Batardiere 2021 Anjou Clos des Cocus

Batardiere 2021 Anjou L'Esprit Libre

Batardiere 2021 Vin de France Amor Fati (Grolleau)

Batardiere 2021 Vin de France Les Noels de Montbenault

Bonhomme, Pierre-Olivier 2021 Vin de France Le Telquel

(We have good stock of the 2021, and more is shipping from France!) This "poil dur" is wagging its tail again in 2021, with the brightness and balance of the old days at 11.5% alcohol, really refreshing and delicious! The wine shows bright plum, raspberry and green apple fruit with a bit of earth and spice. The palate is light and fresh but with nice density of fruit - raspberry, red currant and cherry with bright acidity, quite "gouleyant" - lip smacking and tasty that is, reminding us of the Ducroux Exspectatia...yum! The blend in 2021 is still based on Gamay, with Cabernet Franc, and some Syrah and Grenache from the Roussillon (noted from tasting with Pierre-O in February 2022).

Bonhomme, Pierre-Olivier 2022 Vin de France La Tesniere Pineau D'Aunis

Boulay, Gérard 2022 Sancerre Chavignol

(Arrives 5/16) Gerard Boulay is certainly one of the greatest producers in Sancerre. His Sancerre "domaine" comes from average 35 year-old vines on kimmeridgian limestone soils on the hills surrounding the village of Chavignol. The 2022 vintage brings lovely ripeness to the wine, but nice freshness as well, finishing with the chalky minerality always present in the Boulay wines. Farming is with organic methods, fermentation is with indigenous yeasts, aged in cuve (no wood).  24 btls are available. “The Boulay style is a world away from the regular refreshing but forgettable norm in Sancerre. It should really be compared with a white burgundy in terms of its rewards and complexity.” Jancis Robinson 

Chateau Favray 2019 Pouilly-Fumé "Tonnerre"

 The 2021  Pouilly-Fumé "Tonnerre" is from a unique terroir on hard grey linestone of Tonnerre, that gives a more structured and age-worthy wine. More textbook stylistically than the entry level Pouilly-Fume, The nose is less grassy and grapefruity and more mineral with a hint of mint. The palate is fuller and rounder while still exhibiting bright acidity and stony minerality. Drink this dense and vibrant Pouilly-Fumé over the next ten years. Giselle Hamburg

Chateau Favray 2021 Pouilly-Fumé

Located in the north-east corner of Pouilly-Fumé we find Chateau Favray, an ancient farm with abandonned vineyards that was ressurected by Quentin David and family begining in 1981. The soils in this corner of the appellation are Oxfordian limestone of Villiers and hard grey limestone of Tonnerre with limestone pebbles and fossilzed shells and corals. The 2021 has great energy with bright grapefruit citrus, peach, white flowers and fresh cut grass on the nose. The palate is clean and focused with a mineral core and vibrant acidity giving a sense of power while still feeling light and pure. It's a wonderful value and would pair nicely with seafood or lighter vegetable dishes while being equally enjoyable on its own. Jeff DiLorenzo

Chevalerie 2014 Bourgueil Bretêche

(Arrives Thursday 6/8) Bretêche (Domaine de la Chevalerie is the only estate claiming this vineyard name) is the easternmost vineyard, a rented plot on the border of Ingrandes-de-Touraine. On the southwestern exposed upper part of the mid-slope, the vines are planted on a meter-deep heavier clay with high mica content above the Turonian yellow tuffeau. The vines, biodynamically farmed, are between 25 to 55 years old. More powerful than Busardières with broader tannins, the wine maintains a great freshness. Hand-harvested and destemmed, the grapes are macerated for up to 20 days and aged in large used barrels in the magnificent underground cave dug into the yellow tuffeau for roughly 8 to 10 moths. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered.  2014 is considered a great classic vintage in the Loire for Cabernet Franc, and it is indeed very good at Domaine de la Chevalerie, with fruit a little darker than the 2015 (this opposite to a lot of other estates in the region).  Ruby purple in the glass this cuvée as usual has more freshness, tension and a little austerity - 2014 enhances these typical quality of the wine! More open than the 2015, the nose has distinctive black cherry,  elderberry notes, Chinese badiane and spearmint. The palate is still deliciously youthful barely showing any evolution, with lean and brilliant acidity, and oolong-like tannins. It is already very-well structured and poised, not angular at all. Decant it 2 hours and serve it in Bordeaux glasses, or keep it 20 years or so - I would say it will reach another plateau by 2025. Enjoy it with a duck magret, the juice reduced with a touch of raspberry vinegar, or sweetbreads in a madeira sauce. 100% Cabernet Franc. Pascaline Lepeltier 

