Planquette (Didier Michaud) 2019 Vin de France (Médoc)

Didier Michaud works 1.7 hectares in the Medoc with 30 to 100 year-old vines on limestone with thin soils of clay with sand and stones.  He has old vines of Merlot Queue Rouge and massale selection Cabernet Sauvignon, farmed organically with just a little compost and shallow plowing. Vinification with wild yeasts, no extraction and no added sulfur (total SO2 less than 2 mg/L). This is one of the most "natural" and deliciously old-fashioned wines of Bordeaux. In the glass, the '19 is rich and plummy in color. The nose is heady, with awesome smells of mint, fresh garden soil, graphite, and pungent  dark flowers. Flavors steer towards ripe forest fruits, like blueberry, blackberry, and cassis. Anise and herbs, with crunchy minerals, add flare to the wine's fruit. Great density, a velvety texture with engaging tannins and bright acidity. Definitely a bold Bordeaux, clocking in at 15% ABV, but so delicious, well structured and drinkable. Yum! David Hatzopoulos

Turenne 2021 Cotes de Provence Cuvée Antoine VV Blanc

(Arrives 9/21)  The Domaine Turenne "Antoine" is an extraordinary Provençal white made with 70% Vermentino with 30% old vines of Petite Clairette du Var, dating from 1903! Organic farming, hand harvesting and wild yeast fermentations. Pale gold color with green hints; aromas of almond, pear, hay, lemon zest, verveine, anise...you get the idea. The palate is very mineral, with firm acidity, showing anise, white fruit liqueur, stone and citrus, supple and long, really a lovely wine and a great value! This refreshing and versatile wine will accompany shellfish and grilled fish, white meats, salads, goat cheeses and much more...  David Lillie

Lambert, Patrick 2018 Chinon Vieilles Vignes

The delicious Chinon Vieilles Vignes of Patrick Lambert is from 55 - 60 year-old vines on sandy clay soils over limestone. Hand harvested and fermented with wild yeasts, as are all of Lambert's wines, the Vieilles Vignes gets 12 months of aging in old barrels. The wine shows a deep red/black color and ripe blackberry and strawberry aromas with pepper, earth and citrus. The palate is deep and ripe in 2018, showing earthy blackberry and strawberry compote with prune and bitter chocolate and firm structure. This is a complex, old-fashioned Chinon that will accompany roast chicken and anything off the grill, served a bit cool. Age for five to ten years for a mature experience. David Lillie

Barou 2021 Saint-Joseph Blanc "Le Sud"

(Arrives Wed 9/21) The beautiful 2021 Barou Saint-Joseph Blanc is 50 % Marsanne, 50% Roussanne grown on decomposed granite soils at the top of the slope in Charnas (Saint-Joseph), overlooking the Rhone. There is a "macération pelliculaire" of 10 to 12 hours followed by fermentation in barrique at low temperature. The wine ages for 9 months in barriques, 10% new. The wine shows a bright golden color and pretty floral aromas with peach, pear, hazelnut and honey. The palate is round and supple but with nice brightness in 2021 with peach, almond and mineral notes and a long ripe smoothly textured finish. Serve with asparagus, seared scallops, trout, white meats and Asian foods.

Barou 2021 Saint-Joseph "Un Autre Monde"

Domaine Barou has been organic since the 1970s and also produces cherries, apricots and peaches. The Saint-Joseph vines are in Limony, on thin soils of decomposed granite over the bedrock. Shallow plowing ("griffage") is done in the summer, with rye and clover growing between the rows in winter. The grapes are 80% de-stemmed, fermentations are with wild yeasts, aging is in one to three year-old barrels. The 2021 Saint-Joseph shows a deep black/red color and gorgeous aromas of blackberry and blueberry liqueur with violet, sweet spice, citrus and roast meat, very floral and bright, showing less alcohol than the previous three vintages. Ripe black fruits, which are velvety and bright, earth, pepper and citrus continue on the very lush, supple palate which is framed in perfect, bright acidity. Lighter than the 2020 for sure, at 13% alcohol, but with more purity of fruit  and a lovely creamy sapid texture. The finish is soft and long with mineral flavors and beautiful black fruits, dark chocolate and spice that lingers... This is absolutely delicious now but has the structure to age nicely for five to ten years. A sensational value and highly recommended!

