wine
Domaine Rijckaert, Haute Cuvée Mâcon Fuissé, Maconnais 2021
Jean Rijckaert's approach is simple: he wants to make wines that he likes without succumbing to fashions or the wishes of customers. Similarly, he refuses to make his wines competition beasts: his bottles are there to be drunk and not exhibited.
On the winemaking side, we can note that in this Chardonnay enthusiast, fermentations are done without the addition of yeast, that there can be a slight correction of the alcoholic strength, that sulphites are added as needed and that finally, filtration is not systematically rejected. Fermentation and aging take place in oak barrels, with always a small proportion of new ones .
Domaine Rijckaert, Pouilly Fuissé Haute Cuvee, Maconnais 2022
This Pouilly-Fuisse expresses all the complexity that a Chardonnay could give on a great terroir of Burgundy. 100% Chardonnay. Expresses the typical qualities of the famous appellation. A blend from vineyards in relatively cool areas (facing west), this Pouilly-Fuissé has a generous heart in an elegant body. Limestone soils on more or less stony slopes.
Domaine Rijckaert, Savagnin Sur les Marnes, Côtes du Jura 2022
Savignin is the iconic white grape of the Côtes du Jura. The Domaine Rijckaert vineyards of Savagnin are located in Buvilly, a blessed terroir for great white wines. The blend was made with the aim of highlighting the amazing complexity of this unique variety! At once expressive, rich and refreshing. This rustic grape variety is both powerfull and fine, and when carefuly vinified, it expresses an unrivalled complexity. 2018 was a brilliant vintage, perfectly ripe, exceptionally balanced and with abundant energy.
Domaine Vincent Careme, Vouvray sec “Le Clos”,Touraine 2022
Situated in the heart of Vouvray, Domaine Vincent Careme is the mastermind of young and dynamic Vincent Careme, The estate, overseen by Vincent and his wife Tania, currently spans 37 acres with different blocks spread over three villages: Vouvray, Vernou-sur-Brenne and Noizay. Most of the blocks are on steep slopes overlooking the Loire valley with two of them, Le Clos (meaning enclosed vineyard) and Le Peu Morier, being vinified separately to express their unique terroirs. All of Domaine Vincent Careme's wines are certified organic from 2010 onwards by Ecocert in France. Seductive aromatics entice with hints of apricot and truffles that lead to a decadent, well structured, full palate. Seamless notes of honeysuckle and cream linger on a lengthy, satisfying finish.
Domaine Vincent Carême, Vouvray Sec, Touraine 2022
The 2022 Vouvray Sec is a perfumed, tender style. It is a serious wine that's bone dry with a grown-up element of tannins providing muscle and structure. In its youth, it offers up fresh apples, pears and peaches, nodding to the warmer season. It is quite tense right now and needs some time to relax. But it was a shorter bottling. I think this needs a bit of time to come out.
Domaine Vincent Carême is one of the appellation’s leading lights. Starting in 1999, Vincent Carême was a member of the younger generation implementing what was viewed as artisanal ideas in the early 2000s, including organics and low sulfur regimes. Carême is now part of the Vouvray furniture, and these seemingly new ideas are now integral to the appellation’s ascendancy.
Both a traditional method and a very successful pét-nat are in the domaine range. When it comes to still wines, Carême’s taste preference is for dry styles, and that’s what you’ll mostly find in his chalky cellars. The winery cat recently died, but a dog, Tarzan, has now installed chez Carême.
Drink 2024 - 2033
Domaine Vincent Carême’, Vouvray Moelleux, Touraine 2018
Domaine Vincent Carême's "Moelleux" is a Vouvray harvested in over ripening, from a plot of land cultivated in organic farming. The grapes are harvested by hand and the vinification, as well as the maturing process, is carried out in barrels. It has a golden colour and a nose with aromas of quince and pear. The mouth is fruity with apricot notes, a sweetness offered by the sweetness.
La Solitude Blanc, Famille Lançon
"La Solitude" Blanc, Cotes-du-Rhone AOC is an elegant white wine made from Claret, Viognier and Grenache Blanc grape varieties. Claret brings freshness and notes of citrus zest, Viognier brings aromatic richness and roundness, and Grenache Blanc brings hints of white flowers. The grapes are grown on the steep slopes of the estate's vineyards on clay-limestone soils interspersed with gravel, typical of the southern Rhone Valley. The southern part of the valley has a Mediterranean climate with hotter summers and mild winters. This contributes to rich and vibrant wines.
La Solitude ROUGE, Famille Lançon
Located in the heart of the appellation, in the La Solitude lieu-dit, just on the western edge of the La Crau plateau, Domaine de la Solitude has been in the Lançon family for generations (the estate was created in the 17th century). Today, the winemaking reins are in the hands of the young, yet incredibly talented Florent Lançon. An elegant red wine made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre grapes. The grapes grow in the estate's vineyards in the Côtes du Rhône appellation with clay-limestone and gravel soils. The Côtes du Rhône appellation brings together high-quality Rhône wines from the valley's lesser-known and prestigious wine regions. Domaine de la Solitude belongs to the Lançon family, descendants of the Barberini family, whose most famous representative, Maffeo Barberini, became Pope on August 6, 1623 under the name Urban VIII.
Les Jamelles, “Minimalist” Syrah-Grenache, Pays d’Oc 2023, sulfite free
This very first cuvée without added sulfites is the result of Catherine Delaunay and her team’s desire to explore new vinification techniques and innovate to meet consumer demand for more natural products. The result? A wine with intense, pure aromas and flavours but with MINIMALIST* packaging! Deep, ruby-red, slightly lighter on the rim. The nose is gently full, with aromas of blackberry, plum, red fruit, spice and a hint of nuttiness. Medium-full bodied, aromas of blackberry, plum and redberry have a taut core, entwined with spice, black tea and a nutty aftertaste. Grainy tannins provide a powdery grip and enriched mouthfeel and leave a raw impression. Fresh acidity flows with good energy and brightens up the rich palate. This Syrah-Grenache blend shows intense fruit and spice with black tea and nut interest on a raw structured palate. Match with burgers and grilled meat over the next 3 years. Fermented to 13% alc, no sulfite addition
Les Jamelles, Carignan, Pays d’Oc
This red grape variety, that originated in Aragon, Spain, was introduced in France in the 12th century. Despite massive pulling out of vines in recent years, over 100,000 hectares of vines continue to be cultivated in France, primarily in three southern regions: Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence and, to a lesser degree, Corsica.
Carignan is a grape variety that growers and oenologists alike are passionate about, as its quality can range from mediocre to excellent, depending on yield, age of the vines and vinification. Its reputation has suffered from situations involving high yields that do nothing for expressing the characteristics of the grape. However, if the vines are planted in calcareous clay, granitic sand, or schistous soils on slopes with good exposure, Carignan grapes can yield rich, generous, wines with flavours of black fruit that require a little ageing in order for the tannins to mellow.
Rarely vinified on its own, Carignan is often blended with Grenache Noir, Cinsault, Mourvèdre or Syrah, however Les Jamelles offers you a cuvée that is exclusively crafted from this grape variety.
Les Jamelles, Chardonnay-Viognier, Montagne Noire
