New French Container

New French wines are coming to Millesime! They will be here in time to celebrate our 2 year anniversary, and I'm not afraid to say that there are some real winners here - some of the wines are already presold out! There is something to please most everyone.

DOMAINE TABORDET

After superb 2002s, extraordinarily successful 2003s, we are back to form with the more classic 2004s. This team of brothers produces exquisitely racy floral and mineral laden wines.

2004 SANCERRE BLANC - Balanced, fruity, floral and mineral effort. This is easily the best Sancerre Blanc available in Seattle for the price.
2004 POUILLY FUME - Weightier than the Sancerre, this qualifies as a 'screaming deal' - a stunning example priced well below market. ** in the 2006 Guide Hachette with the best qp/r.
2004 SANCERRE ROUGE - Love them or hate them, global warming has been good to Sancerre Rouge. Delicate, but in no way wimpy, hight-toned fruit with great class.

CAVE DE SAUMUR

Speaking of a return to the classics, the 2004 Saumurs fit the bill. Lots more acidity than 2003, but still plenty juicy.
I have also procured the last 25 cases of 2003 single-vineyard Saumur Champigny - the "Vignolles".

2004 SAUMUR BLANC RESERVE DES VIGNERONS - More like the 2002, but the trend is to riper and richer
2004 SAUMUR ROUGE RESERVE DES VIGNERONS - This is much more typical than the 2003 which was something of an oddball. Very good color and concentration nevertheless in this medium-bodied example.
2003 SAUMUR-CHAMPIGNY "LES VIGNOLLES" - This wine like the "Poyeux" was reviewed in the WS. The Poyeux got 90, the Vignolles 89, not surprising considering that the Vignolles is more elegant, while remaining plenty rich and juicy. The last of the very desirable 2003 single vineyard Champignys available anywhere.

CHATEAU LES BERTRANDS

I 'discovered' this estate back in 2000 at a Bordeaux satellite trade show in France. Bertrands wines are always dark, lush and quite delightful examples. The Chateau's regularity of quality over the years is really quite exceptional.

2003 PREMIERES COTES DE BLAYE ROUGE "TRADITION" - Those of you who enjoyed the 2000 and 2002 will find a lot to like here in this lusty claret, composed of 70% merlot and 30% Cab. Franc. Very deep, with cassis and other dark fruits.

COSTIERES ET SOLEIL

Millesime was the first to bring quality French 'box wine' to Seattle, and we had good success with the 2002 version of this lusty Nimes red.

2003 COSTIERES DE NIMES ROUGE - 70% syrah, 30% grenache this box has an opaque, inky purple color. Rich and intense with suave tannins, this one to always have on hand in the kitchen, for the cook and the guests!

LA VINSOBRAISE

The Vinsobraise Co-op has really made a turnaround. Known in the past for hard, lean, uninteresting wines even by Vinsobres standards, nowadays they are making wines that are standouts among all CDRVs including the most expensive. Earlier this year we offered their Hachette 'coup de coeur' Cuvée des Terroirs 2003.

2004 COTES DU RHONE VILLAGES VINSOBRES ROUGE "MEDAILLE D'OR" - Deep and spicy with very fine tannins and 'gobs' of fruit. This is the kind of bottle that empties fast. The name of the cuvée refers to the medal won at the Concours General de Paris.

CHATEAU LES QUATRE FILLES
Rochegude is the northernmost CDRV, and one of the more obscure. In the days before global warming, it was one of the more difficult Villages in terms of ripeness. This example is exceptional in every way. This wine was first made with the 2003 vintage, an effort that earned **** in the RVF. All of the Quatre Filles wines are certified organic by ECOCERT.

2004 COTES DU RHONE VILLAGES ROCHEGUDE ROUGE - ***(*) in the November 2005 issue of the RVF (RVF PDF), Quatre Filles is leading the way for this Village. Superb color, balance and depth.

DOMAINE DES ESCARAVAILLES
Interest was so strong on a couple of these that they are SOLD OUT. More will be coming in Spring, but there are still some cases of this rarity:

2003 RASTEAU VIN DOUX NATUREL ROUGE - 100% "Very old" grenache. Deeply colored, rich and unctuous concoction of fruits chocolate and spices. Finish several miles long.

DOMAINE LES HAUTES CANCES
- Millesime is very proud to be the sole US importer of this amazing estate, with some of the oldest vines and best exposures in Cairanne. Like Escaravailles, Hautes Cances skipped 2002 and offers us now some exceptional 2003s. All of these wines are certified organic by ECOCERT.

2003 COTES DU RHONE VILLAGES ROUGE - Luscious and stuffed everyday drinker that will leave you and your guests looking for more.
2003 COTES DU RHONE VILLAGES CAIRANNE ROUGE "TRADITION" - Those who enjoyed the 2001 will be pleased with this effort, which has plenty of class to go with the concentration.
2001 COTES DU RHONE VILLAGES CAIRANNE ROUGE "COL DU DEBAT" - Those of you familiar withe the 2000 will be seduced by the 2001, which has all of the richness with more balance and complexity. For the last 2 years I've been open, this single vineyard offering has been the very best wine that I carry. While there may be other Cairannes that are as expensive, there are none to my knowledge with this level of class.