Special Sunday French Sale!
We're doing a little spring cleaning today, bringing you special sale pricing on 15 of our favorite wines. And, with a focus on 2019 and 2020 releases from Bordeaux, they all happen to be from France!
Scroll down to find wines from the Rhône Valley, Loire Valley, Burgundy, Bordeaux and beyond. Reds, whites and sparklers with scores to 99 points, all at clear-it-out prices ranging from $12.99 to $165.99.
Supplies are limited to what we have on hand, so smash down fast on that Order Button below. As always, we'll indicate on the order form as items sell out.
~ Sparkling/Champagne ~
2017 Foreau "Domaine du Clos Naudin" Brut
Vouvray, Loire Valley, France
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At one of our favorite addresses for sparkling wine not just in the Loire but in all of France, traditionalist Philippe Foreau oversees his family's 113-year-old domaine. From his 11.5 hectares in Vouvray, this 8+ year old vintage bubbly delivers high-tension structure and minerality just as well as Champagne, with distinctive Vouvray flavors of honey and chalk supported by deep yellow apple, smoke, dried pear, lemon peel, chamomile and peach pit complexities.
Finishing deliciously long with mouthwatering minerality, his "Domaine du Clos Naudin" Brut is a Méthode Traditionnelle sparkler for Champagne lovers. We found just one online listing, at $45. That's 50% more than today's sale price!
Median Online Retail: $45Vin Chicago Sunday Sale Price: 29.99
Michel Genet "Redblend 9208" Brut Rosé NV
Champagne, France
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This organically-farmed Grand Cru Rosé Champagne from the village of Chouilly combines 92% Chardonnay with, a rarity for this area, 8% barrel aged Coteaux Champenois still Pinot Noir. The result is a beautifully colored Champagne with a dash of indulgent gravity. Aged on the lees for 36 months before finishing with an 8g/L dosage, the prevailing personality is in line with its Blanc de Blanc underpinnings, just with a little more oomph!
There's a nice synergy to this yummy pink sparkler, with minerally soil notes lingering atop lemon-curd, brioche, fresh golden apple, toasted hazelnuts and dashes of strawberry.
We appear to be the only one in the US to have this tiny-production grower Champagne. An international search shows 20 listings in Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Belgium, UK, Poland and Taiwan, with a median of $60. Today, we bring this legit Grand Cru Rosé Champagne to you for only $39.99. Crazy!
Median Online Retail: $60Vin Chicago Sunday Sale Price: 39.99
~ Whites ~
2021 Simon Forgue & Julien Pilon "Dahu" Blanc
Rhône Valley, France
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This wonderful white combines Viognier from star vigneron Julien Pilon's vineyards just outside Condrieu with a surprising co-star, Petit Manseng from his friend's vineyard in the southwestern French region of Jurançon!
Spiced tangerine zest, pineapple, herb-laced mango and orange marmalade are among the fun exotic highlights of this bright, stony, richly flavored 50/50 blend. Dynamic and fresh on the palate with a waxy texture and loads of invigorating phenolic grip, it is perfect to thoughtfully taste and drink with a meal of intensely flavored, highly-seasoned food.
Break out this small production wine with guests who love unique and delicious whites. Our original price was $29.
Regular Price: $29Vin Chicago Sunday Sale Price: 21.99
2023 Château Brane-Cantenac "Baron de Brane"
Bordeaux, France
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Along with fellow commune-member Château Margaux, Château Brane-Cantenac was one of 58 estates ranked in the famed 1855 Classification of Bordeaux. Back then, Brane Cantenac was not producing white wine. As with many of their famous neighbors, they are now!
By French law, there's no such thing as a Margaux Blanc. Labeled simply as Bordeaux Blanc, this racy "Baron de Brane" Sauvignon Blanc dominated wine is the "second" white from Brane-Cantenac and is is priced right. Showing no new oak influence, its refreshing and contemporary notes of lemon curd, green pear, green papaya and banana skin are given further exoticism by flashes of lemongrass and mangosteen.
