Wine Over $100

Expert Reviews- Vintage 2021

Tim Fish of the Wine Spectator writes 95 Points |  Supple, richly textured and elegantly complex, this Pinot opens with a burst of fresh raspberry, then unfolds with notes of forest floor and brown baking spices, plus a touch of licorice as it builds tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2032. 1,100 cases made.

Clive Pursehouse of Decanter writes 94 Points | Elegance is personified in this 2021 bottling of Bergström's renowned Silice. So-named for the sandy silica soils, the hallmark of the hilly Chehalem Mountain vineyard source. Beautiful bright fruit aromas are further framed by touches of tomato leaf, pine bough and mossy forest floor. The palate is marked by fleshy red raspberries, early season blackberry and fine grain tannin that provides a structure that shows this wine's longevity. (Drink between 2023-2031).

Erin Brooks of The Wine Advocate writes 94 Points |  Medium ruby-purple, the 2021 Pinot Noir Silice Vineyard blossoms slowly to pomegranate, blackberry, watermelon, dried herbs and aniseed. The medium-bodied palate is loaded with wild berry fruit. Combining power and elegance, it's silky and seamless in the mouth, and a flourish of spicy accents across the finish hints it has more to reveal over the next 2-3 years in bottle.

Winemaker Description 

The Castel Grand Vin is a 90+ rated wine from the famed Judean Hills region in Israel. It is one of the most consistent high-end wines produced in Israel. The varieties used to create this wine are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, harvested from the winery's finest vineyard plots.

 The wine matured in mostly new French oak barrels for approximately 16 months, and was then transferred to concrete tanks for approximately 4 months before bottling. Castel Grand Vin is a classic, elegant wine, bearing deep color and a concentrated and complex bouquet of blackberries, cherries, plum, and spice. This is a balanced wine, with a velvety smoothness, fine (yet tangible) tannins, and a long clean finish. The Castel Grand Vin can age for 10+ years when stored in proper conditions.

The story of Domaine du Castel dates back to the 1970s when Eli Ben Zaken migrated from Milan to Israel with his family. He bought a small piece of land close to Jerusalem and began to fulfil his dream of working the land by planting an orchard and keeping chickens. In 1988 Eli decided to plant the first modern-day vineyard in the Judean Hills and in 1995 he released the first 600 bottles of his Grand Vin matured in oak barrels which he had imported from France himself.

Eli’s Grand Vin quickly gained a cult following and a bottle was even sent to the head of the wine department at Sotheby’s auction house, Serena Sutcliffe, who heaped praise on the wine. Made in the classic Bordeaux style, the Grand Vin is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc grapes which are carefully selected from Eli’s top vineyards.

Following the vinification the young wine is aged in oak barrels for 16 months followed by a further four months of maturation in concrete tanks. The result is a remarkably complex red which boasts a full body, rich dark fruit flavours and a very long finish. Although approachable now, this is a wine which has excellent ageing capabilities and will continue to develop and evolve over the next decade or so.

Producer Description 

"Made entirely from the grapes grown on Taylor’s own properties, Taylor’s is one of the few remaining houses which still produces a 40 Year Old Aged Tawny Port. A sublime port of very great age which shows the old olive-gold hue of its many years in cask. Decades of evaporation have concentrated this extraordinary wine to an exceptional density, with a powerful nose of dried fruit, honey and a touch of spice. Impressions of nutmeg, roasted coffee and an intense nuttiness converge both in the bouquet and on the palate. The wine´s rich, intense, voluptuous, almost viscous texture culminate in a finish of incredible length." -Winery

