Produce of 100% Piquepoul Blanc — a very popular, traditional local variety — this wine is sourced from vineyards planted on sun-drenched «costières» (broad hillside terraces) in the Mediterranean garrigue near the Etang de Thau, a salt lagoon also home to oyster farming and situated between the port of Sète and Marseillan in the south of France. The garrigue is the name given to open scrubland made up of low-growing, dwarf bushy shrubs including holm oak, juniper, broom and wild herbs such as rosemary, thyme and sage which are held to inform the aromatics and flavors of the wines produced here. Vivid platinum/yellow in color with ultra-fresh aromas suggestive of a whole panoply of orchard fruits (Andrea particularly noted pear and apple) and fresh stone fruits like peach and apricot, citrus and the subtle scent of moist limestone and salt sea salinity; at once, supple in texture (Lucinda noted a certain 'creaminess'), fresh and vibrant on the tongue with crisp acidity and tangy salinity stirring the salivary glands and so suggesting another pull. And so it goes …

The first vineyards at Domaine de Fontsainte, in the Corbières appellation, were planted by the Romans. Artifacts found in these vineyards such as an old coin dating from the time of Marcus Agrippa in 25 A.D. are a testament to its antiquity. The original domaine was built around a thermal spring, which was later named for the local, twelfth-century patron saint, Saint Siméon; hence Fontsainte — the saint's fount. Yves Laboucarié’s family has been making wine here since the seventeenth century. The Fontsainte vineyards surround the hamlet of Boutenac in the area known as «The Golden Crescent». This swath of land is one of the sunniest in the appellation of Corbières, enjoying south/southeast exposures, and protection from the cold, northeast winds by a large 500-hectare forest. The cool sea breezes from the Mediterranean help this sun-soaked terroir achieve balance as well. Their Gris de Gris rosé has been an important part of our rosé offerings here for years now. Produce of the hand-harvested fruit of 90% Grenache Gris, 5% Carignan and 5% Mourvèdre vines planted to silica, clay and gravelly limestone soils with large galets (rounded stones). A portion of the juice destined for red wine production is drawn off while still only pink in color (this is known as the saignée method of rosé production). After a 24-hour débourbage or settling of the must, alcoholic fermentation takes place at cool temperatures for 35 days. Malolactic fermentation is blocked and the wine is allowed to rest for one month before bottling to preserve freshness and aromatic intensity: pale sunset orange copper pink in color with fresh powdery citrus and red berry aromas; very primary intense vivid berry flavors burst wildly on the tongue leaving the palate both stimulated and refreshed.

It is wonderful to be able to rely on a bottle of red wine, year in and year out, as we do with Bruno Laboucarié’s blend of old-vine Grenache, Carignan, and Syrah from Corbières. To see the bottle there on your counter or resting in your wine rack, and know with confidence that it is ready to offer up its pure, sun-kissed mélange of dark red fruit, baking spices, and earthy minerality is a small, luxurious comfort amid the hurly-burly of daily life. This kind of consistency over just a few vintages is notable, but we’ve been importing Domaine de Fontsainte’s wines since 1978! Few values can match that track record. ‑ Dustin Soiseth,  https://www.kermitlynch.com/

Domaine Faillenc Sainte‑Marie is a small property, with eight hectares of vineyards stubbornly clinging to the rocky foothills of Mont Alaric near Douzens, Corbières, Languedoc, France. The terroir is that of inhospitable, rocky limestone terraces, buffeted by the northwesterly Tramontane wind or the southerly Autan breezes coming off the nearby Mediterranean. Only olive trees, scraggly brush and, yes, grapevines survive under the harsh, dry conditions. Yields are naturally low. The harvest is only partially destemmed before going into the fermentation tanks. The different cépages are fermented together and benefit from a long maceration period to extract the maximum of flavor. The resulting wine is, well, not necessarily for those who prefer them more straight of lace. Importer Neil Rosenthal says "this is a wine with enormous character" and that, in our estimation, is putting it way mildly. Produce of about 1⁄3 each Grenache, Syrah and Carignane fruit: deep, almost opaque ruby at the core in color with inviting if primary and feral aromas that would recall ripening grapes hovering above a limestone rich vineyard floor, just cracked black pepper and not so subtle suggestion of wild berries black and blue, bramble and a certain fleshy fruit quality; quite rich on entry and then noticeably building in power and intensity of flavor — warming, satisfying, stony intensity of flavor; one might reasonably wish for a long winter with a glass or few or a case or two of this in front; even Lucinda was impressed: 'if someone wants a bold red wine … ' yeah, this is it. Serve it up with a whole spread of foods like charcouterie, olives, strong cheeses alongside fall and winter greens in extra virgin olive oil with garlic, cassoulets, heady fall/winter stews, and more.

Produce of 60% Syrah, 35% Grenache and 5% Carignan fruit from Demeter certified biodynamically farmed vines, fermented on its native yeasts, bottled unfined and unfiltered into recycled glass bottles; deep just tranlucent plum skin/ruby in color with south of France Syrah dominant aromas suggestive of ripe berries and bramble, a hint of cracked black peppercorn, earth and pulverized stone with notions of garrigue almost entirely subsumed by the ripeness of the vintage (Henry noted its wild and primary fruit qualities); smooth and winey onto the tongue, savory, then ample if not downright full in body with refreshing fruity acidity and ripe rounded tannins lending structure and carrying fine fresh Syrah flavor long on the finish. And, it bears repeating that Château Maris is Demeter Certified Biodynamic® and, as well, a Certified B Corporation®.