Pair this versatile wine with lightly sauced chicken and pasta dishes, Thai fish cakes, soups and salads. Vivacious, with a tipple more texture than most Sancerre, it is a strong buy at its typical $30 price. Today's price handily beats every listing.
Median Online Retail: $30Vin Chicago Sunday Sale Price: 23.99
2023 Domaine Huet "Le Mont" Moelleux
Vouvray, Loire Valley, France
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Domaine Huet is the leading estate in Vouvray, the Loire Valley’s most famous zone for Chenin Blanc. Wines are crafted in various styles here, with Moelleux being the most decadent.
If you want to know how exceptional Loire Valley Chenin can be, grab a bottle or more of "Le Mont" to drink now and over the coming 20+ years. As evidenced by the multitude of 95- and 96-Point reviews, this is a real "WOW" wine!
“Pouring a youthful yellow/golden hue, the 2023 Vouvray Moelleux Le Mont offers spicy notes of ginger, yellow flowers, poached golden apples, hay, and freshly rained-on asphalt. Medium-bodied, it excels and takes things to the next level with its texture, and its sweetness feels both luxurious and weightless. This exceptional offering has tremendous potential for aging and pairings. Drink over the coming 15 years or more.”
- 96 Points, Jeb Dunnuck (10/22/2024)
“It’s hard to imagine a dessert wine that’s better balanced than this, because the acidity and richness seem to dance across your palate. It’s dense and complex, with myriad aromas of dried fruit, candied citrus, floral honey and fresh garden herbs, but the final impression is of incredible clarity and precision. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
- 96 Points, James Suckling (10/22/2024)
“The 2023 Vouvray Moelleux Le Mont is a ripe, round, serious, suit-wearing wine style that's upright and conservative. It’s sweet (74g/l) but never feels luscious, and yet there's a tropical character to the fruit that gives richness to this reserved style. The effect of the flint is clear in the 2023’s sense of freshness. It's textured, pure, balanced and harmonious. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2046.”
- 95 Points, Vinous - Rebecca Gibb MW (5/2024)
Incredibly delicious and luxurious in its youth, this will develop beautifully for many years to come. Only 19 bottles available.
Median Online Retail: $55Vin Chicago Sunday Sale Price: 47.99
~ Languedoc & Rhône ~
2022 La Closerie des Lys Pays d'Oc Pinot Noir
Languedoc, France
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In the Languedoc region of southern France, roughly 50 kilometers south of the famed walled village of Carcassonne, the tiny family-run property of La Closerie des Lys is bottling one of the best value Pinot Noirs in all of France. Sourced from organically farmed Pinot Noir grapes growing at high elevation, this earthy, light red-fruited Pinot tastes like a $25 Bourgogne Rouge. Lifted, very well balanced and impressively long, it is delicious at the table with fish, chicken or braised meats.
Looking online we found one listing at $29 for this vintage, and a median of $22 for the subsequent bottling. At a whole lot less, our sale price makes this tasty Pinot Noir a very easy pick.
Median Online Retail: $22Vin Chicago Sunday Sale Price: 14.99
2020 Font du Vent "Cuvée Tradition"
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhône Valley, France
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This traditionally styled Châteauneuf-du-Pape features 70% Grenache blended with 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and a 10% combo of Counoise, Cinsault, Terret Noir, Vaccarèse, Clairette and Bourboulenc. Awarding 93 points, Wine Spectator writes...
“Stylish and glossy, with an alluring mix of mulled red currant, cassis and lavender. While this shows up-front fruit, there's good savory detail in the background, with pencil shavings, garrigue and a whiff of smoke, plus velvety tannins guiding the very fresh finish. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2032.”
- 93 Points, Wine Spectator (2/28/2023)
“Aromas of dried herbs, strawberry jam, ripe red plum and crushed rocks introduce the 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Tradition, a layered, full-bodied red with good concentration, balanced by lively acids and culminating in a savory finish.”
