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$210 “The Molly Bloom” Wine-Aid Package – 6 Bottles of Regional Burgundy (All Included and Delivered)

Introducing The Molly Bloom, a $210 Wine-Aid package that includes six bottles of Burgundy (four red, two white) from some of the top producers in France. Although these regional wines are just the first step in classification, they offer the highest-quality entry point into the world of Burgundy. 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. 

Molly Bloom is one of the three central characters in the fictional novel Ulysses by James Joyce. An opera singer, and the unfaithful wife of Leopold Bloom, Molly makes a derisively mocking parallel to Penelope, the faithful wife of Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey. In Episode 18, the last section of the book, Molly (in bed with her husband) engages in a celebrated soliloquy, one of the most famous dramatic monologues in literature.

Molly is essentially Joyce’s equivalent of an earth goddess and these wines can certainly conjure a sense of connection to the land they come from. 

 

Included in The Molly Bloom Wine-Aid package are two bottles each:

Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair “Les Grands Chaillots” (Bourgogne Rouge 2016) Regular Price $46

Cousin to Vicomte Liger-Belair of La Romanée fame, in 2001 Thibault Liger-Belair took over storied family property in Nuits-Saint-Georges, reclaiming vineyards which had been contracted out to various sharecroppers and creating a new domaine under his own name. The properties include some of the most hallowed vineyards in Burgundy: The Grands Crus of Richebourg and Clos de Vougeot, as well as the Premier Cru of Les Saint-Georges that is one of the few vineyards in modern-era Burgundy to be considered for promotion to Grand Cru. “Les Grands Chaillots” is a well-structured Bourgogne from a plot in Nuits-Saint-Georges.

 

Domaine François Lamarche “Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits” (2014) Regular Price $35

Vineyard holdings don’t get much more impressive than the Grand Cru sliver of La Grande Rue that runs parallel to Romanée-Conti and La Romanée. Lamarche is the sole owner (monopole) and winemaker Nicole Lamarche turns it, and all of their vineyard production, into wines that are natural, elegant, and highly expressive of their terroir. “Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits” is matured In oak casks for between 16 and 20 months (between 60 and 100% new oak depending on the vintage). It is bottled without fining or filtering. On the palate it is silkyand pure, exporessing tart red cherry and strawberry fruit with a hint of spice toward the finish. 

 

Vincent Girardin “Cuvée Saint-Vincent” (Bourgogne Blanc 2017) Regular Price $26

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. “Cuvée Saint-Vincent” is 100% Chardonnay. It is matured in French oak casks of 500 liters (10% of new oak) with indigenous yeasts for 11 months. A fresh and mineral wine with aromas of orchard fruit and flowers. 

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$240 “The Leopold Bloom” Wine-Aid Package – 6 Bottles of Burgundy from Côte Chalonnaise (All Included and Delivered)

Introducing The Leopold Bloom, a $240 Wine-Aid package that includes six bottles of red Burgundy from some of the top producers in Côte Chalonnaise. Côte Chalonnaise continues as a regular chain of hills along the same lines as the Côte d’Or to its north. But the countryside is much less uniform and turns into a jumble of limestone slopes on which vineyards appear amongst orchards and pasture. These are some of the best value Pinot Noir-based wines in Burgundy. 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. 

Leopold Bloom is the fictional character whose wanderings through Dublin during one 24-hour period on June 16, 1904, form the central action of James Joyce’s novel Ulysses. Though he never leaves the streets of Dublin, Bloom is a wanderer like the Greek mythological hero Odysseus, to whom he is compared throughout the book. 

Bloom is introduced to the reader as a man of appetites and even drinks a glass of Burgundy on his odyssey. This Wine-Aid package will surely sate your own appetites for world-class Pinot Noir.  

Included in The Leopold Bloom Wine-Aid box are two bottles each:

Domaine François Lumpp “A Vigne Rouge” (Givry Premier Cru, 2015) Regular Price: $50

For close to 30 years François Lumpp and his wife Isabelle have been leaders in Givry, illustrating how meticulous attention to producing the highest quality fruit can create wines that rival some of the finest in the Côte de Beaune. Using cuttings of older bud wood (sélection massale) François developed his domaine around Givry’s best Premier Cru sites, emerging as a benchmark producer for this small region. “A Vigne Rouge” is from a six acre plot of Oxfordian superior Nantoux limestone benches separated by thin marl on an ideally exposed and well-drained mid-slope. Notably ripe yet extraordinarily fresh, a glass emanates aromas of crunchy cranberry, redcurrant, and an earthy spice.

