For this new year that is starting, we wish you an excellent year full of projects, dreams, and big and small joys! We sincerely thank you for your loyalty, your curiosity and we hope to continue to accompany you on your journey through wines, spirits and beers.
During the holiday season, wines kept coming in! Especially several great Grower Champagnes; Aurélien Suenen, the Frères Mignon, Pascal Agrapart, Aurélien Laherte or the domaine de Bichery on the Aube side! And a huge crush on Aurélien Clement (another Aurélien ;)!) discovered last spring thanks to Florent Mignon - his friend from Cramant and offering some of his first disgorgements! Real jewels from a small area southwest of the Côte des Blancs; the Val du Petit Morin in Congy. Two cuvées: "Myosotis Champêtre" a 2018 vintage base blend of mainly Meunier, supplemented by Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with 30% reserve going back to 2013! An intense and golden yellow with mineral notes requiring a little aeration and an adequate temperature (10-11°C minimum), with a full, vinous, very tasty and loooooong mouthfeel of candied citrus...wow, definitely try it with creamy cheeses... Then another marvel, reminiscent of the beautiful Côte des Blancs; "Adonis Annua" with a 2017 vintage base, 100% Chardonnay, a punch of toasted hazelnuts and sunny lemon zest, crazy, I love it...and not just me! Evoking such beautiful memories of the Fallet Prevostat from Avize! More for a classic pairing with a fine smoked salmon, for example...
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GALETTE DES ROIS
January also rhymes with the Galette des Rois! This ritual allows you to gently prolong the holiday season and wish a happy new year to friends and family. Traditionally, it is accompanied by cider or a not-too-dry sparkling wine. And a great find...we also have alcohol-free sparkling grape juice, pure Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet grape variety) which is super good to accompany it!!
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PALAIS CURIEUX January 2023 |
To start off gently and ease back into things after the holidays, we will continue at a gentle pace with measured effervescence... with some ciders from Normandy, from the Pays d'Auge of course, in the company of "Doc Zangs", grand master of cider-making, and his latest 2020 vintage, as well as a curiosity from Domaine Dupont, the "Cydon" — a marvelous and astonishing blend of apples and quinces!! We will then focus on local produce from Béarn, the Basque Country, and Gers. Nothing beats looking close to home to get a good start and kick off the year right, don't you agree? Afterwards, a slight deviation from the year's good resolutions ;) I suggest we meet in Chinon, on the banks of the Vienne but on the hillsides, to introduce you to the work of Emilien Desbourdes - L'Arpenty, whom we have been following for several years with great pleasure! Long live the curious souls you are, and I wish you many great discoveries!
