Pre Arrival Offer May 2024

OFFER OPENS 9 MAY 2024
OFFER CLOSES 23 MAY 2024
ESTIMATED DELIVERY DATE EARLY AUGUST 2024
ORDER ONLINE HERE

Producers included in this offer:

• Domaine Sylvain Langoureau, Saint Aubin
• Domaine Bart, Marsannay
• Mas de Daumas Gassac, Languedoc

Excitement overload. Firstly, there's the return of a classic, Domaine Bart with their 2020 release and secondly, the addition of not one but two new favourite prodcuers, Domaine Sylvain Langoureau of Saint Aubin and 'Chateau Lafite of the south' being Mas de Daumas Gassac of The Languedoc. For those who haven't looked at a Domaine Bart recently will agree they are in a brilliant spot, even more so when you see what it cost in comparison to other Red Burgundy of similar enjoyment. Mas de Daumas Gassac is known the world over as a Lafite equal but at $139 pre arrival and thus should be on everybody's to-try list. We only have 60 bottles of the red, 36 of the Blanc and 120 of the delish Frizante Rose, first in best dressed for this cult favourite. And next; Silence in the hall, drum roll and enter noting all you White Burgundy lovers, Domaine Sylvain Langoureau of Saint Aubin. It is a bit of an anomaly to come across producers that have regionality, benchmark reviews, are stylistically exactly what I love and priced like they still run their internet from a modem... I had read about the Langoureau wines but I absolutely was not ready for how sharp their pricing is. Funnily enough they actually apologised as these prices are a 25% increase on their 2021 release!!!!! Please support these wines so I can confidently tell other producers they need to take a leaf out of the DSL (Domaine Sylvain Langoureau) play book. Oh, and the reviews from Burghound mix with the best of Meursault, Puligny and Chassagne.

As I am currently in Melbourne I will give more detail on the producers and their wines over the next week.

Any questions at all, please get in touch!

Cheers and all the best!

Jono Hersey

 

Domaine Sylvain Langoureau, Saint Aubin

As touched on in the brief and overtly apparent below, these are wines of absolute value. While many of the other producers in Saint Aubin have cottoned on to the fact that people adore the style of mineral Chardonnay that comes from the village, Domaine Sylvain Langoureau were embarrassed to tell me that the price of their wines had increased by 25% percent from 21 to 22. While they didn’t even have enough wine for their current clients, Nathalie and I hit it off the first time we met and promised at least a few cuvees. Fingers crossed in future years we get more cuvees from their stable, but until then I am seriously happy to present these to you.

Just quickly, these are ultra mineral and age worthy but absolutely delicious as they stand today. Buy to drink now and cellar.

 Although the 2022 tasting notes from Burghound have not been released I believe the snapshot of the below reviews paints a picture of the quality of the wines.

Due to Burghounds 2022 reviews not being released I have provided his 2020 and 2021 reviews of each wine below.

2022 Domaine Sylvain Langoureau Bourgogne Aligote RRP $61 | Pre Arrival $39

 A fairly ripe nose with a apple, pear focus. A little boiled lemon drop, white florals and chalk.

The palate is fresh with lovely grip. Not necessarily straight or angular but with long length.

-Jono Hersey, FWC

 

2022 Domaine Sylvain Langoureau Saint Aubin RRP $109 | Pre Arrival $69

More detailed, more fruit, more dried extract, crushed white florals. Lemon and grapefruit pith with nicely poised tension.

The palate is transparent and showing its very finely detailed. Fine grained phenolics, mineral. Great energy.

-Jono Hersey, FWC 

2021:

Outstanding. A very pretty and attractively fresh nose is comprised by notes of citrus rind, mineral reduction, white flowers and a hint of pear. There is both lovely detail and intensity to the stony middleweight flavors that possess good drive and a lovely salinity on the balanced and clean finale. I like the texture and while this could use better depth, a few years of keeping should help to address that. Worth a look as well.

89 points Allen Meadows, The Burghound

2020:

A cooler combination is comprised by notes of citrus, floral and freshly sliced fennel. The sleek and intense middle weight flavors are attractively textured despite not especially dense while exuding a subtle minerality on the dry and citrusy finish that offers acceptable depth and persistence.

87 points Allen Meadows, The Burghound.

