Case Club – October Allocations

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Naia Verdejo – Sustainable, Vegan
PĆ©laquiĆ© Tavel Rive Droit – Sustainable with organic practices
Le Grand Caillou Sauvignon Blanc – Conventional
Bernier Chardonnay – Sustainable
Pasaeli Seahorse RosĆ© – organic practices
Joseph Cattin Pinot Noir – Sustainable, Organic practices, vegan
El Vivero Garnacha – Organic and natural
PalliĆØres CĆ“tes du RhĆ“ne- sustainable
Saracina vineyards’ Atrea The Choir white RhĆ“ne Blend – Organic
Saracina vineyards’ Atrea old soul red RhĆ“ne Blend – Organic
Chateau Tournefeuille Lalande de pomerol – Organic
Saint-Galet ChĆ¢teauneuf-du-pape – Sustainable

 

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Naia Verdejo – Sustainable, Vegan

Located on the left bank of the River Duero, the winery dedicates itself to the production of high quality white wines from their meticulously cared for vineyards, most of which were planted more than 40 years ago in the district of La Seca, one of the most highly renowned ‘cru’ of the region. Since the first vintage in 2004, Bodegas Naia has established itself as one of Ruedaā€™s star producers

Sixty acres of vineyards: 50 of which are over 40 years of age. Bodegas Naia also works very closely with winegrowers from the region. These vineyards have an age range between 80 and 130 years.

Thought to have originated in North Africa, Verdejo has found a hospitable climate and soil in central Spain. Full-bodied and aromatic, this wine is often compared to Sauvignon Blanc.

The grapes are harvested at night to control the temperature and then fermented in 70% stainless steel, the rest in large French oak vats. This interesting combination of winemaking techniques result in a well-rounded and complex juice that is loved the world over. 

Expect bright and fresh acidity with prevailing lemon, green apple, kiwi, and pear.  This wine pairs really well with poached proteins and shellfish. The acidity cuts through and complements asparagus, tomatoes, olives, and greens with vinaigrette dressing. 

90 points, Josh Raynolds, Vinous:  Diaphanous gold. Aromas of ripe citrus and orchard fruits are complemented by suggestions of pungent flowers and fresh herbs. Silky and taut on the palate, offering bitter lemon pith, pear skin, and honeysuckle flavors that flesh out through the back half. Echoes the citrussy note on the long, chewy finish, which shows good tension and final grip.

 Tavel Rive Droite PĆ©laquiĆ© RosĆ© 2018 2

PĆ©laquiĆ© Tavel Rive Droit – Sustainable with organic practices

Domaine PĆ©laquiĆ© is a family-run estate with a long history; the estate has been passed down for generations, cultivating the same land all the way back to the 16th century! The current son in charge, Luc PĆ©laquiĆ©, has modernized the winery, all the while protecting the traditions of his ancestors. He practices sustainable viticulture, certified by HVE, on his 250 acres of vines located in the CĆ“tes-du-RhĆ“ne, Laudun, Tavel, and Lirac. 

Domaine PĆ©laquiĆ© makes this lovely Tavel rosĆ© from young vines of Grenache, Cinsault and MourvĆØdre. The wine shows a deep pink color with lush aromas of tart cherry, raspberry, and red currant with violet, citrus peel, and spice. The palate is deep and ripe but nicely balanced with bright acidity, showing black cherry, ripe raspberry, brown spice, citrus, and mineral flavors, with a nice supple finish. 

Tavel is the “first rosĆ© of France” and of the CĆ“tes-du-RhĆ“ne, famous since the 10th century. Tavel wines were present on the Pope’s table when the papacy was located in Avignon in the 14th century.

Made in the saignĆ©e method. Hand-harvested and destemmed, then macerated for a few hours before being pressed. Smooth, generous, and fruity, with an amber-shaded color of incredible intensity, it shows hints of topaz-colored reflections on aging.

60% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, 20% MourvĆØdre.  Grape varieties are hand-picked. Before pressing the grapes are stalked and put in tank for few hours of maceration. The free-run juice and the press juice are blended before the alcoholic fermentation in thermo-regulated tanks at 65Ā°F for 20 days

Limpid and intense color with brilliant reflections. The bouquet is complex and floral; it is rich in mouthfeel and offers a long fruity finish. It is perfect with grilled fish and vegetables.

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patient cottat Sauvignon Blanc le Grand Caillou – Conventional

French Sauvignon Blanc has been having its moment for about a decade now, fueled mostly by the meteoric rise in popularity of Sancerre, from France’s Loire Valley.  Patient Cottat makes a great Sancerre, and this wine is crafted to be similar in profile to a Sancerre but from grapes grown outside the AOC.  Le Grand Caillou is textbook Loire SB:  soft, subtle mineral notes are wrapped in aromatics of melon and agrumes.  Clean bright, and refreshing, this is a perfect SB – tropical fruits, citrus, and spice, with vibrant, mouth-watering acidity and minerality.   Plays well with fish, ersters, pork, chicken, or goat’s milk cheese.

Situated in the small village of Verdigny in the Sancerre region, the Fournier family has been making wine for many generations. The estate has grown from 13 acres in 1950 to almost 75 acres today, divided over the appellations of Menetou-Salon, Pouilly-FumƩ, and Sancerre.

The story of Patient Cottat goes back generations of winemakers in the Loire Valley. It all began in 1950 with Paul Fournier in the renowned winegrowing village of Verdigny. Since 2015, the Villebois family has continued to enhance and perpetuate the efforts of Patient Cottatā€™s original owners, following sustainable practices and continuously working to ensure the winery is as successful as possible as they move forward into the future.

Patient Cottat was a famous “Master Goldsmith” in mid-19th century France. Born in Paris, he loved the Berry region of the central Loire Valley. His legacy is perpetuated through the Grand Caillou and Anciennes Vignes ranges of selected traditional Loire wines.

 

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Bernier Chardonnay – Sustainable

We’ve been carrying Bernier Chardonnay since we opened the shops in 2002.  It offers great value, is varietally correct and could pass for an entry level White Burgundy at a fraction of the cost.   

Of all the wines produced in Franceā€™s vast Loire Valley, Chardonnay is probably the least celebrated. Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Muscadet, Cabernet Franc, and even Malbec and Pinot Noir have justifiably deserved reputations there. But Chardonnay? Itā€™s a minor player at best.

And yet, this is an oversight. There is more-than-decent Loire Valley Chardonnay to be found and enjoyed. In the far eastern end of the Loire, the variety figures in the relatively obscure but often delicious wines from the small Cheverny appellation, where it is blended with Sauvignon Blanc to produce crisp and elegant wines.

A hundred miles or so to the west, on the other side of the Loire not far from the Atlantic Ocean, Chardonnay is grown and bottled on its own in the Muscadet region. One producer doing this successfully is Couillaud Brothers, as this 2018 Domaine de Bernier Chardonnay amply demonstrates.

In 1978, just after purchasing ChĆ¢teau de la RagotiĆØre, the Couillaud brothers also purchased an estate on a beautiful hillside in the Loire Valley with a schist terroir. Part of the plot still needed to be planted, and Bernard Couillaud was curious about which varietals would do well in this area, where the two dominant varietals were Melon de Bourgogne and La Folle Blanche. After some research, the Chardonnay grape piqued his interest due to its unexplored potential in a maritime region. He launched the project and immediately set out for Chablis to research and learn more about Chardonnay. Planting started in the spring of 1987 and, over the course of three years, 42-acres were planted on the hillside plot.

Soon after the project began, Danny Haas of Vineyard Brands became interested and wished to taste the final product. In 1990, after having tasted Bernier Chardonnay amongst several other wines from the brothers, he was convinced of its potential and Bernier was introduced to the market.

Domaine de Bernier Chardonnay is made with 100% Chardonnay grapes in the Western Loire Valley, Aged on the less to add weight and texture, it is also refreshing and crisp. Made in an unoaked style, it is delicious with lobster, fish, curry, and hard cheeses.

