Every year, the FAV (Wine Fairs) kick off in September. As always, we won’t waste time covering the entirety of the offerings. To be honest, it's enough to focus on those that are interesting throughout the year! Two stores have caught our eye: Ideal Wine and La Grande Épicerie. Nothing new under the sun, you might say, except for the always appealing and refreshed selection that's worth reviewing to refine one's choices. Here’s our report.
Ideal Wine
The FAV on the idealwine.com website runs from September 12th to October 3rd, 2023. As the leading French online platform for wine ratings and wine auctions, sourced from private or professional cellars, Ideal Wine also offers direct wine purchases in addition to the auctions. To learn more, click HERE.
The bottles not to be missed:
France, Bordeaux, Château Fourcas Dupré AOP Listrac-Médoc 2019 – €13.5
A great success in 2019, precisely matured and concentrated. Deliberate extraction and ambition, this subtly impressive Cru has good aging potential. An outstanding value for the price. LTR 91/100
Lebanon, Château Kefraya Liban Békaa-Ouest 2016 – €21.25
This flagship Lebanese estate presents a bottle that's now ready to be enjoyed. The blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvèdre, and Syrah brings complexity and length in a rather unique style. LTR 92/100
Germany, Markus Molitor Riesling Urziger Wurzgarten spätlese white capsule 2020 – €19.80
Among the most sought-after wines from the Mosel region, this spätlese, with noble aromas of bergamot and citrus, wonderfully showcases the full potential of the Wurzgarten, one of the region's finest vineyards. On the palate, the wine's texture stands out due to its low alcohol content and is marked by its concentration. The elegance and style of a beautiful German white wine. LTR 92/100
Roussillon, Domaine Riveyrac VDN Rivesaltes 1982 – €40.50
Intense and highly aromatic, this '82 vintage brings forward notes of nuts, citrus peels, and dried fruits. On the palate, its power and aromatic intensity are built on an exceptional balance that has seamlessly incorporated the fortification. A bottle to surprise and ponder over, best enjoyed at the end of a meal. LTR 93-94/100
La Grande Épicerie
From September 8th to October 6th, 2023, a veritable treasure trove will be unveiled. A total of 190 references (including 56 whites) that are 100% French await, with vintages ranging from 2012 to 2021; a boon for those in search of wines ready to be enjoyed. Accessing these delights couldn't be simpler: just visit lagrandeepicerie.com or one of their two locations (38, rue de Sèvres Paris 7° or 80 rue de Passy Paris 16°).
On September 7th, the day before the official opening, two grand inauguration evenings will be held simultaneously at both wine cellars, rue de Sèvres and rue de Passy, in Paris. On this occasion, enthusiasts will have the opportunity to taste the offerings of the "Rentrée des Vins" in a preview, in the company of several winemakers.
On the e-shop of La Grande Épicerie de Paris, the "Rentrée des Vins 2023" will also offer an exclusive online preview from August 31st until the eve of the event's inauguration.
Among the many gems to discover at the start of the school year, here is an eclectic and very tasteful selection made in La Grande Épicerie, to be found in the FAV 2023 catalog.
The Whites
Loire, Lieubeau Family, AOC Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Bio 2022 – €10.50
Flowers, citrus, delicate, not too pastry-like so as not to weigh down the whole, it's tasteful, mouth-watering, and savory in the finish. Aperitif or a dozen oysters. Tchin LTR 88/100
Loire, Domaine Bernard Fleuriet, AOC Menetou-Salon 2022 – €13.90
Floral, discreet but not caricaturally sauvignon. Tender mouthfeel, delectable with a citrusy finish that elevates the whole. Beautiful sauvignon style. Tchin LTR 89/100
Loire, Domaine Denizot, AOC Sancerre 2022 – €16.50
Delicate nose, complex, menthol, lime. Creamy onset, mineral, very pure. Solid finish, “chalky” and very well balanced. Nice wine. Encore LTR 91/100
Loire, Domaine Patrick Baudouin, AOC Savennières 2019 – €18.50
Lemongrass nose, fine, pear, anise, then the smokiness, the mineral, all in a crystalline structure, energetic on the palate, dense, long, and saline. For enthusiasts, superb. Encore LTR 94/100.