 

2022 Domaine Sylvain Langoureau Saint Aubin 1er Cru Champlot RRP $142 | Pre Arrival $89

More of a poached pear, apple and boiled sweets profile. A little more muted and restrained that begins to unfurl in the glass and begins to develop detailed citrus oils of clementine and orange. 

The palate, while larger in scale, quite concentrated and is giving more immediacy than the other Saint Aubin's also has a dominant line of tight grained, chalk like minerality. 

-Jono Hersey, FWC

2020:

Outstanding.  A markedly more floral nose freely offers cool and airy aromas of various white orchard fruit, lemon-lime and a hint of herbal tea. The plump, round and fleshy medium-bodied flavors possess very good vibrancy on the lightly stony finish which is both more complex and longer. Lovely.

91 points Allen Meadows, The Burghound

2021:

Here too the nose is quite firmly reduced. More interesting are the more concentrated, succulent and supple flavors that flash excellent punch that carries over to the dusty, chiseled and bone-dry finish. This is decidedly compact at present and I would advise holding this for at least 5 years first so it can unwind and hopefully add depth.

90 points Allen Meadows, The Burghound

2022 Domaine Sylvain Langoureau Saint Aubin 1er Cru sur Gamay RRP $142 | Pre Arrival $89

More tension, more struck match, lemon pith, lime juice, grapefruit pith. With time in the glass a fuller array of citrus oil characters begin to lift from the glass.

The palate mutes for around 6 seconds before slowly releasing a lovely drive of fruit and very tight chalk like minerality. Although light on its feet there is tremendous concentration that is not yet showing its full potential. Long and again showing an array of citrus oils.

-Jono Hersey, FWC

 

2020:

Outstanding. Here the nose is sufficiently reduced that only citrus hints are discernible. More interesting are the nicely vibrant and exceptionally rich flavors that are also opulent and generously proportioned while displaying focused power on the solidly complex and sneaky long finish. This succulent effort could easily be enjoyed young though be sure to give it some air first if you're going to do that.

91 points Allen Meadows, The Burghound

 

 

Domaine Bart, Marsannay

These wines would be our biggest, quickest Red Burgundy sellers if there weren’t so many cuvees, it seems to confuse people (understandably). I mean who in their right mind is obsessive enough to want to understand the nuances of ten Marsannay bottlings…! My tip here? You can approach this line up in two ways; Firstly, just enjoy them, go lucky dip on your selection and realise that these wines are cheaper than many Bourgogne Rouge from the Cotes de Nuits. Secondly, is to take it upon yourself to enjoy them all, jot down on a note pad the wines that you like or don’t like as much. Have a Burgundy map near by so you can get a lay of the land. You can then with confidence, state at your next Marsannay tasting that you enjoy Es Chezot far more than the more popular Longeroies!

A quick note on the style of these wines. It is an old school domaine however Pierre Bart has worked/trained in New Zealand and does seem to shine a little extra fruit in his wines because of this. It doesn’t stand out like a sore thumb, it just compliments Marsannay’s already fruity nature.

 

2021 Domaine Bart Bourgogne Aligote RRP $55 | Pre Arrival $33

 80 year old vines.

2020 Domaine Bart Bourgogne Rouge RRP $69 | Pre Arrival $43

Outstanding. Deep ruby color. The earthy and overtly sauvage dark berry fruit aromas give way to solidly concentrated flavors that possess an attractive texture that contrasts with the moderately firm and rustic finale. This is potentially a very good and a wine that should reward a few years of cellaring.

86-89 points Allen Meadows, The Burghound

2020 Domaine Bart Marsannay Rouge RRP $86 | Pre Arrival $53

Plum, kirsch cherry, griotte. Fruit dominate but with an ethereal lifted complexity with beautiful underlying depth.

The palate is confected with glazed cherry, ripe plum, plum liqueur and all with brilliant freshness. Fine, ripe tannins wrap the tense core.

-Jono Hersey, FWC

A brooding nose reflects hints of fresh dark cherry, plum and plenty of earth influence. By contrast, there is good freshness and verve to the rich and stony middle weight flavors that conclude in an equally rustic finish that is shaped by bright acidity.

