Schiavenza 2015 Barolo Serralunga d’Alba  Yes – We are throwing very proper, very cult Barolo into your Vino Box. The local Piemontese dialect for sharecropper is “schiavenza,” and this much-buzzed-about estate takes its name from the sharecroppers who formerly worked the property’s vineyards during the time that it functioned as a hospital and school as part of the Opera Pia Barolo (you can think of the Opera Pia Barolo as a similar entity to the Hospices du Beaune). Brothers Vittorio and Ugo Alessandria revitalized this property in the mid 1950’s when it was in need of such work, and things are thriving under the current second generation, with farming and winemaking led by son-in-laws Luciano Pira and Walter Anselma. A name like Schiavenza should give one a clue as to the style here; this is a “traditional to the bone” property with a foundation of organic farming and Slovenian botti, nothing more and nothing less. Vineyard holdings have expanded over time, and the estate is made up of ten hectares split between Serralunga and Monforte.  These include the heralded crus Prapò, Bricco Cerretta, and Broglio. Taste Walter’s 2015 Barolo Serralunga and you’ll likely be floored. To achieve this kind of finesse with equal levels of concentration is at the same time astounding and unreal. Traditional winemaking in Barolo is all well!

Domaine Raffaitin 2019 Sancerre Blanc  Remember the good old days? You know, like four years ago when you could hand over a $20 bill for domaine-bottled Sancerre and we’d hand you back CHANGE? Those days are back! Frank Poot, our “man on the ground” in Europe, selected this as his favorite lot from Raffaitin while visiting the winery this Fall. The container just recently arrived in time for these December boxes. A rich, exuberant, and full-bodied example of Sancerre, this is versatile Sauvignon.

Domaine Astruc 2018 d’A Viognier Lot 18 VdP Domaine Astruc sits at the foot of the Pyrenean Mountain range. Jean-Claude Mas sourced grapes here for years and acquired the property in 2002 from the Astruc family. Since then Jean Claude has brought his inimitable enthusiasm and charisma to this property, and over the last fifteen years, Domaine Astruc has emerged as a relentless fountain for us when it comes to IGP Pays d’Oc that over-delivers on value. Bright gold yellow with yellow tints. Rich and elegant with a quintessence of dry fruits, peach and white flower aromas with a hint of vanilla/honey notes. Love this stuff.

Misty Cove 2020 Landmark Grüner Veltliner  If you know us well you know of our Dutch connections via Frank Poot, and everyone in the Dutch wine trade knows Andrew Bailey as the remarkable professional cricket player who built an equally successful wine distribution business while living there during his sporting career. Andrew grew up in New Zealand, has returned home, and farms 242 hectares of vineyard in what he likes to call the misty coves of Marlborough. The fruit for this Grüner was sourced from the winery’s main plot set atop the Wairau plain. This is an interesting comparison to Austrian Gruner if you have any Felsner kicking around – Exuberantly fresh with lots of orange and stonefruit notes this will be in our pantries all winter for sure.

Viu Manent 2018 Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon   The Viu Manent estate is one of the most strategically exposed vineyard sites in Colchagua, and it includes 150 hectares of pre-phylloxera massal selections (i.e. super old vines) from France. This company provides us with wines we consider some of the most solid “under $20” varietal wines you’ll find anywhere in the world.  Malbec is the house specialty here, but we have a soft spot for this Gran Reserva Cabernet they produce. After nearly 100 years this firm is still family owned and operated (a rarity in Chile, especially for a winery of this size), all farming is certified sustainable, and two of Chile’s top names consult with the winery on a permanent basis – Roberto Pizarro (vineyard management) and Paul Hobbs (winemaking).

Au Bon Climat 2018 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County
We seldom include domestic wines in your boxes, but we cannot get enough of this generous example of Pinot Noir from our longtime friend, the legendary Jim Clendenen. This, his flagship cuvee, is sourced from 8 different vineyards (Bien Nacido, Le Bon Climat, Solomon Hills, Kick On, Los Alamos, Scheid, Runway, & Westall Vineyard) and 2 different appellations (Santa Maria Valley AVA, Monterey AVA). The color is dense, the tannins plush, the deep berry and spice profile well stated, all the while with that classic “Au Bon Climat balance.”

