Cabernet Franc

Rich & Elegant

Softly-textured wine from an estate in Montagne-Saint-Emilion. Moulin Noir consists of seven hectares of vineyards on a good clay and limestone site. The wine is a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc and is aged 12 months in oak.

This notably complex right bank blend from a satellite appellation of Saint-Emilion offers appealing savoury notes along with a mineral, iron component and liquorice spice. The oak treatment is wonderfully integrated with wood spice elevating the bright red fruit. Harmoniously matured, graceful and very elegant. The staying power of the finish is impressive. Drinking very well now.

The high content of Merlot in this wines makes it perfect with spicy Asian dishes like Korean hotspots or Chinese food. It also pairs nicely with roasted lamb or duck terrines and with fatty cheeses like Comté.

Classy & Complex

Château Les Paruades is located in Macau en Médoc, on the foothills of the Margaux appellation and on the edge of the Gironde. The estate covers an area of 3.5 hectares with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc planted on clayey palus soil.  The vinification process follows the traditional methods of the Médoc, with total destemming and fermentation in stainless steel and concrete vats.

A blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc in Pomerol mimic, attractive and edgy when it wants or needs to be. Right Bank stylistic in any case, herbals and amaro welling through with liqueur consistency and fashion. Quite chic and notably concentrated, really credible, with brisk acidity and plenty of toughness keeping the wine safe, elongated and with portents of further potential. Quite a steal actually.

Floral & Juicy

Husband and wife duo Ilya and Nadia started Leaning Post winery in Niagara over 10 years ago. Initially a virtual set up, the winery now located on Highway 8, has become a reference producer in Niagara.

The grapes used in this vintage of Rose came from two separate vineyards in Niagara-on-the-lake, 89% of Pinot Noir came from Niagara Lakeshore harvested on September 25, and 11% came from a vineyard in Four Mile Creek on October 1^st.  At Leaning Post, they decided to leave the grapes on skins over night to extract the perfect amount of colour.  It was gently pressed into stainless steel tanks where the juice settled for a few days before being racked off the gross lees and inoculated.  It fermented at cool temperatures to preserves aromatics and fruit flavours.  A portion of this rose (43%) spent 3 months in concrete, this helped built the richness and texture on the palate.  

Leaning Post first 100% Pinot Noir rosé builds on our house style with a bright and refreshing nose of vibrant strawberry, watermelon, raspberry and orange-peel with lovely notes of honeysuckle and orange-blossom. The palate supports the nose with rich texture and a lovely strawberries and fresh-cream balanced by a mineral and stony core that leads to a surprisingly delicate finish.

This bright, refreshing Rose was built for warm summer days and good company!

Delivery timeline: It requires four cases of each wine in order for us to build and fulfill the mixed cases. This process usually takes about 7-10 business days but may vary.

This Mixed Case is available as a four-pack and as an 8-pack. The four-pack includes one bottle of each wine, while the 8-pack includes two bottles of each wine.

Joan Ramón Escoda has been shaking the pillars of winemaking in his home-country and abroad since the 90's. He is an absolute anarchist, a radical winemaker, a rock'n'roller and a grass-roots innovator; and his wines are everything but banal. Have a taste of his unique wines with this mixed case.

Here is a description of the wines featured in this mixed case.

Celler Escoda Sanahuja Els Bassots 2021 (Catalonia, Spain)

White | Chenin Blanc

The Loire Valley has always had a special importance for Joan Ramón, as it has been key in his journey and evolution as a winemaker. As a consequence, he is madly in love with Chenin. This blind love for this white grape took him to plant some vines in Conca del Barberá, which resulted in a great success thanks to the cold and humid weather of the hills in Prenafeta. The high altitude makes possible the unbelievable: a juicy and mellow skin-contact wine with hints of caramel, citrus and earthy notes.

Pairing suggestion: Pair Els Bassots with creamy cheeses and white meats.

Celler Escoda Sanahuja Mas del Gaio 2021 (Catalonia, Spain)
White | Grenache Blanc, Macabeo, Parellada

Mas del Gaio is the top white from Celler Escoda-Sanahuja. An old-vine expression from rustic limestone vineyards next to the winery, blending Garnacha Blanca, Macabeu, and Parellada. Garnacha Blanca and Macabeu are fermented together. Once everything is combined, the wine is aged mostly in large amphora and old French barrels. Mas del Gaio has aromas of stone fruit, lemon verbena, and fuzzy peach skins, with a long, fleshy and salty finish. Fantastic acidity and viscosity from the lees aging. Tropical too, with subtle notes of passion fruit.

Pairing suggestion: Pair it with fish dishes and cured cheeses.

Celler Escoda Sanahuja Les Paradetes 2021 (Catalonia, Spain)
Red | Carignan, Grenache, Sumoll

Sumoll, Garnatxa and Carignan come together in this complex and spicy blend. Les Paredetes ferments in stainless steel and ages for 14 months in neutral oak barrels. Expect lovely red fruit, fresh acidity, a slight smokey touch and a light finish armed with soft, tingly tannins.

Pairing suggestion: Pair it with roasted red meats and cured cheeses.

Celler Escoda Sanahuja Coll del Sabater 2021 (Catalonia, Spain)
Red | Cabernet Franc, Parellada

The main part of this wine is Cabernet Franc, a varitey which winemaker Joan Ramon Escoda daringly decided to complement it with a 20% of Parellada, a local white grape of great aromatic refinement. Harvested by hand and partially destemmed, the grapes were macerated and fermented together in clay amphorae using only indigenous yeasts. Then this natural red wine was aged for 7 months on lees in the amphorae. Slightly raw and pleasantly wild, this wine could need some aeration to unfurl. Some earthy and mineral notes, evolving into a fleshy red fruit nuanced by flowers, herbs and spice. This blend of Cabernet Franc and Parellada is remarkably original. Delicately warm, but also full of energy and confidence. Some succulent red fruit, a note of cocoa and bitter herbs, and a first-rate acidity make for a very fresh no added sulphites wine. Gentler and more engaging than ever, this wine from Escoda-Sanahuja has a long finish with a mineral and pithy aftertaste.

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Bottle deposit and mixing fee are included in the price.

Structured & Floral

Located along the Loire river on the most reputable clay and limestone terroir of Saumur-Champigny appellation, Château de Parnay has been producing outstanding wines for more than two centuries.

This wine is made from old vine Cabernet Franc and it shows with beautiful notes of ripe red fruits, mint and spices. The palate is structured, silky and very well balanced. The length is exceptional.

Suggested pairing: grilled white meat, meaty stews, bœuf bourguignon, casseroles, and more) stuffed vegetables, cold meats, soft cheeses. 

Spiced & Round

Husband and wife duo Ilya and Nadia started Leaning Post winery in Niagara over 10 years ago. Initially a virtual set up, the winery now located on Highway 8, has become a reference producer in Niagara.

This blended wine (61% Merlot, 39& Cabernet Franc) always over-delivers massively for the price. Blackberry, cassis, raspberry and mulberry instantly appear on the nose, with lilac, cracked white pepper, licorice and pancetta following closely behind. On the palate, the warmth and weight of the 2020 vintage is immediately evident, with a very broad and weighty mid-palate featuring plum, wild-blueberry, and strawberry layered over dark- chocolate and graphite with wisps of herbs-de-provence and black olive fading in and out.

The powerful but soft tannins make it satisfying to drink now with a good decant, but it will certainly age well over the next 5-8 years. Great with burgers, cured meat, and hard cheese.