Côtes de Bordeaux
2022 Sainte-Foy Côtes de Bordeaux ‘Séquoia’
(Château Carbonneau)
Sale Price $17.99 – $183.50 case of twelve
The 2022 vintage in Bordeaux continues to deliver, even from the far-flung Sainte-Foy on Bordeaux’s eastern edge. Château Carbonneau has had vineyards planted since the 19th century, but now a new generation has taken the lead and turned the focus towards sustainability. It seems they are deftly walking the fine line between appealing to Bordeaux’s classic traditions and looking towards the future. This is their first certified organic vintage, and as of the 2023 release they are also certified biodynamic. The 2022 Séquoia is 62% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 13% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a deep and layered young Bordeaux, with velvety tannins that envelop the palate and lead to a long savory finish. Great with a beef stew.

Fleurie
2024 Fleurie ‘Grand Pré’ (Domaine de la
Chapelle des Bois)
Sale Price $23.99 – $244.70 case of twelve
Here is an example of why Fleurie is sometimes referred to as the “Queen of Beaujolais.” The charming 2024 from Domaine de la Chapelle des Bois is a light and lovely example of Gamay. Tart blue fruit is highlighted by a twinkle of smoky minerality from the pink granite on which the lieux-dit of Grand Pré sits. Welcome the warmer weather with a wonderful bottle of beautiful Beaujolais. Don’t forget to grab some charcuterie while you’re here.

Viré-Clessé
2020 Viré-Clessé ‘Cuvée E.J. Thevenet’ (Domaine
de la Bongran)
Sale Price $54.99 – $560.90 case of twelve
The Viré-Clessé AOC took form in the late nineties, when the French wine authorities merged two superior Mâcon-Villages into Viré-Clessé. The newly formed AOC was authorized only for totally dry whites. This excluded the Thevenet family’s Domaine de la Bongran from the V-C appellation because they had for decades excelled in making Chardonnay with a touch of sweetness. They argued that it was the best expression of their terroir and backed up their claim with exquisite older vintages. After the extremely hot 2003 vintage, when everybody in Viré-Clessé made wines with residual sugar, the appellation altered their requirements to include their best producer. A few months ago, we featured the 2022 Domaine de Roally, another Thevenet property. Here we have Thevenet’s bigger and bolder 2020. The 2020 E.J. took a few years to ferment and its heroically ripe grapes still left some exquisitely sweet flavor. This deep, complex white will be fabulous with rich shellfish like lobster and crab.

Alvarinho
2024 Monção e Melgaço Alvarinho (Soalheiro)
Sale Price $19.99 – $203.90 case of twelve
Portuguese culture is having a big breakout this century. Tourism has exploded in Lisbon and Porto, and new higher end restaurants and wine are showing up here. The raw materials have always been there, but now they have been refined to a high degree. Alvarinho is a case in point. Long planted in the Vinho Verde subzone of Monção e Melgaço, it now delivers a superbly crisp and minerally dry white. Soalheiro was the first and still is the finest example of Alvarinho from northern Portugal. This is a fantastic wine for fish.

Montenidoli
2023 Vernaccia di San Gimignano ‘Fiore’ (Montenidoli)
Sale Price $29.99 – $305.90 case of twelve
Back in 2015 Gambero Rosso reported that Montenidoli was “a sensational San Gimignano estate but also a benchmark for the whole of Italy, thanks to its history, style, and deep-rooted radical convictions which rise far above standardization.” Today octogenarian Elisabetta Fagiuoli is still radical. Her Vernaccias are unsurpassed versions of this grape. This 2023 Fiore is a richly flavored and beautifully balanced white with spiced fruit flavors and an almondy finish. This is gorgeous with swordfish, or with our featured white lasagna.

Marsannay
2023 Marsannay ‘Le Clos de Jeu’ (Domaine Collotte)
Sale Price $49.99 – $509.90 case of twelve
The rise of Marsannay from table wine producer for the city of Dijon to full appellation status is a curious one. Initially its vineyards were almost entirely Gamay, then Pinot Noir moved in and an entrepreneurial winemaker “invented” Marsannay Rosé. This was a major success, but the good growers of the village lobbied for status for their increasingly fine red wines. After all, Marsannay is just north of Gevrey-Chambertin. Their initial hope was to be included as a Côtes de Nuits Villages, but they were continually denied. Then out of the blue in 1997 Marsannay was awarded full appellation status for white, rosé, and red. Growers rejoiced and worked quickly to justify their inclusion. Instead of producing a mini Gevrey, good producers saw the need for affordable wine that could be enjoyed young. Domaine Collotte’s wines are cool expressions of pure Pinot Noir with earthy aromas, ample fruit, light tannins, and gorgeous finishes. The 2023 Le Clos de Jeu is a beauty.

Minervois
2024 Minervois ‘Bastide’ (Château Coupe-Roses)
Sale Price $17.99 – $183.50 case of twelve
The best vineyards of Minervois lie on Languedoc’s upper plateau of limestone called Les Causses. This is where Carignan thrives, absorbing the minerals from the soil and herbal flavors from the surrounding garrigue. Coupe-Roses has recently been turned over to a new generation and they now make certified organic and biodynamic wines. The 2024 Bastide is a fresh, lively red with charming fruit to go along with its herbal flavors. Serve this with a chill with spicy chicken thighs, rice, and beans.

PinotWeissBiancoBurgunder
2024 Alto Adige Pinot Bianco (J.Hofstätter)
Sale Price $17.99 – $183.50 case of twelve
By now you must know that we have greater appreciation for Pinot Bianco than for Pinot Grigio from Northern Italy. While fine examples of Pinot Grigio are produced (J.Hofstätter’s being one) in Alto Adige, it is essentially a cash crop, while Pinot Bianco is a passion. This month we have the lovely 2024 Bianco from J.Hofstätter. This versatile white has crunchy orchard fruits, good weight, and a crisp dry finish. Great paired with a seafood risotto.