Champagne Burgundy and Bordeaux Happy Hour Wine Tasting with Special Guest Valerie Antoine

“In a perfect world, everyone would have a glass of Champagne every evening.”
- Willie Gluckstern, a wine expert from New York

We have created a perfect world here at Wine Watch!  We drink Champagne every night!!

Ok I will admit that Champagne is my favorite wine but Burgundy and Bordeaux are not far behind in terms of my favorite wines from France or anywhere in the world for that matter.

So, when the folks at Palm Bay asked if I was interested in hosting a Happy Hour wine tasting with the US Burgundy and Bordeaux Director for their company and gave me this list of wines…the answer was an easy one.  Yes – I DO!

We have a great selection of wines for this tasting including two grand cru reds and one of the top wines from Pomerol along with some older vintages.  The fee for this tasting is $125 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9473 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com. 

Happy Hour Wine Tasting Featuring Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux
with Special Guest Valerie Antoine- US Director Palm Bay Int. Burgundies & Bordeaux
Thursday, October 3rd
6pm

Champagne Andre Jacquart Vertus 1 er Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra brut
Price: $68.75                     Sale $60.50
Andre Jacquart is a grower champagne in the truest sense. For four generations, the parents and grandparents of André Jacquart only produced Champagne grapes. In 1958 André Jacquart introduced a new spirit in the family, producing his own estate-bottled Champagne in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Grand Cru. Since 2004, Champagne André Jacquart has been located in Vertus Premier Cru with their Champagnes exclusively coming from the terroir of Vertus and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Major work was undertaken and the fifth generation, represented by Marie Doyard (the granddaughter of André Jacquart) stepped in to run the business and inspire it with her own philosophy of vinification in oak barrels, long ageing periods, and low or no dosage. Interestingly, Marie’s paternal grandfather, Maurice Doyard, was instrumental in the creation of the AOC Champagne and the delimitation of its vineyard areas. Champagne André Jacquart prides itself on its forward-looking ethos and pioneering spirit, focusing primarily on respect for the terroir and high quality. In line with its strategy, the estate was certified HVE 3 for its sustainable winegrowing practices in 2019.

Brilliant pale gold, with a tight bead and persistent mousse. The chardonnay provides green pear, apple, and toasted bread on the nose, with distinct wet stone minerality. Lush, creamy mousse upon entry, rich, full, and crisp, with warm toasty elements. Explosive aged chardonnay elements, intense minerality, and great depth of flavor. Length and persistence of Burgundian-style chardonnay on the finish.

2022 Domaine Jolly Chablis
Price: $32.75                     Sale $28.82
With four generations of experience, Domaine Jolly is known for producing traditional, mineral-driven Chablis wines. The Domaine is located in Maligny, just a few miles north of Burgundy’s famous Chablis village. The winery is managed by Denis Jolly, whose main focus is creating wines that are a true expression of the Kimmeridgean & Portlandian terroirs. Domaine Jolly consists of 42 acres of Petit Chablis, Chablis and Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume. Chardonnay is the only varietal grown on the estate which produces wines from three vineyard appellations: Petit Chablis consists of 11 acres with an average vine age of 3 to 30 years, Chablis consists of 33 acres with an average vine age of 3 to 60 years, and Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume consists of 1.5 acres with an average vine age of 40 years old.

This wine is a beautiful pale yellow color tinged with green. Lovely citrus aromas lead way to fruit-forward flavors of fresh pear with a rounded mouthfeel.