 

Domaine Ragot “Teppe des Cheneves” (Givry 2014) Regular Price: $40

Nicolas Ragot  manages a little over 22 acres that includes a fair share of 40+ year old vines. Cultivation is approached lutte raisonee, with a few acres farmed organically and plans to expand that across all their holdings in the future. All of the fruit is hand-harvested and only indigenous yeasts are used. A newish parcel, the vines at “Teppe des Cheneves” were planted in 2009 in a vineyard that lies along nearly two acres that had been previously covered by forest. After clearing the east-facing slope, the Ragots planted Pinot Noir in high density on clay and limestone soils between 950 and 1,050 feet altitude. Loads of luscious Pinot Noir fruit on a lithe frame make this wine a summer pleaser. 

 

Domaine Jean-Baptiste Ponsot “Molesme” (Rully Premier Cru 2014) Regular Price: $40

Third-generation winemaker Jean-Baptiste Ponsot farms a total 21 acres in the Rully appellation. With a deep respect for the land that his family has been fostering for decades, he focuses on the intrinsic health of the ecosystem and his vines, choosing to cultivate using organic methods. His goal is to produce wines of intensity and depth, wines that can be considered both taut and ripe. “Molesme” is aged 12 months in barrels (40% of new oak). The wine shows a mildly herbal perfume underneath ripe and juicy fruit. A sip is velvety yet focused. 

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$270 “A Dozen Rosés” Wine-Aid Package — Crisp, Cool Climate Rosé + A Rosé Sparkler (All Included and Delivered)

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.” — Rainer Maria Rilke

Whether you’re social-distancing with friends on the patio, grilling in the backyard, or just relaxing on a cozy chair with a good book and all the windows thrown open to the warm breeze and birdsong, this weather calls for a glass of fresh rosé by your side.

Introducing A Dozen Rosés, a $270 Wine-Aid package that includes twelve bottles of dry, pink wine mainly from the cool climate wine regions of France, plus a world-class sparkling rosé from a top producer in Spain. 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.

These are all fresh, current release wines, not close-outs of last year’s wine that has been languishing in warehouses. With this variety you’ll find everything from delicate wines redolent of flowers and early strawberries to rich and herbal wines big enough to pair with grilled meats and possibly even satisfy the most ardent red wine drinker.

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 Wine-Aid Package are two bottles each:

Pascal & Nicolas Reverdy “Terre de Maimbray” (Sancerre 2019) Regular Price $32

Based in the tiny hamlet of Maimbray surrounded by chalk hills of the Loire Valley, Pascal Reverdy and his wife Sophie produce wines of place from almost pure “Terres Blanches” soils of fossilized Marne/Kimmeridigian limestone and clay. The Reverdys harvest exclusively by hand, and do not filter any of their wines. “Terre de Maimbray” is 100% Pinot Noir with vibrant, mineral accented strawberry and tangerine scents over sappy redcurrant and citrus fruit flavors.


Domaine Collotte Rosé (Marsannay 2019) Regular Price $24

Philippe Collotte and his daughter Isabelle produce some of Marsannay’s best values. They focus on sustainable viticultural practices and fruit yields well below the appellation’s allowances. All fermentations are done with indigenous yeasts only. This Pinot Noir-based rosé is made from 30 to 60 year-old vines growing on classic Burgundian clay and limestone soils. In the glass it exudes an exuberant floral and red cherry vibe. A richer rosé, the medium-body delivers ripe red fruit, herbs, and a hint of mineral funk.


Pierre-Marie Chermette “Griottes” (Beaujolais 2019) Regular Price $19

Strict traditionalists, Pierre-Marie and Martine Chermette 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. Their poundable, Gamay-based rosé is pale in color but deep in flavor. Fruit and flowers on the nose are enhanced by a hint of gravel.


Château de la Bonnelière “Rive Gauche” (Chinon 2019) Regular Price $18

Château de la Bonnelière is a certified organic domaine situated in the heart of Chinon. Marc Plouzeau has been running this small, 37 acre family domaine since 1999, taking over from his father who started renovation and replanting back in the 1970s. All of Marc’s wines are produced with minimal intervention. “Rive Gauche” comes from the gravel and sand-based alluvial soils on the left bank of the Vienne river. High-toned aromatics of raspberry and peach hover above a fresh and juicy glass of this Cabernet Franc rosé.



