Lalou Bize is also an intense perfectionist. Perhaps too perfectionist, as she made a very controversial decision to de-classify all her 2004 cru wines to village appellation – a disaster for her, a gift to us all. She now believes this was a mistake as she was overcome with grief at that time by the loss of her husband. See Burghound’s Allen Meadows’ comments below at the end of this email. His amazing report is must reading if you’re curious about Leroy’s 2004s.
Her wines are very expensive – but the extraordinary always comes with a cost. The wines of Domaine Leroy are attained.
What follows below is a list of a unique offer for past vintages of her wines. These bottles are still in the domaine’s cellars in Meursault. The orders will be emailed to France next week. The bottles will then be labeled to U.S. requirements and shipped in refrigerated container. We expect them to arrive in June. So the provenance is immaculate.
I’ve included tasting notes on the wines I tasted Monday.
Maison Leroy 1978 Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru (1er cru) $1144.99/bottle
Ethereal nose with hints of pipe tobacco, truffle and picked fruits but a bit shy. Surprisingly bright with fine acidity and a basket of strawberry and raspberry fruit, restrained a bit by fine, smooth tannins. This displays elegant balance.
Maison Leroy 1997 Meursault Charmes 1er Cru $201.99/bottle
Wow. Extraordinary, fresh, vibrant, almost Perrieres-like (my favorite Meursault 1er Cru). Lemon, melon and complex spice. I loved this wine and finagled several tastes!
Maison Leroy 2000 Volnay Santenots 1er Cru $294.99/bottle
Silky and rich as Volnay should be. Dark fruits here, more cherried than berried. This has more years ahead of it and it is a fine Volnay. This would be fabulous with a duck confit. Allen Meadows writes, “Leroy has fashioned some incredible wines in 2000, many of which are the reference standards for their respective appellations.” I couldn’t agree more, especially after tasting the wine below.
Maison Leroy 2000 Bourgogne Rouge $48.99/bottle
As Clive Coates suggests, if you want to know how good a producer is taste their basic Bourgogne or village wines in a year like 2000. Taste this Bourgogne and you know there’s something special here. I could drink way to much of this wine with its lovely medium red fruit and surprisingly good concentration.
Domaine Leroy 2004 Vosne-Romanée (from Richebourg, Romanée St. Vivant, Brulées, Beaumonts and Genevrières) $280.99/bottle
Wow – raw power and that amazing Vosne nose. The class of this wine is evident; aristocratic Grand Cru clothed humbly. I’ve appended Allen Meadows’ tasting notes.
“Another step up in aromatic complexity with classic Vosne spice notes as well as the Asian spice cabinet notes associated with a fine RSV that add nuance to the potent mix of red and black pinot fruit aromas that merge into rich, mouth coating, concentrated and powerful flavors that put the attribute of class on parade. This is an exceptionally stylish wine with a richness and velvety quality that is incredibly seductive.” 95 points
Domaine Leroy 2004 Bourgogne Rouge (from Pommard "Vignots", Savigny "Narbantons", Volnay "Santenots", Clos de Vougeot, Clos de la Roche and Corton-Renardes) $89.99
If there’s a value wine to be had, this is it. I may buy this for my own cellar! As Allen Meadows (Burghound) writes, “As one might reasonably expect, this is by far and away the most complex nose I have ever experienced with a so-called Bourgogne, revealing notes of red raspberry, spice, earth and violets that are followed by rich, classy and stylish flavors that possess a textured, pure and wonderfully refined finish that goes on and on. This is of top 1er quality and while the structure is supple, this clearly will age.” 92 points
Domaine Leroy Wines not tasted but highly recommended (scores and tasting notes from Burghound):
2004 Gevrey-Chambertin (a blend of Latricières, Chambertin, Combottes and a bit of villages) $280.99/bottle
“Again, the aromatic profile is completely different with a much deeper emphasis on iron-infused earth, underbrush and an understated sauvage quality that leads to stylish, powerful and almost implausibly complex flavors that exude a sense of raw power yet the overall impression is one of control and near perfect balance. A stunner of a wine that has complexity to burn.” 95 points
2004 Chambolle-Musigny (a blend of Musigny, Charmes and Fremières) $280.99
“This is equally stylish and classy though completely different with a stunningly complex and ultra floral nose combining spice, earth and dark pinot fruit aromas that continue onto the detailed, powerful and fantastically long flavors that stain the palate with almost painful intensity and sap. This may very well equal the Vosne one day as the qualitative difference between the two is subtle indeed.” 94 points
