Regional Discovery Six-Packs
To know French wines is to understand French winegrowing regions. Each region has its own history, rules, traditions, grapes, and customs — they’re almost like separate countries when it comes to winemaking.
Elegant 2014 Pommard: Soy, Pepper, Raspberry, Silk
The towns of Pommard and Volnay are giants of the Côte de Beaune reds. Though less than a mile apart, the two towns represent opposing profiles – Volnay tending toward elegant and feminine, and Pommard toward sturdy and masculine. As neighbors they provide an excellent example of the microterroirs of Burgundy.
Granite and Wildflowers: Electric, Dry Grand Cru Riesling
There is no more underappreciated wine than Riesling. Many US consumers, burned by syrupy Rieslings with no life and too much sugar, have sworn off the grape. But for lovers of dry wine, there’s enough bone-dry Riesling out there to make avoidance foolhardy. Tall skinny bottle + “Riesling” ≠ sweet.
Extraordinary, Rich 92-Point Cornas from a Superstar Winemaker.
Cornas is a tiny appellation. Its 145 hectares (compare to Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s 3,133) are at the southern end of the Northern Rhône. The name Cornas comes from the Celtic word for “burnt earth,” and its grapes often ripen two weeks earlier than the rest of the region.
“High Performing” 2015 Red Burgundy from Michel Gros under $40
Michel Gros appears on many lists of Burgundy’s finest winemakers. His style is smooth and elegant, with warm, enticing notes of toast, red berries, and a silky texture. Gros’s village level and premier cru wines can be truly extraordinary, but they require (and reward) investment and patience.
A Trio of Legendary Meursault: 90-94 points
Meursault has no grand crus, but its three famous premier crus — Perrieres, Genevrières, and Charmes — almost make up for it. These exceptional terroirs produce some of Burgundy’s greatest wines of any color. We’re excited, for the first time ever, to offer all three from our star Meursault winemaker, the Domaine Boyer-Martenot.
The Best Côtes-du-Rhône in the Business. $16
In most cellars, Côtes du Rhône is the workhorse wine. Hosting thirsty guests? Go with a Côtes du Rhône. Pairing anything from salad to stew to soup to sirloin? Côtes du Rhône fits the bill. The best examples are crowd-pleasing, inexpensive, and full of character.
Simplicity and Warmth: New Rich Rhône Blend for the Winter Months Ahead
Eric Chauvin’s story is a familiar one. A fifth generation winemaker inherits his family domaine. He begins to bottle the wines himself, tightens up the quality, converts to organic viticulture. We stumbled across Chauvin’s tiny Domaine le Souverain in the Rhône Valley a few years ago, and have been delighted at the discovery.
New Dry Chenin Blanc: an Organic Symphony of Fruit and Spice
Chenin blanc is a tough grape to pin down. The varietal produces a staggering array of styles: from still to sparkling, bone dry to very sweet, and everything in between. Even today, the winemakers of the Loire, France’s center for winemaking innovation, continue to push what’s possible from the grape.
January 25% Off Shelf: 12 New Wines!
Twelve wines, all 25% off! Highlights include: legendary 5-year-old premier cru red Burgundy, everyday Syrah blend under $12, premier cru Chassagne-Montrachet, old-vine Chablis under $20, and more! Sale ends 1/31/19.
Delightful New Premier Cru Red Burgundy from a Rare, Ancient Grape. $32
Many of our winemakers are multi-generational, some stretching back for centuries. We’re always slightly apprehensive when a new generation takes over. Some try too hard to make their mark early, changing styles and abandoning longtime traditions. But at many domaines the younger generation arrives with modern techniques and a new energy.
[Advance Order] “Exuberant” 2015 Chianti Classico under $22
French wines have long been the focus of the Ansonia portfolio. Of the 45 winemakers we work with, about half are from Burgundy, and all but a few are French. Our longtime exception to this rule is the Fattoria Poggerino. Poggerino’s wines are all pure sangiovese — dark, delicately balanced expressions of an intense, powerful […]
New Sampler: Cozy Winter Reds
Sometimes the moment calls for a grand wine: something ageworthy, pulled from the back of the cellar, opened at just the right time, decanted for hours, etc. Other times, it doesn’t. For this sampler we’ve collected four uncomplicated wines from the “easy” category — wines you can enjoy with out too much consideration or contemplation. They’re cozy weeknight reds for pizzas, salads, pastas, soups, and leftovers.
Video Tasting Notes: Goubert Beaumes-de-Venise 2016
____________________________ Wine: Goubert Beaumes-de-Venise 2016 Type: red Rhône Valley blend Price: $22/bot Learn More
Smooth, Mouthfilling New Wintery Red. $22
France’s Rhône valley produces rich, smooth red blends, perfect for a wintery afternoon meal. At one end there’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape, famous and long-lived; at the other there’s Côtes du Rhône, uncomplicated and inexpensive. Today’s wine is from the middle.