Cider

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2015 Domaine  Dupont, Cidre Brut, France (750ml) $17

 

The Domaine Dupont Family estate, established in 1837, consists of 30 hectares (74 acres) of orchards in Normandy, in the heart of the Pays d'Auge region. A top quality producer, the estate produces ciders, pommeau and calvados. Etienne Dupont has been in charge of the Domain since 1980, when he took over from his father Louis and his grand father Jules.

 

E. Dupont sparkling cider displays tremendous complexity of apple, citrus, pine, lime, butter, and leather with notes of wood and roast cacao on the nose.  The palate is marked by apple with a touch of wood, full bodied with light sweetness in the balance.

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Rosé

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2016 La Spinetta, Rose, Piemonte, Italy $37

 

The Rivetti family story began in the 1890s when Giovanni Rivetti, grandfather to brothers Carlo, Bruno and Giorgio, left Piedmont for Argentina. Like many Italians at that time, he dreamed of returning home a rich and powerful man, and perhaps even one day making a great wine in his homeland. Though Giovanni never did, his son, Giuseppe (nicknamed "Pin"), fulfilled the dream. Pin married Lidia, purchased vineyards, and began to make wine. In 1977 the family took up residence at La Spinetta (meaning "top of the hill") in Castagnole Lanze, located in the heart of the area well-known for Moscato d'Asti, a rather light and simple dessert wine at the time. Over time the family’s vision became even grander and they made their first red wine in 1985.  In 2001, La Spinetta purchased 160 acres in Tuscany and in 2011 purchased Italy’s oldest Metodo Classico sparkling wine producer, Contratto, where they also make Vermouth and Bitters.   

 

2016 La Spinetta Rose, crafted from 50% Sangiovese and 50% Prugnolo Gentile, has a spicy character full of sliced ripe peaches, chalk, red berries, pomegranate and a hint of lime and sage.  It is a delicious, fun summer wine but with lots of complexity and flavor.

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White

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2014 Domaine Jean Masson, 'Apremont' Blanc, Savoie, France $25

 

The year is 1248 and the destiny of Apremont, an area within the Savoie region of the French Alps is about to change dramatically. The limestone mountain known as Mount Granier collapses killing 3000 people and destroying everything in its path. Following this horrible tragedy the area was named Apremont or ‘bitter mountain,’ and viticulture became the principal industry as limestone soil is widely considered the best soil for farming under vine.  Furthermore, the Savoie is also famous for its cows used in the  production of numerous types of mouth watering cheeses.

 

The 4th generation Masson family’s estate is widely considered the greatest domaine in the appellation.  They own nine hectares mostly planted to the white varietal, Jacquere.  Jacquere produces a refreshing, dry, high acid white wine with light floral and alpine aromas mingled with a distinct crispness arising from generous mineral undertones.  The palate displays notes of green apple, lemon, pear, and fresh herbs.

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We are quite lucky to carry this wine as it can be difficult to find wines of the Savoie in the U.S. due to small production, as 80% is consumed locally.

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2016 Ingrid Groiss, Gemischter Satz, Austria $34

 

Ingrid Groiss is a young, vivacious female winemaker, living in the Weinviertel, the oldest wine-growing district in Austria. Her relationship with the Weinviertel runs deep, as her parents and grandmother owned vineyards for many years, making wine for their local country wine tavern, traditionally known as a Heuriger. It took Ingrid some time before returning to her roots and taking on the life of a winemaker, whereby she had to blaze her own trail within the family business. Wines of expressive terroir have come to symbolize Ingrid’s craft technique, and deservedly, a dedicated following has ensued. The indigenous vineyard hare, gracing her labels, is symbolic of her dedication to harmony with nature and her connection to this delightful creature that flourishes in her gardens.

 

The Dorflagen Gemischter Satz is a wine crafted from a single vineyard of 50 year old grapes vines planted to 17 different grape varietals ranging from well-known varieties, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gruner Veltliner, Pinot Blanc etc. to lesser-known, ancient varieties.  The combination of these 17 varietals creates an elegant, characterful and complex wine displaying a multi-layered bouquet of quince, yellow plum, peaches, citrus, and fresh herbs.  Similar fruit purity travels to the palate with a touch of apricot and generous mineral tones.

 

2016 Massican, 'Annia' White Blend, Napa Valley, California $56

 

Founded in 2009 by owner and winemaker Dan Petroski, Massican is an entirely white-wine-focused brand sourcing fruit from iconic Napa Valley vineyards and well as some fruit from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma.  Although Massican relies on fruit from California’s North Coast, the inspiration for the brand rests in the fresh, aromatic whites of north-eastern Italy.

