Dry

Earthy & Floral

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.

A blend of fruit from 4 different Vineyards from 3 different sub-appellations, this wine explodes out of the glass with wonderful strawberry, raspberry, mulberry, and bing cherry followed closely by sugar beet, tobacco leaf, moss and fresh soil. The balance, coolness and bright acidity of the 2023 vintage is immediately evident, yet with extra air it starts to show more fullness and roundness than might be expected. The incredibly supple mouthfeel, medium body and balanced acidity frame exceptional flavour intensity, leading to a long, sweeping finish that ends on a decidedly mineral and crunchy note.  This wine is great now with a generous decant but will also age well for 3-4 years.

Pair this Pinot Noir with smoky glazed ham or grilled salmon. 

Floral & Fruity

Punset is an innovator when it comes to organic wine. Inheriting the estate in 1982, Marina Marcarino is a fifth generation winemaker.

This white is called 'Ne?' after a popular Piedmontese slang, used to finish a sentence, similar to  'eh. It is a blend of Arneis and Nascetta, local grapes in Piedmont. About 30% of the grapes macerate on their skins before starting fermentation, acquiring a special texture both on the palate and the nose. The wine ferments for month and ages in stainless steel. 

Rich and fruity on the nose, displaying floral notes and white fruit flavours, with a hint of spice. This fruity sensation transitions in the mouth to deeper notes of honey, mellow butter and a light acidity that swiftly cleanses the palate. Well structured, with excellent acidity and balance.

Marina recommends to enjoy this wine as an aperitif, with fish or white meat.

Starting with only 4 hectares when René Baud took on the vineyard in 1950, Domaine Baud progressively expanded to 20 hectares with the help of successive generations. Now, managed by siblings Clémentine and Bastien, the 9th generation, the estate continues to flourish and grow, with a strong commitment to sustainable viticulture and preserving the traditions and style that makes the wines of the Jura so unique and incredible.

The estate achieved the Terra Vitis certification in 2014 for its eco-friendly work and environmental preservation.

Discover the different expressions of Jura with this Mixed Case. The mixed case includes 2 bottles of each wine.

2 bottles x Domaine Baud Blanc de Blanc Crémant du Jura Brut NV (Jura, France)
Sparkling | Chardonnay

92 points by Wine Align

This sparkler, or Crémant, is made in the traditional Champagne style, where the second fermentation happens inside the bottle. Expect rich aromatics of apple fruit with citrus, toasted brioche and a striking minerality. It sparks a great balance between creaminess and vivacity.  If you like Champagne, but not the price tag, then this is the wine of choice for you.

Pairing suggestion: It is very versatile at the table and you can drink this with almost any dish: try it with all types of classic cuisine or even spicy Asian dishes.

2 bottles x Domaine Baud Chardonnay 'Les Prémices' AOC Côtes du Jura 2022 (Jura, France)
White | Chardonnay

Silky and full bodied, this oak-aged Chardonnay exhibits classics notes of apples, white flowers and citrus. Grown on marl-limestone soils from the Triassic period, it is a balanced wine on the palate, with a distinctive complexity.

Pairing suggestion: Have fun pairing this complex Chardonnay with a raclette or with poultry.

2 bottles x Domaine Baud Trousseau 'Cousu Main' AOC Côtes du Jura 2024 (Jura, France)
Red | Trousseau

Trousseau is by far the rarest grape variety in the Jura, planted in less than 8% of the total Jura vineyard, it has a biological relationship with the white grape Savagnin, being originally from this magical region. The vineyards are planted on rich red marl and gravel soils, along the Cotes du Jura appellation. On the nose, it has aromas of red fruits and leather, with a hint of sub-bois. Tannins are soft and silky, and the palate is very well-balanced.

Pairing suggestion: Enjoy it on its own, or pair it with red meats such as game and venison.

Rich & Spicy

The origin of Château Lamartine goes back to 1883, when Lise and Benjamin’s great grand father acquired a piece of land and started to farm grapes and sell wine in barrels. The winery holds the 'Haute Valeur Environnementale' certificate in sustainability, and are right now in their third year of organic conversion.

