Monopole


A Fench term referring to a single vineyard or Climat with just one owner.

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A Fench term referring to a single vineyard or Climat with just one owner.

Most commonly used in Burgundy where vineyard holdings have been divided through hereditary title. Upon the death of the owner the land is split equally between all children. It is common for a single vineyard to have multiple owners. The Grand Cru, Chambertin, in the village of Gevrey-Chambertin had 23 owners with 40 producers last time I looked. Each owner may have as little as a few rows of vines yielding just enough fruit to make a single barrel of wine.

Famous Monopoles include La Romanée-Conti, La Tâche (both owned by Domaine de la Romanée Conti) and La Grand Rue (Francois LaMarche) in Vosne-Romanée, Clos de Tart (owned by Francois Pinot of Latour since 2017) in Morey-Saint-Denis, and, Clos des Ruchottes (Armand Rousseau) in Gevrey-Chambertin.

Outside Burgundy think  Clos de la Coulée de Serrant, Château-Grillet and Trimbach’s Clos Sainte Hune.

Some clearly denote Monopole on the label others do not.

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A pretty if noticeably reserved nose features a layered assortment of mineral reduction, acacia blossom, lemon rind and freshly sliced Granny Smith apples. The succulent and tautly muscular larger-scaled flavors exhibit plenty of minerality while culminating in a powerful and beautifully persistent finale. This is really quite stylish and could aptly be described as a Corton-Charlemagne of refinement. 2028+ Burghound
$550
$530ea in any 3+
$510ea in any 6+

Château Grillet 2020

Viognier | Rhône Valley, Château Grillet

The perfume alone is enough to make your heart race! Château Grillet (pronounced Gree-yay) makes one of the world’s most sublime white wines from Viognier. It’s price is heading into the stratosphere. I loved playing with the Viognier at Yarra Yering, may have been from Grillet cuttings, may not ….. and was fortunate to drink my fair share of Grillet. For years there was never enough Viognier at YY to make an individual white wine. It was always co-fermented with Shiraz to make the Dr
$1,350
$1330ea in any 3+
$1310ea in any 6+

Luciano Sandrone Barolo ‘Vite Talin’ 2016

Nebbiolo | Barolo (sub-region), Italy

There are some perks to the job! Got to try the newest edition to Sandrone's list of Barolo, the Riserva 'Vite Talin'. 30 years in the making and it's quite some wine! Such a special wine. Unforuntately, there was not an opportunity to try the 2016. It's a Barolo vintage I am fond of. Reviews are below. My notes of the 2013: Intoxicating nose. Such a complete perfume, the incredible core of fruit is wrapped in truffles, earth & forest floor. The richness, depth, and, length a matched
$930
$910ea in any 3+
$890ea in any 6+
A bold Spatlese showing the ripeness of the Rheingau over the moselle. Rich and vinous, ripe apricot kernel, musk and spice with a phenolic sweep playing beautifully with the acid and sugar to reveal a cleansing finish. Complex and fine a beautiful Spätlese.  The 2021 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling Spätlese offers an intense, almost raisiny but also fresh and flinty bouquet with concentrated and candied fruit aromas. Rich and lush on the palate, with stimulating salinity and piquancy, t
$167
$160ea in any 3+
$153ea in any 6+