Saturday, May 27th,
at Le Petit Bijou
Exciting New Producers
from Italy & France
w/ Elixer Wine Group
Elixer Wine Tasting
Le Petit Bijou
Saturday, May 27th
2pm- 4pm, $20
With Special Guest, Ricardo Ponce of Alternative Wines
2019 Guerrieri Rizzardi Soave Classico, Veneto, Italy $19.99
70% Garganega, 30% Chardonnay
Brilliant straw color. This wine has aromas that combine floral notes with fine notes of fresh fruit. Dry and clean with a lively freshness.
Guerrieri-Rizzardi, the historic house in Veneto, dates back to the unification of two ancient estates in 1913, when Carlo Rizzardi from Valpolicella, married Guiseppina Guerrieri of Bardolino.
The new winery is completely solar powered, combining the best that technology offers in a carbon neutral way with vineyards that have been in the family for centuries.
With the energy of the new younger generation in the family, Guerrieri-Rizzardi has experienced a renaissance of sorts over the last twenty years and is known throughout Europe as one of the finest, most classical producers in the region, with wines built on tension and “cut.”
“Classico” designated Soave is a relatively rare thing to find nowadays, representing only 15% of the Soave region’s production – “Classico” designated wines are sourced from the (far superior) original hillside plots that were the zone’s standard prior to the massive/controversial expansion of the DOC in the 1970’s.
2020 Jean Sambardier Beaujolais Blanc, Beaujolais, France $21.99
Brothers Fred and Damien Sambardier are the latest generation to run their family’s celebrated winery in Denicé. The family owns 84 acres of vines, which are divided into 50 separate vineyard sites scattered throughout the region with holdings in Fleurie, Julienas, Moulin à Vent, and Brouilly. Farming and winemaking veer toward the natural spectrum, with no additions of sulfur during winemaking. These are traditional wines and they are just loaded with flavor.
Confidential but increasingly recognized, white Beaujolais are the pearl of the vineyard
Located in the village of Denice, at a place called “La Cote” on the south slope, the soil is argilocalcaire stony with some marls in depth.
The naturally farmed, brush trained vines here are rooted in granite and schist. Always showing deep mineral flavor, they are a minimum of 50 years old and many push 100 years of age.
The Chardonnay grapes, combines fabric and freshness, balanced between roundness and finesse doubled with a zest of complexity and a hint of vanilla when raised in barrels. On the nose they offer subtle fruit aromas, fresh pear, fresh almond, exotic fruit and white flowers.
2017 Jean Sambardier "Les Fouillouses" Julienas, Beaujolais, France $25.99
100% Gamay Noir
Very beautiful ruby color, subtle aromas of peonies, violet and cinnamon. Very ample with nice fruity attack in the mouth, a wine that will bloom after a few years of cellars.
Semi-carbonic maceration. Aging is done on fine lees in oak for 3 to 4 months.
2020 Guerrieri Rizzardi Valpolicella Classico, Veneto, Italy $21.99
Varietal: 70% Corvina & Corvinone, 10% Rondinella, 10% Croatina, and 10% Merlot
In many ways, this tastes and feels more akin to a “superiore” even though there is no oak used. There is depth and structure with clearly defined, very pure, dark fruit. Ready now, this will develop nicely over the coming months. Pair with meat sauce pasta, roast meat, veal with tuna sauce, spinach soufflé, salami, cold pork meats, and steak tartar
2019 Enzo Boglietti Dolcetto d'Alba, Piedmont, Italy $25.99
Enzo Boglietti established his winery in 1991 in the heart of La Morra after growing up farming grapes, tending dairy cows and making fine cheeses with his father.
Since then his holdings have grown to include 50 acres of single vineyard sites scattered across the Langhe.
Enzo might well be the most open minded, progressive grower/vintner you’ll come across in Piemonte – Visit his winery during harvest and you will find new experiments around each corner, with carefully marked lots bubbling away in every vessel imaginable, from botti, to foudre, to concrete egg, to barrique.
A superb, full-bodied Dolcetto, with vivid fruit, earthy and savory notes and ripe tannins that will allow it to age gracefully.
50% aged in used French barrels for 9 months, 50% in stainless steel then blended for 30 days prior to bottling to integrate flavors. Slightly alkaline soils of clay and sand.
2020 Enzo Boglietti Barbera d'Alba, Piedmont, Italy $32.99
Intense and complex bouquet. Floral, fruity with lightly perceivable oak. Full bodied, ripe and savory with vibrant acidity. It is true to its promise with good longevity.
Aged in used French barrels for 9 months, then returned to tank for 30 days prior to bottling to integrate flavors. Soil is limestone and clay with crushed stone and sand.
2019 Enzo Boglietti Nebbiolo Langhe, Piedmont, Italy $37.99
Varietal: Nebbiolo
Sustainably farmed, picked by hand, and fermented with native yeasts. Aged in used French barrels for 9 months then returned to tank for 30 days prior to bottling to integrate flavors. Soil is a mix of clay and limestone, with a higher content of sand than surrounding appellations.
Intense spicy and floral nose with some black fruit. Full-bodied, elegant and spicy, with ripe tannins, great balance and with a pleasant, long finish.