France
-
2018 Picpoul, Baron de Badassière
BA603B18
Taste Notes:
100% Picpoul. A youthful Picpoul with fresh, crisp apple and a touch of citrus on the nose. No oak and early bottling helps retain freshness and delicate aromatics. This wine is pale lemon in colour with a youthful rim. On the nose, it has aromas of citrus fruit, grapefruit, lemon and lime, and floral notes. On the palate, it has attractive weight, with a good balance of zesty acidity and minerality, as well as a touch of saltiness on the finish.
Vegetarian& Vegan
Vineyard:
The grapes for this wine come from selected vineyards around the Etang de Thau, planted on clay and limestone soils.
Vinification:
The grapes arrived in the winery in the early morning and were macerated on the skins for a few hours, then pressed by pneumatic press. The must was cold settled for 48 hours and then fermented at a controlled temperature of 15 °C for 16 days. No oak was used and the wine was bottled early to retain freshness and delicate aromatics.
Producer:
Baron de Badassière is from the Picpoul de Pinet region of the Languedoc, near the coast of the south of France. The name of the wine refers to the Badassière vineyard which lies near the small town of Pomérols. In the 18th century, the vineyard belonged to Baron Charles Emmanuel, a colourful character who was rumoured to be the illegitimate son of King Louis XV. The wines are made exclusively for Liberty Wines by New Zealand winemaker Graeme Paul, with consultant Matt Thomson, at the Cave de Pomérols cooperative where the Vignes de L'Eglise range is also produced.
-
Mersault, Vallet Freres
Founded in 1864 by Pierre Bourée, Vallet Frères is now in the hands of the fourth generation of the family, Bernard.
Meursault lies between the villages of Volnay and Puligny-Montrachet and produces some of the world's greatest white wines. This has a wonderful creaminess on the nose and the palate is well-rounded, poised and elegant with a classic balance between richness and acidity and complex savoury character. This flavoursome wine is already delicious but will benefit from some more time in bottle.
-
Sauvignon "A Peu Pres"
0505901
A stunning little gem from David Maudry, whose family have a long old history of wine production in Tracy-Sur-Loire. This Sauvignon Blanc comes from young vines directly next to their Pouilly-Fumé vineyard. Whilst this vineyard remains unclassified, the soils and aspect are the same, indeed the wine tastes almost identical (at a fraction of the price)... lots of that struck-flint note we all love in Pouilly-Fumé, and then a nice elegance and gentle tang.
Seeing Pouilly-Fumé (and Sancerre) getting rather out of reach price-wise this was an exciting find.
The name, ‘À Peu Près’, means ‘as good as’ (as good as Pouilly Fumé) and we were delighted to have this wine on our list.
-
Quincy, Domaine du Tremblay, Vieilles Vignes
Quincy is a small and typically paysan village serviced by a single lousy bar and a boulangerie with little else (apart from the obvious opportunity to taste with growers) to attract the casual visitor. In fact one wonders why, when the appellation was created in 1936, that it wasn’t christened after the neighbouring commune of Brinay which at least exudes some character and draws in tourists who come to admire the 12th Century frescos in its pretty little church.
This wine is made from vines that our 30-50 years & is a beautiful expression of Sauvignon Blanc with citrus aromas on the nose, particularly grapefruit, alongside menthol, pepper, acacia and white flowers. An elegant combination of fruit and freshness on the palate.
Should be opened within 5 years to enjoy the freshness and fruitiness of Sauvignon blanc. But you can forget
it in your cellar for a little longer. Vertical tastings proved that white Loire wines can be kept up to 10 years.To enjoy with foie gras or lobster. This wine is also a nice aperitif!
-
Saumur Blanc 'La Jouvencelle' Domaine de Rocheville
The Saumur Champigny appellation is one of the best-known Loire wines. Protected on the south-east by the forest of Fontevraud, by the Loire on the north-east and by the Thouet on the west, it enjoys the lowest rainfall in the region, with an average of 600mm per annum. By comparison, Angers, which is 40km away, has 850 mm p.a. and Cholet, 60km away, has an average annual rainfall of 950mm.
