Wine Club

Chateau Marjosse 2020 Bordeaux

Grape Varietal: Merlot 80%, Cabernet Sauvignon 6%, Cabernet Franc 10%, Malbec 4%
Origin: Bordeaux, France

WINE INDEPENDENT 94 POINTS

"Medium garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Marjosse Rouge needs a little coaxing to reveal notes of cast-iron pan, crushed rocks, and dusty soil over a core of red plums, blackberry preserves, and mulberries, plus a hint of bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is tightly knit with fine-grained tannins and bold freshness supporting the nuanced black and red fruits, finishing long and minerally." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Chateau Marjosse is undoubtedly one of the greatest values to be found in Bordeaux. The reds are fruit-forward, supple and eminently drinkable. The whites are also delicious and refreshing.

Hi-Time's buyers tasted this wine and were impressed by the purity of fruit and soft, silky tannins. Noted critic, Lisa Perrotti-Brown who recently left the Wine Advocate to create the Wine Independent was also impressed. Perrotti-Brown gave the wine a rating of 94 Points remarking of the "fine-grained tannins and bold freshness supporting the nuanced black and red fruits."

Incredibly, Marjosse is owned by Pierre Lurton who is the managing director of two famous First Growth Bordeaux estates, Chateau Cheval Blanc in Saint Emilion and Chateau dYquem in Sauternes. His know how and resources are apparent and take this Bordeaux to the next level.

The grapes are sourced from the humble Entre Deux Mers area of Bordeaux where the land is much less expensive, especially as it has been owned by Lurton for decades. The terroir of Chateau Marjosse is primarily clay with limestone soils on gentle slopes that allow for excellent drainage.

Over the years, the vineyards have been replanted and the winery has been upgraded to take advantage of the latest advances. Chateau Marjosse is vinified in smaller temperature-controlled vats to allow for parcel-by-parcel vinification. Aging is in a combination of new and used French oak barrels.

The drinkability and affordability of Chateau Marjosse makes this a compelling purchase. Enjoy!

Misfits & Mavens 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

Grape Varietal: 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Merlot
Origin: California, USA

Bright, ripe fruit in the lead with excellent structure via tannins and acidity keeping the wine extremely balanced; very drinkable, food friendly and/or ideal solo. This one has it all!

This Cab (88%) has 8% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Merlot, making for some nice depth and breadth of flavor. The nose leads with strawberries and cherry cola, two strong component scents-- touches of mixed herbs and dark florals keep it well-rounded. Upon tasting, the ripe fruit again is the star of the show: strawberry and cherry. Highlighting and supporting the ripe flavors, moderate tannins and acidity keep the wine fresh and vibrant on the tongue, amplifying the brightness while not allowing it to become cloying on the palate. The finish lingers on-- with fruit resolving alongside hints of midnight garden, candle wax and light earth.

The Phillips Family and Lodi go way back. "We've been farming this soil since the 1860s and cultivating wine grapes since the early 20th century. Our founders, brothers Michael and David Phillips, are 5th generation grape growers who have raised their families in the vineyard, and now the 6th generation has joined the team, Mike's daughter Melissa. We, more than most, understand the importance of leaving it better than you found it for future generations. Our family legacy and love of Lodi drive our focus on sustainability."

This is easy-drinking, hedonistic wine with excellent structure and rich depth of flavor. Stock up (great bang-for-the-buck value on this one!), sip throughout Spring and Summer (get the grill ready!).

Wine Tip

Full bodied, dark fruited Cabernet Sauvignon from California at a very reasonable price.

Musar 2021 Jeune Red Blend

Grape Varietal: 50% Cinsault, 35% Syrah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon
Origin: Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

This delightful red comes to us from Lebanon's famous Chateau Musar located in the Bekka Valley. The Jeune red is an unoaked blend of 50% Cinsault; 35% Syrah and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Decanter magazine: "The Jeune range is made for unfussy, early-drinking pleasure. The red is intense but soft. Fermented and aged in stainless steel, then bottled without filtration in the summer after harvest, this wine is all about fruit-forward boldness and velvety warmth."

Deep purple beetroot colour with a nose and palate of more red fruits than black; strawberries and cherries. Unoaked, with a savoury, earthy depth and a touch of spice and black pepper define the 2021 vintage. It is an elegant wine with layers of taste and lots of potential to age and develop from its’ release in 2023.

