menu
Member Sign In
  • IWFS Homepage
  • Blog Home
  • Forums Home
  • Global Forum
  • Contact Us
Close
  • IWFS Homepage
  • Blog Home
  • Forums Home
  • Global Forum
  • Contact Us
    Member Sign In
  • Blog Home
  • Forum Home
  • Global Forum
FOLOW US

Recent Posts

  • Ask Sid: What are smudge pots?
  • CHATEAU PAPE CLEMENT VINTAGES BY BERNARD MAGREZ SHOW MUCH IMPROVED PESSAC-LEOGNAN QUALITY
  • Ask Sid: Which wine did golfer Rory McIlroy drink to celebrate his 2025 Masters win?
  • SEVEN SAN FRANCISCO RESTAURANTS WORTH TRYING
  • Ask Sid: Which classified Bordeaux chateau includes a Jura grape variety in their white wine?

Archives

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

VIRTUAL TASTINGS POPULAR: ACKER WINES SPOTLIGHT MARK O’CONNELL OF DOMAINE CLOS DE LA CHAPELLE

April 20th, 2020 by Sid Cross

Busy past week spent at home including many video-audio webinar virtual tastings. A superb new way to pick up more current wine knowledge. Lots of them out there now on the web anxious to get your following. Enjoyed many including on Vinous most ably hosted by Antonio Galloni (Alex & Graeme Macdonald in Napa, Gaia Gaja, Cathy Corison, Morgan Twain-Peterson MW on Zin), Wine Institute hosted by knowledgeable Elaine Chukan Brown (Jasmine Hirsch Sonoma Coast & Cathy Corison Napa,), Benchmark (Erik Segelbaum on Bordeaux Unlocked,), Blackbird in Napa with Winemaker Aaron Pott, and Adam Halpern interviewing Sangiovese innovator Paolo De Marchi of Isole E Olena Chianti Classico & son Luca De Marchi of Propieta Sperino in northern Piedmont. Also some good showcases by dynamic John Kapon of Acker Wines both on Zoom & Instagram with legendary importer Martine Saunier and new Burgundy producer Mark O’Connell of Domaine de la Chapelle.

This last one your scribe found especially fascinating. Here you have a wine lover attending France regularly and buying wines at Hospices de Beaune auction through Christie’s 2006-2009. Mark expands his interest in 2010 working a harvest for the first time and in 2011 buying (with Philippe Remoissent and Pierre Meurgey) a monopole vineyard in Volnay Domaine Clos de la Chapelle founded by Victor Boillot in 1865. He quickly moves to owning 11 different appellation wines (all 1er Cru & Grand Cru with 3 whites and 8 reds) and obtaining an oenolgy degree at UDavis. They are introducing changes in vinification and following organic and biodynamic farming practices. Mark claims now to be the only American owner-winemaker in Burgundy. 2011 was the first year he actually made wine and this year 2020 already will be their 11th vintage. WOW!

Mark’s vintage opinions on his wines are briefly summarized as follows:

2010 loves structured wines of this vintage even though he didn’t make them;

2011 rather good Cotes de Beaune results hot early harvest end of August but 100% destemmed grapes – quite a contrast to 2016 in style;

2012: Lost 80% of the crop resulting in very concentrated wines expressive now but better complexity with 5-9 years more aging;

2013 & 2014: Quite tiny crops for them;

2015: Classic breeding reds with 20-25 years still to go;

2016: Cooler year later harvest end of September with much lower yields (frost & mildew) with 50% whole cluster (50% destemmed) with more fruit plus elegance;

2017: Really likes it with no disease and compares 1999 & 2002. Good young like 2000 (but still good today too) with less breeding than his 2015 & 2016;

2018: Believes these are his best reds ever made from Clos de la Chapelle;

2019: Warm and very ripe with concentration even more than 2015 & 2016.

Like his emphasis on expressing vineyard terroir. Describes so well the differences in his Volnays:

EN CARELLE at slope bottom with 50% clay & 50% limestone is simpliest with straight forward very Volnay style intro for drinking first;

CLOS DE LA CHAPELLE has more refined mid-palate in a “Lafite” style;

TAILLEPIEDS can “cut your feet” on the 2/3 limestone & 1/3 clay higher up on the hill. Lower pH with darker colour. Serious wine brooding more powerful textures in a “Latour” style.

Amazing story already and he hasn’t raised his wine prices since inception. Mark is a wine collector appreciating to try in establishing first a reputation for fine wines and building a producer following. Well done values.