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Pasaeli RosĆ© – organic practices

Not surprisingly, wine grapes have been grown in what is now called Turkey for milennia, and today, Turkey has a thriving wine trade, despite it being a Muslim country.  

Paşaeli is a family owned Turkish wine estate that was founded by Seyit Karagƶzoğlu in 2000. Seyit, who was born and raised in Ä°zmir, appreciated the value of agriculture and made wine his passion at an early age. He planted vineyards and founded Paşaeli after a decade as a wine importer, as he felt the soil and climate of Turkey were ideal for growing high quality grapes. Indigenous varieties were planted in the Aegean region, such as Sultaniye, Yapıncak, Ƈalkarası, and Karasakız, and Bordeaux varieties were planted near Ä°zmir. The Paşaeli wines are well-made, balanced, and great value wines from Turkey.  Founder Seyit Karagƶzoğlu is a personal friend of Marc de Grazia and has experience importing fine wines into Turkey before starting his own winery

This 100% Ć‡alkarası wine is a perfect foil for fish, tomato -based dishes, cheeses, or on its own.

Ƈalkarası is grown exclusively in Ƈal District of Denizli in the Aegean region of Turkey. As a variety, it is very suitable for producing high quality rosĆ© wines due to powerful fruit flavors balanced with good acidity. The Ƈalkarası for this wine is coming from a single vineyard at an altitude of 850 meters with warm days and cool nights which helps to preserve acidity. Kept with the skins for an hour and a half, it has a light salmon color. It is fermented in stainless steel tanks. The nose has lovely aromas of wild strawberries and raspberries. The palate is well balanced with good acidity and lush, juicy fruit.

Cattin PINOT NOIR tradition new

Joseph Cattin Pinot Noir – Sustainable, Organic practices, vegan

Cattin is the largest family-owned and family-operated winery in Alsace and located in Voegtlinshoffen, a small village on the foothills of the Vosges Mountains at 1,091 feet in elevation. The Cattin family has been producing wine since 1720 and today the winery is managed by the 12th generation! The estate is composed of many small plots located in the Southern part of the Colmar region and a staggering 80% of their vineyard land is located on slopes.

A broad menu of soils (clay, limestone, sandstone, ferruginous, marlā€¦), combined with big time diurnal shifts, means an exceptional palate of aromas and flavors. Cattin uses old oak ā€œfoudresā€ (big barrels) to produce some of the regionā€™s most terroir driven Grand Cru wines such as the legendary Hatschbourg which ranks among the familyā€™s oldest plots. 

A superb value Pinot Noir without losing the quality. This light red wine has a nose of red fruits, strawberry and cherry with a floral balance. A light, clean, smooth taste and very pleasant on the palate. Crisp, crunchy, tart red berry plays subtly on the nose. The light palate is very pure in a traditional Alsace Pinot Noir fashion. The finish is dry, fresh and soft.   Pairs best with light dishes. 

 

El Vivero Garnacha – Organic and natural

FL El Vivero

 

Garnacha and friends from 25-year-old vines. 30% full clusters and the rest uncrushed grapes to ferment in tinajas (amphora) with natural yeasts. Four months in clay amphorae. No filtering and no SO2 added.

Intense purple color. Aromas of red fruits appear on the nose and black, even some floral notes. It has balsamic, esparto and dry leaf nuances as well as clay and clay notes own the amphorae. In the mouth, the wine is fruity, lively, cheerful, and with a balanced acidity. It is a red wine with texture, half body and a medium drink finish.

