Birds and Flowers of Fronton
2013 Fronton ‘Cuvée Jeanne’ (Chateau Flotis)
Sale Price $14.99 - $152.90 case of twelve
If you’ve had red wine while in Toulouse, you’ve most likely drunk the wines of Fronton, the appellation only 17 miles north of the city. Perhaps you’ve even enjoyed the organic and wildly aromatic wines of Katia Garrouste at Chateau Flotis. Her ‘Cuvée Jeanne’ is made from 100 percent Negrette, the indigenous grape dominant in Fronton. Katia named the wine after her friend Jeanne Lacombe, from whom she commissioned a painting for the label. Jeanne presented six paintings. Rather than picking one, Katia decided to use all six, leaving it to us to choose. As lovely as the labels, the dark concentrated wine inside is silken in texture with blackberry fruit and brambly spice. By using ambient yeasts and foregoing fining and filtering, Katia allows the wine to express aromas that are ever shifting, one minute reminiscent of musk and soil, the next of dried roses and crushed raspberries. A great companion for seared duck breast and sautéed wild mushrooms.

Viré-Clessé
2012 Viré-Clessé ‘Cuvée E.J. Thevenet’ (Domaine de la Bongran)
Sale Price $39.99 – $407.90 case of twelve
Quite simply, this is one of the world’s best and most idiosyncratic Chardonnays. Some vintages are dry; some have a little residual sugar. They take years to ferment and they have amazing aromatics and a beautiful gold color. The 2012 Bongran is drier and richer than the equally delicious 2011, which is a tribute to the Thevenets for following the cycles of each individual vintage and guiding this wine to its fascinating destination.

Aligoté
2014 Bourgogne Aligoté (Domaine Vincent Dureuil-Janthial)
Sale Price $17.99 – $183.50 case of twelve
Rooting for the underdog has always been a delicious pursuit of ours. And Aligoté may be the ultimate underdog in Burgundy. There have been notable champions like Aubert de Villaine, whose beautiful Bouzeron increases in price every vintage. When a new vintage passes our palate, we remember that we truly enjoy the crisp yet concentrated version from Dureuil-Janthial. The 2104 is a delirious mix of flint, beeswax, quince, and apricot. Recommended with all manner of clams, cod, and haddock.

Specialty Foods

Wilde Weide Gouda $27.99 per lb 
(Regular Price $29.99)
Wilde Weide is a Dutch Boerenkaas (Farmhouse Gouda) made with raw cow’s milk and aged for 15 months. Though it has plenty of rich flavors to satisfy fans of aged Gouda – brown butter, whiskey, and caramelized nuts come to mind – the finish is light, grassy, and fruity, with a subtle sweetness akin to candied pineapple. The texture is just as complex; though mildly dry and crumbly with a slight crunch from amino acid crystals, the cheese is still creamy enough to melt on the tongue. The name appropriately translates from the Dutch to “wild meadow,” evoking the lush pastures on which the farm’s cows graze, an element of terroir which is clearly expressed in the flavors and aromas.

Couët Farm Fran de Maquis $14.99 per lb 
(Regular Price $15.99)
Couët Farm and Fromagerie, located in Dudley, MA, offers a range of handmade cow’s and sheep’s milk cheeses using milk from small New England family farms. Fran de Maquis is made with pasteurized cow’s milk, and each 8-ounce piece is coated in rosemary, savory, fennel seeds, and juniper berries. When young, the cheese is moist and fluffy enough to be spread. The name references its inspiration, Fleur de Maquis, which is encrusted with a similar blend of herbs that are native to the Mediterranean island of Corsica where it originated.

Gruyàre Reserve Belfaux $18.99 per lb 
(Regular Price $19.99)
Gruyàre may not typify spring cheese like the previous entries, but this new offering had us too excited to leave out. Laiterie de Belfaux in the Canton of Fribourg in Switzerland is a dairy that goes above and beyond the AOP requirements for Gruyàre production by using exclusively house-produced cultures and rennet. After the traditional step of brining, the wheels are dry salted for 48 hours to encourage extra flavor development and optimum moisture levels for aging. Wheels spend around 6 weeks at the dairy before being aged for at least 10 months under the care of an expert affineur at a central aging facility. The result is a stellar example of the delicious complexity of high-quality Gruyàre, with sweet, roasty, fruity, and creamy characteristics all in perfect harmony.

Blue Ledge Farm Crottina $23.99 per lb 
(Regular Price $25.99)
Blue Ledge Farm of Salisbury, VT claims that Crottina, a small bloomy rind goat’s milk cheese, is the one that first put them on the map, and that it continues to gain fans for its “classic simplicity.” The recipe allows the pure flavors of the milk to be clearly expressed in the final product. Straightforward and bright, it is a tribute to the high quality of the milk this time of year. The rind adds just a touch of earthiness and a pleasant contrast in texture to the silky interior. When ripe, this one will ooze across the plate! Each individually wrapped piece weighs about 3–4 ounces, so you won’t have a problem consuming in one sitting.