The First Wine I Love So Much I Decided to Brand It - Classic, Complex, Affordable Cru Beaujolais

What is a Cuvee Ozzie?  It's a wine that is distinctive, small production and absolutely so fantastic that I want to put my name on it (well, the name of my beloved 20 year old cat).

I am thrilled to offer the 2013 Baron de l'Ecluse Cote de Brouilly "Cuvee Ozzie" for as little as $24.99 on the 4-pack. The wine is delicious. Just exhilaratingly delicious with a huge, bright ruby color, and a peppery, meaty classic Cote de Brouilly nose with elements of spice. This wine kills and the 70 year old vines really show with the primal nature of this wine. It is full bodied, yet round and has the classic dark berry and foresty Cote de Brouilly Fruit. The finish is exceptional, long and persistent. I'd say it could use 3-4 years and optimally it should be drunk between 2017-2024, maybe longer. But, make no mistake it is very, very good now. This is the type of wine I love to drink almost all the time. Light, yet heavy, simple and complex. A wine for geeks and normals alike. I am proud to be able to offer this wine for the first time in the United States.

This is an estate that was founded in 1854 in the Cote de Brouilly. In 1854 it was owned by Tante Yvonne who decided to divide the property into 3 parts. 2 you might have heard of. Chateau Thivin, Pavillon des Chavannes and the aforementioned Baron d'e l'Ecluse. The Cuvee Ozzie is actually their old vines (Vieilles Vignes) cuvee and is a microscopic 300 cases. That is mega small even in the world of artisanal Beaujolais. The Domaine is only 5 ha and is nestled at the highest point of Mt. Brouilly. For my Beaujolais geeks out there it is adjacent to Thivin's famed La Chapelle Parcel. It is prime real estate. Perfect southern exposure and a very steep slope. What more could you ask for? Oh, it sees NO WOOD.

There is nothing I love more in the summer than drinking Beaujolais. I have tirelessly tried to make my Beaujolais producers different from each other. With Clos du Mez you have the full Burgundian elevage treatment with no carbonic maceration. With Guignier you have full on carbonic maceration. And now with Baron de l'Ecluse I have an estate that does semi-carbonic vinification. I am thrilled to the gills that I have all 3 now.

Also this must be said. Many people compare this to Brouilly but in fact they are entirely separate appellations. It is higher up on the hillside (actually on an extinct volcano called Mont Brouilly) and gets more sunlight and as a result the wines are generally more structured and concentrated.
 
These will arrive in late fall and ship in fall/winter.

2013 Baron de l'Ecluse Cote de Brouilly "Cuvee Ozzie - Vieilles Vignes" - $26.99 ($99.96 4-pack)