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The Loire Valley’s longest-lived, most complex Sancerres come from the famed terres blanches soils in the neighbouring villages of Chavignol and Amigny. This “white earth” is the southwestern-most extension of the same vein of Kimmeridgian rock that gives great Chablis its hallmark minerality and nerve.
Long-lived is the operative word here. Patience is required to get the most out of the greatest terres blanches-sourced Sancerres, just as it is with a Dauvissat or Raveneau Chablis. But for those willing to wait, a top 15-year-old example can be one of the world’s most riveting wines.
While there is no official classification of Sancerre’s top terroirs, three of them—Chavignol’s Les Monts Damnés and Les Culs de Beaujeu and Amigny’s La Grande Côte—are widely considered “Grands Crus” of the appellation. And one of the Loire’s greatest estates—Domaine François Cotat—has ancient vines in all three.
All cuvées are, as View from the Cellar’s John Gilman has written, “ … reference point Sancerres, and in many ways stand alone at the pinnacle of the appellation.”
- Rare wine Co.
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L’Original Brie.
Paysan breton L’Original Brie is made to resemble traditional raw milk Brie produced in Brittany, France. The most important differentiating factor from Australian Brie is that it’s a Lactic Brie made without any stabilisers and stored in a beautiful wooden box. It has an earthy mushroomy flavour which brassica notes and a rich and creamy texture typical of French Brie perfect on a cheese platter or melted with some crusty bread.
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Damon Koerner’s latest offering; Koerner Wines.
Koerner is one of the wine labels that has always sold remarkably well at Flor from the day we opened our doors. For those new to the brand, Koerner is a family brand based in the Clare Valley making wines from estate grown and contract fruit from around the Clare and the nearby Adelaide Hills. Damon Koerner started the label with his brother, Jono in 2014. Damon has been one of more significant figureheads in the new wave Australian wine scene, producing wines with a lighter palate weight, emphasis on texture and easy drinking deliciousness. Like all of the more impactful producers in Australia currently, Damon has one foot in the cultural history and heritage of Australian wine and the other striding forward to break new ground, whether in stylistic shifts from the mainstream in handling varieties or blends, or in working with lesser known varieties.
The wines are excellently priced for the value of what’s inside the bottle and tend to sell out very quickly. We hope we can continue to restock the shelves as these bottles move out the door but some of the wines have already sold out with the supplier, so please get in quick.
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Also long as you don’t bang the bottle on the table, this wine is actually quite stunning.
“Originally from the Basque Country, Ibon began his winemaking journey in a restless, almost nomadic way, moving across Mediterranean regions rather than settling in one spot. Today his work spans both Mallorca and Murcia. A major turning point came in 2021, when he purchased his first vineyard, an old planting of callet and mantonegro near Felanitx, in the southeast of Mallorca.
In Jumilla, he works with mature monastrell vines and other local varieties in the Valle Hoya de Torres, using a similarly communal cellar located close to the vineyards.
A remarkable light red made from 70% Callet and 30% Mantonegro from an old vineyard on clay-limestone soils in Felanitx and Porreras, Mallorca. Fourteen days maceration of grapes fully destemmed with some whole bunches. Aged six months in 500L used French oak tonneaux, it’s a profound red, light, highly mineral, and brimming with Mediterranean garrigue spice.“
@giorgiodemaria_fun_wines
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The very first vineyard we visited on our trip, just after opening the shop back in 2022, was Savaterre. I later found out that it’s quite a big deal to visit Keppell at his beautiful property in Beechworth. We sat in his courtyard for lunch, visited the barrel room and tasted fruit from the vine.
We are proud to be releasing his latest 2024 Estate Chardonnay release this week.
The iconic Chardonnay is always a wine of power but the 2024 has a bulge of generosity to it layered around the core of nerve and tension & granitic grip the famous Beechworth vineyard is known for. Keppell’s remarkable touch for oak has finessed the wine into a supple form that achieves the heights of Chardonnay we only see in great vintages in the hands of masters: richness with line; class with generosity; depth and surface tension all at the same time.
More notes and pricing In-Store and Online now.
Around Town: Burleigh
Location #3: Flor Grocer @florgrocer
Looks like: A wine bar mirage. Vibrant facade, warm timber accents, cool polished concrete underfoot. Boutique bottles and deli goods line the walls.
Feels like: Cellar temperature. Gallery meets grocer. Somewhere to slow down, share dinner plans, pair accordingly. Vast in offering, intimate in experience.
Sounds like: The chime of nice glassware connecting. Low conversation, bottles shifting, the street just outside.
Smells like: Fresh flowers and warm baguettes.
What to order: Ask the Flor team for a recommendation, and enjoy a glass as you browse. Our pick is the Langhe Nebbiolo to take home.
Worn here: Knock-off drinks or slow weekends, classic trousers, relaxed shirting.
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ANCHOVY TOAST.
New! Whole Anchovies Fried with Garlic & Chilli. An absolutely perfect tinned fish. Not too much of anything. Great balance of flavour. @olasagasti_es
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@agricolaforadori LEZER & FONTANASANTA.
The beautifully crisp, light red blend, made up of predominantly Teroldego & the ever so textured and fruit driven Manzoni Bianco. Now in the fridges.
