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Triolet Brut Champagne NV
Origin: Champagne, France
Retail: $35.95 | Sale: $32.36
The Champagne house of Thierry Triolet is located in the village of Bethon. The vineyards in Bethon are part of the Côtes de Sezanne region of Champagne which begins near the town of Sezanne and extends southward for about 20 miles. Geologically, this narrow band of hills with deep deposits of limestone is a continuation of the more massive Côtes des Blancs. Traditionally, the Sezanne vineyards have been a source of excellent Chardonnay grapes for the large negociant Champagne houses to the north. Thierry Triolet farms in accordance with the principles of sustainability and is certified both as “Level 3” Haute Valeur Environnementale and Viticulture Durable en Champagne. He is committed to having low yields and prunes accordingly. The pressing is done slowly at low pressure in a modern bladder press. Fermentations are then carried out in a variety of tanks. No barrels are used in fermentation or aging. By including three different vintages, the “assemblage” benefits from mature wines. The Champagne ages for a minimum of two years “sur lie” before disgorgement and is finished with a dosage of 11g/L. This produces a floral yet richly textured house style with a “bel canto” nature.
Chardonnay 65% & Pinot Noir 35%
Antiquum Farm ‘Daisy’ Pinot Gris 2021
Origin: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Retail: $35.95 | Sale: $33.26
The Hagens practice regenerative farming and their daughter, Daisy, has a ferocious passion for chickens. When she was five, her burgeoning flock escaped and overran the vineyard. This happy accident became a defining moment for their change to grazing based viticulture. They have since embraced the hens' natural inclination to scratch out weeds and balance insect populations. The 2021 Daisy has a bracing framework of acidity, minerality, and citrus. Pear and apple broaden to tropical fruit and a layered texture. She is focused, precise, and all about refined texture, minerality and crisp acidity. Vibrant citrus and floral components blend seamlessly with pomme fruit, lemon curd, pear, river stone and metallic nuance. The wine rests on the lees for 5 months in 50/50 stainless/neutral French oak. The lees are gently stirred to build texture before finally allowing the wine to settle naturally.
100% Pinot Gris
Le Pigeoulet
Origin: Vaucluse, France
Retail: $21.95 | Sale: $19.76
For decades, the Brunier brothers of Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe have produced a world-class rouge from the southern Rhône Valley’s most prestigious appellation, Châteaneuf-du-Pape. With their Pigeoulet, they prove just as capable of mastering the hedonistic country quaffer, which teems with northern Provence’s most irresistible qualities: the succulent red and black fruit, stony core, hint of black olive, and garrigue.
The Bruniers farm the Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre that make up this cuvée on two distinct parcels: the first situated on the east side of the Rhône, near Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and the second farther east, along the lower, southwest-facing slopes of Mont Ventoux. The Bruniers’ vast experience in crafting elegant reds in this southern climate is on full display in the 2020 bottling. Despite the warmth of the region, the ethereal Pigeoulet showcases remarkable finesse and drinkability. Aged for 18 months; half in large older foudres and half in concrete tanks.
80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Carignan, 5% Cinsault
Brunelli Poggio Apricale 2021
Origin: Tuscany, Italy
Retail: $20.95 | Sale: $18.86
Martoccia di Luca Brunelli is a dedicated organic farm in practice, but not certified. Dry-farming, sustainability, and picking by hand are all simply a way of life. While all of the fruit is estate-grown, Luca’s vines themselves are non-contiguous (half belonging to the Brunello DOCG, with the other half situated in the nearby Montecucco district). Martoccia, their original farm, was 3 hectares and is located just below the ancient medieval Fortress of Montalcino. Their love for their land and respect for Montalcino traditions drive their passion for their work at Martoccia.At its baseline, there is the usual clay-and-fossil mixture we tend see in this region (Sangiovese loves clay, in part because calcium carbonates lend it good acidity). Luca Brunelli is the winemaker. “Poggio Apricale” paints an image of the hilltop where the sun bathes the fruit for maximum expression of fragrance and highest quality. Sangiovese Grosso is blended with a small amount of Merlot and Colorino for body and a more attractive coloring. All of the forward fragrant delights of Montalcino in a wine meant to be consumed without cellaring.
85% Sangiovese with Merlot & Colorino