France Archives - Page 6 of 7 - Elie Wine Company

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Elie Wine — Leave a comment

$270 “The Thomas Aquinas” Wine-Aid Package – 12 Bottles of Côtes du Rhône from Producers in Châteauneuf-du-Pape (All Included and Delivered)

“Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine.” — Thomas Aquinas.

Introducing The Thomas Aquinas, a $270 Wine-Aid package that includes 12 bottles of Côtes du Rhône from producers based in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This range of wines represents the high level of quality and value that stellar Châteauneuf-du-Pape winemakers are capable of producing with their more everyday, regional wines. The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a deep discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package.

Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) lived at a critical juncture of western culture when the arrival of the Aristotelian corpus in Latin translation reopened the question of the relation between faith and reason. Born in Lazio, Italy, Thomas eventually completed his studies at the University of Paris. The Catholic Church has over the centuries regularly and consistently reaffirmed the central importance of Thomas’s work, both theological and philosophical.

Fifty years after Thomas’s death, Pope John XXII, seated in Avignon, pronounced Thomas a saint. Pope John XXII regularly drank the wines from the vineyards that we now know as Châteauneuf-du-Pape and did much to improve viticulture practices there. Whether you are Catholic or not, you can appreciate him for his wisdom in both wine and philosophers.

Included in The Thomas Aquinas Wine-Aid box are four bottles of each:

1) Domaine Chante Cigale “Vieilles Vignes” (Côtes du Rhône 2016) Regular Price $25

Domaine Chante Cigale is one of the most important family estates in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Young winemaker Alexandre Favier and his team are dedicated to traditional winemaking using native yeasts for fermentation. The estate boasts close to 100 acres, divided into 45 parcels, across exceptional terroir. The diversity of soils and grape varieties allows the elaboration of wines that truly represent Southern Rhône. The fruit for Chante Cigale’s old-vine Côtes du Rhône comes from hand-harvested, 50-year-old vines in the Plan de Dieu, one of the finest lieux-dits in the appellation. Composed of 70% Grenache, 20% Carignan, and 10% Syrah, the wine shows loads of cherry fruit and spice.

2) Domaine Charvin (Côtes-du-Rhône 2017) Regular Price $25

Until recently, Laurent Charvin, who holds about 25 acres in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, was almost the only grower to vinify with whole-cluster fermentations. Today that is becoming the trend. His Côtes-du-Rhône is a blend of low yielding vines, mainly Grenache with small additions of Mourvèdre, Carignan, and Syrah. Some vines are as old as 90 years, with the average around 40 years old. The fruit is organically farmed and harvested by hand from north-facing slopes on the northwest limit of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape lieu-dit Maucoil. Only indigenous yeasts are used and fermentation is done in cement tanks. Dark red fruits and an herbal vibe make this a seriously tasty wine.

3) Domaine de Beaurenard (Côtes-du-Rhône 2018) Regular Price $25

Traditional winemakers Daniel and Frédéric Coulon hold a little under 80 acres of vines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and around 60 acres in the Côtes du Rhône Villages Rasteau appellation. All of Domaine de Beaurenard’s vines are certified biodynamic. In the vineyatds, these methods involve working the soil without herbicides, spreading carefully-dynamised manure, and maintaining sensible grass cover. Their Côtes-du-Rhône is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah from parcels of limestone and clay. The fruit is co-fermented with native yeasts and a short maturing period to preserve the delicacy of the fruit. The embodiment of the Beaurenard style, the wine shows ideal balance between fruit and spice. Fragrantly aromatic native herbs intermingle with pure, sumptuous fruit.

Posted on April 28, 2020 by Elie Wine — Leave a comment

$165 “The Matisse” Wine-Aid Package – 6 Bottles Southern French Red Wine (All Included and Delivered)

“What I dream of is an art of balance.” — Henri Matisse

Introducing The Matisse, a $165 Wine-Aid package that includes six bottles of Red Wine illustrating the rich fruit and herbal fragrant wines from vineyards across southern France’s Languedoc-Rousillon region. The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a 10% discount. We will also honor the 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package.

Henri Matisse was one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. In 1905 he was residing in the coastal village of Collioure in the Languedoc-Roussillon when he was inspired to fill his canvases with passionate hues and a brash distortion of form. For these stylistic innovations he was branded a fauve (wild beast) and thus fundamentally altered the course of modern art with the founding of Fauvism.

The selections in The Matisse Wine-Aid are not only a nod to the “art of balance” but also to the bold and ecstatic vibes, much like Matisse’s work, that these wines display in the glass. We’re pretty sure that Henri would approve.

Included in The Matisse Wine-Aid box are two bottles of each:

1) Domaine Saint Sylvestre Rouge (Languedoc 2015) Regular Price $45

Vincent and Sophie Guizard are cultivating less than 20 acres of prime vineyards in Terrasses du Larzac, an appellation known for its unique climate that benefits from both the warm Mediterranean sea and the cool air that blows down from the Larzac plateau on summer nights, creating wines that are fresh, yet delicate. They use no synthetic fertilizers or herbicides in the vineyards. Fermentation is completed using only indigenous wild yeasts. The wine is a blend of 70% Syrah, 20% Grenache, and 10% Mourvedre aged for two years in used French oak barrels from Burgundy before blending and bottling without fining or filtering. It exudes an intoxicating nose of blackberry, garrigue, raw red meat, violets, and a curl of wood smoke.

2) Le Clos du Serres “Saint-Jean” (Terrasses du Larzac 2017) Regular Price $24

In 2006, Béatrice and Sébastien Fillon purchased 37 acres divided into 15 parcels near the town of Saint Jean de la Blaquière. The diversity of the soil across all of their parcels includes schist, sandstone, pebbles & shingle, and red ruffes (deep deposits of sandstone accumulated some 265 million years ago and exposed by erosion). “Saint-Jean” is a blend of 25% each Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Oeillade (a grape indigenous to the Languedoc and close to extinction). It’s a wine that expresses all the terroir the village has to offer. After maturation for 12 months in concrete vats the result is a wine that is luscious with fruit but balanced, with floral, spice, and red berry aromatics.

3) Domaine Bertrand-Bergé “Origines” (Fitou 2016) Regular Price $23

Fitou Montagneux is a patch of mountainous schist fifteen miles inland from the Mediterranean Sea. Winemakers Jérôme and Sabine Bertrand’s estate is comprised of many old-vine parcels that cover an area of 84 acres dotted around the hilly countryside of Paziols, the air fragrant with the scent of wild juniper, thyme, rosemary and lavender of the local garrigue shrubland. The estate is cultivated entirely using organic techniques. Of the wide range of soils that are found in the region, the pudding stones found around Paziols contribute much to the high quality of the wines. “Origines” is a starting point to understanding and enjoying the terroir of Fitou. A blend of 60% Carignan and 40% Grenache aged for 18 months in concrete, “Origines” delivers juicy ripe black fruits accented by clean earth.

The Wine Press — Henri Matisse

Posted on April 28, 2020 by Elie Wine — Leave a comment

$260 “The Cézanne” Wine-Aid Package – 12 Bottles Southern French Red Wine (All Included and Delivered)

“A work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art.” — Paul Cézanne

Introducing The Cézanne, a $260 Wine-Aid package that includes 12 bottles of Red Wine illustrating a range of ripe and luscious flavors and aromas from vineyards across Mediterranean France. The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a 10% discount. We will also honor the 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package.

Paul Cézanne was a French artist and Post-Impressionist painter whose work laid the foundations for 20th century art. His paintings formed a bridge between Impressionism and the early 20th century’s new line of artistic enquiry, Cubism. Both Matisse and Picasso claimed that Cezanne “is the father of us all.”

The Sainte-Victoire mountain near Cézanne’s home in Aix-en-Provence in southern France was one of his favorite subjects and he is known to have painted it well over 60 times. This is the type of landscape you find throughout Mediterranean France and from which our latest selection of wines is inspired. Cézanne painted the mountain from different angles, at different times of the day, and under different weather conditions. Browsing all of his works on this subject and you get a sense of the different elements over a growing season the winemakers represented in this selection must face every vintage.

Included in The Cézanne Wine-Aid box are four bottles of each:

1) Mas des Caprices “ZE” (Fitou 2016) Regular Price $31

Mireille and Pierre Mann quickly made a name for themselves by producing tasty, genuine wines on the Mediterranean coast. Certified organic in 2009, their guiding philosophy is meticulous work in the vineyard while respecting nature. A blend of 40% Carignan, 35% Grenache, and 25% Mourvèdre from the windswept Leucate cliff. Fruit, both ripe and fresh, provides the foundation for this crowd-pleasing red. Maturation takes place for nine months, mainly in concrete vats, with around 20% aging in old barrels. Exceptionally floral on the nose, a sip seduces the palate with velvety tannins and silky berry salad. Pop a bottle for pizza, shawarma, or (virtual) game night with friends.

2) Le Clos du Serres “Saint-Jean” (Terrasses du Larzac 2017) Regular Price $24

3) Domaine Saint Patrice “Vieilles Vignes” (Côtes-du-Rhône 2016) Regular Price $18

From their first vintage, Domaine Saint Patrice became one of the finest producers in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. “Vieilles Vignes” Côtes-du-Rhône is boisterously fruity in aromatics and flavor with some clean earth and a hint of herbs. A sip is downright poundable, juicy, with a finish that extends far beyond its reasonable price. It has all the elements one looks for in the type. The attractive price is just the cherry on top. It is a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah from three plots: Les Champauvins, Le Coudoulet, and Boisfeuillet. In the cellar, maceration and fermentation are done in concrete tanks. Aging takes place over 14 months in concrete vats and large oak foudre with a further 12 months after bottling.

Mont Sainte-Victoire

Posted on April 19, 2020 by Elie Wine — Leave a comment

The Champagne Society — June 2020 Selection

Champagne Jacquesson “Cuvée 742” (Extra Brut)
Price for The Champagne Society members: $76 (regular price $89)

Long-time subscribers to The Champagne Society will no doubt be familiar with Champagne Jacquesson’s 700-series created to showcase the character of a particular vintage with the addition of a small amount of reserve wines designed to reinforce the complexity of the base wine.

Indeed, the 700-series is proving to be consistently one of the best non-vintage Champagnes available. We are pleased to share “Cuvée 742” – their latest release based on the 2014 vintage.

Although technically a Champagne house, brothers Laurent and Jean-Hervé Chiquet operate Champagne Jacquesson much like a grower operation. Besides their own organic and sustainably farmed 69 acres of vineyard (severely pruned for low yields), they work closely with their neighbors to supplement from an additional 19 acres, all in Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards. What sets them apart is their goal of producing a wine that expresses the greatness of their vineyard parcels rather than merely maintain a “house style.” Purely on the refinement of its current cuvées, Jacquesson can easily be ranked among Champagne‘s top six producers.

Laurent and Jean-Hervé describe their 2014 harvest from the Premiers Crus and Grands Crus villages of Aÿ, Dizy, Hautvillers (59%) and Avize and Oiry (41%): “Winter was rainy and exceptionally mild, spring was hot and very dry, whilst July and August were cool and very wet. A hot, dry and sunny September saved the year. The balance of alcohol and acidity was excellent and the health of the grapes was generally good. However, after picking, rigorous sorting of some parcels affected by small sources of acid rot was necessary. As a result, the Chardonnays were superb, and the Meuniers, but above all the Pinot Noirs, held their own. The blend is completed with the addition of some reserve wines.”

The dosage is minimal at 1.5 grams per liter. The result is a Champagne with the energy and sap one expects from the 700-series that reflects all the vitality of the vintage. William Kelley of Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate describes it lovingly: “Wafting from the glass with a complex bouquet of walnut oil, dried white flowers, saffron, citrus oil and crisp orchard fruit, along with a delicate top note of fino sherry, it’s medium to full-bodied, sapid and incisive, with superb concentration, racy acids and a long, resonant finish. I found it irresistible.”

Posted on April 14, 2020 by Elie Wine — Leave a comment

$240 “The Baudelaire” Wine-Aid Package – 9 Bottles Red Bordeaux, 3 Bottles White Bordeaux (All Included and Delivered)

You have to be always drunk. That’s all there is to it—it’s the only way. So as not to feel the horrible burden of time that breaks your back and bends you to the earth, you have to be continually drunk.

But on what? Wine, poetry or virtue, as you wish. But be drunk.

And if sometimes, on the steps of a palace or the green grass of a ditch, in the mournful solitude of your room, you wake again, drunkenness already diminishing or gone, ask the wind, the wave, the star, the bird, the clock, everything that is flying, everything that is groaning, everything that is rolling, everything that is singing, everything that is speaking…ask what time it is and wind, wave, star, bird, clock will answer you: ‘It is time to be drunk! So as not to be the martyred slaves of time, be drunk, be continually drunk! On wine, on poetry or on virtue as you wish.’ – Charles Baudelaire

Introducing The Baudelaire, a $240 Wine-Aid package that includes a mix of nine bottles of red Bordeaux and three bottles of white Bordeaux. The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a 10% discount. We will also honor the 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package.

Charles Baudelaire was a French poet and essayist, and one of the major innovators in French Literature. We thought Baudelaire would be a nice contrast to our 6-pack Wine-Aid “The Brillat-Savarin” as Baudelaire once criticized Brillat-Savarin’s famous food book The Physiology of Taste because he felt there simply was not enough attention paid to the wine.

So we doubled the amount of bottles in this Wine-Aid package in Baudelaire’s honor.

Included in The Baudelaire Wine-Aid box is three bottles of each:

1) Château Peyrabon (Haut-Médoc 2015) Regular Price $25

Château Peyrabon is a Cru Bourgeois property owned by Patrick Bernard, who is related to Olivier Bernard of Domaine de Chevalier. It is somewhat of an unusual estate due to having vineyards in both Pauillac and Haut Médoc. Since its purchase in 1998, Peyrabon has both increased in size and improved in quality. A blend of around half Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder split between Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the wine is laden with scents of blackberry, raspberry, and cold wet stone. A medium-bodied palate with tensile tannin and a fine freshness makes this a versatile red for pretty much any meal.

2) Château Le Temple (Médoc 2015) Regular Price $21

Third generation winemaker Denis Bergey’s 37 acre Château Le Temple estate is full of that Garonne gravel. The average age of his vines are around 35 to 40 years old. Older vines along with a focus on sustainable viticulture and the highest quality of fruit are the keys to producing this fresh and delightful wine. Ripe red cherry and cranberry fruit are the driving aromatics with just a hint of cedar and tobacco. On the palate it is harmonious with a medium-body, fine tannin, and a crisp acidity. Just right to pair with a burger.

3) Château La Hase (Bordeaux 2015) Regular Price $15

Christine & Jean-Yves Millaire use organic and biodynamic methods to farm their vineyards on the right bank of the Dordogne river near Fronsac. Millaire had previously worked for Patrick Moulinet at Château Haut-Brisson in St-Émilion. The parcel named “La Hase” (a female hare) is done so in honor of Millare’s grandfather, who taught him the art of hunting. This Merlot-based wine is fresh, fruity, and poundable. It’s a fantastic wine to pair with a makeshift dinner of cold cuts and cheese.

4) Clarendelle Blanc (Bordeaux 2018) Regular Price $23

Clarendelle hails from the properties of Domaine Clarence Dillon, owners of the renowned estates Château Haut-Brion and Château La Mission Haut-Brion. Although made more for everyday drinking, the production of Clarendelle is attended to with the same care as the domaine’s more famous bottles. The 2018 is composed of one-third each of Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle. The nose features attractive floral aromas as well as tropical nuances of peach and pineapple. The rich, spicy Sémillon and Muscadelle add minerality and body.

Posted on April 9, 2020 by Elie Wine — Leave a comment

$150 “The Brillat-Savarin” Wine-Aid Package – 6 Bottles of Red Bordeaux (All Included and Delivered)

“A meal without wine is like a day without sun.” — Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Introducing The Brillat-Savarin, a $150 Wine-Aid package that includes a mix of six bottles of red Bordeaux from three different producers. All wines are from the “Left Bank” of the Gironde Estuary and take advantage of Bordeaux’s famous Garonne gravel. The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a 10% discount. We will also honor the 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package.

Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin was the French philosopher of the kitchen who effectively founded the whole genre of the gastronomic essay. His book, The Physiology of Taste, is the most famous book about food ever written and has been continuously in print since 1825. These wine selections are as classic and civilized as Brillat-Savarin’s prose.

Included in The Brillat-Savarin Wine-Aid box is two bottles of each:

1) Château Anthonic (Moulis-en-Médoc 2015) Regular Price $33

Château Anthonic is one of the oldest estates of Moulis-en-Médoc, the Left-Bank appellation adjoining Margaux. Today the Château’s organically cultivated vineyards span over 74 acres and are mostly planted on the clay-limestone soils of the Moulis plateau. These soils are complemented by parcels of sandy-clay and Garonne gravel which add complexity to this unique terroir. A blend of 70% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Cabernet Franc, the wine is matured for 12 months in oak barrels, of which 25 to 33% is new. Blackberry and woodland scents highlight this intense and elegant wine.

2) Château Peyrabon (Haut-Médoc 2015) Regular Price $25

3) Château Le Temple (Médoc 2015) Regular Price $21

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Elie Wine — Leave a comment

$250 “The Pablo Neruda” Wine-Aid Package – 6 Bottles of Red (All Included and Delivered)

“I like on the table, when we’re speaking, the light of a bottle of intelligent wine.” — Pablo Neruda

Introducing The Pablo Neruda, a $250 Wine-Aid package that includes a diverse mix of six bottles of red wine from some of Europe’s most significant producers, all ready to drink. The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a 10% discount. We will also honor the 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package.

One of the most influential poets of the Americas, a “Whitman of the South” if you will, Pablo Neruda wrote what is perhaps the finest poem ever dedicated to wine. He was most well known for his odes and love poems, and you’ll understand why when you read it here.

You’ll find all of the wines in this package as sensual as Neruda’s poetry. Included in The Pablo Neruda Wine-Aid box is one bottle of each:

1) Domaine Saint Patrice “Vieilles Vignes” (Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016) Regular Price $59

The unique character of this wine comes from the diversity of its many terroirs. A blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah. In the cellar, maceration and fermentation are done in concrete tanks. Aging takes place over 14 months in concrete vats, large oak foudre, half-muids, and barrique with a further 12 months after bottling. On the nose are luscious red and black fruits with a hint of kirsch beneath warm terracotta and mint. A sip is simultaneously ripe and pulsing with wiry energy.

2) Domaine des Roches Neuves “Clos de l’Echelier” (Saumur-Champigny 2015) Regular Price $59

Biodynamically cultivated from a seven acre, walled vineyard of 40 year old vines in the commune of Dampierre sur Loire. Soils are very thin clay over Turonian limestone. 50% whole cluster fermentation before 12 months aging in 1,200L foudre and 600L demi-muid and then six months in bottle. A glass is filled with the sappiest black raspberry fruit with aromatic hints of herbs and rain.

3) Domaine Ragot “La Grande Berge” (Givry, Premier Cru 2014) Regular Price $42

This Premier Cru parcel is located along a rocky, east-facing slope in Burgundy’s Côte Chalonnaise. Aging takes place in French oak (30% new) for between 12 and 15 months. Grande Berge produces wines that are known for their subtlety and finesse and this 2014 is a prime example. A glass is bursting with aromatics, the foremost a heady floral component reminiscent of Chambolle-Musigny. Alongside are fresh berries, red licorice, and baked stone. A sip is simultaneously concentrated and spry, with a long, energetic finish.

4) Maxime Magnon Rozeta (Corbières 2016) Regular Price $38

A native of Burgundy, Maxime Magnon’s approach to produce wines that not only speak of the land from where they come but also made in a way which emphasizes purity of fruit and drinkability couldn’t be more apparent in the 2016 vintage of “Rozeta,” a field blend of Carignan, Grenache, and Cinsault from vines of 50-60 years in age. A glassful exudes heady aromatics of strawberry jam and pink floral arrangements that rise above subtler scents of fennel frond and dusty earth. A sip is concentrated red fruit on a fine frame of coiled energy that unfolds over the course of a lengthy, mineral finish.

5) Sonho Lusitano Vinhos “Pedra e Alma” (Alentejano 2013) Regular Price $35

“Pedra Y Alma” (Stone and Soul) is Sonho Lusitano Vinhos reserve wine produced only in the best years and from the oldest vines on the property. It is a blend of Trincadeira, Arragonez, Alicante Bouschet, and Grand Noir that is aged for two years in new French oak barriques. The 2013 vintage saw a late harvest that began in searing heat and ended in rain. It was a highly successful year for Trincadeira and the estate picked the old vine fruit just before the weather broke at the end of September. It is a tight-knit but generous and well-balanced red that will keep on giving.

6) Clos de Mez “Château Gaillard” (Morgon 2013) Regular Price $30

Marie-Élodie Zighera Confuron’s Clos de Mez is a certified organic estate. Marie’s wine is made with indigenous yeasts, no temperature control, no insulation, and long fermentations with the stems. Maturation takes place in both old barrels and concrete. The soil in Morgon is rich in iron oxide with traces of manganese and volcanic rock, helping to create full-bodied, powerful, toothsome wines. “Château Gaillard” is the name of the lieu-dit where the 80 year-old vines grow to produce this cuvée. Aromas of ripe cherry, apricot, plum, and spice lead into a palate that is robust and fleshy.

Posted on March 26, 2020 by Elie Wine — Leave a comment

The Champagne Society April Update — Free Delivery and “Wine Aid”

These are challenging times and we are committed to providing you with the finest wines available to humanity in the safest way possible. The April selection from the Champagne Society is coming up next week and we wanted to let you know that we are offering free delivery to your porch so that you can continue to maintain proper social distancing. Please reply to this email with your street address if you would like to take advantage of this option.

Surgeon general, Dr. Jerome M. Adams, along with the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, have indicated that there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 is being spread through the mail or package delivery. Even so, know that we are obsessively disinfecting every surface in the shop, including the bottles that go our for delivery and pickup, and ourselves.

Wine Aid

Price for Champagne Society: $250 (Regular Price: $293.62) The price includes tax and delivery, as well as the Champagne Society’s usual 15% discount.

Since we’ll already be heading to your doorstep, we thought you might want to take advantage of a special offer we are extending to our Champagne Society members that adds five bottles of red wine to your bottle of Champagne.

“Wine Aid” is a diverse mix of five bottles of red wine from some of France’s most significant producers. Included in the “Wine Aid” Box is one bottle of each:

1) Bertrand-Bergé “Jean Sirven” (Fitou 2013) Regular price $79
Extremely low yields produce this Mediterranean estate’s crown jewel named after winemaker Jérôme Bertrand’s great-grandfather. A blend of 45% Carignan, 45% Syrah, and 10% Grenache aged for 18-20 months in new French oak barrels results in a heady and concentrated wine loaded with fruit and capable of developing for over a decade if you can keep it out of your glass now.

2) Domaine Saint Patrice “Vieilles Vignes” (Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016) Regular Price $59
The unique character of this wine comes from the diversity of its many terroirs. A blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah. In the cellar, maceration and fermentation are done in concrete tanks. Aging takes place over 14 months in concrete vats, large oak foudre, half-muids, and barrique with a further 12 months after bottling. On the nose are luscious red and black fruits with a hint of kirsch beneath warm terracotta and mint. A sip is simultaneously ripe and pulsing with wiry energy.

3) Domaine des Roches Neuves “Clos de l’Echelier” (Saumur-Champigny 2015) Regular Price $59
Biodynamically cultivated from a seven acre, walled vineyard of 40 year old vines in the commune of Dampierre sur Loire. Soils are very thin clay over Turonian limestone. 50% whole cluster fermentation before 12 months aging in 1,200L foudre and 600L demi-muid and then six months in bottle. A glass is filled with the sappiest black raspberry fruit with aromatic hints of herbs and rain.

4) Domaine Ragot “La Grande Berge” (Givry, Premier Cru 2014) Regular Price $42
This Premier Cru parcel is located along a rocky, east-facing slope in Burgundy’s Côte Chalonnaise. Aging takes place in French oak (30% new) for between 12 and 15 months. Grande Berge produces wines that are known for their subtlety and finesse and this 2014 is a prime example. A glass is bursting with aromatics, the foremost a heady floral component reminiscent of Chambolle-Musigny. Alongside are fresh berries, red licorice, and baked stone. A sip is simultaneously concentrated and spry, with a long, energetic finish.

5) Maxime Magnon Rozeta (Corbières 2016) Regular Price $38
A native of Burgundy, Maxime Magnon’s approach is to produce wines that speak of the land with emphasis on purity of fruit and drinkability. This philosophy couldn’t be more apparent in the 2016 vintage of “Rozeta,” a field blend of Carignan, Grenache, and Cinsault from vines of 50-60 years in age. A glassful exudes heady aromatics of strawberry jam and pink floral arrangements that rise above subtler scents of fennel frond and dusty earth. A sip is concentrated red fruit on a fine frame of coiled energy that unfolds over the course of a lengthy, mineral finish.

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Elie Wine — Leave a comment

The Champagne Society – April 2020 Selection Domaine Comte Abbatucci “Cuvée Empire”

Domaine Comte Abbatucci “Cuvée Empire” (Vin de France Extra Brut, 2015)
Price for The Champagne Society members: $76 (regular price $89)

“Cuvée Empire” is a blanc de noirs sparkling wine produced in the traditional method from 100% Barbarossa, a red/pink variety. Fermentation takes place in a 12,000 liter foudre and the wine is aged on its fine lees for four months. A secondary fermentation takes place in the bottle for another year. The Extra Brut dosage is 4 grams/liter. This is easily one of the most unique sparkling wines in the world.

Although the island of Corsica is France’s most southerly vineyard area, it is surprisingly not its hottest. Elevation and wind modify the realities of latitude, demonstrated by the remarkable freshness of the best of Corsica’s white wines, and the almost Burgundian grace of its best reds. With a rediscovery of indigenous grape varieties and a focus on quality production, Corsica is one of the most exciting wine regions in France right now.

Easily one of the top producers in Corsica, Jean-Charles Abbatucci creates majestic and fiercely unique wines from the granitic western coast of Corsica. He has created a pristine poly-culture ecosystem on his estate south of Ajaccio that includes groves of olive trees on ancient terraces, and large swaths of untouched forests. Jean-Charles believes in following even the most offbeat biodynamic practices to the letter. He goes so far as to drive a tractor around his vineyards, playing traditional Corsican polyphonic songs over loudspeakers to the vines and the herds of sheep foraging through them.

Located in southern Corsica, in the heart of the Taravo Valley, and at an altitude of about 300 feet, many of the estate’s vines come from cuttings of indigenous varieties sourced decades ago by his father (then President of the Chamber of Agriculture of Corsica) from peasant farmsteads in the mountainous and remote interior of the island. Including the vines that produce the fruit for the “Cuvée Empire.”

Jean-Charles is so dedicated to the idea of returning to the culture of traditional Corsican vines that he has completely eschewed the appellation system and currently bottles all of his wines under the Vin de France label. In a recent interview, he says, “At first I didn’t leave completely, I just began the Cuvée Collection of old varieties and bottled them as Vin de France. But five years ago I decided the system was just too restrictive, too limited. We are in a time where agriculture is disappearing and we need to support the traditions that make us who we are.”

Posted on March 19, 2020 by Elie Wine — Leave a comment

A Quick Note on Saturday Sips + A Loire Cabernet Franc Excursion

To encourage the recommended social distancing we are placing our Saturday tastings on hold. Our weekly emails will go out as usual with a bit more emphasis on regional discovery.

As always, we are happy to provide our deep insight over the phone to help you assemble anything you might need. We can easily process the payment of your purchase over the phone and delivery to your doorstep will be on us, or you can pick it up at our back door without having to leave your car. If you’d like to place an order for delivery or pick up at our back door, give us a call at 248-398-0030. You can also email elie@eliewine.com or todd@eliewine.com.

A Loire Cabernet Franc Excursion

Stone rarely looms as large in French life as it does along the Loire River Valley. The generous and celebrated local supplies of malleable limestone (tuffeau) are responsible for both grand old castles and Cabernet Franc-based wines that are lively, bursting with juicy black raspberry fruit. Yet the soils are as varied as the expressions of Cabernet Franc that come from these areas with the potential to produce France’s most refreshing, elegant, and profound versions of this grape variety. The center of it all are the appellations of Saumur-Champigny, Chinon, and Bourgeil, three of the most important sub-regions for red wine production in the Loire — all producing 100% Cabernet Franc wines.

Special prices based on purchase of 6-pack (mix-and-match)

Domaine des Roches Neuves

Thierry Germain conjures heady and uncompromising wines from his 69 acre estate, Domaine des Roches Neuves, just south of the city of Saumur. Raised in Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, at the family winery of Château Yon-Figeac, Thierry set out on his own at the tender age of 23 to make his name in the more challenging climate of northern France. Although receiving accolades nearly from the start, his winemaking style has gone through several stages of metamorphosis over the years, ultimately eschewing new oak and blowsy fruit for precision and sense of place. Thierry believes that the wines he has made over the past four vintages truly exhibit the highest expressions of Saumur.

We’re using the word “style” to talk about Thierry’s winemaking but the adjustment has really been about moving away from wines created in the cellar and toward wines created in the vineyard. The domaine has been certified biodynamic since 2002. Harvesting is done completely by hand in over 30 parcels, all of which are vinified separately with indigenous yeast. Yields are small and almost all of his wines are matured in larger casks, although he particularly likes the three-year-old barrels that he buys each year from the Burgundy producer Méo-Camuzet in Vosne-Romanée. Which is no surprise as one of Thierry’s goals is having his Saumur-Champigny rival the silky elegance of high level Burgundy.

~$22 “Thierry Germain” (Saumur-Champigny 2016)
A great value apocalypse wine. Juicy.

~$25 “Soliterre” (Saumur-Champigny 2016)
A touch more gravitas than its little brother, cuvée “Thierry Germain.”

~$37 “Terres Chaudes” (Saumur-Champigny 2015)
From 35 to 45 year old vines in the lieu-dit of “Les Dares” in the commune of Chaintres as well as the hillside of Poyeux.

~$49 “Franc de Pied” (Saumur-Champigny 2015)
From a three acre plot of sand and limestone in the commune of Saumur.

~$53 “Marginale” (Saumur-Champigny 2015)
Only made in top vintages. The 2015 “Marginale” is from a seven acre, south-facing plot of 45 year old vines in the lieu-dit of “Les Dares” in the commune of Chaintres.

~$53 “Clos de l’Echelier” (Saumur-Champigny 2015)
From a seven acre, walled vineyard of 40 year old vines in the commune of Dampierre sur Loire.

~$62 “Mémoires” (Saumur-Champigny 2015)
From a 1.7 acre vineyard in the commune of Dampierre sur Loire with vines planted in 1904.

Château du Hureau

In the small town of Dampierre-sur-Loire overlooking the Loire River, Château du Hureau is able to harness climate, soil, and vine to reveal some of the most striking wines of the appellation.

Fifth generation vigneron Philippe Vatan and his daughter Agathe use organic and biodynamic farming techniques and low yields to coax richness and terroir out of their 20 plots covering just under 50 acres. The varying layers of topsoil (it’s either fertile clay or a sandy type of soil) and diverse sun exposure affect every plot’s personality, expression, and importance in their various cuvées. The wines are vinified in a cave carved out of the tuffeau cliffs centuries ago. The wines see long fermentations with indigenous yeasts. The élevage lasts from 10 to 20 months deep in the tuffeau cellars in a combination of demi-muids and foudres.

All of these factors contribute to the elaboration of Cabernet Franc wines that are aromatically complex with the hallmark Saumur-Champigny scents of black raspberry and earth. Wines that are dark and intense yet supple and sappy, with the electrifying, palpable acidity you expect from northern France.

~$31 “Fours à Chaux” (Saumur-Champigny 2014)
From two plots “Les Fiefgarniers” and “Pavignolles” in the vineyards of “Fours à Chaux,” mixed sand and clay above a chalky limestone bowl that gets prolonged sunlight during the ripening season. The age of the vines varies between 20 and 50 years.

~$37 “Les Fevettes” (Saumur-Champigny 2014)
From the deep clay lieux-dits of “Les Fevettes” and “La Croix Blanche” – Château du Hureau’s oldest Cabernet Franc vineyards planted in 1943.

~$44 “Lisagathe” (Saumur-Champigny 2014)
The cuvée “Lisagathe” is named after Philippe’s two daughters, Lisa and Agathe. This is Château du Hureau’s top wine from a plot named “La Corde” that was planted in 1953 and located on the hillside just above the Château.

Clos Rougeard

Clos Rougeard are among the world’s most coveted wines. The Clos Rougeard Cabernet Franc vineyards are located in the heart of Saumur’s tuffeau plateau, a deep bed of limestone overlain with different topsoils. The vineyards are located in Chacé, between Tours and Angers, and cover 25 acres in the Saumur and the Saumur-Champigny appellations.

The high quality of the estate’s wines is largely due to its rigorous viticultural standards practiced for decades by brothers Nady and Charly Foucault, including employing organic methods long before the idea became fashionable. The wine is vinified with as little intervention as possible.

At the end of December 2015, Jean-Louis “Charly” Foucault died and the estate was purchased by the French billionaire Bouygues brothers, current owners of Château Montrose in Bordeaux. Our stock consists only of wines produced before this acquisition.

Clos Rougeard (Saumur-Champigny)
$261 (2005)
$225 (2006)
$207 (2007)
$180 (2008)
$180 (2010)
$180 (2013)
Sourced from 50 to 70-year-old vines in the villages of Chacé, Varrains, and Dampierre.

Clos Rougeard “Poyeux” (Saumur-Champigny)
$297 (2006)
$270 (2007)
$252 (2008)
$252 (2010)
Fifty year old vines in a south-facing parcel of eroded sandstone over tuffeau, adjacent to the deep cellar in Clos Rougeard’s home village of Chacé.