From the Castellet i la Gornal area of Penedès, Can Xa’s delightful Cava duo brings impressive quality and value to bubbles lovers. With strong coastal influences, Can Xa is well situated for farming the high-acid fruit needed for sparkling wine production. Made in the traditional method from their estate fruit, these wines always overdeliver. Both the Brut and Rosé of Pinot Noir spend an impressive 9 months aging in bottle before being disgorged; this occurs at a naturally maintained 57°F in the emblematic dome-shaped caves that meander thirty feet below ground.
New Jersey
Château Gassier
Not far from Aix-en-Provence sits Gassier’s unique site, at the foot of the Saint-Victoire mountain. The symbol of an intact, unspoilt Provence, this impressive landmark possesses a special energy that inspires the men and women who have perpetuated winegrowing skills here for 5 generations.
The certified organic vineyard thrives on this exceptional terroir designated DGC Sainte-Victoire, a more restricted zone of production within the AOC. It is characterised by limestone clay soils and enjoys a particular microclimate that maintains the freshness of the wines.
Inspired by this incredible terroir, Gassier has adopted a creative, artisanal approach to propose a range of wines that are distinctive, expressive, and vivacious, in the Côtes de Provence and Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire appellations.
Harnessing the positive energy emanating from this land of creativity, Gassier offers collective experiences filled with the spirit of optimism of Provence.
Maison Champy
Established in 1720 by Edmé Champy, operating as the oldest house in Burgundy, for three centuries the Maison has been instrumental in building the international reputation of Burgundy and French Savoir Faire. Indeed, Champy’s story is interwoven with some of the most important French historical figures of the 19th and 20th centuries, including Louis Pasteur and Gustave Eiffel.
Maison Champy owns 21 ha of vineyards, which are farmed organically and certified HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale/High Environmental Value) spread across the Côte d’Or. The winery and its 15th century cellars are in Beaune. Domaine Champy’s core plots are found on the hill of Corton, Beaune, Savigny-les-Beaune, and Pernand-Vergelesses. Additionally, with three centuries of history and experience behind it, Maison Champy has established incredible relationships with key growers across the Côte. This is especially the case for Côte de Nuits, where long-term fermage and métayage partnerships have enabled Maison Champy to work with plots in Gevrey-Chambertin, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru and Vosne-Romanée. Across the range, an average of two barrels per plot are made.
Since 1999, winemaker Dimitri Bazas has been at the helm, overseeing production and viticulture. Dimitri, whose résumé includes working for such iconic names such as Christophe Roumier, Marquis d’Angerville, Bonneau du Martray and others, has identified key vineyard expansion into top sites of the Côte d’Or and is largely responsible for the Maison’s conversion to organic farming over the last two decades.
The winemaking follows traditional Burgundian practices, utilizing indigenous yeast across the range, whole cluster pressing for the whites, and barrel fermentation. For the reds, stem inclusion is selected plot-by-plot, cold macerations for approximately 3 days. Fermentations last up to 3 weeks. The wines see a combination of pigeage and remontage. Aging in Burgundy barrique for both red and white extends between 10-16 months and can include up to 30% new wood.
DOMAINE JEAN-PIERRE MALDANT
Situated in Ladoix-Serrigny, at the foot of the hill of Corton,
in the north of the Côte de Beaune, the Maldant’s have been
making wine in Burgundy for five generations, since 1895. In
1998, Jean-Pierre Maldant decided to give up his job working for
the Hospices de Beaune and devote himself entirely to his own
Domaine. His son, Pierre-François Maldant (pictured left), has
now succeeded him at the head of the family Domaine, where
he has been making the wines since 2010. Although the family
has a rich tradition and history in the region, Pierre-François is
one of the new rising stars of Burgundy.
Saints Hills
Croatia, at the heart of Europe, at the heart of the Mediterranean. Adriatic Sea and our Saints Hills’ vineyards are but a stone’s throw away from Dubrovnik, and two from Diocletian’s Palace in Split and Vespasian’s Amphitheater in Pula. Here we celebrate the sea and sun, Dalmatia and Istria, Bora and Scirocco, stone and vine. And through this little window in our house, amid the Dingač vineyards, you can see the millennial path of the holy liquid wine, from the Greek amphorae that carried it through the canal, to the wooden trabaccoli that carried it to Split. Following a path on both sides of the Pelješac peninsula, all the way to Istria, we outlined in search of perfection.
ESPRIT DE PAVIE
Esprit de Pavie is the creation of Gerard Perse, the visionary owner of Chateau Pavie in St Emillion, having produced no less than five 100 point wines at the Pavie estate. He and his team could have sat smugly on their laurels, instead they set out to make a more democratic bottle of Bordeaux for wider enjoyment, Esprit de Pavie is made from young vines from all of Perse’s estate’s, including Pavie, this is definitely a smart case of wine to add to the cellar, given the provenance and price, it’s a Bordeaux to snap up for fun and future.