The Paradox of Chenin: Three Neo-vignerons Use The Variety To Explore Anjou Noir’s Microclimates And Soil Complexity With Unique Collection Of Grand Crus And Single-plots

Chenin shares some traits with Marilyn Monroe; it’s blonde, beautiful, rather dreamy and frisky… and, of course, it’s easily exploited. Chenin certainly has a tawdry side (the generic jugs—no pun—from Gallo, circa the 1970s), but when allowed to shine—as Monroe…

- - -
Posted on 2024.01.26 in Savennières, Coteaux-du-Layon, Quarts-de-Chaume, France, Wine-Aid Packages, Loire  |  Read more...

Isabel Ferrando’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape Old-Vine Grenache Is “The Heart Of Our Vineyards And The Soul Of Our Wine” (6-Bottle Assortment $329) + Recent Arrival Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vintage 2021, Seven Wines

To Blend or Not to Blend The magic of the blend is the keystone in Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s rock-solid reputation; fifteen varieties are legally permitted in the appellation, and the proportion of each used in the final cuvée is a reflection of…

- - -
Posted on 2024.01.20 in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Wine-Aid Packages, Southern Rhone  |  Read more...

The Rise of Terroir in Champagne: Two Standout Producers In Search Of Precise Geography In Two Different Sub-regions (The Many Faces Of Meunier) + Recent Arrival: Clandestin ‘Elegant Champagne With A Burgundian Accent’

‘First and foremost, Champagne is wine.’ Our Champagne mantra over the past few years has been a bit reductionist: While undeniably accurate, it’s a little like saying that, first and foremost, ‘David’ is a hunk of marble or that at…

- - -
Posted on 2024.01.14 in France, Champagne, Wine-Aid Packages  |  Read more...

A Window To The Past: Burgundy’s Strongest Statement is Fully In Evidence In Ten-Year-Old Gevrey-Chambertin Seventeen 2014 Wines Show Depth And Breed. (4-Bottle Village-Pack $379) + (3-Bottle Premier Cru-Pack $379)

A Gevrey New Year from us to you! In a time of reflection and introspection, we’re also suggesting a bit of ‘retrospection’—a deep dive into the marvelously mature 2014s from the Burgundian appellation most celebrated for its longevity. This curated…

- - -
Posted on 2024.01.06 in France, Champagne, Wine-Aid Packages  |  Read more...