Fall Favourites

Soft & Creamy

Just across the Rhône river from the beautiful vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the Lirac appellation extends over the low hills alongside the river.

This is a blend of Marsanne, Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Picpoul. The grapes are hand-picked and aged for 8 months in oak barrels.

This wine is creamy and lush, with hints of honeyed tangerine, melon and lime. Backed by a palate that's medium to full-bodied, slowly fading in intensity on the finish. A great example of how deliciously amazing Lirac can be.

What to drink with a Lirac Blanc? This wine and the mediterranean flavours of Bouillabaisse are a super match! It also pairs beautifully with poulet au citron et lavande (Lemon Lavender Chicken), another iconic recipe from the south of France.

Rich & Elegant

Just across the Rhone river from the beautiful vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the Lirac appellation extends itself on the low hills alongside the river. This is a blend of Grenache (60%), Syrah (30%) and Cinsault (10%) planted on very old terraces made up of rocky pebbles.

This Lirac rouge shows lovely aromatics with notes of lavender, cinnamon dusted black cherries and plums. Some bright acidity and slightly dusty tannin provide a nice structure for this this full-bodied wine. It's a fantastic pairing for hearty dishes like stews and roasts.

Rich & Elegant

Softly-textured wine from an estate in Lussac-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.

Earthy & Rustic

The construction of Château Plaisance dates back to the 1780s, however its vineyards are much older. Bordering the Margaux appellation, Château Plaisance's vineyards overlooks the Garonne River and counts with ten hectares. 

The soils name 'palues' are mostly composed of clay, with a small percentage of sand. Its particularity is that is is located only a few meters away from the Garonne River. The 'palues' were gained on the river thanks to a draining technique implemented in Bordeaux by the Dutch. The 'palues' contain a large amount of sediments that were before underwater, making it a rich and fertile soil. In the past, wines produced on 'palues' were considered the best of their appellation.

An elegantly matured Bordeaux Superieur with surprising persistence. Named after the limestone soils ('palues') of the vineyards, this blend of 70% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot is showing lovely earthy, leather and licorice notes along with cherry, raspberry and blackcurrant.

 A stunning value.

Pair with rack of lamb and braised fennel.

Bright & Creamy

The Baud estate dates back to 1742, today the 9th generation manages the winery. Siblings Clementine and Bastien, both under 30, are making some of the best-value wines in the area. Jura is that narrow valley in the remote hills between Burgundy and Switzerland, which millions of years ago was covered by an Ocean and today still bares many of the fossils from that time. If you kick a stone in a Jura vineyard, it will probably be a fossil!

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. 

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.

Mineral & Zesty

From a new family (relatively speaking) in Chablis, the estate belongs to Marie-Noëlle & Laurent Ternynck. They have deep roots in the surrounding area of AOC Burgundy, farming for multiple generations. 

This old vines Chardonnay is wild fermented fermented in stainless steel tanks, then ages “Sur Lee” for 12 months after malolactic fermentation is complete. The fruit is gathered from vineyards in Fleys and this area sits at a higher altitude on a windswept plateau, which helps maintain the acidity in the wine.  Fresh, floral and mineral on the nose. There are notes of fresh almond, hazelnut, citrus and white flowers on the palate. It is balanced, structured and texture example of classic favourite. 

Keep it chilled in the fridge, uncork it at the end of the day and pour yourself a glass! Also pairs well with oysters, all kinds of fish dishes, and roasted chicken.

Bold & Earthy

Frederic Brouca's wines have become the talk of the appellation in the Faugeres AOC, revered as a cru village in the Coteaux de Languedoc. Hailed for their authenticity, purity and complexity, consumers and sommeliers rejoice when available.

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.

This single-vineyard blend of Grenache, Syrah & Carignan offers a perfect combination of balance and power. Rich dark fruit and savoury roasted meat notes pop from the glass. The flavours are vibrant with a rich symphony of red, blue and black fruits along with a peppery spice note and a long, clean finish.

Pair with hearty winter stews, grilled lamb chops or enjoy on its own in front of a cozy fire after a long day.

Rich & Mineral

Nicolas Potel is an iconic producer in Burgundy. He grew up in a family dedicated entirely to wine; and after gaining some experience internationally, he started his own project in the late 90's.

Founded in 2009, Maison Roche de Bellene offers a complete range of wines, with an emphasis on individual terroirs from vieilles vignes (old vines - 40 years or older) that are farmed responsibly. All of the growers that Nicolas Potel works with are either organic certified or farming according to the principles of lutte raisonée (“sustainable viticulture”). This enables Potel to consistently produce the expressive, terroir-driven style that is his vision.

The Saint-Véran appellation lies in the south of the Mâconnais region and its soils are full of fossiliferous limestone from the Middle Jurassic. After the grapes are manually harvested they undergo native yeast fermentation in barrel as well as 100% malolactic fermentation. The wine is then aged in French oak casks, of which 10% is new. It sees no bâtonnage and only a light fining and filtration occurs before bottling. 

Aromatically the wine is a touch brighter, with more spring white flowers and salty sea air on the nose. The palate is crisp, with crunchy orchard fruits, mineral driven acidity, and a mid-palate creaminess which balances the flavours out. 

Fresh & Delicate

Mas Carlot is situated in the south of the Rhône Valley, extending across 76 hectares of pebbly land southeast of Nîmes.

This seductive rosé is a traditional blend of Grenache (60%), Syrah (30%) and Cinsault (10%). Beautifully pale in colour and soft in texture, this is probably the most fashionable vintage to date. Delicate aromas of raspberry, watermelon, citrus fruits & herbes de Provence flow from the glass. The flavours are fruity, dry and crisp with an elegant balance & structure. This is a serious rose at an accessible price.

Mas Carlot Rosé is the perfect rosé to pair with any summertime meal, including tapas and barbecue. It is also a great wine to enjoy with cheese boards or just on it's own at any time!