Wine Store

CRU/JRM - There is no better value in white wine.  This is a satisfying, palate-coating and extremely pleasant white that pairs very well with almost everything. 

Maker's Notes - Pretty pale-yellow dress. This wine reveals an elegant nose with delicate notes of white flowers and citrus. This lively wine is very fresh and has a touch of minerality on the palate.

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Maker's Notes - Pretty delicate petal-rose colour. This wine offers an expressive, particularly fruity nose with notes of red fruit and citrus. On the palate, this wine shows a beautiful aromatic richness and a perfect balance between the body and the freshness.

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Maker's Notes - Beautiful limpid colour with yellow and green undertones. The nose reveals a seductive fruity bouquet with notes of lemon, citrus and white flowers. Fresh on the palate, with great tension, this is a fine, elegant and well-balanced wine, offering nice acidity and a touch of bitterness on gourmet aromas of peach syrup. It will be ideal as an aperitif or to accompany a starter.

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Maker's Notes - An intense, bright colour, with a golden hue. To the nose the specific aromas of the grape variety are to the fore, with apricots, peaches, exotic fruits and preserved citrus fruit. The palate is both smooth and fresh, finishing on dried fruits hint.

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Maker's Notes -

Appearance: Pale, bright hue with slightly bluish tints.

Nose: Powerful aromas of crushed strawberries and citrus complemented by floral notes.

Palate: Extremely fine on the palate, releasing fruity and floral notes of violets, complemented by a nice acidity which prolongs the enjoyment.

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Maker's Notes - Appearance: elegant, pale yellow flecked with green.

Nose: fresh, fruity aromas of peaches and pears with citrus notes.

Palate: clean and fresh on entry, with perceptible volume on the mid-palate. The finish is broad and taut with citrus aromas.

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Maker's Notes -

Colour: light yellow with golden tints.

Nose: both fruity and floral. Citrus, Mirabelle-plum and orange blossom notes.

Palate: taut, mineral structure, lovely roundness. A fresh, nearly saline, wine. Very long finish.

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Vinous 91 - Glistening orange-pink. Incisive red berry and citrus fruit scents are complemented by building floral and mineral nuances. Silky, dry and precise, showing good heft to the strawberry and blood orange flavors, which are braced by an undercurrent of juicy acidity. Smoothly blends depth and energy and finishes very long and focused, with lingering florality and a suggestion of chalky minerals.

Wine Spectator 88 - This lively rosé has a glossy texture sporting cherry, tea and blood orange notes that are fresh and inviting. Accents of herb and stony mineral fine-tune the finish. Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Rolle.

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Maker's notes - Elegant, very pale colour with subtle green reflections. With great finesse, the nose opens up with delicate notes of white flowers and citrus. Balanced and fresh, the palate reveals the same seductive aromas and ends with a superb saline finish which offers beautiful length.

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Vinous 90 - Pale pink. Racy and focused on the nose, displaying spice-tinged red fruit and citrus pith scents and a hint of florality. In a tense, nervy style, showing fine delineation to its strawberry, redcurrant and clementine flavors. Finishes tight and long, with the citrus fruit and floral notes repeating.

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Maker's Notes - A lovely rich and fat hand-picked Chenin Blanc from the heart of France's Loire Valley.  Saumur whites are made from Chenin Blanc and are characteristically crisp and fruity. Here the wine has a pale yellow hue and an intense nose with aromas of ripe stone fruits at first with honey and toasty notes following. Strikingly crisp at first it then shows its real fruitiness and generous, ripe structure. And it wraps up well with a pleasingly fresh and clean citrus finish.

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Vinous 92 - Limpid orange. Expressive, mineral-accented nectarine, strawberry and melon scents, along with blood orange and floral nuances. Palate-staining red berry, citrus and pit fruit and honeysuckle flavors deftly meld depth and liveliness. Shows firm cut and repeating mineral and floral notes on the impressively persistent, finely etched finish.

Wine Spectator 88 - This mineral-laced rosé shows elements of red berries, flint and spice encased in a smooth, supple texture. A vivid acidity gives this elegance, with melon and herb notes on the finish.

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Vinous 92 - Diaphanous pink. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes raspberry, pink grapefruit, peach, succulent herbs and honeysuckle. Sappy and incisive on the palate, offering vibrant red berry, citrus zest and bitter quinine flavors that show impressive energy and back-end cut. The citrus and floral notes drive a long, nervy finish that shows fine delineation and mineral lift.

