Our Only Offer of Julien Cruchandeau 2016 Reds: Stunning Values Under $25

Julien Is Getting More Famous and Has a Prestigious National Importer
Massive Losses from Weather Means This Is Our Only Red Offer
These Are Always List Favorites
 - Incredible Values Under $25
 - Delicious Pinots, Ready to Drink

For everyone who loves Julien Cruchandeau reds, this is your one shot at them this year as Julien

suffered severe losses with his Savigny Les Beaune, Nuits St. Georges and Ladoix. None of those are available in 2016. Only 4 barrels of Ladoix and less than a barrel of NSG and no SLB. He had loyal clients in France and now also an American national importer who got the pittance of bottles. It's a shame as Julien is a great guy and a very good winemaker and to have this much loss is upsetting. Hopefully 2017 bears more fruit. I've seen great images from Puligny, but alas no red wine there. Anyway, what I do have from Julien are his duo of masterful Hautes Cotes de Nuits Bourgognes from 2016. These are amongst my favorite wines in the book. I adore these wines. They are ultra delicious in Julien's amazingly fresh and pure style. Amongst the purest Pinot Noirs I sell these are so good upon release but what 2-3 years in bottle does to these cannot be overstated. These punch above their weight significantly and previous vintages are out there for more. Julien could sell all of his wine to his USA National Distributor in a heartbeat, but he always gives me wine every year and I am thankful. He will become more and more famous and recognized soon enough. I will hopefully continue to get the little bit of wine he gives me.

Up first is the 2016 Julien Cruchandeau Hautes Cotes de Nuits Rouge "Les Valencons" for $24.99 a bottle.  These are some of the best values that I sell. No joke.  It is all silky dark cherry fruits intertwined with gorgeous earthen and mineral notes while all being held together by great acids. Julien gets ridiculous freshness and really dials it up in 2016. This was half whole cluster as well, so expect the nose to ramp up in 2-3 years.  The nose is very pretty with subtle dark cherry notes, dark juicy fruits, sweet cocoa and the classic Burgundian wet earth aromas. It screams freshness on the nose. The fruit is sweeter than the Les Cabottes below and has really voluminous texture. Oh man is the fruit awesome in this wine. Thrilling. It's at once big and ripe but also sexy, inviting and subtle. I love the style of this wine. Sweet, sweet and dark fruit and elegant suave tannins. This is the most concentrated and refined Valencons yet with the best fruit of any vintage I've had so far. Not to be missed!

The slope "Valencons" is super steep with the typical clay and limestone with not much soil. The perfect site for Pinot Noir. This is only 10% new oak and the rest being 3rd, 4th and 5th passage barrels are used in Valencons which is the higher end of Julien's two brilliant HCDN red wines. I've had many a customer call Julien a genius for what he can do at the inexpensive price points.  The wine has to be tasted to be believed.


Up next is the 2016 Julien Cruchandeau Hautes Cotes de Nuits "Les Cabottes" which can be had for $24.99 a bottle on a 4-pack. This has spectacular fruit on the palate, with elegant tannin, but make no mistake this is a Burgundy about fruit and can be drunk on arrival. The nose is terrific with cherry fruit, light spice and tons of wet earth. A bit darker fruit than normal as that seems to be what 16 is about. More refined and darker fruits. So juicy and complex with lots to peak your interest besides being stunningly delicious and balanced. As Julien says, "It is more about fruit than tannin." It provides a terrific counterpoint to the HCDN "Les Valencons" which has more structure and needs time to breathe and could use a year or two in the cellar to come together a bit more. The 2016 Cabottes fills that gap. A wine of pleasure, but wines of pleasure made by great winemakers are always a bit more than that as we all know, and Julien's is no exception.

2016 Julien Cruchandeau Hautes Cotes de Nuits "Les Valencons" - $26.99 ($99.96 4-pack) (LIMITED)

2016 Julien Cruchandeau Hautes Cotes de Nuits "Les Cabottes" - $26.99 ($99.96 4-pack) (LIMITED)