JC. Calvet Crémant de Bordeaux Brut NV
Origin: France
Retail:$29.95| Sale: $26.96
Calvet, a French wine brand founded in 1818 by Jean-Marie Calvet, stands as one of the world's oldest. The company rapidly grew, with Jean-Marie and his son Octave establishing warehouses and an office in Bordeaux in 1849. Their expansion into Burgundy in 1870 cemented their status as the largest wine company in France throughout the 19th and much of the 20th century. In recent history, sixth-generation negociant and direct descendant Jean-Christophe Calvet re-introduced the brand to the US market in the spring of 2017. Their most famous offering is JC. Calvet Brut Classic, a sparkling wine from the Crémant de Bordeaux appellation. It is produced using the méthode champenoise and features a blend of 60% Cabernet France and 40% Merlot grapes. Although Bordeaux has a history of producing sparkling wines for over a century, the Crémant de Bordeaux appellation itself was not officially established until 1990.
Girolamo Russo ‘a Rina Etna Rosso 2022
Origin: Italy
Retail: $39.95| Sale:$35.96
Set on the north slope of the mountain, at an altitude of 650-780 metres above sea-level, the winery’s vineyards cover 18 hectares, surrounded by hazelnut and olive groves. Giuseppe and his staff farm the estate organically, employing the traditional methods which have permitted these ancient vineyards to survive for well over a century. The land cultivated here has a unique and extraordinary geological history: its characteristics are the result of centuries of volcanic eruptions. The ‘a Rina is composed of 90% Nerello Mascalese and 10% Nerello Cappuccio, with Mascalese providing tannic structure and Cappuccio providing elegance and aromatics.
Valtellina Nebbiolo 2021
Origin: Italy
Retail: $34.95| Sale: $31.46
Valtellina is a marvelous wine growing zone on the Italian, Swiss border, along the eastern Alps. Here in the Lombardy region there is an immense history as being the crossroads of Europe. The region runs east-west following the Adda river which spills out into Lake Como. There are 5 subzones that comprise all 2100 hectares of the region, which are marked by steep terraces, held by millennia-old stone walls. The high altitude allows for a cooler climate Nebbiolo, locally known as Chiavennasca. Here you find wines of perfume, delicate fruit and softer tannin than In Piedmont. The Triacca estate (Luca Triacca), established in 1897 (formerly a Dominican monastery) has vineyards in 3 of the 5 subzones: Valgella, Tirano and Sasella. Now in the 5th generation, the Triacca family continues to experiment with innovative processes – such as contour farming, while using respectful and sustainable vineyard practices.
Petit Guiraud Sauternes 2022
Origin: France
Retail: $31.95| Sale:$28.76
Sauternes, located in Bordeaux, is known for its dessert wines made with Sémillon. They are also known for being rather pricey dessert wines. Château Giraud produced “Petit Giraud” as a more affordable and accessible Sauternes (for reference, their Grand Cru Classé is more than double the price for the same sized bottle). The wine is vinified using indigenous yeasts and matured for 18 months in new French oak barrels- a great wine made with the grey fungus Botrytis cinerea (known as noble rot). Acquired in 1766 by the Guiraud family, who were Protestant and republican merchants in a Catholic, pro-royalty stronghold, the château has always boasted a distinctive presence, with its classic black and gold label, its pioneering commitment to biodiversity and its affinity for Sauvignon Blanc grapes.