Stop by the shop after work Thursday for a special tasting of wines from the south of France. These delicious and diverse wines are a match for any meal and are a great start to the holiday season. We’ll have a few snacks to go with the wines, stop on by for a little appetizer to your evening.
 
Dubard, Crémant Brut $18
70% Semillon, 15% Sauvignon, 15% Muscadelle
Dubard’s Crémant de Bordeaux comes from a small vineyard in Côtes-de-Francs. The winemaking follows the Traditional Method, done in caves dating back to the Middle Ages. The wine has intense notes of white peach, pear, a warm toasty brioche and a pleasantly lingering richness.
 
2011 Domaine Galtier, Languedoc Tradition Blanc $12
30% Roussanne, 50% Grenache Blanc, 10% Rolle, 10% Viognier
Domaine Galtier is a typical mas (farm) surrounded by garrigue (scrubland) with its square tower built in the middle of the 17th century under the reign of Louis XIV. Its owners Lise & Jean Carbonne are both from wine-growing families. They farm by lutte raisonnée, a form of sustainable viticulture that practices organic methods. The Blanc has a warm bouquet with floral perfumes (honeysuckle, eucalyptus) and candied citrus fruit peel (citron and orange) that is rich, balanced and expressive.
 
2009 Château Galtier, St. Chinian L’Obstinée Rouge $15
60% Syrah & 40% Grenache. 30 to 35 years old vines.
Gautier’s estate St Chinian has a generous, soft nose with complex aromas of ripe blackcurrant, cherry and white pepper followed by a creamy palate with plenty of body, fine tannins with a spicy finish.
 
2008 Domaine Aime, Minervois La Livinière, Cuvée Au Gré du Vent Rouge, $22
60% Grenache, 40% Syrah
Domaine Aime is run by a 4^th generation wine-growing family in Minervois La Livinière, a small AOC is nestled in the foothills of the Montagne Noire. The Cuvée Au Gré has powerful, complex aromas packed with red and black fruits, the mouth feel is silky and round, and the tannins are melted imparting the wine with a delicate, refined (lace like) finish lingering with fruity notes.
 
2010 Domaine Labranche Laffont, Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh $23 – 500ml
100% Petit Manseng
Labranche Laffont, at northern limit of Madiran, is run by Christine Dupuy who combines innovative techniques in the cellar with sustainable vinicultural practices. His Vic-Bilh has concentrated aromas are reminiscent of confectionary, fruits (oven baked apple, pear, and apricot) and honey with notes of vanilla and praline. The wine is supple, and round on the palate. The aromas grow even more distinct as one savors the wine. It has a long, harmonious finish with an added note of yellow fruits.