Pre-Arrival 20% Discount on 2014 Domaine Gallois Gevrey-Chambertin + Saturday Sips: 2005 Domaine Gallois

Gevrey-Chambertin is one of the most recognized appellations in Burgundy for good reason. At the commune level, these can be immensely satisfying Pinot Noir-based wines, substantial, dark-hued, infused with assertive fruit and heady aromatics. The distinction of Gevrey-Chambertin becomes unmistakable in the Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards. There you find the muscularity and structure that sets this appellation apart from all others.

We are pleased to offer a range of wines from one of Gevrey-Chambertin’s most respected producers. Dominique Gallois took over the family vineyards from his father in 1989. The small domaine is around 10 acres, the bulk of which is centered in Gevrey-Chambertin. Cultivation and winemaking are aimed at producing wines that are pure and speak of their unique terroir. The Gallois cellars, constructed by Dominique’s great grandfather in 1901, are reputed to be some of the coldest in the region, which helps to create wines of great depth and longevity.

These are pre-arrival prices good until this Sunday. All of the wines will be available for pickup within the next couple of weeks.

$44 Gevrey-Chambertin (2014)
A blend from 10 parcels situated around the village of Gevrey-Chambertin including En Songe, En Jouise, En Billard, En Dérée, Croix des Champs, Sylvie, La Justice, Charreux and two parcels of the clos surrounding the Gallois home. Average age of vines from these parcels is around fifty years. 800 cases annual production.

$68 “Petits Cazetiers” (Gevrey-Chambertin, Premier Cru 2014)
The marl-limestone climat “Petits Cazetiers” is an extension of Cazetiers at the bottom of the Combe aux Moines. This tiny vineyard faces due east and is particularly well protected from bad weather. The vines were planted in 1954. 91 cases annual production.

$76 “La Combe Aux Moines” (Gevrey-Chambertin, Premier Cru 2014)
One of Gevrey-Chambertin’s most sought after climats, “La Combe Aux Moines” is comprised of shallow clay-limestone on slabs of rock. The vines, planted in 1954, are on steep slopes that are ideally exposed to morning sunshine. 200 cases annual production.

$128 Charmes-Chambertin (Grand Cru 2014)
Seriously old vines planted in 1910 from a climat that produces some of the most powerful and elegant expressions of Pinot Noir on earth. 133 cases annual production.

We also have some of the 2013 vintage available at the same pre-arrival prices.

$76 “La Combe Aux Moines” (Gevrey-Chambertin, Premier Cru 2013)
$128 Charmes-Chambertin (Grand Cru 2013)

 Saturday Sips: 2005 Domaine Gallois “Clos du Domaine Gallois”

Domaine Gallois “Clos du Domaine Gallois” (Gevrey-Chambertin 2005)
Special Price: $89/bottle

Stop by the shop any time on Saturday for a taste of Dominique Gallois’ 2005 vintage Gevrey-Chambertin produced from parcels of the clos surrounding the Gallois home. Even if you don’t intend to cellar these wines for a decade this tasting is a window into the longevity of his wines.

We also have other 2005 vintage Domaine Gallois wines available in very limited quantities.

$160 “Petits Cazetiers” (Gevrey-Chambertin, Premier Cru 2005)
$250 Charmes-Chambertin (Grand Cru 2005)

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Posted on 2017.03.22 in France, Saturday Sips Wines, Burgundy  |  Read more...

Sultry Bordeaux Blend from Italy’s Alto Adige

Peter Dipoli “Iugum” (Alto Adige 2011)
Special Price: ~$43/bottle

Just about every region in the world capable of growing wine grapes produces some Bordeaux-style blend. Quite often the commitment to plant these international grape varieties is based more on perceived market demand than climate and soil. Not so with Peter Dipoli. After careful study of a 2.7 acre vineyard on the southeast-facing slopes over the tiny hamlet of Magré, he purchased the plot in the early 90s. Not only is this vineyard one of the warmest sites of the Alto Adige, the soil has a high content of clay over limestone, characteristics that Peter considered ideal for the specific purpose of planting and vinifying Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

A dramatic corridor into the Austrian Alps, the Alto Adige is Italy’s most northerly production zone. German is a more common language than Italian in this cultural (and viticultural) melting pot. So it was not a flippant decision to produce these varieties associated more with warmer coastal regions. As it turns out, Peter knew exactly what he was doing all along and the evidence is clearly in the bottle.

Dispel any notion that ripeness might be an issue from this Alpine terroir. The 2011 Iugum is an exuberant, forward wine. Black cherry and plum, damp earth and spice, licorice, tobacco, the bouquet is heady over a dense body and silky tannins until a sip finishes long and juicy as only a cool climate wine could. It’s a crowd-pleaser by any measure.