Chevalerie 2014 Bourgueil Peu Muleau

(Arrives Thursday 6/8) Peu Muleau is located on the upper part of the hill, above the Domaine de la Chevalerie and just below the forest of chestnut, acacia, oak, pine and birch, on Cenozoic eolian sands with iron, clay and altered tuffeau. The vines are around 35 years old, and farmed biodynamically. The maceration last less than 20 days. Aging is done in a mix of tank and large used barrels with less and less oak. This is the earliest drinking single-vineyard cuvée, always on the raspberry and wild violet with very supple tannins, but you can keep it up to 10 years without a problem. 2014 Loire reds are really great wines, despite a tricky vintage for the producers. Yet with the best the wines are delicious, in a classic ligérien style. It means the Peu Muleau from the Caslot in just a winner, a terrific value and such a great Bourgueil to enjoy now! The wine has a unique chalky minerality, subtle and earthy on the palate -  the nose explodes with raspberry and cherry blossom, coriander seeds and Sichuan pepper. The ripe, salivating acidity is driving the palate, with supple tannins, and a lingering saltiness. It is ready to drink now, but cellared  for 4-5 years you will gain some nice earthy secondary tones. Pair it with  a beautiful pâté en croûte, duck rillette or a summer porcini risotto. 100% Cabernet Franc. PL/DL

Chevalerie 2015 Bourgueil Bretêche

(Arrives Thursday 6/8)  Bretêche  is their easternmost vineyard, a rented plot on the border of Ingrandes-de-Touraine - (Domaine de la Chevalerie is  the only estate claiming this vineyard name). On the southwestern exposed upper part of the mid-slope, the vines are planted on a meter-deep heavier clay with high mica content above the Turonian yellow tuffeau. The vines, biodynamically farmed are between 25 to 55 years old. 2015 was an easier, more mastered vintage for the Caslot siblings, as the growing season was never extreme, and the harvests were peaceful. A little more concentrated than the 2014, especially in acidity, this a great vintage for the Domaine! Bretêche 15 is still a baby! Purple in the glass, the wine as usual has more freshness, tension and a little austerity. This is even more apparent here. The nose is a little restrained, showing progressively a lot of black and red currant and cranberry, hibiscus tea and black cardamon. In the palate, it is a superbly balanced wine, with some chiseled tannins enhanced by the lingering acidity. There is less flesh than other cuvées, and the texture is sleeker  but absolutely charming and vibrant - and could please any Burgundy lover. You will pick up more herbal notes in the palate : tobacco, beet juice, pink peppercorn. A great bottle to keep 10 years and plus, as it is built to age!  To serve it now, decant it a good hour at least or enjoy it over multiple days. 100% Cabernet Franc. Pascaline Lepeltier 

Chevalerie 2015 Bourgueil Les Galichets

(Arrives Thursday 6/8) The Chevalerie "Galichets" vineyard is on mid-slope Turonian limestone with clay and alluvial sand and gravel topsoil, rich in silex; the vines average about 60 years of age - similar to the "Chevalerie" parcel but a bit lower on the slope, giving a wine that is more open and easy for early drinking.  The 2015 vintage is excellent, with a bit more ripeness and lower acidity than 2014, while retaining the core of minerals and acidity always found in the Chevalerie wines. The aromas of black raspberry and blackberry fruit are ripe and floral. The palate is dense and silky, very mineral with ripe red and black fruits and a clean vibrant finish. Still quite youthful, but drinking beautifully now.  David Lillie

