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At barely 30 years old, Stephane Riffault (Claude’s son and now owner of the estate) is turning out Sancerre bottlings that are the envy of many producers twice his age. As David Schildknecht put it, “make no mistake: this address in the hamlet of Maison Salle (Sury-en-Vaux) is now one of the five or six most exciting estates in the Sancerre appellation.” Given that Stephane’s holdings represent 4 tenths of 1 percent of the appellation, this kid is clearly doing something right. Based in the village of Sury-en-Vaux, the domaine works 33 different parcels in 6 different lieu-dits spread across 4 villages. The 13.5 hectares of vines are plowed and no synthetic material is used. Unlike most Sancerre producers, the entire harvest is carried out by hand and an extensive sorting takes place before the grapes are crushed. Stephane’s wife, Benedicte, leads the harvest team while Stephane manages the sorting and press during harvest. Most of the domaine’s holdings are planted on the soft limestone soil called Terres Blanches with some parcels on calliottes and silex. Small, judicious uses of oak help to add length to the already precise and vertical bottling. All of the parcels are vilified separately and with the exception of the rose, all the wines are bottled unfiltered. Having studied and worked in Burgundy (and closely with Olivier Leflaive), it’s easy to see the Burgundian influence in Stephane’s wines. The mastery of minerality standing shoulder-height with the wood is rarely duplicated in Sancerre. Regardless of the exposition of his parcels (many are south-facing), Riffault’s wines are always crisp and high-cut with a jeweled sort of delineation that speaks to the precision and attention these wines get. These are not your daddy’s (or his daddy’s) Sancerres. -
The Seghesio family began making wine in California in 1895 when Edoardo Seghesio planted Zinfandel vines in Alexander Valley. Over the intervening years the third generation of the family, Pete Seghesio and his cousin Ted Seghesio, established the estate as a top producer of Californian Zinfandel. Today the winery has 120 hectares of vineyards which are all farmed sustainably in the appellations of Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley and Russian River Valley. The vines for this bottling come from estate vineyards in Dry Creek and Alexander Valley with careful management of yields to ensure excellent quality. The robust flavour profile makes this a great partner for barbecued meats and steak, although it can also be kept in the cellar for another few years. -
Family-owned winery Sequoia Grove was founded in 1979 in a 110-year old barn beneath a grove of Sequoia trees in Rutherford. Michael Trujillo joined the winery as assistant winemaker in 1981, becoming director of winemaking in 2002. His philosophy is based on balance in the vineyard, planting different blocks with different clones, and farming without pesticides. The family have been working with their partner growers for decades which gives them access to the very best quality fruit each year and allows them to create this complex wine which truly expresses the Rutherford terroir. The young wine is aged in oak barrel for 20 months which adds sweet spice notes and extra complexity to the finished bottling. The rich, powerful flavor profile makes this a winner with lovers of big, bold reds and a great match for red meats. Drink now through to 2030. Decanting is always recommended but is not a must -
This is a declassified wine from a top Chateau in Sauternes...shhh, they dont want you to know their name! or...just keep reading Maison Sichel is a Bordeaux based, family owned and run negociant of six generations. The Sichel family have been a sugnificant prescence in Bordeaux since 1883 and have continued to expand operations by purchasing several properties in Bordeaux including Chateau Angludet and Chateau Argaden. The Sichel family also joined with three other family in 1938 to purchase the now legendary Chateau Palmer. Maison Sichel continued to expand their operations outside of Bordeaux with Chateau Trillol in Corbieres and have several high quality own label wines such as the Sichel Sauternes and the Sichel Margaux. The Sichekl Vineyards are situated some 40 kilometers south east of Bordeaux, between the Garonne river and the Landes forest to the south. A blend of 80% Semillon, 15% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Muscadelle from 50 year old vines where Botrytis is encouraged to dehydrate the grapes. This Sauterne has been aged for 10 to 12 months. -
On the island of Sicily, at the foot of Mount Etna, brothers Marco and Sebastian De Grazia have been running their winemaking project for more than 30 years. At Tenuta Delle Terre Nere they make refined and pure wines that express the extraordinary location they call home. Starting with excellent raw materials and winemaking with very little intervention, the De Grazia brothers’ work has helped put Etna at the top of the world wine map.
