Roy Cloud’s Vintage ’59 Imports brings in an outstanding Côte-de-Brouilly, the Domaine du Pavillon des Chavannes. If you thought the label looked like that of the great Ch. Thivin, well, it does. The owners are related. These two, along with Nicole Chanrion’s marvelous Domaine de la Voûte des Crozes, are my three go-to Côte-de-Brouillys. I adore the silkiness of these wines, their perfume, and their length on the palate. Lynch has the great distinction of bringing in both the Thivin and Madame Chanrion’s wines. Great value at $25-$28 a bottle; and an excellent run of wines at all three properties, 2015-2018.

March 16 -2021

The 2019 vintage of Cuvée Ambassades from Domaine du Pavillon de Chavannes is a beautifully sappy example of this outstanding vintage, which is a bit out of character for the normally more strait-laced appellation of Côte de Brouilly. The wine offers up beautiful aromatics in its bouquet of black cherries, pomegranate, lovely spice tones, woodsmoke, raw cocoa, gamebird, stony soil tones, sweet stems and a bit of thyme in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, focused and beautifully solid at the core, with excellent mineral drive, modest, buried tannins and superb balance and grip on the long, complex and very classy finish. This is a classic example of Côte de Brouilly and will age very long and gracefully. Though it is approachable out of the blocks, I would give it three to five years in the cellar and really let it start to sing! 2023-2055. 93+. pts

September / October 2020

Brilliant red. A complex, expansive bouquet evokes fresh cherry and raspberry, along with suave floral and exotic spice notes. Stains the palate with sweet red fruit, candied lavender and spicecake flavors that deepen and spread out slowly on the back half. Shows very good energy for the year and finishes long and juicy, displaying harmonious tannins and lingering florality.

OCTOBER 2019 / 92 pts

Domaine du Pavillon de Chavannes’s Côte de Brouilly Cuvée Ambassades is pure, clear and vibrant.