Pierre Gimonnet & Fils, "Champagne Brut Sélection Belles Années"
Champagne, FRA

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chardonnay (NV)  $75

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It’s a grower champagne! Didier Gimonnet is the second generation of growers to direct this estate, with 28 hectares of holdings in grand and premier cru villages, predominantly in the Côte de Blancs. The winery is in the premier cru village of Cuis where Didier’s family has been growing grapes since 1750. Pierre Gimonnet, Dider’s grandfather, started bottling estate champagne in 1935. In addition to the 13.5 hectares in Cuis, Gimonnet owns 11 hectares of chardonnay vines in the grand cru villages of Cramant and Chouilly, plus another hectare in Oger and two in Vertus. Gimonnet also owns half a hectare of pinot noir, split between the grand cru of Aÿ and 1er cru of Mareuil-sur Aÿ. This champagne spends 72 months on the lees. This brings forth yeasty and creamy notes of brioche that intermingle with notes of melon and lemon zest for a mineral finish. Truly a celebration bottle!

Le Rocher des Violettes, "Montlouis-sur-Loire Pétillant"
Loire Valley, Touraine, FR

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chenin blanc (2017)  $43

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Winemaker Xavier Weisskopf earned a degree in viticulture and enology at the wine school in Beaune.  He then went to work for Louis Barruol at Château de Saint Cosme in Gigondas. He quickly became Louis’ chef du cave, and made four vintages there. In January 2005, Xavier bought 22 acres of vines in the Saint Martin le Beau sector of Montlouis and an enormous, raw 15th century stone cellar—originally a quarry dug deep into the Loire’s chalk limestone bank in Amboise. The vines (chenin blanc, cabernet franc, grolleau and malbec) are scattered about in various parcels and were planted at different times, but the majority were put into the ground before WWII. This 100% chenin blanc is bracingly dry and effervescent. It is vinified in both stainless steel and old wooden vats and then blended to achieve balance. The result is a grassy, floral wine with a fruity and salty finish. Notes of cherry blossom and marigold perfume with golden apples. 

Gabernik 23, "Rumeni Muškat Pét Nat"

Podravje, Štajerska, SVN

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rumeni muškat (NV)  $33

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Gabernik 23 is a small family-owned winery in Štajerska, Slovenia. Janko Bogatic started working alongside his father in the vineyard when he was 10. He took an interest in dairy farming, but was forced to return to the family property to manage the vineyards after the sudden passing of his father. 30 years later, Janko is farming 9 hectares of vineyards situated on the slopes around Ritoznoj in the foothills of the Pohorje range. While some of the grapes are sold to another local winemaker, Janko began bottling his own wines under the Gabernik 23 label in 2018. There are many varieties planted in the Gabernik 23 vineyards, but the focus is on the less fashionable varieties, like yellow muscat and zweigelt. This is a delightfully rosy and tropical sparkling wine. The large bubbles and persistent effervescence show notes of pineapple, honeysuckle and a kick of argula-like green spice.  

Botromagno, "Gravina Bianco"

Puglia, Gravina, ITA

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greco, malvasia (2020) $31

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In 1991, the D’Agostino family merged with the local cooperative winery of more than 100 growers, creating Botromagno. The D’Agostinos invested in the Gravina DOC, recovering the production of this white wine and rebuilding its reputation as an elegant and versatile wine. Today, they are the only producers of the flavorful and refreshing gravina. This gorgeous, soft and silky wine smells like golden apple cider and tastes like buttery, caramelized tarte tatin. Excellent for solo drinking or richer seafood dishes. ​

Weingut Bründlmayer, "L& T Grüner Veltliner"

Niederösterreich, Kamptal, AUT

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grüner veltliner (2020)  $28

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Weingut Bründlmayer is situated in Langenlois, upstream along the Danube in the Lower Austrian Kamp Valley. Willi Bründlmayer leads the family estate together with his wife Edwige, Thomas Klinger and Master of Wine Andreas Wickhoff. This is a lovely spring and early summer white, flush with floral notes, lime zest and the lingering taste of spicy spring greens. Excellent for solo drinking or with light tapas. 