Tenuta Delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso comes from both young and old vines that grow on the north slope of Mount Etna. These vines are planted in volcanic soil at an altitude ranging from 600 to 900 metres above sea level. Organic farming is practiced and the yield is limited to 35 hl. per hectare. The harvest is carried out manually at the optimum point of ripeness.
Pure and elegant, Tenuta Delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso is a red wine with the delicacy of a Burgundy and the length of a Pinot Noir. A true representative of a promising wine region.
Pair it with white meats, Pasta, Red meat, Rice dishes
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The Torre del Falasco wines are the standard bearers of this co-operative, situated in the Valpantena, northeast of Verona. Known as the ’valley of god’ to the ancient Greeks, this area is well-known for its high quality red wines, due partly to the soils but also because of the cool breeze that blows down the valley from the foothills of the Dolomites. Cantina Valpantena Tesauro Recioto della Valpolicella is the perfect dessert wine and pairs well with chocolate, cheese, and other sweet treats. With its unique blend of grapes and traditional winemaking techniques, this wine is sure to impress even the most discerning of wine lovers. -
Normally I look for the inside story and drop it here. I reckon in this case its so personal that I let them tell their story... ''We are Monica and Daniela, two sisters born and raised breathing love for the winegrowing in the Roeroa colourful land, rich in biodiversity that fills us with new stimuli every day. We have inherited a passion for vines and grapes, by our father Stefano and grandfather Tunin, and so we decided to start winemaking and bet on Pocapaglia. We manage the entire wine production process: from the vineyard, where our father's help is still fundamental, to the cellar, without neglecting marketing. We both believe in commitment and tenacity, two essential ingredients to achieve the desired quality. Together we have fun, for us it is not just an occupation but it is a life choice that sees us immersed in our passion eight days a week!'' Life can be so simple and yet produce amazing and complex things... If you like Vermentino you will like this as it is its clone Pair it with someone you love -
Australian scientist Karen Turner and her husband Emmanuel farm 10 hectares in the Languedoc bring you this incredible intro to orange wine! The 3 grapes here are fermented like a red wine, skins, stalks, and all-- making for white with the tannins and structure of a red. Karen’s says her goal with ‘Le Blanc’ is to bring body and freshness to the wine. The north-facing slopes where their vineyards grow on help to ensure a long and even maturation for the grapes. While Marsanne is not usually an aromatic varietal, Karen’s use of open vats brings out the heady aromas of tangerine and mango. Full-bodied and approachable, it smells like orange rinds and white flowers wilting in the sun, and tastes like yellow peaches, those tangerines and dry, dusty earth, but never loses its identity as a white wine. LADY IN CHARGE: While husband Emmanuel manages the vineyards, the real star is his wife Karen, who makes the wine and also works as the head winemaker and manager of another (very famous) Languedoc winery, Prieuré de Saint Jean de Bébian. Serious girl boss! Decant for 20 minutes before enjoying. It’ll open up and reveal its prettiness with air. Perfect for poultry, fish, cheese and early dishes. Also wonderful in itself. -
UBE Miraflores is a beautiful introduction to the terroirs of Sanlúcar de Barrameda. This winegrowing region is renowned for its chalky albariza soils and coastal setting, which impart brightness and salinity onto wines produced here. Made in a ‘sherry-like’ style, this wine ages under flor but is not fortified, with a focus on fruit character. The resulting wine is fresh and easy to drink. -
