Le Vieux Pin Petit Rouge
$33.99
"The inspiration for Petit Rouge is to make a wine that adheres to the same exacting standards and level of care as the rest of the wines at Le Vieux Pin, yet at the same time is more accessible upon release. Made from the fruit of younger vines and vines pruned and cropped at less stringent levels, Petit Rouge offers a big bang for your buck. This year’s blend consists mostly of Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon thanks to a gorgeously classic summer growing season with a balanced crop. Cabernet Sauvignon, albeit in a smaller percentage as part of the blend, still makes its presence known on both the nose and the palate with that unique herbacious, spicy, black currant note. The palate is lively and harmonious and a great balance of fruit, tannin and acid make this wine quite versatile and very food friendly." Aged 10 months is primarily neutral oak (16.5% new oak) and only about 800 cases made. This is a wine perfectly suitable to drink on its own, but would also be suitable for just about any casual meal. Pair with mom's meatloaf.
Cesar Marquez Parajes Red
$29.74
César Marquez Perez has deep roots in Bierzo. His family founded the Castro Ventosa winery in 1752 and they still own it today. Thanks to that long history, he has access to many of the top sites in the region. He has grown up in the vines and wineries in Bierzo and has learned from his elders, including his uncle Raul Perez. And now he has his own project. He launched his solo project in 2015 with 4 wines. Today he makes 7 wines from 6 HA of 80 to 120-year-old vines.
He is a part of the new wave of Spanish vignerons who know the greater world of wine and also have a respect for and connection to the land around him. He is finding old vines in uniques sites and vinifying them separately to showcase the ability of Mencía to transmit terroir. He is structuring his lineup of wines in Burgundian fashion - appellation wine, village wine, and single vineyard wines. He is farming organically. He is using partial whole cluster, reductive winemaking and low sulphur. He is making wines that are not just great for Bierzo or Spain, but that stand alongside the best wines from any region or country.
Chateau Les Fiefs de Lagrange
$61.19
Most of the top Chateaux in Bordeaux produce a "second label" wine, and in this case, it's from the illustrious Chateau Lagrange. Created in 1983, “les Fiefs de Lagrange” is so much more than a second wine. Produced from young vines (with an average age of 30 years) and planted on fine gravel soils for the Cabernet Sauvignon and clay for the Merlot, it bears more than a passing resemblance to its big brother.
Heimann & Fiai Baranya Kekfrankos
$33.14
From winemaker and proprieter Heimann Zoltán: The winemaking heritage of our country is a vital source of inspiration for us, but we are creating new wines for the 21st century, not nostalgic imitations of past wines. Because the wine culture of several other countries also inspire us, respect for those is also very important to us. Without free expression progress towards our goal would be impossible. We also believe that biological and cultural diversity are inherently enriching. The style of the Heimann family’s classic wines was developed by Ágnes and Zoltán Heimann. The first decade of the 21st century was dedicated to finding the special Heimann style: we brought top quality cuttings of Cabernet Franc and Merlot from Bordeaux and planted them on the Porkoláb-völgy plateau. When in 2002-2003 the first monopole vineyard of the family, the 11 ha Bati Kereszt was planted a significant acreage was dedicated to Viognier, the one and only white variety of the estate. The west facing slopes were planted with Tannat from Basque Country and Sagrantino from Umbria. These latter varieties give an individual touch to the character of the top of the range wines: Franciscus and Barbár.
Niepoort Drink Me Cool Pet-Nat 1L
$33.99
A pet nat (as in naturally sparkling due to living yeast cells at the time of bottling) that's an easy peasy slightly fizzy red wine perfect for casual fare or the back deck with a tray of tumblers and a mess of cured meats. Niepoort is best known as a producer of Port wine.
Black Hills Addendum Merlot
$51.74
Addendum from Black Hills focuses solely on the grape that is at the core of its classic flagship red Nota Bene: Merlot.
Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc
$65.44
A Kensington Wine Market exclusive and a favourite producer of wine critics everywhere!
Domaine Raymond Usseglio finds in 1963. The family's wine history dates back to 1931, when Raymond's grandfather, Francis, left his native region of Piedmont to settle in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. After more than fifteen years of working in the fields, in 1948, he succeeded in operating a sharecropping farm with his vines and produced his first wine in 1949. The year 1962 marked a significant turning point with the planting of the first vines on the Terres Blanches terroir, now one of the most emblematic of the Domaine. Near these plots, in 1963, Raymond, accompanied by his wife Danielle, took up the torch from his father and founded the Domaine Raymond Usseglio. Their son Stephane now runs the estate, one the most highly regarded in Chateauneuf. The white is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette, Bourbelenc and Piqpoul. It reveals a balanced, round, rich, and complex character. Citrus notes like grapefruit and lemon blend harmoniously with aromas of white-fleshed fruits such as pear and peach, as well as exotic fruits like lychee and mango. A pleasant and balanced acidity is present on the palate, with a long, saline finish. A great option with turkey, goose or salmon.
Poplar Grove Cascadia Pinot Gris
$24.64
Canadian wine, with a caveat: This is made from Washington-grown fruit to compensate for the disastrous 2024 deep freeze. You're going to see more of this, for many, it was the only alternative to having virtually zero wine in 2024. The palate displays bright acidity with flavours of ripe nectarine, apricot, and citrus. A smooth and refreshing mouthfeel and long, delicate finish balance this classic style of Pinot Gris.
Mouchao Dom Rafael White
$23.79
Thomas Reynolds emigrated to Porto in 1824 and founded Thomas Reynolds & Son, dedicated to the export of Port wine, olive oil, wool, honey and cork to England. Around 1832, he moved to Alentejo, attracted by the cork business.
Herdade do Mouchão was one of dozens of estates where the Reynolds family produced cork, and it is likely that there were already vines on the estate by that time.
In 1850, Robert Hunter Reynolds (son of Thomas) assumed the management of the business, and in the early 1880’s his nephew William Reynolds played a crucial role in the fight against phylloxera as President of the National Commission against Phylloxera.