Barou 2021 Vin de Pays Syrah "Vernes"

From 40 year-old Syrah vines in Charnay, just outside the Saint-Joseph AOC, on living soils tended organically for forty years by Marie-Agnès and Emmanuel Barou. Plowing by tractor or weeding by hand on the steep slopes. Hand-harvested, wild-yeast fermentations, aging one year in 4 to 5 year-old barrels. 2021 was a vintage of very low yields in the northern Rhone, which did not escape the frost, mildew and rain which occured in most of France. While the wines are less alcoholic and tannic there are some notable successes - particularly at Domaine Barou which has again produced a superb Syrah "Cuvée des Vernes!" The wine shows deep black/purple color with lush aromas of blackberry and raspberry liqueur, blueberry, spice and bacon fat with cool minty notes - really lovely! The palate shows cool dense black fruits, wonderfully round and full, vibrant and bright with black fruits, minerals, blueberry, earth, smoke and citrus with a beautiful, refreshing, sappy sweet finish of minerals and fruit. As always with the Cuvée Vernes, this is an outstanding Syrah, nicely balanced at 12.5% alcohol, and simply delicious for current drinking. Serve a bit cool with almost anything from roast chicken to pork, rabbit, charcuterie and lamb, or just enjoy by itself. Case quantities are available. Highly recommended!  David Lillie

Barou 2021 VdP Collines Rhodaniennes Marsanne "Rendez-Vous"

The Barou family family makes delicious wines, and grows cherries and apricots on their mixed-use organic estate in Charnas, in the northern section of the AOC Saint-Joseph. Their 2021 Vin de Pays Marsanne is a simply superb everyday wine! Light bronze/gold color.  This needs a few minutes to open up, then shows bright aromas of pear and peach, almond, lime-flower, lemon peel, smoke and hay, really quite pretty, and a little fresher than the 2020 at 13% alcohol. Ripe stone fruits on the palate, primarily peach and dried pear with lemon, spice and saline mineral flavors with refreshing acidity. Beautiful finish with white and yellow fruits and minerals. Serve this lovely wine as a superb aperitif or with chicken, full-flavored fish, mild cheeses and Asian foods. This is a unique and delicious wine and an extraordinary value - highly recommended! 

Clos du Joncuas 2020 Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Séguret Blanc

Clos du Joncuas (Domaine la Garancière) Seguret Blanc (50% Clairette, 25% Roussanne, 25% Viognier, always organically farmed, wild yeast fermentation, aged in enamel vat) Floral dried pear, apricot, hay, thyme aromas. Ripe pear, stone, caramel, lemon on the palate. A big, ripe wine with a round supple palate but with good acidity that will pair with fish stews, shellfish, pork and chicken dishes as well as full-flavored goat cheeses.  An outstanding value and highly recommended. David Lillie

Amphores 2020 IGP des Collines Rhodaniennes Viognier 'Les Iris'

(Arrives 9/21) We love Condrieu, but Viognier from other regions can often be cloying and uninteresting. This example from the Grenier family in Chavanay, however, is elegant and outstanding. It comes from Viognier vines just south of the Condrieu AOC, always tended organically, certified since 2002, and Biodynamic since 2016. The nose shows typical aromas of white flowers and tree fruit underscored by a bracing pineniness and toasty notes. The palate is juicy with notes of pear , green melon and bitter rind uplifted by bright acidity and a long, dry finish. An excellent food wine to be paired with white meats and fish, creamy cheese, grilled vegetables and composed salads. Giselle Hamburg

Amphores 2020 Saint-Joseph "Les Sept Lieux" (9/21)

