Philipponnat RR Brut Champagne
$104.99
The Philipponnat family has been growing grapes in Champagne since 1522. The House was founded in 1910 by Pierre Philipponnat. Charles Philipponnat took over as CEO in 1999 and has improved the quality and production vastly by implementing smaller oak barrels, keeping different vineyard plots separate and utilizing only the first press grapes It's made from a blend of 65% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Meunier from first press juice, mainly from Grand and Premier Crus grapes from the heart of the Champagne wine-growing area.
20 to 30% of the reserve wines are aged in wooden barrels using the solera system to incorporate older wines without losing freshness.
It's vinified using traditional methods to avoid premature oxidation. Partial malolactic fermentation and reserve wines are aged in casks to allow the aromas to develop complexity. It has a typical dosage of (8 g/litre) to maintain a balance between freshness, fruitiness and vinosity without masking the wine’s character and purity. It's aged on the lees in the domaine’s cellars at a constant temperature of 12°C for three
years, far longer than the legal minimum requirement of 15 months.
A. Margaine Rose Champagne
$96.99
The Champagnes from father-daughter duo Arnaud & Mathilde Margaine are a KWM exclusive, and they are exceptional. With vineyards based in Montagne de Reims, they specialize in Chardonnay (90%) although they also have a small plot of Pinot Noir. This small estate (7 hectares) was started by Arnaud's father (Bernard) in the 1950s and is organically farmed. The vines average 35 years of age, and the Chardonnay is produced from a clone unique to the area.
Aubuisieres Cuvee Armelle
$34.99
Formerly known as Domaine Bernard Fouquet, until Bernard retired in 2021, handing the reins to Charles Lesaffre. Charles is the grandson of Gérald Bruley des Varannes, the man from whom Bernard's father André acquired his first vineyards, thereby bringing the story of the Domaine full circle. An avid practitioner of viticulture and oenology, Charles joined Bernard as an associate in 2019. Two years into his tenure, Charles has emphasized organic and biodynamic practices. Charles has continued, as Bernard before him, to capture the unique Vouvray mineral tones, along with the wonderfully balanced expression of fruit of the Chenin Blanc grape, in his wines.
A fantastic moelleux (the term for sweet chenin blanc from the Loire Valley), this dessert wine is vibrant, with notes of baked apple, honey and a touch of almond. Perfect to pair with pate, foie gras, cheese or fruit pies. It's sweet but far from cloying, and organic.
Weinbach Les Vignes du Precheur
$61.99
At the foot of the majestic Schlossberg hill, surrounded by vines and roses, lies Domaine Weinbach. Named after the little stream that runs through the property, it has been planted with vines since the 18th century, with the winery itself having been established in 1612 by Capuchin friars. These vineyards, to this day surrounded by ancient walls, are specifically named Clos des Capucins. In addition to this, the estate’s history is well documented through the image of a monk which fittingly adorns their labels. After being sold as national property during the French Revolution, it was acquired by the Faller brothers in 1898 who then left it to their son and nephew, Théo. Théo Faller was a prominent figure in Alsace winegrowing and an ardent defender of quality wine production. He developed, expanded and enhanced Domaine Weinbach. In 1979, Colette -Théo’s wife-, Catherine, Laurence Faller and their team pursued the family’s passion for the great wines of Alsace and its unrelenting commitment to delivering excellence. In 1998, Domaine Weinbach began working in accordance with the principles of biodynamics on a total of 8 hectares. Since 2005, all the vineyards (28 hectares) have been worked according to biodynamic. Since 2016, Catherine has led the estate winery with her sons, Eddy and Théo.
Jose Palacios Bierzo Petalos
$37.99
Wow, major praise for the 2015 vintage from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, which gave it 92+ points! The review: "The entry level 2015 Pétalos del Bierzo, their regional wine, in the new official category that will start working in the appellation from the 2017 vintage, a blend of many different vineyards planted with field blends, where the breakdown might come to some 5% white varieties (Valenciana/Doña Blanca, Godello and Palomino/Jerez) and around 1% other reds (Pan y Carne, Negrada and Gran Negro), all from vines ranging between 40 and 90 years of age on slopes (half of the grapes around the village of Corullón and the remainder in the rest of Bierzo). It's a showy, approachable, aromatic and open version of Pétalos, and as I tasted it later on in the season, it felt more polished and round, with a lush texture. It's extremely aromatic, in a way similar to the 2012. This is always one of the best values not only of Bierzo but for the whole of Spain." From one of Spain's top winemakers, Alvaro Palacios.
Foradori Teroldego
$48.99
Here is what Foradori importer Sedimentary Wines says about Elisabetta Foradori:
"Elisabetta was thrust into the wine-making scene at a very early age after the death of her father. It was 1985 and she had just graduated from high school. She had always been in touch with nature and when she took over the vineyards she began to replant her vineyards using massale selection – not because of any overriding grand plan- but because it felt right. It is largely thanks to these efforts by Elisabetta and a few other dedicated growers in the Mezzolombardo area of Trentino that the Teroldego grape has survived."
"We think Elisabetta Foradori makes the best Teroldego wines in the world. Her Foradori is a good introduction to Teroldego for people who have not had it before – the elegance of this wine – matches the elegance of its maker. Her two single-vineyard anfora aged Teroldegos (Sgarzon and Morei) are some of the most special wines in the world (unfortunately, they are made in minute quantities), and her Granato is arguably the top Teroldego wine in the world – it is a deep, dark, concentrated wine made only from her best grapes."
Oddero Barbera D`Alba 2023
$53.99
A KWM Exclusive. this red wine is a 100% Barbera blend from the Langhe hills in Piedmont Italy. After the juice is pressed it undergoes 16 months of fermentation in French oak casks with assemblage in spring and bottling in summer.
Canals Nadal Brut Rose
$34.99
This unique cava is made from the indigenous red grape variety Trepat, and it offers fresh, fine fruit aromas of strawberries and raspberries against a background of fresh bread. It's full-bodied with a creamy mouthfeel. The delicate perlage leads to the fruit notes on the palate, intense but at the same time a light and lively taste experience. It's a great versatile wine, for celebrating, reception, or as an aperitif or meal companion.
A KWM exclusive!
El Enemigo Malbec
$46.99
Adrianna Catena is the youngest daughter of Nicolás Catena Zapata, the most famous name in Argentinean viticulture. She has lived and breathed wine since childhood. Today, Adrianna blends her experience in academia with her passion for viticulture and winemaking, dividing her time between El Enemigo Wines and Catena Zapata. She lives between London and Mendoza, and California (she is also an ER doctor at San Fransisco's busiest hospital). Alejandro Vigil has been Chief Winemaker of Bodega Catena Zapata since 2002, receiving the first 100-point score awarded to a South American wine by Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate (CZ River Stones 2016), and the highest rating ever given to a pure Cabernet Franc (Gran Enemigo Gualtallary 2013). He also holds the first 100-point score for an Argentine Chardonnay from James Suckling (CZ White Bones 2018). This is El Enemigo.