To celebrate the estate's 25th anniversary, the 2020 vintage by Almaviva is adorned with a special "25 años" label. Viña Almaviva was founded in 1997 following the collaboration between Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and Don Alfonso Larrain, President of Viña Concha y Toro. The Viña Almaviva project gives rise to fine Chilean wines that benefit from a rich French winemaking know-how and the unique expression of this Central Valley terroir. The name Almaviva, though it has an Hispanic sonority, belongs to classical French literature: Count Almaviva is the hero of The Marriage of Figaro, the famous play by Beaumarchais (1732-1799), later turned into an opera by the genius of Mozart. The label, meanwhile, pays homage to Chile’s ancestral history, with three reproductions of a stylized design, which symbolizes the vision of the earth and the cosmos in the Mapuche civilization. The design appears on the kultrun, a ritual drum used by the Mapuche. The label bears the name Almaviva in Beaumarchais’ own handwriting. Two great traditions thus join hands to offer the whole world a promise of pleasure and excellence. Located in the heart of the beautiful Maipo Valley, the Almaviva vineyard covers 50 hectares. The emblematic Bordeaux grape varieties thrive in this exceptional terroir. Almaviva has now become an essential reference for fine Chilean wines throughout the world. A particularly dry year, 2020 began with a cool, dry winter, resulting in a late budburst, particularly during the first two weeks of October. The spring and summer were marked by high temperatures but also by drought. These conditions favoured a rapid maturation of the vineyard and an early harvest, which ended three to four weeks earlier than in recent years. Despite this extreme climate and thanks to the rigour of the teams, the 2020 vintage reveals a fruity structure, a fresh expression and a rare tension. -
Bodegas Hnos. Perez Pascuas is a winery founded in 1980 and located in Pedrosa de Duero. In its vineyards, Tinta del País or Tempranillo predominate, and they also have a little Cabernet Sauvignon. They produce around 500,000 bottles. They also have a large collection of 3,000 barrels. The barrels are renewed every 3 years to maintain the contribution of compounds from the wood, and the toasted elements that characterise the style of the winery. Viña Pedrosa Reserva is an iconic wine from Pedrosa de Duero. A complex, powerful and highly expressive wine -
Few winemakers affirm their stellar reputation as convincingly as Vincent Dancer with his ethereal Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru Blanc 2020. Immaculately crafted in the revered vineyards of France's Burgundy region, it is an unparalleled masterpiece from one of the region's mavericks.
Going against the grain of traditional Burgundian winemaking, Vincent Dancer opts for no battonage and low usage of new oak in producing this Grand Cru Blanc. He relies on sustainable viticulture practices, underscoring nature's ability to produce a near mystical balance of flavours without intervention. This purity of approach culminates in an elegant, nuanced white experienced in this bottle.
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Castello di Volpaia overlooks the village of Radda in Chianti. The town was built in the 11th century as a fortified village on the border of Florence and Sienna. Although only part of the original protective walls and two of its six towers are still standing, the medieval layout and buildings within the village are still intact, making Volpaia one of the best preserved villages of its period. Just as it has been for the last 900 years, the entire village is intimately involved in the production of wine and olive oil. The cellars, bottling plant, barrels and olive press are nestled within the original stone walls that have been carefully restored by owners Carlo Mascheroni and Giovanella Stianti Mascheroni and their children, Nicolo and Federica. The nearly 114 acres of vineyards owned by Castello di Volpaia are at 1,300-2,130 feet above sea level, making Volpaia the highest winery in the Chianti region. The land is comprised of soils consisting largely of sandstone and a sedimentary rock from the Pliocene era. Citto is made from a selection of the best grapes from our IGT vineyards in the Chianti Classico and Maremma areas In the Tuscan dialect Citto means young boy. As from the land in comes from Citto is the young boy of Volpaia.As in the French tradition of the great Bordeaux Chateaux Chateau Mouton Rotschild has Mouton Cadet and Chateau Cheval Blanc has Petit Cheval, the same way Castello di Volpaia has his Citto. Pair with red meats and charcuterie
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