Chevalerie 2018 Bourgueil Cuvée Chevalerie

(Arrives Thursday 6/8) The "home" vineyard also produced a superb wine in 2018, perhaps les dense and dark than the Busardières, but more expressive of the very old vines and the limestone below and beatifully balanced. La Chevalerie, between the Galichets and the winery, is slightly higher on the slope, with more clay on the top part. The Turonian tuffeau is not even three feet below. The oldest vines date from 1903 and 1922, the average being 75 years. The sandier part of the plot goes into the Galichets. This cuvée is a perfect introduction to the more “serious” tuffeau driven bottlings of the domaine.  You still get the flesh and texture brought by the sand, you also pick up the racy, salty and fresh acidity typical of the tuffeau. The fruit becomes more blue with distinctive herbal notes. The Caslots have farmed this parcel since 1640! The 2018 will be great fun to enjoy in its youthful intensity, but best to wait 5 to 8 years then drink until 2040..

Chevalerie 2019 Bourgueil Diptyque "Franco de Port"

(Arrives Thursday 6/8) The Chevalerie Bourgueil Diptyque is from vines located on 1 to 2 meters deep sand and gravel intermixed with clay soils on an old alluvial terrace close to the Loire, at the foot of the coteau. This terroir  gives supple, fruit driven Cabernet without being green or too simple thanks to the Biodynamic farming of the domain. If you don’t believe cabernet franc can be delicious, juicy, savoury yet fruity, just try this wine! The 2019 Diptyque shows a deep black/red color with aromas of forest floor, black cherry liqueur, black raspberry, bitter chocolate and licorice with bright hints of herbs and citrus peel. The palate is bright, sapid and supple wth dense flavors of earth, black fruits , anise, cocoa and chalky minerals - very similar to the very ripe 2018 version, but a bit less forward.  Even if it is the vin de soif, you can drink it over a couple of days - it will only get better! Keep it up to 5 years - serve with charcuterie, pork chops or roast chicken and be happy!

Chevalerie 2019 Bourgueil Noms D'Oiseaux

(Arrives Thursday 6/8) The new Chevalerie cuvée "Noms D'Oiseaux" is from two parcels symbolic of the domain, each situated at the two extremities of the slope overlooking the Loire.  “Nom d’Oiseaux” to warn of the urgent need to respect our biodiversity, not just false pretences but through real actions. At any rate, the 2019 is a subtle and intriguing Bourgueil showing a bright deep red/garnet color with fresh aromas of raspberry, violet, citrus and earth. On the palate there is firm acidity and chalky texture with ripe raspberry and strawberry fruit with mineral and spice notes. The fruit shows layers of complexity with aeration, the finish is long and sapid with red fruits and earth lingering on the palate. This is a lovely light-bodied Bourgueil that will beautifully accompany a roasted farm chicken. David Lillie

Chevalerie NV Vin de France Bulle de Fort

(Arrives Thursday 6/8) The brand new Domaine de la  Chevalerie "Bulle de Fort" is a direct press rosé Petillant Naturel, 100% Cabernet Franc and just incredibly delicious!! Warning, this is not a wimpy pale pink rosé - it shows a deep cherry-red color and a ripe full-bodied palate with beautiful red currant/raspberry fruit - really quite sensational, can't wait to bring some home...

Clos Rougeard 1996 Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg

Clos Rougeard 1997 Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg

Clos Rougeard 2000 Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg

Crochet, Lucien 2022 Sancerre Pinot Noir Rosé

Dauny 2022 Sancerre Les Caillottes

Delrieu-Ducleux 2021 Vin de France La Joue Blanc (Chenin)

Delrieu-Ducleux 20212 Vin de France Le Jeau Rouge

Domaine de Reuilly 2021 Reuilly Les Pièrres Plates

Proprietor Denis Jamain has taken this estate to new levels of quality with organic and biodynamic farming. The 2021 Pierres Plates shows lovely aromas of grapefruit and pear with fresh herbs, lime flower and stone. The palate is ripe with dried pear, citrus, herbal, smoke and mineral flavors balanced by firm acidity. This is a lovely Sauvignon Blanc and a great alternative to increasingly expensive Sancerres. Serve happily by itself or with broiled fish, chicken, quiches/omelettes and goat cheeses.