Expert Reviews 

Mark Squires of the Wine Advocate 95 Points | The NV 40 Year Old Tawny Port was bottled with a bar top cork in 2014. It comes in with 125 grams per liter of residual sugar. Big, weighty and mouth filling, this is an aromatic Tawny that finishes with acidity and tension. Gripping on the finish, its flavors become more interesting as long as it sits in the glass (or on your palate). It is not, perhaps, as sunny as the Fonseca, its sibling reviewed this issue, but it is denser and more gripping. Comparing to the Taylor 30 (also reviewed), I'm not sure I liked the 40 here all that much better. The 30 is a bit fleshier while this 40 is a bit more concentrated in flavor and aromatics. Perhaps some additional age also helped this 40 combat some of the aggression on the 30. They are both pretty fine, a difference of five to Midnight and five after, rather than night and day. It is still a fine experience and my favorite of the group. Don't drink it too warm. Room temperature is mostly too warm. The sweet spot for most tends to be 58-62 degrees Fahrenheit.

Expert Review - Vintage 2020

Wine Spectator 97 Points | This is distinctly floral, with peach, lime blossom, citronella and mineral aromas and flavors. Sleek and elegant, offering intensity through the lingering aftertaste of lemon and orchard fruits. Shows terrific length and harmony. Best from 2026 through 2036. 30 cases imported.

Winemaker Description 

Grégoire Bichot’s philosophy was to rule out the use of any chemical pesticides and weed killers when taking over this vineyard, in order to respect the environment and the Jurassic soils in which the delicacy of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay flourishes so well. His aim is to encourage the plant’s natural balance so that the fruit can develop the subtleties and aromas particular to each specific terroir that it grows in. The harvest itself is a vital moment in the quest for quality and aromatic expression. 

Situated on the slopes overlooking the town of Beaune, the premier cru of Les Grèves is considered one of the best in the appellation. Grégoire’s parcel is just .3 hectares planted in 1961, and true to its pedigree, this wine is rich, structured, and we are confident in its potential for longevity.

Ruby red color, with a rich aromatic expression of red fruit, the 2016 Beaune Les Greves 1er Cru has fine tannin perfectly balanced with the powerful fruit. The wine has good potential for cellaring.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2016

James Suckling 94 Points | Plenty of ripe and fresh fruit with citrus and rose aromas that follow through to a medium body with fine tannins and a bright, vivid finish. Hints of orange-peel and light pie-crust flavors in the aftertaste.

Kerin O'Keefe of the Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | Aromas of black-skinned berries, new leather and spice shape the nose. The chewy palate offers dried black cherry, tobacco and vanilla alongside polished tannins. Drink 2023–2031.

Expert Review - Vintage 2012

The Wine Advocate 95 Points | Her flagship wine is the Cabernet Sauvignon, which comes from several sources, most notably Calistoga and Pritchard Hill. The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc (500 cases). It is a beauty, very much in the style of 2012, with its flamboyant nose of blueberries, blackberries, new saddle leather. Following on the palate are juicy, succulent, full-bodied flavors, sweet tannin, low acidity and a flamboyant and dramatic mouthfeel. This is a superb Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the next 15-20 years. 

Vinous 92 Points | Black cherries, plums, mocha, spices and dark chocolate are all super-expressive in La Sirena's 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon. Rich and voluptuous to the core, the Cabernet is a terrific example of the year and all of its near term appeal. Drink this racy, open-knit Cabernet Sauvignon over the next decade or so. Raspberry jam, wild flowers, anise and sweet floral notes add perfumed sweetness throughout. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018

James Suckling 94 Points | 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.

Decanter 93 Points | Bouchard's evocatively named parcel is a monopoly holding that covers 3.9ha on sand and gravel soils in the heart of Beaune Grèves. Picked early but still pretty ripe, this has tobacco pouch and clove aromas from 20% whole bunches, layers of mulberry and raspberry fruit, aromatic 20% new wood and a backdrop of sinewy, granular tannins.

The Wine Advocate 93 Points | Revisited from bottle, the 2018 Beaune 1er Cru Les Grèves Vigne de l'Enfant Jesus is showing very well, unfurling in the glass with a brooding bouquet of dark berry fruit, ripe cherries, warm spices, baking chocolate and subtle soil tones. Medium to full-bodied, deep and muscular, it's rich and powerful, with ripe tannins and a voluminous core of fruit, concluding with a long, heady finish. When I tasted this wine from barrel, Bouchard's Frédéric Weber observed that analytically this 2018 is very similar indeed to the 1947 vintage of l'Enfant Jesus, and in its controlled but overt ripeness the analogy seems even more obvious from bottle.

