Von Winning NV Pfalz Riesling Sekt Extra Brut

We received this elegant sparkling Riesling  just in time for the New Years Eve festivities. Bone dry and ethereal, it benefits from 2+ years on the lees and a low dosage of 3 grams with a delicate mousse and notes of citrus, peach and chalk. Wunderbar! Giselle Hamburg

Clos del Guarans (Raventos) 2021 Vi Escumos Les Someres Ancestral

Clos dels Guarans is a small winery in the southern part of Penedes, run by the enthusiastic Jordi Raventos (no relation to our good friend Pepe). Part of the proceeds from the sale of each bottle go to a non-profit that aims to protect the endangered Catalan donkey! Grapes here are Malvasia de Sitges, Xarel-lo Vermell, Subirat Parent, and Vinyater. Very subtle floral notes, with a  clean and mineral mid-palate. A crowd-pleasing Ancestral (Pet-Nat) style sparkler.

Mosse 2021 Vin de France Pet Nat Moussamoussette

70 Pineau D'Aunis / 30 Grolleau Noir, 100% delicious! The Moussamoussettes is BACK and it's clean, lively and bursting with fresh bright red fruit. Totally dry, with nice grit. Get more than one as you will discover it is way too easy to drink!  -EL

Vollenweider 2021 Mosel Riesling Felsenfest Trocken

Felsenfest is a dry Riesling made from fruit harvested in the Estate’s Trabener Burgberg (2/3) and the Trarbacher Schlossberg (1/3) vineyards. Notes of herbaceousness and white flowers with minerality in spades and  citrusy acidity: a perfect brunch bagels, lox and cream cheese wine! Giselle Hamburg

Vetter, Stefan 2020 Franken Sylvaner Steinterrassen Muschelkalk

Stefan Vetter is nothing if not committed to Sylvaner as a grape variety, but even more a lens thru which we can view his special terroirs. As the name implies, the vines are on terraces with limestone soils. Whole bunch pressed, fermented and aged in old barrel, and bottled without filtration. The palate is layered and filigreed, with zesty notes of apple skin, green plum, dancing across a tangy/salty mineral core. 

Alzinger 2021 Wachau Dürnstein Gruner Veltliner Federspiel

(Arrives Tues. Jan 2) Sourced from vineyards around the town of Dürnstein, on more gravelly, sandy, alluvial soils in contrast to the more stony meager soils further up slope. This wine boasts an extremely mineral nose with hints of smoky flint, lime and an almost piney herbaceousness. The palate springs open with a prickle of spritz and white pepper with flavors of lime and green pear. A powerful long stony finish balanced with lively acidity. A wine to drink now but that can age for a couple of years. Perfect for white meats like schnitzel or turkey , white fish, green vegetables, salads and cheeses. Giselle Hamburg

Alzinger 2021 Wachau Loibner Mühlpoint Grüner Veltliner Federspiel

As per the winery,"the vineyard is located on the slope of the Steinertal. While in the upper part, the influence of the mountain is still clearly felt and gneiss penetrates to the surface, the lower half is increasingly characterized by the flat plain and deeper loam layers. Aromatically, these factors are mainly noticeable through a pronounced spiciness." Very herbaceous out of the gate with cool, minty underbrush and minerality galore. Slightly spritzy still in it's infancy with brilliant acidity, herbaceousness, granny smith apples and limeade. drinkable now but could definitely improve with a year in the cellar for all its youthful exuberance to temper. Pristine and ringing clear like a bell, this wine would be a perfect accompaniment to all manner of fish, cheeses, salads, green vegetables and white meats. Giselle Hamburg

Familie Bauer 2020 Alte Reben Barig (skin contact)

Barig is a blend of Gruner Veltliner and Roter Veltliner, with a short period of skin contact, yielding a tasty and very fresh, zippy wine. A great introduction to the world of skin contact wines, and certainly just an introduction, as the profile is still very close to that of a refreshing white wine. Drink with a chill on a warm day!  

