When I first opened Fass Selections, everyone (and when I say everyone I mean my business partner) thought I was crazy to work with an estate in Irancy. Well, four years laterI'm not the crazy one, as Irancy is the cool new AOC and today's producer also has since inked a deal with a famous east coast distributor. We are thrilled that Fass Selections and a few others have helped launch Irancy into the conversation of great undiscovered Pinot Noir appellations because it is! Decades ago, Irancy wines used to be thin in many years, but with global warming, the wines have the fruit profiles that used to exist in central Burgundy. I found the best producer (Thierry Richoux) in Irancy and am thrilled to offer his wines again to those of you looking to re-stock as well as new customers and those who missed out. I have not offered his wines in over a year so it is time. These may be the best pinot noir values in my portfolio. I am super excited today as I have a brand new wine from Thierry that I've tasted on my last two visits but was never ready to be bottled and sold. Thierry, like a few other Fass Selections producers, releases wines when he thinks it is ready and not when the market demands the latest vintage, which is one of the many reasons I love Thierry and his wine. There is no greater joy than drinking Thierry's wines as they are joyous examples of his passion for the vine. I have never met a vigneron more happy to be doing what he is doing. The wines are delicious and very well made but completely unique. There is no Pinot Noir like it in the world. As I have said before, I am trying to import wines with distinction and Thierry's wines are so unique; they speak of a time and place. If there is such a thing as rustic finesse Richoux Irancy's have it in spades.
Up first is the debut bottling from a brand new single vineyard and it is just incredible. The 2013 Thierry Richoux Irancy "Les Cailles" for as little as $31.99 on a 4-pack. I have been waiting impatiently for two years to sell this! The vineyard is located on the other opposite side of Irancy where Vauepessiot is. The vineyard is not as steep to Vauepessiot is and the key is the soil is different and you have more earth and less stones. It makes a completely different wine than Vauepessiot. Thierry has 1.8 ha in Les Cailles and 2.3 ha in Veaupessiot. Before 2012 Les Cailles used to go into the Irancy classic bottling but it's too good now and so distinct that Thierry has decided to bottle it on its own. The wine is just amazing. It's deep and richer than Veaupessiot and has a slightly darker fruit profile than the classically styled and much more intensely mineral Veaupessiot which, due to its intense mineral structure can take many years to unwind. The 08 Veaupessiot is great now. Thierry will release the 13 before the 12. 2011 was the last one he released. But back to Les Cailles. It is classic Irancy in every way with its dazzling aromas of red fruits, complex earth tones and nice minerality. It's wafting and deep but also has nice licorice and dark red cherries. It's an awesome nose. But it will get better in 4-5 years I think. The palate as I said earlier is deep and rich with huge cherry fruit, licorice, and complex wet earth notes. This wine has an earthy richness to it. It's very fresh and long. It's one of my favorites ever from Thierry. Do not miss it! I think it will age for 15-18 years.
Up next I have the 2014 Thierry Richoux Irancy for as little as $23.99 a bottle on 4. This is textbook Irancy and classic Richoux. It is so good and reminds me of the terrific 2010 Irancy. A great vintage for this wine. Deep woodland nose of berries, earth, bramble and mint. Very evocative and very deep and very complex. Terrific. Luscious mouthfeel with nice finesse and elegance and nimble quality. Finish is very savory. Dynamite wine. Needs an hour or two to flesh out. After it does the precision and minerality on the nose is sick. Also the purity of the berry fruit becomes more pronounced. A great Richoux that can and will last 10-15 years.
2014 Thierry Richoux Irancy - $25.99 ($95.96 4-pack)
2013 Thierry Richoux Irancy "Les Cailles" - $31.99 ($119.96 4-pack)
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