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Located in Crouttes-sur-Marne, about 25km east of Meaux, the Bourgeois Diaz vineyard comprises 6.80 hectares of vines, of which 3.5 hectares are planted with Pinot Meunier, 2 with Pinot Noir and 1.3 with Chardonnay. The vines are on average 40 years old and have their roots in soils of clay, silt and chalk . Jérôme is the fourth generation of winegrowers on his father's side. His wife Charlotte, joined the estate in 2016, and today plays an important role in overseeing the estate, helping to develop the quality of the Champagnes. No pesticides, no chemical fertilizers, no technological manipulation, the wines of Jérôme and Charlotte are not only cared for, they are loved. The estate has been certified in organic and biodynamic viticulture since 2014. The biodynamic preparations 5 00P (twice a year) and 501 (3 to 4 times a year) are combined with low doses of copper and sulfur, horsetail decoctions, nettle, wicker, meadowsweet, chamomile, yarrow herbal teas, etc. Green manures are sown every other row, and an agro-forestry project was launched in 2019 (planting of 50 trees in a plot of 45 ares). Most of the work is done manually, foot by foot, to bring the maximum attention to the vines, which explains why the estate employs almost one person per hectare year-round. The harvest is manual, and most of the pickers are regulars, knowing the terroir and the state of mind of the estate. The bunches are harvested when ripe and sorted, so as to bring in grapes only in perfect sanitary condition. Disgorged on 01/12/2019 after 5 years of ageing, this non-dosed brut nature Champagne is straight, ample and deep, with great complexity brought by the long aging in the bottle Pair it with Lobster, bar carpaccio, lean tartare, Saint-Pierre, sweetbreads. Salut!! -
In one of mine first wine classes, the teacher said regarding pairing wines with meals. ''You can attempt everything, and please please do so, but don't matter what you will try, you will see that there is only one type of wine that will pair beautifully with all the meals throughout the day. that wine is Champagne!''. Oh dear was he right...Pair this one with a lovely cooked breakfast and you in for a treat. As for the background of this wine: Raphaël and Vincent Bérêche, two of Champagne’s rising stars, have been working alongside their father Jean-Pierre at their nine-hectare estate of Bérêche et Fils since 2004, and today they are putting an increasingly personal stamp on this thoughtfully-run Domaine. The Bérêche estate owns vines in several different sectors of Champagne, with the three primary areas being the immediate vicinity around Ludes and Craon de Ludes, the gravelly terroir of Ormes in the Petite Montagne, and the area around Mareuil-le-Port, on the left bank of the Vallée de la Marne. A small parcel is also found in Trépail, in the eastern Montagne de Reims. Most recently, the estate has acquired its first grand cru vineyard in 2012, a tiny, 15-are parcel in the village of Mailly. The estate's vineyards are planted with roughly equal parts of the three varieties, and increasing attention is being paid to natural viticulture—Bérêche completely stopped using chemical herbicides in 2004 and has planted cover crops in all of the vineyards, and since 2007 a portion of the vineyard is being converted to biodynamics. Sharp-eyed observers will note that beginning in 2013, Bérêche has changed its status from RM (récoltant-manipulant) to NM (négociant-manipulant). This was done for two reasons: the first was to augment the production of the Brut Réserve by about 15 to 20 percent, selecting grapes from three trusted growers in the villages of Ludes, Maily and Rilly-la-Montagne. These grapes will be used exclusively for the Brut Réserve, and the rest of Bérêche's wines remain entirely estate-grown. The second reason was the creation of a négociant range called Crus Sélectionnés, released under the label Raphaël et Vincent Bérêche. These are wines selected from various sources across the Champagne region, designed to illustrate and reflect their respective terroirs, with the first series of wines to be released in 2014. At Bérêche, vinification tends towards the traditional: parcels are vinified separately, with natural yeasts used for smaller tanks and selected yeasts for larger ones. The family has slowly been increasing the percentage of oak used in the cellar, and today about three-quarters of the production is vinified in barrel. The malolactic is systematically avoided, and the wines are bottled around May, without filtration and with a natural cold-settling, achieved by opening all of the cellar’s windows and waiting for three days. Disgorging is still done entirely by hand, and unlike many growers who are embracing the idea of concentrated must for the dosage, Bérèche adamantly prefers a traditional liqueur. Recently the Bérêches have begun to work more with cork for the second fermentation, believing that it results in a wine of more character and complexity. Raphaël’s father was always a firm believer in cork, but it requires a lot of extra work—now that Raphaël and Vincent are working with him at the estate, it’s easier to accomplish. Today, a quarter of the production is bottled with cork instead of capsule, spread over five different cuvées: Les Beaux Regards, Vallée de la Marne Rive Gauche, Le Cran, Reflet d'Antan and the Campania Remensis rosé. Pair it with: Oysters, Grilled fish, Salads, Cheeses, Starters & Canapes -
