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Store Hours

Tuesday - Friday 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday 12:00PM - 4:00PM
Monday CLOSED
Local delivery orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will be available for "in store" pick up on Sunday, otherwise will be delivered on Tuesday.

2019 Sierra Cantabria Rioja — Savor Spain

Many are away on vacation this week but if you are not, no need to feel stuck at home when you can take a whirlwind trip by opening a bottle of wine. Come with us today as we take a quick trip to Spain and explore this land of rich culture, stunning landscapes, and of course, delicious wine.

The Eguren family has produced outstanding wines in Rioja for five generations, including their 2019 Sierra Cantabria Crianza Rioja ($21.99). For decades, the Eguren family has grown grapes in the foothills of the Sierra de Cantabria mountain range that not only lends the name to their wine, but more important, shelters their vineyards. This wine is a Crianza, which means it's aged for more than 12 months in both French and American oak barrels in their underground cellars before release. The Crianza they produce is 100% Tempranillo grape, all grown on their estate in the rich clay soil where they practice organic dry farming and only do hand-picking and hand-harvesting of the grapes. The result is a wine with a bright, ruby-red color with tones of ripe berry fruit and notes of cocoa and coffee. The palate is powerful and well balanced with nuances of the oak aging. Sturdy but with ripe tannins, this wine remains both complex and harmonious right through the finish. As the nights start to warm up and you think about that big, fat burger or juicy NY Strip Steak, this wine from the Eguren family promises to be an ideal complement.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, April 20th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2019 Sierra Cantabria Crianza Rioja ($21.99) and the 2023 Alexander Valley Vineyard Gewürz ($18.99) — a delicious and innovative take on Gewürztraminer from California.

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

The Franco Family
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Celebrating over 80 Years
130 Elm Street, New Canaan, CT | 203.966.9571

The Return of 2023 La Croix Gratiot Picpoul de Pinet

According the the calendar spring should be here but the weather is telling a different story. So lets be positive and think spring! As we wait for the temperature to catch up with the calendar, we can transport ourselves to the sun-drenched vineyards of southern France and savor the flavors of the coming season.

Our first stop brings us to the Languedoc in southern France where we find the 2023 La Croix Gratiot Picpoul de Pinet ($14.99). Picpoul de Pinet is a white varietal that thrives in the loamy-limestone soil of the Languedoc which makes it the perfect choice for the upcoming season. This white wine, with its bright yellow/green highlights, greets you with aromas of pears and hints of citrus. The clean, green melon flavor is lively on the palate, and the slight roundness leads you into a soft finish. This wine is perfect on its own but truly shines when paired with seafood, shellfish or grilled fish. Comfortably priced, it is destined to become your "go to" white wine for spring and summer.

Languedoc is also home to our next wine, the 2022 Les Hérétiques ($11.99). This vineyard's previous owner, André Iché, who passed away in 2007, was an ardent disciple of the Natural Wine movement. His daughter, Marie-Pierre, currently runs the estate and is carrying on her father's legacy. Les Hérétiques is a blend of 80% Carignan grape and 20% Grenache. The floral aroma, with its approachable nuances of raspberries and blueberries, make it the perfect casual warm weather red wine. So as you fire up the grill and put on the first burgers of the season, this wine will play off nicely with the flavors of the grilled meat and a thick slice of red onion.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, April 13th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2023 La Croix Gratiot Picpoul de Pinet ($14.99) and the 2022 Les Hérétiques ($11.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2022 Averaen Pinot Noir — Opulent Oregon

An escape to Oregon promises pure delight, especially for those who savor the state's flagship red grape, Pinot Noir. The Willamette Valley's climate and terroir consistently foster world-class expressions of this varietal. We visit this week to see what we can find.

Born out of a love for cool climate pinot noir, Averaen vineyards is a cooperative effort of several vineyards all under the watchful eye of Director of Winemaking Rob Fischer and Winemaker Mordechai Kotler. Their mission is simple sustainable farming and hands-off winemaking and of course a passion for Pinot Noir. The vineyards span the Willamette Valley and each site contributes its specific personality.

Their 2022 Averaen Pinot Noir ($29.99) is a harmonious blend of seven vineyards in the Willamette Valley. Made from 100% Pinot Noir, this wine is a textbook example of what this region can offer for the varietal. You can feel the electricity in the glass as this wine shows off nuances of cherry, cranberry and blackberry. Once in the mouth, you are greeted with flavors of black tea, anise and blood orange with a hint of vanilla accents adding to its complexity. The texture is ripe and plush with a line of firm acids running through the core to keep the wine vibrant. As spring menus start to take center stage, the 2022 Averaen Pinot Noir ($29.99) will pair exquisitely with almost any red meat or chicken recipe.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, April 6th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2022 Averaen Pinot Noir ($29.99) along with the 2021 Domaine Anderson Estate Chardonnay ($34.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2022 Domaine Chavet La Côte — Discover the Menetou-Salon

France's Loire Valley is home to many of the wines we love. The many famous Appellations include Sancerre, Muscadet, Chinon and Touraine, but today we are going to visit the Menetou-Salon.

The Menetou-Salon is located in the eastern part of the Loire Valley and it is characterized by Kimmeridgian soil which is a type of limestone-rich soil that is highly prized in viticulture for its ability to produce wines with excellent structure and minerality.