(Arrives 9/21) The Amphores "7 Lieux" is from vines planted in the 90's, always organic, and from parcels of old vines, converted to organic, in Chavanay, below Condrieu. Philippe and Veronique Grenier have always farmed organically and now they are certified Biodynamic as well, bringing the quality even higher at this wonderful small estate. 50 - 60% de-stemmed, aged 50% in vat, 50% in 2 to 10 year-old demi-muid and foudre. The 2020 "7 Lieus" is a more subtle and earthy wine than the very ripe 2019, showing pretty aromas of violet, black raspberry, plum, a bit smoky and backed with blood and mineral notes. The palate shows a classic Northern Rhone backbone of iron and earth flavors with red currant, black raspberry and black olive. The finish shows firm acidity, mineral flavors and sappy, lingering olive and berry fruit. This will improve with time in the cellar, but is delicious now as well for its authentic and old-fashioned Syrah character. David Lillie

Domaine des Costes 2016 Pécharmant Cuvée Domaine

(Arrives 9/21) Purchased by the Dournel family in 1992, the Domaine desé Costes in Pécharmant has been certified organic since 2007. Pécharmant is a small high-quality AOC within Bergerac, seldom seen in the US,  benefiting from hillside vineyards of gravel over iron-rich clay. The wines are made from Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon -  well-structured with dense fruit, the older vine cuvées age beautifully, such as the  2016 Costes "Domaine" which ages one year in barrique and foudre with additional aging in vat before bottling. I’ve been told on great authority than one really can’t call yourself a “serious” wine shop if you don’t have a Bergerac (and by extension a Pécharmant, its age worthy sibling). That it should be bio, goes without saying. And with the arrival of  Domaine des Costes 16 Pécharmant we are back down to serious business, friends! The new release is a grand expression, indeed. The robe is a dark ruby hue. The nose is reserved on opening, but with air (a quick decant) beautiful notes of plum, African violet, black tea, cassis, and loamy soil emerge, beyond this is are wisps of baking spices and cigar box. The palate is ripe and structured with black currant and cherry stone vying with blackberry and gunpowder tea flavors for prominence; yet with time in the glass an elemental ripeness emerges to counter the firm—albeit ripe—tannins and tangy mineral core. And while this is young, there’s plenty of joy here and even more in store if you are patient and have a cool dark space to squirrel away a couple of bottles, or perhaps a case. And while this may not display the shiny gloss of our friends downstream in Bordeaux, there’s a lot to like here and a tremendous opportunity to sock away a true vin de garde at glou glou prices. Fabulous with hanger steak with black-eyed pea salad and braised greens, but this could just as agreeably pair with guineafowl or cèpes en papillote or truffled potato gratin. Highly recommended.  John McIlwain

Domaine des Costes 2018 Pécharmant Cuvée Tradition

Purchased by the Dournel family in 1992, the Domaine des Costes in Pécharmant has been certified organic since 2007. Pécharmant is a small high-quality AOC within Bergerac, seldom seen in the US,  benefiting from hillside vineyards of gravel over iron-rich clay. The wines are made from Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon -  well-structured with dense fruit, the older vine cuvées age beautifully, and wine from younger vines such as the 2018 "Tradition" are full-bodied and quite delicious for drinking over 5 to 8 years.The 2018 is an earthy red/garnet color, with intriguing aromas of black raspberry, cassis, earth, roast meat and spice.The palate is dense and richly textured with deep red currant and cassis fruit, with tobacco and earth with a very firm mineral presence on the tongue and a very long finish of red currant, minerals and firm acidity. All this for $15.99! Bravo to the Dournel family for this beautiful big little wine... David Lillie

Laguerre 2018 Côtes du Roussillon Le Ciste Rouge

(Arrives 9/21) The 2018 "Le Ciste" Rouge is mostly Grenache, with Syrah, Carignan and Mourvèdre, grown in Eric and Corinne Laguerre's organic,  high-altitude vineyards on granite soils in the Roussillon. 2018 is another great vintage for the Le Ciste Rouge, showing aromas of ripe blackberry, blueberry and black cherry, roast meat, dark chocolate and earth.The palate is dense and supple with ripe berry fruits, licorice and spice supported by firm acidity with an elegant finish of earth, minerals and black fruits. This is a beautiful wine - a Chateauneuf-du-Pape of the mountains - and a great value. Serve slightly cool with grilled meats, stews and full-flavored cheeses or cellar five to ten years. Highly recommended! DL