Red Tail Ridge, "Good Karma Riesling"

Finger Lakes, Seneca Lake, USA

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riesling (2020) $25

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Red Tail Ridge Winery is owned and operated by husband and wife Mike Schnelle and Nancy Irelan. The bulk of Red Tail Ridge’s production is riesling, but they also grow several clones of chardonnay and pinot noir alongside small experimental plots of blaufrankisch, dornfelder and teroldego. As a former executive in charge of viticulture and oenology R&D at a large winery, Nancy strongly believes in sustainability and the winery is the only LEED gold-certified green winery in New York. Along with their commitment to sustainability, Red Tail Ridge works within their local community. Learn more about Red Tail Ridge’s role in community-supported relief from food insecurity. This riesling has a lovely, bright acidity that’s balanced with notes of stone fruit like peaches and apricots and the scent of white flowers. We suggest pairing this with spicy foods and summer salads.

Bodegas Latúe, "Freak of Nature Rosado"

Castilla-La Mancha, Villanueva de Alcardete, ESP

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tempranillo (2021)  $25

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Bodegas Latúe began as San Isidro Cooperative in 1954. At that time 131 winegrowers were determined to produce exceptional Spanish wines. Currently 450 families’ descendants of the founding members, represented by 630 associates with an average age of 55 years and an average estate size of 7 hectares, constitute the soul of Bodegas Latúe. Bodegas Latúe was added in 2007 under the direction of Blanca Muro, who also leads the coop. he texture and look of this wine transported me to drinking nigori, a delicate, unfiltered sake, at a New York sushi counter. Floral and salty with notes of  yuzu, bitter melon and white strawberry. We recommend it with sushi and spring salads.

Bodegas Latúe, "La Mancha Tempranillo Rosado"

Castilla-La Mancha, Villanueva de Alcardete, ESP

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tempranillo (2021) $22 

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Bodegas Latúe began as the San Isidro Cooperative in 1954. At that time, 131 winegrowers were determined to produce Spanish wines that could compete with any other European wine. Currently there are 450 families in the cooperative, represented by 630 associates with an average age of 55 years and an average estate size of 7 hectares. The Bodegas Latúe label was added to the San Isidro Cooperative in 2007, under the direction of Blanca Muro, who still leads the co-op. The vineyards are located in central Spain, in Castilla-La Mancha. Bodegas Latúe, La Mancha Tempranillo Rosado 2021 is their first 2021 vintage to be released and should be enjoyed ASAP. This rose is a perfect choice for spring and killing the winter doldrums. It’s got a yogurt-like tartness that gives way to the delicate fruits and finishes with white pepper. Ideal for drinking all by its lonesome as warm days become a more regular occurrence.

Jász Laci, "Rising Sun"

Balaton, Somló, HUN

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olaszrizling, juhfark, chardonnay (2020) $43 

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Jász Laci founded the “Nagy Bajuszú Jász Laci Pincéje” (The Big Mustached Jász Laci’s Winery) in 2013 on Somló hill, a volcanic butte in western Hungary. His two first wines were both regionally traditional skin contact styles: an orange wine and a síller (minimal skin contact red). He went on to complete degrees in winemaking and viticulture, with a thesis was on low-sulfur winemaking and theKartulian (Georgian) winemaking method. Now, he only makes wines thatspend time on their skins. He adds zero or very little sulfur in the cellar. His vineyards are in the Somló region, Hungary’s smallest appellation and once an underwater volcano. Now dormant, its slopes of ancient sea sediment, hardened lava, and basalt are home to some of Hungary’s steepest vineyards.This is one of the most unique orange wines we’ve tasted. Instead of a typically tea-like and tannic presentation, this blend is bursting with baking spice notes of nutmeg and almond extract. Tangerine acid and fruit with a smoky finish. 

Gönc Winery, "Anna Rosé"

Podravje, SVN

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žametna črnina, pinot noir, pinot grigio, blaufränkisch (2021)  $30

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In 1936, Peter Gene’s great grandfather built Gönc Winery’s first wine cellar and planted the vineyard around it in the small town of Dubrovnik in Slovenia. After World War II, he moved to the city Ptuj where he started working in the Ptujska Klet – Ptuj wine cellar as a cellar cleaner and worked his way up to head winemaker and CEO of the oldest winery in Slovenia. Peter’s father also worked at the same winery but on the side, he also planted 24 acres of vineyards to keep up the family tradition (now 28 acres total). When Peter came of age, they built a new cellar in Ptuj and started Gönc again. Peter is the 4th generation of winemakers and winegrowers in the family. This is the perfect rose for drinking as the weather turns. Springy notes of white strawberry and lavender florals with a bright acidic peak and crisp finish.