2022 Domaine Chavet La Cote Menetou-Salon

The Chavet family has been growing vines in this region since the 17th century. Today we focus on their 2022 Domaine Chavet La Côte Menetou-Salon ($22.99). Made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grape, this wine greets you with a pale gold color while aromas of mineral and lemon burst from the glass. On the palate it is fresh and elegant and the lemony notes discerned in the nose are confirmed in the mouth, accentuated by a delicate mineral freshness that leads you directly to a clean, crisp finish. All the hallmarks of a great Sauvignon Blanc are present, making it an excellent alternative to Sancerre. As with many Loire Valley whites, the 2022 Domaine Chavet La Côte Menetou-Salon ($22.99) is a perfect pairing for almost any seafood or shellfish menu.

Francos Wine Minute — You can hear more about the 2022 Domaine Chavet La Côte Menetou-Salon ($22.99) in this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute located on our Home Page.

2021 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhone

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, March 30th as we pour the 2022 Domaine Chavet La Côte Menetou-Salon ($22.99) along with the 2021 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhône ($37.99). We will also be tasting the Ramos Pinto Lagrima ($24.99), a delicious white port from the port house of Ramos Pinto that you can use to make a Porto Tonico — a refreshing drink destined to become your summer cocktail.

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Easter Weekend Hours

Good Friday 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Holy Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Easter Sunday CLOSED
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday 4/2 - Friday 4/5 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Local delivery orders received after the Saturday cutoff time on March 30th will delivered on Tuesday, April 2nd.

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2021 Domaine D'Ouréa — Rustic Rhône

The Rhône valley in Southern France boasts a diverse range of wines, from prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape to approachable Côtes du Rhône, with a variety of everyday wines in between. Today our journey takes us to the heart of the Southern Rhône, to Domaine D'Ouréa in the renowned Vacqueyras region.

Adrien Roustan took over the family estate from his grandfather after completing studies in both Burgundy and California. In 2009 he created Domaine D'Ouréa, named after the Greek God of the mountains. Within the first year he converted the vineyard to organic farming and obtained certification in 2012. Adrien vinifies and matures his wines naturally without adding any oenological products to guarantee true, sincere wines that reflect the terroir of the southern Rhône. While this domaine produces several wines, today we highlight the 2021 Domaine D'Ouréa Tire Bouchon ($15.99). This wine is a blend of several regional grapes, mostly Grenache and Carignan with the balance being Syrah, Aramon and Counoise. It shows off a beautifully bright and floral nose infused with red fruit. On the palate, rustic flavors of plum come forward along with ample tannins before trailing off to a finish with a hint of spice. As grilling season approaches, the 2021 Domaine D'Ouréa Tire Bouchon ($15.99) — Tire Bouchon is French for corkscrew — would be the perfect wine to pair with simple grilled meat menus.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, March 23rd as we pour the 2021 Domaine D'Ouréa Tire Bouchon ($15.99) along with the 2022 Clos Henri Otira Sauvignon Blanc ($23.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Isola del Satiro — Rhapsody in Rosso

As vibrant hues of spring paint these days of March, we invite you to indulge in the rhapsody of an Italian Rosso. Take a quick journey with us to Sicily as we familiarize ourselves with the wines of this region.

Nestled in the heart of the Trapani growing region on the captivating island of Sicily, the Paladino family has cultivated their vinous legacy with passion and precision. Gianfranco Paladino, steward of the family estate, witnessed the transformation from grape suppliers to vintners, culminating in the inauguration of their own winery in 2002. The inaugural vintage in 2003 marked the dawn of a new era for the Paladino clan, and today we turn our attention to a gem from their cellar — the 2021 Isola del Satiro Rosso ($15.99). This red elixir, a harmonious marriage of Sicily's native grapes, Nero d'Avola and Perricone, draws its vitality from sun-drenched slopes adorned with clay and silt soil. The wine's radiant red and violet hues beckon, introducing a sensory journey adorned with the luscious aroma of dark berries. Upon the palate, the dance of flavors unfolds — ripe raspberry, red cherry, and a subtle hint of spice, tantalizing and teasing the taste buds. The wine's velvety embrace, complemented by soft, delicate tannins, guides the experience to a smooth, lingering finale. Join us in savoring the essence of Sicilian terroir in every sip of the 2021 Isola del Satiro Rosso ($15.99), a testament to the Paladino family's commitment to crafting wines that embody the spirit of their storied land.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, March 16th as we pour both the 2021 Isola del Satiro Rosso ($15.99) along with the 2021 Château Saint Roch Old Vines White ($15.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Revisiting the Wines of Jean-Paul Brun

As we creep ever so slowly towards spring, our choices of wine also start to creep in a different direction. Granted we will have a cold day or two, or even some snow, but if you want to think positive, think Jean-Paul Brun.

Jean-Paul Brun is a French winemaker who has earned his notoriety from his ardent use of natural and sustainable farming methods. Starting with just four hectares of vines, Jean-Paul Brun has truly created a self-made empire. All told, he now produces well over 20 different wines on over 60 hectares and he is showing no signs of slowing down.

