2016 Terre de l'Elu, "L'Aiglerie", Anjou Rouge, France

100% Cabernet Franc

Totaling 22 hectares spread over 30 different plots, in the tiny village of Saint-Aubin de Luigne. L’Aiglerie is a south-facing lieu-dit of 35-year-old-vine Cabernet Franc planted on sandstone and quartz soils. Thomas and Charlotte farm organically and biodynamically, making a serious and elegant version of the variety. After harvesting the grapes by hand into small crates, whole cluster fermentation by indigenous yeasts the wine is aged in neutral barrels. It is deep and hazy ruby in color with notes of ripe red fruits, graphite, fresh mint. It’s dry, rich, full and in balance with a velvety texture. The finish is long and fresh with savory fruits and abundant minerality. This 2016 is aged to perfection.

2017 Domaine de Pallus, Les Pensées de Pallus, Chinon, France

100% Cabernet Franc

As a young winemaker, Bertrand Sourdais had stints at Mouton-Rothschild in Bordeaux, Alvaro Palacios in Priorat, and finally Atauta in Ribera del Duero. In 2003 he returned to his family estate in the heart of the Chinon and began his quest to find the upper quality limit for Pallus—converted to biodynamic practices, reduced yields, increased vine age (now 50 years), longer maceration and barrel aging (18 months). His flagship cuvée “Les Pensées” comes from the best vines. It’s bright medium- ruby with notes of ripe black raspberries, cassis, plum, dark cherry, violets, bell pepper, graphite, tobacco leaf, and vanilla. The palate is silky and refined with a medium-plus body, acidity, and tannins all in an elegant balance with a lingering dry and earthy finish.

2017 Domaine Couly-Dutheil, La Coulée Automnale, Chinon, France

100% Cabernet Franc

Established in 1921, today, the family estate is owned and run by the third and fourth generations, with a total of 90 hectares of vines, 98% of which are Cabernet Franc. They sell 80% of their production within France, most of which is served at many of the finest restaurants in the country, including 21 of the 26 Michelin 3-Star restaurants. A savory and aromatic French bistro red with a medium concentration of ruby with salmon tones, notes of black raspberries, currants, dark cherries, bell pepper, dried savory herbs, dried leaves, graphite, and tobacco. It is dry and full-bodied, with medium and silky tannins and medium-plus acidity balanced with the savory fruit earthy finish. Classic Chinon.

2021 Champalou, Vouvray Sec, France

100% Chenin Blanc

I wonder if everyone recalls the first time they tasted Champalou, like I do. It was love at first sip—enamored with how voluptuous and slightly-off dry it was, but with such tension on the palate from glorious high-acidity that kept everything in exquisite balance. It’s pale yellow with green tones and notes of green apples, pears, peach, ginger, honey, with full-body, high acidity, and complex crisp finish. A benchmark Vouvray from a husband-and-wife team in heart of the Loire. A beauty of a wine to have in your repertoire.

2020 Domaine Des Deux Vallées, Savennieres, France

100% Chenin Blanc

Chenin from Savennières often falls under the radar. This wine from Domaine des Deux Vallées is a reason to discover its quality, vivacity, and elegance. The Domaine was created in 2001 by the Socheleau family with the intention of being a Chenin Blanc specialist. Their vineyards lie on two main terroirs with an average vine age of 15 years. These grapes are handpicked picked without botrytis and aged on fine lees in barrel for six months. Its star bright and light lemon-green in color with notes of apples, apples, and more apples + citrus, honeysuckle, beeswax, and subtle baking spice, smoke, and vibrant minerality intertwined with the wine’s richness and piercing acidity. I love this dry Chenin Blanc!

2021 Château Soucherie, Cuvée Les Rangs de Long, Anjou Blanc, France

100% Chenin Blanc

The chateau itself is an architectural gem that sits on a rise overlooking the vineyards that snake down toward the Layon River. An area that is intensely “green” no matter the season. In the early 2000s, Roger Beguinot acquired the estate, renovated the buildings and the vineyards, and hired the young Thibaud Boudignon as winemaker. Fom the vineyard site “Les Rangs de Longue,” the wine is medium straw in color with notes of ripe, and zesty fruits—yellow apples, green pears, honeydew melon, lemon curd, and apricot, with stony minerality. On the palate, it is dry and medium-bodied with high acidity that’s balanced with plentiful fruit and vibrant minerality. Delicious!

PLEASE NOTE

• Purchasers must be 21 years of age or older and be present with an ID upon delivery.

• Price includes 5.50% Maine State sales tax and Maine’s fifteen-cents redemption deposit per bottle.

• If your billing address is different from your delivery address, please include your delivery address in the comments section at checkout.

• *Delivery is by Wine Wise—not third-party carriers. Our delivery area is Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland Foreside, Falmouth, Old Orchard Beach, Portland, Saco, Scarborough, South Portland, and Westbrook. We have a larger delivery area for Wine Club deliveries.