Domaine La Bérangeraie “Malbec Rosé” (IGP Côtes du Lot 2019) Regular Price $14

The 86 acre Domaine La Bérangeraie began in 1971 when André Berenger came to Cahors from Provence with his wife Sylvie and planted their vineyard on the red clay and iron stone soil near the small village of Grézels in the Lot department in south-western France. 100% Malbec, ripe strawberry and raspberry aromas and flavors are complemented by a hint of spice. A core of juicy acidity balances a silky fruit profile and a pinch of residual sugar adds to the body.


Raventós i Blanc “de Nit” (cru Conca del Riu Anoia 2017) Regular Price $30

Biodynamically farmed and rivaling many a grower Champagne in quality terms, “de Nit” is a blend of Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada with the addition of a small amount of red Monastrell for complexity and to give the wine its pale pink color. Aged for at least 18 months on the lees before release this is a wine of balance, with subtle minerality. Creamy, with aromatics of flowers, orchard fruits, and almonds, we suggest drinking this sparkling wine from a white wine glass to experience everything it has to offer.

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$210 “The Ausonius” Wine-Aid Package — 6 Bottles Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Second Wines (All Included and Delivered)

“What colour are they now, thy quiet waters?
The evening star has brought the evening light,
And filled the river with the green hillside;
The hill-tops waver in the rippling water,
Trembles the absent vine and swells the grape
In thy clear crystal.”

— Decimus Magnus Ausonius from Mosella

Introducing The Ausonius, a $210 Wine-Aid package that includes six bottles of wine from some of the finest producers in Saint-Émilion. 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. 

Along with its neighbor, Pomerol, Saint-Émilion is one of the world’s benchmark appellations for Merlot-based wine. It is one of the oldest active wine producing appellations in the Bordeaux region with a history that dates back to ancient Romans. It was the home of the famous Roman poet and wine lover, Decimus Magnus Ausonius, who served as the inspiration for the name of the now famous Château Ausone. 

Not merely leftovers, Second Wines have always offered incredible value, but as the selection process for the First Wine or “Grand Vin” of these distinguished estates has gotten stricter, today the best Second Wines offer an even greater value than in the past. It’s important to note that Second Wines are always produced by the same winemaking team that produces the First Wine. Generally, the biggest differences are that Second wines see less new oak during maturation and are meant to be enjoyed closer to release than the First Wine.

Included in The Ausonius Wine-Aid Package are two bottles each:

 

Château Valandraud “3 de Valandraud” (Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2016) Regular Price $44

This estate led by Jean-Luc Thunevin is recognized as giving birth to the “Garage Wine” movement. Their debut vintage produced a scant 100 cases of wine and was vinified in a borrowed space. Today they own their cellars and cultivate almost 25 acres of vineyards using a combination of traditional and modern technique. “3 de Valandraud” is produced from declassified fruit from Valandraud and Virginie de Valandraud. The wine is very representative of Thunevin’s signature style: lush and opulent fruit, with a silken, smooth tannic structure.

 

Château Rol Valentin “Les Valentines” (Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2016) Regular Price $37

About 40% of Château Rol Valentin’s vines are placed on sandy soils, north of Château La Gomerie on the way to Château Cheval Blanc. The remaining 60% are planted in the cooler, clay and limestone soils near Château Faugères. Most of the vines on this 18 acre estate are older, averaging close to 43 years of age. The vineyard is managed using sustainable farming techniques. The 2016 vintage of “Les Valentines” shows good balance with dark red fruit on the nose and palate and a touch of chocolate on the finish.

 

Château Monbousquet “Angélique de Monbousquet” (Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2015) Regular Price $29

Château Monbousquet traces its history all the way back to 1540 but its modern era began with a jump in quality in 1993 when it was purchased by Gérard Perse of Château Pavie fame. The entire 79 acre vineyard was analyzed and drained and the winemaking facilities rebuilt. Today, the 40 year old vines see less water during prolonged wet spells. Perse gets the most he can out of sand, clay and gravel soils. Blackberries, earth, and herbs rise above a medium-bodied sip of sappy and fresh fruit. 

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$225 “The Montaigne” Wine-Aid Package – 12 Bottles of Bordeaux from Château Petit-Freylon (All Included and Delivered)

“Let us give Nature a chance; she knows her business better than we do.” — Michel de Montaigne

Introducing The Montaigne, a $225 Wine-Aid package that includes 12 bottles of Bordeaux (8 bottles red, 4 bottles white) from Château Petit-Freylon. 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. 