From Burgundy, the 2022 Jean Paul Brun Beaujolais Blanc Chardonnay ($18.99) is ready to greet you with an inviting, bright yellow hue and a waft of ripe citrus aromas. The flavors of orchard fruit come directly from the clay and limestone soil where the vines grow. The nuances of apple and pear entice the taste buds and are followed up by a bright acidity and clean taste from the stainless steel aging. Easy to drink as well as easy on the wallet, this wine is a perfect pairing for tarragon roast chicken or any herb-based poultry recipe.

Moving over to one of his red wines, let's examine his 2021 Jean Paul Brun L'Ancien Beaujolais ($18.99). Made from 100% Gamay grape, this wine is a "Vielles Vignes", meaning "old vines", as these vines range from 40 to 60 years old and produce flavors unique to this age group. These "vielles vignes", combined with the soil made up of clay, limestone and granite give you a wine that shows off aromas of black cherry that are incredibly enticing. The modest alcohol content helps elevate the flavors of red fruit and hints of earth, exotic spice and sexy overtones. So, if a simple Sunday roast is on the menu one of these March weekends, this fantastic effort from Jean-Paul Brun will make a beautiful pairing and will not disappoint.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, March 9th as we pour both the 2022 Jean Paul Brun Beaujolais Blanc Chardonnay ($18.99) and the 2021 Jean Paul Brun L'Ancien Beaujolais ($18.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2021 Frank Family Chardonnay — In Like a Lion

As we put February behind us, it's time to look forward to the longer, sunnier days of March. While the thermometer can still be a bit stubborn in movement, you can always warm things up with something from California.

The story of Rich and Leslie Frank starts with them finding their way to Napa Valley separately, but ultimately their love of Napa Valley brought them together. They founded Frank Family Vineyards in 1992 and soon their career in the entertainment industry took a back seat to their love of wine. Now as Frank Family Vineyards proprietors, they manage everything from the business aspect of sales and marketing, to overseeing vineyard purchases and working closely with winemaker Todd Graff in the blending of their wines.

Today our focus is their 2021 Frank Family Vineyards Chardonnay ($36.99). The result of tremendous effort from the Franks, this wine offers up nuances of toasted brioche and the nose leads you directly into a creamy, full body core that you expect from a Carneros Chardonnay. Layers of yellow apple, lemon curd and baked pear tantalize the taste buds as this wine first enters your mouth. The flavors are flawlessly balanced with vanilla and baking spice which lead you directly into a long and lasting finish. So roast a chicken to perfection with a bevy of winter vegetables and the warmth will melt away the rest of winter.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, March 2nd as we pour both the 2021 Frank Family Vineyards Chardonnay ($36.99) and the 2020 Altano Rewilding Edition ($19.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Minute — Tune in this week as we chat about the history behind Calumet Small Batch ($59.99). You can find the Francos Wine Minute posted on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Tenuta Sant'Antonio - Repas & Ripasso

As we count the days till March, the cold February nights give us the opportunity to enjoy a good meal, a warm fire and of course a fantastic bottle of wine. In this season of comfort foods and uncomplicated wines, Francos Wine Merchants has the perfect winter wine choice at hand.

Today we travel to northern Italy, specifically the region of Valpolicella in Veneto. We're visiting winery owners Armando, Tiziano, Paolo and Massimo Castagnedi, in search of their 2020 Tenuta Sant'Antonio Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso Monti Garbi ($22.99). Paolo is the winemaker and he carefully crafts this wine adhering to sustainable farming practices. Ripasso is a traditional and unique style of wine where the standard Valpolicella wine undergoes a second fermentation in the presence of pressed grape skins, used to make the most famous wine of the region, Amarone. The use of this method adds an impressive degree of body and complexity to these wines, putting them a step above your average Valpolicella.

The 2020 Tenuta Sant'Antonio Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso Monti Garbi ($22.99) is from 20 year old vines grown in the calcareous, chalky soil of the vineyard. This wine is a blend of primarily Corvina and Rondinella with a small amount of Croatina and Oseleta grapes. The result is a wine showing off impressive weight as well as a classic nuance of dried cherry and plum, typical of wines in this region. Hints of mild spice, tar and toasted chestnut round out the flavors in this wine and enable it to pair with a wide variety of foods. So if you have a classic pasta entrée with a meat ragout or a favorite grilled, roasted or stewed meat recipe, this wine will pair perfectly.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, February 24th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2020 Tenuta Sant'Antonio Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso Monti Garbi ($22.99) along with the 2022 Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc ($19.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Steak & Seventy-Five

The days are starting to get longer and a little brighter, but as soon as the sun sets the temperature drop tells you it's still winter. So while the winter nights are here for the time being, you can always warm them up with wine and today that brings us to the Beckstoffer family.

The Beckstoffer story starts in 1975 with their arrival in Napa Valley. Following in his father's farming footsteps, young Tuck Beckstoffer spent his days in the vineyards throughout every growing season learning to respect the land and the fruit. Fast-forward three decades and he bottles his first wine. Today, Tuck is one of the few Napa stewards who is both a grower and a winemaker.

