Another trio of tastings is on the horizon for this weekend!
We'll be joined by Ed Donaldson of New Zealand's great Pegasus Bay family, who will be in between 4:30 and 7pm pouring several highlights in their range! With fruit sourced from the warm and sunny Waipara Valley within North Canterbury, it's an estate that have always excelled in producing wines of complexity and great aging potential - their two Main Divideoptions on show shine as terrific well-priced entry points to their style, before we delve into the deep Sancerre-like texture of their estate Sauvignon Blanc, the full-bodied generosity of the estate Chardonnay, the dry and lingering style of their 'Bel Canto' Riesling, and two older vintage Pinot Noirs (2015 and 2020)
From there, all sights set on Burgundy for one awesome main Saturday (18th) tasting! The 2022 season in Burgundy was excellent in both white and red, and following the conclusion of our '22 offers some time ago, it was difficult to see how the 2023's would be able to compete. It wasn't long until some samples arrived from some of our favourite producers and, while showing entirely different qualities, the best examples are utterly gorgeous, and in some cases surpass their 2022 counterparts. While '22 was notable for its power and structure, the '23s have relatively open profiles with generous fruit, roundness in the mouth, and superb balance. There’s an early approachability that is highly appealing, and many likely won’t need as much time in the cellar to reach the height of their potential.
On Saturday, we'll be showing off four great names, starting with Moreau Naudet and their Petit Chablis, sourced a single north-facing vineyard that sits on Kimmeridgian soil. This one performs at such a high level, in our view it easily beats 1er Cru bottlings from other producers. We then move onto both both Bernard Defaix (from Chablis) and sister winery Jaeger Defaix (in Rully). The Côte de Lechet - while not as famous as other 1er vineyards like the mouthcoating wines of Montee de Tonnerre - is somewhat of an icon wine for the estate, and this latest example is irresistible. Same can be said of the Blanc and two Rouges from Jaeger; we're not sure we've not seen 1er Cru's at this $100 mark that can beat these for quality and memorability. Lastly, we highlight the season in the Cote d’Or through the lens of two of the most capable Bourgogne's you'll ever find - Benjamin Leroux! Their Blanc is Meursault in all but name; on the one hand it’s open, expansive and extremely enjoyable, but on the other, it has above-the-appellation-average complexity and length. Their Rouge is a testament to the overlooked enjoyment of the reds from the Côte de Beaune; rich, demonstrative, layered and symmetrical. It has everything, and for a paltry price.
After all this craziness, we'll finish off with a tequila tasting from Tromba right after, running between 3 to 7pm on the Saturday! On show will be the Blanco, Reposado, Añejo and Extra Añejo, Cafeto Coffee, and Cedano bottlings. Hope to catch you there for a bit of fun!
Pegasus Bay - Specials & Tasting
Friday 17th October
4:30 to 7pm
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'Main Divide' Chardonnay 2024 - $22 on special ($25 RRP)
"A rich, complex chardonnay with marzipan, lemon curd, toast, white peach, vanilla and wood smoke supported by mellow acidity and fine oak tannins." - 93 Points, Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review
'Main Divide' Pinot Noir 2022 - $28 on special ($32 RRP)
"Deep ruby in the glass with aromas of macerated cherry, red plum, raspberry and wild strawberry fruits with hints of spice, meadow herbs, smoked meats, pressed flowers, mocha and earth. Flighty and herb flecked on the palate with a swoosh of sour cherry, tight, chalky tannin and bright acidity." - 92 Points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2023 - $34 on special ($38 RRP)
"I have to admit to loving this wine. It's wild. The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc leads with dried herbs, tobacco, jasmine tea, graphite, that complex drift of dehydrated orange peel—from the skin-contact component—and a host of other characters. A wine that you can sit on and consider is an exciting wine in my book. In the mouth, the wine is textural and dry, layered and complex, with all of the characters mentioned above, a warmth of alcohol and plenty of other attractive things that keep me coming back for more. I wrote, upon my visit to the estate last year, that "Pegasus Bay is responsible for Rieslings worth crossing an ocean for." I'd say the same for this Sauvignon Blanc. This is an excellent wine, among my favorites in all of New Zealand. It's textural as hell, chewy and great." - 95 Points, Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Estate Chardonnay 2022 - $49 on special ($56 RRP)
"A fabulous wine with classic Pegasus Bay signatures of power and complexity, oak and and myriad fruit ideas. Aromas and flavours of stone and citrus fruits, especially peach and grapefruit, some melon and baked pineapple. Full-bodied on the palate with fruit, alcohol and tannins all contributing to mouthfeel and style. Delicious, flavourful and very moreish." - 94 Points, Cameron Douglas MS
'Bel Canto' Riesling 2023 - $50 on special ($59 RRP)