Filliatreau 2018 Saumur Champigny Vieilles Vignes

(Arrives 5/9) 100% Cabernet Franc. The vieilles vignes in this case are estate vines ranging from 50 to 100 years old and scattered across a range of parcels on clay-limestone soils. The farming is certified-organic and is in conversion to biodynamics (on track for certification in the 2021 vintage). This new release of the Filliatreau "Vieilles Vignes" is a beautiful Cab Franc that can be enjoyed immensely now or in 15 to 20years. Bright black/red color with lovely aromas of ripe cassis, black raspberry, dusty stone, a bit of leather. The palate is lush and deep with a chalky texture and firm acidity beneath the black raspberry, cassis and black cherry fruit that is sapid, meaty and ripe. Long finish with dark chocolate, minerals, licorice, walnut and palate coating black fruits. Really lovely wine. Decant if drinking now, best after 3 to 4 years of cellaring then enjoy until 2040+.  David Lillie

Foucher Lebrun 2022 Touraine Sauvignon Blanc

Gerard Marula 2020 VdF Les Gruches

Gerard Marula 2021 VdF Baconnelle

Gerard Marula 2021 VdF 'C'est l'bon ch'min'

Guion 2018 Bourgueil Cuvée Prestige

(Arrives 5/23)  2018 brings us another great Cuvée Prestige from Stéphane Guion in Bourgueil, whose domaine has been certified organic since the 1960s. From vines averaging 45 years old on thin topsoils of sandy clay over limestone (tuffau jaune) in Benais, a terroir that produces some of the most elegant and age-worthy Bourgueils. 2018 is a great vintage for Loire reds, despite the very warm and humid spring that brought attacks of mildew. The summer was perfect, warm and dry, without spikes of heat, and the soils retained enough moisture to bring freshness to the very ripe grapes. Tasted with Stéphane in February 2020, the 2018 Prestige showed elegant intensely perfumed aromas of red and black fruit liqueurs. The palate was complex and earthy, very calcaire, dense but not heavy with beautifully supple ripe red and black fruits, with a long finish of saline and mineral flavors quite present below the sappy fruit. We look forward to a more thorough tasting after the wine rests from its voyage, but it's quite clear that this will be delicious to drink as a young wine, and - although it may seem crazy to cellar a $17 wine for 20 to 30 years - those that do will be rewarded with a unique expression of this great terroir. I'm hoping to live to be 100 to have that experience myself!  David Lillie

Guion 2020 Bourgueil Cuvée Candide

(Arrives 5/23) This is another beautiful wine from the shy and affable Stéphane Guion who is quietly making some of the best wines in Bourgueil. His 2020 Cuvèe Candide (Formerly Domaine) is from not-so-young (15 to 40 year-old) vines, on clay/limestone terroir in Benais and is equal to the superb 2018 and 2019 perhaps even better! The balance is just perfect at 12% alcohol. The wine shows a deep, vivid black/red color with bright rim with intense, pure aromas of cassis, black raspberry and blackberry confit (a little bighter than the 2019), stone and violets - very deep and ripe but still bright with earth and minerals as well. The palate is medium-bodied, finely textured, sappy and very fresh with firm acidity and chalky, saline mineral flavors framing the very pure blackberry and black cherry liqueur fruits, which continue in the long chalky finish, which somehow remains light and balanced. Great wine!  Drink now, served cool, with grilled chicken and pork, charcuterie, green vegetables and mild cheeses, or hold 5 to 8 years for a velvety mature experience. This is a brilliant wine, especially given the ridiculous price - enjoy! David Lillie

Guion 2020 Bourgueil Rosé

 Arrives 5/23 (Retasted in September 2022 - the wine is showing beautifully, with fabulous complexity of fruit and mineral notes, with a great finish - drink over the next 2 years.) 50 years of organic farming and great traditional winemaking give this refreshing, perfectly balanced rosé from our friend Stephane Guion in Bourgueil. The wine shows bright strawberry/raspberry aromas with citrus, rose and earth. Raspberry, blood orange, melon and earthy flavors on the bone-dry palate which is framed in firm acidity and saline minerals. This is a real rosé of terroir, dry and balanced with moderate alcohol which needs a bit of time to open up. Drink now and through 2024, with grilled tuna, roast chicken, quiche lorraine, grilled pork and charcuterie.