Master of none - Playing with words referring to themselves not being an expert in any one varietal or wine style hence the saying: “Jack of all trades, master of none”. Clever and humble, nonetheless, their wines are at the forefront not only of South Africa but in the world with the amazing wines they are producing. If you enjoy reds on the lighter end of the spectrum such as Pinot Noir or Gamay then Pieter's 'Master of None' will definitely be up your street! It comprises a blend of 5 different grape varieties from tiny vineyard plots across 6 distinct regions; 40% Grenache from Wellington, 30% Cinsault from sites in Darling and Stellenbosch, 8% Pinot Noir from Elgin and a further 8% Syrah from Swartland. Unusually, Pieter then tops up the blend with Voor Paardeberg Chenin Blanc, adding aromatic freshness to the finished wine. It drinks like a top-class Beaujolais – super bright and juicy, bursting with wild strawberry, cherry and with an earthy, smoky undercurrent. Enjoy at room temperature or slightly chilled – perfect for summer drinking! “In 2004, a lady came to my house to buy wine. She asked for anything but Shiraz. “I don’t drink Shiraz”, were her exact words. I poured her a glass of wine. She loved it and bought 3 cases. It was a straight Shiraz. It’s a fact – we do judge the book by its cover.” -
The late Bruno Sorg and his son François are responsible for some of the finest, richest and most concentrated wines in Alsace. The Sorg family have been producing wine in the Alsace since the 18th century, with this particular branch of it established in the late 1960s by Renée and the late Bruno Sorg. Alsace is becoming better known for and offering superb value in comparison to some Pinot from Burgundy. A complex Pinot, that has good fruit density, freshness along with a savoury dimension. Fantastic value! -
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This blend of Aragonez, Syrah and Pinot Noir results from the fusion of two distinct terroirs, where the Mediterrean climate of the Alentejan interior meets the cool maritime climate of the Alentejan Atlantic coast. Pinot Noir, grown in sandy soils in our cool, Alentejan Atlantic coastal vineyards, provides freshness and elegance to balance the fruit generosity of the Aragonez and Syrah grown further inland, on the ancient clay over limestone soils surrounding the Estate. Viticulture here is certified sustainable. Attractive lifted red berry fruit aromas, with a touch of vanilla. Vibrant fruit on the palate, juicy and intense, finishing with a nice acidity. -
Weingut J. Geil is a winery making approachable, quaffable wines, all along the lines of greatly respecting the nature. This reflects in quality of their fruit and subsequently in their wines. Awarded many trophies each year, Weingut Geil belongs among some of the top German producers. There is nothing to be take lightly about their Pinot Noir, a serious, serious wine. Beautifully earthy and soft, with plenty of ripe wild berries. Excellent balance and considerable length. Accessible and juicy, yet wholeheartedly deep genuinely expressing the terroir of Bechtheim -
The vineyards cultivated by Jacquart winemakers cover 2,400 ha spread over sixty crus, that is to say, sixty villages throughout the Champagne area – what a mosaic! It’s within this large range of sites in Champagne that their winemaker draws together the different shades through careful assemblage, creating a cuvée that is ethereal and which seduces lovers of JACQUART. Brut Mosaïque is a wine for all times, sharing the pleasures of daily life, celebrating good news, and friends that pop round unexpectedly – this is the champagne you always have in the fridge. «Our Brut Mosaïque elegantly shows the uniqueness of our style, expressing the result of selection and choices without compromise.» Floriane Eznack THE FACTS A blend where Chardonnay is the dominant grape variety (35%-40%), giving Brut Mosaïque its freshness and delicate aromas. Pinot Noir (30%-35%) adds structure and Pinot Meunier (25% -30%) brings fruit.The grapes are sourced from exceptional terroirs, including the Grands Crus of the Côte des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims. The presence of 25% reserve wine ensures regularity of style, while more than three years ageing and a light dosage of 10 g/l result in a balanced and complex champagne. There is a time and place for this bubbly and that is anytime and everywhere! Day or night, as an aperitif or with fish or cheese. For a special occasion or for sharing with friends, Brut Mosaïque makes the moment. -
The Champagne house JM Gobillard & Fils is based in Hautvillers, a picturesque wine town in the heart of Champagne. The monk and cellar master Dom Pérignon discovered the first Champagne pearls in the Benedictine Abbey of Hautvillers around 1681 and thus made the small town the birthplace of Champagne. All three grape varieties of Champagne are carefully cultivated by hand on 30 hectares of our own vineyards - mainly in the Premier Cru vineyards of Hautvillers - under the supervision of Thierry Gobillard, oenologist and patron of the Champagne house "JM Gobillard & Fils". In addition, grapes from another 125 hectares of external vineyards are purchased from strictly controlled, quality-conscious top winegrowers. Committed to house tradition, Thierry Gobillard has full control over all of his grape requirements. With his name, he vouches for quality and uniformity, he is a guarantor of the highest perfection and a bastion in the fight against mediocrity. Thanks to the highest art of oenology, each champagne from the Champagne house "JM Gobillard & Fils" has a unique personality, so rich in expressions and appearances that you will be amazed! A votre sante! - Cheers! -