- 92 Points, Vinous - Nicolas Greinacher (4/2023)
Wine Spectator quotes $49 which matches this wine's typical price. Today's special Sunday blowout price is a whole lot less!
Release Price: $49Vin Chicago Sunday Sale Price: 29.99
2019 Domaine Paul Autard "Juline"
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhône Valley, France
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The great Paul Autard crafts this lovely 200 case production powerhouse, named for his two children, using a selection of his estate's top parcels.
Lavish and deeply concentrated, this equal parts blend of Grenache and Syrah was fermented on the skins for one month in small French oak barrels followed by 20 months aging in new French oak. The result is a full-throttle, full-bodied red that exudes the classic deep red and black fruit characteristics of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, layered with spices, dried herbs, flowers, and a warm, rocky earthiness.
“Very expressive and fruit-driven, with a gorgeous beam of raspberry, plum and cherry puree flavors stitched together seamlessly, while enticing red tea, incense and red licorice notes fill in throughout. Gorgeous mouthfeel through the lengthy finish, too. Grenache and Syrah. Best from 2023 through 2034. 200 cases made, 50 cases imported.”
- 95 Points, Wine Spectator (7/31/2022)
Wine Spectator quotes $100. We found a single online listing at $85. Our move-it-out sale price blows them both away!
Release Price: $100Vin Chicago Sunday Sale Price: 59.99
~ Burgundy ~
2014 Domaine Philippe Charlopin "Terres Blanches"
Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy, France
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A 12-year old Gevrey at a sub-$50 blowout price? Yes, please! Philippe Charlopin is a small grower with an impressive collection of village, Premier and Grand Cru vineyard holdings, primarily in the commune of Gevrey-Chambertin.
The “Terres Blanches” hails from his clay and limestone rich estate vineyards in the southern stretch of Gevrey-Chambertin. Earthy and dried red fruits lead the way while mushroom, sous bois, and baking spice flavors are alive and complex in this classic, medium-weighted, perfectly-aged Burgundy.
Raised in new and used French oak, and kept for the last 10 years in a local temperature controlled warehouse, this is a tremendous find, earning a strong 93 points on our scale. No listings for this vintage anywhere on the planet. The worldwide median for 2017 to 2023 vintages is $97. Thanks to a blowout deal from the importer, we present this impressive Pinot Noir at a bonkers price.
Median Online Retail: $97Vin Chicago Sunday Sale Price: 45.99
2022 Domaine Taupenot-Merme Premier Cru
Auxey-Duresses, Burgundy, France
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Imported by Kermit Lynch, Domaine Taupenot-Merme has a passionate following, with demand outstripping supply. That's why we were so surprised to find this gem hidden on a recent distributor closeout list!
Romain Taupenot is the ninth generation to run this family property in Morey-Saint-Denis. Along with his sister Virginie, he organically farms an enviable collection Premier and Grand Cru vineyayds in Gevrey, Morey, and the oft overlooked commune of Auxey-Duresses.
Hailing from their 0.6 hectare holdings on two Premier Cru sites, Les Duresses and Les Grands Champs - the oldest of which were planted over 70 years ago, this pure and complex wine earns an excited 94+ points from our team.
Featuring the kind of sublime texture that Burgundy enthusiasts seek out, this flavorful, dense and generous red boasts cherry fruit, clay and limestone notes with a long, lovely finish.
We found four online listings with a median of just over $100. Today's price blows away every one of them.
Median Online Retail: $100Vin Chicago Sunday Sale Price: 75.99
~ Bordeaux ~
2020 Château de Francs
Francs-Côte de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
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Based on Merlot, Château de Francs is owned by Hubert de Boüard of Château Angélus fame. According to reports from our importer, the fruit from this property is now blended into Hubert’s more expensive Tempo d'Angelus project. In the very good 2020 vintage, it yielded a soft and drinkable Bordeaux with an impressive structure - and a RIDICULOUS price.
