We are excited to begin a new year of fantastic releases, where our CELLAR Club members get priority access to excellent wines that deliver value at every price point. This past year, we saw the addition of Lahat Wines, a perennial star of the Israeli boutique wine scene. We also added a fantastic series of single vineyard Burgundy Pinot Noirs from Domaine J-P Marchand in France, an estate that has been producing iconic wines from this region since 1813. This coming year promises to be just as exciting, with more fascinating wines that will expand your palate and deepen your wine appreciation, no matter your level of proficiency. And now for this quarter’s wines, we are excited to share with you the 2016 Clos Lavaud, and 2015 Cuvee Abel.
This quarter, we have finally moved into the benchmark vintages of Bordeaux from the Domaine Roses Camille family of wines. This heirloom estate is notorious for late releases of their wines – the current release of the flagship blend is 2014 – and these cuvees are no exception. We are pleased to enter the era of the benchmark 2015 and 2016 vintages from Bordeaux’s Right Bank. These are complementary vintages; both have the structure and complexity to age, and both are approachable in their own way. However, it’s a matter of personal taste as to which vintage your palate aligns with. This is the allure of wine tasting; no one can decide these preferences except you.
Following the success of the 2015 Clos Lavaud, we are thrilled to release the 2016 edition. This bespoke wine is produced from a small vineyard that backs up to the winemaker’s family estate in Lalande de Pomerol, about a mile from the Roses Camille vineyard. This vineyard is unique as it has some of the rockiest soil I have seen in the area, and soil composition is one of the contributing factors to flavor and structure in wine. This year’s release also expresses the inviting dusty tannins that I have found to be unique to this vineyard. Limited to a production of just 150 cases, this micro cuvee is a joy reserved for the select few.
The 2015 Marquisat de Binet “Cuvee Abel” finally lets us experience this vineyard from a warmer, more balanced vintage. Following the age worthy releases from 2012 and 2014, the 2015 is denser and concentrated, with great length and elegance. As a reminder, this Château sits on a hilltop in the Bordeaux region of Montagne St. Emilion, with 360 degree views of Bordeaux’s “Right Bank.” The most atypical and exciting part of this wine is that it is made without any oak contact whatsoever. The resulting power and flavor is purely the result of the vineyards’s fruit, with a winemaking style that lets the natural quality shine through.
Thank you for your continued loyalty to the CELLAR Wine Club. We are thrilled to share these wines with you, which will drink well for the upcoming holidays and beyond. Please continue to monitor our communications and get ready for an exciting year of top wines from benchmark regions around the world.
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