Our focus today is his 2021 Seventy Five Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.99). This wine hails from his Feliz Creek Vineyard which is a beautiful stretch of land that enjoys warm days and cool nights. The result is a wine that greets you with aromas of blackberry and hints of dry cedar. In the mouth, flavors of espresso beans, plums and raspberry tantalize the taste buds as hints of tannin and oak balance out the core flavors. The finish on this wine is dry and lingering and leaves you ready to take another sip. If you have been eyeing that Ribeye or NY-strip in the butcher case, this easy drinking, approachable Cabernet from Tuck Beckstoffer will easily pair up to the fatty, marbled flavors of those or any steak of your choosing.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, February 17th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2021 Seventy Five Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.99) and the 2021 Alois Lageder Pinot Bianco ($15.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2022 Jean Masson Apremont — Seductive Savoie

As we journey through February, we are hoping our friend the groundhog is telling the truth and an early spring is on the way. This week we bring you a white wine from the Alpine region of the Savoie, perfect to enjoy whether it's a cold snowy night or a mild winter evening.

Most of Savoie is located on the southern slopes of the Chartreuse Mountains. Apremont is one of the best-known villages and home to Mount Granier. Here, in 1248, a catastrophic slide caused the twenty-three-hundred-foot north face of the mountain to break off (Apremont translates as "after the mountain"). The resulting rockslide caused widespread devastation and what was left was new terrain comprised of a layer of limestone and metamorphic rock. It is this region that is now home to Domaine Masson that covers roughly 10 hectares.

Today we offer the 2022 Jean Masson Apremont ($18.99). Jacquère is an indigenous grape varietal that grows throughout this region and is the grape used to make this incredible white wine of the Savoie. The vines thrive in the clay-limestone soil that the great mountain slide left behind and the soil makeup is what gives this wine its mineral undertones. The nose of the Jean Masson Apremont is fresh, clean and dry with aromas of green apple. Mid-palate, nuances of white pear and beeswax can be detected as the lemony acids trail off into a smooth finish. This versatile wine is a perfect pairing with any white fish recipe and also goes extremely well with a traditional cheese fondue.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, February 10th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2022 Jean Masson Apremont ($18.99) and the 2022 Domaine Jean Royer Le Petit Roy ($19.99) — a delicious red blend from the Rhône that has a little bit of muscle from a Rhône-style blend of Mouvedre, Grenache and Syrah.

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2020 Altano Rewilding — Take a Walk on the Wild Side

February is here, and for those of you who have not planned a winter escape, we invite you to take a quick trip to Portugal and revisit the wines from that part of the world.

The Symington family has lived and worked in Portugal since the 19th Century and are owners of some of the leading port houses in the region, such as Graham, Dow, Warre's and Cockburn. The family business is now run by the 4th and 5th generations producing the finest ports and wines and building on the achievements of their ancestors.

Today we are featuring a classic red blend from the Symington family, the 2020 Altano Rewilding Edition ($19.99). A classic Douro blend, it is named to highlight the collaboration between the Symington family and Rewilding Portugal to support environmental conservation. Sourced from higher altitude vineyards, this elegant and fruit-driven wine is a blend of Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca. Deep crimson in color, this wine offers up a fresh, roserock fragrance with notes of Mediterranean vegetation and nuances of red fruit. Winemakers Charles Symington and Pedro Correia have carefully crafted a red wine with good body and seasoned with ripe, succulent flavors. The weighted mouthfeel ushers in some peppery tannins and surrounds the taut structure of this wine before trailing off into a lush and long finish.

2021 Vicentini Agostino Terrelunghe Soave

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, February 3rd from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2020 Altano Rewilding Edition ($19.99) and the 2021 Vicentini Agostino Terrelunghe Soave ($15.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

The Pathfinder — Blazing New Trails

As January comes to a close, we are still blazing new trails in the NA market and we have one more choice to share with you. Also, we celebrate the return of one of our favorite red wines, perfect for your winter comfort meals.

We have introduced to you several non-alcoholic options this month and the The Pathfinder Hemp & Root ($39.99) is one of our favorites. The Pathfinder is a fermented and distilled hemp-based mixer. This unique herbal elixir lends itself to a variety of NA cocktail possibilities. If you are a fan of herbal, aromatic cocktails, The Pathfinder is made for you. Their signature "The Pathfinder Spritz" is a combination of The Pathfinder, freshly squeezed lemon juice and club soda which turns into a delicious and refreshing NA cocktail, but a simple search of their website offers a variety of cocktails that can be made with this carefully crafted spirit. This is one NA mixer that you definitely want to try.

For those of you looking for a red wine to warm up your winter nights, consider the 2020 Mas de Gourgonnier Les Baux de Provence ($19.99). This domaine, run by the Cartier family, has been organically farming their land for decades. This delicious crowd-pleasing country wine is a harmonious blend of mostly Grenache and Syrah with a little Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan, and greets you with flavors of black cherry, plums and dark chocolate. The hint of lavender and its silky texture lead you right into a solid finish that enjoys an unmistakable expression of the rich Provençal soil. So as you gather your braised beef or chicken recipes on these chilly January nights, this is the wine you should have waiting on the table.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, January 27th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both The The Pathfinder Hemp & Root ($39.99) and the 2020 Mas de Gourgonnier Les Baux de Provence ($19.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

January Hours

Tuesday - Friday 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday & Monday CLOSED
Local delivery orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will be delivered on Tuesday.

