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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Posted on 2020.07.22 in Spain DO, Penedes, Priorat DOQ, Wine-Aid Packages, Catalunya  |  Read more...

The Champagne Society August 2020 Selection: Champagne Joseph Perrier

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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Posted on 2020.07.20 in France, The Champagne Society, Champagne  |  Read more...

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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Posted on 2020.07.14 in France, Wine-Aid Packages, Languedoc-Roussillon  |  Read more...

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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Posted on 2020.07.08 in France, Wine-Aid Packages, Provence  |  Read more...

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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Posted on 2020.06.30 in France, Wine-Aid Packages, Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence, Southern Rhone  |  Read more...

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