Rice, pasta, light dishes, Tapas, Manchego Cheese, IbƩrico

92 points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: Despite what the label of 2019 El Vivero says, it’s not pure Garnacha, but that’s what’s in the register for a plot in a six-year-old vineyard in Finca Casa Balaguer that was planted with old material from UsaldĆ³n consisting of Garnacha Peluda, Rojal, Arco, ValencĆ­ Negre, Tortosina and even Saperavi from Georgia! The wine fermented in tinaja with 30% full clusters and indigenous yeasts and then matured in those tinajas after being pressed. It’s a very interesting Mediterranean blend with primary and herbal aromas, some rusticity and slightly dusty tannins, full of character and personality. It has a medium body and some dusty tannins and finishes dry. As with all the rest, it’s clean and balanced and you don’t feel any heat. 3,000 bottles were filled unfined, unfiltered, and without any added sulfur in February 2020.

171114 ND des Pallieres photo btl CDR 

PalliĆØres CĆ“tes du RhĆ“ne- sustainable

Domaine Notre Dame des PalliĆØres is a very old family estate, whose name comes from a place of pilgrimage visited by the ProvenƧal people in the middle ages who believed that the fountain on the property would protect them from the plague.

Claude Roux and his cousin Jean-Pierre have so many generations of Gigondas wine making experience in their family that they donā€™t know exactly how many of their relatives have been involved up to now ā€“ Antique writings suggest that this Domain existed in the 900ā€™s.  Fortunately this tradition is continuing with Claudeā€™s children, Isabelle and Julien, gradually taking over the day to day responsibilities of farming, production, and administration.

Vineyard holdings total 74 acres in Gigondas, Sablet, and Cotes du Rhone.

When asked about their methods they smile and explain that they are simply following the traditional methods of the family members that came before them.

 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 5% Clairette Rose, 5% Cinsault

The vines that make up this CƓtes du RhƓne are located on different terroirs Sablet and SƩguret, for the Vaucluse and Roquemaure for the Gard, this diversity gives the wine its inimitable particularity.

Harvested by hand for the most part, destemmed in full with a maceration of fifteen days by controlling the temperature, reassembly and shedding daily, respecting the fruit.

 

 

 

 Saracina Atrea The Choir NV Label Front

Saracina vineyards’ Atrea The Choir white RhĆ“ne Blend – Organic

Saracina is a family-owned, California Certified Organic (ā€œCCOFā€) winery and vineyards located along the Upper Russian River in northern Californiaā€™s wine country. The 600-acre farm, located outside the small town of Hopland, is home to 250 acres of organically farmed vineyards, 100-year-old olive orchards, vegetable gardens, and beehives in harmony with all manner of bird and wild animal life.

The handcrafted, limited production Saracina wines reflect a conscious sense of this beautiful place in Mendocino County. Founded by husband and wife team John Fetzer and Patty Rock in 2001, Saracina has always been defined by a strong sense of family. In 2018, Marc Taub took on stewardship of Saracina, upholding the spirit of family ownership that has defined this iconic Mendocino County winery since inception.

Although John Fetzer sold the Fetzer Vineyards brand to a large corporation in 1992, John and his siblings retained a few thousand acres in ranch land and vineyards for the Fetzer family. After dividing up the vineyards among the family members, John focused on replanting his own vineyards and on other land development projects. By 2001, this workaholic, insomniac vigneron, who lives for building projects, realized he still had a lot he wanted to do in the wine industry. He then joined forces with his wife, Patty Rock, to launch the Saracina and Atrea wine brands.

John acquired the coveted Sundial Ranch along the Upper Russian River on Highway 101 in the early 1980s. In the late 1990s, the ranch was renamed Saracina after a centuries-old farmhouse and vineyards in Tuscany where he and his wife, Patty Rock, spent their honeymoon. Visitors driving into Saracina now are captivated by the vast hillside and valley floor vineyards and the charming mix of rustic and modern structures, many of which have been constructed by John and his team using reclaimed materials from the ranch.

The Roussanne was sourced from the sustainably farmed, estate-grown Kyliā€™s Vineyard. The Viognier was sourced from a neighborā€™s Lakeview Vineyard in the Sanel Valley. The harvest was marked by below average rainfall and an even growing season, yielding intensely concentrated fruit, particularly notable in, and favorable to, these Rhone Valley varietals. We picked the Viognier on September 27th, with the Roussanne following just four days later on October 1st.