Wine Tip

At 13% alcohol, this medium/full bodied wine from Lebanon will surprise you. It has some serious depth and structure but it is also very easy drinking and soft. 2021 was a great vintage in Lebanon.

Chave 2022 Cotes du Rhone Mon Coeur

Grape Varietal: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault
Origin: Southern Rhone, Visan, Rasteau, Vinsobres, Cairanne

Organic Farming

The Chave family is based in a small village on the northern right bank of the Rhone. There have been Chaves growing vines on the famous Hermitage hill since 1481. Gerard Chave took over from his father in 1970 and rapidly achieved megastar status due to the extraordinary quality of his wines and has since passed on the winemaking responsibilities to his son Jean-Louis. Their unmatched meticulousness continues through five centuries to render venerable expressions of the purest of Rhône terroir. Though the Côtes-du-Rhône is technically made from purchased fruit, Chave generally has financed his sources and takes their grapes by a métayage (sharecropping) arrangement. He has more or less complete control over the farming, which is organic. The grapes are shipped to Chave’s facility inside his Saint-Joseph Le Clos site in Mauves. Fermentation is in stainless steel tanks and élevage is in an assortment of new and old barrels, demi-muids and large foudres at the magnificently restored cellar at Le Clos. At the conclusion of élevage, the wines are assembled and transported to the original “Selections Cellar” next to the Domaine where the wines undergo filtration, collage, etc. and are bottled. Total production is approximately 15,000 cases. Jean-Louis Chave Selections, his négociant line which sources grapes from various areas in the northern Rhône, represents a more accessible way for the consumer to experience the wines of the Chave family. “Mon Coeur” Côtes-du-Rhône is a blend of excellent plots in Vinsobres, Visan, Buisson, and Estargues while “Silène” Crozes-Hermitage is 50% estate Syrah and 50% purchased. As with all things Chave, quality is eminent even at the entry level.

Wine Tip

Jean-Louis Chave is one of the top winemakers in the northern Rhone. This is his negociant offering. It is a little bit more fruit forward than his own production and absolutely delicious.

Marco Bonfante 2022 I Ronchetti

Grape Varietal: 100% Cortese
Origin: Gavi, Italy

I Ronchetti comes from our selection of the best grapes from the Sorì Ronchetti Vineyard, in the heart of Gavi area. It is a surprising wine: it has a delicate smell with a strong character. Its big personality derives from its intense minerality.

The elegance and class, both on the nose and on the palate, are the distinctive notes of this wine which represents the real essence of Gavi.

In the glass I Ronchetti shows a clear straw yellow color. The aromas are intense and typical for the variety, with scents of banana and citrus fruits. On the palate it is extremely dry and elegant. The intense minerality and the typical aftertaste bitter almond makes this Gavi a wine of superior level.

Some Gavi wines are called “Gavi di Gavi” because the fruit is precisely from the City of Gavi. It is in no way an indication of quality since there are good (and not so good) Gavi produced inside and outside of Gavi.

Le Capitaine 2022 Vouvray Perrieres

Grape Varietal: 100% Chenin Blanc
Origin: Vouvray, Loire, France

Reveals a nice combo of peach, apricot, pears and gooseberry dominated by grapefruit , with a traditional background of white flowers combined with cinnamon and vanilla.

The Vouvray appellation was created in 1936 and can be considered as one of the most important white wine producting areas in the loire valley. The Vouvray appellation is located on the northern bank of the loire river, next to the city of Tours in the Touraine district. The Vouvray wines are exclusively made from the chenin blanc grape also called pineau de la loire. The chenin blanc grape provides fruity and floral aromas with honey flavour and a nice refreshing acidity to wines. The vines are planted in gravel and clay top soil over the famous local white limestone “tuffeau”, providing the plant enough water when needed.

The Vouvray appellation offers a large range of wines from dry to sweet with an important part of the production dedicated to sparkling wine. The sweet wines are often made from berries touched by the noble rot. The sparkling wines are made from the traditional method technics.

The climate has a huge impact on the Vouvray vineyard making sparkling wines and dry wines with poor weather condition for the bad years. Good weather conditions will allow producers to make excellent moelleux or liquoreux wines with a high acidity, forbidding us to drink those beautiful nectars before at least 20 years.

The wines of Vouvray are often paired with rich dishes and flavorful sauces. The sparkling wine will remind that French people enjoy a very special moment in life called “aperitif”.