqueur, strawberry, violets, brown spice, licorice and grilled meats - really quite lovely. The palate is framed in stone and mineral flavors with firm acidity, with earthy dark fruits and an almost bitter finish of saline minerals and black fruits. This is a superb Tardive, very expressive of the manganese-rich soils and a lovely combination of beautiful floral/fruit aromas and a dark mineral-laden palate. Wait five to seven years, drink until 2030?

Coudert (Clos de la Roilette) 2014 Fleurie Clos de la Roilette

Alain Coudert seems to make terrific wine every year and the 2014 Clos de la Roilette is no exception. A parade of awful weather early in the year finally gave way to sunshine from mid-August through September, imparting lovely ripeness to the wines balanced by good acidity. Not as structured as the 2010s perhaps or as dense as the 2009s, but the 2014s offer juicy, delicious drinking now with moderate ability to age. This lovely wine shows deep black cherry, blackberry, red currant and violet aromas with earth, citrus and spice. The palate is round with soft tannins but nice acidity, with velvety berry liqueur, beach plum, spice and licorice. Delicious! Drink now or hold for eight to ten years...

Coudert (Clos de la Roilette) 2014 Fleurie Griffe du Marquis

Aged in two to six year-old Burgundy barrels. From eighty-plus year-old vines, as is Tardive. "The wood is obviously not present to mask the wine, but rather to accompany it, to complement its tannins and create complexity. It's really tight the first two years, but opens up beautifully when you give it some time," says Alain. Tasted side by side with the 2013 in January, the 2014 showed telltale signs of this excellent vintage offering compelling dark fruit and a touch of spice on the nose along with faint traces of licorice. It comes across a bit softer on the palate with velvety black berry fruit and ample minerality. Textured, long, and graceful, this will need at least a few years (if not many more) in the cellar to really shine, so buy a few - you won't regret it! Tim Gagnon

Coudert (Clos de la Roilette) 2015 Fleurie Cuvée Tardive

From eighty year-old vines on clay and granite soil in Alain Coudert's beautiful Clos de la Roilette, just over the border from Moulin-a-Vent. By "Tardive," Alain Coudert implies that one should wait for this wine to mature, in this case probably about 5 to 7 years, although those unable to wait will certainly enjoy drinking it now. We're happy to report that  the 2015 Cuvée Tardive, though undoubtedly higher in alcohol than the 2014, is a big, supple, and relatively well-balanced Beaujolais that should age beautifully and is surprisingly delicious now, especially if steak or pork chops are on the menu.  The wine shows a deep red/black color with intense aromas of black raspberry liqueur, dark chocolate, violets and earth - deep but bright and very complex. The palate is dense and focused with blackberry and raspberry liqueur, cocoa, stone and citrus, with fabulous length and grip in the finish. This is showing superb potential for aging, with the higher alcohol of 2015 absorbed by the dense fruit and firm acids. Best perhaps 2020 to 2030, but delicious now as well. Bravo to Alain Coudert!

Coudert (Clos de la Roilette) 2015 Fleurie Clos de la Roilette

In 2015 Alain Coudert's Clos de la Roilette is showing its historical roots in Moulin-a-Vent (as it was classified until the 1920s) as the clay soils here produced a big wine with a generous amount of alcohol in this very warm vintage. The color is a deep red/black, with aromas of ripe blackberry and black raspberry liqueur with hints of violet and blood orange backed by graphite and earth. The palate shows very ripe black fruits with earth, mineral, cocoa and leather, lifted by firm acidity in the long dense finish. This will accompany grilled meats, charcuterie and full-flavored cheeses. Quite delicious now in its youthful intensity, this is a great candidate for cellaring, best probably from 2019 to 2026. Highly recommended. David Lillie