The grapes were whole-cluster pressed. The settled juice was barrel fermented with 50% in small stainless barrels and 50% in neutral French oak. The wine did not undergo malolactic fermentation and remained sur lie for three months with bi-monthly batonnage.

Medium-deep gold in color, this shows sun-ripened stone fruit and wildly fragrant honeysuckle aromatics. The palate echoes those notes with a clean, refreshing texture and a fleshy exuberance. Enjoy this wine in the warmth of the sun on a lovely late spring or summer afternoon. It pairs beautifully with fresh fruit of the season, ripe soft cheeses, or simple grilled fish or chicken.

 

 

 Saracina Old Soul Red NV Label Front 2018On

Saracina vineyards’ Atrea old soul red RhĆ“ne Blend – Organic

Saracina is a family-owned, California Certified Organic (ā€œCCOFā€) winery and vineyards located along the Upper Russian River in northern Californiaā€™s wine country. The 600-acre farm, located outside the small town of Hopland, is home to 250 acres of organically farmed vineyards, 100-year-old olive orchards, vegetable gardens, and beehives in harmony with all manner of bird and wild animal life.

The handcrafted, limited production Saracina wines reflect a conscious sense of this beautiful place in Mendocino County. Founded by husband and wife team John Fetzer and Patty Rock in 2001, Saracina has always been defined by a strong sense of family. In 2018, Marc Taub took on stewardship of Saracina, upholding the spirit of family ownership that has defined this iconic Mendocino County winery since inception.

Although John Fetzer sold the Fetzer Vineyards brand to a large corporation in 1992, John and his siblings retained a few thousand acres in ranch land and vineyards for the Fetzer family. After dividing up the vineyards among the family members, John focused on replanting his own vineyards and on other land development projects. By 2001, this workaholic, insomniac vigneron, who lives for building projects, realized he still had a lot he wanted to do in the wine industry. He then joined forces with his wife, Patty Rock, to launch the Saracina and Atrea wine brands.

John acquired the coveted Sundial Ranch along the Upper Russian River on Highway 101 in the early 1980s. In the late 1990s, the ranch was renamed Saracina after a centuries-old farmhouse and vineyards in Tuscany where he and his wife, Patty Rock, spent their honeymoon. Visitors driving into Saracina now are captivated by the vast hillside and valley floor vineyards and the charming mix of rustic and modern structures, many of which have been constructed by John and his team using reclaimed materials from the ranch.

The Roussanne was sourced from the sustainably farmed, estate-grown Kyliā€™s Vineyard. The Viognier was sourced from a neighborā€™s Lakeview Vineyard in the Sanel Valley. The harvest was marked by below average rainfall and an even growing season, yielding intensely concentrated fruit, particularly notable in, and favorable to, these Rhone Valley varietals. We picked the Viognier on September 27th, with the Roussanne following just four days later on October 1st.

The grapes were whole-cluster pressed. The settled juice was barrel fermented with 50% in small stainless barrels and 50% in neutral French oak. The wine did not undergo malolactic fermentation and remained sur lie for three months with bi-monthly batonnage.

Medium-deep gold in color, this shows sun-ripened stone fruit and wildly fragrant honeysuckle aromatics. The palate echoes those notes with a clean, refreshing texture and a fleshy exuberance. Enjoy this wine in the warmth of the sun on a lovely late spring or summer afternoon. It pairs beautifully with fresh fruit of the season, ripe soft cheeses, or simple grilled fish or chicken.

Old Soul Red by Saracina is a nod to Mendocino Countyā€™s adventurous history of exploration and discovery. The Zinfandel comes from two vineyard sites. The Chapman vineyard is certified organic, with head-pruned vines that sit on an alluvial bench in Redwood Valley. The Sawyer vineyard sits at 1000ā€™ feet elevation overlooking Lake Mendocino planted with head-pruned vines with St. George rootstock.

