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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Claudio Mariotto 'Cavallina' Derthona Timorasso 2020

Claudio Mariotto ‘Cavallina’ Derthona Timorasso 2020

Timorasso | Piedmont, Colli Tortonesi

The 2020 Cavallina is a fascinating iteration. Epic tension and minerality see it super tightly wound and taking time to resolve and build generosity. I initially tasted this over a year ago and saw the epic potential waiting for us. 6 months later it was only just starting to settle. It's one to be patient with. While the 2021 is a delicious drink straight out of the gate the 2020 is going to need time. It has a wonderful funk that I associate with low pH wines that have seen time on lees. All
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Ar.Pe.Pe Valtellina Superiore Sassella Stella Retica 2022
🇮🇹Bravo Isabella!👏🏻
As with the 2015, 2017 & 2019 I found myself not really wanting to write tasting notes simply wanting to devour the glass!Sassella typically produces the most elegant wines of the three communes with Inferno next and Grumello the boldest.Sassella has done it again! Perfume and intensity on the nose lovely flowers. Refined and more linear with an additional layer of tannins and textural intrigue. Super fine acid. It’ll be lovely to see this with a couple more years as it will relax
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Domaine Bouchard Pere et Fils Beaune 1er 'Vigne l'Enfant Jesus' 2020
This one of the more floral-suffused wines in the range with its hints of violet, rose petal and lavender that add touch of elegance to the very ripe poached plum scents that presently lack a bit of freshness. There is verve and freshness on the palate of the dense, voluminous and punchy flavors that coat the palate with dry extract that also serves to buffer the firm tannins shaping the powerful, serious and mildly warm finale. Note that my predicted range offers the benefit of the doubt that t
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Cavallotto Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis ‘Vigna San Giuseppe’ 2013
This is one of the benchmark traditional Barolo's from a classic years! Every time I’ve tried Cavallotto’s ‘Vigna San Guiseppe’ I’ve gone to a very happed place. The core of fruit in is always insane. Having tasted a dozen of the best Baroli alongside Vigna San Guiseppe over many vintages, it’s clear this is up at the top of the list. Cavallotto’s always beautifully balances power with elegance. The 2013 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe is fabulous. The aromatics a
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