Alberta

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Château de la Chaize

Beaujolais villages

“If walls could talk…” Château de La Chaize would tell the story of countless generations. In fact, this stunning 17th century estate has been home to the same family since it was first built. The descendants of the founder, Jean-François de La Chaize d’Aix, have been its devoted caretakers for nearly three hundred and fifty years. In 2017, they passed the estate on to the family of Christophe Gruy, an entrepreneur and chairman of the Maïa Group, based in Lyon. Acting as liaison between a prestigious past and a promising future, the new owner has great ambition for Château de La Chaize. Committed to expanding and enhancing the remarkable vineyards on the property - in harmony with nature - Christophe Gruy has developed a demanding ecological approach: conversion of all vineyards to organic farming, including the adoption of parcel based farming and grape selection. His goal? To enable Château de La Chaize wines to express the character and singularity of their terroir to the fullest

Available Wines

2020 Chateau de La Chaize Fleurie - sku 840214 - Fact Sheet - 90 Points

2020 Chateau de La Chaize Brouilly - sku 875895 - Fact Sheet - 91 Points

2020 Chateau de La Chaize Brouilly Lieu-dit “La Chaize” Monopole - sku 875896 - Fact Sheet - 95 Points

Domaine Poulleau

volnay, BURGUNDY

Domaine Poulleau is a lovely 8 hectare domaine located in Volnay. The domaine was created by Michel Poulleau in 1960 and today is diligently managed by Michel’s son Thierry Poulleau and his wife Florence; 1983 was Thierry’s first vintage. The domaine has ownership in 7 appellations and produces 93% red wines mostly in Volnay but include Bourgogne, Beaune, Chorey, Aloxe & Corton Charlemagne. These grapes are 100% hand harvested with a severe triage before fermentation and represent classic terroir and fruit focused wines. Thierry is very judicious with his use of oak, always respecting the individuality of the parcel’s terroir to passionately craft small quantities of some of the finest expressions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the world.

Available Wines

2018 Beaune Les Prevoles - sku TBC - Fact Sheet - 90 Points

2020 Volnay - sku TBC - Fact Sheet

2020 Aloxe-Corton - sku TBC - Fact Sheet

2020 Volnay Les Grand Champs - sku TBC - Fact Sheet

Chateau Fleur Haut Gaussens

VÉRAC (NEAR FRONSAC), BORDEAUX

Château Fleur Haut Gaussens is located on the right bank of Bordeaux, near Fronsac and has belonged to the same family for more than four generations, with more than 100 years of experience between them. In the cellar the work is done in the traditional way, but with a modern vision. Château Fleur Haut Gaussens is one of the last Bordeaux Supérieur to make wines for aging, like the Grand Crus.Thus the wine can evolve over time without losing its character. The winery is in favour of a fragmented, slow and gentle vilification that adapts to the vintage and is intended to be different depending on the vintage. Each plot is treated in separate vats to preserve the identity of the terroir and grape variety.

The 40ha vineyard benefits from a clay-limestone soil. Distributed around the commune of Vérac, near Fronsac, the 27 parcels are planted according to the soils and benefit from maximum sunshine. It consists of Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. The estate practices sustainable agriculture and is certified HVE Level 3. The work in the vineyard respects the terroir: vine rows are planted with grass, the use of manure from their own sheep to replace fertilizer, and the use of other organic inputs. Throughout the growing season, the meticulous work of the vineyard requires efforts, patience and support. Each parcel receives special attention, according to its soil and its needs in order to give the best of itself; a quality harvest, ripe and healthy grapes.

Available Wines

2018 Bordeaux Supérieur - sku 872206 - Fact Sheet - 90 Points

2016 Grand Vin Bordeaux Supérieur - sku 872208 - Fact Sheet - 92 Points

Chateau Picoron

castillon côtes de Bordeaux

Founded in 1570 by the Picoron family, Château Picoron has a long history of wine. Now days, Château Picoron is operated by an Australian family. What we produce is as much a celebration of the history of our winery, as it is the future. Our winery is a coming together of France & Australia, new & old, past & future. We produce limited production wines which celebrate our past, and inspire the next generation of wine drinkers. Château Picoron does not produce to be compared, but to express a wine which is uniquely ours. Our wines are not a blend of acres of vines, but a transparent expression of a specific place. We vinify our wines plot by plot, some producing only a few thousand bottles, and the result is a clean expression of terroir. Our winemaker, Stephane Apelbaum, believes nature to be our greatest collaborator, preferring a minimal intervention to vineyard management and winemaking. Our wine is produced sustainable, and we are on a journey toward organic farming conversion.