WA 91 - Very pale pink and imbued with the fragrances of crushed stone and sun-dried herbs, the 2019 Cotes de Provence Sainte-Victoire Rose is the embodiment of the appellation. This blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah is medium-bodied yet lively and refreshing, with white peach and melon flavors tinged with red currants, finishing cool and stony.

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Maker's Notes -

Colour: light yellow, green tints

Nose: intense notes, a blend of fruit (lychee, etc.) and rose, with some lighter notes of citrus (lemon, grapefruit).

Palate: this sharp, dry wine is supple and forthright on entry to the palate.

Nice balance of acidity and a finish with notes of lychees and citrus.

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Wine Advocate 89 - Matured in a mix of tank and demi-muids, the 2020 Saint-Péray Les Tanneurs boasts scents of ripe pears, melons and a hint of citrus. It's medium to full-bodied and round in the mouth, and while not that rich or concentrated, it's nicely balanced, citrusy and long on the finish.

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WA 88 - Chapoutier's large-production white Crozes, the 2019 Crozes Hermitage Blanc La Petite Ruche, is a modest, melon and citrus-scented wine that's plump and round on the medium-bodied palate, lush and easy to drink, with a finish that's marked by notes of salted licorice and citrus zest.

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Wine Spectator 92 - Plump and bright, with star fruit, green almond and chamomile notes backed by an alluring lemon shortbread accent on the finish. Utterly delicious. Marsanne and Roussanne.

Wine Advocate 89 - The 2020 Crozes Hermitage les Launes Blanc features modest, composed aromas of melon, pear and citrus. It's a mellow, medium-bodied effort that hits the right buttons, delivering ample weight and richness on the palate without sacrificing length on the finish.

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Vinous 91 - Vivid orange-pink. Mineral tinged red berries, orange zest and nectarine aromas show fine clarity and pick up a floral nuance with air.  Juicy and focused on the palate offering sappy

tangerine and strawberry flavors that deepen steadily and take on a spicy white pepper note through the back half. Finishes long, gently chewy and precise, with repeating red fruit and spice notes.

Wine Spectator 90 - Pure and chiseled in feel, with racy-edged white cherry, rose petal, jicama and jasmine notes backed by a lingering wet stone accent on the finish. This has length and subtleties that set it apart from the pack. Cinsault, Grenache, Rolle and Tibouren.

Wine Spectator 90 - This elegant rosé combines orange pith, white cherry and grapefruit flavors, with undertones of mineral, spice and heather accents. Refreshing acidity gives this a mouthwatering finish.

Wine Advocate 89 - Plump and rounded on the palate, Miraval's 2021 Cotes de Provence Rose follows that up with a mouthwatering, citrusy finish. It's a pretty standard Provence offering but executed at a high level, with attractive scents of crushed stone accenting peach, melon and lime-like notes. Just who owns this wine estate may be in the hands of a French court, but the winemaking is firmly under the control of the Perrin family and reflects their high standards of quality.

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Maker's Notes - Appearance: radiant, pale yellow hue flecked with gold.

Nose: complex and expressive releasing fruity (apricot, citrus) and floral (acacia) notes, along with honey and vanilla.

Palate: this fresh, full-bodied wine is broad on entry to the palate and shows a lovely minerality and floral aromas on the finish.

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WA 92 - The oak-aged 2016 I Sistri (100% Chardonnay) opens to a soft golden color with bright luminosity. There is a lot of character and aromatic intensity here, thanks to the optimally ripened quality of fruit. You get warmer tones of peach, pear and apricot, but you also get cooler tones of mint and white almond. Twelve months in oak give this wine a mid-weight feel with toasted flavors and creamy density.

Vinous 88 - The 2016 I Sistri is a pretty wine, with good varietal character in its lightly tropical, citrus and floral notes. This mid-weight, nuanced Chardonnay will drink well for the next few years.

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Wine Advocate 91 - A step up from La Petite Ruche, Chapoutier's 2019 Crozes Hermitage Blanc Les Meysonniers ratchets up the intensity and complexity, adding hints of honey and crushed stone to notes of ripe melon and citrus. Medium to full-bodied, round and succulent on the palate, it finishes with mouth-coating flavors and ample length. Aged in a mix of demi-muids and stainless steel, it's a deftly balanced but opulent Marsanne that drinks well now, so why wait?

