Country: France
Region: Beaujolais, Morgon, Côtes du Py 
Varietal: Gamay
Vintage: 2011 
Body: med-full
Alcohol: 12.5%

Gamay from Beaujolais is often misunderstood and people tend to only think of it as light fruity Beaujolais Nouveau. Thus, a journey to one of the 10 cru appellations within Beaujolais is necessary to truly show off what Gamay can be.

Morgon is one such appellation and the distinctive slopes of the Côte du Py produce the boldest among them. This bottle is an apt illustration. With 30 minutes to an hour of decanting, we get spice, dark currents, and black licorice on the nose followed by dark berry fruit, big earthy spice, nice structure, and acidity to balance.

Country: France
Region: Beaujolais 
Varietal: Gamay
Vintage: 2011 
Body: light-med
Alcohol: 12%

Description coming soon.

Country: France
Region: Languedoc 
Varietal: Cinsault 
Vintage: 2011 
Body: med-full
Alcohol: 13.5%

Yves Falmet is owner and winemaker of Domaine des Terres Falmet, a 25 hectare estate located in Saint-Chinian. This 100% Cinsault comes from a plot of 50+ year old vines planted on beautiful, steep hillside vineyards. So, all grapes are hand harvested before being vinified and aged in stainless steel tanks.

It is rare to find a wine made exclusively from Cinsault. And, because the vines are older, the wine is unusually concentrated. We get rich black fruit, blueberry, white and black pepper, earthy spice and chalky tannins.

Country: France 
Region: Bourgogne, Chitry
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2013
Body: light-med
Alcohol: 12.5%

A vinicultural commune is a collective studying the farming and winemaking of grapes (think of it as just about the greatest summer camp ever).  And this lucky Pinot Noir hails from one of four vinicultural communes in Auxerrois, where the terroir offers a wine of great freshness and purity. 

It is light in color, wonderfully aromatic, fruity and refreshing.  We get bright, tart currants, cranberries, and cherries, alongside tons of acidity, earthy spice and light chalky tannins on the finish.

Country: France 
Region: Cahors AOC
Varietal: Malbec & a little Merlot 
Vintage: 2012
Body: Full
Alcohol: 13.5%

Country: France
Region: Côtes du Rhône
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2010
Body: med- full
Alcohol: 14%

Domaine Mireille & Vincent was named after the owners’ and winemakers’ two children, which is way more impressive than our childhood (think paste-eating and running with scissors).  
Not too light and not too heavy, this organic and biodynamic Cotes du Rhone consists of 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Carignan and 5% Cinsault producing juicy flavors of dark berries, cherries and plums with a touch of herbs, pepper and earthy spice and firm tannins on the finish. Gold star for 1/2 to 1 hour of decanting.

Country: France 
Region: Pays d'Oc 
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage:2012 
Body: medium 
Alcohol: 12.5%

When Catherine Roque bought her house on the edge of Faugeres, she was told it was too cold and northerly for appellation status.  Facing the locals’ skepticism, she changed the experts’ minds with her fabulous non-appellation grapes like Pinot Noir.
Rich notes of cassis & spice on the nose, with earth, plum, and bacon (yes, really).  On the palate it becomes very Burgundian with great acidity, earthy minerality and light tannins.  This wine would love 30 minutes of air. 

Country: France
Region: Minervois AOC (Languedoc)
Varietal: Grenache & Carignan
Vintage: 2012
Body: Full
Alcohol: 13%
chateau coupe roses

Sometimes translations work in spite of themselves.  From the winemaker’s website: “Stimulated by the decanting, it will free its eccentricity, its bouquet of black fruits combination, bilberry jam, syrup of morello cherry or plum aperitif”. Funny, I think that’s what we were going to say.
Mostly Grenache and Carignan, this is a lovely wine with dark fruit, tannins and a fresh acidity that are tamed as the wine opens up. We get nice herbs and white pepper notes with a touch of licorice. It’s a slightly more rustic style red wine that’s nicely balanced by the fruit notes. 

Country: France
Region: Vin de pays de l'Hérault
Varietal: Carignan
Vintage: 2011
Body: medium-full 
Alcohol: 13%
les heretiques

It may sound contradictory, but this wine is both rustic and elegant.  Graceful in its simplicity without being simplistic.   
Give it a bit of air, and this Syrah/Carignan blend (with a splash of Grenache) will reward you with juniper berry, red plums, earthiness, a bit of floral and even a smaller bit of peanut shells on the nose (yep, we really do smell it). Don’t be fooled, however; this wine has some serious substance. The tannins and acidity are tamed as the wine decants, but the flavors remain vibrant and fresh. 

Country: France 
Region: Bordeaux 
Varietal: Blend 
Vintage: 2009 
Body: medium- full 
Alcohol: 13% 
chateau cluzeau cuvee cecile

Description coming soon.

Country: France 
Region: Beaujolais- Villages AOC
Varietal: Gamay 
Vintage: 2011 
Body: medium 
Alcohol: 12.5% 

Domaine de Foretal is located in the village of Vauxrenard in the heart of Beaujolais, nestled in a natural amphitheater of vineyards, pine forests, and mountains (why are we suddenly feeling a bit jealous and bitter?).  Jean-Yves Perraud is the fifth generation of winemakers in the family.
With Gamay vines averaging 40 years of age planted in granite soil we get cassis and licorice on the nose, with tobacco leaf, peppery earth, and nice minerality.  The red and dark fruit rounds out the palate with nice acidity and light tannins.

Country: France
Region: Côtes de Gascogne VDP
Varietal: Merlot
Vintage: 2009
Body: medium- full
Alcohol: 12.5%

Country: France
Region: Côte de Brouilly AOC (Beaujolais Cru) 
Varietal: Gamay
Vintage: 2008
Body: medium
Alcohol: 12.5%

The largest of the ten Beaujolais Crus, Brouilly accounts for 20% of the total Cru Beaujolais produced. Robert Perroud farms 3 hectares of steep hillside vineyards known as “Balloquets” situated in the commune of Odenas. This land has been farmed by M. Perroud’s family since the French Revolution. 
Big minerality and earthy spice on the nose with light floral notes and dark berry.  On the palate with a bit of air the fruit comes through as black current and plum with nice structure and minerality. This is one serious Gamay...but still approachable. 

Country: France
Region: Côtes du Forez
Varietal: Gamay
Vintage:
Body: medium
Alcohol: 12%

Description coming soon.

Country: France
Region: Gaillac AOC (SW France)
Varietal: Duras
Vintage:2010
Body: Full
Alcohol: 14%

The cuvée 'Croix de la Bouscarie' is produced entirely in Duras, from a 20 hectare certified organic vineyard that's been run by the Vieules family since 1804. It is a wonderful expression of this grape variety not seen outside of Southwest France.
On the nose, the spice is evident, with a touch of violets and dried blueberry. On the palate we get dark berry fruit, fennel seed, good acidity, minerality that adds some depth, and firm tannins on the finish. Great with up to an hour of decanting.
Try it with:
Creamy mushroom pasta, foie gras, rack of lamb, lentils with roasted red peppers and tomatoes over rice, holiday meals.

Country: France
Region: Saumur AOC
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Vintage: 2010
Body: medium- full
Alcohol: 13%

Description coming soon.

Country: France
Region: Côtes du Rhône
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2010
Body: 
Alcohol: 13%

With little decanting you get black berry fruit with cassis and spice on the nose in this Grenache dominated red (syrah makes up the remaining 20%).  The fruit and spice are present on the palate as well along with nice acidity to balance the firm tannins.  This wine is great for full flavored foods or squirreling away in your cellar for a few years, if you're into that sort of thing.
Oh yeah…..this is also a small production (6 hectares in Cotes du Rhone out of 35 ha estate)  organic wine for a fantastic price.

Country: France
Region: Côtes du Rhône
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2010
Body: 
Alcohol: 13%
cotes du rhone tresor riviere

Description coming soon.

Country: France
Region: Vaucluse VDP
(Rhône)
Varietal: Blend, grenache & syrah
Vintage: 2011
Body: medium -full
Alcohol: 14%
chene rhone

description coming soon.

Country: France
Region: Minervois AOC
(Languedoc)
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2010
Body: Full
Alcohol: 13%

Description coming soon.

Country: France
Region: Bordeaux AOC
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2010
Body: Full
Alcohol: 13.5%

Description coming soon.

Country: France 
Region: Saint- Émilion Grand Cru AOC, (Bordeaux) 
Varietal: Blend, primarily merlot
Vintage: 2002
Body: Full
Alcohol: 13%
emilion merlot

Country: France
Region: Vin de pays d'Oc
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2011
Body: medium-full 
Alcohol: 13.5%

Stop. This is not your typical Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, it has more in common with its parent grape Cabernet Franc. Why? A process called carbonic maceration is used– a carbon rich environment during fermentation that maintains youthful and vibrant fruit with soft tannins.   

We get herbs on the nose and palate along with dark plum fruit and nice acidity to balance. While certainly different, this Cabernet is interesting, a good value and versatile with a wide range of food.

Country: France  
Region: Côtes du Rhône 
Varietal: Blend 
Vintage: 2010 
Body: medium- full 
Alcohol: 14% 
cotes du rhone