Coudert (Clos de la Roilette) 2015 Fleurie Griffe du Marquis

Coudert (Clos de la Roilette) 2016 Fleurie Cuvée Tardive

From eighty year-old vines on clay and granite soil in Alain Coudert's beautiful Clos de la Roliette, just over the border from Moulin-a-Vent. By "Tardive," Alain Coudert implies that one should wait for this wine to mature, in this case probably about 5 to 7 years, although those unable to wait will certainly enjoy drinking it now. The 2016 is cool-toned and finely structured, at 13% it's showing less density than the 2015 and calling to mind the balance and bright minerality of the 2014 vintage. The wine shows deep ruby in the glass, intense aromas of red fruit, violets, fennel, smoke, and black pepper. The palate is creamy and floral on the attack then develops vivid flavors of blueberry and crushed strawberry layered over earthy spice, game, and stone on the grippy mid-palate. The finish is long and mineral and ends on a slightly bitter citrus note. An elegant and age-worthy vintage from Alain. Drinking now, but should develop beautifully with a few years of bottle age. Amanda Bowman

Coudert (Clos de la Roilette) 2016 Fleurie Clos de la Roilette

Alain Coudert, who took over from his father in the late 80s, produces some of the finest wines in Fleurie. Originally classified as Moulin-a-Vent, the Clos de la Roilette vines produce a somewhat more structured wine with more black fruit aromas than a "normal" Fleurie.  The 2015s here, as in much of Beaujolais were high in alcohol and extremely ripe, a bit awkward in their youth and needing a few years to calm down. The 2016 Clos de la Roilette has returned to form showing a bright red/garnet color and aromas of crushed raspberry, violette and brown spice with hints of blackberry, citrus and earth. The palate retains the floral character with creamy raspberry fruit and hints of spice, leather and greens, with nice sappy length.  Delicious now and quite easy to drink, although it will benefit from decanting. Serve with charcuterie,  roast chicken, pork dishes and mild cheeses.  As always the Coudert Clos de la Roilette will benefit from 3 to 5 years or more  in the bottle as well.

Coudert (Clos de la Roilette) 2017 Fleurie Cuvée Tardive 1.5 L

Coudert (Clos de la Roilette) 2017 Fleurie Cuvée Tardive

From eighty year-old vines on clay and granite soil in Alain Coudert's beautiful Clos de la Roliette, just over the border from Moulin-a-Vent. By "Tardive," Alain Coudert implies that one should wait for this wine to mature, and we can certainly see this 2017 improving with a few years in the bottle. The nose is full of bright notes of raspberry, tart plum, rhubarb, beetroot, and a hint of fennel. The palate reveals beautiful earthy and mineral notes, with soft, ripe tannins backed by good acidity. Hints of violets, dark cherries, cracked black pepper and smoke round out the layered palate. The wine feels quite compact at the moment, and will definately continue to improve in the bottle, but if one is tempted to drink now (and why not?!), it could use a good decant. Oskar Kostecki

Coudert (Clos de la Roilette) 2017 Fleurie Clos de la Roilette

Considered one of the finest producers in Beaujolais, Clos de la Roilette has 9 hectares in Fleurie,  with an eastern exposure, bordering the Moulin-à-Vent appellation, and yields remarkably age-worthy Gamay.  The Couderts feel that their particular terroir (mainly clay and manganese) and the age of their vines (30 to 80 years old) account for the richness and intensity of their wines. They are deeply colored, richly perfumed and seriously structured wines of relatively small production.   In  2017, Roilette lost 70% of their estate fruit due to damage from frost in April and from two hailstorms during the summer. As a result, the fruit was partly destemmed for vinification and also supplemented with some purchased Fleurie fruit. The wine shows a deep red/garnet color with aromas of violet, ripe cherry aand black raspberry, citrus zest and cocoa; there is ample sweet cherry and raspberry fruit on the palate which is framed in firm acidity and prominent mineral and earth flavors, which continue in the long, sapid finish. Despite the difficult conditions of the vintage, the 2017 Fleurie is a great success for Alain Coudert! Delicious now and over the next five to eight years... David Lillie

Descombes, Georges 2011 Morgon Tres Vieilles Vignes "Vermont"

This special cuvée of Morgon (3,000 bottles) was made from vines more than 100 years old - the last vintage before replanting - and the wine was aged in one and two year-old barrels.