Look for flavors of plum, black cherry, cedar and cigar wrapper along with a pleasing texture and an impressive finish. We are big fans of quality, value-priced Bordeaux. This Right Bank bottling is such a wine, earning 91 points from our team.
A large national retailer currently carries this at $19, though it’s not clear which vintage they have. Our sale price is totally ridiculous for a wine of this quality. If you enjoy real Bordeaux at a bargain price, consider this for a case purchase.
Reference Price: $19Vin Chicago Sunday Sale Price: 12.99
2019 Château Larrivaux
Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France
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From the wonderfully plush 2019 vintage, we had this seven-year-old red imported for us after tasting it last year at a negociant tasting in Bordeaux. Blending 59% Merlot with 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, the Château Larrivaux is soft and impressively complex with a range of dark red fruits, hints of earthy minerality, a rich texture and a generous finish.
“Richly expressive nose, full of ripe blackcurrant and bramble aromas. This has a lovely liquorice core alongside juicy strawberries and raspberries. I like the texture here too, chewy but soft tannins with a hint of dryness coming from the acidity at the moment. Feels nice and well balanced and I like the fresh minty kick on the finish also. Good stuff. Drinking Window: 2023 - 2034.”
- 92 Points, Decanter (1/4/2022)
“The 2019 Larrivaux is a very pretty, gracious wine. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry fruit, mint, blood orange and spice are all beautifully lifted. Silky, understated and classy to the core, Larrivaux is a winner in 2019. Drinking Window: 2022 - 2034.”
- 92 Points, Vinous - Antonio Galloni (1/2022)
Upon its release three years ago, median online retail in the US was $30. You just don't normally find Bordeaux this good for twenty-two bucks!
Median Online Retail: $30Vin Chicago Sunday Sale Price: 21.99
2019 Château Chauvin
St.-Emilion, Bordeaux, France
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Since Sylvie Cazes purchased Château Chauvin in 2014, this small estate has been on the rise. Pouring a fully opaque ruby color with garnet and purple hues, her 2019 Chauvin is velvety, dense, fresh, and elegantly balanced, earning these rave 93- and 94-Point reviews...
“I continue to love the wines from this chateau. The 2019 Chateau Chauvin shows an impeccably balanced, elegant, yet still concentrated style that's well worth seeking out. Mostly Merlot (there's some Cabernet Franc as well as a tiny amount of Cabernet Sauvignon), its deep purple hue is followed by a clean, pure, medium to full-bodied wine offering classic ripe darker cherry and currant fruits as well as spicy oak, chalky minerality, and hints of tobacco. It's still closed and reserved today, yet the balance is spot on, it has beautifully ripe tannins, and a great mid-palate. It's going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and have at least two decades of prime drinking. It's wonderful stuff. Maturity: 2026 - 2047.”
- 94+ Points, Jeb Dunnuck (4/11/2022)
“High toned cherry fruit on the nose, smells lively. Lovely purity on the palate and also some perfumed aspects which I really like. Nice solid core of flavour - elegant and refined. Textured almost like chewing grape skins with the dryness but also the flavour at the same time. Good overall impression and one for earlier approachability. Drinking Window: 2023 - 2041.”
- 93 Points, Decanter (1/4/2022)
“Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Chauvin leaps with bright black raspberries, Morello cherries, and juicy blackberries notes plus hints of cinnamon stick and rose oil. Medium-bodied, refreshing, and elegant, the palate is packed with bright, crunchy fruit and a soft texture, finishing long and savory. Drinking: 2024-2040.”
- 93 Points, The Wine Independent (5/9/2022)
“Extremely aromatic with chalk and dried flowers, as well as blackberries and blueberries. It’s medium-to full-bodied with a steady layer of medium, round and chewy tannins and a long, spicy finish of white pepper and dark fruit. Try after 2026.”