Bodegas Frontonio, "Microcósmico"

Aragón, Valdejalón, SPA

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garnacha (2018) $30

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Bodegas Frontonio is the personal project of Fernando Mora of Aragón, Spain. Mora and his team own fifty hectares of beautiful old bush vines in rocky clay-limestone. Aragón is thought to be the birthplace of the garnacha grape, which makes up 100% of this wine. This is a bright and juicy gem that still has depth. Notes of charcoal provide a foil to the robust tart, red fruit notes of red currants and cherries. Light bodied with a dry finish. 

Red Tail Ridge, "Finger Lakes Pinot Noir"

Finger Lakes, Seneca Lake, USA

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pinot noir (2020) $31

 This 100% pinot noir is a light and juicy expression of the varietal that spends 10 months on the lees in old oak barrels. This softens the tannins and brings out herbaceous notes of oregano and thyme that nicely contrasts with the fruity, hard cherry candy flavors.

Casa Vinicola D’Angelo, "Aglianico Del Vulture"

Basilicata, Barile, IT

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aglianico (2017)  $34

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D’Angelo is a fourth generation family vineyard in Basilicata, Italy. It’s wines made their first appearance at the 1924 Bari Trade Fair and began importing to the US in the 1980s. The family has helped to grow the market for wines from this region, worldwide. Ruby red to garnet in color, this full bodied red wine is robust and tannic with notes of black figs, blackberries and cedar.

Giribaldi, "Schiena del Crottino"

Piedmont, Dolcetto D'Alba, ITA

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dolcetto (2017)  $26

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The Giribaldi vineyards and winery in Piedmont, Italy are run by 10 family members who are third generation viticulturalists and wine makers. In 2001, the Giribaldis began the process of switching their vineyards over to organic production and in 2004, they received their certification. In 2015, they began experimenting with low sulphite winemaking and natural production methods. Christie says this wine “does a good job of representing that it grows in the dirt,” which makes me laugh but also feels right. This lighter-bodied red has a nice fruit-forward structure heavy on notes of blackberry and balanced with black pepper spice and a springy green quality. Serve with a slight chill.

Domaine de la Marinière, "Chinon La Peau de l'Ours"

Loire Valley, Chinon, FRA

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cabernet franc (2020) $35

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The Domaine de la Marinière, situated in Panzoult on the eastern edge of Chinon, has been farmed by the Desbourdes family since 1965. The land here was initially used as a polycultural farm, raising animals and growing cereal grains in addition to grapes. Renaud Desbourdes returned to help his father in the 1980s, turning the focus to grape growing and winemaking and expanding the vineyard plantings, and eventually took full control of the domaine in 1999. Today, Renaud’s son, Boris, has joined his father full-time, and is helping to take this traditional family farm into the next generation. Boris initially became passionate about organic farming after working with Vincent Laval in Champagne, and upon his return, he immediately transitioned his family’s vineyards to organics. This 100% cabernet franc from the Loire Valley hits all of the classic notes of cabernet franc with green notes of bell peppers and the woodsy spice of white peppercorn. The twist is that this wine was carbonically macerated, which brings forward fresh red fruit notes and some extra zip.

Barbara Lebled, "Hey! Un Dernier Côt?"

Loire, Vin de France, FRA

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côt/malbec (2020) $37

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Barbara Lebled is the daughter of Laurent LeBled who made his first vintage in 2010 after switching careers and learning the trade. In 2019, Laurent was able to purchase 10 hectares of vines and a cellar from a retiring vigneron in the same proximity to the Saint-Aignan vines he’d been working. After acquiring all of this land, Barbara stepped in to help her father and in return was granted 2.5 hectares to begin her own project. This is her first independent vintage from that land. The name of the wine is a pun. "Hey! Un Dernier Coup?" roughly translates to "Hey, One last Drink?". The word coup has been replaced with Côt, the grape this wine is made with. This wine is carbonically macerated, a process that highlights the fruit notes and brings them to the forefront. Notes of black plums, and blackberries mingled with deeper notes of earth and balsamic, leaving this wine complex but still light on its feet.