Le Sommelier Mixed Case: Christopher Sealy Selects

Wine Type:
Style of Wine:	Various
Country of Origin:	Various
Grape Varietal:	Various, Pinot Noir, Melon de Bourgogne, and Touriga Nacional
Bottle Format:	750mL
Case Size:	12 bottles
$410.28 Per Case ($34.19/btl)

Tasting Notes

Each case contains two bottles of the following wines:

Whites:

Bonnet-Huteau Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie Les Gautronnières 2018, Loire, France.
Domaine Bonnet-Huteau, nestled in La Chapelle-Heulin, in the heart of Muscadet’s Sèvre et Maine appellation, has been producing Muscadet for over 150 years. Today it is run by the Bonnet brothers, Jean-Jacques and Rémi. This 42 hectare vineyard has been certified organic since 2005, and biodynamic since 2010. They’ve divided their Melon de Bourgogne into parcels to highlight the nuances and subtlety of their individual terroirs, and their focus is on producing pure, fresh, Muscadet. From 20-30 year old vines and profoundly rocky clays and amphibolite fossil-rich volcanic soils comes this powerful, mineral-driven Muscadet. After a native ferment, this spent 9 months on lees in inox, with full MLF, adding to the generosity and breadth on the structural palate. Mineral driven, with savoury broken stones, lemon pith, white grapefruit, and subtle white peach running in layers down the palate, this profound wine is drinking beautifully now, but has time ahead.

Olivier Coste Carignan Blanc Rare 2019, Languedoc, France.
Since his childhood, Olivier Coste’s favourite places to play have been the vineyards and the family wine cellar at Domaine Montrose, his family’s wine estate founded in 1701 in Pézenas. With this upbringing, Olivier developed a profound attachment to the Languedoc’s terroir and landscape, and later to its wines. It's very rare to taste a single variety Carignan Blanc, and this is one that you should imprint with should you get the chance. Ripe and expansive, reflective of the Languedoc sun, with ripe melon, tangerine, cold cream, pineapple rind and spicy energy to a warming finish.

Orange:

FitaPreta a Laranja Mecânica 2019, Alentejo, Portugal.
This is a new orange wine release from Antonio Maçanita, his Clockwork Orange. Arinto, Roupeiro, Verdelho, Antão Vaz, Alicante Branco, Trincadeira-das-Pratas, Fernão Pires make up the Alentejo coferment blend, from various vineyards and vines 15-50 years old, on granite soils. After the first whole bunch pressing, 10-15% of the remaining juice macerated on the skins for a week, and then was pressed again and reunited with the whole, where it native fermented. It remained in stainless on lees until it was bottled, unfiltered, the following fall. Pouring a hazy golden hue, this orange wine is teeming with alluring bergamot, quince, and stencilled with finely grippy tannins and that characteristic granitic hum. Fantastic texture, salinity, and moreishness in this medium bodied wine.

Red:

Niepoort NAT’Cool! Voyeur Tinto Amphora 2018, Douro, Portugal.
Three amphora reds and three amphora whites, all from vines 40-50 years old, from six different sites in the Douro, go into this inaugural Voyeur wine. The initial plan was to release 3 different wines, but the blend worked so well, they blended it all together. Voyeur will remain like this going forward, though it will be taken from different sites, altitudes, etc. each year. In 2018 it’s a 50/50 red and white blend, spending 8 months in 1000L Spanish amphora, lined with beeswax. Pale crimson in hue, this is light, herbal, thorny and finely grippy, with lovely sapid plum and wild blackberry and raspberry. Tannins are whisper fine, and the finish is lingering with schistous minerality. Light, effortless, pure, and alive, as is the Dirk Niepoort way.

JM Sohler Pinot Noir Les Terrasses 2017, Alsace, France.
Sourced from a 27-year-old granitic soiled, terraced pinot noir vineyard in Blienschwiller, in the Bas-Rhin, this was fermented and aged in very old (75+ years), very large wood. Concentrated but so elegantly finessed, with beauty haunting cherry and raspberry licked with kirsch and flaked with sea salts. The core of red fruit is housed by spiderweb tannins and lifted with an easy, natural swell of acidity. Nothing is forced with this charming wine; drinking lovely now, but will hold in your cellar short term.

Herdade do Arrepiado Velho Touriga Nacional 2018, Alentejo, Portugal.
This powerful, rich Alentejo Touriga Nacional leaps from the glass with giant purple and blue fruits and florals: blackberry, cassis, dark plums, iris, violets. Tannins are chewy and firm, housing the plump, potent fruit to a lingering, warming finish. This was native fermented in a mix of inox and large oak vats before resting for a few months in the same. Antonio Maçanita (of FitaPreta) is the winemaker for this project. Cellar-worthy, or match with grilled lamb to tame now.

Critical Praise

Christopher Sealy is one of Canada’s foremost wine authorities. A highly regarded and respected Sommelier and Wine Director based in Toronto, Ontario, Christopher has built his reputation on a continual pursuit of knowledge, driven by an insatiable curiosity about the people and places in the world of wine. This wine storyteller and traveller is ranked as Canada’s #1 Sommelier 2019 by Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants. He is currently the Wine Director at Alo Restaurant, currently Canada’s #1 Restaurant, four years running.

Christopher has 15+ years of experience as a working and travelling Sommelier. He has synthesized his experience and knowledge into a comfortable and relaxed approach to wine, service, and education.

Christopher is also active in championing diversity and mentorship for BIPOC Wine Professionals with his committed partnership with Vinequity.

Christopher created this exclusive Mixed Case by researching and tasting through the Le Sommelier portfolio in winter 2020.

Estimated delivery time is 3-10 business days.