The Wine Spectator 93 Points | Intense and tightly wound, this red displays a laser beam of cherry and berry fruit, with an underlying mineral element and steely structure. It's concentrated and long yet needs time to reveal all its facets."
Wine Spectator 

Allen Meadows Burghound 92 Points | Discreetly mentholated, ripe and brooding aromas speak of poached plum, spice and plenty of freshly turned earth scents. The medium-bodied flavors possess good delineation and an attractive mouthfeel before terminating in a lingering, youthfully austere and mouth coating finish that is shaped by a firmly tannic spine. This slightly warm effort is a big and very serious Beaune that is going to require plenty of time to arrive at its full apogee. Worth checking out.

Expert Review - Vintage 2017

James Suckling 100 Points | What a stunning nose of crushed berries, fresh flowers, sandalwood and light vineyard dust. Black olives, too. Very complex. Full-bodied with a beautiful, dense palate of blackberries, chocolate, walnuts and cigar box. Fantastic length and composure. The tannin just rolls over the palate. Very structured. The most classically structured wine ever from here. Goes on for minutes. Outrageous and so polished. A blend of 48% carmenere, 26% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot and 1% petit verdot. Try after 2025.

The Wine Spectator 95 Points | This features an intensely rich and fruity aroma, with concentrated flavors to match, dominated by cherry tart, raspberry and dark plum. Creamy midpalate, with a plush and spicy finish that offers hints of chocolate mint and plenty of minerality. Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2022 through 2027.

The Wine Advocate 95 Points | The 2017 Clos Apalta is the 20th vintage of this wine that was produced with a blend of 48% Carmenere, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot from organic and biodynamic certified vineyards on granite soils. It fermented with indigenous yeasts for four to five weeks, with manual punch-down of the cap, mostly in 7,500-liter French oak vats and 18% in new French barrique. Malolactic was in new French oak barrels, and the élevage lasted for 27 months in 85% new barrels and 15% second use. This is always a powerful, big and ripe wine that is regularly 15% alcohol, reflecting a warm and ripe place. The 2017 is no exception, perhaps a riper and more powerful wine than the 2016. It's still very young and marked by the élevage, with abundant balsamic aromas and notes from the wood—spice and smoke with an ashy touch. It seems quite marked by the character of the Carmenere. The tannins are quite round and polished, and the flavors are pungent and powerful. It's a full-bodied wine to age in in bottle and enjoy in its 10th birthday with powerful food. 

Decanter 94 Points | Powerful in its concentration and focus, a deep plum colour with the same distinctive sumac and cardamon spice notes as Le Petit Clos, but here with a more serious grip, excellent balance in terms of its liquorice-laced blueberry fruits and a mouthwatering lift through the finish. 85% new oak that fits extremely well in the frame of the wine. 20th anniversary vintage. Now its own specific appellation within the Colchagua Valley. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Certified biodynamic, with a number of ungrafted vines. Drinking Window 2023 - 2038.

Winemaker Description 

Deep garnet in appearance, the wine reflects the intensecolor of Carmenère grapes and typical aromas of ripe fruits. An abundance of aromas, including redcurrant, raspberry andwild strawberries, reflects the stunning complexity of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère. The initial wave of berry fruits, underpinned by soft, silky tannins, is pursued by contrasting touches of black olive, blackcurrant and licorice. Incredibly long and taut on the finish, revealing exquisite, delicate tannins, and expressing the great elegance of the Apalta terroirs.

