HERVE SEGUIN

Herve Seguin vineyards cover 10 hectares in 3 villages in the appellation of Pouilly-Fume. His vineyards average 30 years of age and are planted in poor limestone soils. Like previous generations all fruit is hand harvested and delivered to the winery unblemished. His wines have extraordinary aromatics of grapefruit and of intensely concentrated Sauvignon Blanc fruit. In keeping with tradition minimal handling not pumping is done prior to bottling.

Pouilly Fume
2001 $19.99 available
2000 $17.99 very limited

DOMAINE THOMAS

The Thomas family has been producing Sancerre for 300 years. Jean Thomas is one of the most meticulous and the best organized men in the wine trade today. His cellars are immaculate, his vines are as lovely tended and manicured as a formal garden. He brings the same painstaking attention to detail to his wine making. As a result, Sancerre has developed a cult following in many parts of America. Pure Sauvignon Blanc very Floral nose and beautiful length... Superb. This Sancerre is100% stainless.

Sancerre la Crele
2003 $21.99-750ml $11.99-375ml
2002 $20.99

Sancerre Ultimus
Jean Thomas utilizes 45 to 50-year-old vines to produce his Sancerre Ultimus. Aged half in cask (first and second year oak) and half in a 25 hectoliter tank (outfitted so that the lees can be stirred), it exhibits candied citrus, pear, apple, and spice aromas as well as flavors. This is a medium-bodied, plump, oily-textured Sancerre with loads of richness and breadth.
2001 $29.99 very limited
2000 $29.99 very limited
" Alluring toast and pear notes caress the citrus, straw and white peach flavors in this thoroughly modern-styled Sancerre. Lush, yet stony precision lurks underneath. Finish is long and pure. Impressive combination of modernity and typicity." 91 The Wine Spectator 7/31/03

Sancerre Rose
2003 $23.99

DOMAINE des CORBILLIERES

Located in the town of Oisly, about 30 kilometers east of the city of Tours, is the 20 hectares estate of Domaine des Corbilli?res. It was three generations ago that Fabel Barbou planted his first Sauvignon Blanc, introducing the varietal in this central Loire appellation. His family has followed in producing the regions best example of the grape type. The wines are now made by Fabel?s great-grandson Dominique, with the same great care and passion. The vineyards today are very old and low-yielding, which helps in producing the expressive fruit for this terrific white wine value.

Touraine Cabernet
Stretching nearly 400 miles, the Loire Valley starts in the west where the river pours into the Atlantic and finishes well past the town of Nevers to the east. This region offers a fantastic assortment of wines, many white but some very fun reds as well. Maurice Barbou and his grandfather Fabel planted Cabernet Franc at Domaine des Corbilli?res over fifty years ago. Today the wines are made by Fabel?s great-grandson Dominique Barbou. They have nearly 50 acres of vineyards; the sub-soil here is limestone overlaid by clay and limestone topsoil. The key here is they harvest only by hand, and not by machine. Impressively deep and dark in color, this Cabernet has beautiful aromatics and sensational texture.
2000 $9.99 limited

Touraine Sauvignon
The first thing you will realize when tasting this intensely aromatic white wine, is there is no oak used. High tones of ripe citrus fruits are abundant in this refreshingly bright wine.
2002 $9.99 available
2001 $9.99 limited
"Domaine des Corbillieres' 2001 Touraine Sauvignon, a perennial best buy, has smoky citrus aromas and a light to medium-bodied personality. This satin-textured offering exhibits flavors reminiscent of grapefruit, spices, mangoes, and grass. This elegantly detailed effort should be consumed over the next 18 months." Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #142

PHILIPPE PORTIER

Between the city of Tour to the east and 50 kilometers west of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume is the appellation of Quincy. It is in this region, in the small village of Brinay, that third generation winemaker Philippe Portier farms his 30 acres of vineyards. Like Sancerre & Pouilly Fume, Quincy white wines are made solely from Sauvignon Blanc. Philippe is known as a state of the art producer in the appellation. One of the secrets to the quality of his stunning wines is modern viticultural techniques, such as leaf pulling and crop thinning. His forward thinking has led him to using skin-contact in order to extract more flavor and personality from the Sauvignon. The wines are all stainless steel fermented.

Quincy
The wines possess exotic fruit and a wave of tropical flavors. The nose leaps out of the glass, bursting with bright candied citrus and pineapple aromas. This is a wine to discover and enjoy with a myriad of foods.
2002 $15.99 available

DOMAINE de la QUILLA

Gerard and Daniel Vinet own the well-known estate of Quilla in the village of La Haie Fouassiere. A little known fact is that this village is the origin of the famous wines of Muscadet. The village is located within the region known as Sevre et Maine, an area that lies between the two tributaries that flow from the south to the Loire. Of the three zones within the appellation of Muscadet, Sevre et Maine is the best ripening area for the Muscadet grape type (which is also known as Melon de Bourgogne). The Vinet family owns about 60 acres. The vineyards are tended by Daniel and vinification is controlled by Gerard, his younger brother. With the Atlantic influence, the harvest generally begins early September. The yields are not excessive and all the fruit is harvested by hand. The real key to the wines from Domaine de la Quilla is that the Vinet?s keep the wines sur lie for eight months before being bottled at the end of May, unlike most in this appellation who bottle in March.

Muscadet Sevre & Maine Sur Lie
2001 $9.99 available