$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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Posted on 2020.05.31 in France, Bordeaux, Wine-Aid Packages  |  Read more...

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Posted on 2020.05.30 in France, Spain DO, Italy  |  Read more...

$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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Posted on 2020.05.29 in France, Bordeaux, Wine-Aid Packages  |  Read more...

$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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Posted on 2020.05.24 in Emilia-Romagna, Wine-Aid Packages, Italy  |  Read more...

$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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Posted on 2020.05.17 in Misc Spanish, Alentejo, Spain DO, Wine-Aid Packages, Portugal, Ribiero  |  Read more...

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