L'Esprit De Chevalier, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux 2018 93-95 Point 60/40 Cabernet/Merlot Blend - Incredible Value 2nd Wine to the Revered Domaine De Chevalier Cru Classe! JD94/JS95/WE93 Jeb Dunnuck - 94 Points - "The second wine of this terrific estate in the Graves region of Bordeaux, the 2018 L'Esprit De Chevalier checks in as a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot that will spend 14 months in barrel. It offers a full-bodied, rounded, incredibly satisfying and sexy style as well as some exotic characteristics in its kirsch, blackcurrant, orange blossom, and liquid violet-like aromas and flavors. Elegant yet with ample fruit and texture, it’s ideal for drinking over the coming decade or more." Newsletter Special - $29.99 Domaine de Chevalier, known as the 'secret garden' of Graves, tucked into a Graves forest that protects the vines from the powerful heat of Bordeaux. A domaine known for producing some of the finest of the region. L'Esprit de Chevalier is their second wine, produced from the same 'secret garden' estate fruit, and masterfully crafted by the same talented winemaker. Esprit lives up the the Chevalier name, with an emphasis on elegance, the Esprit opens up with a bouquet of wild violets, black currants, and rich earth, the palate is packed with creamy tannin, dark fruit, spice, and cocoa. Esprit de Chevalier is a charming red wine with many of the same qualities as the grand vin and the added advantage that can be enjoyed today. James Suckling - 95 Points - This is an extremely polished and refined young wine with gorgeous blackberry, blackcurrant, licorice, dark-chocolate and bark character. It’s full-bodied with ever so fine tannins and a long, long finish. Fantastic second wine of Domaine de Chevalier. Try after 2026. Paul Jaboulet Aine - Ventoux "Les Traverses", Southern Rhone 2018 Incredible Value Southern Rhone Blend from the Iconic Paul Jaboulet! Jaboulet's Ventoux Les Traverses is classic southern Rhône blend of Grenache (80%) and Syrah (20%), from 35 year old vines grown on clay and limestone soils at the foot of Mont Ventoux in the South East part of Rhône Valley - the very heart of the Ventoux appellation. The wine opens up with aromas of raspberry tea, cinnamon, black cherry, violets, and herbs de provence. The palate is medium bodied with warm red fruit followed by a depth of spice and savory herbs. Fantastic little wine from one of the masters of the region. Warm up with this delicious case-worthy red all winter long. Special pricing available only through this newsletter! Newsletter Special - $11.99
Jean-Paul Brun - Terres Dorées - Bourgogne Pinot Noir, 2019 Made Exclusively with 30+ Year Old Pinot Noir Vines from Just 3 Hectars of Terres Dorees Estate Vineyards in Charnay Brun is clearly best known for his Gamay, but in 1991 he planted Pinot Noir on the clay-limestone soils of his estate vineyard in Charnay in the southern Beaujolais; there are now a total of 3 hectares. As for all Terres Dorées reds, the vinification is traditional Burgundian. The grapes are rigorously sorted and destemmed, crushed and fermented with indigenous yeasts in concrete vats and aged in used French oak barrels. The juice in this bottle is essentially single vineyard estate Pinot Noir with 30+ years of vine age, deeply rooted in premium terroir, and made by one of Beaujolais's finest winemakers - at a Bourgogne level price-point! This is not to be missed. Much like Brun's Gamay, there is significant depth to this Pinot while maintaining a classic terroir driven style. Expect flavors of macerated strawberries, blood orange, red flower petals, subtle spice from the 30% French oak, and a clean mineral rich finish. There is a delicate 12% ABV placing this is a high quality, charming, everyday red. Newsletter Special - $21.99
Cheers! -Alex Alexander Knechel - Certified Sommelier Wine Sales Manager - Plucky Wines alexanderknechel@pluckywines.com
|