Blend: 48% Carmenere, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot

About the Estate One of the oldest vineyards of Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère in Chile, if not in the world, is the origin of this story. Enclaved in the Colchagua Valley, near the town of Santa Cruz, the Apalta Valley was the place selected by a visionnary near the 1915's who, using a unique french massal selection, planted this amazing vineyard. In 1994, Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet acquired this property. True to the demands of the family, their ambition was to produce an exceptional wine and to pave the way for the qualitative development of the country's fine wines.

Clos Apalta is born in 1997 as the iconic wine of the Domaines Bournet-Lapostolle in Chile under the idea to magnify the exceptional terroir of Apalta with French expertise. Shaping the vineyard foot by foot, building a state-of-the-art gravity fed winery, the family succeeded in making Clos Apalta one of the most iconic wines in South America.

Winemaker Description

Intense, bright and luminous golden hue. Dynamic effervescence with a continuous stream of fine bubbles. Intense, fragrant bouquet of great purity. Concentrated and candied citrus fruit mingle delicately with notes of grain and lightly roasted almonds. The lovely sensation of big ripe fruit is balanced and lifted by energetic fresh tangy overtones. Fruity palate with a silky texture, complemented by soft bubbles that are perfectly integrated and deliciously elegant. The purity and perfection of the ripe yellow fruit melt into the intense chalky freshness typical of Cristal that is powdery and saline. Dense, juicy, concentrated, and long on the mid-palate, thanks to the spicy and sappy structure resulting from partial ageing in large oak vats (foudres). The finish builds to a crescendo, revealing a rich grainy and a velvety texture that is wrapped in a long, saline, and superbly elegant finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2016

Vinous 95 Points | Saturated ruby. Expansive cherry, black raspberry, potpourri and exotic spice aromas are complemented by subtle licorice and woodsmoke flourishes. Vibrant and sharply focused in the mouth, with a spine of juicy acidity adding focus to palate-staining black and blue fruit liqueur, violet pastille, mocha and spicecake flavors. The floral quality resonates emphatically on the clinging finish, which features lingering cherry and smoky mineral notes. There's noteworthy elegance here, a trait that's not exactly common for Toro. 

Winemaker Description 

Pintia lies on the banks of the Douro River, within the D.O. of Toro. The extremely cold winters and hot summers influence its complex soils, which are characterised by a large number of pebbles.

Therefore, it is paramount to find the optimal harvest time, so as not to lose the freshness of the aromas or the acidity of the wine.

The harvest took place between 13 September and 7 October (one of the longest in our history), due to the low temperatures and rains in September and the growth cycle of the vineyard. These conditions for the 2016 vintage helped push for a bit more extraction later on in the fermentation stage.

The percentage of new oak barrels used for ageing was 80 %, American oak increasing 5 % and reaching 25 %, providing greater density in the wine. 75 % French oak was used for this ageing stage. 

Expert Reviews

Winemaker Description 

Billecart-Salmon takes you to the historic lands of Leuvrigny, Festigny and Venteuil in the heart of the Marne Valley. You will discover a new expression of Pinot Meunier.

The delicate floral notes and the sweetness of the fruity aromas of this unique single-varietal cuvée will brighten up your most beautiful moments of sharing.
Radiant and luminous visual pleasure, defining a golden yellow hue with soft silver reflections. 

Always with this cord of extremely fine bubbles and so well channeled in the center of the glass. In mouth A relief with a sensual texture where a certain gourmet fluidity sets in, evolving towards an infused and tasty fruit (white cherry, pineapple and yellow plums). The perfect sensation of an index of accomplished pleasure defining an aerial walk with a distinguished and refined sensory capacity.

With such a pretty finish that stretches towards white pepper and pretty acidulous yellow fruits. At nose Harmonious floral sensations (linden and grasses) associated with the summer scents of a freshly cut wheat field (cereals and stubble). It will awaken your senses to refined nuances ranging from crunchy fruit to citrus pulp. A very delicate set where the expression of Pinot Meunier is subtly revealed.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Winemaker Description

The Gattinara spends a minimum of 3 years in large oak whereas both crus see at least four years in large oak.