The Malbec is from Saracina estate vineyard which is marked by black clay and gravelly soils at the base of the foothills. The Petite Sirah is from both Saracinaā€™s steep hillside vineyards and the Niemi vineyard with 20-year-old vines, originally planted without irrigation and dry-farmed for 15 years. The Malbec was harvested on September 24th, Zinfandel on September 25th, and Petite Sirah on October 16th.

The grapes were picked at full maturity, de-stemmed and gently transferred into fermenters with 50% whole berries. They soaked at a cool temperature for four to seven days, at which point native yeast fermentation began in both open and closed top fermenters. The free run juice was aged in 10% new thin-stave French oak and four year seasoned American oak for 18 months, which included native malolactic fermentation. The wine was bottled on June 26, 2020.

The wine is savory, rich, and dense with ripe tannins that wrap around a core of fruit leading to a long, juicy finish.

 

tournefeuille

 

Chateau Tournefeuille Lalande de pomerol – Organic

Bordeaux Primer:  Despite current trends towards regions like the Loire Valley and the Jura among wine geeks, Bordeaux remains the most popular wine region in the world.  It’s also the largest, with 7500 producers, over 60 appellations, almost 300,000 acres planted to grapes, producing 75 million cases of wine per year!

The Bordeaux wine region has historically been regarded as one of the best wine regions in the world, especially when it comes to red wine production.   Home to what are referred to as  the Bordeaux grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot — and historically CarmenĆØre), the region is divided in two:  the Left Bank, home to mostly Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines and gravelly soils; and the Right Bank, home to mostly Merlot and Cabernet Franc-based wines and clay and limestone soils. 

The bank referred to in these names is the Gironde, a large estuary formed from the meeting of the rivers Dordogne and Garonne just downstream of the center of Bordeaux city. Covering 245 square miles, it is the largest estuary in western Europe.  The Gironde is approximately 50 miles long and two to seven miles wide.

Left Bank blends tend to be higher in tannins, alcohol and acidity. They are powerful, rich wines that are said to age a bit better than wines from the Right Bank. This is also the bank that made the region famous. Right bank blends tend to be softer, less tannic, and lower in alcohol and acidity. Because Merlot is the dominant grape, they are much juicier and usually ready to be drunk much earlier than Left Bank Bordeaux, and theyā€™re often less expensive.

The success of Bordeaux can be boiled down to one simple trait:  location.  Bordeaux not only possesses an ideal climate and soil for growing grapes but, due to Bordeaux being a major port city, it also gave local winemakers the opportunity to access different regions of the world. Unlike landlocked Burgundy, Bordeaux was able to capitalize on the ships and wealthy merchants that filled its port daily, always sending them off with wine.  As wealthy merchants returned to their home countries with wine, Bordeauxā€™s acclaim spread. Wealthy trading classes in Great Britain and the Netherlands, having access to the merchants traveling back and forth to Bordeaux, began collecting the wine and it was from this point on that Bordeaux cemented its reputation as one of the fine wines of the higher class.

The view from Emeric Petitā€™s terrace at ChĆ¢teau Tournefeuille is really something else. Turn left, thereā€™s ChĆ¢teau Trotanoy. Average price for the 2018ā€¦..$350. Turn right, hello, ChĆ¢teau Lafleur-Petrus. Average price for the 2018ā€¦.$250 Then, straight ahead, lies one of the most prestigious estates in the world, ChĆ¢teau Petrus. Average price for the 2018ā€¦.brace yourselfā€¦.$5600. Thatā€™s per bottle. I donā€™t know where Emericā€™s ancestors were when they drew the line between Pomerol (Petrus, Trotanoy, Lafleur-Petrus) and Lalande-de-Pomerol in 1780, but they definitely werenā€™t at the table. Emeric definitely misses out on some scratch but gains a legion of dedicated, die-hard customers because when you taste his brilliant 2014, itā€™s clear that Tournefeuille belongs in that neighborhood.

