For years, Tribut's wines have been an insider's secret, snapped up by collectors before they saw the light of day.

Slowly word has gotten out (the wines are too compelling to remain a secret), but that's only made finding the wines more difficult. In 2016, the dramatically reduced yields made a tough situation into something painful. Production was down by 50% or more.

Today, I'm happy to offer two of Tribut's 2016 wines that are rarely seen in quantity, the Chablis 1er Beauroy and Côte de Léchet.

Just to underscore how diffcult it is to find these wines, I should mention that there's no Beauroy currently available in the U.S. and only one listing for Côte de Léchet. Please be warned that we expect a quick sell out.

The 2016 Beauroy is deeply concentrated with a mineral-laden and cool fruit profile. There's a textural imprint of stony minerality and saline streak. The wine is further animated by currents of citrus. Côte de Léchet has a sleeker and more pointed minerality. Both are outrageously compelling and classic examples of Chablis.

The story here is that Laurent Tribut married Marie-Clotilde Dauvissat, the daughter of René Dauvissat. The Dauvissats purchased choice parcels to give their children to become winemakers, which is the land Laurent and Marie-Clotilde farm. Tribut was welcomed with open arms to the Dauvissat winemaking process; the two domaines share everything from pickers to printers, and until very recently, Tribut made wines in Dauvissat's cellar.

It's impossible not to detect a kinship between the wines of Tribut and Dauvissat. They possess the same classically structured, deeply complex Chablis minerality, the same intense, sweeping notes of stone fruits, flowers and minerals.

It's New Year's Eve, so I'll wrap this up. These are some of the most soulful and mineral expressions of Chablis around. It's rare that I get to offer both of these wines together. My advice is not to miss this opportunity.

To order, email offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.

Ian McFadden

Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits