POUILLY FUME, LOIRE, FRANCE
DOMAINE LA CROIX CANAT
Domaine La Croix Canat is based in the village of Pouilly sur Loire and managed by Marlene Tinel – Blondelet under the guidance of her mother Anick. They are 12th and 13th generation of family of winegrowers in Pouilly who have been tending these vineyards for over 400 years. Although they grow some Pinot Noir (in Sancerre) they are internationally known for their white wines made from Sauvignon Blanc: - Pouilly Fume and Sancerre. The Domaine had been HVE (High Environmental) certified since 2014 and is consistently working on the protection of the environment and biodiversity in their vineyards.
Pouilly Fume “L’Epinete” comes from south-east facing vineyards planted on Villers Limestone (over 35 y old), fermented at low temperatures with extended ageing on lees in stainless steel tanks. Bottled without malolactic fermentation, wines show great freshness and aromatic structure
Sancerre Vendagotte comes from vineyards older than 40 y on limestone base, but rich in flint. Treatment in the winery is the same as Pouilly Fume, btu high level of Flint gives these wines more structure, precision and elegance. a textbook Sancerre.
CHABLIS, BURGUNDY,FRANCE
DOMAINE LA CORNASSE
Domaine La Cornasse is based in a village of Beines just outside of the town of Chablis surrounded by number of 1er Cru vineyards the biggest of which is 1er Cru Beauroy., The domaine is run by the youngest generation of Geoffroy family which has been tending vineyards there since 1850. All the wines are produced form the domain grown grapes and bottled at the estate. The portfolio currently includes Petit Chablis which comes from the vineyards on top of the hill above the winery, making light fragrant wines, village Chablis from the richer soils further down in the valley and the jewel in the crown is a large parcel of 1er Cru Beauroy. This south – west facing vineyard is rich in maritime sediments which produces classic, mineral and elegant wines. These are some of the best value Chablis wines we know of.
LADOIX, BURGUNDY,FRANCE
DOMAINE D’ARDHUY
Domaine D’ Ardhuy is based in and around a very fine Manor house in the Village of Ladoix on the border between Cotes du Nuits and Cotes de Beaunemiddle of Burgundy. The actual house and the main cellar are in the middle a single vineyard LE CLOS DES LANGRES which had been producing fine wines since it was first planted by the monks in 10th Century. The domaine, certified Biodynamic since 2012, had been in the same family since early 1900’s. Currently under the stewardship of a very talented young winemaker Vincent Bottreau, they farm just over 38 hectares of vineyards and make 45 different wines including 7 Grand Cru, numerous 1er Crus and few Monopoles
CHASSAGNE MONTRACHET, BURGUNDY, FRANCE
DOMAINE VINCENT BACHELET
The domaine Vincent Bachelet is based in and 18th Century house dan cellars located in the middle of Chassagne vineyards on the main route form Puligny to Santenay. Vincet and his son Etienne control 17ha of vineyards in St Aubin and Chassagne for the whites as well Maranges, Santenay, Pommard and Gevrey Chambertin for the reds. The vineyards have been in the family for 3 generations and are treated as a part of the family. The juice is fermented in the family cellars and aged in wood (20 – 30 % new depending on the wine) in the family cellars delivering exceptional value refined and elegant wines with great purity and character. We are privileged to be exclusive importers for these great wines
SANTENAY, BURGUNDY, FRANCE
DOMAINE AURORE BACHELET
Following business degree and few years of working/traveling around the world, Aurore eventually decided that the heart is where the home is and that the home was back in Burgundy. On her return, Aurore spent 5 years working with her father Vincent and brother Etienne at the family domaine in Chassagne whilst studying oenology and viticulture and finally started her own Domaine in 2019. She is meticulous in her approach to the vineyard management and most of the plots are so small that I think she knows each vine by name. Operating from a refurbished manor house with great cellars in Santenay, Aurore is making very sensuous and refined wines (both white and red). These are some finest and best value high quality Burgundies one can hope to find.
RIBERA DEL DUERO, SPAIN
DOMINIO BASCONCILLOS
Dominio Basconcillos is a second-generation, family-owned estate in the heart of Ribera del Duero with organically grown vineyards located at around 930 – 980 metres high. Tempranillo dominates the plantings at about 85%, with remaining 15 % being spread between Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. This high altitude viticulture provides excellent conditions for grape growing, especially at the final stages of ripening with high temperatures during the day allowing for a high level of ripeness whilst low night temperatures preserve the acidity. All this combined with up to date winemaking facilities consistently delivers rich, hedonistic wines with fine underlining freshness and elegance. These high quality, refined wines are made with food in mind and are currently served in a large number of top hotels and restaurants (many Michelin Stared) in more than 20 countries around the world.
RIBERA DEL DUERO, SPAIN
AALTO BODEGAS Y VINEDOS
Aalto was established in 1999 by Javier Zaccagnini and Mariano Garcia (ex technical director of Vega Sicilia and generally considered to be one of the greatest living winemakers in Spain). The wines are made exclusively from old vines Tempranillo sourced from 9 villages and over 200 different parcels. This variety of terroirs gives Mariano and the team great resource for blending and capacity to deliver consistent high quality of rich complex wines. Two red wines and one white are made: Aalto (the main wine) and Aalto PS ( Pagos Selecionados) - a "supercharged" version of Aalto from selected parcels. Aalto is aged for 16 - 20 months in a mix of new and old barrels (French and American) whilst PS spends 20 - 24 months in new barrels. The real beauty of these wines is that although they are providing a lot of pleasure immediately after bottling, they age extremely well. Banco de Parcela is made mainly
from Verdejo grapes with up to 15% of Godello and Albillo, fermented and matured in 300 and 600 L barrels (10 – 20 % new)
CASTILLA Y LEON , SPAIN
Bodegas Mauro, MAURO
Bodegas Mauro was founded in 1980 by Mariano García (at the time the technical director of Vega Sicilia) in memory of his father. This was García family’s first winery in the Duero Valley. followed by San Román in 1997 (Toro) and Garmón Continental in 2014 (Ribera del Duero). All 3 wineries and now run by Mariano and his 2 sons, Eduardo and Alberto. Bodegas Mauro vineyards are located around a town of Tudela de Duero at high altitude and average age of about 35 y. The grapes (mainly Tempranillo with a bit of Syrah and Cab Sauvignon), are grown on bush vines and planted on light, well drained calcareous clay soils. The entire estate is managed organically with a gradual conversion to biodynamic farming, The combination of biodynamic practices, improved understanding of high altitude vineyards as well as more subdued use of barrels are now delivering wines with more layers, more refinement and more complexity. The estate produces rich, yet elegant wines which are approachable straight after bottling but retain the capacity to age for 10 years or more.
TORO, SPAIN,
BODEGA SAN ROMAN
San Roman is the 2nd winery García family’s set up in the Duero Valley. Mariano bought few very old vineyards in Toro back in early 1990's which turned out to have great capacity for producing rich, intense but well balanced wines consistently receiving high ratings by all wine publications. The family had steadily increased the holdings to the current 140 hectares of organically-grown vineyards (which are being converted to biodynamic viticulture) and makes 4 reds and 1 white wine. After destemming, the berries are gravity transferred to vats with varying capacities for the alcoholic fermentation using native yeasts. Ageing occurs in French and American oak barrels also of varying capacities, which are 30 percent renewed each year.
RIBERA DEL DUERO, SPAIN
GARMON CONTINENTAL
Garmón Continental, together with Mauro and San Roman completes a trilogy of wineries by García family’s along the Duero River. Established in 2014, Garmon project is focused on old vines Tempranillo from a selection of organically grown, high altitude old vines ( 40 to 80 + y) from the villages in eastern part of the Ribera del Duero: Baños, Tubilla, Anguix, Moradillo and La Horra. The winemaking is very traditional with natural yeast fermentation at low temperatures and ageing in French barrels for around 18 months depending on the style of the vintage. These, low cropping old vines produce classic, intense, powerful Ribera wines made for long ageing. Whilst we have new vintages in stock, we prefer to present and offer the stock of older, mature wines ready for immediate service.