Nigl 2021 Kremstal Riesling Urgestein

Weingut Nigl, tucked deep in the northern Krems Valley on the edge of the Senftenberg mountain, often evokes feelings that one has traveled back to medieval times; the ruins of the Senftenberg castle, erected in 1197, are perched above the terraced vineyards Höchacker, Pellingen, Piri, and Kirchenberg. These terroirs of primary rock, or ‘gneiss,’ planted to Riesling and Grüner Veltliner, have much more in common with the Wachau than with the rest of the Kremstal.  But due to the influence of the forested mountains, Senftenberg experiences cooler nights than the Wachau and therefore larger diurnal swings in temperature, drawing out the ripening season and contributing spiciness and depth to the wines.The nose is intense displaying notes of pine forest, white flowers, graphite and guava whilst the palate is super bright with notes of peachade, lime zest and herbaceousness. Extremely ebullient with a luscious mouthfeel, made for festivities! Giselle Hamburg

Ott, Bernhard 2021 Wagram Grüner Veltliner Am Berg

Bernard Ott is a fourth generation winegrower in the region of Wagram in lower Austria. His family has been cultivating vines and making wine since 1889. When he took over from his father in 1995, he began to improve the family estate by converting to biodynamics and making positive changes in the cellar as well. Ott is considered an icon in the world of Austrian wines and is a major figure in the world of biodynamic winemaking.Am Berg is made from organic Gruner Veltliner grapes grown in loess soil.  The grapes are sourced from younger estate vines and purchased from growers in Feuersbrunn.  Natural fermentation in stainless steel, left on the fine lees until bottling in February. A delightfully zesty rendition, full of lip smacking minerality  with a profound wintergreen herbaceousness, leading to notes of lemon curd, green apple, white pepper and anise with a concentrated, long finish.  Bring on the Thai food! Giselle Hamburg

Winzerin Wiederstein 2020 Carnuntum Harslevelu 'Ana Blume'

Birgit Wiederstein is a female run winery/distillery in Carnuntum half an hour east of Vienna south of  the Danube. Apparently, like Burgenland when it was part of the Austro Hungarian empire, Harslevelu was widely planted there as well. Harslevelu is one of the major white grapes used in Hungarian Tokaji dessert wines. It also makes lovely still whites with delicate notes of linden, pear and citrus. The old Austrian name is Lindenblattriger which means "Linden Leaf". Birgit is committed to reviving ancient grape varieties from the region and foot stomps some of her grapes as well. The wine is named after her favorite poem by Dadaist Kurt Schwitters! Giselle Hamburg

Heidi Schröck 2021 Burgenland Furmint Trocken

Heidi Schröck took over her family winery in 1983, in the historic village of Rust situated in the province of Burgenland about 5 miles from the Hungarian border. In 2003 Heidi was awarded “Falstaff Vintner of the Year”, making her one of only a handful of women to obtain this distinction. She re-introduced historic varietals such as muscat-lunel and furmint from Hungary while continuing to work with more classic Austrian varietals. The 2021 Furmint is explosive with aromas of wet rocks, citrus, white flowers and a touch of honeydew. The palate is electric with high acid and minerality in spades, a slight spritz with flavors of citrus, green apple and honeydew. A very long finish, extremely elegant yet powerful. For lovers of Riesling and Chenin Blanc. Giselle Hamburg

Fekete Bela 2018 Somlo Juhfark 2018 Transdanubia, Hungary Somlo

From across the Austrian border in Hungary lies the once underwater volcano and lake Somlo. Home to the Juhfark grape,  Somlo's slopes of ancient sea sediment, hardened lava, and basalt, along with the springs of mineral water that crisscross underground, imbue it's wines with the signature taste of volcanic salt, smoke and petrichor. From the "Grand Old Man of Somlo" as Fekete Bela is called, the grapes are  hand harvested, undergoing spontaneous fermentation and 2 years aging in large Hungarian oak casks.   A blast of  minerality, lemon peel and waxy quince wafts from the glass. The palate tastes herbaceous, mineral and savory with underlying juicy tree fruit. Full bodied yet lithe with bright acidity, this wine is for lovers of Santorini Assyrtikos,  fuller Soaves and Grecos. An excellent pairing for full flavored fowl and fatty fish. Giselle Hamburg