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Discover Dirty Pelican

Whether you are practicing Dry January or simply looking to shake-up the selection on your wet bar, the Dirty Pelican line of Mixers has you covered. Designed to be enjoyed by everyone, the Dirty Pelican Mixers offer a refreshing drink that is tasty on its own and adding alcohol is simply one of the many optional ways to enjoy this drink.

Dirty Pelican Mango Passionfruit Margarita Organic Mixer

Today we take focus on the Dirty Pelican Elderflower Paloma Organic Mixer ($19.99). This mixer enjoys tart grapefruit paired with fresh lime along with the intoxicating botanical essence of elderflower. Each one of these ingredients is carefully crafted so no one flavor overpowers the other. Sweetened with organic agave nectar, these mixers contain no high fructose corn syrup or citric acid. Dirty Pelican Elderflower Paloma Organic Mixer ($19.99) has only 35 calories per serving and 8 grams of sugar and can be enjoyed alcohol-free with seltzer and sparkling water as well as mix well with vodka, gin, prosecco and a variety of other spirits. Be sure to enjoy other flavors, the Dirty Pelican Mango Passionfruit Margarita Organic Mixer ($19.99) and the Dirty Pelican Jalapeño Margarita Organic Mixer ($19.99).

You can hear more about our Dry January options by viewing this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute where we discuss our Non-Alcoholic Wine, Spirits and Mixers.

2021 Chateau de Combel la Serre 'Le Pur Fruit du Causse'

Now for those of you looking for a red wine to warm up your January nights, the 2021 Château de Combel la Serre 'Le Pur Fruit du Causse' ($16.99) will do the trick. To find this wine, one needs to travel to southern France, almost 400 miles south of Paris, to the region of Cahors. Once there we find winemaker Julien Ilbert toiling among his vines that have been in his family for generations. Made from Malbec, this grape is commonly called "Cot" in the region of Cahors. In the terroir of the Cahors region this grape (often referred to as the "black grape") produces a very dark colored wine, yet has a tremendous flavor of blackberry fruit. This wine in particular shows off these berry flavors mostly due to the limestone soil that is widespread throughout the region. Unlike its beefier South American cousins, this Malbec is lighter in style, yet still big in flavor and would be a perfect pairing for a Flat Iron Steak or even a more full-flavored Rib-Eye.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, January 20th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour two NA options, the Dirty Pelican Elderflower Paloma Organic Mixer ($19.99) and the Dr.Fischer Steinbock Sparkling Riesling Non Alcoholic ($17.99) along with the 2021 Château de Combel la Serre 'Le Pur Fruit du Causse' ($16.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

January Hours

Tuesday - Friday 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday & Monday CLOSED
Local delivery orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will be delivered on Tuesday.

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Wölffer Spring in a Bottle Rosé — Your Dry January Option

The Holidays are over, the tree and the relatives are gone, and it's time to move forward into 2024. For some of us that means looking into non-alcoholic options, so for the month of January Francos Wine Merchants will highlight some of the best choices we have found.

Wölffer Estate Spring in a Bottle Sparkling Rose Non Alcoholic

Our Dry January journey starts someplace very familiar, Wölffer Estate. This sustainable vineyard in the heart of the Hamptons that has famously brought us the 2022 Wölffer Estate Rosé ($18.99) and the 2022 Wölffer Estate Rosé Summer in a Bottle ($25.99) also offers an alcohol-free wine, the Wölffer Estate Spring in a Bottle Sparkling Rosé Non Alcoholic ($19.99). This delicious Sparkling Rosé is a carefully crafted blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Saint Laurent and Dornfelder — all organically grown. This fresh and bright wine greets you with aromas of baked apple and citrus with hints of rose bloom. The mouthfeel is vibrant and refreshing, all balanced out with lovely fruit notes of fresh peach and hints of exotic kumquat. The finish is long and satisfying with a wonderful acidity and good minerality. This wine can be paired up with spicy Asian dishes, pork, fish, as well as a simple soup or salad. This exquisite alcohol-free, low calorie, dry rosé is a perfect choice for a fun-filled evening, afternoon entertaining or part of a multi-course dinner.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, January 13th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the Wölffer Estate Spring in a Bottle Sparkling Rosé Non Alcoholic ($19.99) along with the 2022 Les Hérétiques ($11.99), a delicious red wine from the south of France.

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

January Hours

Tuesday - Friday 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday & Monday CLOSED
Local orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will be delivered on Tuesday.

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Ring in the New Year with the Most Popular Champagnes of the Season

The week leading up to New Year's Eve always seems to go by quickly, and you don't want to be caught short. If you still are in need of Champagne for your celebration then look no further than Francos Wine Merchants.

If you want to celebrate in style, then 2014 Louis Roederer Cristal ($349.99) is at the top of the list. Landing in the top 10 of Wine Spectator's Wines of the Year, this vintage received a 98 point rating. Close behind is the 2013 Dom Perignon ($299.99); with its classic fresh, crystalline style, this champagne offers up a gentle richness that never fails to please the palate.

If you are in the market for an outstanding non-vintage champagne, you may also want to consider the champagnes of Ruinart. The Ruinart Blanc de Blanc ($99.99) is carefully crafted from a blend of Premier Crus from the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims terroirs. The palate is both precise and clean as the wine delivers a radiant balance of roundness and smoothness. Of course if you are a Rosé lover, the Ruinart Rosé ($109.99) is a talented blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that results in notes of pomegranate and fresh apple.