La Croix Saint-Laurent 2021 Sancerre Caillottes

Lambert, Patrick 2021 Chinon Les Deuzelles

The wines of Patrick Lambert have been a staple in our shop for some time now. His wines are classic, expressive, and made exclusively from his organically farmed estate. The 'Deuzelles' is selected from his 25-30  year old  vines planted on gravel, clay with limestone and silex, and sandy soils. The juice is fermented in concrete vats for 15-18 days, then aged in old barriques for 3 to 6 months. This is one of the best values I can find for excellent Cabernet Franc. This bottling is denser and more concentrated than the 'Gourmandises' but just as pleasurable and easy-drinking. The nose has notes of blackberry and raspberry bramble, freshly turned soil, and savory herbs, and the on the palate the wine is juicy with supple tannins. This was lovely when I tasted it on day one, and even better on day two, so if you have the time, give this some air before you enjoy!

Lambert, Patrick 2021 Chinon Rosé

(Arrives 4/28) 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 25-year-old Cabernet Franc vines on gravel and sandy clay soils over limestone. The 2021 shows lovely aromas of berry fruits with citrus and rose; the palate is silky and ripe with raspberry, cherry, citrus and stone flavors with nice density and texture, with juicy acids, berry flavors and saline minerals in the finish. This is drinking beautifully now and will  be delicious through the summer and into 2024. This is a fabulous value and highly recommended. David Lillie

Landron, Jo 2020 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Les Houx

 Domaine Landron "Les Houx" (formerly known as "Hermine D'Or") is from a great parcel of thin sandy clay soils, rich with silica, quartz and iron, over a bedrock of gneiss and clay, close to the "Fief du Breil."  Kept on the lees for 12 months. The 2020 is quite differe nt from the dense and powerful 2019, being more like the Cuvee Amphibolite in style at only 11.5% alcohol. The wine shows a very pale gold color; with aeration, lovely aromas of anise, almond, citrus and pear emerge, subtle and pretty. The palate is light, silky and crystalline with stone and earth flavors mingling  with white fruits and citrus. Re-tasted in April of 2023, the wine has gained weight and density, showing a beautiful mid-palate of stone and pear with perfect acidity. This is a beautiful lighter style for Les Houx, making it a perfect wine for oysters and grilled fish and a delightfully refeshing aperitif as well. Thank-you Jo Landron!  David Lillie

Landron, Jo NV (2019) Vin Mousseux de Qualité Brut Atmosphères (Dis 10/21)

Jo Landron's crystalline "Atmospheres" is made with roughly equal amounts of organic Folle Blanche, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, hand harvested and fermented with wild yeasts. It's a Methode Traditionelle (Champagne method) that's very dry , refreshing and ethereal.  Delicate aromas of citrus, pears and sea spray. The palate is vibrant and fresh with flavors of  citrus and wet rocks and sea spray. It's a delicious aperitif  and will pair well with oysters, salmon, crudites and charcuterie. (2019 vintage, disgorged October 1, 2021.) GH

Lunotte (Christophe Foucher) 2019 Vin de France Les Rossignoux

Christophe Foucher makes brilliant natural wines on his 5 hectare estate, La Lunotte, in Couffy,  on the southern bank of the Cher River, near St. Aignan, just a short distance from our friends at Clos Roche Blanche. Christophe grows Sauvignon Blanc, Menu Pineau, Cabernet Franc, Cot and Gamay, farmed with strict organic methods and vinified without sulfites or other additives and bottled by hand, unfiltered. The 2019 Roussignoux #2 shows a pale gold color with aromas of dried herbs, pear, candied citrus, mint and wet stone, slightly oxidative in the style of a Jura white, The palate shows a dense mineral core with ripe citrus, pear, dried apple, stone and herbal flavors that continue in the long finish with firm acidity. Serve with a full-flavored ceviche, fish or chicken in sauce, goat cheeses. Pure juice! 