It began with a vision. A belief in the possibility of something bigger and better – something that didn’t quite exist yet. In the early 1970s, Napa Valley was a sleepy agricultural town on the brink of a fine-wine awakening. Drawing on his construction experience, Joe set about establishing the building blocks of winemaking excellence. By embedding his no-compromise philosophy deep into the bedrock of the winery, Joe set the framework to push for greatness. In 1974, he had the idea to make a unique blend each year, one that would represent the finest wine he could make from each vintage. He didn’t necessarily think it would always be a Cabernet Sauvignon either. His only thought was to make one wine that represented the best of Joseph Phelps Vineyards. Today, Insignia is widely regarded as a qualitative benchmark for Californian winemaking that has earned Joseph Phelps its longstanding reputation for excellence. The production has been scaled back to the point where all the fruit comes from estate vineyards, which is something of a rarity in California. This is now a brilliantly focused, dynamic producer that refuses to rest on its laurels. In our honest opinion in Pinto Wines this wine can compare easely with top Burgundy wines at this price point. We have aged some of these wines in store and are ready to be enjoyed. -
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Torres Mas Borras Pinot Noir is a single vineyard wine made from 100% Pinot Noir vines in the Penedès denominación de origen of the Spanish region of Catalonia. The Torres family has been making wine in the ancient Catalán town of Vilafranca del Penedès, south-west of Barcelona, since the 17th Century. It is this tradition combined with innovation, dynamism and commitment to quality that has put Torres firmly on the world map. They remain one of the largest family owned and run wine companies in the world and, under the stewardship of fourth generation Miguel Torres they are committed to sustainable viticulture and green practices. The Torres Mas Borras vineyard is located at 520 metres above sea level in the coolest part of the Upper Penedes area at Santa María de Miralles. At this altitude, the relatively cold summer nights allow a long and balanced ripening, which is desirable for producing elegant and noble Pinot Noir. Deep calcareous clay soils with interspersed layers of gypsum, moderately well drained with a high water holding capacity. Developed over sedimentary material from the Eocene. Thanks to the cool soils and the continental tendency of the climate, these vineyards provide the best conditions for Pinot Noir in the Penedès region. This is why Jacques Bergeret, a Burgundian expert in cultivating Pinot Noir, chose these soils in 1985–1986. The Pinot Noir grapes for this single vineyard wine are usually harvested in late September and are macerated in the skins for 2 weeks after harvest. The wine is fermented in stainless steel with an additional malolactic fermentation in oak barrels. After vinification Torres Mas Borras Pinot Noir is aged in French oak barrels, 30% of which are new, for 9 months. Oak ageing ensure that silky tannins are in harmony with the fresh acidity and cherry fruit typical of Pinot Noir. -
The name Matua, in New Zealand's native Maori language, means "head of the family," an appropriate title given this winery's instrumental role in developing Sauvignon Blanc into what is now New Zealand's most acknowledged wine varietal. You see there’s a couple of regions around the globe that planted Pinot Noir, that have really mastered it and New Zealands' Marlborough is indisputably one of those. It’s funny what a little perseverance does, and from their ragged tin shed in 1974, Bill and Ross Spence began to change the very foundation of wine in not just Marlborough, but New Zealand. They realized that Pinot Noir adapted exceptionally well to the well-drained alluvial soils of Marlborough and it’s unique climate. With the perfect amount of sunshine each day balanced out by cool evenings they struck Pinot Noir gold and have been developing a killer selection ever since. Matua have mastered the perfect balance of fruit-forward freshness with a touch of dry spice, a staple trait of the Marlborough Pinot Noir. You can expect generous aromas of freshly picked strawberries and red with a little ripe plum thrown into the mix. When taking a sip it’s the soft redcurrants, strawberries and cherries that jump out, brought together by a subtle spice, light tobacco and soothing dry earth. A touch of oak gives just enough complexity to enhance the flavors of this incredible wine. Highly Recommended -
One of the wine films that has had the greatest impact on the industry is undoubtedly Jonathan Nossiter's “Mondovino”. This film was presented at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004, and essentially reflects the conflict between those who understand wine production as a basic artisan work that is completely connected to the land, and those who see it as a corporate business. One of the interviewees featured in the documentary is Aimé Guibert. Creator and champion of the renowned Mas Daumas Gassac, it is thanks to his obsession of giving absolute prominence to the vineyard that he manages to extol the quality of the wines of Languedoc, a region historically known for producing low quality table wines. So when Robert Mondavi, a wine magnate, became interested in this still under used region, Aimé fought with all his might until Mondavi withdrew from his venture. Now, it is his children who continue to protect this legacy with the same passion. A legacy based not so much on the category of the wine as on its quality. Although these wines only carry the vin de pays de l'Oc label, they are considered by great wine specialists to be the “Lafite Rothschilds” of Languedoc-Roussillon. -