For those of you who enjoy sparkling wines from other regions, the Bailly Lapierre Crémant de Bourgogne Brut ($19.99) from Burgundy is a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gamay and Aligoté. From the United States. the Roederer Estate ($33.99) always provides a fresh and festive glass of bubbly, and from South Africia we have the Boschendal Sparkling Brut ($21.99) and the Boschendal Sparkling Rosé ($21.99), two impressive sparkling wines that offer a soft and tasty introduction to what South Africa has to offer.

Bailly Lapierre Cremant de Bourgogne Brut

You can see your complete selection by clicking on the Champagne link on our Home Page as well as our Prosecco & Other Sparkling Wine link to view our other sparkling selections.

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please join us Saturday December 30th from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the Boschendal Sparkling Brut ($21.99) and the Boschendal Sparkling Rosé ($21.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours for New Year's

Friday & Saturday (Dec 29th - 30th) 10:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday (New Year's Eve) 10:00am - 6:00pm
Monday & Tuesday (Jan 1st & 2nd) CLOSED

The staff at Francos Wine Merchants wishes all our customers the best for 2024.

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Francos is here for your last minute Holiday Wines & Gift Ideas

We are down to the last few days of shopping, and if you still have a few people to cross off your gift list, or need wines for your holiday table, Francos Wine Merchants is here to help. From wine to Champagne to port to spirits, Francos has all your bases covered.

If you have any lovers of red wine on your gift list, the highlights of our Bordeaux inventory include 2019 Château Gloria Saint Julien ($59.99), 2019 Château Siran ($49.99), 2019 Château Pédesclaux ($59.99) and the 2019 Château Phelan Segur ($64.99). These are all from the highly acclaimed 2019 vintage which was just released, all with outstanding reviews.

2019 Dunn Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

2019 Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

For those of you who enjoy California Cabernets, our selection of Napa Valley Cabernets include highlights such as the 2019 Dunn Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon ($214.99) which was rated the #6 Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator. We also have in stock the 2019 Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($349.99) which is always a popular gift for the collector. But if you want to come back down to earth on prices, Dominus also makes the incredible 2020 Dominus Napanook ($99.99) which is a terrific California red in its own right. Also popular are the 2020 Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($89.99) and both the 2018 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($189.99) and 2019 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($99.99).

2021 Louis Jadot Pouilly Fuisse Premier Cru

White wine drinkers also have some terrific choices. Starting off in Burgundy we have the 2021 Louis Jadot Meursault ($96.99) and the 2021 Louis Jadot Pouilly Fuissé Premier Cru ($59.99). Moving over to California the 2022 Far Niente Chardonnay ($69.99) never fails to put a smile on someone's face and the 2021 Ramey Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($49.99) is not only an outstanding example of California Chardonnay, it also ranked #27 on the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of the Year.

For the spirit lovers on your list, don't forget about our vast selection of Bourbon, Rye and Scotch. You can browse our whiskey by clicking on our Small Batch American Whiskey and our Single Malt Scotch links located on our Home Page.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, December 23rd 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the Champagne Louis Nicaise Brut Reserve ($49.99) along with the 2020 Uccelliera Rapace ($36.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Francos Holiday Hours Through January 2nd

Wednesday - Friday (Dec 20th - 22nd) 10:00am - 7:00pm
Saturday (Dec 23rd) 10:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday (Christmas Eve) 10:00am - 5:00pm
Monday (Christmas Day) CLOSED
Tuesday (Dec 26th) 12:00pm - 6:00pm
Wednesday - Saturday (Dec 27th - 30th) 10:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday (New Year's Eve) 10:00am - 6:00pm
Monday & Tuesday (Jan 1st & 2nd) CLOSED

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Around the World Tasting featuring the 2019 Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo

There is no getting around it, December 25th is closing in and the shopping days are numbered. For those of you who have been procrastinating, there is still hope as Francos Wine Merchants has a fabulous wine tasting set for this week featuring wines from Italy, France and America.

Our feature wine starts us off in Italy. Since 1340, nineteen generations have managed Monfalletto in the town of La Morra, the center of the production of Barolo wine. To this day the property is still entirely family-run headed by Giovanni Cordero di Montezemolo and his children Elena and Alberto. The property encompasses 28 hectares including quite a few lots of old vines used for their Barolo.

Today we highlight their 2019 Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Monfalletto ($59.99). Honored with a solid 95 point rating from Robert Parker, this Barolo is comprised of several plots cultivated in La Morra with each hill harvested separately, choosing the best moment to harvest each site. The result is a wine showing off bright aromas of pressed cherry and blackberry leading you into a style of muscle and brawn. The texture is rich and dense and once in the mouth flavors of licorice and cured tobacco take over leading you into a full and lingering finish. While this estate produces several wines, the 2019 Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Monfalletto ($59.99) remains the estate's most representative Barolo. This wine not only makes the perfect gift for any lover of Italian wine, but it is ready to pair up with your holiday roast.

2021 Ramey Russian River Valley Chardonnay

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, December 16th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2019 Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Monfalletto ($59.99) along with the 2019 Château Gloria Saint Julien ($59.99), a classic Saint-Julien from the left bank of the Gironde river in Bordeaux. We're also pouring our feature white wine this week, from California, the 2021 Ramey Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($49.99), rated #27 in Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of the Year. This is a tasting you definitely don't want to miss.