Descombes, Georges 2014 Brouilly

Georges Descombes is one of the great producers of natural Beaujolais and we're very happy to have the first of his 2014s in the store. The Descombes Brouilly comes from 3.5 hectares on steep slopes, farmed organically. Carbonic maceration with whole clusters then a slow vertical press to finish the fermentation. No additives, a small addition of SO2 before bottling. The 2014 shows the pretty, ripe fruit of this vintage with lovely aromas of strawberry, blackberry and violet with herbal and citrus notes. The palate is fresh and mineral infused with berry fruits and citrusy acids. This is a lovely food-friendly Brouilly to serve, quite cool, with chicken, pork, charcuterie and mild cheeses...

Descombes, Georges 2014 Chiroubles Vieilles Vignes

The Vieilles Vignes bottlings from Georges Descombes are always among our favorite Beaujolais, and we're very happy to finally have the lovely 2014s in the store! A difficult growing season that was saved by good weather at the end of summer, 2014 produced beautifully balanced and very expressive wines in Beaujolais. The Chiroubles Vieilles Vignes shows floral, spiced strawberry and blackberry fruit, with hints of graphite, earth and citrus. Bright plum, strawberry and black fruits on the palate with rose and citrus, textured and mineral with nice length of berry fruits, bright acidity and earth in the finish. This is a lovely, beautifully balanced Chiroubles, at 12.5% alcohol, that is delicious now, best perhaps 2020 - 2025. DL

Descombes, Georges 2014 Morgon

Georges Descombes is one of the finest wine-makers in Beaujolais, consistently producing stylish, balanced wines which benefit from his great vineyard work and careful vinifications with minimal sulfur dioxide. The 2014 Morgon is a beautiful, perfectly balanced wine that is delicious now and over the next three to five years. Lovely garnet color, pretty, quite floral raspberry/strawberry aromas with citrus, spice and herbal notes. the palate is light but has good density and supple, pure berry fruit with earthy citrus and mineral flavors in the long finish.  12.5% alcohol. Highly recommended.

Descombes, Georges 2014 Regnié Vieilles Vignes

This beautiful Regnié has the perfect weight, density and sublte flavors to be a great choice for Thanksgiving!  The Descombes Regnié Vieilles Vignes is superb in 2014, showing lovely aromas of red currant and strawberry, violet, orange peel, brown spice and soil. There is velvety strawberry and blackberry compote on the palate with rose, pomegranate, earth and citrus. The finish is long with lemony acidity, mineral flavors and pretty red fruits. This is a complex and beautifully balanced Regnié that is delicious now, with aeration, and it should be superb from 2020 to 2026+. Highly recommended.  David Lillie

Descombes, Georges 2015 Chiroubles Vieilles Vignes

The Vieilles Vignes bottlings from Georges Descombes are among the very finest Beaujolais produced, and despite the added ripeness in 2015, the wines are oustanding both for current drinking and for aging 10 to 15 years. The 2015 Chiroubles Vieilles Vignes shows ripe black raspberry and blackberry aromas with spice, violet, rose, earth and citrus, quite deep and complex. The palate has a deep, supple, grainy texure and lush black raspberry liqueur that coats the palate. The finish is long with elegant fruit liqueur and firm acidity. Enjoy with a grilled steak this summer, but put some away for future enjoyment as well.  David Lillie

Descombes, Georges 2015 Morgon Vieilles Vignes

The Descombes Morgon Vieilles Vignes is made from 60 to  100 year-old vines from numerous sites on granite soils; semi-carbonic fermentation then aging  6 - 8 months in Burgundy barrels and one year in bottle before release. Dense and dark, this wine has formidable concentration. Some nice floral notes on the nose, with some vegetable ash and herbal characteristics wrapped around the dense dark fruit core. Deep and intense blackberry compote character on the palate is supported by inky tannin. This is a full-blooded Beaujolais that will benefit from a decade in the cellar, though right now its incredibly concentrated dark fruit and raw power should be enticing to those who love their wine with youthful strength. An excellent companion to sweet and sour pork, peking duck, or veal marsala. Andrew Farquhar

