Halos de Jupiter Gigondas
$58.99
(The late) Philippe Cambie and Michel Gassier I started the Halos de Jupiter project with the objective of selecting, aging and blending exceptional Grenache-centric wines from the southern Rhône Valley, while establishing sincere deep relationships with the winegrowers who produced them. They wanted to magnify the quality of their work through discerning blending and elevage.
French Door Heritage Red Blend
$78.99
French Door Estate Winery is a family-owned and operated winery and vineyard. Founded in 2019, they are located on the beautiful Black Sage Bench, south of the town of Oliver. Their goal is to create honest, low-intervention wine, from sustainably grown grapes, in a classic old-world French style. In the words of renowned winemaker Pascal Madevon (he consults for French Door): "From the beginning, I have had the honour of helping French Door Winery with their vision; to make high-quality wines right here in our backyard, to celebrate our remarkable climate and terroir, and to provide a unique experience to French Door visitors by allowing them travel to France through our wines. As a result, we have adopted low-intervention winemaking practices to grow a fully sustainable vineyard, and to serve the most honest wines.” Winemaker Brianna McKeage oversees the day-to-day operations, she has a degree in Winemaking from UC Davis and she is very passionate about sustainable and low-intervention wine production.
Carm Vintage Port 2008
$144.99
Carm is a winery that is still entirely owned by the same family - Roboredo Madeira - that launched the house back in the mid-17th century. The agricultural operation has always been focused in the region where the Douro River begins its course exclusively in Portuguese territory. This is also where the oldest demarcated wine region begins – the Demarcated Douro and Port Wine Region. This 2008 CARM Vintage Port is plush and jammy with ripe tannins that have mellowed over time. The flavours are classic, showing notes of blackcurrants, chocolate, dried figs and toasted almonds. It has plenty of life left, but it is hard to resist just now. Try it with dark chocolate desserts or ripe blue cheese such as Roquefort.
Tenuta Di Carleaone Chianti Classico
$55.99
Sean O'Callaghan - affectionately called "Il Guercio" by his friends, which could be loosely translated as "the one-eyed rascal" - is actually English and was born in Sri Lanka, where his family ran tea plantations. Back in England, his father planted vines near Somerset and sent Sean to Germany, where he studied viticulture in Geisenheim and then - instead of taking over the vineyard in England - stayed there and became cellar master at the Diel winery, among others. During a holiday in Italy, he met John Dunkley, the owner of Riecine, a pioneer in Chianti Classico and his OenologistSergio Manetti (Montevertine - Le Pergole Torte), got the job as winemaker and stayed there for almost a quarter of a century until he met Karl Egger. Karl Egger offered Sean O'Callaghan the opportunity to build up the Tenuta di Carleone winery, gave him a free hand in winemaking and let him re-equip the cellar. From stainless steel to wooden fermentation racks, and oak barrels in various sizes to modern cement tanks like those in the most expensive Bordeaux cellars - Sean can vinify each individual parcel as he sees fit. The new wine cellar is an impressive 600 square metres in size and the temperature and humidity are constant. Concrete and stainless steel tanks and wooden barrels for fermentation are available, as well as oak
Armand Heitz Bourgogne Rouge
$62.99
Armand Heitz, the grandson of Armand Lochardet, obtained his oenologist diploma after his studies at the Changins Engineering School in Switzerland and then took over the reins of the Domaine. In 2012, Armand began growing vines on a plot of Burgundy Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. After this experience, the estate decided to expand in order to offer a more diversified range of appellations: the adventure was launched! Armand Heitz continues his search for autonomy and circularity by embarking on livestock farming The contributions of cattle farming are very interesting in polyculture to nourish the soil and strengthen biodiversity. Animals give back to the Earth what it offers them in the form of manure. The meat and vegetables produced are offered on a short circuit to professionals and individuals.
Clos Henri Pinot Noir
$55.99
Situated in Sancerre, France, the family estate of Henri Bourgeois has been passed down through the family for 10 generations. Now one of the most established winegrowers in Sancerre, and one of the most renowned family wineries in France, the Bourgeois Family is immensely respected for their commitment to terroir-driven expressions of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.
Their vineyard in Marlborough tells the journey of a family who have cultivated both an anchorage in Sancerre - in the village of Chavignol - and in Marlborough, New Zealand.
Moric Blaufrankisch Reserve
$79.99
David Schildknecht, the Austrian specialist for Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, describes Roland Velich and his Moric wines this way: "Roland Velich is no longer working with his brother Heinz at the family estate in Apetlon, but is pursuing his dream, working with old vines in the heart of “Blaufrankisch country” – Mittelburgenland, specifically Lutzmannsburg and Neckenmarkt.
(Only his winery is located in Grosshoflein.)
His are wines in a style you will not encounter anywhere else in Austria: Blaufrankisch vinified as if it were Grand Cru Burgundy, and from hillsides (including terraces) and pre-clonal vines the like of which you will not find being cultivated in most of Mittelburgenland. One sip is an Oz experience (and I don’t mean Aussie, mates!). From his dreams to his vines to his vinification, to his retro label, Velich is in a world of his own. He calls his project “Blaufrankisch Unplugged” (and Moric – the derivation of which I shall explain another time – is pronounced like “Moritz”). "
Raymund Usseglio Les Argiles
$33.99
Cuvée Esprit d’Argiles is sourced from vineyards planted on clay-limestone and blue clay. This blend of Grenache and Syrah mixes the richness typical of the blue clay soil with the freshness of grapes grown on lighter clay-limestone soils. Located in Rasteau, Domaine La Colliere is run by the talented Georges Perrot. Robert Parker has this to say about this value-driven Rhone: "Made from 80% Grenache and 10% Syrah, vinified in concrete, the 2017 Rasteau Esprit d'Argiles is a beautiful Rasteau that offers the classic dark fruits, scorched earth, pepper and roasted herb aromas and flavours of these steep, south-facing hillside parcels. Possessing terrific minerality, medium-bodied richness and a supple finish, drink it over the coming 5-7 years"
Rougeot Cote D or Rouge Les Lameroses
$81.99
In the center of Meursault village, Pierre-Henri Rougeot has been quietly producing impeccable, minimal intervention, low-sulfur wines since he returned to the family domaine in 2010. The 18th century stone cellar was originally built for the Hospices de Beaune to press fruit from the adjacent orchards, and was purchased Pierre-Henri’s great-great-grandfather in the 19th century. Today, the orchards have been transformed into an elegant garden and stamp-sized monopole vineyard, and the cellar has been renovated to comfortably hold two vintages from Rougeot’s 13 hectares of vines in and around Meursault.
Pierre-Henri’s experience traveling throughout France gives him a unique vision that hews strongly to Burgundian tradition, marked by a soft touch inspired by the vins natures made by his friends in Saumur, Cahors, and beyond. Today, the Rougeot vineyards are farmed organically, and Pierre-Henri’s minimal sulfur vinification effortlessly balances a natural wine approach with traditional Burgundian technique to create wines with energy and balance.
While all of the wines are vinified sans soufre, each barrel is tasted regularly throughout élevage. Small amounts of SO2 are added when needed to individual barrels. When possible, Rougeot keeps each barrel completely sans soufre and bottles it under the alternate diagonal stripe label, though these quantities are always very limited for the village and premier cru wines.