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

December Hours

Monday - Friday 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday 12:00PM - 4:00PM (no deliveries)
Local orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will be available for "in store" pick up on Sunday or will be delivered on Monday.

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2019 L'Abeille de Fieuzal — Upgrade your Gift List

The Holiday shopping season is underway and as we are looking to cross things off our gift-buying list, Francos Wine Merchants has the perfect wine for any Bordeaux lover.

Bordeaux offers us a unique blend of culture, history and most important, wine. Today we travel to the appellation of Pessac-Léognan, a sub-region with the Graves located on the left bank of the Gironde river. This region is home to Chateau Fieuzal whose history goes back centuries to a time when the land was farmed by a handful of modest wine growers. While five families have owned the property since, the Fieuzal name has lived on. Today the property is owned by Brenda and Lochlann Quinn who fell in love with the property back in 2001.

Today we focus on the 2019 L'Abeille de Fieuzal ($42.99) which is the second label for their famous Chateau Fieuzal. This Bordeaux is a classic blend of 55% Merlot 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. The mild winter in the 2019 growing season enhanced the growing conditions of the 35+ year old vines and helped produce this fabulous vintage. This wine enjoys an aroma of ripe, red fruit and wonderful dark berries. The mouthfeel is smooth with hints of lush currant and the wine is delicately balanced with fine acidity, structure and tannins. This gem from Bordeaux is ready to be enjoyed now and would make a perfect accompaniment to many holiday menus, or for those of you thinking ahead, it would also make a nice gift for any red wine lover on your list.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, December 9th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2019 L'Abeille de Fieuzal ($42.99) along with the 2022 Clos Henri Otira Sauvignon Blanc ($23.99) — a terrific white wine from the Marlborough region of New Zealand.

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Minute — This week Francos Wine Merchants celebrated our 90th Anniversary in business and you can hear about our history in New Canaan in this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute located on our Home Page.

December Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Ring in December with 2021 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhône

December has arrived and a month of parties and gift giving lays ahead. Open seven days a week for December, Francos Wine Merchants is stocked and ready to help you on all fronts with a well-stocked selection of wines and spirits as well as a month of fabulous wine tastings.

We are going to start out the season in France's Rhône Valley. The magic of the Rhône lies in the very rocky soil of this region. Made out of Molasse seabed covered by diluvial alpine deposits, these rocks are called "Galets Roulés" by the French and play a big role in the development of the grapes. These stones take up the heat during the day and slowly release it at night which helps give a good start to the vines during the spring, and also helps ripen the grapes after the growing season gets underway.

Chateau de Beaucastel is the property of one of the most famous producers in the Rhône, the Perrin Family. Today we are going to focus on the 2021 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhône ($37.99). The 30 hectares of Coudoulet are located just east of the vineyard of Beaucastel where they produce their famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and it is often referred to as "Baby Beaucastel." The full flavor and the plush style of this wine come from the cepage which is a blend of several of the classic Rhône grapes — Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsault. This wine enjoys complex notes of peppery spice and dark fruit that drink well right out of the gate. Evenly balanced with grippy tannins, the wine gives off a mouthful of pleasure and leads into a zesty and long finish. So if you starting to think of wines for the holiday season, we suggest that you stop in and pick up a bottle of the 2021 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhône ($37.99) and see for yourself why Chateau de Beaucastel and the Perrin Family are famous throughout the Rhône.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, December 2nd 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2021 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhône ($37.99) along with the 2022 Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($54.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

December Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Last Minute Thanksgiving Selections from Francos

Thanksgiving is upon us and if you are still in need of selecting your holiday wine or perhaps in need of stocking up on a few last minute items, Francos Wine Merchants is here to help. Last week we reviewed some choices for American wines so this week we will talk about some European choices.

2022 Lafon Macon Villages Les Heritiers du Comte Lafon

2022 Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau Macon Villages Clos Saint Pancras

Burgundy always has a home on the Thanksgiving Table and if you are looking for a White Burgundy at an affordable price you can't go wrong with either the 2022 Lafon Mâcon Villages Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon ($29.99) or the 2022 Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau Macon Villages Clos Saint Pancras ($29.99), or move up the ladder a bit with the 2021 Bachelet Monnot Bourgogne Côte D'Or ($44.99). But if Red Burgundy is your jam, Jadot has you covered with the 2021 Jadot Marsannay Clos du Roy ($62.99) or the 2020 Louis Jadot Beaune Theurons Premier Cru ($71.99). Feel free to browse all our Jadot Burgundies by clicking on our Jadot Burgundy link on our Home Page.

For you spirit lovers, don't forget about our Bourbon, Rye and Scotches. You can see our entire selections by clicking on our Small Batch American Whiskey and our Single Malt Scotch links. For the end of the night, nothing is more traditional than Vintage Port for the perfect ending to your Thanksgiving dinner, so be sure to also check out our entire list of Vintage Ports and Tawney Ports on our Port Link. All these links are located on our Home Page.

