Chateua Hannetot Bordeaux
$49.99
In the Beaumartin family, having a chateau is not a choice, it is written in the DNA. Third generation owner Xavier Beaumartin first participated in the revival of Chateau Laroque in Saint-Emilion and in parallel in 2006, he took over Hannetot, a small property in Pessac-Léognan. The 4-hectare estate inspires Xavier Beaumartin to get off the beaten tracks. He replanted the entire vineyard in 2008 with the 3 emblematic grape varieties on the 3 different terroirs, clay, gravel and limestone. The vineyards are situated next to Chateau Olivier and Chateau Brown, so the chateau is in good company.
Chateau Moulin du Cadet St Emilion
$76.99
Château Moulin du Cadet is ideally situated on the Cadet hill at the entrance to Saint-Emilion. This 2.85-hectare (7.04-acre) Cru Classé exploits clayey limestone soils on the Saint-Emilion plateau with Merlot uniquely.
Château Fonroque was bought by Adèle and Jean Moueix in 1931, the first Bordeaux estate to be purchased by members of the Moueix family, who would subsequently become the most powerful château owners and merchants on Bordeaux’s right bank. Adèle and Jean’s great-grandson Alain took over the running of the estate in 2001. Between 1979 and 2001 the running of the estate had fallen to Jean-Pierre Moueix (of Pétrus fame), who had taken control (but not ownership) after Jean-Antoine Moueix, Adèle and Jean Moueix’s son, had died in 1979. In 2001 Fonroque’s owners Jean-Jacques Moueix (Christian Moueix’s cousin) and his sister Jeanne-André Curat took the estate back from Etablissements Jean-Pierre Moueix, their uncle’s eponymously named company. They asked Jean-Jacques’s son Alain to manage Fonroque, which he did from 2001. Alain Moueix hired Laurent Nougaro as winemaker, the pair having worked together at Château Mazeyres in Pomerol. In July 2017 Alain Moueix and the Curat family sold Fonroque to the Guillard family. They own an insurance group called CHG Participations which is based in Nantes. The new owners retained Alain Moueix as an advisor.
Giusti Prosecco Extra Dry Rosalia
$24.99
The beautiful Giusti winery was created in Italy's beautiful Veneto region, just outside of Treviso, by Calgarian Joe Giusti. Born and raised in the region, he moved to Canada when he was a teenager, but now splits his time between the two countries. This gorgeous, bubbly wine is a fantastic aperitif, and it makes a beautiful gift, too. It's fresh and clean, with notes of apple, citrus and flowers. Served chilled, it pairs with a variety of Italian-style appetizers.
Selbach-Oster Sekt Brut Riesling
$44.99
Germany's answer to Champagne, and such fantastic quality, especially considering the price! "This is lovely stylish fizz, what one would hope for (though not expect) from sparkling Riesling: class, clarity, finesse, the opposite of coarseness or brashness; this is really demure and graceful and pretty," according to Terry Theise, skurnik.com.
Castellare Chianti Classico
$43.99
Castellare di Castellina was born of the union of four estates (Castellare, Caselle, San Niccolò and Le Case) under the direction of owner Paolo Panerai, with the aim of producing wine of the best possible quality. This was in the 1970s when the so-called Renaissance of Italian wine had begun. A renaissance to which Castellare made its own contribution with a combination of tradition and innovation. They were the first to employ the Sangiovese clone now known as Sangioveto and were instrumental in introducing the use of the barrique, following the in-depth research and advice of Emile Peynaud, the most renowned oenologist in living memory. The vineyards occupy 33 hectares on the hillsides of a natural southeast-facing amphitheatre, at an average height of 370 meters above sea level. The vines are between 7 and over 45 years of age and yields per hectare are kept very low to obtain the maximum quality.
Gerard Julien Cote de Nuits Armand
$91.99
Domaine Gérard Julien is located in Comblachien, just south of Nuits Saint Georges and dates back to the late 19th century. As Gérard continued to purchase more holdings in the 70’s and 80’s, he was able to grow the estate to roughly 10 hectares with parcels distributed in Nuits Villages, Nuits Saint Georges, and Echézeaux Grand Cru.
Étienne Julien, son of Gérard, assumed control of the estate in 2012 as winemaker. Being the fifth generation of the estate, he is introducing new methods to his winemaking while keeping the vision in line with previous generations, including organic viticulture. These wines exude another level of liveliness and energy.
Contra Soarda Marzemino
$31.99
With a name that means “hamlet on the slope”, Vignaioli Contrà Soarda is a beacon of conscientious farming in the region of Veneto. The estate is nestled in the hills of Breganze, an area that’s been home to the Gottardi’s since 1904. For generations, this family ran a busy osteria but in 1999 they officially became vignaioli (winemakers). 12 hectares of fallow land were purchased and a winery was built directly into the rock of the hillside to minimize its environmental impact. Since the day the vines were planted, the 12-hectare vineyard has been farmed according to organic and biodynamic principles. The wineries' tenant donkeys keep cover crops in check without compacting the soil.
Produced by Marzemino grapes, this red wine has sapid notes of plum, blackberry, and violet.
Benjamin Bridge NV
$46.99
One of Canada's most lauded wines! The critics have nothing but rave reviews for this well-priced sparking wine from Nova Scotia's wonderful Benjamin Bridge winery. "Canada's best sparkling wine," says one. "The most complete and flawless sparkling wine I have ever reviewed," says Wine Diva Daenna Van Mulligan. And here's what Anthony Gismondi from the Vancouver Sun has to say: "Mind-blowing sparkling wines that would challenge any highly rated French Champagne.”
Il Follo Prosecco DOC
$26.99
The “Follo” is an agricultural village in the Valdobbiadene region, on the famous foothill of Cartizze, where their winery and vineyards are situated. This is a classic Prosecco, fresh, elegant and enticing; The wine offers zesty lemon, lime juice, buttercup blossom, grapefruit zest, apple skins and an element of chalk. This wine is fantastic as an aperitif or will show well with oysters, scallops, salty chips and burrata.