86-89 points Allen Meadows, The Burghound

2020 Domaine Bart Marsannay Les Finottes RRP $95 | Pre Arrival $59

Ripens early, lots of millerandage. A monopole of Domaine Bart since 2007 when the last piece of vineyard was secured. The vines were planted in 1926 and 1952, on sandy alluvial soil that produce a fruit forward style of Marsannay. 100% destemmed, 10% new wood (1/3 in tank, 1/3 in barrel and 1/3 in demi muids).

Cherry liqueur, cassis, ripe blackberry, slight bird pecked cherry. 

The plate is round in size with ripe tannins. Slight confected character but not without detail and depth.

-Jono Hersey, FWC

Finottes is a monopole of the domaine but up to and including 2018, it has not been indicated as such on the label; however, commencing with 2019, it is now declared as a monopole.

This is aromatically similar to the straight Marsannay if perhaps with just a touch more elegance. There is a lovely sense of underlying tension to the more finely detailed and textured flavors that exude more evident minerality on the youthfully austere finish.

87-90 points Allen Meadows, The Burghound

2020 Domaine Bart Marsannay Les Ouzelay RRP $102 | Pre Arrival $62

Thirty year old vines that are a little further down the slope from Les Longeroies and Les Finottes. 100% destemmed and 15% new wood.

2020 Domaine Bart Marsannay Les Longeroies RRP $112 | Pre Arrival $69

Les Longeroies vineyard is in the top tier of Marsannay, to be elevated to premier cru status. The vineyards itself can be divided into an upper and lower section; Dessus des Longeroies and Bas des Longeroies respectively. The upper is made up of limestone slabs and the lower is comprised of thick reddish marl. Domaine Bart has one third situated in the upper portion and two thirds in the lower portion. 30% new wood and 15% whole bunch.

Outstanding. Cool, pure and restrained aromas include those of poached plum, black raspberry and pungent earth. There is again solid concentration to the well-detailed and appealingly textured medium-bodied flavors that possess a sleek muscularity on the very well-balanced finish that also flashes a touch of youthful austerity.

90-92 points Allen Meadows, The Burghound

2020 Domaine Bart Marsannay En la Montagne RRP $122 | Pre Arrival $75

Les Montagne is situated high on the slope above Les Longeroies, on premeaux rock within soil. Some shade from the forest balances the southerly aspect that captures a lot of warmth during the growing season. 25% whole bunch.

Finer with more lift. Far more floral with lavender, rose and violets lifting from the glass.

The palate is markedly more energetic with a red fruit focus laced with pretty florals. A little more structure. Long.

-Jono Hersey, FWC

There is sufficient reduction to push the underlying fruit to the background. Otherwise, there is very good intensity though not the same density or fleshiness to the middle weight flavors that terminate in a linear, austere and chiseled finale. This is finer though it needs to add weight with a few years of bottle age.

89-91 points Allen Meadows, The Burghound

2020 Domaine Bart Marsannay Les Grands Vignes RRP $119 | Pre Arrival $73

The domaine is one of two owners. A very well-situated site at the southern end of Marsannay. Naturally low yielding. 30% whole bunch and 25% new wood.

Exuberantly fresh aromas are comprised by notes of layered black cherry, raspberry and floral top notes. The sleek, delicious and appealingly vibrant medium weight flavors exude evident minerality on the delicious, balanced and moderately structured finale.

89-92 points The Burghound

2020 Domaine Bart Marsannay Es Chezots RRP $122 | Pre Arrival $75

A cooler terroir that is further up in the upper Combe of Marsannay; The cooling winds from the Hautes Cotes blow down and delay ripening. This is the last parcel to be picked! Sometimes by ten days. The cooling winds also minimise rot. The soil is shallow with many small marine fossils (Ostrea acuminate) and the wine is aged in demi muids to preserve fruit and minerality.

Same brooding nature but less liqueur characters. Nuance of mountain herbs, thyme and rosemary lifts from the glass with air.

The palate is more energetic with more discretion. The tannins are slightly more present with a granular nature. Nice length with pleasant, detailed fruit. Long.

-Jono Hersey, FWC

2020 Domaine Bart Marsannay Les Saint Jacques RRP $112 | Pre Arrival $69

High on the hill above the village.