Burgundy, Dominique Lafon Estate, AOC Bourgogne 2020 – €22.90
Lovely nose with slightly toasted notes, white flowers, praline, and lemon pulp. Medium-bodied palate, very well-balanced, with a texture reminiscent of fresh butter. A beautiful limestone and smooth finish with a salty touch. A genuine Burgundy at a fair price. Encore LTR 92/100
Burgundy, Pattes Loup Estate, Thomas Pico, AOC Chablis – €24.50
Reduced nose with burnt matchstick, followed by limestone. Extremely refined palate, superb freshness, linear style, outstanding return of citrus, saline, and limestone notes. A beautiful bottle. Encore LTR 93/100
Rhône, Bastide du Claux, IGP Vaucluse, Echo 2021 €11.90
Vibrant nose, slightly candy-like, lime green, varietal. Full-bodied palate, binding finish, with fresh butter, well-structured. A good wine for chardonnay grape enthusiasts. Tchin LTR 88/100
South-West, Castéra Estate, AOC Jurançon Sec 2021 – €11.50
Delicate, sharp, and penetrating nose, with smoky notes, white fruits, and citrus. Vibrant palate, strict, sharp, and as cutting as a blade, with a nimble finish on citrus zest, tasty and salty. Refreshing and full of charm, especially at this price. Tchin LTR 90/100
Languedoc, Mas Peyrolle, AOC Languedoc Finalmente 2021 – €10.90
Open and fragrant nose, where all the grape varieties are expressed: apricot, spices, jasmine, citrus fruits. Creamy palate, medium-bodied, quite flexible, with a round finish, sweet notes of aniseed and menthol. Offbeat and delicious. Tchin LTR 89/100
The Reds
Beaujolais, Domaine Louis-Claude Desvignes, AOC Morgon Corcelettes 2020 – €14.90
A superb and appetizing nose, slightly reductive, a tender mouthfeel, velvety touch, full-bodied, with complex aromas of violets, and a juicy finish with a good length. Classy. Encore LTR 92/100
Bourgogne, Domaine Jean-Pierre Diconne, AOC Auxey-Duresse 2020 – €23.40
Nose hinting at toasted bread, followed by sour cherry, typical. The palate is fairly supple but remains fresh, with a delicate finish of spices and pepper. Well made. Tchin LTR 88/100
Bourgogne, Domaine Marchand-Grillot, AOC Chambolle-Musigny 2019 – €48
A serious Burgundy, still somewhat dominated by its aging, but the foundation is there, as are the freshness and structure. Broad, silky, and very much a Pinot. Encore LTR 91-92/100
Bourgogne, Domaine Thierry Mortet, AOC Gevrey-Chambertin 2018 – €39.90
Purity and finesse, while still concentrated, with hints of sour cherry and blood orange, and a brilliant finish with fine tannins. Remarkable for the price. Worth waiting for. Encore LTR 93/100
Bordeaux, La Petite Marquise du Clos du Marquis, AOC Saint-Julien 2016 – €33.90
A fragrant nose of violet, blackcurrant, and menthol. The palate is silky, spirited, delicate, with slender, juicy tannins and a lot of brilliance. Delightful. Encore LTR 93/100
Bordeaux, Domaine de l’A, AOC Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux 2015 – €31
Chocolate, truffle, plum, in a creamy and gorgeous style, we bite into a generous substance, finish on fruit paste and tapenade, undoubtedly a good wine. Encore LTR 91/100
Bordeaux, Domaine de l’If, AOC Saint-Emilion 2018 – €38.90
Unmasked Saint-Emilion, broad and velvety as we like it, without the roughness of an overwhelming aging process. Well-coated tannins, with licorice and peppery notes. Good wine, well-born (on the clay-limestone hill not far from Troplong Mondot...). Encore LTR 91/100
Languedoc, Domaine Mortiès, AOC Pic Saint-Loup 2021 – €15.50
Northern Syrah in scents, lifted mouth, pulpy, finish untied, juicy on blackberry and pepper. Good wine. Encore LTR 89/100
Languedoc, Clos de la Barthassade, IGP Pays de l’Hérault, Billes de Grenache 2020 – €13.90
Well-defined mouth, on strawberry soup. Finish on schistose tannins, as juicy as one could wish, perfectly ripe. Tchin LTR 88/100
Rhône, Domaine Alain Graillot, AOC Crozes-Hermitage 2018 – €26
Intense nose, pepper, blackberry. Concentrated mouth, very structured and energetic finish, long. Remarkable and even more so if one knows to wait. Encore 91/100
Rhône, Clos du Caillou, AOC Châteauneuf du Pape, Le Tradition 2018 – €29.90
In this complicated vintage, the estate stands out in a flexible style on stewed forest fruits, without weakness, with licorice accents and a juicy finish without bitterness or flaw. Good job. Encore 91/100