Michel de Montaigne, the man who pioneered the essay as a literary genre, was born Michel Eyquem, in Bordeaux in 1533. The family name and estate survive to this day in the name of Château d’Yquem — a name you may recognize as perhaps the greatest of all French sweet wines. He penned some of the most enduring, influential essays in history. They explore subjects like fear, friendship, government, the imagination, and other intersections of the seemingly mundane and the profoundly existential.

Philosopher Jacques Rancière has recently argued that modernism began with the opening up of the mundane, private, and ordinary to artistic treatment. If Rancière is right, it could be said that Montaigne’s Essays may have actually invented modernism in the late 16th century.

Included in The Montaigne Wine-Aid box are four bottles each from the estate of Château Petit-Freylon.

Château Petit-Freylon is located in the tiny Aquitaine village of Saint-Genis-du-Bois. Since 2011, the estate owners have invested heavily in the château’s wine-making facilities, installing such improvements as new tanks, barrels, and thermo-vinification systems. Vineyards cover 75 acres, some of which are within the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation. 30 year old vines grow from clay and limestone soils. 

In an effort to reduce environmental impact, Château Petit-Freylon is heavily invested in numerous conservation initiatives, such as recycling waste, improving biodiversity, reworking vineyard management, efficient use of resources, and counteracting all forms of pollution. 

 

“Cuvée Leah Grande Cuvée” (Bordeaux Supérieur 2016) Regular Price $22

Red Bordeaux blend 100% matured in oak barrels. Petit-Freylon’s top wine is a full-bodied, textured drink filled with ripe black fruits and sporting aromas of cassis and kirsch. 

 

“Cuvée Sarah” (Bordeaux Supérieur 2016) Regular Price $17

A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot. A complex bouquet of dark fruit and spices precede blackberry and plum on the palate. A generous character makes it a standout for grilling. 

 

“Cuvée Izzy” (Bordeaux Blanc 2016) Regular Price $19

Sauvignon Blanc provides the base for this crisp and citrusy bottle of white perfect for summer drinking.

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$150 “The Lambrusco Sampler” Wine-Aid Package & Sunday Brunch Virtual Tasting with Winemaker Alberto Paltrinieri – (8 Bottles All Included and Delivered)

If you have yet to try Alberto Paltrinieri’s Lambrusco you are in for a treat. His wines are truly some of the best values we have ever come across.

A well-made Lambrusco is a joy to drink with just about any type of food, yet as a wine type it still languishes from the many drinkers that still associate Lambrusco solely with the sweet, fizzy, purple wine-drink that was popular in the 70s. But there is so much more to this wine from Emilia-Romagna — a region known for its robust, singular cuisine.

Lambrusco di Sorbara is the name of both the grape variety and the Italian DOC that lies north of the city of Modena with the center being the small village of Sorbara. Alberto Paltrinieri is a third generation winemaker. He carries on the legacy of his father, Gianfranco, and grandfather, Achilles, a chemist who built the cellar in 1926. He and his wife, Barbara, have transformed their small, 42 acre operation into one of the most notable wineries in the region. Alberto and Barbara’s wines represent the new Lambrusco — modern winemaking techniques married with traditional values to produce wines that speak of place.

Sunday Brunch Virtual Tasting with Alberto Paltrinieri

Not only does Alberto know how to craft some of the best Lambrusco the world has ever seen, he’s also a heck of a nice guy. With the purchase of “The Lambrusco Sampler” Wine-Aid Package you will also receive an invitation to a virtual tasting on Sunday May 31st from noon to 12:40 pm. Chat with Alberto while you enjoy your Sunday Brunch at home. The meeting will feature a tour of his estate while discussing its history and his terroir of alluvial soils between the rivers Secchia and Panaro in the historic area known as Cristo di Sorbara. You will learn the production methods of Lambrusco as well as the particulars of each of the four presented wines and their most appropriate food pairings.

We are limiting the number of participants to allow for everyone involved to have the chance to engage with Alberto. Call the shop at (248) 398-0030 to reserve your spot. The day prior to the tasting you will receive a Zoom ID.

