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 arriving! Notably, several grand Champagne de Vigneron; Aurélien Suenen, the Frères Mignon, Pascal Agrapart, Aurélien Laherte or the domaine de Bichery on the Aube side! And a huge crush from Aurélien Clement (another Aurélien ;)!) discovered last spring thanks to Florent Mignon - his friend from Cramant and offering some of his first disgorgements! True gems 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, mainly of Meunier, supplemented by Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with 30% reserve going back to 2013! An intense golden yellow with mineral notes requiring a bit of aeration and an adequate temperature (10-11°C minimum), the palate offers candied citrus, full-bodied, vinous, very flavorful, and looooong... wow, to try with creamy cheeses... Then another marvel reminiscent of the beautiful Côte des Blancs; "Adonis Annua" with a 2017 vintage base, 100% Chardonnay, a delightful explosion of toasted hazelnuts and sunny lemon zest, crazy, I love it... and not just me! Evoking such beautiful memories of Fallet Prevostat from Avize! More for a classic pairing with, for example, a well-sourced smoked salmon...
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LA GALETTE DES ROIS (KING CAKE)
January also means Galette des Rois! This ritual allows us to gently extend the holiday season and wish friends and family a happy new year. Traditionally, it is accompanied by cider or a not-too-dry sparkling wine. And a great find... we also have non-alcoholic sparkling grape juice, pure Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet grape variety) which is super good with it!!
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PALAIS CURIEUX January 2023 |
To start gently and recover smoothly from the past holidays, we will continue with gentleness and measured effervescence... with some ciders from Normandy, from the Pays d'Auge naturally, in the company of "Doc Zangs", grand master of cidermaking, and his latest 2020 vintage, as well as a curiosity from Domaine Dupont, the "Cydon" — a wonderful and surprising blend of apples and quinces! We will then focus on local produce from Béarn, the Basque Country, and Gers. There's nothing better than looking close to home to get off to a good start and kick off the year properly, don't you agree? Then, a slight deviation from the good resolutions of the year ;) I suggest we meet in Chinon, on the banks of the Vienne but on the hillsides, to discover the work of Emilien Desbourdes - L'Arpenty - whom we have been following with great pleasure for several years! Long live you curious souls, and I wish you many great discoveries!