Bodrog Bormuhely 2017 Hungary Tokaj-Hegyalja Furmint

The Lapis Vineyard is near the town of Bodrogkeresztúr in Tokaj and looks down onto the Bodrog River and its floodplains. Despite being near to all of this moisture, botrytis only hits certain parts of the vineyard. The 1,8 ha that they farm is 155m up and in a breezy spot making dry wines possible. The soil is a mixture of rhyolite with strong brown clay soil and tufa.  If there were to be reclassification of the Tokaj vineyards, this would be a strong contender for a grand cru.  Fresh and botrytis free fruit  fermented in small used barrels. It’s all at once pure, bright and fresh, and dense with peach and lemon notes, a hint of petrol and an intense saline  minerality. The high acidity is balanced by the creamy mouthfeel from long lees and barrel ageing. An incredibly elegant and sumptuous wine fit for the Kings of yore that used to drink it, think fatty fish and fowl dishes,  creamy pastas and  full flavored cheeses. Giselle Hamburg

Disznoko 2013 Tokaji 5 Puttonyos 500ml

The 2013 has hit the sweet spot of perfect balance between its vibrant acidity and delicate sweetness with layer upon layer of complexity; initial notes of citrus and white flowers evolve in the glass into stony minerality and  luscious apricot with a satiny texture and long finish. Ethereal yet concentrated and absolutely elegant. Giselle Hamburg

Ampelourgein 2021 Crete Liatiko

 Hailing from the eastern end of Crete high up in the central mountains between the north and south coasts. This is a pure Liatiko from original rootstock,  around 100 year old vines at an altitude of 950m!  Wild fermented, extracted  on skins for 12 hours, then aged on the lees for 2-5 months. Very pale red in color (almost rose like) and unfiltered. For pinot noir lovers with light tannins and bright brambly berries. Delicious! Giselle Hamburg

Tsikrikonis 2020 Macedonia (Greece) Rozaki

Rozaki is a very widely planted table grape variety found in many countries under different names according to Stavrakas ampelography; It is a very vigorous and productive variety and yields can exceed 250 hl/ha. For this reason, no one believed that it could deliver high-quality wines. A handful of producers have managed to bring out the best of the variety in the last few years by lowering yields and adding layers of complexity with lees ageing. Tsikrikonis was the first in Greece to plant this varietal in the 50s; the current vintage hails from 60+ year old vines. Tsikrikonis lies at the feet of Mount Symbolo in Kavala, Macedonia, at an altitude of up to 350 meters and just 3 kilometers from the Aegean Sea. The wine itself shares similarities with Assyrtiko from this region like our bestseller Nerantzi, displaying an intense minerality and concentration. The nose is also very herbaceous with wildflowers and the palate is fuller bodied but very fresh with citrusy acidity and herbs. Quite a discovery! Giselle Hamburg

Domaine Tatsis (Goumenissa, Greece) 2017 Macedonia Xinomavro/Negoska 'Young Vines

From Goumenissa in central Macedonia, the ancient capital of Macedon and birthplace of Alexander the Great. One of the first Greek wineries to convert to organic viticulture in the 90s, Domaine Tatsis  can easily be seen as traditionalist in nature but they constantly experiment, doing long macerations of their native white varieties and long élevage for roses. They release their appellation Goumenissas with significant bottle aging for a true representation of the wine as it should be enjoyed. A blend of  80%Xinomavro and 20% Negoska, the nose is redolent of tomato leaf, red cherries, hazelnuts with a touch of black pepper.  Intense acidity and structure from the Xinomavro paired with the higher alcohol yet soft tannins from the Negoska dances on the tongue like a gymnast flipping through the air. For lovers of  Nebbiolo & Tuscan Sangiovese. Pair with local dishes like pork with leeks & mushrooms as well as wild boar with chestnuts and olives.GH

Garalis NV Lemnos (Greece) Natural Retsina Rose (500ml)

This is a delightful little (500mL) bottle of skin-contact Retsina giving it an amber-peach color. The Greek island of Lemnos is rich with volcanic soil and a tradition of adding Aleppo pine resin to create the uniquely Greek wine; Retsina. This bottling is a blend of 90% Muscat of Alexandria and 10% Limnio which are macerated on the skins for a few days, fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel, then infused with pine resin. Oftentimes Retsina can be a bit overpowering with the scent of pine, but the extended skin contact fleshes out the juicy necterine and grapefruit notes of the Muscat and balances out the resin to a softer note of fresh thyme and rosemary. The palate has gentle tannins like peach fuzz, and bright Meyer lemon and stone fruit.