2017 Domaine Bertagna Vougeot Rouge 1er Cru Les Cras
Price: $141.00                   Sale $124.08
With 18 wonderfully diverse appellations across the region, 12 of which are Premier and Grand crus, Bertagna is among the top ranking Domaines in Burgundy. A desire for perfection and emphasis on quality, coupled with significant investments in technology and vineyard management, result in some of the region’s most compelling wines. Domaine Bertagna is perhaps best known for its elegant, silky red wines, but it also produces one of the world’s rarest white wines – Vougeot 1er Cru Blanc “Les Cras” from the Côtes de Nuits. Bertagna comprises 20 hectares, most of which are planted to Pinot Noir; the remaining area is planted to Chardonnay and split between Vougeot 1er Cru Les Cras, Vougeot Le Village and a parcel of Corton-Charlemagne. Their wines include five Grands Crus, seven Premiers Crus, and three Village wines, stretching from Chambertin to Corton. The historic Domaine Bertagna once belonged to the Cistercian monks, famous for founding the Clos de Vougeot in the 13th century. The estate’s cellars and vineyards are located in the heart of the village nearby the Château and its ancient Chapter House.

Aromas of mint, eucalyptus, and cocoa beans. The palate is racy with complex tannins that lead to a rich structure combining strength and elegance.

2017 Domaine Antonin Guyon Corton Bressandes Grand Cru
Price: $147.50                   Sale $129.80
When Antonin Guyon started out in the 1960s, he had but a few small parcels of land in Gevrey and Meursault—not an uncommon footing to have in the fragmented tapestry of Burgundy. But today, thanks in part to his forward-thinking sons Dominique and Michel, the domaine has evolved into one of the most prestigious in the Côte d’Or, with day-to-day operations helmed by Dominique and his daughter, Hombeline. Based in Savigny-lès-Beaune, the family’s vineyard properties stretch around the hill of Corton, north to Gevrey, south to Meursault, west to the Hautes Côtes de Nuits and east to Chorey-lès-Beaune. Their wines represent 15 different appellations, including an exceptional range of Premier and Grands Crus and covering many renowned cru villages, giving Domaine Antonin Guyon the depth of a traditional négociant, with estate-produced wines that represent a variety of quality tiers and price points.

Ruby-purple robe. Intense aromas of black cherry. Very rich in the mouth with delicate expression of dark berry fruits. The texture is pure and elegant, with very fine tannins and a beautiful structure.

2017 Domaine Antonin Guyon Clos du Roy Grand Cru
Price: $161.00                   Sale $141.68
Ruby red in color, with aromas of black cherry and raspberry. Very rich, concentrated and harmonious in the mouth.  Elegant and pure, with very fine tannins and beautiful structure, this wine can be kept for up to 20 years.

2014 Chateau La Grave Pomerol
Price: $62.00                     Sale $54.56
(92 Points) Lovely, with a caressing feel that lets alluring notes of raspberry, boysenberry and red currant preserves glide through, picking up red licorice, black tea and singed allspice accents along the way. The long, refined finish has a beautiful iron echo. Best from 2020 through 2035.  Wine Spectator

2018 Chateau Hosanna Pomerol
Price: $268.50                   Sale $236.28
(99 Points) A real powerhouse of a Pomerol, the 2018 Château Hosanna checks in as a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, all from a tiny, 11-acre parcel of blue clay and more red, gravelly soils in the heart of the appellation. This site has good neighbors, with Vieux Château Certan (and Certan de May) to the south, Lafleur just to the north, Petrus to the east, and La Fleur-Petrus to the west. Gorgeous blackcurrants, plum, chocolate, scorched earth, tobacco leaf, and graphite are just some of the nuances here, and this beauty is full-bodied, has a wonderfully textured, opulent mouthfeel, silky tannins, and one heavenly finish. It's up with the crème de la crème of the vintage, and that includes both banks. This straight-up stunning Pomerol will be drinkable with just 4-5 years of bottle age yet cruise for 30-40 years!  Jeb Dunnuck

Menu
Selection of Cheese and Charcuterie
Tuna Sashimi Pizza with Italian Sturgeon Caviar
Crispy Wonton with Salmon and Hoisin Sauce
Beef Sliders with Mushroom Gruyere Special Sauce
Truffle Steak Fries with Fresh shaved Parm

The Fee for this Tasting is $125 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.