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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Wendouree Malbec 2023

Wendouree Malbec 2023

Malbec | South Australia, Australia

AP Birks Wendouree Cellars produce some of the very few wines I’ll buy without tasting! The wines are something special. A celebration of an incredible old vineyard with plantings from the late 1800s. Tony & Lita are custodians of something truly special!Central vineyard planted in 1898.The Malbec is the best I've ever had from Australia. Malbec is a fickle variety that is a case of feast or famine. When flowering is poor so little fruit is realised that you can barely make a wine
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Egon Müller Wiltinger Braune Kupp Riesling Spatlëse 2021
The Godfather of the Saar makes truly special wine deserving of the title. AP: 05 22. The 2021er Wiltinger braune Kupp Riesling Spätlese is a sweet wine with a beautiful nose made of orchard fruits, cassis, floral elements, bergamot, chalk, and smoke. The wine is beautifully filigreed and elegant on the palate.A subtle touch of whipped cream adds some depth and silkiness to the overall focused and zesty experience. The finish is really to die for as it is both creamy and hugely zest, as one
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Auguste Clape Cornas 'Renaissance' 2020

Auguste Clape Cornas ‘Renaissance’ 2020

Shiraz/Syrah | Rhône Valley, Cornas

I tasted two components that will make up the bulk of the 2020 Cornas Renaissance, both still in foudre. From Patou and 15- to 20-year-old vines, a medium to full-bodied sample featuring mentholated red plum notes, chewy tannins and mouthwatering acids (90 - 92). From Reynard and 30-year-old vines, a medium to full-bodied sample that showed more cassis fruit, silky tannins and great freshness (93 - 95). They should make a lovely Cornas for drinking over the next 10-15 years. Joe Czerwinski, The
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$265ea in any 3+
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Denis Mortet Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru 'Les Champonnets' 2019
Les Champonnets, situated on the same line as the Grands Crus and very near to Ruchottes-Chambertin, is tucked up high near the entrance of the Lavaux combe (or valley). Mortet's parcel here used to make up almost half of his 1er Cru bottling above, and 2014 was the first year this parcel was vinified and bottled separately. It comes from a combination of very old vines (60-70 years old) and some younger, at around 30 years old. The soil is deep, yet with a strong limestone component that shows
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