Sandlands 2020 Amador County Chenin Blanc

The Sandlands Amador County Chenin Blanc comes from a head-trained, dry-farmed and own rooted vineyard planted in 1979 at 1500ft altitude composed of iron rich volcanic, quartz and decomposed granite soils. From the winemaker: "Chalk, citrus and quince, long, mouth-watering finish. One 100L foudre, one 500L puncheon and three 228L French oak barrels produced."

Sandlands 2020 Contra Costa County Red Table Wine

This blend comes from three of the oldest California vineyards and is in equal parts Cinsault from the Bechthold Vineyard (planted in 1886), Carignane from Spenker Ranch (1900), and Zinfandel from Kirschenmann Vineyard (1915). The winemakers describe this vintage with notes of "black cherry, apricot, black tea, granular, smooth finish."

Sandlands 2019 Sonoma Nebbiolo

Sandlands is a perennial favorite, known for making pure and expressive wines using many of California's less common grape varietals from a number of own-rooted vineyards going back decades. This is particularly exciting as it's the first time we've been able to offer their Nebbiolo - but only a small quantity so act fast if you don't want to miss out!

Andria Gvino 2020 Saperavi Khashmi

A balanced and overall quite compelling red from the Republic of Georgia, from Saperavi, the most planted red variety in eastern Georgia. Often Saperavis from Georgia can be quite intense, high in tannins and often alcohol too. Here the approach is lighter handed, with just 1 week of skin contact, and aging in anfora. The Khashmi sub-region in Kakheti is considered one of the best spots in all of Georgia for the Saperavi grape. -EL

Can Sumoi (Escala / Raventos) 2021 Sant Sadurni d'Anoia Xarel-lo

A collaboration between our dear friend Pepe Raventos and a fellow winemaker from Sant Sadurni D'Anoia, in Catalunya, Francesc Escala. Can Sumoi is an old farm dating back to 1645, at 600m altitude. This is textbook Xarel-lo, with fresh wet stones and nice lift and acidity.

Celler Tuets 2018 Penedes Garnatxa Blanca

A little digging in the crates of Selections de la Vina inventory revealed that they still had some 2018 Garnatxa Blanca from one of our favorite Spanish Catalan producers, Tuets. We promptly grabbed some and couldn't be happier with the density, length on the palate, and medium weight of this Mediterranean white. Easily paired with cheeses and snacks, but also full enough to hold up to cream based sauces and any form of poultry or fish.  -EL

Barranco Oscuro 2020 Granada V de Valenzuela

This is one of the most fascinating Spanish whites I've tried this year, from very old vines of Vijariego Blanco. It's funny, everywhere I search about this grape, I am told by the internet that it's exclusive to the Canary Islands, a rare Canary variety. In fact, as I learned from the folks from Barranco Oscuro, Vijariego (they call it Vigiriega here) is originally from Andalucia, in particular the region around Granada. There is an oxidative lean reminiscent of Canary offerings I've had, lovely texture, and a long mineral finish. A special wine from a special grape! -EL

Oscar Navas 2021 Conca de Barbera (Catalunya) Batussa Blanc

Batussa is a small negociant (purchased fruit) label from Oscar Navas, who was part of the 4 Kilos winery in Mallorca, but decided to start a small winery in Catalunya, a region with family roots. Batussa Blanc is all Macabeo from vines just outside of Conca del Barbera. 1 day of skin contact provides some texture, somewhat expected from Macabeo. There's also a fair amount of freshness that is less expected but very welcome!  

Raúl Pérez 2020 Bierzo Ultreia Godello

This is a lovely "village level" Godello from about 7 different plots that Raúl tends in Bierzo. Fermentation is mostly in barrel, with some fermentation in steel tank, and aging is all in barrels. Raúl uses a mix of 200L, 500L and 5000L barrels, with the youngest barrel at 4 years old. Impressive minerality here, with fresh flowers and a hint of herbs. Very clean finish and a lovely mid-palate. -EL

Barrete (Bojo do Luar) 2020 Doralice Skin Contact

From this project started by importer Savio Soares and Biodynamic winemaker Fernando Paiva, the Doralice is a skin contact Loureiro from the north of Portugal. Skin-contact is for 6 weeks, and aging is in stainless steel. Fresh and floral on the nose, with stone fruit, lemon pithe and high acidity.  -EL

Oscar Navas 2021 Conca de Barbera (Catalunya) Batussa Red

Batussa is a small negociant (purchased fruit) label from Oscar Navas, who was part of the 4 Kilos winery in Mallorca, but decided to start a small winery in Catalunya, a region with family roots. The Batussa red has a partial carbonic maceration providing freshness and lift. A very enjoyable, gritty and light/medium red, perfect for the up and coming Spring months.

