Sweeping Red & White 2014 Burgundy Tasting this Saturday

We are making a serious commitment to the 2014 vintage of Burgundy and our spring shipment has just arrived. Stop by the shop this Saturday anytime between 12 and 5 to taste over a dozen wines from some of the best producers in Burgundy. Enjoy 15% off already great prices on all featured wines, from inexpensive, everyday drinking wines to Grand Cru vineyards expressing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at their most glorious.

In 2014, Burgundy experienced a relatively cool summer and a relatively early harvest, but without extremes in either case. It is a superb vintage for white wines and a very good one for reds. With vintners reporting yields 30-40 percent lower than average in 2015 and widespread catastrophic frost, hail and a deluge already in 2016, we’re stocking up on the 2014 vintage.

Flying in from Burgundy to join us at the tasting will be Jeanne-Marie de Champs, an authority on the wines of Burgundy. She is intimately familiar with all of our feature producers and she will take us through the wines. Jeanne-Marie grew up in the farmlands of the Loire, not far from the vines of Sancerre. Since 1994 she has worked with some of the biggest names in Burgundy and has explored the vineyards and cellars of Greater Burgundy and beyond.

Featured Producers

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Posted on 2016.06.06 in France, Saturday Sips Wines, Burgundy  |  Read more...

The Champagne Society – June 2016 Selection: Champagne De Sousa

Champagne De Sousa “3A” Extra Brut (Avize, Aÿ, Ambonnay, Grand Cru)

“If you could write the perfect recipe for the greatest Champagnes it might read something like this: a tiny grower based in Avize in the exact center of the Grand Crus of the Côte des Blancs, sourcing Chardonnay from estate vineyards on the finest slopes of the Grand Crus of Avize, Oger, Cramant and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, and Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier from the Grand Crus of Aÿ and Ambonnay. Vines would be very old and painstakingly tended biodynamically by an experienced artisan, fanatical about drawing every detail of character and minerality from every site. Crop levels and dosage would be low, oak would be used generously when the fruit called for it and sparingly when it did not, blending would be performed from a deep pool of reserve wines, and cuvées would mature long on their lees in cold cellars. Welcome to the wonderful world of De Sousa.” – Tyson Stelzer, The Champagne Guide

Over almost 30 years, Erick de Sousa has refined the best of traditional thinking and progressive new methods to revitalize, transform and grow his estate to become one of the finest in the Côte des Blancs. His vineyard holdings consist of 42 plots spanning close to 24 acres, including over six acres of coveted old vines in Avize, Cramant, and Oger.

In his own words, Erick ‘lives in the rhythm of the vines’ and regards his work in the vineyards as the key to the quality of the grapes. To him, biodynamic viticulture is about equipping his old vines to capture minerality, ‘to encourage the vine to draw deeply the trace elements specific to each terroir and provide different characteristics to each cuvée.

The June 2016 selection for The Champagne Society is Champagne De Sousa “3A”. It is a blend of the three ‘A’ Grand Crus. 50% Chardonnay from Avize, 25% Pinot Noir from Aÿ and 25% Pinot Noir from Ambonnay. The juice is blended prior to fermentation to increase harmony. Half of the wine is vinified in old oak barrels. The result is a rich Champagne, balanced between the finesse and fresh tropical fruit of the Chardonnay and the smooth dark berry fruit of Pinot Noir. The very low dosage of this cuvée (extra brut) illustrates the quality of fruit that Erick coaxes from his vines.

Champagne De Sousa has risen to a rightful place among Champagne’s greatest producers under Erick’s visionary guidance. He his now ably assisted by his two daughters, Charlotte and Julie, and son, Valentin, who have all completed degrees at the local wine school and have important roles in the family business, ensuring we’ll have supply to these masterfully grown and crafted wines for many years to come.

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Posted on in France, The Champagne Society, Champagne  |  Read more...

Tuscan Red in Its Prime

Il Conventino (Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, 2010)
$28/bottle SOLD OUT

Of the three main production zones in Tuscany for Sangiovese-based wines, it’s Vino Nobile di Montepulciano that seems most often overlooked. Thanks to a certain fictional forensic psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer, most everyone has heard of Chianti. Brunello di Montalcino is the darling of collectors. Perhaps because Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is smaller (only 7% of the acreage of Brunello and an even tinier fraction of Chianti) or because it shares its name with a wine that is quite often mass produced across the Apennines in Abruzzo, it has not gotten the recognition it deserves.

If you’re looking for a high-quality red wine from Tuscany without the price tag of Brunello, yet sharing a similarity in depth and ageability, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a good bet. If you’re looking for one that impeccably expresses its terroir, is entering its prime drinking window while still having a long life ahead, and won’t kill the wine budget,2010 Il Conventino Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a sure thing.

Back in 2003, brothers Pino, Duccio and Alessandro Brini purchased the vineyards of La Casella within the cru of Caggiole known for producing wines of ample body and structure. They immediately made the choice to cultivate their 13 acres of vineyards, well-situated between 750 and 1,740 feet, using organic methods. They eventually saw their 2010 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano awarded “Tre Bicchieri” (Three Glasses) by Gambero Rosso, the world’s leading authority on Italian wine. An award only the top wines of Italy will ever receive.