Expert Review - Vintage 2018 

Vinous 95 Vinous | The 2018 Gattinara is a stunning wine in the making. Extraordinary in its complexity and nuance, the 2018 dazzles with a kaleidoscope of aromas, flavors and textures. Kirsch, hard candy, flowers and lively acids captivate the senses. The 2018 is elegant, weightless and full of character. It is, quite frankly, everything Gattinara can and should be. This is a great place to start for readers who want to know why the 2018 vintage is so magical at Nervi-Conterno. If it weren't for the single-vineyard wines, I would have said the 2018 is one of the very best wines that have ever been made here! (2018). 

Robert Parker 94 Points | Roberto Conterno acquired Nervi in 2018, and this is the first vintage in which the brand name is listed as Conterno Nervi (as opposed to Nervi Conterno, or just Nervi). Fully under his winemaking watch, the 2018 Gattinara comes from a vintage that performed well in this part of Alto Piemonte. Roberto had the confidence to produce his two single-vineyard expressions (Vigne Molsino and Valferana) in 2018, which is not exactly intuitive, as the growing season proved more challenging in other parts of Piedmont. But Roberto interprets each vintage with a keen eye and deft approach that is often contrary to his peers. I think what stands out here is the freshness, the balance of acidity that plays nicely into the minerality of the wine and the brightness of its wild rose and redcurrant flavors. This Gattinara carries a lot of fruit and primary intensity, all backed by subtle touches of balsam herb and soft tarry end notes. This 2018 underlines the elegance in Nebbiolo. (2018). 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points | From the oldest vines of the estate, the 2022 Pinot Noir DuMOL Ryan is fantastic on the nose, with notes of fresh leather, Asian spices, sandalwood, and fresh cherries. The palate is vibrant and salty with green valley character, revealing finely coiled tannins, mouthwatering acidity, a saline mineral flourish, and a long finish. This one of the most compelling wines in the vintage for me, and it’s going to age gracefully over the next 15-20 years.

The Wine Advocate 95 Points | The 2022 Pinot Noir Ryan comes from the Dutton-Widdoes and Dutton-Jentoft Vineyards, and grapes were harvested August 18 and later on September 4, just before the Labor Day heat wave. It unfurls dramatically in the glass, where wild berries, conifer and violets are accented by tones of dusty earth, tobacco and mushroom. The medium-bodied palate is powerfully styled, with abundant, grainy tannins, bright acidity and a long, spicy finish. It will benefit from 3-5 years in bottle. 

The Wine Independent 95 Points | Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Ryan sashays out of the glass with gregarious notes of red roses, wild sage, mulberries, and juicy raspberries plus hints of black peppercorns and tilled soil. The medium-bodied palate is taut with muscular red and black berry layers, supported by fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and earthy. This comes 53% from the Dutton-Widdoes Vineyard and 47% from Dutton-Jentoft. 

Expert Review - Vintage 1997

Wine Spectator 95 Points | Plum and blackberry on the nose, with hints of dried violets. Wet earth. Full-bodied, medium-sweet, very chewy and rich. Long and caressing. Still very tight. Give it time. Very layered and structured. Much better than I remember. Impressive. '77/'85/'97 blind Port retrospective. Best after 2010. 3,100 cases imported.

The Wine Advocate 93 Points | Blackberries, licorice, and melted asphalt stand out in this full-bodied, beautifully made vintage port's moderately intense bouquet. It is not one of the great Graham's ports, and is less sweet than normal, but it is full-bodied, rich, concentrated, and impressive. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2025.

Winemaker Description 

This excellent Vintage has an intense colour with a deep, purple rim. On the nose shows a luscious ripeness with attractive floral aromas and undertones of black cherry. On the palate, a typically Graham's full-bodied structure, packed with layers and layers of fruit and firm tannins. The very long, accomplished finish indicates a great Vintage for long-term ageing.