Desjouruneys, Jules 2008 Moulin-a-Vent

Desjouruneys, Jules 2008 VdP de Gaules L'Interdit

Desvignes 2016 Morgon Javernières

Desvignes 2016 Morgon Javernières "Impénitents"

Desvignes 2017 Morgon Javernières "Impénitents"

Domaine des Chers 2016 Saint Amour Vieilles Vignes

Dubois, Anne-Sophie 2016 Fleurie Clepsydre

Dubois, Anne-Sophie 2016 Fleurie L'Alchimiste

Dubois, Anne-Sophie 2017 Fleurie L'Alchimiste

Dubois, Anne-Sophie 2017 Fleurie les Labourons

Foillard 2011 Morgon Cote du Py

Foillard 2011 Morgon Côte du Py 1.5 L

Foillard 2012 Morgon Cote du Py

Foillard 2012 Morgon Côte du Py 1.5 L

Foillard 2013 Fleurie

Savoye 2009 Morgon Côte du Py Vieilles Vignes

Dark ruby red color. Deep bouquet of dark fruits, richer and more powerful than the fruit forward 'Tradition' bottling. Lovely flavors of cassis, red currant and kirsch liqueur on the palate, with a long finish. There is ample freshness here also and a moderate, for 2009, 13% alcohol.

Sunier, Julien 2017 Fleurie

Sunier, Julien 2017 Morgon

Sunier, Julien 2017 Regnie

Terres Dorées (Jean-Paul Brun) 2013 Morgon

Terres Dorées (Jean-Paul Brun) 2014 Côte de Brouilly

Jean-Paul Brun of Domaine des Terres Dorées has 2 parcels of 50 year-old vines on a steep section of Mont Brouilly with a south-east exposition at about 1,000 ft of altitude. The thin soil is almost entirely stones of granite with a high iron content. (A more interesting terroir than the thicker, damper soils of Brouilly.) This is a gorgeous wine! Lovely, ripe blackberry and raspberry/strawberry fruit aromas with a touch of  violets and earth. The palate is ripe  but balanced (at 12.5% alcohol) with black and red fruit liqueur and fresh citrusy acids that linger in the finish. A beautiful Beaujolais for current drinking and over the next few years. Highly recommended! "Contains very little sulfite," says the label "store in a cool place and consume rapidly after uncorking" We haven't noticed any problem keeping this wine, but consuming rapidly after uncorking will be easy... DL

Terres Dorées (Jean-Paul Brun) 2016 Beaujolais l'Ancien V.V.

Terres Dorées (Jean-Paul Brun) 2016 Morgon Cote du Py-Javernieres

Thevenet, Jean-Paul 2014 Morgon Vieilles Vignes

Always one of the greatest of Beaujolais. From 4.75 hectares near Le Clachet, from vines averaging 70 years of age, with some planted before World War One. About 2,000 cases are produced. Vineyard work is biodynamic, fermentation is with wild yeasts at a moderately low temperature (10 - 13 degrees Celsius). Aging is mostly in old barrels from DRC with minimal extraction. 2014 was a classic vintage for Beaujolais, as poor early weather gave way to sunshine from mid-August, producing well-balanced wines with good ripeness and firm acidity. The 2014 Thevenet shows reduction, then complex aromas of red currant, strawberry, earth, violet, blood orange, spice  and licorice.The palate shows bright red currant and berry liqueur with mineral, citrus, rose and spice. The finish is firm with fruit and mineral flavors with good density and length. Decant if drinking now, this superb Morgon will be best from 2020 to 2025 and beyond.

