30% Off Classic Napa Chard – WE92 2006 Franciscan ‘Cuvee Sauvage’
“An authoritative, distinguished Chard, from a producer with a good track record. . .”
- Steve Heimoff, The Wine Enthusiast
2006 Franciscan Chardonnay ‘Cuvée Sauvage’ 750ml – SALE $24.99 (Reg. $35.99)
A winter white that walks on the wild (yeast) side! We just tasted the soul-warming Franciscan ‘Cuvée Sauvage’ Chardonnay yesterday and knew that with cold weather upon us, it would be just the robust kind of white wine our customers are looking for right now. And at more than 30% off, it’s just the right price!
Here’s a full-bodied Carneros chardonnay that offers a veritable cornucopia of aromas and flavors, all of which add up to a rich and vibrant white to pair with hearty winter meals. Our wine team all agreed that the 2006 Cuvée Sauvage Chard offers a lot of bank for the buck!
Although much more widespread in California winemaking today, wild-yeast fermentation was unheard of before Franciscan revived the practice, producing Napa Valley’s first wild-yeast chardonnay in 1987. Although it can be risky, fermenting using only native yeasts that exist in the winery and vineyard adds layers of flavor and dimensions of texture that many winemakers and wine connoisseurs find extremely desirable.
This classic and delicious expression of California chardonnay normally retails for $35 or more. At our low price, you can grab a case or two and try with a variety of dishes from cheese fondue to clam chowder to butternut squash risotto. Enjoy!
In Stock – Ready To Ship
USA – CALIFORNIA – CARNEROS, NAPA VALLEY
2006 Franciscan Chardonnay ‘Cuvée Sauvage’ 750ml – SALE $24.99 (Reg. $35.99)
The Wine Enthusiast, Dec 2008, 92 points: “An authoritative, distinguished Chard, from a producer with a good track record at this bottling. It’s ripe and immediately appealing, in the California style, but despite 100% new oak, it doesn’t taste oaky, and the citrus and tropical fruit flavors are balanced and complex with wild herb and mineral notes. Should gain in interest over the next six years. – S.H. (12/15/2008).”
JJ Buckley, Dec 2009: “Medium, straw yellow. Enticing aromas of lemon curd, ginger, and stone fruit with lightly toasted brioche. Full-bodied and viscous on the palate, it zips up with some oak and nice acidity on the finish. A great example of rich, but balanced California chardonnay.” -Paige Granback
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Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 94 points: “The blockbuster 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve Sixtine (55% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 15% Mourvedre from 50- to 105-year-old vines) boasts an inky/purple color as well as a sensational perfume of camphor, graphite, black currants, black cherries, licorice, and smoke. Built like a young Bordeaux with its tannic structure, this full-bodied, intensely flavored wine reveals a meaty character in the mouth. As with most vintages since 1998, the 2007 requires cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2028+.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 94 points: “The fact that there are nearly 6,500 cases of the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape, a great sleeper of the vintage, should ensure that many consumers will have the chance to taste this extraordinary effort. It is a blend of 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and the rest Mourvedre, Cinsault, Muscardin, and Vaccarase, all from 70-year-old vines, aged in tank (the Grenache) and small barrels and demi-muids. Its dense plum/ruby/purple color is followed by a rich, sumptuous bouquet of crushed dried flowers, sweet black cherry and blackberry fruit, a voluptuous mouthfeel, broad, deep, concentrated flavors, and unbelievable purity, depth, richness, freshness, and vibrancy (a hallmark of this special vintage). Accessible and palate saturating, but never heavy or overbearing, this amazing wine should drink well for 15 or more years.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 95+ points: “The prodigious 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Quartz (85% Grenache aged totally in foudres and the rest Syrah, which is aged in small barrels) has terrific floral, raspberry, and black cherry notes intermixed with a striking minerality and precision. A Musigny grand cru Burgundian style of wine, with power and elegance, a thoroughly compelling flavor profile, and a rich, intense finish, the tannins are sweet and the well-integrated acidity gives uplift to the wine. Stunningly proportioned yet never heavy, this is a sensational wine that should only get better over the next few years and last for 15 or more.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 97 points: “The 2007 Le Clos du Caillou Reserve is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, and 20% Syrah, with the Grenache aged in concrete tanks and the other components aged in both demi-muids and small barrels. This wine will probably not be as long-lived as the utterly perfect 2001, but it is a wine of considerable substance, richness, and appeal. Dense purple to the rim, this is an ethereal beauty of purity and substantial power, allied together in a wine offering up notes of licorice, incense, acacia flowers, black raspberry and black currant notes. It is full-bodied, deep, and for this particular cuvee, surprisingly accessible due to the sweetness of the tannins and the high levels of glycerin and rich fruit. This wine is irresistible already, although it will certainly develop more nuances aromatically over the next 4-5 years and evolve for at least two decades.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 90 points: “The dense ruby/purple 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape (90% Grenache and 10% Syrah) is very sexy and rich, with a beautiful nose of blueberry, blackberry, charcoal, and tapenade. Fabulously concentrated, with silky tannins and a layered, rich mouthfeel, this stunning effort is already irresistible, and should drink well for a decade or more.”
