Saturday June 24th
Swoon-Worthy French Wines from Loire & Rhone Valley!
French Wine Tasting
Le Petit Bijou
Saturday, June 24th
2pm - 4pm, $20
With Special Guest, Allaina Lawrence of International Wines
Call 256-964-7980 to Reserve!
2021 Chateau d'Epire Savienierres, Loire Valley, France $25.99
This classic Savennières wine has a complex bouquet of wild flowers, sherry flora and chalk dust and a generous palate of ripe orchard fruit with subtle undertones of honey and minerals prior to a long, dry elegant finish.
Château d’Epiré is an 11-hectare estate. This bottling is sourced from 30- 55-year-old vines in schist soils. From importer Kermit Lynch: "Despite the beauty and timelessness of the building structures, it is the vineyard for which the domaine is best known. The Savennières from Epiré is regarded as Grand Cru. The domaine works primarilywith three parcels: La Croix Picot, Le Parc, and Le Hu-Boyau. It is the latter that sits just above another famous vineyard, La Coulée de Serrant. The soils here are rich, and the microclimate is ideal. Southern and southeastern sun exposure brings ripeness to the grapes, while the proximity to the Loire River keeps the temperatures moderate. The subsoils are comprised of sandstone and schist, and the topsoil is a beautiful blue slatey schist that covers the vineyard floors, lending nerve and firmness."
2022 Salvard Cheverny Rose, Loire Valley, France $19.99
Variety: Pinot Noir and Gamay
Five hardworking generations of the Delaille family have been working at Domaine du Salvard since 1898. The Domaine is located in the Cheverny appellation of the Loire River Valley, regionally adjacent to Vouvray and Sancerre. Gamay, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir are the focals for the fruity red and rosé wines of Salvard. Two brothers and their father manage the domaine, carrying on traditions established by their ancestors. They have introduced sustainable farming practices into the heritage of the vineyards. Importer Kermit Lynch was the first to discover the charm and value of Cheverny back in 1978. He took on Domaine du Salvard in 1992, a year before Cheverny was promoted to AOC wine law status. As always, Kermit is ahead of the curve.
2022 Chanterleuserie Bourgueil Rose, Loire Valley, France $16.99
The Boucard family produces this lovely Cabernet Franc rosé from the sandy soils around their home and winery in the central Loire. Pretty and elegant, with a taste of fresh peaches and nectarines, it is perfect for your summer table.
Just outside of the village of Benais, in the heart of the Touraine, sits lovely Domaine de la Chanteleuserie. This “place where the larks sing,” as the name means, is perched on a limestone plateau in an idyllic landscape.
2021 Domaine De La Grezille Les Charlottes Grolleau, Loire Valley, France $29.99
The Domaine de la Grézille vineyard extends over 23 Ha, between Loire and Layon, in the town of Tuffalun.
It is nestled between Anjou and Saumurois, on this magnificent terroir of " Anjou Blanc " which allows the expression so typical of our grape varieties: Chenin, Grolleau, Pineau d'Aunis, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc.
Part of the vineyard has been renewed since our arrival in 1996. However, we are keen to keep parcels of old vines including a 1964 Cabernet and a 1947 Grolleau which are "the living memory" of the local historic grape varieties.
2020 Breyton Crozes-Hermitage Cuvee Chales, Rhone Valley, France $39.99
Cuvée Charles is Jacques Breyton’s single-vineyard wine named after his wife’s grandfather, the vineyard’s original owner. The 1ha vineyard was planted between 1946 and 1950 in the lieu-dit of Beaubrunet in the village of Érôme, where the terroir is nearly identical to neighboring Hermitage. The steep, granitic hillside with southwest exposure yields intensely perfumed wines with all of the grace and finesse associated with the wines of Hermitage. The site has been farmed biodynamically and plowed manually since 2002 by Jacques. Breyton’s wines are made with minimal intervention and low sulfur levels.
2021 Domaine Aleofane Crozes-Hermitage Rouge, Rhone Valley, France $41.99
Natacha Chave, sister of renowned winemaker Yann Chave, studied philosophy before eventually following her brother into the wonderful realm of Syrah. Instead of joining her parents and Yann at their Domaine, she purchased small plots in Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage. Aléofane translates as a “gem of truth” and is a reflection of Natacha’s expression of Syrah.
She made her first vintage in 2004. It’s a manual labour of love, all her vineyard work is meticulously done by hand and everything is organic, with sulphur use being kept to an absolute minimum and indigenous yeasts used. The wines are bottled with no fining or filtration. When combating problems in the vineyard, she prepares her own holistic treatments from spices, oils, and plants. The St Joseph is from vines near Tournon in the south of the appellation, organically farmed and planted on granite,matured for 12 months in demi-muids and barrique. The Crozes Hermitage is from 50-year old vines grown on alluvial-clay and galets. It sees the same 12 months maturation, this time exclusively in 600 Lt demi-muids.