Included in “The Lambrusco Sampler” Wine-Aid Package ($150) are two bottles each:

“Radice” (Lambrusco di Sorbara 2018) DRY Regular Price $21

100% Lambrusco di Sorbara. A thrilling, bone-dry, slightly fizzy sip of salted alpine strawberries under a nose of thyme and crisp berry fruit. “Radice” means root and this wine hearkens back to a time when wines got their fizz from refermentation in the bottle using only the natural sugars in the fruit and indigenous yeasts. This type of winemaking is called Metodo Ancestrale AKA Pétillant-naturel. “Radice” wears the method well with its crown seal and slightly cloudy vibe. It is a savory wine that is sure to go over well at informal backyard gatherings and picnics at the beach.

 

“Leclisse” (Lambrusco di Sorbara 2018) DRY Regular Price $25

100% Lambrusco di Sorbara. A Gambero Rosso “Tre Bicchieri” selection, “Leclisse” sings with elegance. Scents of flowers and raspberries linger above a sip that is bone-dry, full of crisp fruit, and balanced by a mineral structure that is rare in wines of this price. A Lambrusco with some gravitas yet still a pleasure to drink. Its fizz comes from production using Metodo Martinotti AKA Charmat Method, whereby fermentation with indigenous yeasts in pressurized stainless steel tanks allow for a more measured sparkle. It’s a wine that’s sure to turn a simple cheese and salumi board into a feast.

 

“Piria” (Lambrusco di Sorbara 2018) DRY Regular Price $15

“Piria” is the name of the tool shown on the label to keep the wine from spilling during racking (siphoning wine must from one container to the next). 70% Lambrusco di Sorbara and 30% Lambrusco Salamino with refermentation using Metodo Martinotti. A ruby-red, dry, and fruity wine with floral notes. The lightly sparkling palate offers strawberry, pomegranate, and orange zest alongside crisp acidity. You want red wine with sushi? You can have red wine with sushi.

 

“Solco” (Lambrusco dell’Emilia IGT 2018) OFF-DRY Regular Price $16

100% Lambrusco Salamino with refermentation using Metodo Martinotti. “Solco” is a semi-dry, purple-tinged red wine with ripe, soft, dark fruit and a lush mouthfeel created by the 15 grams or so of residual sugar. It is a pleasant accompaniment to spicy food or when you crave a touch of sweetness.

 

 

 

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$165 “The Paco de Lucía” Wine-Aid Package – 6 Bottles of Wine from Iberia’s Atlantic Coast (All Included and Delivered)

No need for a quote. We will let Paco de Lucía’s music speak for him. 

Introducing The Paco de Lucía, a $165 Wine-Aid package that includes six bottles of wine (four bottles red, two bottles white). From the inland mountains of Portugal to the coastal vineyards of northwestern Spain, this selection illustrates the broad range of styles from the Iberian peninsula’s Atlantic Coast. 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. 

One of history’s greatest guitarists, the role of the flamenco guitar evolved considerably through the playing of Paco de Lucía. He extended the former accompaniment-only tradition of flamenco guitar to include deeply personal melodic statements and modern instrumentation. José Luis Acosta, president of the Spanish Artists and Editors Society, stated that “Paco was and will be a universal artist, who took the guitar and flamenco sentiment to the heart of the whole world.”

The wines featured in The Paco de Lucía Wine-Aid package were produced with the kind of virtuosity and deep passion that Paco de Lucía put into his music. 

Included in The Paco de Lucía Wine-Aid box are two bottles of each:

1) 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.

 

2) Dominio del Urogallo “Pésico” (2013) Regular Price $28

Nicolás Marcos clearly likes a challenge. He left his family’s winery in Toro, did a stint with the distinguished Alain Graillot in Crozes-Hermitage, and then settled into the northwestern region of Asturias, specifically Cangas del Narcea. Pésico is a blend of equal parts Carrasquín, Mencía, Verdejo Tinto, and Albarín Tinto, all grape varieties indigenous to the region. Nico vinifies the juice from about 18 acres spread over parcels from four different crus. Each parcel is fermented separately with indigenous yeast before blending and partial aging in French oak barrels (including second year barrels from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti). This is truly a wine that speaks of the land, ripe yet fresh, bursting with blue fruits and layers of texture before a lengthy finish.