"Wow. I love the nose here on this 2023 Bel Canto Dry Riesling, with aromas of apricot kernel, jasmine flowers, honeysuckle, crushed sea shells, paraffin wax and lemon barley. In the mouth, the wine is powerful, weighty, intense and impactful. It has so much of everything, stonking power, depth of flavor and warmth from the alcohol—not a pejorative, but certainly part of the experience—the embodiment of all that is good at Pegasus Bay, as I see it. This is a tremendously good wine here" - 95 Points, Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Aged Release Pinot Noir 2015 - $96 on special ($110 RRP)
"Intense, youthful pinot noir with floral, violet, plum, cherry, cocoa powder, spice and anise flavours. Dense yet elegant wine with power and a lingering finish. The wine really opened up in the glass and deserves to be aerated before serving. Good cellaring potential." - 95 Points, Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review (May 2018)
'Prima Donna' Pinot Noir 2020 - $132 on special ($150 RRP)
"Tight, dense and restrained nose with deep aromas of cola, black pepper, woodsmoke and blackberry. The densely compact, full-bodied palate is equally closed but the powerfully concentrated back-palate of black cherry, dark chocolate, black plum and dried flowers is revealing. Entirely unevolved despite the age, this has firm tannins from fruit and wood which firmly encase the coiled core of black fruit and stony complexity. This will be a slow burner but it will reward patience with layered complexity in time." - 95 Points, Stephen Wong, The Real Review
2023 Burgundy Releases -
Moreau Naudet, Bernard / Jaeger Defaix & Moreau Naudet on Offer and Pour
Saturday 18th October
12 to 2pm
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Moreau-Naudet Petit Chablis 2023 -
$83 on special this week; $95 RRP
“Sourced from a large three-hectare vineyard in the plateau between Courgis and Beines, Moreau-Naudet’s 2023 Petit Chablis exhibits notes of peach, orange zest and honeysuckle. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied and textural yet bright, with lively acidity.” - Kristaps Karklins, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
“Mineral, cool – not large but it’s pure – very nice. Large in the mouth, mineral – not quite strict but almost chiselled. That’s a top Petit Chablis for the vintage.” - Bill Nanson, Burgundy Report
Bernard Defaix Chablis 'Côte de Lechet' 1er Cru 2023 -
$96 on special this week; $109 RRP
"Much like the rest of Burgundy, Chablis’ finest vineyards have, for better or worse, become synonymous with a symbolic grower. This is the case with Côte de Léchet and Domaine Bernard Defaix. With nine hectares of vines overlooking the village of Milly, the domaine is the largest single holder within this 1er Cru, and its cellars sit at the base of the Léchet hill. Perfectly exposed to the southeast, Jasper Morris MW describes an archetypal wine from Léchet as “entirely white fruited in style …not dissimilar to Beauroy, but with more intensity”, while Andrew Jefford suggests the hill gives “some of the most 'mineral' Chablis of all”. In 2023, you get the best of both worlds, alongside chiselled, chalky texture and an extra spoonful of fruit sweetness compared to a classical vintage. Taking advantage of the vineyard’s intensity and to build complexity, Didier Defaix ferments a quarter of this wine in old, neutral barrels which previously housed Defaix’s old-vine Reserve Léchet bottling." - Bibendum
“Bursting with lemon curd, warm milk and crushed chalk on the nose, the same follow onto the well-balanced, nobly creamy and dry palate. The finish displays zesty acidity. Didier Defaix oversees 8 ha of vines here, making the domaine the largest holder of this Premier Cru.” - 93 Points, Christy Canterbury MW, Tim Atkin Burgundy Report
Bernard Defaix Chablis 'Montee de Tonnerre' 1er Cru 2023 -
$104 on special this week; $119 RRP
"Unlike Côte de Léchet, Defaix’s Monty is made from purchased fruit. Didier Defaix tells us he has worked with the same grower for 20 years. The Montée de Tonnerre is drawn from old vines in Chapelot, which forms 20 hectares of the vineyard on a similar southeast-facing aspect to the neighbouring Grands Crus. The vineyard’s iconic grower is, of course, Raveneau, although Moreau-Naudet, Billaud-Simon and others farm vines in this prestigious lieu-dit. This cuvée ferments with native yeasts entirely in used barrels (one to five years old) with regular bâtonnage. The wine is bottled after 12 months in barrel and a further six months in stainless steel. It’s a great release, full of mouthcoating, zingy fruit and stony energy." - Bibendum
"Didier calls this "more tonic", and it does have a refreshing, feel-good vibrancy. Detailed on the nose with forward scents of citrus zest, toasted almonds and sea shore, more of the same follows on the doubly intense palate. Crisply dry and already very complete, this is one not to miss in the line-up.” - 94 Points, Christy Canterbury MW, Tim Atkin Burgundy Report
Jaeger Defaix Rully Rouge 2023 -
$69 on special this week; $79 RRP