Available Wines

2016 Petit Picoron - sku 859381 - Fact Sheet - 91 Points

2015 Chateau Picoron - sku 840540 - Fact Sheet - 91 Points

Champagne Infinite Eight

REIMS, CHAMPAGNE

Infinite 8 Champagne is the story of the rebirth of the Champagne House of Edmond Roussin a family that had been working the vines since the French Revolution. Marc Letixerant was the owner of the House inherited from his Grandmother, his father Philippe was a presence in the Champagne world, finishing his career as Communications Director of the CIVC. Champagne Edmond Roussin unfortunately closed its doors in 1970. The presses of the Estate were used by Krug from 1970 to 1976. The presses are still in place at Villedommange but are not in a state to be used currently. Nicolas Letexirant decided to revive the family's interest 20 years ago by replanting the vineyards and resurrecting the long dormant family business.

Available Wines

NV Infinite Rose Brut - sku 875497 - Fact Sheet

NV Cuvee No. 8 Brut - sku 875496 - Fact Sheet - 93 Points

Domaine des Pasquiers

Côtes du rhone

Four generations of winegrowers have succeeded on this estate since 1935. This traditionally- styled winery is now run by the two brothers, Jean-Claude and Philippe Lambert and his son, Matthieu. Both complementary and conniving, they share the same values: respect of the soil, respect of the vines. They work tirelessly to craft elegant wines that are a true expression of this wonderful terroir.

Everything starts in the vineyard, that’s why they switched to organic farming. It is of course the love of this land and the passion for their vineyards that led the Lambert family, after careful management of the vineyard, to gradually convert the whole field into certified organic farming since 2010.

Available Wines

2021 Côtes du Rhône - sku 872763 - Fact Sheet

2020 Gigondas - sku 872764 - Fact Sheet - 94 Points

Domaine Boucabeille

Côtes du Roussillon Villages

Domaine Boucabeille comprises 28 hectares (69 acres) of grape-vines planted on the schistose slopes of the Forca Real hill near Perpignan. It was born out of a hare-brained gamble: to replant vines on the very hillside where for centuries the best wines in the region originated. Wine growing was in fact abandoned during the 20th century as it was considered to be too laborious and unprofitable.

Replanting took place in the mid-1970s, in the heart of the scrubland and amidst a fauna and flora extremely hostile to young vine seedlings.

It is in this environment, patiently built on steep slopes over more than 30 years, far from any settlements and from any other activity, the Domaine produces its organically-grown grapes. All work in the vines is carried out by hand, which will always continue to be the case. I limit my input during the fermentation of the must in the vats so that the wine remains the true testimony of this terrain.  

Available Wines

2021 Les Terrasses de Regis Boucabeille Blanc - sku 795997 - Fact Sheet - 91 Points

2020 Les Terrasses de Regis Boucabeille Rouge - sku 464883 - Fact Sheet

Domaine Thierry Merlin-Cherrier

sancerre

Thierry and Sophie Merlin-Cherrier own 13 hectares of prime location Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir in the village of Bué, one of the principle hamlets surrounding the old walled town of Sancerre. The soils here, caillottes and terres blanches (or Kimmeridgian Marl), deliver pointedly fruity, rich, and long-lived wines.

In addition, Thierry has just under a hectare of vines in the great vineyard of le Chêne Marchand, purchased in 1999. Chêne Marchand is one of the crown jewel vineyards of Sancerre and is the appellation’s outstanding example of Caillottes terroir. If ever Sancerre were to classify its vineyards, Chêne would be a certain candidate for grand cru status. The vineyard grows on the western plateau above Bué where Thierry has two parcels, totaling only 0.84 hectare. Thierry, a fourth-generation winemaker who made his first vintage in 1982, maintains age-old traditional practices; plowing and hoeing are standard here, as is careful pruning.

Available Wines

2019 Sancerre Le Chêne Marchand - sku 872346 - Fact Sheet