Vignobles Bodillard has released a new design for the label of the 2018 Beaujolais Village. Planted on the undulating hills around Morgon, the vines are from 20-100 years old, bringing a wide variety of distinct, unique characteristics to the wine- making it both aromatic and versatile. This certified organic wine is family-owned and produced with spontaneous fermentation before being lightly oaked in French barrels.
Domaine Claude Noveau Cotes de Beaune.
Stephane Ponsard cultivates 13 hectares of vineyards in Marcheseuil, south of Santenay, surrounded by charming landscape. The vineyards are rich in marl limestone and sustainably farmed. Grass is grown between the vines in order to encourage biodiversity. All the grapes are hand-harvested in small cases. The wines are then aged in a beautiful underground cellar- excavated in the rock of the tiny and beautiful old winery building. Stephane is a courageous winemaker who doesn't cut corners and invests in the long term.
Below, you will see their two wines that are available for sale. The Chardonnay is a single-vineyard wine from the famous Le Chainey vineyard, and the Pinot Noir has attained the status of Vieilles Vignes, coming from vines that are over 45 years old!
Domaine Claude Noveau wines are served by the glass in the famous Le Montrachet Hotel in Puligny-Montrachet!
World-Class Ribeiro Whites!
In 2014, Hector and Pablo Durigutti acquired nine hectares of old vineyards in the tiny village of As Bouzas in Ribeiro, in northwestern Spain. Italian winemaker Attilio Pagli and local vine grower Francisco Cernadas joined the project. In As Bouzas, the Miño River cuts through the valley, creating steep slopes where the vines are planted on small terraces.
Only native varietals are grown: Treixadura, Godello, Loureiro and Albarino. The vines are very old, most planted in the 1970s. The ocean and continental influences allows the grapes to fully ripen and develop a unique aromatic complexity. The soils of the region consist of granite, clay and slate, providing excellent structure.
The wines are fermented and aged in 4 Italian clay cocciopestos (1000, 1700 and x2 3000 liters). This allows partial breathability without imparting any flavor on the wine. What you're left with is wildly complex wines with endlessly delicate nuances.
Castelo das Pedras makes two "village" white wines, both driven by Treixadura. Both wines can easily be on any ranking of the Top 10 White Wines in Galicia. Make sure you contact us before it's gone!
Agerre Txakoli Rosé!
Txakoli is quickly rising in popularity, and this summer, we are proud to unveil a rosé from our friends at the Agerre winery. This Basque country wine region is famous for its white wines, but their slightly sparkling rosés are starting to make their way to the United States market. Agerre is a family-owned, third-generation winery known for consistent quality, and their attention to detail in the winemaking process leads to vibrant, complex wines. Their coastal vineyards overlook the Atlantic Ocean, confirming the old saying that great wine cannot be made in ugly places! Contact us for more information on this limited-production rosé.
New Wines From Jean-Christophe Pellerin!
Domaine Pellerin is an organic and biodynamic 5th generation winery at the base of the French Alps. The winemaker, Jean-Christophe Pellerin, works with twelve acres of vines on land that is extremely biodiverse - with bees, butterflies, and birds playing a vital role in contributing to the ecosystem. Surrounding the vineyards are forests, lakes, and mountains, providing a unique terroir that drives these artisanal wines.
Eco Terreno Sauvignon Blanc.
Legendary winemaker Mark Lyon has more 90+ wines than any winemaker in Sonoma County's history, and his 2016 Eco Terreno Sauvignon Blanc is perfect for the summer. 'Cuvée Acero' is a unique blend of two Sauvignon Blanc clones: Musqué and Entav 378. What this means is he has created a wine that has a perfect balance of profound aromatics and delicate elegance.
The Eco Terreno grapes are all estate grown in the Alexander Valley, and most impressively, they are certified biodynamic by Demeter. Because of a healthy native ecosystem, this wine has a terroir-drivenflavor profile that exalts the fruit's naturally tropical aromatics. Stainless steel fermentation lifts the wine's freshness while short time in neutral oak softens the palate, so don't miss out on this fantastic product before it's gone!
Belo Slovenian 1 Liter Bottles Now in Stock!
We are extremely excited to re-introduce Kogl's Belo one liter bottles to the United States market. This Slovenian blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Chardonnay uniquely comes in a one-liter bottle—one of only two available from Slovenia in the USA. All grapes are estate-grown, and all vines are between 25-30 years old. This historic property, however, has been growing grapes and making wine since 1542!
Check out the Kogl page to learn more!
Blend: Riesling 33.3%, Sauvignon Blanc 33.3%, Chardonnay 33.3%
Vineyard: 25-30 year old vines; slopes of 20-30%, with southern exposure to the Drava River Valley; soils are sandy clay over marl and lime sandstone
Farming: Native grass ground cover; vines trained for optimal sun exposure; grapes hand-harvested
Winemaking: Fermentation in stainless steel tanks
Introducing Fattorie Parri Toscana Sangiovese!
