There is perhaps no other grape out there that defines varietal recognition more than Sauvignon Blanc.  Its unmistakable aromatic clarity and zesty acidity have made it a popular choice in all corners of the globe. While regions from the north of Italy to California to New Zealand can boast wonderful expressions of Sauvignon Blanc, it is sometimes nice to fall back on an original standard. Lucien Crochet “Le Chêne” Sancerre 2007 brings out the essence of what you can rarely find anywhere else but in the villages surrounding the town of Sancerre in France’s Loire Valley. Its smoky minerality and bracing acidity remind us of how the marriage of grape and terroir can reach a singularity of focus and excellence.

Lucien and his son Gilles run an operation centered in the town of Bué that has been in the family for centuries. They hand harvest the grapes from the famed limestone hills of the “Clos du Chene Marchand” at very low yields and allow 6 months of yeast contact in stainless steel before filtering and fining.  Malolactic fermentation is always omitted in order for the wine to keep its racy finish intact. The result is an intense display of green fruit, chalky minerality and mouth watering finish; the archetype of pure Sancerre.

With less than 1700 cases of “Le Chêne” produced each year, we think it is certainly worth picking up a bottle of this true classic.

Lucien Crochet “Le Chêne” Sancerre 2007
$32

For more information please call 212-725-6516 or email info@vinosite.com.

Clairette Blanc is a white grape from the South of France that has been in continued decline. Used mostly as a blending grape in the regions of Languedoc and Provence, it finds itself susceptible to many issues that dog the winemaker. Then why are we at Vino so crazy about Château de Roquefort Clairette 2009?

Raimond de Villeneuve (left) takes great care to bring this lesser-loved variety to life by planting his vines at a 1000-foot altitude, allowing for a longer ripening season. By doing this, the wine retains acidity and freshness while having time to develop complexities that it normally would not. He also uses all natural methods in the vineyard, tending to vines that range from 15 to over 40 years old.

The result is a dry white wine that expresses balance and elegance, a far cry from any other 100% Clairette whose path you may cross. Try some while the summer is still here: it may make you crazy too!

Château de Roquefort Clairette 2009
$17

For more information please call 212-725-6516 or email info@vinosite.com.

The wines of Roquefort are well in keeping with the temperament of its owner. For these are not “serious” wines. They are wines for people who seriously love to drink wine – not for sipping, sniffing and hours of “umming and ahhring”. True they possess the structure, content and balance of “serious” wines, but above all the word pleasure comes to mind. These are wines one just cannot get enough of. And so on… let’s open a bottle. Hurry up, I’m thirsty.

–Tim Johnston, Juveniles, Paris

Being a wine lover in New York City comes with its obvious benefits, but sometimes we’re want to get away from it all and break free from the constraints of usual. If its “new” and unique wines you seek, we suggest venturing into the wild. Southwestern France is home to myriad appellations and some of France’s most interesting wines. and Pierre Laplace Madiran 2007Domaine du Cros Marcillac Lo Sang del Païs 2008 are two great examples of affordable, everyday wines with charm and personality from this wine frontier.

Madiran, Gascony’s most dynamic  appellation, specializes in the durable Tannat grape. These ruggedly, tannic wines have historically needed cellaring in order to become approachable. Pierre Laplace (above, with his family) incorporates micro-oxygenation, a method of softening wines that has gained wide acceptance around the globe. They also blend in Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Franc to add further complexity. The end result captures all of the raw concentration of dark berry fruit and spice and combines it with a velvety finish. Interestingly, there are some who claim that Tannat could even help your brain!

Not as widely recognized but equally as unique, the wines of Marcillac evolved from a long history dating back to the Romans. Fer (locally known as Mansois) is the star variety of the region, lending wines intense cassis and blackberry fruit notes and a characteristic peppery finish. For four generations, Domaine du Cros (above) has been producing excellent wines from Fer. Their “Lo Sang del Païs” cuvée is hand harvested from 25 year old vines. It is then vinified in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks for 15-20 days, keeping the natural fresh fruit character intact.

At Vino, we have always had a soft spot for these hard-to-find wines of the Southwest because of their honest “rough around the edges” appeal. So the next time you’re ready to venture off the beaten path, grab one of these untamed wines.

Pierre Laplace Madiran 2007
$14

Domaine du Cros Marcillac Lo Sang du Païs 2008
$15

For more information please call 212-725-6516 or email info@vinosite.com.