Gaudry, Vincent 2019 Sancerre Tournebride

 Vincent Gaudry has been certified organic and Biodynamic  for many years, perhaps the leading domaine in Sancerre in regards to farming. The cuvée "Le Tournebride" comes from all three Sancerre terroirs: terres blanches (Kimmeridgian marl), caillottes (weathered limestone) and flint (silex). The grapes are hand-harvested and ferment with wild yeasts in stainless stell vats, the wine then ages about ten months and is bottled unfiltered. The 2019 "Tournebride" shows a bright very pale gold color with elegant aromas of citrus, white flowers, pear, green apple and quince with hints of anise and fig with time open.  The palate is subtle and pure with floral white fruits, a bit of melon, almond and firm citrusy acids—light but with nice density—with a crystalline, stony aspect that continues in the long clean, sapid finish. This is a very elegant Sancerre and a great value which will accompany any mild-flavored fish dish, white meats and goat cheeses.  David Lillie 

Gaudry, Vincent 2019 Sancerre Mélodie des Vieilles Vignes

(Arrives Friday 2/18) Domaine Vincent Gaudry, located in Sury-en-Vaux, has been organic and Biodynamic certified for many years. The 2019 "Melodie de Vieilles Vignes" is from 60+ year-old vines on kimmeridgian marl soils, and is fermented naturally with wild yeasts.  As Pascaline notes below, this is an oustanding Sancerre that we are proud to offer at Chambers Street— highly recommended! "Opulent, almost tropical nose with gentle notes of sage, anise  and kefir leaves. Much more focused and vibrant on the palate than the nose was suggesting. Acidity is on point from the start with a tension and saltiness as soon as the wine touches the lips, then develops more citrus than tropical, especially pink grapefruit, thyme, Asian pear that really lingers on the acidity. It is not a light wine, there is weight from the concentration of the vintage, but there is no lack of vibrancy or freshness. Really the old vines on limestone are doing their job!" - Pascaline Lepeltier 

Gaudry 2019 Sancerre Vincengetorix

 This will be on the table for Thanksgiving at my house - the perfect weight and flavors to sing with turkey and stuffing. Serve cool, and get an extra bottle as it will go fast...

This is a gorgeous Sancerre Rouge, Pinot Noir with Pinot Fin,  a product of Vincent Gaudry's wonderful Biodynamic farming. Wild yeast, whole-cluster fermentation, aging 12 months in used barrels. The 2019 shows a brilliant black/red color and vibrant aromas of black cherry liqueur, black raspberry, earth, licorice and violet. The palate is dense, sapid, and chalky with lush, earthy black fruits  framed in firm acidity and mineral flavors with hints of licorice, cherry pit and brown spice. Bravo to Vincent and his team! Delicious in 2021 for its youthful fruit, then wait 3 to 5 years, drink until 2030+  Highly recommended and a bargain at the price...David Lillie

Gaudry 2019 Sancerre Les Garennes Pinot Fin

(Arrives Friday 2/18)  100% Pinot Fin from 60-80 old vines, the small-berried old version of Pinot Noir, grown on iron-rich "caillotes" soil.  The grapes are hand-harvested followed by whole cluster fermentation in wooden vat. I had been very much looking forward to tasting this and was not disappointed. This was lush upon opening, with a nose full of dark cherry and blackberry liqueur and some spice from the stems, and more pure full red fruit on the palate buoyed by the balanced acidity. However, on day two it took on a much more intensely mineral character. The fruit receded a bit, revealing a chalky spine that let no doubt as to the wine's place of origin. As Burgundy prices climb, a wine like this becomes ever more appealing - this would be a great counterpoint to a top bottle of Santenay or Volnay. Not inexpensive, but worth the price, just a brilliant wine! Enjoy until 2035.  (36 bottles available)

Sam Ehrlich

Tessier 2020 Cheverny Blanc

The lovely 2020 Tessier Cheverny Blanc is 80% Sauvignon Blanc with 10 % each of Menu Pineau and Chardonnay, farmed organically since 1998 and made with minmal SO2.(Total SO2 20mg/L)  Aromatically, there are a lot of textbook Sauv Blanc notes, white and yellow fruits, citrus, lime-flower, but is still far from the intensely grassy and tropical, lychee-driven aromatics of many a yeasted Sauvignon across the globe. What the Cheverny Blanc also has is a bit of texture. It's refreshing, but also broad in the mouth, evolving quite a bit as it's open, but not overly fruity and with vibrant minerality. It's a wine that will disappear quickly thanks to it's crisp drinkability, but will also reward those who take a moment to pay attention.

Tessier 2020 Cheverny Rouge

The delicious 2020 Tessier Chevery Rouge is from 15 to 40 year-old vines of 57% Pinot Noir, 36% Gamay and 7% Cot grown in sandy clay soils. Wild yeasts, of course, and aging in old barrels with minimal or zero SO2 added, bottled unfiltered. The yields were surprisingly good in 2020, but the fruit achieved perfect ripeness in this excellent vintage, showing deep cherry and raspberry with plum, rose, citrus and brown spice. The palate is round, velvety, ripe and vibrantly refreshing with chalky spiced berry fruits, plum skin and mineral flavors, ending with sappy red fruits and bright acidity. Serve quite  cool with charcuterie, chicken and pork dishes and a wide variety of cheeses.  Just delicious! (13 mg/L total SO2, normally indicating zero added)

Tessier 2020 Vin de France Chemin Noir (Pineau d'Aunis)

The 2020 "Chemin Noir" is 100% massale selection Pineau d'Aunis (aka Chenin Noir, even though the two grapes are not related). Semi-carbonic fermentation for two weeks or so, then aging in older barrels. In the glass, the wine is a lovely pale cranberry in color. On the nose, there are high-toned scents of wild red berries and crisp pomegranate seeds, snappy dark citrus, with a whisper of black pepper. On the palate, bright and juicy cranberry, strawberry, and lean cherry hug a core of enticing minerality. The structure is incredibly refreshing, with great acid and just a touch of tannin - a light grip down the tongue. The finish is a delicious, full of energy, with an ounce of clean, bitter herb. This wine is dangerously drinkable ... we were all blown away by it's vitality and finesse! David Hatzopoulos

Tessier 2020 Vin de France TOC (Cot)

 Toc is a pun for Côt, one of the single-variety cuvées made by Simon and Philippe Tessier in their organic estate of Sologne. Côt, or Malbec, is one of the grapes authorised in the Cheverny AOC but as the appellation has to be a blend, the wine is declassified in Vin de France - one of the meanings of Toc in French is "fake stuff."  Vinified like all the other reds in semi-carbonic maceration for 15 days or so, then aged in larger oak barrel, this bottling has a juicy, plush texture balancing really well the natural high acid spine of the variety. Dark purple - the usual colour of Malbec - the 2020 has a powerful bouquet of violet, elderberry, blackberry liqueur and dried thyme. On the palate, the attack is round and easy, with blackberry and cherry fruit, then the vibrant acidity appears, and plays with the gentle tannins, finishing with ripe, chalky fruit. Despite this ripeness it is not heavy at all, but quite refreshing and lively so serve quite cool.  Delicious wine and highly recommended. PL/DL