Jan 25, 2023 – Living Wine January 25 Newsletter
— Up for Grabs (but not for long…) —›
The clock is ticking for these delicious wines! Less than nine, five and two cases left... Some of you are stocking them now, some of you have stocked them in the past, so we’re giving everyone a heads up that they won’t be around much longer!
Deux Punx 2020 White Blend
Muscat Blanc, Marsanne, Roussane, Chardaonny
$17.50/FL
Thibaud Capellaro & Etienne Seignovert 2021 Ombre et Lumière
Grenache, Syrah, Viognier
$22/FL, $21/3 cases
Abbazia San Giorgio 2020 Cloé
Nerello Mascalese
$25.00/FL, $24.50/3 cases
‹— New Producer Highlight: Podere Sottoilnoce —›
Podere Sottoilnoce, in the village of Castelvetro di Modena (Lambrusco Grasparossa DOC), consists of 7 hectares of organically and biodynamically tended vines. Max Brondolo, who owns Podere Sottoilnoce, is a first generation grower and winemaker, focused on revitalizing forgotten grapes of the region and bolstering the area's dedication to craft winemaking. He is creating both still and sparkling wines, which see little (sometimes zero) added sulfur, and his sparkling cuvées undergo secondary fermentation in bottle creating this gentle “frizzante” fizz well known for the sparklers of the region. Wines are bottled unfined, unfiltered and without disgorgement.
Saldalama 2021
Lambrusco Grasparossa, Lambrusco Sorbara, Lambrusco Fiorano, Uva Tosca (Sparkling)
$18/FL, $17/3 cases, $16/5 cases
Cattabrega 2021
Uva Tosca, Lambrusco Grasparossa (Sparkling)
$20/FL, $18/3 cases, $17/5 cases
Valtiberia 2021
Trebbiano Modena, Trebbiano di Spagna (Sparkling)
$22/FL, $21/3 cases, $20/5 cases
Trifalco 2021
Lambrusco Fiorano (Sparkling
$22/FL, $21.30/3 cases, $19.50/5 cases
Confine 2021
Lambrusco Fiorano (Sparkling
$28/FL, $27/3 cases, $26/5 cases
Fùnambol 2020
Field blend of twelve local varieties (Sparkling)
$28/FL, $27/3 cases, $26/5 cases
‹— New Producer Highlight: Eric Thill —›
Eric and Bérangère Thill headed to Jura in 2007 after Eric completed winemaking studies in Dijon, and now have 7 hectares of certified organic vines around the village of Trenal, roughly 28 miles southwest of Arbois. Using only estate fruit, the Thills practice “parcellaire,” which focuses on expressions of single grape varieties from single vineyard plots and underlines the incredibly distinct attributes of site specific winegrowing. Natural fermentation, gentle pressing, and limited sulfur additions are used to further enhance the natural character of the Thills’ impressive lineup.
De Marne et D'Argile 2020
Chardonnay
$15/FL, $13.50/3 cases
Crémant Cuvée Adrian 2016
Chardonnay (Sparkling)
$18.50/FL, $17.50/3 cases, $16.50/5 cases
Les Grandes Vignes 2020
Chardonnay
$22/FL, $21/3 cases, $20/5 cases
Poulsard-Pinot Noir 2021
Poulsard, Pinot Noir
$24/FL, $22/3 cases, $21/5 cases
Sur Montboucon 'Bis!' 2016
Chardonnay
$29/FL, $28/3 cases, $27/5 cases
‹— Grape Focus: Souvignier Gris —›
(Image from PIWI International)
Many wine professionals and enthusiasts agree that hybrid grapes are the future of viticulture. At Living Wine, we’re lucky enough to have a few producers that are not only embracing hybrid grapes, but making incredibly sophisticated wines with them.
One grape, Souvignier Gris, is making a big splash around the Alps. We’re proud to carry two producers, Weingut Ploder-Rosenberg (Austria) and GraWü (Italy), that rely on this hybrid to create flavorful and texturally engaging wines.
Created in 1983 by Norbert Becker in Freiburg, Germany. For the most of its existence, the parentage of Souvignier Gris was thought to be Cabernet Sauvignon and Bronner (a grape that Becker had also developed), but in 2019 it became clear that the mother of this hybrid is Seyval Blanc (another hybrid grape) and the father is Zähringer (a cross between Traminer (Gewürztraminer) and Riesling).
Take a look at the excellent offerings from Living Wine that are derived partially or totally from Souvignier Gris.
Ploder-Rosenberg 2019 Cara
Souvignier Gris, Bronner, Pinot Blanc
$18/FL, $17/3 cases, $16/5 cases
GraWü 2020 Ambra
Souvignier Gris
$23/FL, $22.50/3 cases, $21.50/5 cases
Ploder-Rosenberg 2017 Linea Souvignier Gris
Souvignier Gris
$27/FL, $26/3 cases, $25/5 cases
Ploder-Rosenberg 2017 Blanca
Muscaris, Souvignier Gris, Bronner, Muskateller, Grüner Veltliner
$30/FL, $28/3 cases, $27/5 cases
Ploder-Rosenberg 2017 Fejro
Gelber Traminer, Souvignier Gris
$42/FL
Ploder-Rosenberg 2015 Tero
Sauvignon Blanc, Souvignier Gris, Chardonnay
$45/FL
‹— Meet Us On The Road —›
We’re going on a little trip to France soon. Hit us up if you are around our whereabouts (see below) and would like to meet with @vinotaure and other members of the team!
Saturday, February 4th at Le Salon de Rablais, in the Layon in Loire, to check-in with our friend Thibaud Capellaro.
Sunday, Feb 5th at La Dive Bouteille in Saumur
Monday, Feb 6th in Anjou, with a quick stop at La levée de la Loire in Anger
Tuesday, Feb 7th to Saturday, Feb 11th, from Loire to Savoie, visiting producers along the journey
Sunday, Feb 12th at Salon Haut les Vins in Paris 11eme
Monday, Feb 13th in Paris at Off Wine Paris and at the very first Living Wine Europe tasting at Nellu
‹— What's Coming... —›
There is a lot more on the way!
Besides Eric Thill and Podere Sottoilnoce, we have a whole roster of new producers and new items that will be available with Living Wine next month.
Cellier de la Baraterie (Savoie)
Domaine de L'Aitonnement (Savoie)
Weingut Karl Schnabel (Steiermark)