Wine Spectator, Sep 2009, 95 points: “Very plump and ripe, with black cherry, plum and blackberry fruit flavors that verge on jammy, before fresh spice, star anise and floral notes chime in to give added definition and length. Flaunts the showy side of the vintage. Grenache and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2025. 500 cases made”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 93 points: “The deeply-colored 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape is a blend of 55% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 15% Mourvedre aged 80% in tank and 20% in small barrels. The 2007 is the finest traditional Chateauneuf since the glorious 1967. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by a sensational perfume of kirsch, cassis liqueur, plums, licorice, roasted herbs, and meat juices. Seriously endowed, full-bodied, broad, savory, and layered, this is a huge, rich, massive wine that will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring, and last for two decades or more. A sleeper of the vintage, it is one of the region’s best bargains if measuring dollars per points.”
Wine Spectator, Oct 2009, 95 points: “Ripe, with the lush crème de cassis and crushed plum fruit of the vintage, showing excellent focus and drive, with racy acidity and taut, licorice-tinged structure. Turns flashy and exotic on the finish, with mulled blueberry, incense and fruitcake notes that are laid over impressive, graphite-filled grip. Best from 2010 through 2030. 1,665 cases made.”
Wine Advocate, Jun 2009, 92 points: “The outstanding 2007 Vacqueyras Grande Garrigue offers black currant and black cherry fruit interwoven with notions of spice box, licorice, earth, and Provencal herbs. Big, full-bodied, and mouth-staining, it is ideal for drinking now and over the next 7-8 years.One of the finest properties in Chateauneuf du Pape, Grand Veneur’s estate wines have been performing at a brilliant level, and their negociant line, bottled under the name Alain Jaume, is also impressive.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 96 points: “The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Origines (50% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, and 20% Syrah aged in small new oak barrels) is somewhat of an anomaly with such an amount of new oak, but it never seems to show given the wine-s concentration and richness. This may be the estate-s finest example of this cuvee, which generally represents 1,200-1,500 cases, all from their holdings in the northern sector of the appellation. A saturated purple color is accompanied by aromas of smoke, camphor, creme de cassis, licorice, and blueberries, amazing concentration, a full-bodied texture, and a stunningly long finish. The tannins are present, but silky, and the vintage-s freshness and vibrant fruit are evident. Powerful and loaded with substance, but at the same time endearingly elegant and ethereal, it will benefit from another 2-3 years of bottle age, and should drink well for 15+.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 91 points: “The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape (70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre from 65-year-old vines) is an exceptionally strong effort. Aged in tank (80%) and small oak barrels (20%), it is a dense, full-bodied wine revealing an inky/purple color along with notes of graphite, blackberries, and cassis. With a sumptuous, layered, full-bodied texture, sweet, velvety tannins, and zesty freshness as well as acidity, it should drink well for 12-14 years.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 96 points: “The blockbuster 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale (90% Grenache and 20% other authorized varietals) comes from a vineyard planted in 1902. Aged 80% in tank and 20% in small wood barrels, it may be the finest wine I have yet tasted from Raymond Usseglio. This exquisite offering is Burgundian-like in its floral minerality mixed with dense kirsch liqueur and garrigue notes. Full-bodied, sensationally rich, and large-scaled as well as fresh, vibrant, and precise, this sensational effort can be drunk now or cellared for 15-20 years.