Lunotte (Christophe Foucher) 2020 Vin de France Les Rossignoux (Sauv Blanc)

The 2020 Rossignoux is all Sauvignon Blanc, per usual, without the oxidative notes that are found in the long-aged 2019 release. Instead we have fresh flowers and tropical fruit on the nose, with sharp acid, and freshly cut grass. .  -EL

Lunotte 2021 Vin de France Printemps Rosé

Christophe Foucher's La Lunotte  2021 "Printemps" appears to be all his grapes from this tiny harvest vinified together as an orange wine or rosé. The color is orange/pink with inriguing aromas of blood orange, red currant, rose, brown spice, apricot... The palate shows bright acidity with hints of orange zest, wild strawberry, pear and apricot with very firm acidity in the clean mineral finish. 11.5% alcohol, zero SO2. This is a unique and delicious natural wine, which of course is what we expect from Christophe Foucher!

Orfeuilles 2019 Vouvray "Les Coudraies"

(Arrives Feb 21) Domaine D'Orfeuilles is known for the high concentration of flint in their clay/limestone soils, which one finds in the parcel of "Les Coudraies." The 2019 is a lovely "sec-tendre" somewhat in the style of the Pinon "Silex" or "Trois Argiles" having a bit of residual sugar to offset the wine's firm acidity. At a very modest 12% abv, the 2019 shows acidity in spades alongside it's hallmark flinty minerality and herbaceous nose rendering the RS as more of a juicy lemonade profile. Absolutely lip smacking and poundable in the best sense: at this price, an excellent party wine! Giselle Hamburg

Orfeuilles NV Touraine Brut Rosé

 The Domaine D'Orfeuilles Touraine Brut Rosé is made primarily from Cot (Malbec) grown in sandy clay soils over limestone. This quite elegant rosé is a refreshing Champagne-method Brut, with a lovely deep rose color and complex flavors of red and black fruits - it's a sensational value!

Orfeuilles NV Vouvray Brut "Atemporelle"

(Arrives Feb 21)  Domaine D"Orfeuilles Vouvray Brut "Atemporelle" - "At the start, a bead of fine bubbles and a delicate nose centered on fresh butter, brioche and citrus fruits. More floral notes invite themselves into an expressive palate that offers a fair compromise between roundness and freshness. The lemony finish puts the final touch to this brut without an ounce of austerity." Guide Hachette

Pépière 2021 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine s Lie La Pépie

Grape: Melon de Bourgogne. Domaine de la Pépière is one of the top estates in the Muscadet, run by Mark Olivier. Olivier harvests by hand and makes wine naturally, with zero pesticides, extended lees aging, and minimal intervention in the winemaking process, which is rare in Muscadet. Soils are sandy and granite-based. Farming is organic and harvesting is done by hand. fruit is direct-pressed and the juice settled naturally for 12 hours. Fermented in stainless steel tanks with natural yeasts. The wine is aged on its lees in large, underground vats until bottling. Wines are unfined and unfiltered, with moderate to very little sulfur used.

Pépière 2019 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Cru Château Thébaud

(Arrives 5/23) The Château Thébaud comes from old vines in vineyards with great terroir on slopes overlooking the river Maine. The granite here (Granite de Château Thébaud, oddly enough) is fissured and permeable by the vine roots which have access to water during dry spells and absorb micro-nutrients along the way.  2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014 here were among the best of the vintage in Muscadet and the 2019 will stand out as well due to the combination of density and minerality with the firm acidity and great ripeness of this very good vintage year for Muscadet. Our tasting in February revealed a superb Muscadet, not marked by the heat of the vintage, showing crystalline white fruit and stone flavors with firm acidity, fantastic purity, density and length. Of course this will offer briliant drinking as a young wine, but try to put some away for ten years at least...