2004 Nuits-Saint-Georges (a blend of the two 1ers Boudots and Vignerondes plus the villages vineyards) $236.99/bottle
“Surprisingly, given the vineyards blended into the respective cuvées, this is actually more elegant than the Bourgogne with a floral and wonderfully spicy aromatic profile and delicious, sweet, textured and intense medium full flavors that are powerful, muscular and powerful, all wrapped in a strikingly long finish. This is a 'wow' wine.”93 points
2004 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru $649.99/bottle
“A positively gorgeous and impressively refined nose of green apple fruit, pear and a distinct floral note complements perfectly the unbelievably complex and hugely powerful flavors that seem to be carved out of a solid block of stone. This is a massive wine that is textured, concentrated and muscular yet it remains precise, pure and balanced with a finale that seems to go on and on without end. One of the great wines of the vintage and one that will live for years. Don't touch it for at least five years and it will easily improve for ten.” 95 points
- A list of Older Vintages from Maison Leroy are available upon request -
“Lalou Bize-Leroy took the most extraordinary step of declassifying all of her upper level wines to villages level, creating in the process the most striking examples that I have ever tasted for their respective appellations. Given the incredible range of vineyards that Domaine Leroy possesses, this is not surprising but it does raise the obvious question as to why Mme. Bize elected to do such a thing in the first place. Creating a superlative Vosne by blending in the entirety of the Richebourg and RSV isn't hard to do but why do it at all? She explained that when her late husband Marcel Bize passed away, she became seriously depressed and found it difficult to take her normal interest her wines and even though she has a very capable team in place to look after them, she found the wines lacking in vibrancy and the level of quality with which she believes are what her clients deserve to find in the wines of the domaine. Thus, she elected to declassify all of them, including the wines from Domaine d'Auvenay (see above) which she owned outright with her husband. After tasting through the range, I commented that the wines were astonishing and in response, Mme Bize allowed that perhaps she shouldn't have declassified them after all. But then she brightened and noted, "yes but no one will ever be disappointed with wines such as these and even though it cost me plenty to do it, in the end, it's good for everyone.’”
* The Wines of Burgundy © 2008 Regents of the University of California
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( 2.8 / 145 )Below is an outstanding value in a Bordeaux red blend which I've tasted over the last two days.
Vignalta Rosso Riserva 2004 Colli Eugani $19.99/bottle or $227.89/case
92 Arnie points
Wow. This wine has been open nearly 24 hours and it's getting better and better! This is a delicious, nearly perfect Bordeaux blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet from the Colli Euganei region of the Veneto in northern Italy. It is aged two years in oak but it is not too oaky; the wine has a lush texture and full black cherry, black currant and cassis fruit one expects from a red costing twice as much.
Merlot and Cabernet vines were introduced in the Colli Euganei in the 19th century, adapting very well to the volcanic hills. These grapes did so well they replaced other local red varieties after Philloxera wiped out the vineyards near the twilight of the 19th century.
This is a terrific value. The Vignalta goes extremely well with steak and cheeses - and it is priced like a top-notch daily drinker!
Cheers!
Arnie
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( 2.9 / 115 )Tasting properly matured wine is, alas, a rare treat. All too often we consume good wine in its infancy. It may be very good - even great - but we miss out on the additional complexities and subtleties achieved by discreet ageing.
Recently, I had the pleasure of tasting the 1995 Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva. Felsina is in the very top rank of Chianti producers, with the winemaking supervised by legendary consultant Franco Bernabei. Felsina is one of my favorite Chianti producers.
This Riserva is 100% Sangiovese hand-harvested from vine older than 50 years. This is a beautiful, mature Chianti Riserva. I estimate it has another 2-3 years but it's in top form now with the traditional Felsina aromas of tobacco, smoke, truffle, roses and wild berries. The palate is smooth and elegant with cherry and cranberry/raspberry fruit and a hint of chocolate on the finish. The tannins have resolved nicely into the wine after all these years..