Today, we are very pleased to unveil Fattorie Parri from Toscana, where third-generation vigneron Paola now owns and runs this small and beautiful winery. The vineyards enjoy a unique microclimate in the Tuscan hills around Montespertoli, a chain of hills close to woodland with some of the highest altitudes in the region. The soils are calcareous with plenty of sea fossils found in the soil.
The vineyards are dry farmed, the grapes are harvested by hand, and no chemicals are used (fertilizers, pesticides, additives). All of the grapes are Estate grown in the family-owned vineyards.
Cider from our Friends at Botanist and Barrel!
Today, we are very pleased to introduce the Coup de Foudre, a cider that is artisanally hand-made by our friends at Botanist and Barrel in North Carolina. Literally translated to "love at first sight", this organic, unfined, unfiltered, and unpasteurized cider is aged in French Sauternes barrels and is bottle conditioned—the cider-making technique that is akin to methode traditionelle. Driven by notes of mango, honeyed pear and almond, Coup de Foudre is bright and elegant.
“As certified organic farmers, we value quality over quantity. Similar to world-class viticulture for wines, we farm for flavor by dry-farming. While this keeps yields down, it keeps quality up. We partner with other farmers who share our belief. As fruits contain a 'bloom,' the powdery white coating found on fruit that contains ambient yeast. We love this natural and wild yeast and have isolated and banked our farm's wild blueberry yeast to create unique and lovely ciders.
Our ciders are made without additives. They are 'still alive' as we never kill or remove the mixed cultures (yeasts) through unneeded processing. We choose not to fine, filter, or pasteurize.”
-Lyndon and Kether Smith
New Shipment from DeMuller Vermouths!
Earlier this month, we received a shipment from Spain that included DeMuller Vermouths, an award-winner producer in Catalonia. Flavored with a secret recipe that includes over 150 botanicals, these fortified wines can be enjoyed neat, over ice, or in cocktails.
DeMuller Vermouths have been made using the same recipe since their founding, almost 70 years ago. Over 150 botanicals are used, many of which are native to the winery’s Mediterranean setting. Today, their winemaker is Gemma Martinez.
The winery is located in Reus, near the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in Catalonia. Reus is considered the epicenter of Spanish vermouth and DeMuller is historically regarded as one of the top producers in the area. Their wines are made with a base of white wine, infused with 150 botanicals. Highly guarded, the recipe includes cinnamon, orange peel, chamomile, rosemary, ginger, oregano & vanilla. The wine is then fortified with Melazas, a liquor made from molasses, and lightly sweetened.
While delicious in a mixed drink, DeMuller Vermouths are traditionally enjoyed neat, on ice or with soda. Depending on the type of wine, they are customarily served either with an orange slice, lemon twist or olive for garnish.
Price Reduction for Marchiori and Barraud Cuartel Dos!
We recently received a container from Argentina that included the 2017 Marchiori and Barraud’s “Cuartel Dos”, a small production Malbec that has been praised by critics and received scores in the 90s on multiple occasions. Because it is grown on vines that are over 50 years old, the wine’s terroir is seamlessly balanced. Only 200 cases were made of this renowned wine, but its price has now dropped by 25%!
Driven by sweet, jammy aromas of blueberry and cassis, the Cuartel Dos has a rich, plump, and soft palate. Its flavors of prune, baked berries and cassis end in a chewy, warm finish that is pleasantly balanced.
New Vintage from Fernando Dupont
Today we are announcing the release of Pasacana and Punta Corral - two red wine blends from Fernando Dupont that are grown in some of the highest vineyards in the world. At over 8200 ft in Argentina's Jujuy region, the dramatic shift in temperature between day and night yields intense grapes with deep concentration of flavor.
Bodega Dupont winery and vineyards is located at more than 8200 ft altitude in Paraje San Pedrito, at the heart of the Humahuaca Creek, an UNESCO Natural Heritage site.
They are privileged to be the first winery at the foothills of the breathtaking Paleta del Pintor Mountain. The amount of days of sun is amongst the highest in the world, and the high altitude desertic climate provide a large temperature difference between day and night.
Thanks to the scarce rainfall and the long and cool fall season the grapes reach optimum ripeness with high concentration of flavors and aromas while keeping their freshness. The exquisitely pure underground water that we use to irrigate our vineyards provide the right amount of minerals to the austere soils. We proudly apply natural cultivation techniques honoring the ancestral philosophy and respect for the environment and its energy cycles.
PUNTA CORRAL 2016. Jujuy.
Blend: 40% Malbec, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah
Aging: 8 months in French Oak barrels
Vineyard: Maimara Vineyard. 8206 ft in altitude.