Expert Reviews 

James Suckling 98 Points | Made from old vines and blended from casks of Port averaging 40 years of maturity, this is a rare treat with which to finish an evening. The color is tawny brown, with a light orange-amber rim and mahogany center. Fully developed aromas of cinnamon, cedar, nutmeg, vanilla, dried apricots and hazelnuts lead to layered, rich, sweet and creamy flavors and a long, long finish.

Decanter 97 Points | Terrific stature and visceral intensity. Tightly wound acidity, a touch of volatile acidity and Cognac-like spirit drive to the kaleidoscopic palate, unleashing a never-ending panoply of flavors: black cardamom, spicy fruit chutney, salty praline, mocha, dried mango, marmalade and walnut. Ultra-long, well-focused and resonating.

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points | The NV 40 Year Tawny is a blockbuster Tawny! Coming all from the estate vineyard and aged 40 years or more in 640-liter oak barrels, it has a touch of ranico-like character as well as beautiful caramelized fruits, toasted spice, cigar, and walnut/nuttiness. Ripe, heady, full-bodied and beautifully complex, it’s going to be perfect for sipping at the end of a meal over the coming couple of decades.

Wine Spectator 95 Points | This is exotic, with a wide range of baked peach, dried cherry and fig, singed cinnamon, warmed praline, hazelnut and green tea notes all swirling around together. The long finish is rich and  thoroughly comforting.

Winemaker Description 

Mid-to-high colour intensity, typical of the vintage. It has a fragrant and complex nose, with hints of red and black fruits (raspberries, redcurrants, blackberries) andspiced notes of clove, laurel and black tea. Refreshing on the palateand bold in structure, with smooth tannins and a very pleasing flavour. Notable for its long finish. A great Tempranillo from a cooler vintage, in the classic style.

Winemaker Description 

The domaine exploits a 0.3-hectare plot of 70-year-old Pinot Noir in this steep, rocky-soiled vineyard that sits just above the village’s old quarry. Alexandre retains one-third whole clusters in the vinification here, employing just 30% new oak during the 20-month élevage and bottling without fining or filtration.

This distinctive wine shows Nuits-Saint-Georges’ intensely mineral side, with chiseled tension and just-so black fruits on an energetic frame.

Winemaker Description 

On the palate, notes of red fruits (strawberry, cherry), violet, fresh earth with a beautiful minerality. A fruity, fresh, juicy, balanced wine with a nice length and acidity. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck writes 97 Points |  A bright magenta/ruby color, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino is floral and expressive with aromas of wild roses, raspberry liqueur, blood orange, and fresh pine. Medium-bodied, it’s graceful throughout, with refined tannins, even, mouthwatering acidity, and a salty finish. It keeps you coming back for more and is going to benefit from at least another year in bottle. Drink 2025-2040.

Expert Review - Vintage 1998

The Wine Advocate 90 Points | The 1998 Chateau Musar is a rather prototypical Musar - lots of acidity, some brett, fine structure. It reveals a more gentle style on opening, but aeration proves how much underlying power it actually has. (That is, a lot.) There is a good analogy here to the 1994, concerning both how they showed early on and later. There is plenty of power, tannin and acidity, but there is also some balance. I loved the silky texture, emphasized in this vintage. It finishes with a controlled bang. This greatly benefitted from some air, showing layers that I did not initially think it had, but it does seem a bit on the lighter side. Drink now-2030.

Winemaker Description 

1998 was an exceptional year...The colour is a brilliant, deep red with a nose full of red and black fruits – cherries and cassis, with nuances of vanilla and chocolate. This follows through to the palate which is rich, well balanced and powerful. Mellow spices are evident in the beginning, mature red fruits surround very smooth tannins and a hint of orange is apparent on the very long finish

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018

Benujamin Lewin, MW of Decanter writes 95 Points | Great sense of fruit purity on the nose, showing a mélange of black fruits. This shows brilliance on the palate, it’s very flavourful, with almost savoury undertones lingering on a very long finish. A sensation of gunflint shows retronasally. This is a rare combination: the height of elegance combined with depth. Drinking Window: 2032-2052.