Antonio Lopes Ribeiro 2019 (Casa de Mouraz) Vinho Tinto 'Chibu'

A light and exciting field blend from northern Portugal, brought to us by Antonio Loper Ribeiro from Casa de Mouraz. All from one vineyard that is co-planted with dozens of varieties of red, grey and white grapes, this is a traditional style of wine, sometimes called Palhete, that can be traced back for centuries in the area, and in Europe as a whole. The style is very light for a red, as most likely half of the grapes are not red, so the wine can be lightly chilled. Intriguing and historic, also overall very charming light red that is great for all occasions.

Dolores Cabrera Fernandez 2021 Tenerife La Orotava Hacienda Perdida

Farmer/winemaker Dolores Cabrera has been trying her darndest to produce wines from the clay rich wacky volcanic soils of Orotava in Tenerife (Canary Islands). This particular northern section of Tenerife is known for reds with sometimes intense levels of reduction, and the aromatic affect can be a bit overwhelming for some wine enthusiasts. Here, Dolores took grapes from her highest altitude parcel in Orotava, a mix of Listan Blanco and Listan Negro, and experimented with racking, and carefully exposing the wine to oxygen before bottling so that it would have less marked reduction in the bottle. Her efforts paid off! Though there are still some telltale notes of Tenerife (and specifically Orotava) funk, the wine is lifted, very forward, with ripe red and purple fruit on the mid-palate and a elegant, finessed finish. An all-around delicious wine that should be explored by any Canary Island wine enthusiast.

Filipa Pato 2021 Bairrada Tinto 'Dinamico'

The name for this wine, Dnmc (or Dinamico), reflects the idea that expressions of the local Baga grape from different locations will produce a complex, and dynamic wine. It also could be seen as a nod to the biodynamic principles and treatments that Filipa Pato and William Wouters have introduced in their vineyards. They have been increasingly focused on organic and biodynamic viticulture as the years go by, much to our delight! 100% Baga, this medium-bodied red is fresh, and vibrant, with a touch of wild red fruit and dark berries, and subtle spice. Fermentation and aging is in tank with minimal extraction, but long maceration periods still provide good structure to the wine. Overall, it's a great introduction to the very enjoyable Baga grape, specifically here involving limestone terroir and the Atlantic influence of western Bairrada. -EL

López de Heredia 2014 Rioja Viña Cubillo Crianza

Cubillo, the Lopez de Heredia Crianza wine, could easily be classifed as a Reserva were it from another estate. It comes from the Viña Cubillas vineyard , which issituated on 24 hectares along the Ebro roughly four kilometers from Haro, at a slightly lower elevation than the El Bosque vineyard. The vineyard consists of two plots: "La Encina" and "La Monja." Both vineyards are planted exclusively with red grapes, and are used solely in the production of the Vina Cubillo bottling. A blend of 65% Tempranillo, 25% Garnacha and small amounts of Mazuelo and Graciano, with three years in barrel and extended bottle age prior to release, the very good 2014 vintage has yielded a classic and satisfying Cubillo. Ripe, forward aromas of black cherry, blueberry sap, and raspberry, with tarragon, sweet black licorice, leather, and peppery earth; the palate is initially quite juicy with blackberry flesh and skins, tart black plum, and tangy acidity, opening with air to reveal sour cherry, plum skins, subtle herbal and smoky flavors, and soft sweet leather.

Luis Perez 2019 VDT Tinto Cadiz 'El Triangulo'

Luis Perez makes wines in Jerez mostly, and is a partner in the La Riva project with Ramiro Ibanez. 'El Triangulo' is a red he produces from the local Tintilla grape in Cadiz. Also known as Tintilla de Rota, because it is almost solely found in and around the town of Rota, this grape is apparently related to Graciano (from Rioja/Navarra), and is known for its pigment and acidity. It produces a dark and dense looking wine which surprises on the palate with lift and freshness. The vines here are in Balbaina, on chalky soils. A delicious, dark red, with blackberry notes, and medium body. Perfect for a summer BBQ!