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Vinous 92 - The 2018 Nobile di Montepulciano is pretty and understated in the glass, wafting up with a mix of black currants, savory herbs and worn

leather hints. This is round with a balanced inner sweetness, displaying mineral tinged wild berry fruit and nuances of confectionary spice. The 2018 leaves only a gentle coating of fine tannins while finishing with citrus nuances and a hint of hard red candies. The Avignonesi style lent quite well to this warm and rainy vintage; as a result, they

created a very delicate yet likable Nobile.

Wine Spectator 91 - A powerful red, with savory eucalyptus, tobacco and tomato leaf aromas and flavors offset by cherry and plum notes. Beefy tannins set the stage for a lingering, grainy finish.

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Wine Spectator 93 - This rich white is backed by lots of freshness, with pineapple, honey cream and mango notes, infused with floral, baking spice and toast details. Graceful, with lots of complexity through the citrusy finish. Drink now through 2026.

Maker's Notes - Clean and vibrant with a straw yellow colour. The nose stands out for the intensity and complexity of its aromas but with the unmistakable personality of Godello; the elegance of careful preparation and respectful ageing. On the palate, it is unctuous and balanced, with a well-integrated acidity and a longlasting aftertaste.

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Wine Spectator 91 - Inviting aromas and flavors of baking spice and pastry give the more submerged notes of apple, peach and honey time to emerge as this white unfolds from start to finish. Opulent and heady, with a succulent finish.

Burghound 88 - Fresh and pretty aromas of green apple, citrus and a wisp of pear introduce round and delicious yet attractively vibrant flavors that flash a subtle minerality on the agreeably saline and dry finish. I like the texture and while this is not especially complex, and there is a hint of warmth, I do like the clean delivery. Note that this could be enjoyed young or held for a few years first.

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Wine Advocate 92 - Bottled just a week before my visit, the 2018 Saint-Péray Lieu-dit Hongrie was already showing off its stuff, bursting with notes of grilled pineapple and citrus. It's medium to full-bodied but crisp and firmly built, with a silky feel on the palate and a lingering, nicely focused finish.

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Vinous 93 -

Deep violet. Dark berries, exotic spices and incense on the expansive nose, along with hints of pungent flowers and vanilla. Juicy and open-knit, offering sweet black and blue fruit, spicecake and mocha flavors that slowly firm up on the back half. Round, even tannins frame a long, spice-laced finish that leaves dark cherry and cassis notes behind.

Wine Spectator 89 - Cherry flavors shade from Bing to maraschino in this fruity red, backed by cocoa and toasty notes. Firm tannins and citrusy acidity give it a lively structure. Drink now through 2027.

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Vinous 95 - The 2013 Barbaresco Ronchi is superb. Ample and large scaled, as wines from this clay-rich site often are, the Ronchi is firing on all cylinders today.

Layers of dark red stone fruit fill out the wine's ample frame effortlessly. Pine, menthol, anise, citrus peel and tobacco add attractive aromatic overtones, but it is the wine's balance that is most impressive today. Simply put, the Ronchi is a standout.

Wine Advocate 91 - The 2013 Barbaresco Ronchi shows richness and density that grounds this wine firmly to the palate. This is a lasting and enriched expression that offers the intensity and the natural length that characterizes this vintage. Dark cherries and spice segue to balsam herb and cola. This is an elegant and nicely articulated expression from the Ronchi cru.

Wine Spectator 91 - A tightly wound red, with firm, raspy tannins that make the future difficult to predict. With air, sweet cherry, licorice and spice flavors emerge. Fans out nicely on the lingering finish. Best from 2019 through 2032.

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WA 95 - A much smaller production cuvée, the 2015 Condrieu Clos Boucher (aged 80% in barrel and 20% in stainless steel) is a sensational Condrieu that offers textbook, yet pedal to the metal notes of white peach, tangerine, citrus blossom and hints of minerality. Impeccably balanced, fresh and lively, it should be given six months in bottle and enjoyed over the following 4-5 years.

Vinous 94 - Very light gold. Powerful, mineral-accented orange pith, melon, white peach and violet scents show impressive focus and vivacity. Possesses an impressive blend of depth and finesse, offering concentrated citrus and pit fruit, honey and candied ginger flavors complemented by a subtle anise quality. Finishes with superb mineral cut and lift, leaving suave floral and mineral notes behind. This complex, densely packed wine would complement lighter foods as well as rich ones and, from my experience with older vintages such as the 2005 and 2010, it's a highly reliable cellar candidate.