La Revue du Vin de France writes 94 Points | As for Le Bourg, it remains faithful to the generously toasted and hedonistic expression of its barrel ageing. A concentrated material, a sensation of sweetness and power accompany the salient tannic framework that the years will soften. 

Winemaker Description 

Clos Rougeard was created in 1664 on the land of Chacé, a village not far from Saumur. Eight generations have succeeded one another at the head of the estate, the most recent being the Foucault brothers. From the 1980s onwards, Charly and Nady adopted a singular philosophy to enhance the terroirs of Saumur and Saumur-Champigny: leave the wine in peace so it can expresses its own identity. No synthetic products are added to the vines, gentle vinifications are thought out like infusions and minimalist approach is claimed. In 2017, the Bouygues family bought the estate and has continued the work begun by their emblematic predecessors with a deep respect for the DNA of the winery and its identity. Today the estate has found its balance thanks to a passionate team who strives to preserve the excellence and uniqueness of the wines whose depth, finesse and precision are unparalleled.

Located in the heart of the village of Chacé, Le Bourg is composed of very old vines and lies on a predominantly limestone terroir on shallow clay loam, typical of the Saumur-Champigny appellation. This wine reveals riper, fleshier fruit and a dense, full-bodied texture. Le Bourg is from vines averaging 80 years old, planted on a thin layer of clay over a deep bed of tuffeau, also in Chacé. The combination of vine age and richer soil makes this the most powerfully structured wine in Clos Rougeard’s array.

Expert Review - Vintage 2010

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 98 Points  | Dinner starts with a fresh, briny oyster and a glass of 2010 Dom Ruinart. It’s a beautiful pairing. I have always loved the 2010 for the way it straddles the worlds of Champagne and still wine. It is absolutely glorious on this night. In fact, I could have had it for the entire meal. A deep, luscious morel broth and Brittany scallops are other highlights among the amuse-bouches. (Drink between 2023-2050).

Winemaker Description 

Indulge in the pure expression of Chardonnay with Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2010. A vintage Champagne capturing the elegance and finesse of Chardonnay, with notes of citrus blossom, green apple, and a refined minerality. A perfect aperitif or accompaniment to delicate seafood dishes.

Expert Review - Vintage 2015

Alison Napjus of the Wine Spectator writes 97 Points |  Like a racing spinnaker, this is tightly trimmed yet voluminous in character. Toasty notes of roasted almond and vanilla wafer are deftly integrated with sun-dried black cherry, baked peach, blood orange sorbet and candied ginger flavors, all well-defined by racy acidity and a subtle streak of salinity. This is long and fragrant, with pain d'épices, graphite and tea rose notes playing on the finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged February 2024. Drink now through 2040.

William Kelley of the Wine Advocate writes 96 Points | Bollinger's 2015 Brut La Grande Année Rosé was disgorged in May last year with seven grams per liter dosage. Offering up deep aromas of orchard fruits, blood orange, mandarin rind and peach mingled with nuances of coffee, praline and fino sherry, it's medium to full-bodied, pillowy and layered, with a broad attack that segues into a vinous palate framed by high levels of structuring dry extract that makes its presence felt on the sapid, nutty and penetrating finish. Given the skin maturity and inherent structure of the year, the Bollinger team elected to include only 4.5% of still red wine in the blend, a comparatively low percentage.

Expert Reviews

Decanter 95 Points | If it’s good enough for James Bond, it’s good enough for you. Bollinger Champagne has made a number of cameos in James Bond films over the year. This non-vintage Special Cuvée is an example of a classic Champagne done well. Notes of marzipan on the nose and the palate give toastiness and leesy notes, specifically sourdough. It’s classic for a reason and would only elevate any table it finds itself on.