Today the winery is mostly run by Pino’s son, Alberto, and the vineyards have expanded to 30 acres. The organic viticulture has been extended to biodynamic techniques like using grasses between vines and planting diverse crops to maintain a healthy ecosystem on the farm. Only indigenous yeasts are used during fermentation.

A blend of 85% Prugnolo Gentile (Sangiovese) and 15% Colorino, Canaiolo and Mammolo, only 1,600 cases of 2010 Il Conventino Vino Nobile di Montepulciano were produced. Ageing took place in large, French and Slavonian oak casks for 24-27 months and then four months in bottle prior to release. The result is pretty aromas of bramble and forest fruit embellished with layers of spice and mocha. Dark fruits appear on the soft and succulent finish. A perfect pairing for a thick Porterhouse cut grilled over hardwood and lightly touched with rosemary.

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Posted on 2016.06.01 in Saturday Sips Wines, Italy, Tuscany  |  Read more...

Spanish Wine Sale – All Bottles 15% Off This Saturday Only

Buy three or more bottles of Spanish wine and receive a 15% discount — Prices Start at $11/bottle.

With deep discounts on any Spanish wine in the shop, this Saturday will be a great time to replenish the cellar, grab yourself a special bottle that has developed with some age, or stock up for your holiday weekend festivities.

John Radford, author of The New Spain, makes the claim that Spanish wine is more vibrant, happening, and fascinating than it has ever been. We could not agree more. Although Elie Wine Co. is first and foremost a French wine shop, we are fiercely proud of our thoughtful selection of Spanish wines that include everything from inexpensive, easy-drinking wines to cellar-worthy, world-class wines. It’s a selection with an emphasis on small producers that control the winemaking process from vineyard to bottle.

Like husband and wife team, Irene Alemany and Laurent Corrio, true garagistes producing a range of world-class wines in the Alt Penedès, the most inland and mountainous subzone of the Penedès wine region of Catalunya. The white “Principia Mathematica” (~$23) is produced from 100% Xarel·lo (shah-REHL-loh), an indigenous grape variety that most Cava drinkers will recognize.

Grab a few bottles of Bodegas César Príncipe “Clarete de Luna” Rosé (~$13) for the weekend. It takes a chill beautifully, as a rosé should, but also offers more dense red fruit, most notably cherry, along with notes of strawberry, raspberry, and watermelon. Perfect for backyard barbecues and days at the shore.

Coto de Gomariz “The Flower and the Bee” Sousón (~$17) is an ideal burger wine. Full of ripe, dark berry aromas with a pinch of herbs and spice, and a bright finish from it’s Galician terroir. This is a red wine that can take a bit of a chill.

If lamb chops are coming off the grill, Ca n’Estruc “L’Equilibrista” (~$27) would be magical. Produced from vineyards on the slopes of Montserrat in Catalunya, and many vines that are close to 80 years old, this is classic Mediterranean red wine. It’s brimming with red and black fruits, juicy acidity, and just enough tannin to balance it all out.

Another husband and wife team, Alfredo Esteve and Nina Coolsaet, are the heart and soul behind Bodega Mas l’Altet. Their deeply aromatic and Syrah-based, Valencian blend “Avi” (~$33) hails from a microclimate that benefits both from the cooling effect of high elevation and the warmth of the nearby Mediterranean Sea.

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Posted on 2016.05.25 in Saturday Sips Wines, Misc Spanish, Spain DO, Penedes, Priorat DOQ, Ribero del Duero, Rioja DOC, Catalunya, Cigales, Bierzo, Sherry/Jerez, Cava, Montsant, Arribes, Navarra, Costers del Segre, Tierra de Leon, Ribeiro, Valencia  |  Read more...

Château de Beaucastel – Foremost Châteauneuf-du-Pape at Pre-arrival Prices

Château de Beaucastel (Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 2013)
$415/6-pack (~$69/bottle)

We’ve sourced a limited amount of this world-class wine and although it’s already stocked in our shop we’re offering it at pre-arrival prices. Regular price is $89/bottle. Please call or email if you would like to reserve a 6-pack. We will maintain the promotional pricing until we deplete the inventory. Stop by any time for a sample.

Château de Beaucastel has long been regarded as one of the greatest wines in France, and certainly at the top of its class in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. From an exceptional terroir at the northern limit of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in Coudoulet, it has a long history for elegance, balance and aging potential.

The Famille Perrin, led by Jean-Pierre and François, raise all thirteen grape varieties authorized by the appellation and use them in this renowned wine. Each variety is harvested separately and manually. Vinification takes place in oak fermenters for the reductive varieties (Mourvèdre, Syrah) and in traditional enameled concrete tanks for all others. Once blended the wine is then aged in oak foudres for a year before being bottled. 2013 cépages is 30% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise, 5% Cinsault, with the remaining portion the other eight varieties.

The result is a rare level of concentration and depth in a challenging vintage that saw a serious drop in yields due to mildew and other issues. But the Perrin’s hard work in the vineyards show in the quality of their wine. A nose full of dark berries and crushed spices precede a medium to full-bodied, structured wine with impressive purity and length. While it’s not a massive wine it will benefit from a vigorous decanting or a few years in the cellar. The top wine rating agencies, including Parker’s Wine Advocate, have rated this vintage from 92 to 95.

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Posted on 2016.05.20 in France, Southern Rhone  |  Read more...

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