Iugum is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines planted in 1992 at around 900 feet of elevation. The Cabernet Sauvignon is aged for 12 months in new barriques and the Merlot is aged for 12 months in second and third run barriques. After blending and aging for 60 days stainless steel tanks, the wine is bottled and aged for another two years before release. This is a wine capable of medium term cellar development but it is definitely not required. Less than 550 cases are produced.

Peter Dipoli “Voglar” (Alto Adige 2013)
Price: $31/bottle

From a seven acre vineyard at an altitude of 1,600-1,800 feet originally planted to Schiava, a local red variety, but from 1988 to 1991 entirely replaced with Sauvignon Blanc. Peter concluded that Voglar’s site exposition, height and chalky character combined in a specific way to favor perfect ripening, without loss of acid and aroma. After harvest, the wine is fermented and aged in large acacia casks on the lees for eight months and then bottled and cellared for another eight months. The result is a wine expressive of ripe orchard fruit and elderflower with plenty of minerality to balance. Only 2,500 cases are produced.

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Posted on 2017.03.15 in Saturday Sips Wines, Italy, Trentino Alto Adige  |  Read more...

The Côte-Rôtie of Campania, Italy?

Viticoltori De Conciliis “Latoscuro” Aglianico (Paestum IGT 2009) Red
Special Price: ~$80/bottle SOLD OUT

Bruno De Conciliis somehow creates wines that are simultaneously cutting-edge and steeped in the ancient lands they come from. Latoscuro is the perfect example. Here’s a wine made primarily from Aglianico, the noble red grape variety of the region known for its rich fruit and grippy tannins. To add higher aromatics and juiciness, Bruno adds the skins of the other Campania noble grape variety, the yellow-skinned Fiano, and allows the maceration on these skins for a full two weeks. The wine is then aged for close to five years before release, first in a large, neutral oak barrel and then in bottle.

Stylistically this is a wine somewhat akin to Northern Rhône’s Côte-Rôtie, which allows for the cofermentation of up to 20% Viognier along with the Syrah famous to the region. But there is no mistaking Latoscuro for a Côte-Rôtie. Texture abounds. The ripe red fruit and grippy tannins of Aglianico are fully expressed yet superbly integrated through a sip. Above all that texture, lavish aromatics dance across the glass with red berries, blood orange, savory herbs, fennel seed, cola, and hot stone. It’s hard to imagine a better pairing than a simple roast leg of lamb.

This is a rare and unique wine. Only 100 cases are produced and the only other place you’re likely to find it is on a wine list at a top restaurant in Manhattan at well over twice the price we’re offering here.

Viticoltori De Conciliis is a family affair. It was established in 1996 after siblings Bruno, Luigi, and Paola convinced their father, Alessandro, to transform the family poultry farm into world-class vineyards. It was a visionary idea, as this stretch of coastal Campania known as Cilento (forming the lower “shin” of Italy’s boot) was not particularly prized for wine production at the time. Today, Bruno leads the way at the estate. He is an organic winemaker in an Italian region where chemically based farming has been the status quo since the end of the Second World War and he has introduced many biodynamic farming practices to this corner of Italy.

Cilento still remains very much a wild and woodsy region but the volcanic soils, steep slopes, southern exposure, and coastal climate of the De Conciliis estate have proven to create wines of significance – on par or surpassing the quality of the best wines from the better known regions of Campania farther north above the city of Naples.

Also available from Viticoltori De Conciliis
“Antece” Fiano (Cilento 2009) white
$69/bottle SOLD OUT

“Antece” is a 100% Fiano wine that is only made in the best vintages. It is a skin-contact white wine (made like a red wine) that allows it to extract more complex aromatics and textures from the grape skins. After fermentation with indigenous yeasts the wine is aged in large oak barrels for two years and then another year in bottle before release. Intense aromas of peach, pineapple and almond precede an opulent richness before finishing with a long and textured finish. This is a white wine that needs full-flavored seafood like mackerel and tuna or most any preparation of pork. Only 290 cases produced.

“Selim” (Non-vintage Spumante Brut)
$27/bottle SOLD OUT

Bruno is a lover of jazz. “Selim” is Miles (Davis) spelled backwards. It is a rare sparkling blend of 60% Aglianico and 40% Fiano. Viticoltori De Conciliis claims this as the first Aglianico-based sparkling wine produced in Campania. The Aglianico (still pink in color) and Fiano are picked early in the vineyard. After fermentation, the juice is shipped to Valdobbiadene, the home of Prosecco, for elaboration using the Charmat method. Crisp and refreshing with orchard fruits and a fascinating finish of ripe apple peel and smoke, this is one of the most unique Italian sparkling wines available. Only 2,500 cases produced.

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Posted on 2017.03.01 in Saturday Sips Wines, Italy, Campania  |  Read more...