Pépière 2021 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Les Gras Moutons

(Arrives 5/23)  Les Gras Moutons is a great parcel on gneiss, in layers that permit a deep penetration by the vines, with sandy clay and amphibolite stones. The vines are at the top of a hill and on the south facing slope overlooking the Maine. (The name, by the way, does not refer to fat sheep, despite their presence on the label, but rather in local dialect, to the hilltop vineyard site.) This terroir produces lovely, classic Muscadet to drink over the next 5 to 8 years."It has a more perfumed and precise style than the granite cuvées (in 2021), although the wafting aromatics of crushed chalk and white peach feel familiar. The palate has a nice tension though, with a polished richness countered by a chalky oyster-shell freshness, with a white-peach purity. It is pervaded by a fine grip, with firm phenolics, and modest acidity."(winedoctor)

Pinon, François & Julien 2018 Vouvray Brut Non-Dosé

(Arrives May 9th) François and Julien Pinon make some of the finest sparkling wines in the Loire Valley. The superb Brut Non-Dosé comes from 45 year-old Chenin Blanc vines on Turonien limestone with topsoils of clay with silex, from four parcels; Les Haut de Terne, Les Hauts de Mortiers, Chopet and Les Planches Favettes. The 2018 was hand-harvested in three passes in order to select the best grapes, with two additional selections - on a "table de tri" and again before the press. Thus the best and ripest grapes are selected, enabling this cuvée with no addition of sugar, as in a Champagne Brut Nature. Aged sur-lies for more than 3 years.  This beautiful wine shows elegant aromas of ripe white and yellow fruits, floral and earthy with almond and bitter lemon. The palate is creamy and dense, round and ripe but with firm underlying acidity, with almond, earth and mineral notes lingering in the long finish. Enjoy it now for its beautiful depth and balance, but peak drinking will be 2032 - 2050. A profound Chamapgne of Chenin! David Lillie

Raffault, Olga 2022 Chinon Rosé

(Arrives May 12) The Olga Raffault Chinon is one-half rosé de saignée and one-half direct-press after a 12-hour maceration on the skins, with a slow low-tempreature fermentation with wild yeasts. The grapes come from gravel soils which brings a bit more density of fruit to the wine which is elegant, perfectly balanced and a bit more ripe and sapid than the 2021.  Lovely bright pink color, hints of raspberry and strawberry fruit, very dry and refreshing on the palate, showing the ripeness of 2022 vintage, with a bit of peach and red berries in the finish with crisp saline acidity. "Particulièrement gouleyant" it says on the label and we couldn't agree more!

Rocher des Violettes 2020 Montlouis-sur-Loire 'Touche-Mitaine'

Roches Neuves 2020 Saumur-Champigny Domaine

(Arrives May 9th) The Roches Neuves Cuvée Domaine is grown on limestone bedrock with sandy clay topsoil, the vineyard is lightly plowed, with natural grass cover. The grapes are hand-picked into wooden crates,There is a low temperature fermentation, warming slowly and followed by aging on the fine lees without sulfur. This is as classic as can be, little hints of red and black berries wrapped in purple flowers with a clay-y salty finish.  This is beautiful now and will reward multiple visits over the next few years.

Source du Ruault 2020 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...

Tue-Boeuf 2022 Vin de France Vin Blanc

(Arrives 5/16) The 2022 Vin Blanc is 95% Sauvignon Blanc/5% Chardonnay. For this entry-level white, Tue Boeuf sources fruit from organic-farmer friends around home in the Cher Valley. The vines average around 20 years old, are planted on a variety of clay-limestone soils and are harvested manually by Tue Boeuf. Tasted with Thierry in February of 2023, the wine showed beautifully pure Sauvignon fruit, with hints of pear, fig and citrus, a round, supple mid-palate and a refreshing finish, really delicious and really benefitting from the low level of SO2. Terrific wine in 2022, 36 btls are available.

Villalin 2022 Quincy Les Grandes Vignes

Villemade, Herve 2022 Vin de France Sauvignon Blanc

Hervé Villemade's 2022 Sauvignon Blanc showed beautifully tasted last February in Angers - the wine really hits the spot with classic Loire Valley aromas of exotic tropical fruit and invigorating flavors of lemongrass, ripe pear, and nectarine. The palate is supple and quite ripe in 2022 but remains balanced with a flinty, mineral quality that adds a refreshing tang and texture to this versatile wine. Perfect for sipping on a warm day with a variety of foods, I like this with grilled shrimp garnished with snap peas and summer vegetables.

Villemade, Herve 2022 Vin de France Rosé (Pineau d'Aunis)