Thevenet, Jean-Paul 2018 Morgon Vieilles Vignes

The Thévenet Morgon VV is always one of the greatest of Beaujolais. From 4.75 hectares near Le Clachet, from vines averaging 70 years of age, with some planted before World War One. About 2,000 cases are produced. Vineyard work is biodynamic, fermentation is with wild yeasts at a moderately low temperature (10 - 13 degrees Celsius). Aging is mostly in old barrels from DRC with minimal extraction. The 2018 Vieilles Vignes is a superb Morgon, that retains all it's complex, earthy character while showing the beautiful ripeness of this outstanding vintage. On opening the wine shows a potpourri of bright red and black fruits with cherry skin and black raspberry, spice, citrus and earth. The palate is silky, but with firm earthy tannins, with sappy cherry/raspberry/strawberry fruit framed in grainy minerality which continues in the long complex finish. This will need some time to reveal its secrets, please give it a long decant if drinking now, best to cellar three to five years and drink until 2032+

Vissoux (Pierre-Marie Chermette) 2011 Fleurie Les Garants

Vissoux (Pierre-Marie Chermette) 2016 Brouilly Pierreux

Belluard 2011 Vin de Savoie Cepage Gringet "Les Alpes"

As one goes along in the world of wine, one looks increasingly -- not just for good wine -- for unique wine, wine that resonates outside the tiny fortress of one's own experience. This wine left me marvelling with every sip. Made from the Gringet grape grown on yellow marl and limestone soils, the wine feels clawed from the earth, yet also possesses very distinct fruit character. Yields are low; everything in the vineyard and winery is done by hand, and the wine is raised in concrete eggs, which imparts a certain sleekness and purity. Along with the shimmery, Alpine minerality found in good examples of Altesse and Jacquère, there's a tropical quality to the fruit: a hint of coconut, lemon curd, and after some time open, a note of crème brulée that in another wine might seem cloying. Yet these seemingly sweet tones in no way detract from the wine's "clawed-from-the-earth" quality. All this density, magic, and length rests on a slight, 12.5% alcohol frame. It's a wine that leaves one yearning for another glass when the bottle has long been empty. -msb  

Belluard 2011 Vin de Savoie Le Feu "Cepage Gringet"

Belluard 2012 Vin de Savoie Cepage Altesse "Grandes Jorass

More honeyed and exotic than Belluard's Gringet "Les Alps," it's probably best to taste the two wines next to one another to experience the full glory. Sweet apple flesh, pear, mango, fresh cream, aromatic white flowers, Bellu's Altesse shows more fruit than the earthy Gringet. The ripe and honeyed character of the nose carries through to the palate, and there's a very resonant and powerful acid/mineral back bone. A glorious effort that must be tasted to be believed! MSB

Belluard 2012 Vin de Savoie Le Feu "Cepage Gringet"

From one of the Grand Crus of the Savoie comes this absolutely stunning bottle of wine made from the obscure Gringet grape variety. Dominique Belluard is one of only a tiny handful of people to cultivate Gringet, and even more notably, to make it into a still (usually they are sparkling) and age-worthy wine. These old vines grow on south-facing, incredibly steep slopes that feature red, irony soil on top of rock. Notes of anise and sour cherry on the nose, full yet delicate on the palate, extremely minerally on the finish with an intriguing note of tamarind. This wine is young; grab one to try now and a few more to age. MSB

Belluard 2013 Vin de Savoie Cepage Altesse "Grandes Jorass

100% Altesse from vines planted in yellow marl soils. These vines were acquired from the Dupasquier family who live close to Dominique. Altesse can yield rich, honeyed wines, but the 2013 is much more lean, layered, and delicate. A fantastic example of this grape. Tim Gagnon

Belluard 2013 Vin de Savoie Mondeuse

Belluard 2014 Vin de Savoie Grandes Jorasses

Dominique’s Altesse shows a much more delicate side of this grape than most are familiar with, and I think this is a testament to his careful winemaking process. The vines in this parcel are quite young, and the original vines were sourced from the Dupasquier family in Jongieux, further south in the Savoie. There are very pretty almond, tangerine, honeysuckle, and peach skin aromas filling the nose, and although it is quite round on the palate, it maintains a crazy amount of freshness. A dense mineral core gives way into hints of stone fruits and nuts with a bracing, long, honey-tinged finish. It’s as pleasing viscerally as it is mentally. Tim Gagnon 