There is just enough reduction to blur the nuance of the underlying fruit. The cool, intense and sleek medium-bodied flavors that flash an abundance of minerality on the lingering if somewhat one-dimensional finish. This is certainly very pretty but it needs to add depth.

88-91 points Allen Meadows, The Burghound

2020 Domaine Bart Marsannay Clos du Roy RRP $154 | Pre Arrival $95

A steep, east facing vineyard to the north of the village. Hard limestone covered in lightish red soil. Very good real estate for Marsannay.

Outstanding, top value. Fresh and ripe aromas of purple fruit, especially plum, are nuanced with hints of spice, violet and discreet earth wisps. There is once again excellent vibrancy to the beautifully detailed and stony medium weight flavors that exhibit excellent length on the dusty, moderately austere and firm finish. This will require at least some patience as it's definitely compact.

90-93 points Allen Meadows, The Burghound

2020 Domaine Bart Marsannay Les Champs-Salomon RRP $154 | Pre Arrival $95

Shows qualities of its southern neighbour Gevrey Chambertin: power, elegance and longevity. Mid slope with soils of calcaire a entroques (limestone).

Encompassing a combination of the previous cuvees with nuances of detailed florals and underlying, brooding bird pecked and slightly confected red and black fruit.

On the palate there is a slow release of power that builds and builds with time in the mouth. Long and unctuous yet muted. Will require time to release further nuances.

-Jono Hersey, FWC

Outstanding, top value. Moderate reduction is enough to fully mask the fruit at present. On the palate there is both good freshness and mid-palate density to the middle weight flavors that exhibit fine power and muscle, all wrapped in a serious, youthfully austere and bitter pit fruit-inflected finale. At least some patience advised.

90-93 points Allen Meadows, The Burghound

2020 Domaine Bart Santenay en Bievau RRP $102 | Pre Arrival $62

Santenay produce rustic reds that are similar to that of Chassagne Montrachet reds. Domaine Bart own 1.2 hectares of En Bievau with an average vine age of 65 years. It’s a south east facing aspect with a gentle slope and clay limestone mixed with shale, situated above 1er Cru La Maladiere. 100% destemming, cold maceration, slow natural fermentation and gentle pressing, produces a finer wine than the region usually allows.

2020 Domaine Bart Fixin RRP $144 | Pre Arrival $88

Fixin as a village sits further south below Marsannay and shares many similarities with its neighbour to the south, Gevrey-Chambertin. The wines are ‘sauvage’ with considerable size and tannins. Bart’s Fixin is made up of two parcels; Le Clos and Champenbots.

Mostly from Le Clos with a small amount of Champs Pennebaut.

A brooding but attractively bright if cool nose features notes of plum, earth and a whiff of underbrush. There is fine richness with good minerality to the vibrant and delicious flavors that conclude in a dusty, mildly austere and slightly rustic finale. Here too at least some patience advised as this is presently fairly compact.

87-89 points Allen Meadows, The Burghound

2020 Domaine Bart Fixin 1er Cru Les Hervelets RRP $222 | Pre Arrival $137

Outstanding, top value. A more elegant and airier nose freely offers up its aromas of both red and dark cherry, spice and plenty of floral influence. There is again very good verve and detail to the more mineral-driven flavors that are also well-balanced if youthfully austere on the lingering finale. Lovely stuff that should drink reasonably well after only 3 to 5 years.

90-93 points - Allen Meadows, The Burghound

 

2020 Domaine Bart Bonnes Mares Grand Cru RRP $879 | Pre Arrival $540

Bonnes Mares is an extremely sought after grand cru. It sits at the belly of slope in Chambolle Musigny (1.5 hectares in Morey St Denis). The incline is gentle and can be divided into two parts: the upper section with Terres Blanches and the lower with Terres Rouges. Bonnes Mares produces wines with depth and colour. The nose is complex, potent, opulent and substantial. The palate however can show mineral austerity when young. This austerity turns to suavity and refined elegance with age.

In 1985 when Domaine Clair-Dau was divided between family, Domaine Bart inherited a huge one hectare plot within Bonnes Mares. Their parcel lies alongside Domaine de Vogues’ parcel. At less than one third of Vogues price, this could be the best value Bonnes Mares available. Half of Bart’s vines were planted in 1926/1927 and have a lot of millerandage. Both of these factors result in an incredibly magical wine. Fourteen barrels are made.

