France

Roque Colombe (Region: Chateauneuf du Pape): Beautifully situated vineyards slightly  northeast of the village (and directly south of the vineyards of Chateau  Rayas) which produce very elegant  and perfectly balanced Chateauneuf  du Papes.  The expressiveness and elegance of their wines is from a  broad variety of soil types in the vineyards which include sandy soils,  sandstone, terraces of river stones, marls, limestone, and "safres" - a  locally unique terroir of compacted sand which adds balance and  minerality to their wines.

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Domaine des Capes (Region: Gigondas): The Daniel family has grown grapes in the area  since 1753.  Their Gigondas vineyards are located in my favorite part of  the appellation in the upper valley between the "capes" of the two  Dentelles de Montmirail that are above the village.   The rockier soils  in this area are full of minerals which produce the rich deep flavors in  their wines.

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Domaine de la Cheneraie (Region: Beaumes de Venise): Perfectly located south facing vineyards  above the village produce an incredibly rich wine. The Domaine's name is  from the truffle oaks that once bordered the vineyards (chene means oak  in French).  Although there are not truffles in the wine, there is a  little "something extra" as on my first tasting I recognized the Cote  Rotie hints and then verified that they do add some Viognier to the  blend each year.

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Passe Colline (Region: Ventoux): Very delightful vineyards in the Ventoux appellation  which produce very food friendly, perfectly balanced, and minerally  "GSM" red blends (Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre).

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Legende des Toques Cotes du Rhone (Region: Southern Rhone): An interesting consortium of leading  "cusiniers" of France choose the blend for this very food friendly Cotes  du Rhone each year.

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Heritage Cotes du Rhone (Region: Southern Rhone):  All of our wines are wonderful expressions  of their local "terroir" but this goes further with expressing the long  traditions and heritage of the Southern Rhone.  This is a special  "cuvee" produced each year by a collaboration of family vignerons whose  vineyards are mainly on the minerally slopes of the Dentelles de  Montmirail.  The result is a rich, deeply flavored, and food friendly  wine that follows the traditions of local wines that have been enjoyed  for centuries in this area. 

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Domaine Pierre Ravaut (Region: Burgundy):  This was another fun and unexpected surprise as I  didn't originally intend to import any wines from Burgundy given how  many Burgundy wines are exported to the U.S.  But, I love visiting  Burgundy and so I planned to spend the night in Aloxe-Corton while on my  way from Alsace to the Southern Rhone.  On my way to dinner in Ladoix, I  also noticed the sign of a local vigneron (Pierre Ravaut) on the wall  of his Domaine and then also saw some of his wines offered by the glass  at the local restaurant I selected that night.  All of the Ravaut wines I  tasted that night were really well made (and delicious too!) and so I  visited the Domaine the next morning.  The reality of Burgundy, however,  is that there is also a pretty limited supply of wine.  Pierre seemed  amused at my attempts to speak French, however, and enjoyed talking  about wine and so he graciously offered to let me import some of his  wines.

Vignoble Angst (Region: Chablis): Vignerons are unfortunately full of angst each year  about their vignobles (the places where those noble grapes are grown!),  particularly in Chablis with its annual bouts with the two G-forces of  gelee (frost) and grele (hail).  This is an example of double Angst,  however, with the talented team of Antoine & Celine Angst producing  beautifully balanced and expressive wines such as their Premier Cru Cote  de Jouan, AOC Chablis, and a Bourgogne Blanc each year.

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Domaine de l'Oriel (Region:  Alsace): This Domaine has vineyards in three of the more prominent  Alsatian Grand Cru sites (Sommerberg, Brand, and Florimont) that are in a  valley to the west of Colmar.  Their very minerally and crisp Grand Cru  Rieslings are heavenly and the Domaine also produces very good Pinot  Blanc, Pinot Gris, Silvaner, and the local specialty Edelzwicker each  year.

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Chateau Moulin Rouge (Region: Bordeaux - Haut Medoc): This mid-peninsula "left bank" chateau  produces beautifully balanced, supple, and food friendly Bordeaux  blends each year.

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Chateau La Mothe du Barry (Region: Bordeaux - Entre Deux Mers): The very talented and meticulous  vigneron Joel Duffau produces very fully flavored and perfectly balanced  Bordeaux blends each year from his organically farmed vineyards that  have been owned by his family for over 300 years.  Located only six  miles from St. Emilion, this Chateau is producing top quality "right  bank" wines each year but which are great values at only a fraction of  typical St. Emilion prices.

Maison Lorgeril (Region: Languedoc): The Lorgeril's have been a prominent wine producing family in the Languedoc since 1620.  Now under the leadership of Nicolas de Lorgeril, the family's careful development of their estates in Languedoc and Roussillon have resulted in producing wines from six premier regions within Languedoc.  With their long heritage in the region, the family has also been careful stewards of their various terroirs through sustainable agriculture and observing organic principles as far as possible in region that does have its challenges during the growing season.  The careful stewardship has been recognized with the awarding of HVE Level 3 certification (Haute Valeur Environnementale) which has high standards for biodiversity conservation, plant protection strategy, management of fertilizer use, and management of water. 

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Chateau Ponzac (Region: Cahors): Beautiful hilltop vineyards west of Cahors produce  one of the most pure expressions of Malbec that I have ever tasted.  The  very creative viticulturalist and vigneron team of Matthieu and  Virginie Molinie blend their separately vinified parcels of Malbec each  year into wines that you can enjoy either "maintenant" or well into the  future.

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Vignerons du Quercy (Region: Coteaux de Quercy): This is very interesting area about 20  miles south of Cahors where its limestone plateau is a great place for  growing Cabernet Franc.  Other Bordeaux varietals can also be used in  each year's blends but overall this area provides a very interesting  expression of Cabernet Franc and I've selected two reds and also a very  delightful rose.

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Southwest France (Regions: Cahors and Gaillac): I've selected two very good Malbecs that  are produced by a consortium of Cahors area vignerons from their older  "vieilles vignes" vineyards, a white wine from Gaillac, L'Infini, that  is made from an indigenous local white grape from the region (Loin de  l'Oeil), and a fun red blend that is made from seven local indigenous  grapes.

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Domaine de Bel Air (Region: Loire - Pouilly sur Loire): In my search for interesting  native varietals, I found an excellent and very minerally Chasselas from  this producer in the Upper Loire.  The village of Pouilly sur Loire is  not as well known as the town of Sancerre which is about five miles to  the northwest and on the opposite side of the river but, in my opinion  produces, the village produces better wines from its better vineyard  locations on the north side of the Loire.  Aside from Chasselas,  however, Sauvignon Blanc is by far the dominant varietal in the area and  I have also selected an excellent (and very small production) Pouilly  Fume from this producer. 

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Famille Mahieu (Region: Loire - Vouvray): I've selected a delightful and very food  friendly "demi-sec" Vouvray from this producer whose family has been  farming their mineral rich Vouvray vineyards for over 200 years.Having a big sale, on-site celebrity, or other event? Be sure to announce it so everybody knows and gets excited about it.