Category Archives: boxed wine

Vrac Rosé Vin de Pays de Mediterranée IGP 2016

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Brand: Vrac translates to “bulk” or “loose”, whilst ‘En Vrac’ translates to “bring your own bottle”. These phrases refer to the French practice of locals filling their own vessels with wine directly from the winery’s tanks. The producer intended to reflect that custom with VRAC, and crafted a simple, French countryside jug-style wine.

Winemaking: Grapes were sourced from sustainably farmed vineyards in the Pays des Maures and the Pays de la Mediterranée, in the heart of Provence, southeastern France. “The juice is bled from the macerating fruit (“saignée” in French) at the perfect moment to optimize the color and flavor from the skins, and is left to ferment in stainless steel tanks at low temperatures for a long, cool fermentation.”

Tasting Notes: Pale coral-pink in colour with summery aromas of strawberry, raspberry and clean minerals. Tasting similar to the aromas, light and airy strawberry and raspberry along with a quick shake of white pepper harmonize with a tangy acidity. Clean minerality and a hint of citrus comprise the dry, zippy finish. Friendly and gluggable, easy to pair with summer dishes, consistently one of my fave “drink all summer” Rosés.

60% Cinsault, 30% Grenache, 10% Tibouren
Vin de Pays de Mediterranée IGP
France
Bottled by Sas Savatier Selection
12.5% Alcohol
$9 or $20 3L box [4 bottles]
Enjoy now

Domaine de la Patience ‘From the Tank’ Rosé 2015

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fromthetankrose

Consistently amazing, a nearly unmatched value Rosé from a small, organically farmed estate in Costières de Nîmes.

‘From the Tank’ is a collaboration between Jenny & François Selections and various small, natural artisan winemakers that focus on expressing their terroir. Jenny & François Selections is a New York based wine distributor founded in 2000. They focus on small vineyard wines and “winemakers who work like artisans, crafting a different wine each year. They do not impose a preconceived taste on their wines, but look to be surprised by what nature gives”.

Estate: This ‘From the Tank’ Rosé was made exclusively for Jenny & François Selections by Domaine de la Patience, located in the Costières de Nîmes in southeastern France. The family estate takes it name from “La Patience”, a wild aromatic herb that makes its home in the vineyards. Christophe Aguilar farms the 60 hectares of vines, the very same soil that his grandfather respectfully farmed 50 years ago.

Winemaking: The vineyards are certified organic. Grapes were sourced from 20+ year old Syrah vines and 40 year old Grenache vines, then aged in concrete vats with minimum sulfur added.

Tasting Notes: Pale coral pink in colour with aromas of peach, rain washed slate and the slightest trace of banana. Light peach, raspberry, clean minerals and lively acidity meet red grapefruit notes on the dry finish. Light, crisp and refreshing, this is everything you desire in a patio pounder* for the summer.

80% Grenache, 20% Syrah
Vin de Pays du Pont du Gard
France
[Bottling information not available]
12-14% Alcohol
$22 [3L box equivalent to 4 750ML bottles]
Enjoy now

*Term acquired from my friend Brandon at the Cheese Traveler. Used with permission ☺

Domaine Le Garrigon Côtes du Rhône 2013

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garrigonbox
A plush red Rhône boxed wine from an organic family estate, a fantastic value [even with a price tag a bit higher then most boxed wines, it still averages a very reasonable $9 a bottle].

Wineberry was founded in 2001 by Eric Dubourg, who hails from a winemaking family in Bordeaux. A boutique importer and distributer, they source their wines from leading estates and artisanal producers. By developing sustainable, innovative packaging, they are able to reduce the carbon footprint and provide high quality wines at affordable prices.

Estate: Family owned and operated by siblings Daniel and Marie-Françoise Couston, Domaine Le Garrignon was established by their grandfather in 1919. The 200 acre estate has vineyards that stretch from Tulette to Visan in the Côtes du Rhône appellation of eastern France. Certified organic since 1997, the domaine produces AOC, Côtes du Rhône as well as Rhône villages wines. The vineyards are known for their clay and limestone soils, along with traces of the renowned, smooth Rhône pebbles.

Winemaking: With an emphasis on respecting both nature and humans, the organic approach is carried all the way through to the winery. Wines are crafted without the addition of any chemicals or enzyme animal products, and only naturally occurring wild yeasts are used during fermentation. Grapes were sourced from vines 15-45 years old. Aged in cement tanks for 10 months. Vegan.

Tasting Notes: Dark garnet in colour with aromas of dark berries, wild flowers and hints of oak. Black cherry, red currant and raspberry notes glide along an undercurrent of cigar box spice. Grippy tannins, whispers of smoky oak, and a velvety finish balance and focus each sip.

60% Grenache, 30% Carignan, 10% Syrah
Côtes du Rhône
France
13% Alcohol
$35 [3L box equivalent to 4 750ML bottles]
Enjoy now

Domaine de la Patience ‘From the Tank’ Rosé 2014

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tankrose
Refreshing and light, a truly tremendous value Rosé from a small family estate in the south of France.

‘From the Tank’ is a collaboration between Jenny & François Selections and various small, natural artisan winemakers that focus on expressing their terrior. Jenny & François Selections is a New York based wine distributor founded in 2000. They focus on small vineyard wines and “winemakers who work like artisans, crafting a different wine each year. They do not impose a preconceived taste on their wines, but look to be surprised by what nature gives”.

Estate: This ‘From the Tank’ Rosé was made exclusively for Jenny & François Selections by Domaine de la Patience, located in the Costières de Nîmes in southeastern France. The family estate takes it name from “La Patience”, a wild aromatic herb that makes its home in the vineyards. Christophe Aguilar farms the 60 hectares of vines, the very same soil that his grandfather respectfully farmed 50 years ago.

Winemaking: The vineyards are certified organic. Grapes were sourced from 21 year old Syrah vines and 40 year old Grenache vines, then aged in concrete vat with minimum sulfur added.

Tasting Notes: Coral pink in colour with sunny aromas of peach and honey. Bright and light, with peach, strawberry and nectarine flavours culminating in a crisp finish of grapefruit notes.

80% Grenache, 20% Syrah
Vin de Pays du Pont du Gard
France
[Bottling information not available]
12-14% Alcohol
$22 [3L box equivalent to 4 750ML bottles]
Enjoy now

Arrumaco Garnacha Rosé 2014

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arrumaco

Straightforward and refreshing, with a bit of friendly sweetness balanced by a delightful crisp finish, this is a superb value.

Winery: Bodegas Milenium produces table wine or “wine from Spain (VDE)” under the aegis of the Bodegas Gallegas group. Bodegas Gallegas was established over 50 years ago and today consists of 4 large bodegas [in addition to Bodegas Milenium] in the Galicia region of northwestern Spain.

Philosophy: “To create great accessible wines at a price which represents good value for our customers.”

Winemaking: Grapes were sourced from vineyards with a mild Atlantic climate and sandy soils. Fermented in stainless steel.

Tasting Notes: Cherry coral in colour with vibrant aromas of cherry and wet river rock minerals. Food friendly acidity and a dry mineral finish balance cheerful candied cherry and watermelon flavours in each silky, easy drinking sip.

100% Garnacha
Spain
Packed by Bodegas Milenium SL
11.5% Alcohol
$23 [3L box equivalent to 4 750ML bottles]
Enjoy now