Red Bordeaux Priced for Everyday Drinking

Château Haut-Maurac (Médoc 2012)
Special Price for 12 bottles in wooden crate: $240 ($20/bottle) SOLD OUT

The general consensus of the 2012 vintage in Bordeaux was that the Merlot variety did a bit better than Cabernet Sauvignon. While this won’t be an issue with the top Châteaux, having plenty invested in their vineyards to be highly selective at harvest time, it can make a big difference with the more financially accessible Cru Bourgeois. From 60 acres of 35 year old vines on gravel and clay soils, 2012 Château Haut-Maurac is a blend of 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Malbec. Aging takes place for 18 months, 20% in vats, 80% in oak barrels (25% new).

The result is a wine of great value, showcasing the strength of Merlot in a somewhat challenging vintage. It’s drinking in its prime now and over the next couple of years, clearly expressing its place with aromas of mocha, blackberry sap, autumn leaves, and a whiff of black pepper spice. A sip is rounded, generous with fruit but not fruity, and finishing with soft and chewy tannins. It’s a versatile wine that will make a nice complement to a quick appetizer spread of olives and cheese or just about anything off the grill.

Château Haut-Maurac is located on the left bank of the Gironde estuary, in the municipality of Saint-Yzans-de-Médoc. It’s a project owned and led by Olivier Decelle, who’s perhaps best known for rebuilding Mas Amiel, one of the leading and most respected wineries in the Roussillon, and also for bringing Château Jean Faure (neighbor to Château Cheval Blanc in Saint-Émilion) back to prominence. Because of the quality of production under Olivier Decelle, Château Jean Faure’s Grand Cru Classé status was recently restored.

So it comes as no surprise that Olivier Decelle is taking great lengths to ensure this Cru Bourgeois is of the highest quality. Aspects of organic and biodynamic cultivation are used alongside the more conventional lutte raisonée (reasoned fight), all with the aim of producing the best fruit possible.

With a vast international market for the wines of Bordeaux, pricing is always subject to the whims of millionaires and those aspiring to be millionaires. Elie Wine Co. is always striving to bring the best wine at the best price no matter what the region.

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Posted on 2017.02.22 in France, Bordeaux, Saturday Sips Wines  |  Read more...

Pure Expressions of Cabernet Franc in the Terroir of Saumur-Champigny

Join us anytime this Saturday to taste several 2015 vintage Cabernet Franc wines, all from distinct Saumur-Champigny terroir, and produced by star Loire Valley producer Thierry Germain. All of Thierry’s Domaine des Roches Neuves 2015 vintage wines will be discounted during the workshop. Prices range from $22-$62.

We’ll be exploring the diversity of this section of the Middle Loire valley, known for its malleable limestone that has been built into many a castle and cold, dark underground cellar, as well as its potential to produce France’s most refreshing expression of Cabernet Franc.

Raised in Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, at the family winery of Château Yon-Figeac, Thierry set out on his own at the tender age of 23 to make his name in the more challenging climate of northern France. Although receiving accolades nearly from the start, his winemaking style has gone through several stages over the years, ultimately eschewing all new oak and blowsy fruit for precision and sense of place, and eventually becoming known as one of the top producers in the entire Loire valley.

We use the word “style” to talk about Thierry’s winemaking but the adjustment has really been about moving away from wines created in the cellar and toward wines created in the vineyard. The domaine has been certified biodynamic since 2002. Harvesting is done completely by hand in over 30 parcels, all of which are vinified separately with indigenous yeast. Yields are small and almost all of his wines are matured in large casks. Thierry harvests on the relatively early side to preserve the fresh, vibrant fruit.

The majority of these wines will develop in a proper cellar for years if not decades to come. Stock up now before they reach the cult status/price of Clos Rougeard.

Domaine des Roches Neuves (Saumur-Champigny 2015)

Cuvée “Mémoires”

From a 1.7 acre vineyard in the commune of Dampierre sur Loire with vines planted in 1904. Soils are silex scree and Turonian limestone. 100% de-stemmed fermentation before 12 months aging in 2,500L foudre and then six months in bottle.

Cuvée “Marginale”

Only made in top vintages. The 2015 “Marginale” is from a seven acre, south-facing plot of 45 year old vines in the lieu-dit of “Les Dares” in the commune of Chaintres. Soils are predominantly clay and Turonian limestone. 50% whole cluster fermentation before 18-24 months aging in 2-3 year old 228L barrels and six months in bottle.

Cuvée  “Franc de Pied”

From a three acre plot of sand and limestone in the commune of Saumur. 100% whole cluster fermentation before 12 months aging in 1,200L foudre and six months in bottle.

Cuvée  “Clos de l’Echelier”

From a seven acre, walled vineyard of 40 year old vines in the commune of Dampierre sur Loire. Soils are very thin clay over Turonian limestone. 50% whole cluster fermentation before 12 months aging in 1,200L foudre and 600L demi-muid and then six months in bottle.

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Posted on 2017.02.15 in France, Saturday Sips Wines, Loire  |  Read more...

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