Pre-Arrival Pricing: Wines due early June, Payment due with order
Christophe Lapalus runs 17ha of vines in and around the village of Pierreclos, just 4 km north of Pouilly-Fuisse AOC. The vineyard is certified sustainable (since 2009) and HEV (High Environmental Value) since 2015. Christophe grows pinot, gamay and chardonnay, all on clay/limestone and his well-ripened grapes make balanced, flavoursome wines of fine character, nice grip, backbone and freshness. I think that these wines are immense bargains. Cheers, Randall.
Village of Pierreclos:
A small commune in the Saône-et-Loire department of southern Burgundy, where vineyards dedicated to Chardonnay and Gamay grow on steep, sun-exposed hillsides. Southwest of the village, vines lie between 270 and 425 metres above sea level, while to the north the slopes of the Montagne de Cras rise to 506 metres with warm south and southwest exposures.
The terroir is defined by a striking geological mix where sedimentary rock meets ancient crystalline bedrock. As a result, vines are planted across a patchwork of granite, clay-marl and limestone soils, bringing freshness, structure and mineral character to the wines.
2022 Macon-Milly-Lamartine Chardonnay
$46 | Pre-Arrival Offer: $42
This appellation is just north of Pierreclos (so about 10km north of Pouilly Fuisse) and although it has a reputation for whites dripping with peach and apricot "ripe" flavours, many of our clients are well aware that high quality minerally, tight and classy wines can be made - take Lafon for example. This white is not in the "apricot" style. It's harvested for a 5ha plot and fermented and aged in steel tanks on a good amount of lees. It shows vibrant and juicy grapefruit citrus and subtle gardenia floral notes with hints of "riper" yellow fruits, good mouth-filling weight, tension and a long dry finish. For this money, it's fantastic.
2023 Bourgogne Rouge
$41 | Pre-Arrival Offer: $37
This pinot is hand-picked and then fermented / macerated for 2 weeks giving a wine with generosity of fruit and a silky firm structure. Ageing takes place in tanks and barrels. The fruit flavours are more in the red berry and plum fruit spectrum with a hint of violet and (at least according to Christophe) mint. The palate is complex and ethereal, with black fruit flavors taking center stage. The tannins here are well-integrated.
2023 Macon-Pierreclos Rouge
$33 | Pre-Arrival Offer: $29
This gamay is grown on more sandy soil and ripens well, but unlike Beaujolais not far to the south, this is totally de-stemmed and fermented / macerated for just over a week before ageing in vats for 6 months. This is ruby red with purplish highlights and the aromas are clean and very expressive (raspberry, cherry, blackcurrant). On the palate, the wine is luscious, fruity with plenty of roundness, richness and a lovely length.
"Christophe Lapalus has Pierreclos at the top, in both colors. The red, with its beautiful youthful ruby color and violet highlights, opens with a vibrant nose evoking redcurrant, raspberry, cherry, and sweet spices. The pleasure continues on the palate: after a full and fleshy attack, a fruity and spicy character unfolds, well-structured by delicately grained tannins." Guide Hachette.
Dom. Jerome Chezeaux Premier Crus
Finessed and Powerful Wines On-Hand and Ready for Dispatch!
Finessed and Powerful Wines On-Hand and Ready for Dispatch!
The vineyard and winemaking team of Jerome and daughter Lyse farm 12ha in predominantly the southern Nuits St. Georges appellation and in Vosne.
Lyse won the 2024 Jeune Talent award for the Cote d'Or and has been working full-time at the estate since 2009. We imported a batch from 2020 and fell in love with the purity, freshness, the beautiful pinot fruit on display, florality and spice. All of this and great richness too.The Domaine uses 30% new oak, but there is so much fruit that the oak is not obvious.
These are top-tier premier cru sites shared by the likes of other revered producers (think Jean Grivot, Mugneret-Gibourg) at village pricing!
2023 Chezeaux Vosne-Romanee 'Les Chaumes'
$295 | Offer $249
This site runs from La Tache and 1er cru Malconsorts down to the village of Vosne. It's a gentle sloping site with nice exposure and it makes classic wines.
92 Points, Tim Atkin MW
2023 Chezeaux Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru 'Aux Boudots'
Adjoining Les Chaumes at its top southerly corner, Boudots is next to the (grand cru-like) Malconsorts, so it's really more like Vosne than Nuits St. Georges.
92 Points, Tim Atkin MW
92 Points, Tim Atkin MW
Super Special: Museum Stock Kumeu River
"Kumeu's limestone hillside in Hawkes Bay has really stepped it up in just one year. It's the most overtly fruity of the range, but it always feels fresh and mineral-driven, too, as if blown through with a salty sea breeze. Notes of lemon zest, melon and orange blossom are underpinned by toffee, cream and oak spice. There's richness on the palate, but it's a different shape than some of the other Kumeu Chards. The oak is sculpted into the wine. There's beautifully tingly acidity and a long finish."
96 Pts. - Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast
2022 has been lauded as one of the best vintages from Kumeu, and this particular cuvee stands at the top here. Very fine indeed, and a top 1er look-alike!
"The 2022 Chardonnay Hunting Hill is an impressive, focused style. It has a sense of energy, being almost buoyant with the movement of a skimming stone across your palate. There's a powerful core of fruit here and it has plenty of substance within its no-more-than medium-bodied core before kerpow! It fires home with an almost spicy kick. Clever oak use, reminiscent of toasted nuts, meets restrained flavors of lemon and lime bitter and nectarine fruit. A wine that's still in its cocoon so give it time. It may even have the edge of Maté's... Big call." 96 Pts. - Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous
I believe that there are no better value chardonnays in the world! - Randall
"Kumeu River is white Burgundy in kiwi clothing" - Neal Martin
2021 Kumeu River Rays Road Chardonnay
$57 | Offer: $49
With some time in bottle, this is really starting to pickup stride. The almighty screwcap ensures that these age gracefully and glacially!
"Kumeu's limestone hillside in Hawkes Bay has really stepped it up in just one year. It's the most overtly fruity of the range, but it always feels fresh and mineral-driven, too, as if blown through with a salty sea breeze. Notes of lemon zest, melon and orange blossom are underpinned by toffee, cream and oak spice. There's richness on the palate, but it's a different shape than some of the other Kumeu Chards. The oak is sculpted into the wine. There's beautifully tingly acidity and a long finish."
96 Pts. - Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast
2022 Kumeu River Chardonnay 'Hunting Hill'
$115 | Offer: $99
2022 has been lauded as one of the best vintages from Kumeu, and this particular cuvee stands at the top here. Very fine indeed, and a top 1er look-alike!
"The 2022 Chardonnay Hunting Hill is an impressive, focused style. It has a sense of energy, being almost buoyant with the movement of a skimming stone across your palate. There's a powerful core of fruit here and it has plenty of substance within its no-more-than medium-bodied core before kerpow! It fires home with an almost spicy kick. Clever oak use, reminiscent of toasted nuts, meets restrained flavors of lemon and lime bitter and nectarine fruit. A wine that's still in its cocoon so give it time. It may even have the edge of Maté's... Big call." 96 Pts. - Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous
