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Summer-Aid: $260 “Biodynamic Wine Pioneer” — Languedoc’s Domaine Léon Barral (6 Bottles Red Wine, All Included and Delivered)

Our latest Wine-Aid box features new vintage wines from biodynamic pioneer, Didier Barral. Didier’s vines grow beneath the scrub-covered ridges and windswept stone outcrops of Faugères. The appellation is known for its dry and crunchy metamorphic schist that forces the roots of the vines to penetrate deeply in search of moisture. This cherished soil for grape growing absorbs the heat of the daytime before releasing it in the cooler evenings. The humid Marin winds off the Mediterranean and the dry, violent Tramontane winds from the northwest are a constant presence in the Faugères hills that help to ventilate the vineyards. Most of Didier’s vines are very old, some up to ninety years of age. All of these factors help for even ripening of the grapes and further increases their concentration.

Didier farms about 75 acres of vines using biodynamic practices. Developed by Austrian philosopher and social reformer Rudolf Steiner in the early 20th Century, biodynamic agriculture is defined as “a spiritual-ethical-ecological approach to agriculture, gardens, food production and nutrition.” Biodynamic wine is made with a set of farming practices that views the farm or vineyard as one solid organism. The ecosystem functions as a whole. On Didier’s farm, ancient breeds of cattle graze the cover crops in and around the vineyards, which promotes healthy microbiotic activity in the soil. Between the vines grow all sorts of rare greens and unusual wild herbs, often harvested by Michelin starred chefs from all over France.

Although Didier considers the wine all but finished once it leaves the vineyard, the harvest is cared for with the same attention once it reaches the cellar. All wines are hand-harvested, hand-sorted, fermented with indigenous yeasts and have no sulfur added. They are never racked, filtered, or fined. While these minimal intervention principles form an idyllic narrative of a natural product, the fact is that Didier has a profound influence on other viticulteurs who can see how his ideology translates to results.

The price for this Wine-Aid package includes tax and delivery, as well as a 10% discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package.

Included in the Biodynamic Wine Pioneer Wine-Aid Package:

Domaine Léon Barral (Faugères, 2016) Three Bottles, Regular Price: $36
Didier’s traditional Faugères bottling is a blend of 50% Carignan, 30% Grenache, and 20% Cinsault from vines aged 40 to 70 years old. After fermentation, the wine is aged for two years in cement and stainless steel cuves. The aromatics are joyous with black cherries, cocoa, herbs and flowers. A sip is filled with fruit yet nimble on the palate, elegant even, with a finish of sun-baked stone.

“Jadis” (Faugères, 2016) Two Bottles, Regular Price: $47
50% Carignan, 30% Syrah, 20% Grenache, aged for 24 to 26 months in barrel (10% new oak). Black fruits and herbs in abundance. More focused and elegant than the classic cuvee, the 2016 “Jadis” is a similar blend that substitutes Syrah from southern-facing vines in place of the Cinsault. A wine that drinks great upon release yet will develop in a proper cellar over the course of a decade or more.

“Valinières” (Faugères, 2016) One Bottle, Regular Price: $69
80% Mourvèdre, 20% Syrah, aged for 24 to 26 months in barrel (10% new oak). “Valinières” is the domaine’s top cuvée, capable of medium to long-term cellar development. With a Mourvèdre base, this wine is big, meaty, and concentrated. The portion of Syrah comes from northern-facing vines. The cooler, northern exposure allows the grapes to remain on the vines longer, giving added maturity, greater concentration of flavors, and increased complexity.

We are committed to providing you with your wine needs in the safest way possible. We do encourage you to take advantage of our back door pick-up or free delivery. We can easily process the payment of your purchase over the phone and load you up without you needing to get out of the car. Or we can deliver it to your doorstep for free (within a reasonable distance of our shop) and leave it there for you to bring in at your convenience.

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Summer-Aid: $265 “France’s Deep South” — Elegance from the Rugged Landscape of Fitou (10 Bottles, All Included and Delivered)

Our latest Wine Aid box celebrates both the wild and remote subzone of Fitou and two happy-loving couples that produce wine there. One of the very first granted appellation in the southern French region of Languedoc, Fitou consists of two small enclaves within Corbières: Fitou Maritime, a clay-limestone band around the saltwater lagoons on the coast, and Fitou Montagneux, a patch of various mountainous soils fifteen miles inland. With these 10 Bottles we’ll be exploring both of these distinct terroirs with wines made by some of the top producers in the region.

Included in the France’s Deep South Wine-Aid Package are two bottles of each:

The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a 10% discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package.

Domaine Bertrand-Bergé

Near the tiny village of Paziols in Fitou Montagneux, Jérôme and Sabine Bertrand have been steadily improving the reputation of Fitou through the excellence of their wines. The domaine’s history can be traced back over a century when Jérôme’s great-grandfather, Jean Sirven, won plaudits for his wines at the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris. But the modern era for Bertrand-Bergé started in 1993, when the couple took the winemaking back into their own hands after a few decades of supplying grapes to the local co-operative.

Today, the 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 of Bertrand-Bergé by retaining daytime heat. But of course it’s the tireless effort of Jérôme Bertrand that can translate the unique charm of this place into world-class wines.

“Origines” (Fitou 2014) Regular Price: $17

The Bertrand’s offer the affordable cuvée “Origines” as a starting point to enjoying the terroir of Fitou. A blend of 60% Carignan and 40% Grenache aged for 18 months in concrete, “Origines” delivers juicy ripe blackberry and blueberry accented by cocoa, clean earth and a touch of white pepper. The fruit for “Origines” comes from vines averaging 20 years in age planted in chalky-clay soils. Although this cuvée is priced as an everyday wine, it has always had the ability to mature gracefully and is drinking superbly right now.

 

“La Boulière” (Fitou 2014) Regular Price: $33

A deep, sappy blend of 50% Mourvèdre, 25% Carignan and 25% Grenache aged for 18 months in oak barrels. A grocery cart of aromatics like black raspberry, blueberry, smoked meat, cinnamon, and leather precede a full-bodied, layered and elegant palate balanced by a muscular underlying structure. The fruit comes from vines with an average age of 15 years planted in puddingstone soils. Pop this open for your fattiest cuts of grilled meat. This wine should drink well over the course of a decade.

 

Mas des Caprices

In the village of Leucate, on the north shore of L’étang de Leucate in the subzone of Fitou Maritime, Mireille and Pierre Mann have been steadily building their estate, Mas des Caprices, into one of the top producers in the region. This is a rugged land kissed by both the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. High yields are impossible to achieve here. Indeed, many of the wines from this region are produced with similar (or even smaller) yields to the most sought after wines from Bordeaux and Burgundy.

The couple, both children of Alsace winemakers, ran a restaurant near the city of Colmar for 10 years. While they loved providing their patrons fresh local products, they felt the need for greater challenges. So they decided to rebuild their lives closer to the earth. In 2003 they moved to southern France and began reinventing themselves as winemakers. Their passion was evident from the start. The duo eventually settled on the Mediterranean coast and quickly made a name for themselves by producing tasty, genuine wines. Certified organic in 2009, their guiding philosophy is meticulous work in the vineyard while respecting nature with the goal of producing wines that are both expressions of their unique environment and utterly delectable. Forget pudding, the proof of the wine is in the drinking.

“Retour aux Sources” (Fitou 2015) Regular Price: $37

45% Carignan, 25% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache, and 10% Syrah from the Fitou maritime hillsides where pink schist and limestone mix. Maturation takes place for nine months, with roughly 70% of the wine in concrete vats and the rest in old barrels. Bold ripe fruit, excellent structure, and heady aromas of ripe fruit and herbs make a wine ideal for hearty vegetable dishes like ratatouille and olive tapenade and, of course, grilled meats.

 

“ZE” (Fitou 2015) Regular Price: $26

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 game night.

 

“Ozé” (Corbières 2017) Regular Price: $24

Although separate appellations, Fitou and Corbières share much of the same terroir. You will often find producers based in Fitou with parcels in Corbières, and vice versa. Mireille and Pierre Mann’s rosé is a blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre with a touch of Syrah. Fresh, fruity, and intense, it’s a crowd-pleaser. If you like a classic southern French rosé while chilling on the patio or paired with your seafood feast, this cuvée will put you in your happy place.

 

We are committed to providing you with your wine needs in the safest way possible. We do encourage you to take advantage of our back door pick-up or free delivery. We can easily process the payment of your purchase over the phone and load you up without you needing to get out of the car. Or we can deliver it to your doorstep for free (within a reasonable distance of our shop) and leave it there for you to bring in at your convenience.

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Summer-Aid: $250 “Green Spain” — Taste the Terroir of Northwest Spain with 12 Bottles (6 Red, 6 White, All Included and Delivered)

Our latest Wine Aid box hails from the northwest corner of the Iberian peninsula and is packed with lively, graceful, cool-climate wines, defined as much by the nearby Atlantic coast as the vineyard soils and slopes. These are wines with the same sort of aromatic headiness and elegant structure that draw wine lovers to the most famous winemaking regions in the world.

Included in the Green Spain Wine-Aid Package are three bottles of each:

The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a 10% discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package.

Fento

Hard-working vigneron Eulogio Pomares is a rising star in the far northwest corner of Spain where he receives accolades from critics and consumers alike. Although perhaps best known for his work with the region’s Albariño variety as the seventh generation winemaker at Zárate, his family’s estate, Eulogio can’t be contained and is branching out into some of “Green Spain’s” other subregions.

Fento is a partnership of Eulogio with his wife Rebeca that works with both rare and common indigenous grapes found within Galicia. Organic viticulture is difficult in the region due to humidity and mildew pressure, but Eulogio is applying the methods to bring the Fento vineyards into full organic cultivation, relying on native cover crops and natural products to do most of the work.

“Xabre” (Ribeira Sacra 2017 RED) Regular Price: $29

The cuvée Xabre [SHAH-bray] is named after the weathered, sandy granite soils of Ribeira Sacra. It’s a blend of predominately Mencía with the remainder made up of Sousón, Mouratón and Garnacha, all from vines ranging between 15 and 80 years old. The fruit comes from the Quiroga-Bibei sub-zone, from terraced vineyards between 900 to 2,100 feet in elevation. Extraordinarily perfumed, Xabre radiates notes of citrus peel, green tea, violets, fresh berries and warm terra cotta. With just a slight chill it’s an ideal wine to keep you company while tending the grill.

 

“Bico da Ran” (Rías Baixas 2018 WHITE) Regular Price: $18

Bico da Ran is 100% Albariño made from fruit grown in the sub-zone of Val do Salnés. Considered the birthplace of the Albariño grape this is the original and oldest sub-region in Rías Baixas. Some of the best vineyards in Salnés produce the Bico da Ran fruit. The vines are 15 to 25 years old. Grapes are harvested in early morning to preserve aroma and freshness. Vinification and aging is done in stainless steel. All of this results in a wine that is aromatic with citrus and a delicate herbality. On the palate it is refreshing and crisp, with layers of crunchy orchard fruit.

 

Viñedos y Bodegas Pardevalles 

Third generation vigneron Rafael Alonso is one of the pioneer winemakers of southern León. Viñedos y Bodegas Pardevalles, his family’s vineyards and 300 year old cellars are situated in northwestern Spain at around 2,400 feet in elevation where the uncommon and indigenous grape varieties Prieto Picudo (red) and Albarín Blanco (white) thrive in the extreme microclimate around the River Esla. Rocky soil, swinging diurnal temperatures and less than 20 inches of annual rainfall combine to create wines of superb ripeness, acidity and balance with highly developed aromatics.

Recently granted official Denominación de Orígen status in 2007, Tierra de León is nevertheless an ancient region that has been cultivated for wine production for centuries. The Alonso family holds around 95 acres there in the high plains, where Quaternary Period soils are covered in rounded stones that absorb the heat of the sun during the day. Similar to the galets roulés of Châteauneuf-du-Pape but at a much higher elevation, these stones help the vines bear the low nighttime temperatures and ensure a long, even ripening.

“Gamonal” (Tierra de León 2015 RED) Regular Price: $23

One of Spain’s most fascinating indigenous varieties, Prieto Picudo is highly aromatic with fleshy bright fruit and good acidity. Aged for one year in 225 liter neutral oak barrels, you might compare the Pardevalles Gamonal to a Cru Beaujolais from a vintage that achieved full ripeness (and then some). While it’s a joyous wine full of bursting berries up front it shows a more serious side with a concentration and a pure, lengthy finish. With the slightest chill it will pair with myriad grilled foods or a simple plate of cheese and olives.

 

“Albarín” (Tierra de León 2019 WHITE) Regular Price: $19

Pardevalles’ seven acres of Albarín Blanco (about 10% of all vineyards planted to the variety) were developed in 2004 for the purpose of recovering this indigenous grape which was on the edge of extinction. But the wine is far more than a rescue mission for an obscure variety. The Albarín Blanco is an exuberant wine brimming with aromatics of fragrant herbs, mouthfuls of white fruits, and a finish that’s fresh and clean. It’s a wine that delights both the casual drinker and the most discerning gourmand. It’s versatile enough for sipping on the patio or pairing with seafood and poultry dishes.

We are committed to providing you with your wine needs in the safest way possible. We do encourage you to take advantage of our back door pick-up or free delivery. We can easily process the payment of your purchase over the phone and load you up without you needing to get out of the car. Or we can deliver it to your doorstep for free (within a reasonable distance of our shop) and leave it there for you to bring in at your convenience.

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Summer-Aid: $270 “The Uncommon Burgundy” — Explore Out of the Ordinary Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with 6 Bottles (All Included and Delivered)

What makes these Burgundy wines uncommon?

For one it is the apparent dual existence of Chassagne-Montrachet. The commune is recognized for producing some of the best white wines in the world but it has a long history of creating substantial red wines that are quite often compared to the vibrant Nuits-Saint-Georges to the north.

And when was the last time you tasted a Premier Cru wine from the commune of Montagny? Located at the southern end of Côte Chalonnaise, where the warm continental climate and limestone-concentrated soils help create full-bodied wines with fresh acidity, the appellation exclusively produces white wines made from Chardonnay.

Included in The Uncommon Burgundy Wine-Aid Package are two bottles of each:

The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a 10% discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package.

Vincent Girardin “Les Vieilles Vignes” (Chassagne-Montrachet RED 2017) Regular Price $55

The quality of the wines produced at Maison Vincent Girardin are upheld by its “Très Haute Couture” code of winegrowing practices. The fruit comes from vineyards managed according to the following principles: No herbicides or insecticides, deep ploughing, use of natural composts from farms in the Burgundy region, high trellising for better photosynthesis, and manual harvests with sorting in the vineyard and in the vat room. “Les Vieilles Vignes” is 100% Pinot Noir from 50 year old vines situated around the village of Chassagne-Montrachet. Aged for 14 months (10% of new oak) it is a meaty wine with a structure reminiscent of wines from Côte de Nuits.

 

Domaine Langoureau “Les Voillenots Dessous” (Chassagne-Montrachet RED 2016) Regular Price: $45

Husband and wife team of Nathalie and Sylvain Langoureau farm about 24 acres of prime vineyards mainly in the Côte de Beaune villages of Saint-Aubin, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, and Chassagne-Montrachet. This is a heart and soul garagiste operation based in the tiny hamlet of Gamay, nestled between Puligny-Montrachet and Saint-Aubin. Although Chassagne-Montrachet is renowned for its white wines, the commune produces just as much red wine. “Les Voillenots Dessous” is 100% Pinot Noir and a superb value from a parcel located on the border just below the village of Chassagne-Montrachet and across a lane from the Premier Cru parcel of Les Places.

 

Jean-Marc Boillot (Montagny Premier Cru WHITE 2018) Regular Price: $40 

After vinifying 13 vintages at Domaine Henri Boillot (his family’s estate), Jean-Marc Boillot left to pursue his own fortunes. He became the winemaker for Olivier Leflaive for the next four years while also producing wines bottled under his own label. Today, Jean-Marc runs his domaine from his grandfather Henri Boillot’s house and cellars in the village of Pommard. He has inherited some of Burgundy’s most exceptional parcels from both Henri Boillot as well as his maternal grandfather, the late Etienne Sauzet. His Montagny Premier Cru is 100% Chardonnay. Fermentation and aging take place in oak barrels (30% new) with weekly bâtonnage to build a rich and powerful white wine.

We are committed to providing you with your wine needs in the safest way possible. We do encourage you to take advantage of our back door pick-up or free delivery. We can easily process the payment of your purchase over the phone and load you up without you needing to get out of the car. Or we can deliver it to your doorstep for free (within a reasonable distance of our shop) and leave it there for you to bring in at your convenience.

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Summer-Aid: $235 “Homage to Catalonia” — Taste the Terroir of Northeastern Spain with 12 Bottles (All Included and Delivered)

From breezy Mediterranean shores to Barcelona cafés to the towering peaks of the Pyrenees, the autonomous community of Catalonia is a land of diversity. These places and cultures have inspired poets, artists, and winemakers.

This week’s Wine-Aid package starts in the ancient wine country of the Penedès Plain, then into Priorat, one of the most progressive winemaking regions in all of Spain with its special reddish and black slate soils (called llicorella in Catalan), and finally to the slopes of the multi-peaked Montserrat range. A glassful of any one of these wines brings the region to life at your dinner table.

Included in Homage to Catalonia Wine-Aid Package is four bottles of each:

The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a 10% discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package.

Alemany i Corrio Principia Mathematica (Penedès 2018) Regular Price: $26

Passionate wife-and-husband winemakers Irene Alemany and Laurent Corrio’s “Principia Mathematica” is crafted from 100% Xarel·lo (shah-REHL-loh), a grape indigenous to the region that most sparkling wine drinkers will recognize as the principal variety that makes up Cava. 55 year old Xarel·lo vines see fermentation in new French oak barrels of 228 and 700 liters. A third of the wine is then aged for nine months in stainless steel on the yeast (sur lie) with the remaining two thirds aged in oak barrels with occasional stirring (battonage). The result is a wine of freshness and depth that fully expresses a Burgundian style of winemaking alongside high coastal Mediterranean terroir.

 

Blai Ferré “Ona” (Priorat 2016) Regular Price $22

Blai Ferré’s Ona is Priorat in the raw, a wine of intensity and balance with little elaboration. It is a classic Mediterranean blend of 40% Garnatxa, 40% Syrah, and 20% Carinyena. Cultivation is organic and the harvest is hand-picked and hand-sorted. Half of the wine is aged in stainless steel vats and the other half in French oak for eight months. We’ve found that it’s a wine that always outperforms its price level and it’s versatile enough to be paired with a simple cheese plate to roast lamb and everything in-between. Blai produces a scant 500 cases of Ona, bottling the rest of the harvest in other cuvées.

 

Ca N’Estruc Negre (Catalunya 2016) Regular Price $14

Francisco Martí is co-owner of perhaps the finest wine shop in Spain, Vila Viniteca, located in the El Born district of old Barcelona. Yet he has spent much of his life in the vineyards of the Ca n’Estruc estate that lies on the slopes of Montserrat at over 500 feet in elevation. The Vineyards are ideally orientated to optimize sunshine and hold some vines that are close to 80 years old. Ca N’Estruc Negre is a blend of Garnatxa, Samsó (Carinyena), and Ull de Llebre (Tempranillo) grown in alluvial soils. Ripe raspberries and cherries underneath a hint of rosemary make this one of the more interesting everyday value wines that you’ll find.

We are committed to providing you with your wine needs in the safest way possible. We do encourage you to take advantage of our back door pick-up or free delivery. We can easily process the payment of your purchase over the phone and load you up without you needing to get out of the car. Or we can deliver it to your doorstep for free (within a reasonable distance of our shop) and leave it there for you to bring in at your convenience.

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The Champagne Society August 2020 Selection

Champagne Joseph Perrier “Cumières – La Côte à Bras” Blanc de Noirs (Premier Cru, Brut Nature 2010)

Price for The Champagne Society members: $85 (regular price $99)

Champagne Joseph Perrier owns 51 acres of vineyards, situated in the heart of the Vallée de la Marne on the right bank of the River Marne, around the villages of Hautvillers and Cumières – both classed at an impressive 93% in the Échelle des Crus system. Founded in 1825, the estate has been owned and run by the same family since 1888. Current proprietor Jean-Claude Fourmon represents the fifth generation. The estate’s cellars stretch almost two full miles and date back to the Gallo-Roman period.

Vallée de la Marne is noted for its powerful Pinot Noir grown on south-facing slopes. Naturally, Champagne Joseph Perrier’s vineyards are mostly planted with Pinot Noir. Indeed, the limited release “Cumières – La Côte à Bras” Blanc de Noirs is 100% Pinot Noir from a single parcel named La Côte à Bras in the Premier Cru village of Cumières. The wine is aged a minimum of seven years and there is no added sugar after disgorgement.

Winemaker Notes:
“A quiet autumn peacefully guided the vines towards the winter break. January experienced very cool temperatures that continued until March.  Flowering was delayed due to some cool nights in June. After that the heat arrived and the month of July ended with some violent storms. The grapes had plenty of water but the September sun dried the soil. The late ripening resulted in berries arriving at the press with very good sugar levels.

The appearance is of yellow gold straw, with amber highlights. The nose opens with tangy, delicate and captivating aromas revealing notes of freshly squeezed citrus fruits – grapefruit and mandarin. The palate is vinous and with plenty of attack, with pronounced mineral notes. The finish is long and harmonious, dominated by a zesty lemon freshness so characteristic of Joseph Perrier.”

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Summer-Aid: $170 “A Mediterranean Summer in Saint-Chinian” — 6 Bottles of New Vintage Wine from Mas Champart (All Included and Delivered)

Back in 1976, Isabelle Champart, a Parisian with a degree in Geography, and her husband Mathieu, from a family of farmers in Champagne, began cultivating vines on a humble 20 acre farmstead. For close to twelve years they sold their grapes to the local cooperative but once they decided to bottle under their own label of Domaine Mas Champart they gained almost instant acclaim. Since then, they’ve acquired another 40 acres planted with vines, orchards, and arable crops. Mathieu tends to the vines, Isabelle makes the wines, and this small slice of the Languedoc is their life. Once, when asked by a visitor if they had children, Isabelle swept her hand across the outside of their winery and answered immediately, “Look around. This is my child.”

The place is Saint-Chinian: A gusty, drought-ridden expanse clambering up out of the Languedoc Plain, with Mount Caroux and Mount Espinouse furnishing a picturesque backdrop. It’s there on the southern slopes of clay and limestone that Isabelle and Mathieu are creating singular and impressive wines in this ancient region that has seen a tremendous surge in quality over the past couple of decades. From the beginning the Champarts have employed sustainable and organic techniques in their farming, reflecting their desire to protect and preserve the environment.

Included in A Mediterranean Summer in Saint-Chinian Wine-Aid Package is two bottles of each:

The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a 10% discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package. 

Mas Champart Blanc (IGP Pays d’Oc 2018) Regular Price: $29

Mas Champart Blanc is a blend of 70% Terret and 30% Grenache Gris from vines planted in 1900 on a limestone plateau with remarkably stony soils. Vinification and maturation is carried out in 500 liter Austrian barrels for nine months. The wine was bottled in August 2019. A sublimely balanced drink: late-harvested Terret provides heady aromatics and richness while the Grenache Gris, harvested earlier in the season, adds tension and mineral freshness. Only 2,500 bottles were produced.

 

“Causse de Bousquet” (Saint-Chinian 2017) Regular Price: $25

A bit different than earlier, syrah-heavy vintages, the 2017 vintage “Causse de Bousquet” is a blend of 35% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 20% Carignan/Cinsault, and 15% Mourvèdre from a number of plots on different terroirs to provide the aromatic complexity and originality that the Champart’s are looking for in what you might call their flagship wine. It owes its name to the main terroir from which it comes: “Le Bousquet” is a broad limestone plateau at close to 1,000 feet in elevation where the hard rock extends through to the surface. Matured for 18 months in vat, it is a concentrated and sunny expression of Saint-Chinian. Only 8,650 bottles were produced.

 

“Clos de la Simonette” (Saint-Chinian 2017) Regular Price $33

An absurdly low-yield blend of 65% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache and 15% Carignan from multiple plots. The Mourvèdre is planted 750 feet above sea level on steep hillside terraces that are particularly well exposed. The Grenache comes from the wines’ namesake plot, the stony and well-drained “la vigne de Simonette” that is surrounded by dry-stone walls. The plot containing the Carignan has soils similar to “Simonette” but there the vines are 70 and 100 years old. With the hot and dry 2017 vintage, extractions were quite short, balancing out deep and powerful fruit with freshness. This is truly one of the best values for long-term cellaring available. Only 4,740 bottles were produced.

We are committed to providing you with your wine needs in the safest way possible. We do encourage you to take advantage of our back door pick-up or free delivery. We can easily process the payment of your purchase over the phone and load you up without you needing to get out of the car. Or we can deliver it to your doorstep for free (within a reasonable distance of our shop) and leave it there for you to bring in at your convenience.

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Summer-Aid: $290 “A Summer in Provence” — 6 Bottles from Domaine Hauvette — Red, White, and France’s Best Rosé (All Included and Delivered)

The appellation of Les Baux-de-Provence is unmistakably Provençal. Between olive groves and pine forests the rocky landscape is wild with the fragrant garrigue that marks its wines. Although the appellation is small and relatively new, the handful of winemaking estates there have earned well-deserved praise for their farming practices. As much as 85% of the area is devoted to an organic or biodynamic approach. It is the home of perhaps the most well-regarded estate in all of Provence, Domaine de Trévallon.

Not far behind Domaine de Trévallon in stature is Dominique Hauvette. In the early 1980s Dominique left her job as a lawyer in the Savoie, began studying oenology, and eventually amassed a little over 40 acres of vineyards along with an international reputation for producing model Provençal wines.

Domaine Hauvette is situated at the foot of Les Alpilles mountain range outside Saint Rémy-de-Provence, a small commune perhaps most famous for a little painting called “The Starry Night” that was created by Vincent van Gogh as he was being treated in the psychiatric center at Monastery Saint-Paul de Mausole. As the crow flies it’s about 15 miles from Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the southern Rhône. Indeed, the Rhône River is just a few minutes away.

The limestone foothills of Les Alpilles create a distinct landscape and microclimate. The soils retain moisture during the arid summer months, the legendary Mistral wind cools the vines and expels mold-fostering humidity, and Les Alpilles buffet the vines from potential damage.

Dominique began converting to biodynamic cultivation in 2000 with the goal of growing ideal fruit. At harvest, grapes are picked by hand and sorted in the field. She employs minimal intervention in the cellars, fermenting with indigenous yeasts. Many of her wines are fermented and aged in concrete eggs that allow a continuous flow of liquid during the process as well as stabilize temperature.

Included in A Summer in Provence Wine-Aid Package is one bottle of each:

All prices based on the purchase of a 6-pack (mix-and-match)

“Petra” (Les Baux-de-Provence Rosé 2017) $42

Domaine Hauvette’s current release and rosé doesn’t get much better than this. A perfectly balanced blend of 70% Cinsault, 15% Syrah, and 15% Grenache from a 2.5 acre plot of 15 year old vines. “Petra” is fermented in cement eggs and kept on the lees to provide a wonderfully rich and flavorful wine that pairs with just about anything.

“Jaspe” (IGP Alpilles Blanc 2016) $37

From a five acre plot of Rousanne with an average age of 15 years. Cuvée “Jaspe” is fermented in cement eggs and aged briefly in stainless steel tank. Honeysuckle and ripe orchard fruit aromatics greet the nose before a sip that is simultaneously lush and nervy.

“Dolia” (IGP Alpilles Blanc 2013) $55 

A field blend of equal portions Roussanne, Marsanne, and Clairette from a 1.7 acre plot with an average age of 23 years. Cuvée “Dolia” is fermented and aged in cement eggs. Smoke, wildflower honey, gunflint, and quince tickle the senses before a finish reminiscent of pure stone — a world-class white wine.

“Cornaline” (Les Baux-de-Provence 2012) $45 
“Cornaline” (Les Baux-de-Provence 2011) $49 

A blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines with an average age of 40 years. Cuvée “Cornaline” is fermented in wood tanks and aged in foudre. Strawberries, cassis, leather, and herbs come together in a glass of wine that is ready to drink today. Pour it just slightly chilled alongside some grilled lamb chops.

“Améthyste” (IGP Alpilles Rouge 2016) $89 

It’s rare to find a wine this ambitious made predominantly of Cinsault. 60% Cinsault, 30% Carignan, and 10% Grenache from vines with an average age of 40 years. Cuvée “Améthyste” is fermented in wood tanks and aged in cement eggs. “Améthyste” is high in amplitude with its aromas and flavors, yet round and on the palate, with a thrilling core of minerality. Drink some now and cellar some for later.

We are committed to providing you with your wine needs in the safest way possible. We do encourage you to take advantage of our back door pick-up or free delivery. We can easily process the payment of your purchase over the phone and load you up without you needing to get out of the car. Or we can deliver it to your doorstep for free (within a reasonable distance of our shop) and leave it there for you to bring in at your convenience.

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Summer-Aid: $270 “A Dozen Rosés II” — Stock up for Fourth of July Celebrations (All Included and Delivered)

All of our holiday weekend plans probably look a little different this year. In lieu of large gatherings most of us are likely planning to stay at home, perhaps tidy up our outdoor spaces, maybe throw a more intimate party with close friends. In any case, firing up the outdoor grill is all but mandatory. And what pairs better with standing around open flames on a sultry summer day than a cool glass of rosé?

Introducing A Dozen Rosés II, a $270 Wine-Aid package that includes twelve bottles of classic, crisp and dry, southern French rosé wines, all made with familiar blends of Mediterranean grape varieties. 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.

We are committed to providing you with your wine needs in the safest way possible. We do encourage you to take advantage of our back door pick-up or free delivery. We can easily process the payment of your purchase over the phone and load you up without you needing to get out of the car. Or we can deliver it to your doorstep for free (within a reasonable distance of our shop) and leave it there for you to bring in at your convenience.

Included in A Dozen Rosés II Wine-Aid Package are two bottles each:

Domaine Saint Damien (Gigondas 2019) Regular Price: $31

Domaine Saint Damien is run by third-generation winemaker Joël Saurel who has begun the process of handing down his knowledge to his son Romain. Their aim is to produce organically certified wines ultimately expressive of Gigondas tradition and terroir. Yields are low and harvests are late in the season, allowing the fruit to fatten up to produce wine of remarkable richness. From the lieu-dit “La Moutte” this tiny production rosé is 80% Cinsault planted in 1970 and 20% Syrah planted in 2000. Bowls of fresh berries, orange zest, and spice precede a drink that is all juicy with mineral notes.

 

La Bastide Blanche (Bandol 2019) Regular Price: $27

In the early 1970s Michel and Louis Bronzo acquired Bastide Blanche with the goal of producing Bandol wines of comparable quality to southern France’s more renowned appellations at the time. Today they are recognized as one of the top producers in the country. Low yields and an impeccable cellar help to create some of the most expressive wines of Bandol. This is classy and classic Provençal rosé. Mourvèdre is the base grape with about equal parts Cinsault and Grenache from fruit hand-harvested off of vines growing in clay-limestone soil.

 

Mas des Caprices “Ozé” (Corbières 2017) Regular Price: $24

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. High yields are impossible to achieve in their rugged vineyards kissed by both the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. Their rosé is a blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre with a touch of Syrah. Fresh, fruity, and intense, it’s a crowd-pleaser.

 

Domaine Charvin (Côtes du Rhône 2019) Regular Price: $22

Until recently, Laurent Charvin, who holds about 25 acres in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, was almost the only grower to vinify with whole-cluster fermentation. Today that is becoming the trend. His Côtes-du-Rhône rosé is a blend of low yielding vines, mainly Grenache and Cinsault from a parcel less than four acres, although depending on the vintage there might be a splash of Bourboulenc and Mourvèdre.  The fruit is organically farmed, harvested by hand, and fermented using indigenous yeasts. Strawberry, peach, and citrus flavors make this a poundable rosé.

 

Château Manissy “Cuvée des Lys” (Tavel 2019) Regular Price: $20

Talented young winemaker Florian André spent three years as an apprentice to Domaine de la Mordorée’s Christophe Delorme (Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Lirac, Tavel) before his first solo vintage at Château Manissy in 2004. Florian has converted the domaine to biodynamic viticulture. From a plot of about 25 acres enclosed by a forest “Cuvée des Lys” is hand-harvested and fermented with indigenous yeasts. The wine is aged in concrete and stainless steel tanks to preserve the fresh and intense fruit that balances on a backbone of juicy acidity.

 

Château Montfin “L’Étang Danse” (Corbières 2019) Regular Price: $14

Since 2002, the 49 acre old vines estate of Château Montfin has been managed by Jérôme and Raymond Esteve. Since 2009 the domaine has used organic cultivation methods in all their parcels and presently the entire domaine is certified organic. “L’Étang Danse” is a blend of 55% Cinsault and 45% Grenache, entirely hand-harvested. Very low yields help create a wine that is expressive of tart red fruits, citrus, and spice, that is nicely balanced and refreshing on the palate. A superb value.

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Summer-Aid: Explore 2018 Beaujolais with Two New Wine-Aid Packages (All Included and Delivered)

In a marriage of grapes and ground that the French regard as mystical, it’s in the sandy clay soils over granite of Beaujolais that the Gamay grape finds its truest expression, in the right hands producing red wines that are fresh, vivid, light and fruity, yet possessing a soulful depth and sense of place. It is a wine that is somehow simultaneously uncomplicated and consequential.

Introducing two newly assembled Wine-Aid packages that highlight the beauty and drinkability of Beaujolais. Each package is based on a significant producer from the region but altogether the packages include wines from five of Beaujolais’ ten Cru appellations — known for their extraordinary soils and microclimates and the capability of producing the most remarkable wines of the area. Prices include 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.

$225 The Wines of Daniel Bouland

A traditionalist based in Morgon, Daniel Bouland is considered one of the top producers in Beaujolais. He farms about 17 acres of old vines in the Douby, Côte de Py, and Delys lieux-dits of Morgon, plus some small parcels in Chiroubles and Côte de Brouilly. Bouland’s wines are notable in their ability to develop over time into wines as expressive as those from villages to the north in Burgundy. All fruit is hand-harvested and vinified with full clusters to extract the full depth of expression. The wines are bottled unfiltered.

Included in this Wine-Aid Package are two bottles each:

“Pré Jourdan Foudre No. 5” (Morgon 2018) Regular Price: $39
Pré Jourdan is a newly acquired lieu-dit located near Fleurie with 70-year-old vines. The entire batch aged in a five-year-old foudre was purchased by the US importer after the inaugural 2018 vintage, making this wine exclusive to the states.

“Cuve No. 11” (Chiroubles 2018) Regular Price: $39
A parcel in the lieu-dit of Chatenay that lies high on the hill of Chiroubles and less than a mile north of Corcelette.  The soil is friable sandstone, producing a wine with gorgeous aromatics and sappy dark fruit.

“Mélanie Cuve No 1”( Côte de Brouilly 2018) Regular Price: $39
Cuvée Mélanie comes from a parcel that lies within the lieu dit Tête Noire, high on the Côte de Brouilly, with volcanic blue schist soils similar to Morgon’s Côte de Py.  The elegance, structure, and crunchy minerality of Côte de Brouilly are on full display.

$165 The Wines of Pierre-Marie Chermette (Domaine du Vissoux)

Setting the benchmark in Beaujolais for five generations is the Chermette family, who have been instrumental in the implementation of the Beaujolais Crus and climats. Strict traditionalists, Pierre-Marie and his wife Martine were among the first in Beaujolais to use sustainable agricultural practices, shunning the use of chemicals in the vineyard and encouraging as much life in the soil as possible. The wines are made with minimal intervention: wild yeasts, minimal sulphur additions, and no filtering if possible. These are some of the most expressive wines in the region for the price.

Included in this Wine-Aid Package are two bottles each:

“Les Champs-Grillés” (Saint-Amour 2018) Regular Price: $34
“Les Champs-Grillés” is produced from fruit grown on a seven acre climat where vines of 50 years old or older grow in soils of decomposed granite. Fermentation takes place naturally in whole clusters in old foudres constructed by Pierre’s great-grandfather at the beginning of the 19th century.

“Poncié” (Fleurie 2018) Regular Price: $31
From an 11 acre lieu-dit on a south-east facing slope in the heights of Fleurie planted 35 years ago. The soil is made up of pink granite rich in mica and quartz with a crumbly surface. Silky tannins and a floral bouquet give this wine its particular finesse.

“Origine Vieilles Vignes” (Beaujolais 2018) Regular Price: $20
Crafted in the pure Beaujolais tradition, “Origine Vieilles Vignes” is a lively wine that allows the Gamay grape to express its full-frontal fruitiness. Concentration and freshness make this a Beaujolais with character.