Belluard 2014 Vin de Savoie Le Feu

Called Le Feu (The Fire) for the bright red, iron-rich clay that litters the incredibly steep vineyards, this is Dominique’s top wine. It is his only single-parcel Gringet cuvee and the vines are situated at 450m in altitude. On the nose it is ethereal and shows bright grapefruit zest, jasmine, and sage with a hint of tart red berries. As far as mountain wines go, this is definitely something special. The palate is textured and mineral with orchard fruits, a gentle salinity, and a long, citrus-tinged finish. There is no doubt that this wine can age, and it is certainly drinking wonderfully now! Tim Gagnon

Belluard 2014 Vin de Savoie Les Alpes

This cuvee is made with Gringet sourced from two parcels, one being rich in yellow marl and the other with more broken-down limestone. It spends about six months aging in concrete eggs (separated by each different terroir) before being blended together in stainless steel tanks. It is exquisite on the nose with purple wildflower, green tea, honeydew melon, citrus, earthy blossom, and a distinct note of red berries. The palate is pure and sharp with a deep minerality, stone fruits, and a vigorous acidity. I can never get enough of this wine. Tim Gagnon

Belluard 2015 Vin de Savoie Grandes Jorasses

Dominique’s Altesse shows a much more delicate side of this grape than most are familiar with, and I think this is a testament to his careful winemaking process. The vines in this parcel are quite young, and the original vines were sourced from the Dupasquier family in Jongieux, further south in the Savoie. Tim Gagnon

Belluard 2015 Vin de Savoie Le Feu

Called Le Feu (The Fire) for the bright red, iron-rich clay that litters the incredibly steep vineyards, this is Dominique’s top wine. It is his only single-parcel Gringet cuvée and the vines are situated at 450m in altitude. Tim Gagnon

Belluard 2015 Vin de Savoie Les Alpes

This cuvée is made with Gringet sourced from two parcels, one being rich in yellow marl and the other with more broken-down limestone. It spends about six months aging in concrete eggs (separated by each different terroir) before being blended together in stainless steel tanks. Tim Gagnon

Belluard 2016 Vin de Savoie Le Feu

All things being relative, this cuvée made me reconsider every wine that I have previously described as balanced. "Le Feu" comes Dominique's oldest, low-yielding Gringet vines planted on steep, iron-rich slopes at 450m above sea level. Incredibly well-knit acidity adds energy and freshness to wild herbal flavors that form a continuous loop across the palate. This wine is luminous. Amanda Bowman

Berthet-Bondet 1998 Château Chalon

One of the most compelling Chateau-Chalon wines I have tasted in quite a while. Banana, toffee, fenugreek, toasted walnut, and wildflower on the nose. It also has a very interesting honeyed quality as well. On the palate super salty minerals and fresh cream dominate with apple-y, lemon-y flavors on the back end. Serious and very enjoyable. Tim Gagnon

Berthet-Bondet 2000 Château Chalon

Sea salt and minerals are at the forefront of this wine accompanied by elderflower and pineapple stalk. There is a distinct characteristic of cantaloupe rind and baked granny smith apple here as well. Very fresh and delicious, and a sharp acidity cuts through it all to give it great balance. Tim Gagnon

Buronfosse, Peggy and Jean-Pascal 2011 Côtes du Jura Savagnin L'Hopital

After taking over the vines of a retiring neighbor in 2000, Peggy and Jean-Pascal Buronfosse were quick to adopt the biodynamic and natural winemaking techniques of Jean-Francois Ganevat (who also happens to live right down the road). In this part of southern Jura, there is a lot of clay running through the soils along with some marl which lends a hand to their wines being intensely mineral, opulent, and very focused. They let this Savagnin ferment with native yeasts and age in neutral barrels for three years before release without any added sulfur. Ripe notes of apple, clove, mango flesh, and baked pear rise from the glass. Intense minerals and succulent fruit on the palate allude to a salty and lingering finish. Pair with grilled trout or crab legs this upcoming summer! Tim Gagnon

