Tasting notes, February 1, 2025; Classic French

                     Classic French

2022 Luneau-Papin La Grange Vieilles Vignes
On Sale for $21.99
Muscadet / Loire Valley / France
100% Melon de Bourgogne
The southerly exposed La Grange vineyard was planted in 1974 and yields this concentrated Muscadet. The wine is aged for 7 months on its lees in glass lined tanks. 
2023 Curveux Macon-Fuisse
On Sale for $19.99
Fuisse / Maconnais / France
100% Chardonnay
Sourced from 30–40-year-old vines planted primarily in clay, Curveux’s Macon Fuisse spends 8 months in stainless steel prior to bottling. Rich and leading with fruit, this is an outstanding white burgundy value.
2022 Stater West Rouge
On Sale for $27.99
Saumur / Loire Valley / France
100% Cabernet Franc
Stater West’s entry level Saumur is sourced from a single vineyard which features sand and clay soils. The wine was refined for 6 months in stainless steel prior to bottling.
2022 Melinand Chiroubles
On Sale for $29.99
Chiroubles / Beaujolais / France
100% Gamay
Composed of 100% Gamay grapes harvested from 50 year-old vines planted in the granite soils of the high elevation Chiroubles (Beaujolais) appellation, this new release opens with expressive aromas of raspberry and spice.
2015 La Garde Pessac-Leognan
On Sale for $39.99
Graves / Bordeaux / France
52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot
A classic vintage from a classic appellation, La Garde’s Pessac Rouge was aged for 14 months in 38% new French oak. La Garde is a small property managed under the larger Dourthe negociant umbrella.
2022 Saint-Damien Souteyrades
On Sale for $39.99
Gigondas / Southern Rhone Valley / France
80% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre
The Grenache vines employed for the Souteyrades were planted in the 1940’s while the Mourvedre vineyards were planted in 1977. The soils here feature broken stone atop clay and the resulting wine offers powerful weight and intense aromatics.