January 2016

Two illustrious figures in Burgundy, Jacques Seysses, founder of Domaine Dujac, and Aubert de Villaine, owner of DRC, founded the Triennes Domaine in Aix en Provence with their friend, Michel Macaux. The estate’s cool microclimate and clay-limestone soils immediately attracted the pair. The wines are influenced by their Burgundian ties: showing excellent structure and balance. The cooler microclimate helps the grapes retain acidity and finesse. The rose is primarily Cinsault with some Grenache, Syrah and Merlot. The Saint Auguste bottling is a reserve selection of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Both bottlings are aged in seasoned barrels from Domaine Dujac.

Domaine de Triennes Wines Available Here Now

Domaine de Triennes Sainte – Fleur Viognier, IGP Var 2013 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Domaine de Triennes Sainte – Fleur Viognier, IGP Var 2013 750ML ($219.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)… Read the rest

January 2016

French-Chilean Class in a Glass

Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet founded Lapostolle in 1994. The Marnier Lapostolle family, known for founding Grand Marnier liqueur, drew on long long roots in wine and spirits within France. Their project in Chile, under the name Lapostolle, delivers world-class wines across every tier.

Spread across three vineyards, the winery’s vineyards total 370 hectares across the Chiliean coastline across different terroirs. Situated south of Santiago, the vineyards include mountain ranges and dried-up riverbeds; exposure to sun, fertile soils, and oceanic breezes all contribute to ideal winegrowing conditions. The ambition of ‘Casa’ series of wines –newly arrived to the shop – is to deliver value-driven, delicious wine from a grand estate known for world-class viticulture.… Read the rest

October 2015

Alvaro Palacios Finca Dofi Priorat 2013 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “2011 was not an easy act to follow as it produced what probably was the best Dofí to date, yet the 2013 Finca Dofí is as good or even better! The single-vineyard 2013 Finca Dofí, made since 2011 with Garnacha and perhaps 5% Cariñena (previously made with Cabernet Sauvignon), was fermented in oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in barriques for 16 months after malolactic. They have achieved a level of sophistication in the élevage of this wine because it is completely different from the wines of, say, 2005 (or 1995!) that were hard and full of tannins. This 2013 is nothing like that.… Read the rest

Chateau de Cabriac and Clos Canos

Southern France Wines

First Time Available in the USA

Corbieres is an AOC within the Southern French region of the Languedoc-Roussillon: mostly known for its rich and herbal red wines. The Corbieres region produces only small amounts of white and rose wines. The northern portion, known as Alaric, has plains to the north and south-facing slopes along the Montagne d’Alaric. This is an excellent area for Mourvedre as well as other Southern French varietals such as Grenache and Carignan. In the center of the AOC is the Corbieres-Boutenac AOC, created in 2005. Corbieres-Boutenac is recognized for producing high quality wines from the ten communes that surround a limestone ridge covered in garrigue (a term for the scrubland herbs such as rosemary and lavender that is often used to describe aromas found in the wines).… Read the rest