Bob Sprentall
2007 Chateau Rigaud (Faugeres, France)
2007 Chateau Rigaud Faugeres ($11.99 for a limited time)
In the event you are a terroirist (one who is truly interested in where wines come from: how the soil and setting are expressed) this wine has much to offer. Great Priorat wines from Spain too come from slate soils (schist) and exhibit the same style of expression found here but through a different grape. In Priorat it is the old vine grenache expressing slate, here it is syrah expressing slate: that lick of wet stone YOU can taste. Geologically slate is usually found at elevations. The higher elevations add a brightness, vivacity and expressiveness too found here. This is true of higher elevation tempranillo in Spain for instance. The wines are more racy. The hints of smoke and peat and iodine should make it a single malt lovers wine balanced by Grenache flavors and textures. Now if you are not a terroirist (give it time) you will relate very well to this review: “The epitome of 2007s ability to combine lift and vivacity with ripe richness and sheer density, it represents a mind-boggling value that will in addition probably evolve interestingly in bottle for several years.” – 91-92 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. What an amazing value!!!!
91 Points, Bob Sprentall
Staff Selection, March 2010
2007 Olivier Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc Les Sétilles (Burgundy)
2007 Olivier Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc Les Sétilles - $17.99 or $16.19 by the case!
“Exceptional chardonnay without the drag of oak. A blend of wine from two villages in Burgundy, France which typically sell for 2 and three times this price. With the nerve typical of the wines from the village of Puligny-Montrachet blended with the fatter fleshier wine from the village of Meursault. Stunning Chardonnay value.”
90 Points, Bob Sprentall
February 2010
2007 Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills (Washington State)
2007 Columbia Crest Cabernet H3 Horse Heaven ($11.99)
Remarkable wine at this price, shockingly so. Cabernet Sauvignon with some Merlot and Cabernet Franc for an impressive value from the soon to be famous Horse Heaven Hills region in Washington State. Nothing I have tasted touches this value with the exception of the Rigaud Faugeres 2007 reviewed by Robert Parker at 91-92 points (also remarkable at 11.99). Park the Hummer and ride a horse!!! Amazingly Solid.
90 Points, Bob Sprentall
January 2010
1996 St. Chamant Brut Cuvee de Chardonnay (Champagne, France)
1996 Saint Chamant Brut Champagne ($69.99 - Buy 2 for $35 each in December 2009 only!)
The Chardonnay fruit from the Champagne (Grand Cru) village of Chouilly reaches a peak around 10-12 years in an excellent vintage such as 1996. I confess this 1996 was at its best in 2008 when I first tasted it; that same day the excellent 1976 was shared by the St. Chamant family followed by a magnum of 1959! No need to worry about the 1996. We do offer at half price while our stock lasts…what to expect…gorgeous mature Chardonnay, elegance and refinement: something Coco would drink at 60.
95 Points, Bob Sprentall, Email: Bob@b-21.com