News From Pigeon + Friends: New (Mini) Cellar Sale
It’s no secret that we love Burgundy at Le Pigeon and Canard, and we feel like we know a good bit about the region and the wines. Keeping abreast of what is new is the fun challenge, but every so often we are surprised. We get to discover (for ourselves) something that is not new at all, that was just hiding from us in plain sight. Not that many years ago we were introduced to the wines of Domaine Jouan and we were floored. We asked ourselves:
”How have we never heard of this Domaine before?”
“How can this bottle taste even more titular than what it is?”
“Do we want anyone else to know about it now that we do?”
Each year on release we’d buy whatever was allocated to us, then this year we were able to secure a lot, so we are pleased to share.
As simplistic as it sounds these wines taste how you want them to taste. They are expressive of their origin, giving of fruit and, texturally lush and elegant, but balanced with tension, and with a subtle earthiness and minerality we crave.
The Domaine, located in Morey-St.-Denis, is tiny. Farming less than four hectares in the Cotes de Nuits, and selling most of his grapes, they do not produce much. It is run by Philippe who has taken over from his father Henri. Henri is a contemporary, friend, and neighbor to Jacky Truchot, and there is a commonality to their wines. The Jouan wines could be described as slightly coarser in comparison, which is like comparing silk and satin and calling the satin rough. The winemaking is all about bringing their old vines to prominence. 100% destemming, gentle extractions, cool fermentations, and minimal influence of new wood across the range.
We are excited to offer them in 2 formats. A 3-pack that shows the Domaine’s excellence across 3 tiers: Regional, Village and Premier Cru. As well as a 2 pack of a lieux-dit of Gevrey Chambertin that is one of the Domaine’s gems.
It has been said that a great wine gets better, but never has a bad phase and always tastes great. That would apply to these. Yes, these wines will improve with age, but out of complete selflessness we have opened and tried the wines, and they are banging today!
TO ORDER select your wine bundle of choice, follow the steps to securely order your wine. All payments will be processed ahead of time through our website.
Once you order they will be available for pickup at Le Pigeon beginning Wednesday the 2nd at noon. Then Tuesdays through Saturdays from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. You can pick them up from our front door, or we can bring them out to your car. If those times do not work for you, please let us know and we can arrange an alternative.
We are all in this together, and when you’re drinking good stuff, well hey, you’re keeping it classy
Domaine Jouan 3-Pack (1 bottle each of the following 3 wines) $245
Coteaux Bourguignons, Vieilles Vignes, Cuvée Thomas, 2017
This pinot is from vines that are over 40 years old (the youngest at the Domaine). It is rare to have a regional Burgundy show this much complexity and depth.
Chambolle Musigny, Vieilles Vignes, 2017
From three sites in Chambolle: in Derriére la Four (70 years old), Les Herbués, and Les Chardannes, “…aromas of cherries, raspberries and peonies mingled with sweet soil tones. Medium to full-bodied, deep and lively, it’s a characterful, nicely-balanced wine.”
Morey-Saint-Denis, 1er Cru Clos Sorbé, Vieilles Vignes, 2017
The Jouans regard this 1er Cru vineyard, as their other Grand Cru site, and is broadly acknowledged as one of the top 1er Crus of Morey-St.-Denis. The vines are well over 80 years old. Succulent is a great descriptor of this wine. Showing the lovely berry fruit of the village with spice, cocoa, and so much depth, if it was a pool you couldn’t see the bottom.
Domaine Jouan Gevrey 2-Pack (2 bottles of the wine below) $145
Gevrey-Chambertin, Aux Echezeaux, 2017
This wine comes from a very special parcel at the southern end of Gevrey-Chambertin on the border with Morey-St.-Denis and bordered on 2 sides by the Grand Cru Vineyard of Charmes-Chambertin. From a parcel of 80-year-old vines comes one of the finest village wines in all of Burgundy. Red plums, dark cherry, soil, iron, licorice was just some of the aromas we lobbed out of our mouths as we tasted this. The wine is medium-full with great flesh and structure. Balanced with acidity and a finish that last minutes.