For the Collector
by Chris Santini
2022 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru
France | Burgundy
Hallowed wine from hallowed ground here. Even the Follin family speaks of this cuvée in hushed, reverent tones. Not only is this something rare and extraordinary for us, but it inspires the same wonder from its own makers. Since 1998, from a tiny sliver of rows in the heart of this grand cru, they manage to get just enough grapes to fill up a couple barrels…in a good year. And even after twenty-six years, come harvest day, they tell me they still feel a sense of honor to be able to walk the ground and cut the grapes. Once back in the winery, they are invariably left in awe of the power, density, and guts of the juice. It’s fermented and raised slow and long, and once the tannins are tamed, it finds its way to bottle, of which a select few have an allocation. The family can only afford to keep a few lonely bottles for themselves, which they tuck into their cellar to be saved for the most special of special occasions. These bottles can age pretty much longer than any of us, so don’t hesitate to tuck one or two away.
**Extremely limited quantities, limit two bottles per order**
2021 Côte-Rôtie
France | Northern Rhône
“Quel panache!” reads the tasting note on this bottling in one of France’s leading daily papers. Panache, indeed, not to mention lifting floral aromatics, salivating bacon fat, and lightly smoked olive notes that are otherworldly. The Jamet family will humbly write this all off as merely part of the terroir, which—while holding much truth—understates the family’s virtuosic touch here, ever precise and meticulous. The Jamets never got the memos on trends, tastes, and fads over the last fifty years. Those have all come and gone while they’ve thankfully just done their thing, which they say is simply giving a voice and expression to their terroir; I say it’s making Côte-Rôtie like no one has ever made Côte-Rôtie before. It really is that good.
**Extremely limited quantities, limit three bottles per order**