Ginestraia 2019 Chianti Rufina  Here is the “little brother” to our beloved Basciano! Paolo Masi produces this wine for early drinkability, and his new 2019 arrival is crunchy and ready for spaghetti night! Intense, ruby red color. Structured and concentrated wine, it shows scents of little red berries and flowers as typical of Sangiovese, yet with lively acidity.

Domaine Le Clos des Lumieres 2017 Côtes du Rhône Villages Rouge The ambitious and talented Gerald Serrano is solely responsible for the recent “coming out” of this familial estate – Prior to taking things over in 2003 Gerald’s father was selling all grapes on the estate to the local cooperative. Having grown up on the property, Gerald is intimately familiar with the terroir here.  The oldest vines now edge 60 years in age and this land really seems to “pack the character in.”.  We’ve sold massive amounts of Rhone wine over the last few decades, and Lumieres wines are the most well-received Cotes du Rhone values we’ve carried in our history. “Villages” level Cotes du Rhone sourced from older vines on galet topped chalky sand-clay soil. These galets accumulate the sun heat during the day and return it to the vines in the evening, giving extra concentration and depth to the wine. This is a CDRV to stockpile!

Vignerons de Saumur 2018 Saumur Rouge “Les Epinats”  This underdog Saumur vineyard is located on a plateau with gently sloping north-facing hills. The large nearby forests serve as a windbreak and have an influence on the microclimate. There are two main soil types here; shallow, pebbly soil called terre à silex (flinty soil) and less pebbly soil with more clay due to the deterioration of Jurassic limestone (silification if you want to get all geeky). This combination works well, giving us an example of Cabernet Franc dense minerality and snap. Enjoy this medium-bodied number at cellar temperatures with something high in fat.

Cattin NV Crémant d’Alsace Brut  Cattin is the largest family owned and family operated winery in Alsace and located in Voegtlinshoffen, a small village on the foothills of the Vosges Mountains at 1,091 feet in elevation. The Cattin family has been producing wine since 1720 and today the winery is managed by the 12th generation! The estate is composed of many small plots located in the Southern part of the Colmar region and a staggering 80% of their vineyard land is located on slopes. A broad menu of soils (clay, limestone, sandstone, ferruginous, marl…), combined with big-time diurnal shifts, means an exceptional palate of aromas and flavors. Over the past several decades Cremants have become the house specialty and these are what initially caused us to bang their doors down. This Cremant d’Alsace, produced according to the traditional method, is crisper than most of its peers due to the high concentration of hillside fruit used. 50% Pinot Blanc 50% Pinot Auxerrois

Domaine Dufouleur 2018 Bourgogne  Aligoté  Four hundred years is a long time for any winery, and through the centuries the Dufouleur family has acquired a whopping 28 hectares of prime vineyard sites extending from Fixin to Santenay. Cellar work here is hands-off and their sensory, revelatory wines are a must for anyone interested in distinctive Burgundy. First up for you? How about their 2018 Aligote! A throwback Burgundian varietal, Aligoté produces lively wines with freshness. Layers of citrus here with an interesting hawthorn note. Cook up something creamy and French to match!

Domaine Talmard 2019 Mâcon-Uchizy  The Talmard family estate is made up of 30 hectares of vines in the villages of Uchizy and Chardonnay. The young Gérald Talmard now runs all aspects of the property, with Dad helping out as needed. His farming and winemaking techniques are ancestral and natural. The big difference here in comparison with other top producers in the appellation is that Talmard picks his fruit slightly earlier giving a brighter, fresher backbone to what are already grapes that show deep-rich fruit expression. This Uchizy bottling is a bit more limited than the Macon-Chardonnay that is such a staple here at Vino, with Uchizy being one of the Macon’s most sought after terroirs.