For a long time, Sylvie Esmonin has been an excellent source for Clos St. Jacques and was an insider Burgundy buy for years. While the cat has been out of the bag for a while, it's still an excellent stop for this top Gevrey premier cru. We offer this when we can, but quantity is usually very limited, and pricing has been climbing. However, today we have a few cases from 2018, a spectacular vintage for this wine, ranking among the best efforts ever from Esmonin. This is a very special vineyard for the Esmonin owning 1.6 hectares of this excellent premier cru (nearly a quarter of the entire vineyard). It is farmed organically with vines ranging from 45 to 55 years old and backs up to their house. Clos St. Jacques is literally the Esmonin's backyard, and their close relationship to the vineyards is apparent. 2018 is an opulent yet classy and sophisticated example with impressive complexity and structure. Esmonin captured the best of the vintage and made a classically styled wine in this warmer vintage. We have a few cases of this excellent 2018, and at pricing nearly $60 lower than the current release, this makes sense and is the one to buy right now.
Jasper Morris MW (Inside Burgundy) 96 points! "A rich dark purple. Slightly sunburned fruit, with black cherry notes, less of the vineyard showing. Opulent yet classy black cherries, a fine thread of acidity, just a little barrel toast, very succulent fruit though stops that feature from having a drying effect. Perhaps a little less nuance than some? But more is coming out with time and it is extremely persistent. Drink from 2030."
Burghound 93 points! "A really lovely and broad-ranging nose offers notes of green tea, cassis, poached plum, black cherry and discreet earth and spice wisps. There is outstanding richness to the full-bodied and velvet-textured flavors that coat the palate with sap before culminating in a stony and mocha-infused finish where a hint of wood appears. This is impressive but it's also impressively structured so note well that patience will be a virtue with this wine."
Vinous (Neil Martin) 93 points! "The 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques 1er Cru is dense and forward on the nose, slightly more concentration and just a little more confit in style. The new oak becomes more prominent with aeration. The palate is sweet and slightly candied on the opening with blood orange infused black fruit, grippy and quite bold. Not a subtle Clos Saint-Jacque, but it retains delineation throughout, finishing with cracked black pepper and mineral notes. This will need several years in bottle. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 red tasting."
2018 Sylvie Esmonin (Michel et Fille) Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques
2018 Sylvie Esmonin (Michel et Fille) Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques
$169.99
$169.99
For a long time, Sylvie Esmonin has been an excellent source for Clos St. Jacques and was an insider Burgundy buy for years. While the cat has been out of the bag for a while, it's still an excellent stop for this top Gevrey premier cru. We offer this when we can, but quantity is usually very limited, and pricing has been climbing. However, today we have a few cases from 2018, a spectacular vintage for this wine, ranking among the best efforts ever from Esmonin. This is a very special vineyard for the Esmonin owning 1.6 hectares of this excellent premier cru (nearly a quarter of the entire vineyard). It is farmed organically with vines ranging from 45 to 55 years old and backs up to their house. Clos St. Jacques is literally the Esmonin's backyard, and their close relationship to the vineyards is apparent. 2018 is an opulent yet classy and sophisticated example with impressive complexity and structure. Esmonin captured the best of the vintage and made a classically styled wine in this warmer vintage. We have a few cases of this excellent 2018, and at pricing nearly $60 lower than the current release, this makes sense and is the one to buy right now.
Jasper Morris MW (Inside Burgundy) 96 points! "A rich dark purple. Slightly sunburned fruit, with black cherry notes, less of the vineyard showing. Opulent yet classy black cherries, a fine thread of acidity, just a little barrel toast, very succulent fruit though stops that feature from having a drying effect. Perhaps a little less nuance than some? But more is coming out with time and it is extremely persistent. Drink from 2030."
Burghound 93 points! "A really lovely and broad-ranging nose offers notes of green tea, cassis, poached plum, black cherry and discreet earth and spice wisps. There is outstanding richness to the full-bodied and velvet-textured flavors that coat the palate with sap before culminating in a stony and mocha-infused finish where a hint of wood appears. This is impressive but it's also impressively structured so note well that patience will be a virtue with this wine."
Vinous (Neil Martin) 93 points! "The 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques 1er Cru is dense and forward on the nose, slightly more concentration and just a little more confit in style. The new oak becomes more prominent with aeration. The palate is sweet and slightly candied on the opening with blood orange infused black fruit, grippy and quite bold. Not a subtle Clos Saint-Jacque, but it retains delineation throughout, finishing with cracked black pepper and mineral notes. This will need several years in bottle. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 red tasting."
