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Rhett Beiletti
2007 Domaine Bertrand-Berge Cuvee Ancestrale (Fitou)
2007 Bertrand Berge 'Cuvee Ancestrale' 15.99
With an average vine age of 40 yrs, this Fitou wine, made from roughly equal parts Grenache, Syrah and Carignan is a stunning value. Intense and vigorous initially, the minerality and tannins take 45 minutes or so to integrate themselves into the ripe and sappy and yet remarkably straight-laced Burgundian styled framework. A very pure, seamless and elegant wine.
92 Points, Rhett Beiletti
Staff Selection, September 2010
2008 Tour de Monestier (Bergerac Sec, France)
2008 Tour de Monestier blanc 8.99
This is another wine we found while touring and tasting earlier this year. 55% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Semillon and 5% Muscadelle. From clay and limestone soils, TdM delivers some flesh on the palate and then cut on the finish. Ripe, clean, mineral and pert and displaying some pineapple, lemon and mineral characteristics, this is an outstanding candidate for refresher of the year.
88+ Points, Rhett Beiletti
Staff Selection, August 2010
2005 Chateau Chapelle Segur (Montagne Saint-Emilion, France)
2005 Chateau Chapelle Segur (Montagne St-Emilion) 17.99
For the last 2 years we have lit out toward Bordeaux in January to find value to deliver to you. It has been a very successful idea that I’m sure will continue, the bounty of this last outing so simply superlative. Chapelle Segur is the only wine we have bought on both trips, this being the second vintage. Finding a 2005 this good in the after market is insane, and that’s before mentioning the price! This wine really delivers the goods in a very traditional manner. Made from 70% Merlot, 20% Cab S and 10% Cab F, this wine shows a nervous energy, cut and delineation attributed to the limestone sites. The texture of the wine is supple but sinewy still, the black cherry and red plummy flavors are lifted by a mouthwatering acidity and fine tannin structure. This is a Bordeaux wine of old and is elegant and for the drinker who is ready to get back to basics and away from the modern. If this property would have sold the wine 3 years ago it would no doubt have been 30-40% more expensive. Good for us all!
91 Points, Rhett Beiletti
Staff Selection, July 2010
2007 Perrin & Fils Vacqueyras ‘Les Christins’ (Rhone Valley, France)
2007 Perrin & Fils Vacqueyras Les Christins $27.99
“An aristocratic style of Rhone wine, having that ‘sappy’ character of texture that is mentioned most often in association with Burgundy that I find (very) occasionally in Grenache based wines in the Rhone. This quality has to do with the middle swell of fruit and the bleeding of the flavor into the finish that provides great length and makes a wine seamless. While the flavor profile is definitively Rhone, dark berry fruits and shimmers of spice, the structure and style is what really makes me want to drink it again. Full-bodied but not big, the wine is gentle on the palate, being not at all oaky or aggressive in any way. The gentility makes it a wine to drink now easily, and its amplitude and balance, let’s call it grace, will keep it alive for years to come as well. An excellent wine.”
92 Points, Rhett Beiletti
Staff Selection, June 2010
2005 Luneau-Papin Muscadet Le L d’Or (Loire, France)
2005 Luneau-Papin Muscadet L D'or (Loire Valley, France) $19.99
“Le L d’Or is crackling, focused and intense and made to deliver an exciting glass of wine. People wanting wines of purity and no oak influence should be aware of wines like Muscadet. Crisp and fresh, L d’Or is perfect with the Florida fare of the spring and summer, straight from the sea. The qualities of the wine, its saline, lime and fresh white flower and mineral character make it perfect with any shellfish, mollusk or crustacean. A medium-bodied wine with driving flavors and excellent length, this wine will deliver satisfaction to the New Zealand SB, White Burgundy and Sancerre drinker alike.”
93+ Points, Rhett Beiletti
Staff Selection, May 2010
2005 Chateau de Carles (Bordeaux, France)
“Way back when, and I won’t bore you with stories, here anyway, about when I was a boy (maybe because I still am) we tasted the 2005 Bordeaux from barrel, it was the commune of Fronsac that towered above all outside of the Cru Classe domaines. Chateau De Carles is called “a model of concentration and elegance” in Bordeaux and Its Wines, the bible of Bordeaux originally published in 1850, and I agree completely. The wine is ripe, rich and restrained and shows a chocolate-y type darkness and deep dark fruits too and is dry finishing and resonant on the palate. It will be one of the best buys of 2010 when it is all over with.”
2005 Chateau de Carles – $17.99
91+ Points, Rhett Beiletti
Staff Selection, April 2010
2005 Chateau Haut-Mazeris (Bordeaux, France)
2005 Chateau Haut-Mazeris (Canon-Fronsac) - 29.99
“Merlot 65%, Cabernet Franc 15% and Cabernet Sauvignon 20%. From vineyards located in the highest point of Fronsac, Haut-Mazeris shows a lot of muscle and is a wine that will develop for many years to come. Dark chocolate and meaty essences are here within an etched and structured frame. A rigorous and polished wine and an excellent example of a classically styled wine.”
91 Points, Rhett Beiletti
Staff Selection, March 2010
2005 Chateau La Tour Martillac Blanc (Bordeaux)
Latour Martillac Blanc $39.99
“White Bordeaux wines of significance, mainly from the villages of Pessac-Leognan, are the most underappreciated of great wines in the world. This could have to do with their rarity, only about 20% of the production of Pessac is white wine; or their prices – they can be cost prohibitive too. Nevertheless, when I think of great wines, Pessac-Leognan is always there. La Tour Martillac, made of 60% Semillon and 40% Sauvignon Blanc exhibits an oaky and exotic exterior that leads to a Chardonnay-like texture and richness. The flavors of the wine are still true to the region, melon and citrus and minerals, also a lushness and plumpness attributed to Semillon, and the grip and intensity of Sauvignon Blanc. This is a very balanced, complex and compelling wine that will develop nicely for the next 10 years.”
93 Points, Rhett Beiletti
February 2010
2008 Mas Carlot Clairette de Bellegarde (France)
2008 Mas Carlot Clairette de Bellegarde ($9.99)
From the appellation of Clairette de Bellegarde, made of the Clairette vareital, an exhilarating wine showing freshness and fragrance too, prominently fresh-cut limes, full and fleshy pears, lemon zest, it has simply mouthwatering qualities. Mineral notes, ripe and resonant fruit with fresh and vibrant acids too. This is a complete wine! Incredibly low yields from 60 yr vines, and a very low production. The Best $10 white wine of 2009.
90 Points, Rhett Beiletti
January 2010
2005 Olga Raffault Chinon ‘Les Picasses’ (Loire Valley, France)
2005 Olga Raffault Chinon 'Les Picasses' ($17.99 or $16.19 by the case!)
“Les Picasses, coming from a specific site, is a straight-laced and very traditional and elegant style of Chinon. Old vines, around 50 years of age, contribute to deepness, giving a very dark cherry quality to the flavor. Limestone soils are very detectable too, the structure being very precise, minerality and fine tannins keep the wine driving forward on the palate. There is also a nice little fresh flavor towards the finish, something almost citrusy that is mouthwatering and rejuvenating too. An outstanding and very sophisticated wine.”
- 91 Points, Rhett Beiletti, Email: Rhett@b-21.com, Direct #: (727) 722-9104