PASACANA 2015. Jujuy.
Blend: 70% Malbec, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah
Aging: 18 months in New French Oak
Vineyard: Maimara Vineyard. 8206 ft in altitude.
New Chardonnay from Marchiori & Barraud
It is with great pleasure that we introduce a new wine from Argentina's legendary Gualtallary region. The Marchiori and Barraud Chardonnay provides unique expressions of its vineyard's terroir while classically representing traditional winemaking styles. Known for its freshness and balance, this subregion of the Uco Valley is producing some of the most intriguing wines in Argentina.
Both Andrea Marchiori and Luis Barraud come from families with long winemaking traditions in Argentina. They met each other while studying winemaking in Mendoza. Together they pursued advanced studies at UC Davis and worked in California before returning to Argentina.
Their grapes are organically grown and are hand-harvested. In the winery, spontaneous fermentation takes place with native yeasts and no winemaking additives are used. Finally, the wines are very lightly fined or filtered and the final sulfite levels are 50mg/L.
New Vintages from Domaine Philippe Garrey
Today, we are proud to announce the release of Domaine Philippe Garrey's 2017 vintage of Demeter-certified biodynamic Pinot Noir. This 6th generation winemaking family farms vines that are up to 100 years old, ensuring its terroir is equally unique and superb.
Philippe wants his wines to be an honest expression of his family home. Through laborious, attentive work, he achieves this goal, producing aromatic wines of minerality, purity and finesse. For more information, follow the link at the bottom of the page.
Domaine de Bertier Rosé now in stock!
Just in time for the good weather, we are excited to have in stock this gorgeous rose-petal color rosé. Crisp and elegant, it has a lovely freshness with delicate aromas of citrus and forest fruits.
A 50/50 blend of Grenache and Syrah. The vineyards stretch across a line of hills facing south in Beziers, at the foothills of Montblanc. The Estate also has 2 Has of olive groves, an oak forest with bee hives which serve for the pollination of the crops and grazing livestock such as goats, sheep and horses.
100% of the Estate is in Organic Conversion.
New addition to our Portfolio!
Our vineyards are located in the Lima Valley in the North of Portugal, bordering to the north with Galicia, Spain, and to the west with the Atlantic Ocean. Our region is often associated with the green of its landscape. It is a region of deep valleys crossed by clear waters streams and a rugged terrain of enormous beauty and biodiversity. The cooling influence of the Atlantic Ocean and the granitic soils produce elegant wines with delicate aromas and freshness. Winemaker, José Oliveira has been working in the region for more than 20 years.
Lindeza is 100% Loureiro and unoaked.
James Suckling gives 90 Points to Maisulan Rioja Alavesa 2016!
Great Reviews from Tim Atkin MW for Las Compuertas Project
2018 Durigutti Proyecto Las Compuertas Criolla Parral 92 Points
2017 Durigutti Proyecto Las Compuertas Malbec 1914 95 Points
2017 Durigutti Proyecto Las Compuertas Malbec 5 Suelos 95 Points
2018 Durigutti Proyecto Las Compuertas Malbec 5 Suelos 95 Points
2018 Durigutti Proyecto Las Compuertas Cabernet Franc 94 Points
2018 Durigutti Proyecto Las Compuertas Charbono 91 Points
Introducing Atla and Beccaris from Veneto
We are very pleased to introduce Atla and Beccaris - two Italian wineries in the Veneto. Both wineries prioritize sustainable winemaking and are uniquely-concentrated expressions of the region's terroir.
View from the winery
ATLA
The Atla vineyards are located on the hills surrounding Castelnuovo di Garda, a few kilometers south-east of Garda Lake. They are located on the edge of the Dolomites, where ancient glaciers formed the beautiful alpine region. The particularly mild micro-climate allows the growth of some Mediterranean climate plants like vines, olive trees or even citrus, which are extremely rare at this latitude (46° North).
At Atla, they have embraced the principles of sustainability in the management of their vineyards. Spontaneous grassing is used in all vineyards, allowing the creation of a habitat rich in biodiversity of both plants and animals; techniques such as the alternate mowing of the rows allow the development of wildlife in the vineyard.
BECCARIS
The Beccaris vineyards are located on the hills surrounding Custoza, a few kilometers south-east of Garda Lake. Similar to Atla, they are located on the edge of the Dolomites, where ancient glaciers eroded and formed the region.
The morainic landscape that characterizes the region is marked by a dense series of hills formed by deposits left by the glaciers that formed the nearby Lake Garda, interspersed with large gravel plains. The particularly mild micro-climate allows the growth of some Mediterranean climate crops like vines, olive trees or even citrus, which are extremely rare at this latitude (46° North).
Happy Halloween!
Ennak the cat says: Happy Hallowine to all!
Ennak hails from Celler Jordi Miro in Terra Alta, Spain.