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | A rich though youthful golden hue, the NV Champagne Special Cuvee Brut is classic and ripe with lush, rounded, and complex aromas of golden apricot, hazelnut, wet stone, and black cherry. Made with 45% of the wine coming from the 2019 vintage, with 55% reserve wine, it’s full-bodied yet elegant and light on its feet, with a ripe and luxurious feel and just a hint of warmth on the finish. The mousse is refined and rounded. Long on the palate, it's inviting now but will have plenty of life ahead of it if stored property. This exceptional cuvee with its distinctive personality continues to be one of the best entry wines to the range from this house and is a benchmark wine for them.

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Fine and seamless, with mouthwatering acidity well-meshed with a rich range of crème de cassis, poached apricot, gingerbread and almond extract flavors, plus accents of fleur de sel, Meyer lemon peel and star anise. Long and lively on the creamy finish. 

James Suckling 93 Points | Lovely density and a fine-bubble texture. Dried apple and apricot with hints of dried flowers. Medium to full body. with medium-rich fruit. Spice, zest and ginger character. Usually 10% in barrel. 60% pinot noir, 25% chardonnay and 15% pinot meunier. About 40% reserve wine kept in magnums. Always really well done. 

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | Like its rosé counterpart, the latest release of Bollinger's NV Brut Special Cuvée is showing especially well, bursting from the glass with aromas of honeyed apples, crisp stone fruit, buttery pastry, ripe lemons and fresh walnuts. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and vinous, with a deep core of beautifully ripe fruit, racy acids and a pillowy mousse, it's a charming, characterful wine that proves that Special Cuvée is firmly back where it belongs.

Winemaker Description 

A golden color, distinctive of black grape varieties. Very fine bubbles. On the nose, it has a beautiful aromatic complexity, ripe fruit, and spicy aromas, with hints of roasted apples, apple compote, and peaches. On the palate, there is a subtle combination of structure, length, and vivacity. The bubbles are like velvet. Flavors of pear, brioche and spicy aromas, notes of fresh walnut.

Pair with all fish, especially sushi and sashimi, shellfish such as shrimp, prawns, crayfish and grilled lobster, poultry and white meat, cashews, parmesan or prosciutto.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2015

Decanter 96 Points | This is world class with lovely floral, spicy, marmalade, barley sugar, apricot and crme brle aromatics. The palate brings lively acidity and layers of delightful fruity flavors. Incredibly long.

Winemaker Description 

The drought prompted a shorter harvest, which resulted in faster ripening fruit yielding berries with concentrated flavours and well balanced acidity. With the renovated cellar, we could make use of dedicated tanks intended for perfect maceration and fermentation of the Muscat.

Throughout the season we harvested in batches - from the riper berries that have great acidity to the raisins for sugar concentration.

Each batch is kept separate and treated differently. These batches make up the perfect ratio between sugar, alcohol and acidity which allows the wine to stop fermentation naturally and without intervention.

The wine was aged in a combination of 50 % newFrench oak, Hungarian oak and French Acacia. It was left for a period of 3 years in barrel on the gross lees before racking out and blending. It spent a further 6 months in tank before bottling.

Region Constantia, Western Cape.

Winemaker Description 

An intriguing bouquet of strawberry, neroli and almond greet the nose. The opening is subtle but quickly crescendos to a full mid palate, pushing towards a long and satisfying finish.

Structured and well rounded, flavors of ripe pomegranate and olive cumulate with juniper and sage, building in both nuance and intensity as the wine opens

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

Jasper Morris MW of Inside Burgundy writes 91-94 Points |  90% whole bunch vinification. Mid purple, with a nose which shows the whole bunch a lot by giving some crushed strawberry on top of the darker fruit of Nuits-St-Georges. The latter appears further back on the palate but the tannins remain refined. Good length. Drink from 2028-2034.

Allen Meadows of Burghound writes 90-93 Points | Here the unreadable nose is marked by firm reduction. More interesting are the beautifully textured, rich and vibrant medium-bodied flavors that possess an abundance of sappy dry extract on the lingering finish that isn't quite as complex but is very well-balanced. (Drink starting 2031).