Subdued, muted with underlying anxious power before revealing a presence of extreme florals.

The palate, as above is obvious of its absolute concentration and complexity yet mutes for at least 20 seconds before giving a glimpse of its potential. Will require time!

-Jono Hersey, FWC

Once again, the somewhat reticent nose is cool, airy and ripe with its array of black raspberry, poached plum and pretty spice wisps. The delicious medium-bodied flavors also possess a beguiling texture with more size, weight and power while culminating in a palate coating, youthfully austere and impressively long finish. As would be expected, this is very backward and a wine that is going to require extended patience if you wish to see it at its peak.

92-94 points Allen Meadows, The Burghound

30% whole bunch and one third new wood as accurately represented in this sample taken from unracked barrels. Deep rich saturated purple. The bouquet has a weight of fruit but is still quite backward. The wood shows a bit at the moment, being sampled prior to racking, but this is smoothly sensual, full of the joys of deep red fruit, with some elegance here, in white soil territory. Lovely long pure aftertaste.

94-97 points Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy

2020 Domaine Bart Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru RRP $999 | Pre Arrival $620

Chambertin Clos de Beze is one of Burgundy’s finest vineyards. The king of wines and the wine of kings! Clos de Beze has an easterly slope that is steeper than Chambertin, ensuring perfect drainage and mid slope positioning. The upper portion has white marly soil while the lower is brown and chalky. Both are rich in mineral salts and calcareous debris. Chambertin Clos de Beze produces wines with balance between finesse and power, however the shape of the wine is absolutely round. 0.41 hectares from the Clair Dau divide in 1985. Originally planted in 1904 with considerable replanting since, it has an incredibly high vine density of 14,000 vines per hectare. 

Slight woodframe with a classic Chambertin 'sauvage'. Red fruit lift, wet rocks, moss, forest floor, plum, rhubarb and bramble.

The palate is unctuous, mouth filling, powerful and more immediate than the Bonnes Mares. Spice, scale and structure.

-Jono Hersey, FWC

Two new barrels in five, as yet unracked, around 40% whole bunch. Very dark purple colour, the fruit is less fresh here, slightly cooked cherry on the nose, a little better on the palate though with a slight volatile behind. This is hard to gauge but certainly at this stage the Bonnes Mares looks much the better bet. If this cleans up before bottling, then the impressive weight of fruit should merit a higher rating.

93-96 Points Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy

 

 

Mas de Daumas Gassac, Languedoc

It is no secret that most of our portfolio revolves around Champagne, Chablis and Burgundy but every now and then something pops up that warrants a drive far far away from these usual haunts. Mas de Daumas Gassac is one such example. I was incredibly surprised when the incredibly sought after ‘Lafite of the South’ got in touch with me. Yes, the complete opposite way around than usual. Apparently they had heard great things, I went to call bull$%^t but decided to bite my tongue, which is a good thing indeed.

 

2022 Mas de Daumas Gassac IGP Guilheim le Desert Rouge RRP $212 | Pre Arrival $139

 A little more red berry focused compared to previous years with an underlying black currant leaf and mountains herbs edge. There is a lovely line of limestone tension that holds all the wonderful fruit in check.

The palate is inward, mineral akin to sucking on a piece of limestone. The fruit is quite primary but fresh with black currant and black cherry which will undoubtedly build in complexity with time in the bottle. Quite long.

-Jono Hersey, FWC

 

2022 Mas de Daumas Gassac IGP Guilheim le Desert Blanc RRP $212 | Pre Arrival $139

 A nose with an array of characters and flavour profiles but shows quite clearly a finely cut nose showing all its bones and a distinct limestone minerality. Tense.

The palate, as the nose leads on has wonderful mineral tension but with beautiful flesh and cushioning. Long.

-Jono Hersey, FWC

 

2022 Mas de Daumas Gassac Rose Frizant Vin mousseux sans IGP RRP $79 | Pre Arrival $55

All mountain herbs, unripe strawberry and a little red currant. While not sweet per se there is a candied deliciousness that just briefly shows on each approach.

The palate is dry with a beautiful mousse. Salty and moreish and quite light on its feet.

-Jono Hersey, FWC 

 

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