Cavarodes 2012 Arbois Guille Bouton

Cavarodes 2012 Côtes du Jura Ostrea Virgula

Cavarodes 2013 Arbois Guille Bouton

Cavarodes 2013 Arbois Poulsard Chemenot

Cavarodes 2013 Franche Comté Rouge

Chais du Vieux Bourg 2008 Côtes du Jura Blanc "BB1"

Dupasquier 2013 Savoie Mondeuse

In my opinion, David Dupasquier’s Mondeuse is his piece de resistance. The sunny clime and wide diurnal range naturally results in healthy vines and perfectly ripe grapes which the Dupasquier family masterfully makes into seriously delicious wines. This wine is deep with a dark purple robe and exhibits spicy blackberry fruit, black peppercorn, dried violet petals, and a touch of meaty funk reminiscent of northern Rhône Valley Syrah. The year spent in large neutral oak helps to soften the tannins and the year spent in bottle before release allows the fruit to integrate well with the spicy and savory flavors present on the palate. Pair this with grilled lamb or cheeseburgers! Tim Gagnon  

Ganevat 2007 Côtes du Jura Chardonnay Grusse en Brillat

Houillon (Overnoy) 2011 Arbois Pupillin Savagnin

Houillon (Overnoy) 2012 Arbois Pupillin Chardonnay

La Loue 2011 Arbois Savagnin Cuvée Raphaëlle

Catherine Hannoun eschewed her career in film to begin her journey to producing some truly wonderful wines. After learning the art of natural wine making from Arbois mavericks, Pierre Overnoy and Manu Houillon, she started her own micro-estate in Arbois. Farming just .8 hectares of vines, mainly Savagnin, she has been practicing biodynamics from the beginning. The result is gorgeous. Her Cuvée Raphaëlle spends another year in neutral barrique, which lends a hand to the wine being more densely perfumed and has incredible focus and depth. Salty minerals, honeysuckle and mango skin come to mind. It is an absolute pleasure to drink and is mouth-filling, fresh and has a lingering acidity. We are definitely excited to see more of her wines in the future! Tim Gagnon

La Loue 2012 Arbois Savagnin

Marnes Blanches (Geraud Fromont) 2008 Cotes du Jura Vin Jaune .620ml

2008 marks the first vintage of Vin Jaune ever produced by Domaine des Marnes Blanches. In short, it is beautiful. The nose is lively, almost ethereal, with aromas of toasted cashew, burnt orange rind, eastern spice, pine, and mango skin. Texturally speaking, it is one of the most interesting Vin Jaunes that I have tasted; it offers exquisite fruit with a touch of smoke on the palate and is lithe, intense, incredibly long, and elegant. Lovers of Vin Jaune, look no further: this is the wine for you. Tim Gagnon

Marnes Blanches (Geraud Fromont) 2011 Cotes du Jura Vin de Paille 375ml

Vin de Paille literally means straw wine referring to the traditional practice of drying the grapes in boxes lined with straw mats prior to pressing. This is a style of wine commonly confused with or mistaken for Vin Jaune, yet is wildly different in every way. There are strict rules as to what Vin de Paille is, and within those confines, many unique styles arise (For those of you interested in the ins and outs of this style of wine, our friend and Jura expert Wink Lorch has a fascinating write up on her website: http://jurawine.co.uk/the-wines/vin-de-paille/). The Fromont’s make theirs with a blend of Savagnin, Chardonnay, and Poulsard and allow them to raisin over the course of five months before a long pressing. The nose is exquisite with notes of brown sugar, dried figs, stewed black cherries, black tea, and a piquant, briny quality. There are also deeper aromas redolent of anise and caraway. Though it has quite a bit of residual sugar, it isn’t cloying on the palate due to ample acidity. Whether you are a lover of Vin de Paille or just trying one for the first time, put this on your short list for after-dinner cheese courses: you won’t regret it. Tim Gagnon