The Cahors AOP is right in between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean sea. We could say that it’s the heart of the South West. Due to its geographic situation, the appellation has a particular microclimate, which is perfect for Malbec.

This is a rich wine with powerful tannins. It has ripe dark blue and black fruit notes with a touch of vanilla.  While the tannins are full the wine has a great acid backbone to maintain the structure.

This is a top value, structured and succulent red that is ready to sip alongside some salty, fatty protein.

Mineral & Rich

In 2010, Joana and António founded Maçanita Vinhos after an invitation from a local Douro family who had read about these playful and ambitious sibling winemakers. Both siblings contribute to Maçanita Vinhos, but the challenging Douro Valley has been Joana’s passion project since the start, and Joana and her children even moved to the Porto area to be closer to the winery and vineyards. Setting down roots in the region has allowed her to focus her famous energy into expanding the rising star that is her Douro career.

Maçanita’s Douro Branco exemplifies the confluence of richness and elegant minerality that is the hallmark of Douro whites. The indigenous Viosinho provides the backbone to this mineral driven wine, showcasing the slate soil and high altitude plantings that fuel this project. Fermented and aged all in stainless steel, Antonio and Joana very capably maintain the freshness and acidity in this wine, yielding a wine of purity and balance.

Bright yellow-gold. On the nose, fresh floral aromas commingle with ripe yellow and green orchard fruit and a touch of slate. On the palate, bright and juicy, with mouth filling concentration and refreshing acidity. A core of green and gold apple, pear and white pepper are wrapped with pleasant floral and mineral flavours on the long finish. Maçanita Douro Branco is a beautiful pair for roasted or grilled poultry, as well as richer seafood dishes.

Musky & Floral

Unlike many winemakers, Frederic Brouca is largely self-taught and took no formal courses on viticulture or winemaking.  His concept of growing grapes and winemaking focuses on reducing human intervention in the processes, and making it as natural as possible.

Samsó is the ancient local name for Cinsault and in the hands of Frédéric Brouca they happen to be 45 year-old, beautifully seasoned vines. What is immediately special, interesting, unique and exciting is the straight away Faugères moment, instantly recognizable yet wired in vine structure hyperbole. A hint of musk, or animale as we say is joined by char, tar, grilled herbs and roses just past their prime. But freshness is not compromised and red fruit is front and centre. The flavours go on forever so if they are your kind, you’ll never want them to dissipate. 

Unfined, unfiltered with minimal sulfur added at bottling.

Big & Bold

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.

Nas del Gegant is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cariñena, Garnacha, Merlot, aged in amphora and utterly unique with wild herb, savory notes integrated with deep, dark earthy fruit. It somehow tastes ancient and fresh simultaneously.Full-bodied, fruity. A big wild wine with lots of fruit, character, and structure to hold up against the lush palate. This wine finishes slightly off-dry but remains balanced.

Decant for best flavour. Pair with BBQ, highly spiced roast meats, rich stews.

Peninsula Skin Contact is a low-SO2 orange wine that explores the complexity and nuances of long macerations of white grapes on their skins. Spain and Castile, in particular, have a long tradition of skin-contact whites, which deserves to be explored and updated. The wine is made from a single, experimental parcel of Albariño, grown organically on their estate in Cuenca. The climate is dry and very continental, with the high altitude causing a wide diurnal temperature range, helping the Albariño to develop remarkable aromatic intensity early in the ripening cycle. This allows early picking for moderate potential alcohol and to preserve its naturally high acidity. 

The aroma is very complex and grows in the glass, combining primary notes of stone fruit with orange peel, grapefruit and ginger. A very versatile and gastronomic wine which combines lightness and the variety's mouthwatering freshness on the palate with the textural depth from the skins. The finish is remarkably long and satisfyingly dry, underscored by a firm but fine tannic grip.

Consider pairing it with shellfish, lean fish, and vegetarian options like a nut roast. Its crisp and refreshing character also makes it a good match for grilled chicken or roasted fish.