Chateau Tournefeuille is a lovely estate that dates from the mid-18th century and was acquired by the Petit family in 1998. It is owned and managed by Emeric Petit whose family have been in the wine business since 1735. Tournefeuille refers to the ā€œturning leavesā€ on the windy hill where the property lies. Located in the village of NĆ©ac, Cha^teau Tournefeuille benefits from an exceptional terroir, very similar to that of Pomerol. Its vineyards are adjacent to some of the most prestigious estates in the Pomerol region, including ChĆ¢teau La Fleur Petrus, ChĆ¢teau Gazin and Petrus. In fact, Tournefeuilleā€™s vineyards share the same blue clay terroir with Petrus.

In the early years of his ownership of the estate, Emeric Petit was assisted by the famous oenologist Mr. Jean-Claude Berrouet (of Petrus) and Ms. Catherine Cohen. Today, Emeric is a rising star and making a name for himself with his consistently excellent wines. Tournefeuille is a lovely boutique estate and a prime example of the new wave of attractively priced, outstanding wine coming from the right bank of Bordeaux. It is one of the leading estates in the Lalande-de-Pomerol appellation.

The vineyard is 18 hectares in size (44 acres) from a single vineyard. The vines are 40 years old in average and lie on clay-gravel soils. After manuel harvest, the grapes are sorted by hand and are fermented in concrete tanks. Vinifications are done by parcel to increase precision. The wine is aged 12-14 months in 80% new French oak before bottling. Estate grown and bottled. 

92 points Vinous  The 2019 Tournefeuille has an outstanding bouquet with vivacious black cherries, hints of blueberry and a touch of cedar. This is very impressive in terms of focus and delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and a slightly grainy texture. Very cohesive all the way through to the finish. This is a very commendable Lalande de Pomerol. Excellent.

90 points, Jeb Dunnuck
Checking in as 58% Merlot and 42% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 ChĆ¢teau Tournefeuille has a juicy, fruit-forward bouquet of red plum and ripe black cherries as well as a touch of leafy tobacco and cedarwood. Nicely textured, medium to full-bodied, pure, and elegant on the palate, it has terrific tannins as well as outstanding length. This smoking good Lalande-de-Pomerol should keep for 8-10 years.

This wine is deep garnet red in color. The nose is on notes of fresh red fruits, on cherry, strawberry coulis. We note a beautiful roundness, flesh in the middle of the mouth and the aromas are of a beautiful persistence in the final.

 saint galet

 

Saint-Galet ChĆ¢teauneuf-du-pape

Back in the day, and that day was 20 years ago, ChĆ¢teauneuf-du-Papes were priced in the $30 range, with some premium bottlings going into the $60s.  Today, the least expensive CdP we’ve sold in the past ten years goes for $38.99, and many of our offerings are in the $70-100 range – and up.  

Budget-minded folks who love the fruit-forward, bold style of CdP have generally moved on – to the neighboring regions of Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Lirac, and Cairanne.  Not that those wines aren’t great – they are – but they aren’t Chateauneuf, the first AOC established in France.

Enter Saint-Galet, a private project blended by and bottled for a favorite importer, who explains that “restaurant shutdowns in France, combined with those short-lived “over 14%” wine tariffs, meant a once-in-a-lifetime and narrow window of buying opportunity and BUY we did. Our two men in Europe blended this beauty of a Chateauneuf from the ground up with Eric Bonnet of Domaine La Bastide Saint Dominique fame.”

Eric Bonnet: ā€œMy family has been making wine for a number of years now. My great-grandfather started it. He did not bottle the wine he made under his own label but sold it by the barrel to a negociant. My father started to bottle wine in 1980.ā€

The wine is made and vinified at La Bastide Saint Dominique from a sustainably farmed estate and with purchased fruit, vinified in stainless and aged in concrete and some foudre.   

This wine is a classically composed CdP blend of  80% Grenache 15% MourvĆØdre and 5% Syrah, producing a sappy, opulent, mouth-filling wine, that’s a perfect complement to BBQ fare, cheeses, or just hanging around the patio with friends. 

2018 is classified as a great vintage, with most wines being ready to drink upon arrival, although you could age this fella for up to ten years if desired.  

 

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