Ok... so we're all up to speed on the stupid tariffs on all French wines, right? 25% on everything. And you've certainly seen me advertising wines that arrived pre-tariff. Now, that's all well and good... but you might be thinking, "If these pre-tariff wines are still around, can they be any good?" And that is a fair question... the answer of which is, these are not good, they are great! Like beating the competition and selling for half the price! Check them out... these are due to arrive in 4 weeks. I'm offering now so I can add on more if needed... Please reply to order/

Aloxe-Corton, Volnay and Pommard! Gloriously sexy stuff!

Domaine Poulleau Père & Fils Aloxe-Corton 2018

Sale $47.99 – Best US Price!

92 pts Wine Enthusiast

How great of a deal is this?  Compare with other 2018 Aloxe Corton reviewed by Wine Enthusiast:

• Albert Bichot 2018 Domaine du Pavillon-Clos des Maréchaudes 1er Cru Aloxe-Corton – 92 pts - $115
• Louis Latour 2018 Les Chaillots 1er Cru Aloxe-Corton – 92 pts - $107
• Domaine Antonin Guyon 2018 Les Fournières 1er Cru Aloxe-Corton – 92 pts - $90

And that’s pretty much my sales pitch. You want the good stuff? Here you go!

“A faint hint of chocolate is all that the shy nose on this wine gives away. On the palate, however, the fruit is evident. Flowing cherry notes come with a velvety sheen and smoothness on a concentated, sinuous body that streams with juiciness, alternating between vivid cherry and mellow chocolate.”

Domaine Poulleau Père & Fils Volnay “Le Vertueux” 2018

Sale $45.99  - Beats Best US Price - on the 2017… as we are the only ones offering 2018!

90 pts Wine Enthusiast

Well, for once, my Burgundy story has nothing to do with global warming but something possibly more frightening – the tax man.

Domaine Polleau was created in 1950 by Michel Polleau and is now run by his son and daughter-in-law, Thierry and Florence. It is a small domain of just 7.3 hectares. They own small parcels in seven different appellations, including a tiny plot in Corton Charlemagne and a prized 80 year-old vineyard in Volnay 1er Cru Chanlin.

Well, except they don’t. You see, a few years back, a neighbor sold their Chanlin Volnay 1er Cru vineyard and the new owners did a survey for the tax man and it was determined that about 75% of what they had been selling as Chanlin 1er cru was actually just village level. They sold off the 25% of true 1er Chanlin, as it was now too small to do a separate bottling.

Talk about a bummer. Nothing changed. Nothing. Except the price they could charge.

I suppose they could increase the yield in that vineyard (more is allowed for AOC Volnay), and reduce the use of new oak to get volume up and cost down. But the Polleau’s have decided to work the plot the same way they always have, treating it as 1er Cru.

For this special bottling, they have taken one barrel of their “Premier Cru Chanlin” and a selected barrel of their regular Volnay and blended them together. “presents ripe, red forest fruit and a juicy, almost bouncy, core supported by ripe, supple tannins that still brush slightly. It's fresh and lively on the finish.” WE

Georges Glantenay Volnay 1er Cru les Brouillards 2018

Sale $59.99

94 pts Wine Enthusiast / 92 pts Burghound

Domaine Georges Glantenay was founded in 1893 in Volnay by Pierre Glantenay. Today the estate is managed by the 4th generation Guillaume and Sarah Glantenay. There are just 8 hectares of vines, farmed with sustainable agriculture, with the greatest respect for the terroir. With the greatest care the vineyards are managed plant by plant to produce wines whose personality reflects the authenticity of the Burgundy terroir. The harvest is entirely manual, and the rigorous selection: the grapes are sorted first in the vineyard and then a second time when they arrive in the vats using a vibrating sorting table.

55-80 year old vines located on the lower slope on the Pommard border (below Fremiets); 100% barrel aged, 30% whole-cluster fermentation; 33% new oak for 16 months. Ripe blackberry and cherry fruit, roasted meat, forest floor present themselves on the nose; Super attack with lots of power; dark fruit compote, tree bark, very savory and spicy with lots of calcaire driven earth qualities; very compact and good tension; the finish showcases the earthiness aspects of the wine and is excellently complex and long.

“A touch of iron oxide enriches the red currant and cherry notes of this wine. The palate offers exquisitely elegant concentration, like silk that flashes highlights of cranberry and lowlights of tar, licorice and coffee. Pervasive freshness will guide this wine throughout its evolution.” WE

“ A mentholated top note can be found on the ripe yet cool essence of red currant and soft earth and spice wisps. The seductively suave, round and caressing medium-bodied flavors are plump and generously proportioned while retaining a refreshingly saline finish that is sufficiently firm to suggest a 10 to 12-year aging curve.” BH

Aubert Lefas Pommard 1er Cru “Les Poutures” 2018

Sale $49.99 – Beats Best US Price Online

90-92 pts Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy

The average price for wines from Les Poutures bottlings are north of $95!

Aubert Lefas is the current manager of this estate, having married the daughter of current owner François Jullien de Pommerol, himself a former professor at the Beaune Oenology school. Located in downtown Pommard, the family’s holding dates back as far as 1783. The main label produced by Aubert is under the Domaine Lejeune name. This is the exact same wine, not a second level, but with a different label (produced for the importer) on the bottle. He kindly does this to help us avoid the restraining import agreements associated with the Lejeune wines. The short story is that you get the same wine at a much lower price by reducing the markups! Buy the juice, not the labels!!!

As you may expect from an estate that dates back 235 years, the wines are traditionally made and slightly rustic. They still use old, open top birch fermenters (the oldest in the region), they use whole cluster fermentation, and they even still smash grapes by foot. Why change what has worked for centuries? 

60% whole cluster; 15% new oak; others ranging from 1-3 years. Located mid-slope on the Volnay side of Pommard, below Les Rugiens. Bold nose of red flowers and earth with hints of tanned leather; very approachable now; round and full in the mouth again presenting a very earthy, savory expression of Pommard; very old-school it that way; fresh mushroom, toasty oak and brown herbs though the finish.” Brisk purple, a sweeter richer nose with peonies, there is flesh on the bones here, notable length and good class.” JM

Aubert Lefas Pommard 1er Cru les Rugiens Bas 2018

Sale $99.99

93-95 pts Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy

Lesser rated Rugiens from Clerget, Heitz-Lochardet, Michel Rebourgeon and Henri Boillot sell for $125-200!!!

Planted in 1933; 75% whole cluster; 40% new oak; others ranging from 1-2 years; 4 barrels made. Located on the upper mid-slope on the Volnay side of Pommard. Les Rugiens is considered the best vineyard in Pommard. Again a magnificent Rugiens from Aubert. Classic in all aspects. Brilliant high-toned nose of dark fruits and herb rubbed grilled meat with earth notes; on the palate the wine has a great attack; deep and compact ultra-ripe black fruits, leather, soil, calcaire with a silky texture; the power and complexity continue through the finish.

“These vines have been horse ploughed for the last 15 years. The wine is not exceptionally deep in colour but gorgeously perfumed on the nose. Haunting roses and ripe cherries, a little spiced up strawberry or two, fine depth but overall it definitely has the class. Beautiful and balanced finish. “ JM