Marnes Blanches (Geraud Fromont) 2014 Cotes du Jura Trousseau

If I had to choose one grape that embodies the terroir of the Jura region, it would be Trousseau. Unlike Pouslard with its unmistakable visceral charm, Trousseau is less often masked by its innate characteristics. Geraud’s Trousseau vines are planted in marl-heavy soils with a limestone base which gives the finished wine a meatier nose with lifted blackberry, violet, and cool blueberry aromas. The palate is rife with more blackberries and a strong mineral component backed by sturdy, well-integrated tannins. Although I believe that this would be the Fromont’s most age-worthy red, the joy of drinking it with all of its youthful energy still intact is quite special. Tim Gagnon

Marnes Blanches (Geraud Fromont) 2014 Cotes du Jura Savagnin Les Molates

This cuvée comes from younger Savagnin vines, approximately 22-years old, and, if we could personify wine, would be the more bookish and quiet, but equally fascinating, sibling to the brawnier, captain-of-the-football-team Les Molates made from Chardonnay. The nose is juicy and exotic with tropical melon, lychee, and citrus pith yet the palate is much more elegant and understated, skewing more mineral with a tangy salinity bringing up the rear. Give this wine some time to breathe and you will be greatly rewarded! Tim Gagnon

Overnoy-Crinquand 2010 Arbois-Pupillin Savagnin

The further along we go in life, the more we think that—ultimately—at the end of the day if we were given a choice between a topped up Savagnin and a sous voile Savagnin, we'd choose the sous voile. While we love the quince-y, tart, marl-y character of ouillé Savagnin, there's something that slays us every time about the good sous voile bottlings. In the case of this wine, the smoky and yeasty notes on the nose are in exquisite balance with the wine's lemon-y notes on the palate. The fruit on the palate is really vibrant and shows the flavors of Savagnin, which can sometimes be lost under the "veil." Notes of lemon peel and pith, gorgeous acidity, and very, very long ... MSB

Pont de Breux 2006 Côtes du Jura Vin Jaune

Vin Jaune from Savagnin grown on Kimmeridgian soils in the lieu-dits "Marnoz" and "Pont de Breux" near Salins-les-Bains, organic since 1992. Must be decanted a few hours in advance, or opened the day before. Light gold color. Intense aromas of yellow fruits, dried herbs, wet stone, preserved lemon and caramel lifted by sharp oxidative notes. The palate is intensely mineral with saline stone flavors with hints of citrus, hay and dried flowers. Very long with mineral and citrus peel and very firm acidity. A great Vin Jaune in a delicate, light and intensely mineral style. Re-visit in 20 years. Thank-you Jean-Charles Maire!

Puffeney 2006 Arbois Vin Jaune 620 ml

Puffeney 2008 Arbois Vin Jaune

Puffeney 2011 Arbois Savagnin

Puffeney 2014 Arbois Trousseau Les Berangeres

Saint Pierre 2008 Arbois Vin Jaune 375 ml

With ample finesse and more fresh fruit showing than one might expect from Vin Jaune, this wine really gives insight to how Fabrice Dodane of Domaine Saint Pierre makes sous voile wines. 2008 was a cool vintage in the Jura, and this definitely shows here. Bright, crunchy lemon peel and herb aromas rise from the glass with a touch of white pepper. The palate is incredibly lifted, briny, and mineral with luscious fruit and a wisp of smoke that lasts virtually forever. This is the first vintage of Fabrice's Vin Jaune, and it is truly special. Tim Gagnon

Tissot (Andre et Mireille Stephane) 2008 Arbois Savagnin (30 months sous voile)

Tissot 2014 Arbois D.D.

This is a delicious wine from Stéphane Tissot’s Biodynamic estate in Arbois! It is a blend of Poulsard, Trousseau, and Pinot Noir that ferments and ages in 100-year-old, 2,000L foudre. It doesn’t see any SO2 at any time during the fermentation, and at 11% alcohol it is incredibly pure and fresh! Lots of red berry fruits mingle on the nose, and there is ample minerality on the palate accompanied by more berry fruits and a surprising amount of structure. Serve slightly chilled, and pair with summery foods of all kinds! Tim Gagnon

Vens le Haut 2014 Vin de Savoie Altesse micro-cuvée d'exception