In the latest LCBO Vintages release, you will find two delicious Pinot Noirs, one from Burgundy, Pinot Noir’s birthplace, and one from one of the New World’s most promising wine regions for this varietal, Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
Domaine Michel Prunier et Fille is a small, family winery from Auxey-Duresses, with whom we have been working since 2005. The Prunier family has been making wine here for over four generations. After establishing their own winery in 1968, Michel Prunier and his wife, Michèle started off with one inherited hectare and one rented hectare. Since the addition of their daughter Estelle to the team, the family now looks after a total of twelve hectares. Although Michel Prunier’s winemaking style follows traditional practices, modern viticultural techniques are employed in order to elaborate these great wines, including principally organic viticultural techniques.
This is the first time that their Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune is being offered in VINTAGES, and considering the annual production generally does not exceed 250 cases, we’re excited that we were able to offer LCBO 120 of these 250 cases!
Joleté Wines is a boutique winery from Oregon, whose winemaker Jim Sanders, also makes wine for Aubichon Cellars and Le Cadeau Vineyard. The 2012 Joleté Pinot Noir hails from the Dundee Hills AVA and the Chehalem Mountains AVA, both of which are in the Willamette Valley. Only 329 cases were produced from one of the best vintages Oregon has seen in recent history. The wine has substantial density, yet is supple and elegant. A perfect match for spring!
I hope you enjoy these two very different wines, sharing a similarity of only a varietal and a sense of place.
Sincerely,
Le Sommelier
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TASTING NOTES
Michel Prunier et Fille Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune 2012
“Michel Prunier, besides being the owner and winemaker here, is considered quite the singer and has a fine reputation for his renditions of Burgundian folk songs. His 2012 Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune also hits all the right notes, with lifted floral tones and aromas and flavours of bright red berry. Fresh but seriously fashioned, with great integration and balance.” (VINTAGES panel, Oct. 2014)
“A light and dusty, zesty and fresh Bourgogne rouge, with grippy tannins and tart acids. Perfectly serviceable, entry-level pinot noir. Tasted April 2015. Value Rating: *1/2” Score: 87 – John Szabo, WineAlign.com, April 2015
Varietals: 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Burgundy
Price: $25.95 (per bottle)
LCBO #409391
Joleté Wines Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2012
“Vivid ruby-red. Spicy black raspberry and floral pastille aromas are complemented by a deeper licorice nuance. Musky red fruit flavors show gentle sweetness and pick up a smoky quality with aeration. Bitter chocolate and cherry pit qualities build on the finish, which is firmed by dusty, slow-building tannins. This pinot benefits quite a bit from aeration.” Score: 90 – Josh Raynolds, vinousmedia.com, July 2014
Varietals: 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Willamette Valley
Price: $44.95 (per bottle)
LCBO #408344
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