Cheers!
Arnie
1995 Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva $46.99/bottle or $535.69/case
3.0 Liter $214.99
"Good dark red-ruby color. High-toned aromas of violet, dried flowers and spearmint. Ripe, juicy red berry and dried flower flavors given clarity by sound acids. Intriguing peppery note. Quite long on the aftertaste, with firm, mouthcoating tannins. Very suave Chianti." 90(+?) points Stephen Tanzer (reviewed January 1999)
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( 3 / 122 )"Year in and year out, one of the three greatest Hermitages made is Chapoutier's Le Pavillon."
- Robert Parker
We just made a terrific 'opportunity buy" of two great vintages of Michel Chapoutier's Ermitage "Le Pavillon" single-vineyard Syrah from Hermitage. This represents the acme, along with Jean-Louis Chave, of Northern Rhone Syrah. I love these wines and they make a brilliant addition to any cellar. The grapes are farmed bio-dynamically.
These wines are offered at a price level you will not see again. The reviews and ratings below are from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.
Cheers!
Arnie
2005 Chapoutier Ermitage le Pavillon 98 points $199.99/bottle
"The biggest production cuvee, the 2005 Ermitage Le Pavillon (1,067 cases in this vintage) has a dense purple color, the classic acacia flower, graphite-based, smoky creme de cassis nose with a tremendous intensity and a full-bodied power and richness that is awesome. These are monumental wines, and when you think that this wine, much like most of its siblings, is made from yields of 12-18 hectoliters per hectare, the explanation for its concentration and extraordinary expression of terroir is obvious. Give it 10-15 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 75-100."
2001 Chapoutier Ermitage le Pavillon 93-95 points $179.99/bottle
"The 2001 Ermitage Le Pavillon exhibits a saturated ruby/purple color as well as a big, sweet nose of camphor, ink, creme de cassis, and hints of licorice as well as smoke. Although dense, rich, and full-bodied, the 2001 reveals more acidity in its delineated, nervous personality. Unquestionably great and intense, it will be less charming and precocious than its 2000 sibling. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2030."
"Saturated red-ruby. Explosive, superripe aromas of black raspberry, boysenberry, black olive tapenade, licorice, coffee and smoked meat. Wonderfully opulent and voluptuous in the mouth, with a texture like liquid silk. Coats your mouth, cheeks and whatever other surfaces it can find. Finishes with extraordinarily fine tannins and great sweetness and persistence. The best bottle of Pavillon I've tasted in at least a decade." Stephen Tanzer 95 points
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( 3 / 159 )According to Allen Meadows of Burghound, Paul Jacqueson, "runs one of the finest domaines in all of the Côte Chalonnaise." I came upon this wine at a trade tasting recently. There were approximately 70 wines tasted. I liked this Burgundy immediately so I asked to re-taste it when I could focus more clearly on the wine.
I still like this wine and I suppose one the reasons I like it is that it is elegant and precise - unlike the over-extracted Syrah-like Pinots that are flooding the market. This is how Burgundy should taste. At 13% alcohol, don't expect a viscous fruit bomb; the Jacqueson is restrained and somewhat light. It dances on the palate.
In 2003, the domaine avoided many of the pitfalls of a hot vintage. Paul Jacqueson said that he started the harvest on the 25th of August and began with his pinot crop, noting that "we had to do a lot of sorting work. Many of the grapes that were exposed to the sun were so burned that I felt it was necessary to excise them. Sugars were good and our grapes kept sufficient acidity that I didn't add any tartaric at all. I also kept the lees and did a lot of stirring, even for the Aligoté. I got this idea from my father Henri, who was around for both the 1928 and 1947 harvests* and they did exactly the same thing, which is to say no acidulation and did a lot of work with the fine lees. We will fine the '03s however as there is a lot of protein in the wines."
*both years were very hot, like 2003
Cheers!
Arnie
Paul Jacqueson Mercurey 1er Cru "Las Naugues"
Earthy, forest floor and peach and pale red berry aromas. Not over extracted. The wine tastes fresh with good acidity and round strawberry, wild berry fruit. Elegant and exactly what good Burgundy should taste like. Balanced with ripe, smooth tannins on the finish.
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( 2.9 / 157 )
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