1. L'escale Sauvignon Blanc (shown below!)
- Producer: Clos Roussely
- Region: Touraine, Loire Valley, France
- Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc
- Alcohol: 12.5%
Let's journey to the heart of Chenonceaux on the Cher River, where Vincent Roussely, the fourth-generation winemaker, crafts amazing natural wines at his stunning 8-hectare vineyard.
Vincent is a true hands-on winemaker, farming his vineyards with love and care. His Sauvignon Blanc is the star of the show, planted in soil with a mix of clay and limestone, and pockets of silex adding that special touch. Some of his vines are over 80 years old! Truly priceless! His underground cellar has been around for over 250 years. In the 18th century, Clos Roussely was just a simple outbuilding attached to a massive castle in Angé-sur-Cher. And believe it or not, those old walls, about a meter and a half thick, are still better at insulating the ancient winery than some fancy modern constructions! Talk about durability.
Vincent takes Mother Nature seriously. No herbicides, pesticides, or chemicals ever make their way into his vineyard. It's all about plowing and scratching the soil with utmost respect. His oldest vines are plowed only by horses. The soil, a harmonious blend of clay, limestone, and flint, coupled with the lovely temperate climate, create the perfect conditions for Sauvignon Blanc. And all we have to do is enjoy this labor of love and tradition. This Sauvignon Blanc is juicy, fresh, crisp and thirst-quenching. It’s essentially a Sancerre without the price tag! Notes of fleshy stone fruit accompanied by bright acidity and minerality on the palate. Serve chilled and serve with seafood and shellfish dishes like grilled fish, scallops, or shrimp. It will also pair well with lighter poultry dishes, salads, and cheeses like Comte (This nutty and slightly sweet French cheese goes wonderfully with Touraine Sauvignon Blanc), Camembert (Camembert's creamy and earthy notes complement the wine's bright and zesty profile, making it an excellent choice for pairing) or goat cheese (the tangy and creamy flavors of goat cheese are a classic match with Sauvignon Blanc. The wine's acidity balances the richness of the cheese, creating a delightful combination!). Santé!
2. Jouves & Croisille “Pur Jus” Blanc de Maceration (shown below!)
- Producer: Jouves & Croisille
- Region: Cahors, France
- Varieties: Gros Manseng, Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat d’Alexandrie
- Alcohol: 12.5%
Jouves & Croisille is a joint venture between long-time friends Fabien Jouves, Germain Croissille, and his brother Simon Croissille. With shared philosophies on farming, vinification, and the future of Cahors appellation, both families farm about 30 hectares using organic and biodynamic practices. They wanted to collaborate and create something together, outside of their family estates, using grapes from friends who farm the same way.
Fabien Jouves started his first vintage in 2006, followed closely by Germain in 2007. Their non-interventionist vinification process relies on spontaneous yeast fermentation. They age their wines in various vessels such as concrete tanks, barrels, or large foudres, depending on each wine's personality. Surprisingly, despite Cahors' proximity to Bordeaux, they draw inspiration from Burgundy and Northern Rhone for their winemaking style. They focus on showcasing the unique soil compositions, even using Burgundy bottles instead of Bordeaux bottles.
Pur Jus Blanc de Maceration is a skin contact white blend of Gros Manseng, Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat d’Alexandrie (well-known Cahors varieties). Tropical and fresh, with notes of yellow peach, apricot, savory herbs, bruised apple, honey and nuts. 90 days of maceration in concrete tanks, bottled unfined and unfiltered with a very low SO² addition. A fun and flirty light skin contact wine to get you through the heat of August! Serve chilled and pair with good times, board games, puzzles and more!
3. Andreas Ziniel “Zini” 1L (shown below!)
- Producer: Andreas Ziniel
- Region: Burgenland, Austria
- Varieties: Welschriesling, Muskateller, Sauvignon Blanc
- Alcohol: 11.5%
Zini 1L is a zippy, rosé (or call it a chillable red if you’d like!) made with Welschriesling, Muskateller, Sauvignon Blanc and Zweigelt from Burgenland, Austria. The Ziniel Winery is a family-owned winery that carefully tends to their 18 hectares of vines. They focus on evoking pure expressions of the grape varieties and their terroir through gentle handiwork and traditional pressing. 100% organic.
“The art consists in leaving out. Nothing more to add to.” - Andreas Ziniel. We are huge fans of the entire Ziniel line. They are natural and pure (certified organic to be precise!), full of flavor and always ready to pop and enjoy. You’ll notice this rosé is electric! It was made to be easy going and fun. Notice notes of watermelon rind, red cherries, yellow peach and mouth-watering acidity with each and every sip! Chill until cold and enjoy at the backyard bbq! Will pair effortlessly with a large variety of food from grilled chicken to roasted salmon or flank steak with chimichurri sauce!
4. Louis-Antoine Luyt “Cici y Amoroso” Tinto Chileno (shown below!)
- Producer: Louis-Antoine Luyt
- Region: Maule Valley, Chile & California
- Varieties: Pinot Noir, Merlot, Pais, Carmenere
- Alcohol: 12%
You already know how much we adore the natural Chilean wines of Louis-Antoine Luyt! Fresh, fun, exciting, now. He creates organic wines from Maule Valley, Chile. In a world of industrial wineries, he has become a voice for independent, terroir driven winemaking in Chile. He insists on dry farming (no use of irrigation whatsoever), horse plowing, use of organic and native yeasts only and intervention free winemaking. He studied viticulture and winemaking in Burgundy, France, where he also learned natural winemaking techniques that he brought to Chile. His wines are unique, approachable and super chuggable. This special release was made in collaboration with our dear friend Cinnamon Sonkarley of Farm Wine Imports. She was the first sales rep we purchased wine from and she has been supportive of Flask & Field from Day 1, meeting me at my old house in Mid City for tastings while we were awaiting our permits. She has an amazing palate and a true hunger for adventure and freedom. We recommend chilling Cici y Amoroso and pairing with food like savory empanadas (filled with meat, cheese, or vegetables), spicy dishes with chili peppers or bold spices, tomato-based pasta like spaghetti Bolognese or pasta arrabbiata or hard cheeses like Gouda, Cheddar, or Manchego. Salud!