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 95 points: “The brilliant 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Prestige (60% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, and the balance almost every other authorized red grape of the appellation) is produced from parcels that average 90 years of age or older. It reveals the essence of Provence in its dense plum/purple color and powerful aromatics of sweet creme de cassis, black cherries, licorice, lavender, pepper, and incense. The wine possesses terrific depth, a blockbuster, opulent, multilayered texture, and a finish that lasts nearly 50 seconds. This sensational Chateauneuf du Pape should drink well for 15-20 years.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 90 points: “A blend of 80% Grenache and the rest Syrah and Cinsault from 50-year-old vines, the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Olivets is a beautiful sleeper of the vintage. This sexy, full-bodied wine possesses a dark plum/purple color, abundant aromas of pepper, lavender, forest floor, and roast beef, a lush, layered style, and 10-12 years of drinkability.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 91 points: “More minerality, structure, and density are present in the 2007 Gigondas Petit Montmirail Cuvee Fauquet. This stunning Gigondas is filled with pure blueberry and blackberry fruit intertwined with notes of white flowers, incense, and crushed rock. Full-bodied, dense, and concentrated, it will benefit from another 1-2 years of bottle age, and should drink well for 10-12 years.This impressive portfolio comes from one of the southern Rhone’s over-achieving estates, Domaine La Fourmone. The 2007s all display the vintage’s extravagantly rich fruit, full-bodied power, and excellent purity allied with freshness, from the relatively cool growing season.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 93 points: “The 2007 Lirac Clos de Sixte is composed of 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah, and 15% Mourvedre. Abundant licorice, graphite, black cherry, and blackberry characteristics are offered in a full-bodied, deep, fleshy style. Liracs generally do not age as long as Chateauneuf du Papes, but this effort is capable of lasting 5-7 years where well-stored as it is a big, impressively endowed wine.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 93 points: “The superb 2007s include a sleeper of the vintage, the reasonably priced 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape. Composed of 90% Grenache and equal parts Syrah and Mourvedre from 60-year-old vines, and aged primarily in tank with a small amount kept in 600-liter demi-muids, it exhibits a deep ruby/purple color as well as sweet, candied berry aromas intermixed with hints of boysenberries, black raspberries, kirsch, and lavender. Opulent, luscious, full-bodied, pure, and impressively built with soft tannins and good acids, it should drink well for 12-15 years.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 96 points: “A blockbuster effort displaying lavish richness as well as extraordinary finesse, elegance, and freshness, the dark ruby/purple-tinged 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Petits Pieds d’Armand was fashioned from ancient vines planted in 1899 in the famed sector known as La Crau. Aged in tank and a few demi-muids, it exhibits sumptuous aromas of kirsch liqueur, spring flowers, licorice, the seaweed wrapper used in sushi restaurants called Nori, and hints of pepper and spice. Revealing enormous richness, purity, finesse, elegance, and impeccable balance, this stunning wine is one of the vintage’s most compelling examples of ancient vine Grenache made in an unmanipulated style with no make-up. It can be drunk now or cellared for two decades.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2008, 91 points: “The blockbuster 2007 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Terre d’Argile, which comes from red clay soils, is a blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Mourvedre. A deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by aromas of black raspberries, blueberries, freshly grilled mushrooms, truffles, camphor, and spice. Full-bodied, deep, silky, and layered, it is an incredible example of a Cotes du Rhone-Villages.”