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Roisín Curley is an Irish winemaker making a very small production of wines in Burgundy. Using her scientific background - Pharmacy, her wine-knowledge, her experience (Château Latour and Château Grillet), and her love for wine, she produces outstanding wines from one of the most sought after wine region - Burgundy. Roisin buys grapes from friends and neighbour in Burgundy with a preference for organicaly grown fruits. She shares with these producer the same vision - quality over quantity. Roisin Curley produces elegant and refined wines that truly express the terroir and the grape variety. -
From the start, Felipe Rutini was guided by the motto “Labor and perseverance.” This attitude shaped the development of his wines, which became synonymous with superlative quality. Following his innovative spirit, in 1925 the winery began to plant vines in the Uco Valley. Uco Valley vineyards comprise over 400 hectares at an altitude of between 1,050 and 1,200 meters above sea level. An additional 120 hectares of fields that are currently being planted with vines will expand the winery’s possibilities for producing unique wines that are carefully tended to and nurtured from the very beginning. Very promising wines that need that leap of faith due to price. I suppose Mariano Di Paola being within the best 30 best winemakers in the world may have something to do with it... We do recomend it, just not everyday! -
Simmonet-Febvre has been producing its wines with traditional methods since 1840. It is the only Maison in Chablis to produce Crémants of Burgundy. A harmoniously balanced wine with fine bubbles, a persistent foam and a wonderful length in the mouth. It is fresh and powerful on the nose with aromas of citrus. Drink this crémant as a chilled aperitif, as it comes or with a liqueur such as crème de cassis, and why not even drink it throughout a whole meal. -
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The Ziereisen winery in Efringen Kirchen in the Markgräflerland in Baden has meanwhile become an institution in its own right. Hanspeter Ziereisen originally trained as a carpenter and is therefore a real career changer who has never trained as a winemaker. His parents ran a mixed farm with pigs, cows and 0.5 hectares of vineyards. Overall, the place was characterized by part-time winegrowers who gave their grapes to the cooperative. The successor to the farm was initially uncertain, since none of the children wanted to continue it. In 1991, Hanspeter followed in his parents' footsteps with the clear goal of turning it into a winery. The small area yielded a first vintage of just 6000 bottles in 1993. Acquisitions and leases followed, and over time the business grew to today's 21 hectares. Hanspeter was interested in wine from an early age and so he tried a lot of the most interesting wines in the world. This is how he discovered his love for the red Burgundy. These are still the heart of the company today. With his style, Hanspeter Ziereisen encountered a lot of resistance. An individualist, as fellow winemakers call him, who doesn't want to produce pleasing wines, but independent ones. Spontaneous fermentation, long maceration times, long yeast storage, no filtration and the use of large and small wooden barrels - all this characterizes his style. This stubbornness or the clear definition of one's own style was also punished in the official wine testing. His wines did not fit the classic German profile and could therefore only be sold as country wines. Hanspeter Ziereisen stayed with his line and today his wines are their own brand. In the meantime a conscious decision in order to be able to design the wines in a way that corresponds to the philosophy and to be able to place the character of the wines in the foreground. -
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Founded in 2008 to promote the un-explored wine region of Gualtallary. The project is benefitting from investment in the best equipment and team possible. This new project is based on traditional winemaking, with medium scale production. Juan Pablo Michelini is responsible for the core of the concept, which revolves around majority of work being done in the vineyards. This combined with minimal intervention winemaking, best reflects the Gualtallary terroir.
Gualtallary is a remote place in the pre Andes, located in the Tupungato Department in the Northernmost sector of the Uco Valley in Mendoza. It is the highest altitude zone in the region, 1,200 to 1,600m above the sea level.
It has alluvial, primarily sandy soils with calcareous deposit and sectors with a presence of smooth round granitic riverbed stones, covered by calcium carbonate. The vineyard where this variety is grown is situated 1300 metres above sea level. It is a young vineyard, planted on chalky soils, with a very pronounced slope. This helps to keep the ground healthy, because there is no accumulation of water or frosts. The climate is mountainous, so we have a very wide temperature range, resulting in grapes with thicker skins considering it is a Pinot Noir.
The wines have lively, slightly austere profile, reflecting the soils and the altitude of the area. This hand harvested, single vineyard from Gualtallary is 100% Pinot Noir and is completely un-oaked to let the fruit driven quality of the wine shine. Great with and without food
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