Lots more wine webinars scheduled for this week. Worth checking some of them out!

SKUQTYWine Price Score
1336466Clos de la Chapelle Beaune Champs Pimont 2015 750ml $              79.0090pts, JG
14215536Clos de la Chapelle Beaune Champs Pimont 2016 750ml $              79.0091+pts, JG
14877013Clos de la Chapelle Beaune Teurons 2017 750ml                                                        $              70.9992+pts, JG
14323010Clos de la Chapelle Corton Bressandes 2013 750ml $           119.0093+pts, JG
14215612Clos de la Chapelle Corton Bressandes 2016 750ml $           119.0095pts, JG
14877614Clos de la Chapelle Corton Bressandes 2017 750ml                                                     $           109.0095+pts, JG
1455786Clos de la Chapelle Corton Le Rognet 2014 750ml $           109.0094pts, JG
1451629Clos de la Chapelle Corton Rognet 2011 750ml $              79.0092pts, WS
887824Clos de la Chapelle Pommard Chanlins VV 2014 750ml $              69.0094pts, JG
13364712Clos de la Chapelle Pommard Chanlins VV 2015 750ml $              79.0094pts, JG
14215336Clos de la Chapelle Pommard Chanlins VV 2016 750ml $              79.0094pts, JG
14215310Clos de la Chapelle Pommard Chanlins VV 2016 750ml                                                   $              69.9994pts, JG
14216012Clos de la Chapelle Pommard Grands Epenots 2016 1.5L $           209.0094+pts, JG
14215436Clos de la Chapelle Pommard Grands Epenots 2016 750ml $              99.0094+pts, JG
1487772Clos de la Chapelle Pommard Grands Epenots 2017 3L                                                   $           594.9994+pts, JG
14877210Clos de la Chapelle Pommard Grands Epenots 2017 750ml                                                $           109.0094+pts, JG
14217410Clos de la Chapelle Volnay Carelle 2006 750ml $              59.00
14215136Clos de la Chapelle Volnay Carelle 2016 750ml $              64.9991+pts, JG
1458759Clos de la Chapelle Volnay Clos de la Chapelle 1er Cru 2017 750ml                                    $              89.0094+pts, JG
1114892Clos de la Chapelle Volnay Clos de la Chapelle 2010 750ml                                            $              99.9994pts, JG
87495Clos de la Chapelle Volnay Clos de la Chapelle 2014 750ml $              79.0092+pts, JG
1458742Clos de la Chapelle Volnay Clos de la Chapelle 2015 750ml                                            $           109.0094pts, JG
14215812Clos de la Chapelle Volnay Clos de la Chapelle 2016 1.5L $           179.0094+pts, JG
14214836Clos de la Chapelle Volnay Clos de la Chapelle 2016 750ml $              82.9994+pts, JG
1487804Clos de la Chapelle Volnay Clos de la Chapelle 2017 3L                                               $           615.9994+pts, JG
1451635Clos de la Chapelle Volnay En Carelle 2011 750ml                                                     $              49.9991pts, BH
1451642Clos de la Chapelle Volnay Les Taillepieds 2011 750ml $              79.0090pts, WS
14323212Clos de la Chapelle Volnay Taillepieds 2013 750ml $              99.0093pts, JG
881210Clos de la Chapelle Volnay Taillepieds 2014 750ml $              99.0093pts, JG
14215236Clos de la Chapelle Volnay Taillepieds 2016 750ml $              79.9994pts, JG
1487812Clos de la Chapelle Volnay Taillepieds 2017 3L                                                       $           551.9994+pts, JG
1487736Clos de la Chapelle Volnay Taillepieds 2017 750ml                                                     $              99.9994+pts, JG
14215712Clos de la Chapelle Corton Charlemagne 2016 750ml $           159.0095pts, JG
14337324Clos de la Chapelle Corton Charlemagne 2017 375ml $              85.0095pts, JG
14337236Clos de la Chapelle Corton Charlemagne 2017 750ml $           159.0095pts, JG
You might also like:

April 20th, 2020 by Sid Cross
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Leave a Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

The object of the Society is to bring together and serve all who believe that a right understanding of good food and wine is an essential part of personal contentment and health and that an intelligent approach to the pleasures and problems of the table offers far greater rewards than the mere satisfaction of appetite.
Andre Simon Wine & Food Society Founder (1933)
© 2025 The International Wine & Food Society (IW&FS) IW&FS
Credits | Privacy | Accessibility