- 94 Points, James Suckling (2/20/2022)
Packed in handsome six-bottle wood cases, the 2019 Chauvin can be enjoyed now or cellared for several more years. Our sale price is lowest in the country!
Median Price: $44Vin Chicago Sunday Sale Price: 37.99
2019 Château de Fieuzal
Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France
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Previously selected as a “Wine of the Year” by one of our senior tasters, this is classic Bordeaux fashioned in an old school style. Based on Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 Fieuzal leads with cassis, blackcurrant, a smoky savoriness and freshness that is typical to wines from the gravelly soils of Pessac-Léognan. All this, plus a tannin structure suggesting at least 10 more years of prime drinking window.
“Smells like cassis liqueur on the nose. This is full and bold but with excellent, mouthwatering acidity - lots of energy here. A lifted style but still with that core of deep, dense chewy fruit. Really a winning combination of all the elements with the oak giving structure, weight and texture. Sculpted fruit and well handled acidity. Still has some spiky edges to the fruit, hints of cedar and clove giving a piquance but this is lovely stuff. Drinking Window: 2024 - 2044.”
- 94 Points, Decanter (1/4/2022)
“The 2019 Chateau de Fieuzal has a complex nose, a melange of red and black fruit, crushed stone and a touch of black truffle. Serious. The palate is beautifully balanced with firm, quite solid tannins, a Pessac-Leognan built for the long-term with a sapid, almost briny finish. This is the best de Fieuzal in recent years. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2050.”
- 93 Points, Vinous - Neal Martin (1/2023)
“The succulence of this wine is impressively palpable. It adds black currant fruits to spice, while keeping solid tannins in the background. This fine combination means it will certainly age well. Drink from 2026. Editors' Choice.”
- 94 Points, Wine Enthusiast (10/1/2022)
Looking online we found eight listings. Today's price handily beats them all.
Reference Price: $52Vin Chicago Sunday Sale Price: 39.99
2020 Château La Dominique
St.-Emilion, Bordeaux, France
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This a serious, classically-styled Bordeaux, and it is just beginning to enter its early maturity stage. Drink or hold!
“The 2020 La Dominique is every bit as impressive as it was from barrel. Dark and sumptuous in the glass, the 2020 is racy and wonderfully sleek right out of the gate. Dark cherry, gravel, spice, dried flowers and espresso lend shades of darkness to this deep, wonderfully plush La Dominique. Superb. Drinking Window: 2027 - 2040.”
- 96 Points, Vinous - Antonio Galloni (12/2022)
“Coming from the northwest region of the appellation, not far from Cheval Blanc, and L'L' just across the road, the 2020 Chateau La Dominique is another round, supple, incredibly impressive wine from this estate, which has clearly been on an upward trajectory. A blend of 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 14 months in 50% new barrels (17% was in amphora), its deep ruby/purple hue is followed by a Pomerol-like array of cassis, darker cherries, chocolate, truffly earth, and spring flowers. With medium to full-bodied richness, a round, supple, sexy mouthfeel, and beautiful tannins, it's another remarkable effort that readers will love to have in the cellar. While it offers pleasure even today, it's going to benefit from just 3-5 years of bottle age and shine over the following 15+. Maturity 2026 - 2041.”
- 95 Points, Jeb Dunnuck (3/29/2023)
“Lovely rich aromatic expression on the nose, so fragrant and full. Sleek and streamlined, a gorgeous texture, confident but charming, silky with a soft grip from the tannins but really well integrated with dark bramble fruits, liquorice and stone elements. It feels as if it's a little shy right now, not really giving its full expression but this stands out for the excellent acidity and purity of fruit. Well detailed and nuanced with toasted oak, tobacco and clove. Confident winemaking on show. Drinking Window: 2027 - 2042.”
- 96 Points, Decanter (1/1/2023)
Only three cases available. Bordeaux lovers, do not miss out!
Median Price: $70Vin Chicago Sunday Sale Price: 57.99
