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Chateau Lamothe de Haux Bordeaux Blanc, France $14.99
Château Lamothe's foundations date back to the 16th century. A renovation in the 19th century transformed the building into a charming residence whose facade is pictured on the label. Located in the commune of Haux, on top of a clay-limestone slope in the heart of the Bordeaux wine country, this estate has been devoted to winegrowing from the very beginning, and has belonged to the same family for 4 generations (as of 1956). The 80 hectares of vineyards, including those of neighbouring Château Manos, purchased in1991, are managed by Anne Néel and her children, Maria & Damien Chombart. This wonderful blend is 40% Sauvignon blanc, 40% Semillon and 20% Muscadelle. This particular blend, which goes back centuries, has become rather rare in recent years. Check out their website.
Stoller Family Estate Pinot Noir Rose, Oregon $19.99
Bill Stoller spent the first few weeks of his life here on the property and was raised on the family farm outside of Dayton, Oregon. Success in business has enabled Bill to pursue his passion of wine and to contribute to his community. True to his Oregon upbringing, Bill sees himself as a custodian of the land he loves, and cares deeply about sustainability and environmental protection. Their approach is to work with nature instead of fighting it. By fostering a habitat that supports a pests’ natural predators, they encourage the ecosystem that keeps them in check. They also have planted multiple acres of native perennial wildflowers that maintain the vineyard’s natural balance. This wonderful rose of Pinot Noir had been a cornerstone of their production for over a decade. Check out their website.
Domaine de la Solitude Cotes du Rhone Rouge, France $16.99
The Wine Estate “Domaine de la Solitude” belongs to one of the oldest families of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, whose roots go back to the 15th century. In the 17th century, Hélène BARBERINI, a descendant of the illustrious Tuscan family of the same name, married Claude MARTIN, owner of a vineyard in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Their grandson would give a huge boost to “La Solitude” by creating the first label for the Appellation. Thus, “le Vin de la Solitude” became a symbol of quality and began to be exported, allowing a great terroir to come into its own. Eight generations later the Estate is still a family affair and is now run by Florent LANÇON. The grapes used to make this wine are grown in the stony, limestone and clay terroirs typical of the southern Rhône Valley. It is a blend of three emblematic varietals: Grenache noir, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Check out their website.
Andrew Murray Vineyards Syrah Tous Les Jours, California $19.99
Andrew Murray’s winemaking philosophy is fundamentally simple, and has been informed by thirty years of experience in France, Australia, and California. He has always believed that wines are made in the vineyard, and that winemakers are simply stewards of the land. Truly remarkable wines are not “made”, rather, they are grown. It’s all about soil and climate, or as the French would say, ‘terroir’. The Syrah Tous les Jours is a quintessential Santa Ynez Valley Syrah. It is heavily inspired by Northern Rhone Syrah (Hermitage) and Australian Shiraz (Barossa Valley). Check out their website.
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