Translation missing: en.Father's Day + Maxime Magnon + Domaine Jean Grivot + Loire Valley Tasting Saturday 6th 3pm-6pm + La Stoppa Promo: Father's Day + Maxime Magnon + Domaine Jean Grivot + Loire Valley Tasting Saturday 6th 3pm-6pm + La Stoppa Promo
Father's Day
Father's Day is only a few days away now; if you haven't yet bought your gift (which we're assuming most of you haven't), this is the last chance to pick something special.
We've selected some wines below - 2 from each of us that we are either buying for our own dads or think would make a good gift for someone else's.
Chris has chosen the rich and ripe Chenin in Belargus and the elegantly savoury Syrah of Maxime Graillot des Lises. Pete has gone with the over-delivering Chateau Mauvesin-Barton and the beautiful Bourgogne of Domaine Louis Bouillot, both of which had an excellent response in at in-store tasting a few weeks ago. Finally, I have gone the recently released 2021 Massolino Barolo after tasting that at a masterclass the other week and the Agricola Flaxman Valley after being so impressed with the previous vintage.
These are just a few options to consider as a Father's Day gift. If you are unsure on what to select, please feel free to reach out to us for assistance with choosing the perfect gift this Father's Day - don't leave it too late!
-----------------
Maxime Magnon
Maxime Magnon forms part of the new wave of nature-minded winemakers throughout France that farm their plots with the utmost respect for nature. A Burgundian by birth, Maxime has found his home in Corbières, within the broader Languedoc region - a region that is known to produce some sensational and unique wines without the Burgundy hype prices. Working with and mentored by the likes of Didier Barral in Faugères and Jean Foillard in Beaujolais, Maxime has honed his craft to produce some truly unique wines.
Maxime Magnon is certified organic, but also incorporates biodynamic practices in the vineyards as well. He has a little menagerie of farm animals living with him that he lets loose in the vineyards between November and April to cultivate and help develop the natural environment and microflora. He was fortunate to have purchased some prime parcels of old vines from abandoned plots and rents his cellar—a garagiste if ever there was one. He farms nine parcels over eleven hectares, with steep vineyards that reach high altitudes, and manages it all on his own. All grapes are manually harvested in to small crates and taken to a cold room before being whole bunch fermented at ambient temperature by carbonic maceration using only indigenous yeasts. All wines are aged in cement tanks and old barrels before being bottled without fining or filtration.
We've just picked up a range of these excellent wines for you. The '24 'L'Estrade Blanc' comes from a new vineyard that Maxime has been working with close to the sea, on soils composed mainly of white marl and sandstone. This is a 50/50 blend of Grenache Blanc and Macabeu that produces a fresh wine with interesting texture. The '23 'La Begou Blanc' made from 90% Grenache Gris and 10% Grenache Blanc and almost Ganevat-esque in style. One of the most underrated whites of France. The '23 'Metisse Rose' is one of France's finest roses - fans of L'Anglore should seek this out. The '23 'Saint Jacques Rouges' is sourced from the same seaside vineyard as the first white and is made from Grenache Noir, Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. Finally, the '23 'Rozeta Rouge' is blended from mostly old vines Carignan and the rest Grenache and Syrah and often compared to a Languedocian take on Foillard's 'Morgon Cote-du-Puy' - fresh fruit with a savoury streak. These are some of the most exciting wines coming out of southern France - don't sleep on these!
-----------------
Domaine Jean Grivot
Domaine Jean Grivot is one of the established greats of Burgundy. Étienne Grivot and his wife Marielle (Patrick Bize's sister) took over from Étienne’s father Jean Grivot in 1987 making them the 5th generation of Grivots to make wine in Vosne-Romanée. Their daughter Mathilde has also joined the Domaine since 2017 and brings a fresh approach while still paying respect to the traditional methods of the family and region. With a newly renovated winery and cellar in Vosne-Romanée next to most of their holdings, the Domaine continues to produce breathtaking wines that are always on the radar of hardcore Burg-fanatics.
Like all great winemakers, Mathilde knows that great wine is made in the vineyard first. She is able to craft wine from ripe healthy grapes with concentrated flavour from densely planted vineyards that are farmed organically without certification. Organic treatments only, grass-cover, horse and plough, harder pruning, more rigorous canopy management and a far more rigorous crop-thinning and bunch selection process are what sets this Domaine apart from the crowd. The grapes are entirely destemmed and maceration à froid usually lasts just a day or two. The fermentation starts naturally, with a little punching down before this fermentation begins. The wines will spend about 15 months in barrel before being bottled with a relatively low amount of new oak compared to some of the neighbouring Domaines.
We've just picked up some of this Domaines classic wines to share with you. The '21 'Bourgogne Rouge' is sourced from some plots around Vosne-Romanée and is always one of the best Bourgogne level reds out there. The '21 'Vosne-Romanée' is sourced from some choice plots in the village and represents a classically perfumed and spicy Vosne Pinot. These always present a great snapshot of the vintage. Finally, we only have a couple bottles of the '21 'Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru' which comes from vines averaging 40 years old and sees 40% new oak élevage. This is one of the iconic wines of this classic GC site. These are some of the most detailed and terroir-driven Burgs on the market - don't miss out!
-----------------
Loire Valley Tasting
Saturday 6th
3pm-6pm
Join us this Saturday as we take you on a journey through the varied and distinctive wines of France's Loire Valley!
The Loire Valley is producing some of the most exciting wines in the world. The varied terroir, indigenous grapes and lower cost of land compared to the likes of Burgundy means that the region has attracted many winemakers that are committed to producing terroir-driven wines. For this tasting we'll be showing what the region is most famous for: Chenin Blanc (sparkling, dry and off-dry), Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc.
These are the wines that you'll be tasting on the day:
Domaine François Chidaine Montlouis Brut Nature 2020
Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc 2023
Domaine Gérard Boulay Sancerre à Chavignol 2023
Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Les Moulins Rouge 2023
Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Le Domaine 2021
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Demi-Sec 2022
There are all outstanding wines from top producers on their respective region - don't miss out on this exciting tasting!
Wishing you a great week from the team: Chris, Pete and Aaron.
-----------------
WEEKLY SPECIAL!
LA STOPPA
We have another incredible special lined up this week!
We are offering a deal on one of the iconic cult orange wines of Italy - La Stoppa's Ageno Bianco!
La Stoppa Ageno Bianco 2020 (Orange) - Regularly $91 per bottle / NOW $70 per bottle*
This is a saving of almost 25%!
OFFER: BUY ANY MIXED 6 BOTTLES OF LA STOPPA AGENO BIANO (ORANGE) AND RECEIVE
$126 OFF
La Stoppa is a long-established estate, founded over a century ago. Situated in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy, its vineyards stretch along the Trebbiola Valley, not far from the Trebbia river in the province of Piacenza. The low natural yields due to the average age of the vines and the poor soil, combined with the intrinsic quality of the grapes, allow for the production of highly distinctive wines, born in the vineyard and transformed in the cellar through a minimalist approach. This is one of our best selling orange wines!
*price per bottle when ordering 6 bottles of La Stoppa Ageno Bianco 2020 (Orange) in-store or online. Offer available while stocks last or until the end of the week - finishing at 11:59pm on Sunday 7th September.
Get in quick!