Southern French spirit, Burgundian soul. The partnership of Burgundian winemakers Anne Gros and Jean-Paul Tollot in Minervois sets a new standard for quality and character in the Languedoc. Finesse and precision are the two main characteristics of these Minervois wines—words more often used to describe Gros’ Burgundian crus rather than the concentrated reds of the south.
You can’t ignore the “gryphées,” or seashell fossils, that crunch underfoot as you walk through Pierre Durdilly’s vineyards in Moulin-à-Vent, as if the ocean were just over the next gentle hill. It’s this unique terroir, with its mineral complexity, that sets the family’s wines apart from other more rustic bottles from the region.
When does a non-cru Beaujolais wine taste and age like a fine Burgundy? When it’s crafted by a talented winemaker such as Paul Durdilly from Le Bois d’Oignt in southern Beaujolais. The town’s terroir secret is that many of its vineyards have soils that are pure limestone, the same “mother rock” of the Côte d’Or.
Once you taste the wines of Domaine Calot, you immediately understand the potential of cru Beaujolais. The family’s ancient vines, pure granite vineyards and philosophy in the cellar combine for a Morgon that is serious yet seductive, and certainly made for the long haul. Think fine Burgundy; not simple Beaujolais!
Régnié (reh-NYAY) is one of Beaujolais’ more harmonious crus, combining the floral perfumes of neighboring Brouilly with the complex, black-fruited flesh of Morgon. Two young winemakers are now the new face of Domaine des Braves, and the future looks very bright for great Gamay wines.
Quietly in the shadows of the larger houses of the Côte de Blancs, vine-growing Champagne artisans such as Jean-Michel Turgy are crafting character-rich, memorable wines based on the traditions and passions of past winemaking generations. For more than 130 years, the Turgy family has grown and harvested Chardonnay grapes on these chalky soils…
Winemaker Michel Chauvet is one of the last artisans who chooses to craft his Champagne exclusively by hand, the way it was made in the early 1900s before machines replaced manual labor. While Chauvet certainly makes “grower” Champagne, his methods are so much more; if you seek truly authentic Champagne, Lancelot-Royer is the obvious choice.
The finest wines from the Côte Chalonnaise are known for their effortless beauty, with delicate aromas, fruit-driven flavors and light, silky textures. Burgundy from Domaine Michel Sarrazin et Fils both exemplifies this elegant style and sets an even higher standard for the region—each cru is unquestionably the finest in its class, yet still offers exceptional value.
High up in the hills of southern France, above the Côte d’Azur and the crowds at Cannes, you’ll find the cool, terraced vineyards of Domaine du Dragon. The estate’s curiously chalky soils and high-altitude perch translate into wines both refined and complex yet still offer exceptional value.