Tavel Grand Cru Rosé
2022 Tavel ‘Cuvée des Lys’ (Château de Manissy)
Sale Price $19.99 – $203.90 case of twelve
Along with Bandol, Tavel is the most famous rosé of France. While the price for certain Bandol rosés has risen sharply, most Tavel remains reasonable. This year our favorite Tavel comes from Château de Manissy. For more than a century the Château was run by an order of monks. Within the last 20 years the Château has been run by Florian André, who converted to organic viticulture and modernized the cellars. He still makes a ‘Tête de Cuvée’ that ages for a year in old barrels in the style the monks preferred, but the 2022 ‘Cuvée des Lys’ featured here is a darkly colored, fresh, lively Tavel. Have this beautiful rosé with a layered vegetable gratin and a mound of goat cheese.

Le Grand St. Vincent
2022 Touraine Sauvignon ‘Le Grand St. Vincent’ (Les Vignerons des Coteaux Romanais)
Sale Price $13.99 – $142.70 case of twelve
One of our favorite Loire Valley Sauvignon Blancs is in fine form in the 2022 vintage. Le Grand St. Vincent has a rich, ripe concentration of orchard fruits and cool minerality, and is a great choice to serve alongside roast cod and new potatoes.

Beira Interior
2021 Beira Interior Reserva ‘Quartz’ (Beyra)
Sale Price $14.99 – $152.90 case of twelve
The Beira Interior is a mountainous region of central Portugal that borders Spain to the east. Here winemaker Rui Roboredo Madeira of Beyra has returned to his roots using the native Fonte Cal and Síria varieties. In 2021 he added Verdelho and Godello grapes to the mix, producing a richer, more aromatic white. The soils are mostly granitic with veins of quartz, giving a flinty dry finish. Give this Reserva a try with fish cakes and potato salad.

Overlooked Irancy
2019 Irancy ‘La Grande Côte’ (Benoit Cantin)
Sale Price $39.99 – $407.90 case of twelve
The Burgundian village of Irancy is so obscure that some books about the wines of Burgundy do not mention it. Located in the north near Chablis, it is curiously only permitted to make red wine. The appellation permits inclusion of two other red grapes, César and Gamay, but Benoit Cantin only has Pinot Noir in his vineyards. In this northern outpost the vineyards need to face south for maximal sun exposure, but recent vintages have been much more solar, resulting in darker, fuller reds. Cantin’s single vineyard Grand Côte is lovely with a brilliant ruby color, scents of blood and game, along with velvet tannins. Enjoy this over the next five years.

Purple Passion
2022 Dolcetto d’Alba (Oddero)
Sale Price $17.99 –$183.50 case of twelve
Growers in Piedmont love Dolcetto. It ripens four weeks before Nebbiolo and is ready to drink the following spring. But because the Piedmontese themselves enjoy drinking Dolcetto, it is always well made and versatile. The 2022 from Oddero is a lovely example. Its purple color gives dense plummy fruit plus firm gripping tannins. A go-to wine for a meal of fresh pasta with mushrooms or roast chicken.

All Alberdi
2018 Rioja Reserva ‘Viña Alberdi’ (La Rioja Alta)
Sale Price $24.99 – $254.90 case of twelve
The 2018 vintage didn’t go as planned at La Rioja Alta. Early on it was determined that the vineyards that contributed to their upper level Reserva Ardanza and their Gran Reservas 890 and 904 would not be produced in 2018. Instead the winery made the bold move to bottle all their wine as Reserva Viña Alberdi. The result is one of their best Alberdis. It is super smooth with rich, dark fruit and refined tannins. A delight with grilled lamb chops.

Adair — $32 per pound
Jacobs and Brichford – Connersville, Indiana
Jacobs and Brichford has long been one of our favorite farmstead cheese producers and they have impressed us again with their newest offering, Adair. This soft-ripened cheese, made from 100% grass-fed raw milk, is reminiscent of the French classic Reblochon. It has a soft-textured, sweet finish, and a grassy aroma that evokes, for me, fond memories of the late midwestern summer.

Briana — $28 per pound
Jacobs and Brichford – Connersville, Indiana
Briana draws inspiration from the cheeses of the Italian Alps, most notably Fontina Valle d’Aosta. This semi-firm cheese has a delicate and nuanced flavor at room temperature and explodes with rich, nutty aromas when gently melted over toast or roasted vegetables. Aged only 3 months, Briana allows the wonderful freshness of Jacobs and Brichford’s grass-fed milk to remain front and center.

Humble Cider Tomme — $28 per pound
Parish Hill Creamery – Putney, Vermont
The Humble Cider Tomme is a perfect example of Parish Hill’s commitment to traditional cheese-making methods and to the highest degree of quality and craftsmanship. It is supple on the palate, with notes of green apple and sourdough that are accentuated by the unmistakably savory flavor of the raw milk. A perfect cheese to welcome the autumn season along with a knife-cut salami and tear of rustic bread.

West West Blue — $32 per pound
Parish Hill Creamery – Putney, Vermont
This natural rind, blue mold cheese has satisfying musty and spicy aromas that cradle and comfort as though it were a warm cabin in a squall. It is creamy and full-bodied with a slightly tart finish that lifts the flavor and leaves you ready for more. With a drizzle of wildflower honey it is the perfect accompaniment to a selection of dried fruits and nuts, bold wine, and the sunset.