Antoine Sanzay Cuvee du Domaine Rouge 2018
Sanzay’s “Cuvée Domaine” sourced from 35-year-old vines and both vinified and aged in concrete vats. In the glass it’s a deep ruby with magenta highlights at the rim, with aromas of black cherry, cranberry, black raspberry, damp violets, tobacco, and a hint of black pepper. The palate is fresh and full of acid-driven energy. One can mistake this for cru Beaujolais, as the overall effect is similar, but the hints of sage and mint intermingling with the lush, juicy fruit are a key indicator of Cabernet Franc. This is another one of those wines that would disappear first if plopped down on a table of sommeliers.
ORGANIC / BIODYNAMIC / NATURAL
Antoine Sanzay La Haye Dampierre 2018
100% Cabernet Franc. Appellation Saumur-Champigny Rouge. From Antoine’s vineyard in Varrains, a 1.1 hectare parcel planted in 1975 on mostly sand on limestone bedrock. Organically farmed, hand harvested, sorted, destemmed then fermented in stainless steel for 3 weeks before being pressed into a combination of concrete eggs and aged French oak barriques for 9 months. Unfiltered, unfined, SO2 added at bottling (31mg/L). Intense red fruit, leather, violets, crushed herbs, firm tannins, good acidity.
ORGANIC / BIODYNAMIC / NATURAL
Chateau Moulinet Lasserre Pomerol 2017
The Vineyard lies on the western side of Pomerol, in a place named ‘Moulinet’, on sandy and gravelly soils. This wines has 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec. After a manual picking, vinification takes place in temperature controlled concrete tanks, ageing in partly new oak barrels, for about 18 months. Beautiful deep red ruby color. Aromas of fresh red fruits are dominant and bring elegance and complexity to finely structured palate.
Domaine Baumard Carte Turquoise Cremant de Loire NV
The mousse is elegant and refined and there is plenty of crisp acidity. The finish is long and dry with attractive biscuity notes.
This special old vine cuvée has depth and elegance – a belting alternative to Champagne and leagues ahead on quality over bottom-end fizz!
Domaine des Roches Neuves Les Mémoires 2018
Minimal intervention and natural, parcel-by-parcel vinification result in vintage after vintage of wines that are always different, never the same. Today, Thierry Germain is one of the best representatives of his generation, and has contributed to restoring the reputation of the Saumur appellation. He produces a sublime range, of a very high quality, among the finest wines of the appellation. The cuvée Les Mémoires is a new cuvée produced since the 2012 vintage. It comes from very old vines (over a century old) and asserts itself as a superb Saumur, classy and complex. Its nose exhales aromas of violet, red and black fruit, as well as notes of cocoa and licorice. On the palate it is fresh yet slightly acidic with fine tannins and a nice length. This wine with huge potential, benefits from ageing for several years in the cellar.
ORGANIC / BIODYNAMIC / NATURAL
Domaine du Seuil Cadillac Cotes de Bordeaux Rouge 2017
This wine is fruity with soft integrated tannins giving a long fine aftertaste. Emphasis is upon ripe fruit at harvest time and consequently the bouquet is strong and full of character with a deep, intense colour that takes on a brick-red tinge with age.
ORGANIC
Domaine Mosse Bisou 2019
An exceptional summer red, the grapes were bought from friends who tend their vines organically and consist of Grolleau Noir, Grolleau Gris, Pineau d’Aunis, Cot, Gamay and Cabernet Franc. Interesting yet very drinkable. It is light, has complexity from the mix of grapes used and is quite moorish. Serve lightly chilled.
ORGANIC / BIODYNAMIC / NATURAL
Doris by Jenny Dobson Merlot 2019
Unique aromatics, where savoury elements mingle with floral and red fruit notes. A bright and intensely flavoured palate that sings with freshness. Finely toned tannins give strength and identity and carry the flavours to linger refreshingly on the finish.
Luc Lapeyre Avis De Vin Frais 2019
The cinsault and cabernet-sauvignon are from plots specifically cultivated for rosé. As soon as the picking takes place, a single direct pressing retains only the first juices, the latter being reincorporated in the tank for the reds.
Watermelon and strawberry notes with mouthwatering acidity. Jolly and refreshing.
ORGANIC
Milan Nestarec Forks and Knives Red 2018
The 2018 Forks and Knives Red is a blend of Pinot Noir + some Blaufrankisch, Cab Sauv & Cab Franc. Its a wine that falls under ‘Essential Nutrition’ according to Milan. Quite carbonic, immensely drinkable. Low viscosity, absent minerality, zero bullshit. Organically farmed grapes, indigenous yeasts fermentation, no filtering and no sulfites added. Medium-bodied, herbal and stemmy this is a complex red with a bit of the natty funk.
ORGANIC / BIODYNAMIC / NATURAL / NO SO2 ADDED
Pauillac de Chateau Latour 2016
‘Lots of mineral, crushed stone, iodine and graphite with blackcurrants and blackberries that follow through to a medium body with ultra fine tannins that are ever so polished and give length and energy to the wine. Drinkable now, but even better in 2023’ James Suckling
‘2016 Pauillac is the vintage to own. More than just quality, what makes these wines so memorable is their character. To start with, all the wines show a beautiful, almost, inky, dark color. They have complex aromatics, even at this young stage. 2016 Pauillac wines are intense, concentrated, powerful, tannic and fresh. There is a beautiful purity of fruit here. The wines coat your palate with hedonistic pleasure. Clearly, there is a lot of tannin in the wines, but the tannins are so velvety, these wines feel like pure silk.’ The Wine Cellar Insider
ORGANIC
Raats Dolomite Cabernet Franc 2018
Individually crafted from unique vineyard parcels, Dolomite wines express great purity of fruit and balanced elegance. Displays succulent red fruits coupled with a beautifully smoky, mineral quality. Supple, extremely moreish and a great example of this much under-rated variety.
Blend: 95% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec
Tschida Kapitel I 2019
Nothing added and nothing taken away, a unique example of Cabernet Franc and Zweigelt planted on the gravelly schist soils in a special pocket of Austria, the banks of Lake Neusiedlersee. It’s a long and intimate process. 10 weeks on the skins, fermented in open wooden vats, a minimum of 18 months in large oak barrels. Experiential drinking from the smoky notes to the stony minerality.