It's Not All About Famous, Complex Expensive Wine in Burgundy
Part of My Mission Is to Find Wines that Are Simply, Absolutely Delicious
Almost No One in the States (Outside of Our List) Has Heard of Vezelay: Enjoy the Bargains While They Last
For those of you who have tried these wines, I know most of you will be ordering more as you've lamented to me that you couldn't keep your hands off of them. Some wines are just so delicious that you drink the entire bottle before you realize it. These are those kinds of wines. Not simplistic but maybe 4-5 comments in the tasting note after "simply delicious."
I work with a lot of wineries and on rare occasions I don't see the estate until after I've tasted and sold  the wines as I've met the winemaker somewhere else beforehand. This was the case with Sophie of the terrific estate La Croix Montjoie in Vezelay. I met her in Beaune in February 2014 to taste with her in a restaurant. But this time we drove to Vezelay, which is one of the most spectacular areas in all of France with a cathedral that is breathtaking. Of course we got lost on the way to the estate, which is in the small stunningly beautiful hamlet of Tharoiseau in the Yonne département. What wine trip is a real wine trip without getting lost. The GPS is very fallible. When we got there with Sophie guiding us on the phone, I was blown away by the beauty of their estate. The centerpiece is an old farmhouse which has the winery and the tasting room. With a view of the valley and the cathedral at Vezelay like you have never seen before. I probably overstayed my welcome taking pictures as it was so breathtaking. But this is more than just a pretty place. The wines that Sophie and her husband make are absolutely what you want. Absolutely delicious. They are incredibly well made, pure beyond their humble price points and I'll say it again. Just delicious. Today I have a red and a white and I don't recommend case purchases often but this is the ultimate "bridge the gap" wine. This is the wine you will pull for when you have unexpected guests and want something delicious but not something you have to think about. They are just so drinkable and so delicious.
What makes their wines unique is their vineyard is one ten hectare parcel on a hill.They make different cuvees by tasting different barrels and tanks after the harvest. Certain plots express certain things and they bottle them accordingly. Certain areas have different soil subsets and yield different wines. It is almost a German way of making wine versus a Burgundian way. Fascinating is what it is.
The 2014 La Croix Montjoie "Volupteuse," which can be had for as little as $23.99on a 4-pack is absolutely terrific wine and what you want in affordable white Burgundy. It has exquisite purity, balance and vivid fruit. 2014 is better than 2013 in Vezelay and what I tasted in barrel was very promising. Just an amazing mix of acid/mineral. This is exactly what I want in an everyday white. It is from their oldest vines which are 30 years old and it is 20% new oak and 80% old oak. There is no noticeable wood on the wine. Amazing integration here. The acid is wonderful. Spikey and delicate. A brilliant expression of Vezelay from the best producer there.This wine is just plain ethereal and shows how great Vezelay can be. I grab for this often and you will too.
I also have the new vintage of the 2013 La Croix Montjoie Irancy, which can be had for $24.99 on a 4-pack. This is a wonderful contrast to the Irancy of Thierry Richoux. It has a darker fruit profile and is from purchased grapes but from a parcel that no machine can get to, so it is hand harvested. It has an intense red purple color and a serious cascade of sweet Pinot fruit with gorgeous minerality and earthinessintermingled in. Wonderful structure and amazingly crisp precision. This is absolutely terrific and again, so satisfying and exactly what you want. I can't recommend these enough.
One more thing!
One of the reasons I offer 3-4 packs is so people can commit infanticide on a wine and follow it for 2-3 days to see if they like it so they can possibly purchase future vintages and estimate when it will be ready to drink. Please, I implore you, sacrifice one infant at the altar (dinner table) and, yes I know its young, but I don't want people to miss out on great wines because they have not tried it yet it is in their cellar! How else do you think I select wines? I taste them in an infant almost zygote state.
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