Bouchard Pere & Fils Vosne Romanee 2019

Bouchard Pere & Fils Chambolle-Musigny is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir. 

Belonging to the Cistercian abbey of Gilly until 1500, the village of Chambolle gradually became independent and took on the name of Chambolle-Musigny in 1882. The soil and sub-soils are of ideal composition for the production of wines with remarkable finesse and elegance and they were nicknamed the "Volnay of the Côte de Nuits". The soil is generally quite shallow often just covering the rock. The vine reaches as far as 10 metres down through faults in the rock, notably in Musigny.

Expressive nose developing red berry notes and a light oaky hint. Tender anddelicate, with an elegant structure, this is a wine with a lot of charm.

Pairs well with ribs, leg and loin of lamb.

Review:

Silky and exuding violet, blackberry and black currant, this red is about as alluring as a young Burgundy gets. It firms up on the finish with refined, cocoa powder tannins. Vibrant and long too. Drink now through 2028.

-Wine Spectator 93 Points

Bouchard Pere & Fils Greves Vignes de L'Enfant Jesus is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir. 

The name "Vigne de l'Enfant Jésus" refers to an old story. It is said that Marguerite du Saint Sacrement, the founding carmelite of the "Domestiques de la famille du Saint Enfant Jésus", predicted the birth of the king of France, Louis XIV, although her mother, Anne of Austria, was sterile. On the birth of the future "Roi Soleil", this exceptional vineyard which belonged to the Carmelites, took on the name "Vigne de l'Enfant Jésus". In 1791, when all national property was sold, Bouchard Père & Fils put in a bid for the vineyard, situated in the heart of the 32 hectares of the Beaune Grèves appellation, of which it still has the monopoly today.

Superb fruit and spice aromas with an oaky note on the nose. Intense, full and yet delicate on the palate, the wine has a charming velvetiness.

Pairs well with game birds, fattened chicken in cream sauce and Burgundian cheeses.

Review:

A rich, creamy-textured red with ripe-strawberry, chocolate, stone and hazelnut aromas and flavors. It’s full and layered with attractive fruit and lightly chewy yet polished tannins. Flavorful finish. Subtle, yet structured. Try after 2022.

-James Suckling 94 Points

-Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 93 Points

-Decanter 93 Points

-Wine Spectator 93 Points

1983 Domaine Jean Grivot Vosne-Romanée. Picture of bottle available upon request. 

Xavier Vignon Lirac Rouge is made from 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah.

Ripe fruit, ranging from raspberries and cherries to hints of stone fruit. Yet, it's not over the top or simply fruity. This full-bodied wine adds hints of leather, garrigue and licorice along the way, evolving from creamy to velvety on the palate and through the lasting finish.

Pairs with lamb Tagine with dry fruits - Duck breast fillet with green pepper sauce - BBQ Prime rib of beef.

Review:

"An 80-20 blend of Grenache and Syrah, Vignon's 2019 Lirac is drawn from multiple parcels with galets roulés over clay soils. Roughly one-third went into oak, while the rest stayed in tank. It may be the most complex of the various Vignon "Signature" offerings, marrying hints of garrigue and licorice with mixed berries and hints of oak. It's medium to full-bodied, silky and forward, with the same lip-smacking drinkability factor that marks all of Vignon's wines on the finish. - Joe Czerwinski"

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (September 2020) 92 pts

Ayni Malbec Paraje Altamira is made from 100 percent Malbec.

Ayni is the Quechua term for the principle of reciprocity, practiced for centuries by the Andean people - "in order to receive, you first have to give." Chakana's renowned Paraje Altamira vineyard, which sits 3,300 feet above sea level, bears the name Ayni & is the source of the Ayni wines.

Deep ruby-red in color with violet hints. Complex and intense bouquet, featuring blackberries, cherries and plums, with delicate floral notes and spices. Balanced and fresh; full-bodied with good length of spices.

The grapes come from the fantastic area of Paraje Altamira in the Uco Valley, Mendoza.

Irrigation: Drip 
Harvest: Manual 
Maceration: 4 days cold soaking below 10°C in stainless steel tanks 
Alcoholic fermentation: 80% of the wine in stainless steel tanks for 15 days with wild yeasts, 20% of the wine in 225-liter closed French oak barrels 
Malolactic fermentation: Yes

Pairs well with grilled meats and stews.

Review:

"The 2019 Malbec Ayni comes from Paraje Altamira, Uco Valley and was aged for 12 months in foudres. Unfiltered, this is an austere red of nuance and depth. The nose is very much that of the region with fresh plum, violets and thyme. The potency is tempered by the aging process in favor of subtlety and the addition of whiffs of smoke, tobacco and cedar. Juicy in the mouth with a striking chalky feel, compact flow and mild character, it is a linear wine but maintains Malbec’s smooth, voluminous nature. An elegant interpretation of a region with character. - Joaquín Hidalgo"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2021), 94 pts

Baron Ermengaud Faugeres Rouge is made from 80% Syrah, 10% Grenache, 5%, Mourvèdre and 5% Carignan.

The Baron Ermengaud cuvée is named after the lord Ermengaud de Fouzilhon. In the 12 century, the Lord gave land, which was located in Laurens Village, to monks, who built a monastic barn. The monks (Benedictine and then Cistercian) used to cultivate the vineyards, using techniques that were quite wise and modern at the time. The people of Laurens enjoyed and benefited from learning their methods.

This Faugeres is dark red with shades of black cherry. A large complexity of aromas allows us to savor a mix of sun fruits and spices. This powerful and full-bodied wine, with a deep consistency, offers an intensity of ripe fruits. It has a long, rich palate on velvety tannins with raised hints of pepper.

Pairs with roast saddle of lamb with juniper berries; peppered venison with pears.

Review:

"Les Crus Faugères is the only cooperative in this appellation, managing 2,223 acres or nearly half of Faugères’ vines. It puts out a vast array of labels, including Mas Olivier, also recommended here, but Baron Ermengaud was the standout for both its 2019 and 2018 reds. Mostly syrah (80 percent), with grenache, carignan and mourvèdre, all of it hand-harvested off schist parcels, the 2019 shines in its combination of earthiness and brightness. Lively acidity and herbal notes give it a just-picked freshness that energizes the red fruit; the clarity allows a clear view of the earth, too, in shades of schist and iron. It tastes like it’s from a place, with a sense of sun and garrigue that’s transporting."
Wine & Spirits Magazine (June 2021), 94 points