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.J.Adam Dhroner Hofberg Auslese** Riesling HALF 2019

Riesling from Mosel, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer

A.J.Adam Dhroner Hofberg Auslese** Riesling HALF 2019

AP 19.20 The 2019er Hofberg Auslese **, as it is referred to on the consumer label, is a selection of botrytized grapes (60%) harvested at 125° Oechsle from the main hill of the vineyard, and was fermented down to noble-sweet levels of residual sugar. It offers a beautifully ripe and alluring nose of honeyed peach, apricot, pineapple, cherry, mango, yoghurt cream, and tar, all wrapped into quite some spices, herbs, and a hint of volatile acidity. The wine proves sweet, honeyed, and deeply r

Vintage 2019 375ml
$125
$120ea in any 3+
$115ea in any 6+
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Agrapart 7 Crus Brut (Base 2020/19)

Chardonnay from Cramant, Côte des Blancs

Agrapart 7 Crus Brut (Base 2020/19)

Disgorged June 2023. Limited. 100% Grand Cru, with the fruit sourced only from great sites across four revered villages in the Côte des Blancs: Avize, Cramant, Oger and Oiry. Together with the terroir, vine age is a key factor in quality. The average age of the plantings is more than 50 years.This release is based on 2019 and 2018, with the reserve wine making up a remarkable 80% of the cuvée—another key to the quality. After natural fermentation, half the wine matured in large-format, n

Vintage 2019
$181
$174ea in any 3+
$167ea in any 6+
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Vietti Barolo 'Ravera' 2018

Nebbiolo from Novello, Barolo

Vietti Barolo ‘Ravera’ 2018

The 2018 Barolo Ravera is a wine of real depth and vertical structure. As always, the Ravera is a taut, nervy Barolo built on energy more than volume. Readers will have to be patient, as the Ravera is likely to require a number of years to be at its most expressive. Even in the early going, it is vibrant and full of life. Rose petal, chalk, blood orange and white pepper lend striking exotic top notes that are quite suggestive of what the future is going to bring. What a gorgeous Barolo this is..

Vintage 2018
$470
$460ea in any 3+
$450ea in any 6+
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Domaine de l'Arlot Nuits-Saint-Georges '1er Cru Clos de l'Arlot' Monopole 2023

Pinot Noir from Nuits-Saint-Georges, Côte-de-Nuits

Domaine de l’Arlot Nuits-Saint-Georges ‘1er Cru Clos de l’Arlot’ Monopole 2023

“The 2023 Nuits Saint-Georges Clos de l'Arlot ler Cru has a vibrant bouquet that one might mistake for containing some stems-slightly darker fruit, with a touch of seaweed The palate is medium-bodied with a saline entry, very well balanced and elegant in style, with a harmonious and persistent finish. Quite seductive.”Neal Martin, Vinous 92-94 Points

Vintage 2023
$442
$422ea in any 3+
$402ea in any 6+
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