WS 93 - Ripe and creamy in feel, with pear, quince, almond cream, shortbread and warm brioche notes melded together, backed by a light hazelnut echo on the flattering finish. Drink now through 2020.

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Vinous 93 - Bright gold. Complex, expansive bouquet evokes dried peach, orange rind, clove, anise and pungent herbs, with a deep, smoky quality gaining strength with air. Lush and creamy in texture but almost shockingly lithe, with zesty citrus and orchard fruit flavors and a strong mineral underpinning. The herb and spice notes resonate on the long, juicy, very precise finish. No way I'd guess that this was 23 years old. 90% Viura, 10% Malvasia.

Wine Spectator - 87: This mature white shows apple cider, tea and woody flavors that have depth, but turn a bit flabby on the finish. There's character to this—and still some juicy acidity—but it's fading now. Drink now. 1,166 cases made

Jeremy’s Notes - Like nothing I have ever tasted, wonderful roundness and complexity. Slight sherry on the nose but fresh on the palate.

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Wine Advocate 93-95 - The 2018 Hermitage Chante-Alouette is ripe and custardy in feel, with plenty of richness that's balanced by ample freshness. Hints of citrus, melon and white peach mingle easily on the nose and palate, offering a lovely introduction to white Hermitage.

Vinous 93 - Pale, glistening yellow. Penetrating aromas of fresh orchard and pit fruits are accompanied by hints of chalky minerals and pungent flowers. Juicy and concentrated in style, offering pear nectar, white peach and Meyer lemon flavors that tighten up and show fine definition on the back half. The floral note repeats strongly on the energetic finish, which hangs on with impressive, mineral-tinged persistence.

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Wine Advocate 90 - Disgorged in December 2018, the latest rendition of Besserat de Bellefon's NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Cuvée des Moines exhibits a toasty, reductive bouquet of bread dough, smoky citrus rind and green orchard fruit. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and nicely balanced, with a frothy mousse, lively acids and a clean, harmonious finish. This is a well-made Blanc de Blancs that reflects this marque's recent progress.

Maker's Notes - "Sculpted from the rocky soil of its terroir, BB Blanc de Blancs offers

a magnificent chain of creamy bubbles of incredible precision. The nose is intense, mineral and saline, with fresh citrus aromas

intermingling harmoniously with floral notes of honeysuckle and acacia. A finely-honed palate with superb structure and magnificent amplitude. Translucent and pure, citrus and lemon compose a symphony of absolute elegance."

Cédric Thiébault

Cellarmaster, Champagne Besserat de Bellefon.

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WA 94 - A blend of 90% Marsanne and 10% Roussanne, the 2017 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes Blanc features scents of toasted almond, honey and pineapple. Full-bodied, rich and creamy, it's rounded out on the palate by melon-like fruit, then adds citrus zest, crushed stone and brine on the long finish. Drink it now or after about 10 years.

Vinous 93 - Pale gold. Powerful orchard and citrus fruit scents are complemented by suggestions of smoky minerals, chamomile and fennel. Chewy and broad in the mouth, offering concentrated pear, Meyer lemon and honeysuckle flavors braced by a core of juicy acidity. Delivers a solid punch of ripe pit fruits on an impressively long, focused finish that echoes the floral and mineral notes.

Wine Spectator 93 - This is suave, with macadamia nut, salted butter and verbena notes weaving around a core of creamed Jonagold apple, star fruit and Bosc pear flavors. Everything entwines seamlessly through the finish. Best from 2021 through 2028.

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Wine Advocate 97 - I’m increasingly convinced that Pierre Larmandier produced Champagne’s wines of the vintage this year, and the 2011 Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vieille Vigne du Levant only compounds that suspicion. Unfurling in the glass with a deep and complex nose of citrus zest, crisp yellow apples, smoke, warm bread, mandarin oil and oyster shell, it’s full-bodied and fleshy but incisive, with huge concentration, bright acids and a long, intensely saline finish. Totally transcending the reputation of 2011, it has many of the textural properties of a great white Burgundy, married with the cut and chalky grip of Champagne’s Côte de Blancs.

Maker's Notes - This is a Champagne which should be tasted for its own qualities as an aperitif, to accompany poultry with morels, and this cuvée will happily stand its ground with dishes cooked in cream. It must be allowed time to open up, so that you can appreciate its power, complexity and exceptional length. It should be kept for two years (it will gain in depth) and much longer, even, if that’s how you like it.

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