Wine Spectator, Jul 2009, 91 points: “Very pure, with superracy red cherry, raspberry and violet notes that stretch out through the lengthy, graphite-filled finish. There’s lovely, integrated acidity. Delicious. Drink now through 2011. 5,000 cases made. –JM”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 95 points: “The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee La Cote Ronde (a blend of equal parts Grenache and Syrah from 60-year-old vines, with the Syrah enjoying malolactic fermentation in barrel and aging in new oak) possesses smoky, roasted herb, seaweed wrapper, licorice, cassis, and black cherry characteristics. The oak component is beautifully integrated, and the wine has superb concentration, a full-bodied style, and a true Chateauneuf du Pape personality in spite of the new oak. It should drink well for 15+ years.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 96 points: “Beaucastel’s 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape has turned out even better out of bottle than I predicted. An inky/ruby/purple color is followed by a glorious nose of blue and black fruits, truffles, pen ink, licorice, and meat juices as well as glorious levels of acidity and sweet tannin, buttressing the fruit’s fabulous freshness and vibrancy. This full-bodied effort still displays considerable tannin, no doubt because of the relatively high Mourvedre content. It should resolve its tannins in 2-4 years, and last for 25 or more.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2008, 92 points: “The 2007 Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet red may be Beaucastel’s finest example of this wine since they first introduced it in 1978. A blend of 30% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache, and the rest Syrah, Cinsault, and a few other authorized varietals, this sumptuous, deep ruby/purple-tinged Coudoulet exhibits notes of smoky blackberries, roasted meats, incense, licorice, and underbrush. Opulent, sexy, and full-bodied, with abundant tannin, structure, freshness, and precision, this glorious wine should be purchased by the case when released in early 2009.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 100 points: “”No Hommage a Jacques Perrin was made in 2008, but the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage a Jacques Perrin is an utterly perfect wine. Composed of 60% Mourvedre, 20% Syrah, and the rest Counoise and Grenache, this prodigious effort boasts an inky/blue/purple color to the rim in addition to an exceptional bouquet of camphor, roasted meats, blueberries, black cherries, black currants, truffles, beef blood, pepper, and incense. The sumptuous aromatics are followed by a wine of compelling intensity, full-bodied power, perfect balance, laser-like focus, and a finish that lasts more than a minute. The 2007’s texture reminds me of the 1998 Jacques Perrin, and the freshness of the fruit and explosive aromatics are to die for. There are only 500 cases of this legend in the making, but for those lucky enough to find any, it will last for 40-60 years.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 90 points: “The brilliant 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape offers classic Provencal aromas of garrigue (that roasted herb, windswept smell of Provence), truffles, ground pepper, and kirsch. This full-bodied, rich, fleshy, complex wine is already drinking well. It should evolve nicely for 10-15 years.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 95 points: “The compelling 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes (78% Grenache and the rest Syrah and Mourvedre) is made from 60- to 120-year-old vines. Its dense plum/purple hue is followed by knock-out aromas of incense, crushed pepper, cedar, black currant jam, licorice, and sweet cherries. Voluptuously textured, opulent, and round with well-formed, moderately high tannins that are nearly covered by the wine’s fruit and glycerin, it will easily last 15-20 years in a cold, damp cellar.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 90 points: “The 2007 Vacqueyras Cuvee Classique is just that. Kirsch liqueur, roasted Provencal herbs, spice box, licorice, and lavender soar from the glass of this full-bodied, richly fruity wine, which has superb depth, density, and a 30+-second finish. This is an impressively endowed, round, voluptuous style of Vacqueyras, but don’t make the mistake of drinking it all in its exuberant youthfulness, as it will keep for 6-7 years. It is a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 15% Mourvedre aged in foudres.This is a sensational estate in Vacqueyras owned by Guy Ricard, whose wines have given me enormous pleasure for nearly two decades. The estate owns 40 acres of vineyard and makes two cuvees, both noteworthy.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 90 points: “The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape (a blend of 75% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, and the rest Counoise, Cinsault, and Syrah) had a traditional upbringing in tank and old wood foudres, with less than 10% kept in small barrels. It offers classic Provencal notes of ground pepper, roasted herbs, sweet black cherries, meat juices, truffles, and kirsch. Enjoy this upfront Chateauneuf over the next decade.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 95 points: “While the beautiful 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape is already accessible, it will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring, and should last for two decades or more. It exhibits an inky/ruby/purple color, a great texture, and a gorgeous nose of boysenberries, blueberries, blackberries, acacia flowers, licorice, and incense. There is wonderful freshness and vibrancy (because of the good acids) as well as a terrific finish. Jean-Paul Dauman is one of a handful of Chateauneuf du Pape proprietors who believes his 2005s are better than what he produced in 2007, and I find it difficult to disagree relative to this estate-s wines. True lovers of Chateauneuf du Pape will probably want to have both vintages in their cellars.