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.

There is something magic about Champagne. Yes, we love Lambrusco and sometimes crave Cava, but it can’t be denied that only Champagne, in its singular, sparkling way, is the most celebratory of wines. It turns grins into smiles and moments into memories. Plus, it is the ultimate anytime wine. Enjoy it with an omelet during a summer brunch, sip it seaside at an Autumn clambake, or toast the New Year and relish it on its own.

With all our sentiments about Champagne, we knew that the first one Vino was going to carry had to be special. When we tasted Aubry Premier Cru Brut NV (Champagne, France) we knew we had found the one. Imported by Terry Theise, the “madman” greatly responsible for America’s recent love affair with Riesling, Aubry is a small producer, the kind labeled as a Grower Champagne. This means that Aubry actually grows the grapes they eventually turn into Champagne as opposed to the big houses (think orange label) that purchase their grapes from some of the 19,000 growers in the region.

The Brothers Aubry (Pierre and Philippe) are sole proprietors of their estate in Jouy-les-Reims where they farm 17 hectares of vineyards. Their total production is a miniscule 11,700 cases (by comparison Dom Perignon produces over 400,000 cases). The estate is unique in that they maintain biodiversity by continuing to grow (and make wines from) ancient and rare Champagne grape varieties like Petit Meslier and Fromenteau.


Vino is proud to offer Aubry’s Premier Cru Brut which is a blend of 50% Pinot Meunier, 25% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay. It has only 6 grams per liter of dosage (translation: it’s dry with classic high acidity). The wine is crisp and expressive with a wonderful balance of apple fruit and toast as well as a lingering finish. And because you’d be hard pressed to find an ad for Aubry in Vogue, the wine constitutes what we believe to be one of Champagne’s best values: it sells for under $40. Now that’s worth celebrating.

Aubry Premier Cru Brut NV (Champagne, France)
$39

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

Damn, it’s hot out there! Where does one turn if they want to enjoy red wine in this oven? Lately, we’ve found ourselves pining for some Beaujolais. It’s not the stereotypical “Nouveau” that we’ve had on our minds, but Jean-Paul Brun Terres Dorées “L’Ancien” Beaujolais 2008, a wine that takes itself much more seriously. Don’t get us wrong, Beaujolais is a delightful wine that can be easily misunderstood. Aside from much of the simpler quaffing versions, some of the Cru vineyard wines can often share more in common with Pinot Noirs from Burgundy than the hyper fruity, pear-drop and banana concoctions sold on the third Thursday of November.

Jean-Paul Brun (above) has gained notoriety for producing his wine in a way that certainly caught some heat. As a matter of fact, he was even denied AOC status for part of his 2007 “Vieilles Vignes” because it did not conform to the norm. Although this old vine Beaujolais doesn’t come from one of the respected Cru sites, it shows an exceptional balance of ripe berry fruit and soft structure that is not overinflated and will even last a few years. This can be credited to the “Old Style” method of winemaking that he engages in. Only indigenous yeasts are used for fermentation. No sugar is added to bring up the alcohol, a practice commonplace in this region. He limits the use of sulfites and filtration. He also vinifies in the classic method and not the rushed, overheated carbonic maceration that gives that super fruity effect. To him, the Gamay grape expresses itself finest when ripened naturally and treated with respect. At Vino, we couldn’t agree more.

The best part about this stellar Beaujolais is that in or out of a heatwave, it’s still hot stuff!

Jean-Paul Brun Terres Dorées “L’Ancien” Beaujolais 2008
$19

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