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Domaine des 13 Lunes Apremont 2018
Origin: Savoie, France
Retail: $19.95 | Sale: $17.95
Sylvain Liotard farms 5.7 hectares in the village of Chapareillan, along the slopes of the famous Mont Granier. He began in 2014 and pursues a viticulture that is both organic and biodynamic. The domaine is now certified by both Ecocert and Demeter. Sylvain writes: “Each day I try to be happy in my life as a winemaker, to take care of the life that surrounds me, to be creative in my own process, practice biodynamic farming, and to produce wines that are a photograph of the past year, in order to share with everyone this small bit of history." Made from 100% Jacquère in a fresh natural style using native yeasts and sur-lie aging for six months in ovoid tanks to promote the perpetual movement of the lees during fermentation.
The Domaine des 13 Lunes Apremont vineyards are at the highest elevations of the appellation and are very close to the Savoie border with Isère. Sylvain harvests by hand and ferments in stainless steel vats with indigenous yeasts. The wine is bottled the following spring after a light fining and filtering making it a true “vin de soif” with authentic alpine character.
100% Jacquère
Goisot Saint Bris ‘Exogyra Virgula’ 2018
Origin: Austria
Retail: $24.95 | Sale: $22.45
In truth, Domaine Goisot should be known as a fine Chablis estate, but history has not been particularly kind to the region, as Saint Bris was removed from the Chablis appellation after phylloxera paralyzed the area in the late nineteenth century. Prior to this, Saint Bris was part of Chablis, which seems quite logical, given that it shares the same base of profound Kimmeridgian limestone and the same northerly climate as its neighbor a few kilometers to the east.
The Exogyra Virgula ’fossilized oyster shells' focuses on Sauvignon Blanc vines of the family estate with half approaching 40 years of age, and the other half around 15 years thanks to replanting. The vines grow entirely in Kimmeridgian lime, and are farmed biodynamically. Once in the cellar the wine is vinified in stainless with ambient yeast fermentation and a focus on freshness, then aged on fine lees also in stainless. The nose hints at Sauvignon Blanc aromatics with a flash of fresh, pure fruits accented by wispy hints of fresh floral greenery but on the palate the wine feels like rolling river rocks through the mouth – full of not-quite-salty palate stimulation – with a satisfying balance of mouthwatering acidity and enough flesh to let the wine have presence across the palate from open to close. The elegance with texture, sophistication with easiness of this wine really impressed me. Definitely enjoy it alongside food as it would love white seafoods.
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Domaine Cret de Bine ‘Bio-Addict’ Beaujolais 2020
Origin: Burgundy, France
Retail: $22.95 | Sale: $20.65
Domaine du Crêt de Bine challenges the hierarchical supposition that a wine from southern Beaujolais cannot achieve the same intensity and complexity as wines from the Crus Beaujolais. Gamay Noir a Jus Blanc planted to granite and and granitic sand, from two distinct parcels, one of 20 year old vines, the other 50 year old vines, planted at high density (more than 6,500 plants per hectare) farmed and vinified biodynamically. Entirely manual harvests, vinified in traditional beaujolais method, 12 day fermentation duration with indigenous yeasts by “pied de cuve”. A bowl full of fresh cut strawberries with spicy raspberry jam on the side. A dense middle and a long fresh mineral finish. This is a great bottle and shows how lively and serious the wines from the south Beaujolais can be.
100% Gamay
Johan Vineyards ‘Farmlands’ Pinot Noir 2018
Origin: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Retail: $21.95 | Sale: $19.75
In 2005, former Norweigan soccer star Dag Johan Sundby purchased a 176-acre farm in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, with 76 acres under vine. Farmlands is produced solely from their estate's certified organic /biodynamic fruit, showcasing Pinot from the Van Duzer Corridor, where cool ocean breezes temper the hot summer sunshine. They sell more than 60% of their grapes. Fermented on native yeasts, aged briefly for seven months in neutral barrels. This wine is bright, tart and juicy, like a romp in a raspberry forest followed by a quick roll on the forest floor. No additives or artificial manipulations or adjustments are done on the wine. Bottled unfined unfiltered with a very small (25ppm So2) addition. Fermented from whole clusters and offering cherry and baking spice with fine cocoa-powdered tannins through the finish.
100% Pinot Noir
HRW (Hendry Ranch Wine) Zinfandel 2018
Origin: Napa Valley, California
Retail: $19.95 | Sale: $17.95
The Hendry family has been farming its Napa Valley ranch since 1939 and today the property encompasses 203 acres of which 114 are vineyards. HRW stands for the Hendry Ranch Wines and are declassified and young vines from their Napa Estate. One of the first established vineyards in the valley, they sit at a great intersection of Carneros, Napa Valley & Mount Veeder. While they are not organically certified, by the by, they do farm largely with organic methods and materials. Mike Hendry says that they do not spray weed killer in the vineyard rows, preferring to till the ground with a special plow for their style of grape farming. The 2018 Hendry HRW Zinfandel is a medium purple-ruby color. Cedary spice, tea leaves, briar, dark berries and pepper on the nose. Light to-medium-bodied, with a bright, fruit-driven palate. On the palate, flavors of cocoa, blackberry jam and strawberry. Easy drinking, moderately structured. Ideal for pastas, burgers, barbecue, chili or a meaty Bolognese lasagna. Good for everyday value for those who prefer fruity but not dry-not sweet-Zinfandels.
100% Zinfandel