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 94 points: “The finest effort I have yet tasted from this estate, the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape is composed of 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, and 5% Cinsault. Its traditional upbringing included 100% aging in old foudres. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by a big, sweet, juicy kiss of kirsch liqueur intermixed with blacker fruits, raspberries, licorice, camphor, and hints of lavender and incense. The wine exhibits terrific concentration, full-bodied intensity, and a 45-50-second finish. This sensational Chateauneuf du Pape will benefit from another 2-3 years of bottle age, and should drink well for 15-20 years.Owned by one of the appellation’s oldest families, whose history extends back to the late 19th century, proprietor Claude Chastan is a gentleman farmer whose family began to estate bottle in the early fifties. Saint-Siffrein has 35 acres of vines, all in the northern end of Chateauneuf du Pape in two great lieux-dits, Palestor and Cabrieres. Occasionally, St.-Siffrein produces a special cuvee from 60- to 100-year-old vines called Terre d’Abel, but I did not see one in 2007, and do not know if they made one.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 92 points: “More structured, backward, and formidably endowed is the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Tradition. Made from a blend of over 80% Grenache and the rest Syrah and Cinsault, with some very old-vine fruit going into the blend, this wine is also aged in a combination of tank and foudre prior to bottling. Deep plum/ruby-colored with a striking nose of loamy soil scents interwoven with exuberant kirsch liqueur notes, licorice, and roasted Provencal herbs, the wine is backward, dense, full-bodied, and very pure, with a brilliant texture and length. This wine will benefit from another 1-2 years of cellaring and drink well for 15+ years.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 91 points: “The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape, a sleeper of the vintage, is one of the finest traditional cuvees they have made. Its dark ruby/purple color is followed by a medium to full-bodied wine revealing classic Provencal aromas of pepper, garrigue, black cherries, plums, and a hint of earth. Pure, broad, and savory with silky tannins and a lush personality, this fruit-filled Chateauneuf is ideal for drinking over the next 10-12 years.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 95 points: “The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Chante Le Merle Vieilles Vignes comes from extremely old vines (90-100 years of age), includes 100% whole clusters, and was aged in both neutral foudres and demi-muids. Exhibiting the deepest color as well as the greatest concentration of this quartet, it appears to be the finest example of this cuvee since the prodigious 1990. Terrific notes of licorice, incense, seaweed wrappers, black raspberries, blackberries, and cherries are present in the incredibly complex aromatic display. Deep and full-bodied with lots of roasted herb and meat juice-like characteristics, this big, extravagantly rich, full-bodied wine possesses silky tannins as well as a finish that lasts nearly 50 seconds. It should drink well for two decades.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 94 points: “The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape A La Gloire de Mon Grandpere is a blend of 98% Grenache and 2% Cinsault and other varieties (from 60- to 80-year-old vines), explosive aromas of plums, licorice, figs, black cherries, raspberries, and loamy, resiny notes jump from the glass. Full-bodied with tremendous seductive powers in its level of glycerin and rich, broad, expansive fruit, it is a wine without make-up so to speak since it is aged in old wood foudres as well as tanks and a handful of demi-muids. Drink this beautifully textured, sumptuous 2007 over the next 12-15 years.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 92 points: “The beautiful 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes (from 80- to 100-year-old vines) is a blend of 60% Grenache and the rest equal parts Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, and Counoise aged in concrete tanks and old wood foudres. An effusively fruity, exuberant effort, it reveals plenty of juicy black currants and black cherries intermixed with lavender, licorice, incense, and forest floor. Full-bodied, dense, and seductive with silky tannins and a long, lush, opulent finish, it is impossible to resist at present, and should continue to evolve for 10-12+ years.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2009, 92 points: “Revealing a deeper, more saturated ruby/purple color, the full-bodied 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reserve exhibits plenty of glycerin, a multilayered texture, and a sensational combination of rich black currant and kirsch fruit intermixed with licorice, roasted herb, and forest floor notes. A blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Cinsault aged in both foudre and old demi-muids, it should drink well for 12-15+ years.”
Wine Advocate, Oct 2008, 94 – 96 points: “A 100% Grenache cuvee from the sandy soils of a 106-year-old, biodynamically farmed La Crau vineyard, and aged in both foudre and tank, the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Speciale is amazing. Abundant notes of melted licorice, kirsch liqueur, and flowers is followed by a full-bodied, seamlessly constructed wine with sensational purity, texture, depth, and length. The bad news is there are only 2,000 bottles. This 2007 should drink well for two decades or more.Michel Tardieu, assisted by the brilliant oenologist, Philippe Cambie, has fashioned gorgeous low-end Cotes du Rhones that merit serious attention.”
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John Perry
Andy Frieden
Alex Lallos
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