Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Château La Grolet Chateau Tête de Cuvée Tete de Cuvee
The Hubert family own and farm two nearby vineyards, Château Peybonhomme-les-Tours in the Côtes de Blaye, and Château La Grolet to the south in the Côtes de Bourg. Both of these Right Bank Estates are farmed biodynamically. The Côtes de Bourg is a beautiful landscape of rolling hills that are sometimes referred to as the 'little Switzerland of the Gironde'. Here, the gravel-rich terroir makes for a more firmly structured red than its Côtes de Blaye sibling (Peybonhomme).
Château La Grolet is a 17th-century manor house at the bottom of a valley surrounded by its 50-hectare estate, including 38 hectares of vines. The Hubert family acquired the estate in 1997 and began its conversion to biodynamics, with Demeter certification coming in 2000. Tête de Cuvée blends 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Malbec from 55 year old vines. Made with native fermentation with very low sulphite additions, this aged for a year in new French oak barrels. Crunchy plum, tight cassis, fragrant dark florals, and crushed gravels is threaded with graphite, and wrapped with furry and sticky tannins, guiding this to a savoury, crushed floral and nutmeg finish. Quite strict upon opening, give this a decant and a roast veg and/or lamb dish.
“This biodynamically produced blend includes 85% merlot, 10% cabernet sauvignon and 5% malbec. It's quite charming and energized with lifted aromas of raspberry/red plum, fresh cedar, thyme and almost cinnamon-like wood spice. It is medium weight with lively acidity, balanced alcohol (even at 14.5%) with fine, drying tannin. The length is excellent. A bit pricy for Cotes de Bourg historically, but quite appealing. Tasted Feb 2024.” - 92 points, David Lawrason, WineAlign.com
“Many underrated Bordeaux from “satellite” Bordeaux appellations and none more than from the Côtes De Bourg just below the Blaye, right there along and abutting the Gironde estuary. At this price and level the concentration and complexities multiply into an echelon that exults Merlot which incidentally comprises 85 percent of this 2019. Then there are the increasingly important percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon (10) and to a lesser but still important Malbec which elaborates the juicy and fruity quality of the wine. Structure is tops here, for what led to that point and then beyond. Drink 2025-2030. Tasted February 2024.” - 92 points, Michael Godel, WineAlign.com
Read more about Château La Grolet here.
Vintage: 2019
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $51
Style: Still
Region: Bordeaux
Appellation: AOC Côtes de Bourg
Country: France
Grape: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec
Colour: Red
Vegan: Yes
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: Yes
Natural: No
Low Intervention: Yes
Château La Grolet Chateau Tête de Cuvée Tete de Cuvee
The Hubert family own and farm two nearby vineyards, Château Peybonhomme-les-Tours in the Côtes de Blaye, and Château La Grolet to the south in the Côtes de Bourg. Both of these Right Bank Estates are farmed biodynamically. The Côtes de Bourg is a beautiful landscape of rolling hills that are sometimes referred to as the 'little Switzerland of the Gironde'. Here, the gravel-rich terroir makes for a more firmly structured red than its Côtes de Blaye sibling (Peybonhomme).
Château La Grolet is a 17th-century manor house at the bottom of a valley surrounded by its 50-hectare estate, including 38 hectares of vines. The Hubert family acquired the estate in 1997 and began its conversion to biodynamics, with Demeter certification coming in 2000. Tête de Cuvée blends 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Malbec from 55 year old vines. Made with native fermentation with very low sulphite additions, this aged for a year in new French oak barrels. Crunchy plum, tight cassis, fragrant dark florals, and crushed gravels is threaded with graphite, and wrapped with furry and sticky tannins, guiding this to a savoury, crushed floral and nutmeg finish. Quite strict upon opening, give this a decant and a roast veg and/or lamb dish.
“This biodynamically produced blend includes 85% merlot, 10% cabernet sauvignon and 5% malbec. It's quite charming and energized with lifted aromas of raspberry/red plum, fresh cedar, thyme and almost cinnamon-like wood spice. It is medium weight with lively acidity, balanced alcohol (even at 14.5%) with fine, drying tannin. The length is excellent. A bit pricy for Cotes de Bourg historically, but quite appealing. Tasted Feb 2024.” - 92 points, David Lawrason, WineAlign.com
“Many underrated Bordeaux from “satellite” Bordeaux appellations and none more than from the Côtes De Bourg just below the Blaye, right there along and abutting the Gironde estuary. At this price and level the concentration and complexities multiply into an echelon that exults Merlot which incidentally comprises 85 percent of this 2019. Then there are the increasingly important percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon (10) and to a lesser but still important Malbec which elaborates the juicy and fruity quality of the wine. Structure is tops here, for what led to that point and then beyond. Drink 2025-2030. Tasted February 2024.” - 92 points, Michael Godel, WineAlign.com
Read more about Château La Grolet here.