Domaine de Rocheville is one of the latest vineyards to be created in the Saumur Champigny appellation. Philippe Porché, a wine enthusiast, had been looking for a vineyard in this area for years: after several trials. He finally discovered the land in Parnay, where he based Domaine de Rocheville, at the end of 2004. The first grapes were harvested in 2005, thanks to the help of his wife, Agnes, and JeromeCallet, a young soil specialist. Since then they have moved on with a succession of wines, a wider experience, a sharper philosophy, and their reputation and fame have steadily increased.
La Jouvencelle is a lively and refreshing Saumur white wine, an elixir of youth!
Colour combining delicate nuances of green and gold. Tropical and citrus fruit aromas and floral notes with a hint of vanilla. A very well-balanced wine, with a suave, discreet attack and an elegant, fresh and very fruity finish in the mouth.
100% Chenin Blanc, from a special part of the vineyard on sandy clay soil.. South-south-west exposition.
The grapes are gently pressed in a pneumatic press, then the juice is put into large barrels for the alcoholic fermentation. The Jouvencelle is stirred regularly if necessary, so the juice is enhanced by the fine lees. Ageing from 6 to 9 months depending on the vintage, to get the best from the Chenin’s freshness and fruit.
WINEMAKER’S ADVICE:
Perfect as an aperitif, the Jouvencelle goes very well with grilled fish, fried prawns, Blanquette of veal and choucroute, and blue cheese and goats’ cheese. Serve cold, between 12° and 14°C
Delicious when it is young, the Jouvencelle will retain its freshness for nearly 10 years in the cellar.
-
Domaine Fernand Engel, Pinot Blanc Reserve
This is a delightful Pinot Blanc with intense fruit forward nose, with a youthful expression of peach, quince and vanilla. Fresh and soft on the palate. A very delicate rounded wine with discrete, refined acidity and a persistent fruit finish.
Certified organic and vegan friendly, it's perfect when paired with onion tart, pâtés, chicken vol-au-vent, soufflés with cheese or potatoes and
green vegetables.Since 2001, the family's land has been managed exclusively based on organic farming methods.Since 2012, they have been certified organic and now Fernand Engel is the largest organic estate in Alsace. The company is known for its consistent commitment to respect nature.
The diversity of the soils and the variability of the climate give Alsatian wines an eminently complex dimension, making each vintage a new challenge. Thanks to their experience and expertise, they have understood that it is by respecting the raw material, by listening to it, that they will guide the genesis of the wine as naturally and as faithfully as possible. Manipulation is limited and each wine is a reflection of its terroir.
-
Domaine Laroche Côte de Léchet Chablis Premier Cru / Left Bank
One of the rarest Premier Cru of Domaine Laroche marked with an attractive liveliness. Elaborated in limited quantity.
Domaine Laroche is deeply rooted in the history of Chablis, based in the ‘Obédiencerie’, a former monastery in Chablis itself, where wine has been made for over 1,000 years. The quality of the wines is consistently impeccable, with the Chablis hallmark of crystalline purity and racy acidity. Their ownership of vineyards is remarkable and sets them apart from their main competitors. Chablis is a fragmented region, yet Domaine Laroche owns 90 hectares of vines, including 21 hectares of Premier Cru and six hectares of Grand Cru vineyards. In addition to their own vineyards, the domaine has developed long-standing purchasing partnerships with 40 small growers; the Laroche Chablis is made from these partnerships, while the Domaine Laroche wines are made from their own vineyards.
Pair with oysters, smoked salmon and mature cheese.
-
La Motte, Marlène & Nicolas Chevalier, Crozes-Hermitage
100% Marsanne, aged in 400 liters French oak barrels for 6 months. Pale yellow in color, with very strong green reflections.
Very intense nose, with fresh, ripe fruits (peach, apricot), green almond, brioche, mint, lightly toasted.
To be enjoyed with fish, shellfish.