Fratelli Alessandria 2021 Verduno Pelaverga

Made from the Pelaverga Piccolo grape, specifically grown in the northern Barolo sub-region of Verduno. Consisting of fruit from many sites: Riva Rocca, Campasso, Boscatto, Neirane, Sotto Orti, Galleria. Guyot trained vines averaging 20 years of age. Fruit added to a pied de cuvee, fermented 6 to 8 days in stainless steel tanks. Aging is done in either stainless or cement for 5 to 6 months, plus an additional month or two in bottle. In the glass, the wine shows a clear red, with nuances of pink and orange. The nose on this wine is terrific. Aromatically sophisticated like a cocktail. Freshly milled peppercorns, pine needles, and grapefruit peel, with the simplest bass note of firm red cherry. It tastes much like it smells, plus salinity and stoniness that adds zip and focus to the palate. The wine's structure relies on this assertiveness, since it is almost free of tannin (in the best way). Completely refreshing.David Hatzopoulos

I loved the Pelaverga 2021, which seems to show the best that Pelaverga has to offer. This one is light-bodied, and very aromatic, with the classic nose of ground pepper and fresh red fruits that follow through on the palate – “a very versatile wine with food” says Vittore, “salume, spicy foods, even with fish”, which I buy, although it’s delicious all by itself. Jamie Wolff

Domaine de l'Enclos 2021 Chablis

The Bouchard brothers have been on a roll since launching L'Enclos in 2016. The 2021 Chablis is from vines between 15 and 45 years old. It's  is a terrific village wine, beautifully racy, all lemon and fennel and very stony. The 2021 is particularly pretty with subtle and complex floral white fruit and mineral notes, vibrant and refreshing....

Barth, Laurent 2018 Alsace Gewürztraminer

Laurent Barth's 2018 Gewurztraminer is from organic vines in Kientzheim worked by horse. In this very sunny vintage, the wine is quite full-bodied and technically demi-sec, but showing much drier, with subtle,  complex aromas of tea, lemon, brown spice and flowers with a dense palate of white fruits, spice, citrus and mineral flavors. Enjoy as an aperitif or serve with Asian foods, full-flavored fish and white meat dishes.

Barth, Laurent 2020 Alsace Racines Métisses

Laurent Barth's "Racines Metisses" is a delightful blend of many grape varieties from his tiny organic estate in Bennwihr. Always around 50% Pinot Auxerrois (fermented separately), with Muscat, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, and a touch of Riesling. The idea here is to make a wine that is easy to drink, says Laurent, and he nails it! The wine shows bright citrus, lime-flower, white fruits and a subtle touch of spice on the palate. This wine has ripe orchard and stone fruit on the palate, with citrus and floral notes, and a chiseled, mineral finish, thanks to the granite soils. Delicious! Eben Lillie

Pépière 2021 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Briords Vieilles Vignes

(Arrives Wed 3/14) First produced in 1988, this great Muscadet is made from a three hectare parcel of old massale-selection vines (all over 60 years old, with a high percentage much older) on a slope above the Maine. The bedrock is Granite de Château Thébaud, a fissured rock that allows the vines to penetrate deeply, with ideal thin topsoils of clay, with sand and gravel allowing good drainage.  "We had a very small harvest following the spring frost of 2021. This severe frost had two consequences: few bunches being present on the vine, it had no stress or problem "feeding" these grapes. The other important point is that the frost created a long delay in the growth of vegetation. In 2021 the harvest started late on September 16 - If it hadn't been for this frost, the harvest would probably have started at the end of August. For all the wines, and in particular Briords, this translates into a slower maturity of the grapes allowing a greater conversation of acidities (lower acidity in the finished wine). In the end, the Briords 2021 is, in our eyes, a very nice vintage qualitatively but which we do not wish to have again because quantitatively it is very, very tiny!" Gwénaëlle and Rémi.  Indeed, the 2021 Briords shows aromas that are a bit riper than usual - very elegant pear, stone, almond and citrus. The palate shows a bit less weight than the 2020, but still has a beautiful core of minerals and firm acidity below subtle pear, apple, lemon, stone and earth flavors, with a bright, scintillating finish. Our advice is to drink the beautiful and more forward 2021, while waiting (another 5 to 10 years) for the 2020 to develop. David Lillie