Vintage: 2019
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $51
Style: Still
Region: Bordeaux
Appellation: AOC Côtes de Bourg
Country: France
Grape: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec
Colour: Red
Vegan: Yes
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: Yes
Natural: No
Low Intervention: Yes
Alexana Winery
Though named Terroir Series, this is a Willamette-wide blend of various soils and clones. The wine is a selection of barrels from the dry farmed younger blocks of the Revana vineyard in Dundee Hills, along with vineyards in Yamhill-Carlton, Eola-Amity, Chehalem Mountains, and McMinnville, and clones Pommard, 115, 777, Wadenswil, 667, La Tache, 943, 114, 828, Coury, and 113. Each lot is separately native fermented whole berry before aging 11 months in French oak (23% new). Forest, wild cherry, fresh moss, and pretty florals rule the silken palate, sided with fine, long tannins and finishing with a gently warming baking spice note. Quite polished and fresh, this medium bodied wine is drinking ideal now with any kind of mushroom / duck dishes.
“Vivacious and expressive, with sleek raspberry and cherry flavors laced with rose petal, orange peel and hints of forest floor as this sails on the long, supple finish. Drink now through 2030. 6,490 cases made.” - 93 points, Tim Fish, Wine Spectator
Read more about Alexana Winery here.
Vintage: 2021
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $65
Style: Still
Region: Oregon
Appellation: Willamette Valley AVA
Country: USA
Grape: Pinot Noir
Colour: Red
Vegan: No
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Natural: No
Low Intervention: No
Minimus
Minimus
Chardonnay Dijon Free
No Dijon clones were harmed in the making of this wine. Though Dijon clones are prevalent throughout the Willamette, they wanted to create a wine using only heirloom clones. This used Calera, Old Wenté, Musqué, Mt. Eden, Mendoza, and spent 16 months in 30% new French oak. Showing beautiful evolution, but still shining, with shimmery lemon and a buzzy undercurrent livening yellow and green apple, pear skin, subtle toast on a layered palate. Polished and impressive, reflective of the striking potential for Willamette Chardonnay.
"Beautiful chardonnay, as rich, sumptuous and unctuous as one could want from the Willamette, but also this stony and flinty subtlety running through the wine's interior like a hidden treasure of a message. So graceful and gracious, clearly exulting a sense of vineyard pace and place coaxed graciously by the people who work to make this fruit so real and proper. Excellence incarnate for a "Dijon-free" clonal iteration of the standard variety, opted for and exulted instead by that which is truly local. Drink 2023-2027. Tasted November 2023.” - 94 points, Michael Godel, WineAlign.com
"The first chardonnay I have seen promoted as Dijon-free, a reference to the invasion of French Dijon clones in recent years. It uses more 'native' clonal stock instead - Calera, Wente, Musque and others - and signals a reversion to American chardonnay of old. Indeed the very ripe banana, floral and buttery/custardy notes, complete with oodles of clove/nutmeg barrel spice - does recall the 80s. It is full bodied, off-dry warm and very rich. The texture is quite silky and the heat is on, yet the acidity holds. All kinds of complexity and power here, with excellent to outstanding length. The name of the wine is given a signal to the style but it is oblique. Tasted November 2023" - 93 points, David Lawrason, WineAlign.com
"Work past the creepy front label, and the tongue-in-cheek "Dijon free" mention on the back label (a reference to the proliferation of the so-called Dijon clones of chardonnay, whose arrival and spread in the early 1990s signalled the beginning of serious quality chardonnay in Oregon), and get on to the serious wine contained within, one with marked barrel influence and rancid butter flavours in a classical style. The palate is fullish and intensely flavoured, with resinous oak notes and lemon curd, creme brulée flavours. One can't argue with the flavour intensity and concentration - off-the-charts high, and the superb length, bold, dense and powerful. Similar quality from Napa would command a far higher price. Drink or hold short term - I'd capture with the remaining fruit intact, even though it's anything but a fruity wine. Tasted November 2023.” - 93 points, John Szabo, MS, WineAlign.com
"Cheekily labelled as a "Dijon Free Chardonnay", this assemblage is made from only heirloom clones such as Calera, Old Wenté, Musqué, Mt. Eden and Mendoza that have matured for 16 months in 30% new French oak. Despite the fact that the oak is quite prevalent on the palate, the wine is not heavy and exhibits a great deal of lift from acidity. Aging gracefully, there is very little oxidation noted and the fruit is still generous on the palate. A pleasant degree of nuttiness has surfaced adding to the overall complexity. Showing a notable stamp of place and a low-intervention cleanliness. The label is a bit dark and enigmatic in contrast with the wine. Best now to 2027. Tasted November 2023." - 93 points, Sarah d'Amato, WineAlign.com
Vintage: 2017
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 12
Price per Bottle: $55
Style: Still
Region: Oregon
Appellation: Willamette Valley AVA
Country: USA
Grape: Chardonnay
Colour: White
Vegan: No
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Natural: No
Low Intervention: Yes