The Chevalier family are polyculturalists who, apart from cultivating vineyards, farm the other crop famous in the region: apricots. Until 2009, they delivered all their grapes to the co-operative in Tain which, ironically, their ancestors had helped to create 100 years before. Their 17 hectares of vines extend on the superior slopes of the appellation, above the village of Chanos Curson. This, in turn is divided into 13 hectares of Syrah, 2.5 hectares of Marsanne and 1.5 hectares of Roussanne. Everything is vinified in their new cuverie, built to accommodate the 2013 harvest.
They produce 6 wines. The three whites are named after their respective lieux-dits and receive the same vinification in new 400 litre new oak barrels with full malolactic. Despite the systematic use of new wood, the whites are all very discrete, with site and variety more expressive than the oak. Hauts de Motte is 100% Roussanne, whilst La Motte is 100% Marsanne, both grown on limestone soils. Les Pends is also all Marsanne, but planted on granite-based soils on the slope between Chanos Curson and Mercurol.
With the reds, Les Voleyses is a parcel planted on limestone soils in 1986. This is fermented in concrete but transferred to stainless steel for its short ageing period. La Motte has an average of 10% Marsanne blended back into the final wine, whilst the Syrah component is aged in new oak. The white is used mostly to temper the effect of the wood and create a fine balance. The make-up of the Cuvée Marius enjoys the same vinification and red-white proportions but is from a different galet, clay and limestone-based parcel planted in the late 1980s which takes its name from the original vigneron proprietor.
-
Joseph Cattin Riesling Reserve
Dry and crisp, this Riesling features the pure flavors of the grape married to
Alsace’s unique terroir. It pairs particularly well with seafood, white meats and
the traditional choucroute (sauerkraut).Most of the vines are grown around Voegtlinshoffen and Eguisheim, located in the
prestigious Upper Rhine region and are planted on slopes at the base of the Vosges
Mountains.Color: Pale yellow with green hints.
Nose: Fresh and mineral, floral, citrus fruit.
Palate: Wonderfully dry, mineral characteristics, peach notes. -
Joseph Cattin Gewurztraminer Reserve
Flavorful with rich aromas and distinctive notes of ripe tropical fruits, this wine
can be enjoyed alone or paired with spicy and exotic cuisine, strong cheeses or
desserts.Most of the vines are grown around Voegtlinshoffen and Eguisheim, located in the
prestigious Upper Rhine region and are planted on slopes at the base of the Vosges
Mountains.Color: Rich gold.
Nose: Complex, exotic and spicy with notes of lychee, mango and rose.
Palate: Exotic, aromatic, spicy and round. -
Cuvee Noble N°2, Famille Cattin
Cuvée Noble N°2 is a unique blend of Riesling and Pinot Gris. Both varietals are considered “noble” varietals from Alsace. Together they make this wine fresh, aromatic with fruity flavors, very food-friendly.
Appearance: bright gold
Nose: Citrus notes, pear and Mirabelle.
Palate: Zesty flavors and fruitiness with a touch of
spiciness and a fresh finish.Perfect as a pre-dinner drink. Excellent with seafood, fish (smoked fish), white meats, cheeses.
-
Macon-Cruzille, Chateau de Messey
Loaded with hazelnut butter, lemon, a hint of tangerine and a light touch of oak, this is a very smart dinner party wine. Such a delicious mouthful that delivers a really decent slug of Burgundy for the price. Organic, and with very low added SO2 and just a couple of hundred cases made a year. It's going to get better still in the next 18 months. Drink now to 2024. Excellent value.
Chateau de Messey is a new star from a special terroir in southern burgundy called 'Cruzille'. Boasting 1,000 years of history (they are mentioned in manuscripts dating back to the 9th century CE), Château de Messey is located just outside Tournus on a hilltop 300-400 metres above sea level and surrounded by woods. Owner Marc Dumont purchased the chateau complete with ancient vaulted cellars and 89ha of vines in the early '90s and the quality has sky-rocketed in the last few years. The estate is run by Fredereic Servais, named Winemaker of the Year in 2017 by Appelation Bourgogne for his work at Clos des Poncetys. The character is deeper and more complex than most Macon, and in fact, this is an hour to the North of Macon. This is from a delimitated part of a clos of 4 hectares and much higher than most vineyards in Burgundy.