"Jaeger-Defaix’s newest red cuvée (100% Pinot Noir) comes from a small parcel of Rully village vines purchased in 2011. Sited in the Vorot lieu-dit, the 30-year-old vines have been farmed organically for decades. This well-sited parcel yields small bunches of grapes with thick skins and powerful juice. The fruit this year was entirely destemmed, and the wine was aged in seasoned oak barrels (from one to three years old) for 12 months. This is a juicy, highly enjoyable, elegant and rewarding Burgundy with cherry and violet-scented flesh and the suave, powdery mouthfeel of top-notch Pinot Noir." - Bibendum
"Very forward red fruit with a stony accent. Mouth-filling, the flavours framed with a grain of tannin. Really wide, slowly fading, delicious flavours – you could drink this now – no overt barrel character here…" - Bill Nanson, Burgundy Report
Jaeger Defaix Rully Blanc 'Les Cloux' 1er Cru 2023 -
$96 on special this week; $109 RRP
"Rully’s Les Cloux vineyard is located just south of the village, with south-easterly exposure on the sirloin cut of Rully 1er Cru overlooking the plain of Saône. Les Cloux is home to Defaix’s oldest vines, planted in 1944 on the classic clay/limestone mix found across the best sites in Burgundy. Since 2009, these old vines have been managed organically. Within Rully, Les Cloux is known for its ability to balance elegant and mouthwatering flesh with tangy grip and fine length, and 2022 delivers in spades. This 100% Chardonnay fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in older barrels (up to seven years old) for 12 months before settling in stainless steel." - Bibendum
“A more vertical nose – high and low tones. Hmm, a beautiful wine – mineral and intense but with a certain extra ripeness versus the Chablis. Cushioned but complex too. Really wide finishing – I love this wine!" - Bill Nanson, Burgundy Report
Jaeger Defaix Rully Rouge 'Clos du Chapitre' 1er Cru 2023 -
$104 on special this week; $119 RRP
"Clos du Chapître is a one-hectare monopole behind the family house and cellars within the Rully 1er Cru Chapître, enclosed by a two-metre-high stone wall. The Pinot yields here are controlled by severe pruning, disbudding and green harvesting. There is also manual sorting of bunches to keep only the most beautiful clusters of fruit. This year, the wine aged in oak barrels (10% new) for 12 months before settling in tank before bottling.Jancis Robinson MW has written that the wines from this site “offer proof that the Côte Chalonnaise can now field wines of serious interest to those raised on Côte d’Or wines”. As always, Clos du Chapître delivers the expected step up from the village Rully in depth, structure and complexity, yet there’s no lack of juicy brightness courtesy of this utterly charming vintage." - Bibendum
“Luxuriously sumptuous in decadently ripe red fruits, this has a beautiful nose of fine spice, violets, mulberries and boysenberries. The elegant structure is perfectly tempered with filmy tannins flowing seamlessly with lifting freshness.” - 94 Points, Christy Canterbury MW, Tim Atkin Burgundy Report
Benjamin Leroux Bourgogne Blanc 2023 -
$109 on special this week; $125 RRP
"Drawn from Leroux’s estate vineyards in Meursault—including Les Millerands, Sous la Velle and Les Belles Côtes—supplemented by a tiny parcel of purchased fruit from the Hautes Côtes de Beaune above Pernand-Vergelesses. There are seven parcels in total, and everything matured in large cask and foudre. Unlike the vast majority of Bourgogne (from the foot of the hill and across the D974), Leroux’s estate vines grow on lower slopes of the Côte, situated below the village-level vines of Meursault. This is a gorgeous, pithy white with good texture and sweet fruit yet equally good cut and racy freshness." - Bibendum
“From their own vines. Pale in colour and slightly reductive. A little fresh apple behind. White fruit fills out across the palate, sufficient acidity, then a juicy yellow fruit kicks in to extend the finish. Generous but balanced. Drink from 2026-2029.” - Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy
Benjamin Leroux Bourgogne Rouge 2023 -
$104 on special this week; $119 RRP
"Bourgogne-level fruit from Leroux’s key sources: the excellent Maison Dieu in Pommard, Mon Poulain in Volnay and Les Belles Côtes in Meursault. In 2022, these sites are complemented by village wines from Monthélie. Leroux opted to use whole-bunch fermentation only on the homegrown components. Maturation took place in 2,200-litre Grenier oak casks. As always, this punches way above its weight division. So crunchy and pure, yet with depth, it’s loaded with grenadine and red-cherry fruit and plenty of spice." - Bibendum
“Quite a rich purple. Slightly more graphite than fruit on the nose. The real wine emerges much more on the palate, quite rich dark red fruit with adequate acidity and certainly some length. Now there is fruit on the nose. Floral too, with the dark red fruit following up behind. Well balanced with good grip and quite special length.” - Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy
Tromba Tequila - on Tasting!
Saturday 18th October
3 to 7pm
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What's on Pour -
Tequila Blanco
Tequila Resposado
Tequila Añejo
Tequila Cafeto Coffee Liqueur
Tequila XA (Extra Añejo)
Tequila Cedano
If you wish to buy any of these wines, please use the links above
Alternatively, email us at sales@thewineemporium.com.au, or contact us on (07)32521117 if you have any questions.
// Special prices valid until Thursday the 23rd of October