Keith's Burgundy Hotline: Maison Ilan

Keith Wollenberg

Directeur Commercial Bourgogne

Contact: keithwollenberg@klwines.com

Hello Burgundy Lovers,

You may have heard of the crazy guy from California who packed up his family and moved to Burgundy to make wine.  He had a profile in the New York Times and has gotten some great attention.  Ray and I talked before he went there, as he wanted to know more about Burgundy before he left, and I have been in touch with him and have visited his cuverie in Nuits to taste the wines in his cellar.

Ray Walker of Maison Ilan

We now have a small quantity of one of his 2009s available, being sold on a pre-arrival basis but due in just a week or two:

2009 Maison Ilan Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru, $175.00

This is a new project for California native Ray Walker, who fell in love with Pinot Noir from Burgundy and jumped in with both feet, moving to Burgundy, setting himself up in business, learning French and making wine, all in the space of a few very hectic months.  91-93 Allen Meadows: "A very expressive nose that is at once earthy and ripe speaks of both red and blue berry fruits laced with underbrush and a hint of the sauvage that continues onto the textured, dense and focused broad-shouldered flavors that possess excellent phenolic maturity and superb complexity and length. I like the sense of harmony and there is a generosity to the finish that is beguiling." (Burghound, 01/11)  My notes : « From the vrait (real) Charmes, higher on the hill next to Chambertin.  Shows notes of black cherry and ripe blue fruits on the nose, mixed with an earthy note.  Ripe and rich on the palate with a rich finish.”  (Keith Wollenberg, K&L Burgundy Buyer)

A santé,

-Keith

Mr. Keith WOLLENBERG

Directeur Commercial Bourgogne

K&L Wine Merchants

http://www.klwines.com

+1-650-556-2724 Direct Line

Keithw@klwines.com

Keith's Burgundy Hotline: Anne Gros on Offer

Keith Wollenberg

Directeur Commercial Bourgogne

Contact: Keithw@klwines.com

Hello Burgundy Lovers,

We have tiny quantities of Anne Gros’ beautiful 2009s to offer. These are in-stock and ON THE WEB, so they are likely to go quickly:

2009 Domaine Anne Gros Hautes Côtes de Nuits Blanc "Cuvée Marine"  Price: $29.99

Allen Meadows writes: "A mildly leesy nose leads to delicious, rich and round flavors that possess reasonably good cut and an attractive mineral note on the moderately long finish" (Burghound 01/11) 

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2009 Domaine Anne Gros Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits Rouge Price: $31.99

Steve Tanzer writes: "Medium red. Liqueur-like ripeness to the red cherry and rose aromas. Then juicy and fruity in the mouth, with intriguing notes of spices, flower and espresso. Finishes with an oily richness but also a hint of dryness and plenty of stony character. (I preferred this to the Bourgogne , which was peppery and less ripe.)" 

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2009 Domaine Anne Gros Bourgogne Rouge Price: $31.99

Allen Meadows writes: "A discreet touch of wood sets off riper aromas of red berries and ample earth influence that can also be found on the round, supple and attractively rich flavors that possess much better mid-palate concentration, all wrapped in a generous if not especially well detailed finish. This will benefit from a year or three in bottle but it's rich enough to be drunk now." (Burghound, 01/11) 

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2009 Domaine Anne Gros Chambolle-Musigny "La Combe d'Orveau" Price: $76.99 Limit of 3 per customer

Allen Meadows writes: "A pretty and fresh nose of both red and blue pinot fruit, spice hints and a touch of wood toast leads to delicious and quite supple and forward flavors that evidence an attractive mineral streak on the delicious if not overly complex finish. This is appealing in its fashion." (Burghound, 01/11) 

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2009 Domaine Anne Gros Clos Vougeot Grand Cru "Le Grand Maupertuis"  Price: $169.95 Limit of 2 per customer

Allen Meadows writes: "Noticeable wood fights a bit with the otherwise solidly complex and earthy red berry fruit nose that precedes supple, round and very generous medium-bodied flavors that are remarkably sweet and while the mid-palate is accessible, this manages to be a bit firmer than the Echézeaux. That said, in the context of the overall appellation's performance in 2009, this too is relatively soft." (Burghound, 01/11) 

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2009 Domaine Anne Gros Richebourg Grand Cru   Price: $375.00 Limit of 1 per customer

90-93 Points Allen Meadows: "Here too there is noticeable wood influence but here the spicy nose of red currants, blue berries and cassis is cooler and more restrained. There is fine intensity to the mineral-driven big-bodied flavors that are both tighter and finer than those of the Clos de Vougeot, not to mention more serious and longer with notably less of the overt sweetness. This should be at least very good to possibly excellent." (Burghound, 05/11) 93 Points Tanzer: "Good deep red. Superripe nose nonetheless offers pungent notes of black raspberr... Read More » 

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Mr. Keith WOLLENBERG

Directeur Commercial Bourgogne

K&L Wine Merchants

http://www.klwines.com

+1-650-556-2724 Direct Line

Keithw@klwines.com

Wine 101: Off-Site Storage (SoCal Edition)

Ideal 55 founder George Fansmith at the Hollywood facility.The selection of 2005 Bordeaux is dwindling, and I haven't bought any to put away yet. It's not because I don't like Bordeaux (I do) or that I couldn't find any I could afford (I did), but because I have nowhere to put them. Same goes for the incredible 2007 Rhônes, 2004 Brunelli and 2002 vintage Champagnes. Now with the exceptional 2007 California vintage and 2009 German Rieslings coming to market and the already-legendary 2009 Bordeaux being sold pre-arrival (not to mention countless bottles from less talked about but equally cellar-worthy vintages from around the world) I'm beside myself. What's a girl in a small apartment in Southern California with an equally small budget (which she'd rather spend on wine than a ginormous cabinet) to do? 

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