 

3) Coto de Gomariz “X” (Ribeiro 2017) Regular Price $30

One of the vanguard producers in the northwestern Spanish wine production zone of Ribeiro is the Bodega of Coto de Gomariz. Located in the Avia valley near the Atlantic coast, they enjoy a unique microclimate created by the Avia river. Shisteous, granitic and sandy soils, steep slopes, tiny yields, a unique microclimate, and the farming of the native red and white grapes of the region has allowed Coto de Gomariz to produce some of the most distinctive and expressive wines in Ribeiro. “X” is a single vineyard blend of Albariño and Treixadura named after the schist soils (xisto in Gallego) where the grapes are grown. It is wonderfully fresh, juicy, and rich. 

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$250 “The Claude Debussy” Wine-Aid Package – 12 Bottles of Red Wine from the Southern Rhone’s Most Significant Appellations outside Châteauneuf-du-Pape (All Included and Delivered)

“Extreme complication is contrary to art.” — Claude Debussy

Introducing The Claude Debussy, a $250 Wine-Aid package that includes 12 bottles of lush, earthy, and spicy red wine from some of Southern Rhone’s most prestigious Crus. 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. 

Claude Debussy was French composer whose works were a seminal force in the music of the 20th century. He developed a highly original system of harmony and musical structure that expressed in many respects the ideals to which the Impressionist and Symbolist painters and writers of his time aspired. 

Debussy was constantly breaking new ground. Explorations, he maintained, were the essence of music; they were his musical bread and wine. The selections in The Claude Debussy Wine-Aid Package are also explorations, journeys into a terroir that is both familiar and surprising. 

Included in The Claude Debussy Wine-Aid box are:

1) Olivier Gras “Prat Sura” (Vacqueyras 2016) Regular Price $37 TWO BOTTLES 

The Gras family had grown grapes for other producers for decades on their 15 acre family farm. Olivier Gras, determined to create his own wines, studied viticulture and enology and upon graduation he carved his own domaine out of just a little over one acre from his family’s plot of vines ranging from 20-40 years old. In 2011, he produced his first vintage to great accolades and promise. The wine is mainly Grenache. A sip is balanced with silky tannins and lush, ripe fruit. Hints of licorice ride the lengthy finish. 

 

2) Domaine de Beaurenard (Rasteau 2017) Regular Price $32 TWO BOTTLES

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 vineyards, these methods involve working the soil without herbicides, spreading carefully-dynamised manure, and maintaining sensible grass cover. Beaurenard’s 2017 Rasteau is all herbal and red cherries. A blend of 80% Grenache, 17% Syrah and 3% Mourvèdre, it’s medium to full-bodied, creamy and supple.

 

3) Domaine de Font-Sane “Tradition” (Gigondas 2016) Regular Price $28 TWO BOTTLES

Véronique Cunty-Peysson and her husband, Bernard, lead the multi-generational family estate of Domaine de Font-Sane. The Domaine is about 39 acres across Gigondas and Ventoux and many of the vineyards lie within the protection of the toothy, lacy, and majestic rock faces of the Dentelles de Montmirail. Gigondas “Tradition” is mainly Grenache with touches of Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault in the blend. The vineyards lie over five terroirs of clay/limestone, pebbles, sand, alluvium, and sandy loam that provide a nuanced complexity to the finished wine. Floral notes and herbs precede a concentrated, full-bodied sip with a finish of chewy tannins. 

 

4) Domaine de Font-Sane “Vieilles Vignes” (Ventoux 2018) Regular Price $15 SIX BOTTLES

Domaine de Font Sane is distinguished not only by star winemaker Véronique Cunty-Peysson, whose experience and intuition spans over three decades, but also from a collection of superb vineyard parcels. Ventoux “Vieilles Vignes” is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah from vines aged 50-60 years old grown in sandy soil.The elevation of Ventoux is a benefit to producing a poundable wine of interest. Floral and garrigue notes layered over bright red fruit will make this medium-bodied wine a bottle you’ll want to drink again and again.

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$165 “The Robert Louis Stevenson” Wine-Aid Package – 6 Bottles of French Red Wine from the Slopes of the Cévennes Mountains (All Included and Delivered)

“Wine is bottled poetry.” — Robert Louis Stevenson 

Introducing The Robert Louis Stevenson, a $165 Wine-Aid package that includes six bottles of ripe and lush red wine from the appellations of Faugères, Terrasses du Larzac, and Saint-Chinian — appellations that all lie in the dramatically craggy foothills of the southern slopes of the Cévennes mountain range. The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a 15% discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package. 

Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scottish poet, playwright, novelist, and travel writer. While he is most famous for his adventure novels like Treasure Island, one of his earliest published works was a pioneering classic of outdoor literature, Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes. The book recounts Stevenson’s 12-day, 120 mile, solo hiking journey through the southern French mountain range in 1878. Here’s a taste:

“There is a romance about all who are abroad in the black hours, and with something of a thrill we try to guess their business. But here the romance was double: first, this glad passenger, lit internally with wine, who sent up his voice in music through the night; and then I, on the other hand, buckled into my sack, and smoking alone in the pine-woods between four and five thousand feet towards the stars.”

Included in The Robert Louis Stevenson Wine-Aid box are two bottles of each:

1) Domaine Léon Barral (Faugères 2016) Regular Price $36

An arid landscape of scrub-covered ridges and windswept stone outcrops, Faugères is known for its dry and crunchy metamorphic schist that forces the roots of the vines to penetrate deeply in search of moisture. Didier Barral farms about 75 acres of vines using biodynamic practices.  This bottle 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 2 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.

 

2) Le Clos du Serres “Les Maros” (Terrasses du Larzac 2015) Regular Price $31

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). “Les Maros” is a single parcel of schist west of the village. The wine is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, and 20% Carignan from the coolest vineyard area of the estate. The wine is matured for 12 months in concrete vats. Weighty and more concentrated, the flavors tend toward black fruit and licorice with a mouth-filling texture and lengthy finish.

 

3) Domaine Mas Champart “Causse de Bousquet” (Saint-Chinian 2017) Regular Price $25

Back in 1976, Isabelle Champart and her husband Mathieu began cultivating vines on a humble 20 acre farmstead. Mathieu tends to the vines, Isabelle makes the wines, and this small slice of the Languedoc is their life. “Causse de Bousquet” is a blend of 60% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, and 10% Carignan mainly from a broad limestone plateau at close to 1,000 feet in elevation where the hard rock extends through to the surface. Aromatics of red cherry licorice and herb-dusted stone hover above the slightest hint of grilled meat. A mouth-filling sip bellows of ripeness yet the wine never turns flabby. Indeed the lengthy finish seems to release energy as it remains. 

 

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$195 “The Sergio Leone” Wine-Aid Package – 12 Bottles of Spanish Wine (8 Red + 4 White, All Included and Delivered)

“I’ve always believed that true cinema is cinema of the imagination.” — Sergio Leone

Introducing The Sergio Leone, a $195 Wine-Aid package that includes 12 Bottles of Spanish Wine showcasing the quality and value of Spanish wines from the slopes of Montserrat near the Mediterranean Sea to the Val do Salnés on the Atlantic coast. The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a 20% discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package. 

While Sergio Leone is an Italian director most of his films are inextricably tied to the landscape of Spain. The Tabernas Desert in the southeastern province of Almería is probably the most famous setting, but he filmed all over the country. Indeed, the first film of the “Man With No Name Trilogy” that made both Leone and Clint Eastwood famous, and is considered the birth of the spaghetti western genre, was principally filmed in the municipality of Hoyo De Manzanares, a short drive from the vineyards of our first featured winemaker Uva de Vida.

It’s easy to imagine that those many years ago the cast and crew might have been drinking very similar wines as are featured in this Wine Aid package. And it is this idea of geography, and its connection to the history of humanity, that can make the simple act of drinking a good bottle of wine something more profound. 

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

1) Uva de Vida “Latitud 40” (Vino de la Tierra de Castilla 2015)  Regular Price $23

The wife-and-husband team of Carmen López and Luis Ruiz have harnessed the soul of the land to produce wines of purity, brilliance and energy. Biodiversity of plant and animal life is promoted in their 33 acres of vines planted at 1,600 feet of altitude in the clay-based soils near the tiny village of Santa Olalla just up the road from the city of Toledo. Uva de Vida employs minimal intervention techniques from start to finish. 100% Graciano and nearly opaque deep red, a glass of “Latitud 40” radiates aromas of cherry fruit leather, dark chocolate, herbs, and salty, sun-baked earth. These heady scents merge seamlessly into a mid-weight sip of blackcurrant fruit with a long and juicy finish. 

 

2) 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. 

 

3) Fento “Bico da Ran” (Rías Baixas 2018) Regular Price $17

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. With an altitude below 1,000 feet and vineyards that reach the Atlantic Ocean, this is the coolest winemaking zone in the region. 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.

 

Still from A Fistful of Dollars (1964) compared to a recent photograph in Hoyo De Manzanares