Overnoy-Crinquand 2019 Arbois-Pupillin Ploussard

Domaine Overnoy-Crinquand lies in the center of the village of Pupillin, producing fantastic wines from their 5.5 hectares of organically tended vines planted in limestone and clay soils. Pupillin is recognized as the home of the Ploussard grape, and given the results that Mikael Crinquand is consistently able to obtain, we have to agree. In previous vintages reduction was a bit of an issue, but this wine is clean and vibrant upon opening. Beautiful red berry fruit and rose petal aromas on the nose are anchored by a rustic minerality and brambly herbs redolent of sage. Although it’s translucent in the glass, it has a surprising amount of tannic structure and grip along with incredibly pure fruit and spice. Try this with spicy carnitas or roasted poultry!

Mosse, Agnès & René et Fils 2021 Vin de France Bangarang Grolleau/Gamay

The 2021 Mosse "Bangarang" is 70% Grolleau and 30% Gamay - it's also 100% light and lovely showing a very bright red/garnet color and subtle aromas of raspberry, cherry, violet, citrus and earth. The palate is remarkaly refreshing with earthy berry fruits, mineral flavors and crisp acidity - serve very cool with any casual meal, just delicious!

Sebastien "Babass" Dervieux 2021 Vin de France La Tete A Toto

A blend of Cab Franc and Grolleau, from 2021, a year when Sebastien felt a bit like the face on the label.'Tete a Toto' is essentially when you're so bombarded or overwhelmed that you temporarily forget what 2 + 2 is. With all of the loss of grapes due to climate related issues, Sebastien had very little wine he could make, and this very light-bodied but boldly spicy red is what he was able to put together in 2021. It's fresh, and has a unique rusticity and funk along with zippy acidity and bright red fruit. -EL

Robin, Gilles 2019 Crozes-Hermitage Alberic Bouvet

First planted in 1946 by Albéric Bouvet, grandfather of Gilles Robin, on the top terroirs of the estate (Rochas, Monico, and Terres Rouges). Low yielding vines of 50+ years. Grapes are hand-harvested. Three terroirs are vinified separately: half destemmed, partial whole cluster, use only native yeasts. Blended together after a year’s aging in barrels and demi-muids (600L), 20% new. "dark hued robe; the nose has a built-in abundance, served via its sweet depth, a plump tone of macerated berries, with hints of oak and musky flowers. The palate engages immediately, has a broad, fleshy opening, is tasty and continuous, with style in the tannins that help its length and togetherness. This is the product of a hot summer in its bounty."  (drinkrhone) In other words, a big beautiful Syrah from old vines, delicious now, decant if possible...

Terres Blanches (Benoit Blet) 2020 Anjou Demon (Cab Franc)

"Anjou Demon" is 100% Cabernet Franc from the Parcelle de la Poulette, at the top of Hautes-Bruyères and Bois Roland. The grapes are harvested at very good maturity, destemmed and infused (macerated) for a month, offering us a concentration of black fruits and blackcurrant. // We have always been big fans of this silky and black-fruited Cabernet Franc from Celine and Benoit Blet at Les Terre Blanches. Probably the darkest and deepest of the Loire Valley Cab Francs we have in stock currently, this is perfect for that friend who loves Cab Sauv and refuses to try Cab Franc because someone said "bell pepper" once. Old-vines, shist terroir, all of this sounds like the makings of a really tasty Anjou red, and this dense, dark offering definitely delivers!

Faillenc Sainte Marie 2020 Corbières

This delightful estate uses one-third Syrah, one-third Grenache and one-third Cinsault in their Corbières Rouge, grown on limestone/clay soils in the foothills of Mont Alaric, certified organic since 2007. The wine shows aromas of blackberries, ripe plums, and tiny wild blueberries, as well as notes of balsam wood. Like all the best Languedoc offerings, there's a wild edge here with a bit of funk that is tempered by juicy sleekness. Its excellent balance and wealth of ripe tannins make it a natural at the table - serve with a stew or grilled meats, a coq au vin with farm chicken or guinea hen, and full-flavored cow cheeses.