Laguerre 2019 Côtes du Roussillon Le Ciste Blanc

 Eric Laguerre's "Le Ciste," (named after a flowering bush in and around his vineyards) is certainly one of the most distinctive whites of the Roussillon. Grown in Eric's high-elevation vineyards on acidic soils of decomposed granite, the wine is made from Marsanne, Roussanne, Rolle (Vermentino), Grenache Blanc and Maccabeu. Yields are about 20 Hl/Ha, harvesting is by hand in small baskets, fermentation (wild yeasts) and aging is in small barrels. Complex aromas of lemon oil, thyme, hay and white fruits—a lovely melange with contributions from each variety and especially showing the Marsanne and Roussanne. The palate is dense, stony and saline with herbal, citrus, almond and white fruit flavors. The finish is long with mineral acids and white fruits that linger on the palate. Complex and distinctive as a young wine, this will accompany grilled fish as well as fish and chicken in sauce and goat cheeses, and should develop nicely with a few years of cellaring. Really a Grand Cru of the Roussillon and a great value! DL 

Laguerre 2019 Côtes du Roussillon Le Passage Mourvedre

 Eric Laguerre's "Le Passage" is from his highest parcel, at about 2,000 feet, on soils of decomposed granite. Organic farming, natural vinification, aged in used barrels. This version of "Le Passage" is a special 100% Mourvedre cuvée that Eben particularly loved when tasting with Eric last winter.

Rousset 2021 Crozes-Hermitage Blanc (Marsanne-Roussanne)

(Arrives 9/21) From 85% Marsanne and 15% Roussanne grown on powdered granite with clay and gravel - great terroir producing this delightful  wine from the Rousset family.  The Rousset Crozes Blanc is outstanding  again in 2021 - the fourth vintage to include the new planting of Roussanne - and is one of the finest white wine values in the store!  The wine shows fresh aromas of white peach, apricot, almond and lime-flower with a bit of white pepper. The palate is supple and dense with ripe pear, mineral and citrus flavors, with wet stone and caramel. The finish is ripe and long with firm lemony acidity. Serve with white meats, a ceviche of fluke, mildly-flavored fish dishes and a wide variety of cheeses.

Lambert, Patrick 2021 Chinon Gourmandise

"Gourmandise" is a beautiful "drink young" cuvée from Patrick Lambert, made from Cabernet Franc vines grown on sandy gravel soils near the Vienne. The wine shows a bright black/red color with lush high-toned aromas of crushed strawberry and black raspberry, with hints of citrus and pepper. The palate is supple and bright with luscious black raspberry and red currant fruit, quite lush and supple but still with refreshing  acidity. Serve this lovely wine quite cool with charcuterie and grilled chicken, pork or burgers, it's a perfect quaffing Cab Franc to drink over the next  year or two...  David Lillie

Lambert, Patrick 2020 Chinon Rosé

(Arrives 4/11) This delightful Chinon Rosé comes from Patrick Lambert's 6 hectares of organic vines in Cravant, around the corner from his friend and mentor, Bernard Baudry. Hand harvested from 20-year-old Cabernet Franc vines on gravel and sandy clay soils over limestone. This is drinking beautifully now with a bit deeper berry fruit than the 2021 (August 2022) and will drink well through 2023. This is a fabulous value and highly recommended.(Note: Some bottles have naturally occuring tartrate crystals which disappear when chilled and have no effect on flavor)

Source du Ruault 2018 Saumur-Champigny Rouge

Jean-Noêl Millon at La Source du Ruault has 13 hectares on turonian limestone in Saumur-Champigny, organic since 2007 and using biodynamic methods. The "regular" Saumur-Champigny is from younger vines on clay and sandy soils over the limestone; the wine is hand harveted, fermented with wild yeasts, aged in stainless steel vat. The wine shows a dense red/black color with aromas of raspberry and cassis liqueur, ripe, quite pure and bright. The palate has a soft velvety attack but there is acidity to balance, with pretty red and black fruits that are ripe and intriguing. Serve this quite cool with roast chicken, grilled pork and lamb, tagines and charcuterie. This is a lovely Saumur-Champigny and an excellent value...