 

Attracted to magazines from an early age, Petroski worked for Sports Illustrated and Time Magazines, and from there went on to business school.  Upon graduation, Petroski took a trip to Italy with a classmate and then returned a couple years later to make wine.  It was this year spent making wine in Italy that Petroski fell in love with the high-acid whites of the country. In addition, Since 2006 Petroski has also served as the winemaker for Larkmead Vineyards, one of north Napa Valley’s heritage wineries.

 

Massican’s core blend, ‘Annia’, recalls the classic white wine blends of Friuli, bringing together the Italian grapes of that region, 60% Ribolla Gialla and 31% Tocai Friulano, with 9% Chardonnay. Almond blossom and citrus blossom aromatics with a light note of salted lemon pull you to the palate which is delicate and lacy in its flavour presentation displaying a savoury evergreen note and persistent mineral length. The creamy wax mouthfeel with a tactile oak-tannin spice and texture is also accompanied by lovely stone fruits of baked apple and pear skin.

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Red

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2015 Catherine Le Goeuil, Cotes du Rhone, Rhone Valley, France $26

 

Catherine Le Goeuil is a pioneer within the Cairanne subset of the Côtes du Rhône Villages.  In 1993 she and her family purchased a 6 hectare domaine and set off on their goal to produce wine.  The domaine immediately started the conversion to organic farming and is now fully certified.  The vineyards are tucked deep into the Vaucluse with exposure to the forceful Mistral winds, which keep the vines dry and free from pests and rot.  Catherine credits the health of the soil for giving her wines finesse and approachability.  

 

This Côtes du Rhône is a blend of 65% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and 10% Carignan from vines that are over 50 years old and planted to sandy Molasse, limestone, and clay.  Flavors of sun dried strawberries, rhubarb, and stewed raspberries meld with the earth notes of dried sage, scorched earth, and dried roses.

 

Francois Crochet Sancerre Rouge, Loire Valley, France $39

 

Sancerre is a tiny bucolic French village, steeped in history, situated in the far western region of the Loire Valley. Almost in the middle of the country, it has been the center of the French resistance since the Middle Ages.  While considered one of the best appellations in France for the cultivation of Sauvignon Blanc (~2,200 hectares under vine), creating beautifully flinty and savory wines with bracing acidity, it also produces a small amount of high quality red and rose wines of Pinot Noir (~620 hectares under vine).

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Following in his grandfather and father’s footsteps, Francois Crochet and his wife, Carine, took over his family’s estate in 1988 located in the commune of Bué, just outside the town of Sancerre proper. Francois was formally schooled at the Lycée Viticole in Beaune after which he worked for several estates in France and abroad.  Francois tends 10.5 hectares of vine divided into 30 plots with the lutte raisonnée method, considered a happy medium between conventional farming and stricter demands by organic certifying agencies.  Biodiversity in the vineyards is encouraged through the planting of cover crops, plowing of the soils and the use of manures and natural composts to fertilize the vines.

 

As a young winemaker, Francois has made quite a name for himself both in France and abroad.  His Sancerre Rouge is a handsome expression of Pinot Noir with personality and depth.  An intense bouquet of red fruits, cranberries, cherry and pomegranate, with violets, hibiscus and a hint of clove, transports you to a palate with generous raspberry, blood orange, tobacco leaf and soft smoky notes.

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2016 Keep Wines, Carbonic Counoise, Sierra Foothills, California $45

 

Winemakers, Jack Roberts (Matthiasson Wines Assistant Winemaker) and Johanna Jensen (formerly with Scholium Project and Broc Cellars) have come together to create wines influenced by the old world with less ripe fruit, minimal manipulation and great ageability. In the vigneron tradition, they do much of the work themselves from vineyard to bottling.

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From the David Girard Vineyard in the Sierra Foothills, the Counoise grapes are farmed organically but not certified. Made in the traditional carbonic method primarily seen in Beaujolais and the Loire Valley of France, the wine went through 18 days of fermentation in a sealed tank and then a light foot tread to finish fermentation. This wine has no S02 and was aged in neutral oak and stainless steel for 4 months before bottling.

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A classic, quaffable, light bodied wine, the 2016 Keep Carbonic Counoise has a beautiful bouquet of smoke, fruit and floral notes. Flavors of light plum, strawberry, pepper and licorice balance nicely with the bright acidity.