For your guests looking for some Non-Alcoholic options, Francos has you covered with Mocktail choices with the Dirty Pelican Elderflower Paloma Organic Mixer ($19.99), the Dirty Pelican Jalapeño Margarita Organic Mixer ($19.99), and the Dirty Pelican Mango Passionfruit Margarita Organic Mixer ($19.99) as well as the The Pathfinder Hemp & Root ($39.99). Our wine options include the Mionetto Non Alcoholic Prosecco ($15.99) and the Wölffer Estate Spring in a Bottle Sparkling Rosé Non Alcoholic ($19.99). You can find all our NA options by clicking on the Non-Alcoholic Drinks link on our Home Page.

Thanksgiving Week Holiday Hours

Monday - Wednesday 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Thursday (Thanksgiving) CLOSED
Friday & Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday 12:00PM - 4:00PM

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Talking Turkey — Wines for Thanksgiving

Thanksving is here and the 2023 holiday season is underway! While you have been busying yourself with your Holiday Menu, Francos Wine Merchants has been busy searching out the best wines for your holiday meals.

If you enjoy a classic California Chardonnay with your turkey, the 2021 Ramey Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($49.99) was named #27 on the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines for 2023. This wine offers nuances of citrus and toasted green tea and will pair beautifully with your turkey. The 2022 Far Niente Chardonnay ($69.99), with is creamy texture and full-bodied style, is also a contender — especially for those of you who enjoy a succulent Napa style Chardonnay.

2020 Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Some of you prefer the classic full style of a California Cabernet. You can't get more classic than the 2020 Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($89.99) or the 2020 Dominus Napanook ($99.99). And, if you really want to put out something extraordinary this Thanksgiving, we have a 2019 Dunn Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon ($214.99). This wine from Dunn Vineyards made #6 on the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines for 2023. If you are a lover of Napa Cabernet, this is a wine not to be missed.

Pinot Noir is also a very popular choice to pair with your turkey dinner, and a perennial favorite is the 2022 Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($56.99) with its very structured and fruit forward style. Moving over to Oregon, the 2021 Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir ($49.99) never disappoints with its subtle elegant style. Bringing you back down to a more comfortable price without giving up true Oregon style, the 2021 ILLAHE Pinot Noir ($29.99) can deliver without breaking the bank.

Francos Wine Minute — Tune in to this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute on our home page as we talk more about wine options for your Thanksgiving Dinner.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, November 18th from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour an exciting lineup of wines for Thanksgiving including the 2021 ILLAHE Pinot Noir ($29.99), the 2022 Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau Macon Villages Clos Saint Pancras ($29.99), the 2021 Domaine Jean Royer Chateauneuf de Pape ($42.99) and the 2021 Koehler Ruprecht Riesling Kabinett Trocken ($21.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Thanksgiving Week Holiday Hours

Monday - Wednesday 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Thursday (Thanksgiving) CLOSED
Friday & Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday 12:00PM - 4:00PM

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Boschendal Brut — South African Sparkler

November is here and as the holidays start to approach, those of us who are entertaining larger crowds need to consider some wines that will compliment our menus without breaking the bank. Today we have two wines that fit this category perfectly.

Our first stop brings us to South Africa's Western Cape where we find Boschendal Estate, located between Franschhoek and Stellenbosch in a picturesque valley in the Cape Winelands. The winemaking team at Boschendal take the utmost care to make terroir driven wines while embracing sustainable farming and winemaking techniques. Today we have the Boschendal Sparkling Brut ($21.99). The Boschendal Brut is a blend of 51% Chardonnay and 49% Pinot Noir. Pale gold with a flourish of delicate bubbles and enticing lemon cream and almond Biscotti precedes a soft explosion of zesty lemon and orange peel that finishes with appealing length. This sparkling wine is perfect to offer your guests either during hors d'oeuvres or during dinner.

For those of you looking for a red wine to serve the masses, the 2022 Vincent Paris Syrah ($19.99) is a surprisingly enjoyable wine from the Northern Rhone in France. Vincent Paris is a rising young star in this region who uses organic and sustainable farming practices in order to bring his wines to the market. This Syrah enjoys a deep bouquet of cassis along with vibrant red fruit. On the tongue, savory undertones of black pepper marry with dark chocolate and soil tones and merge into a very drinkable, medium bodied red wine perfect for November menus and big crowds.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, November 11th from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the Boschendal Sparkling Brut ($21.99) along with the 2022 Vincent Paris Syrah ($19.99) and the 2022 Domaine Jean Royer Le Petit Roy ($19.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

Tuesday - Friday 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday 12:00PM - 4:00PM
Francos is closed on Mondays
Local orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will be available for "in store" pick up on Sunday or will be delivered on Tuesday.

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Distinctively Daou - 2021 Daou Cabernet Sauvignon

November has arrived, the clocks are turning back and the temperature is going down. This makes it the perfect time to revisit wines that enjoy a fuller style and pair up with both the chilly nights and the comfort food dinners.

While most people's thoughts turn to Napa when they hear of California reds, today we are going to visit Paso Robles. It was here that Georges and Daniel Daou decided to pursue their dreams of starting a vineyard. Having made their money in the technology field, the brothers always had a love for wine. Much like the diligent research they used to build their technology empire, they applied the same dedicated research to finding the perfect plot of land for their vineyard and eventually ended up in Paso Robles where they knew they could produce true California varietals.

While the Daou brothers produce several wines today we bring you the wine where it all began, the 2022 DAOU Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ($26.99). This vintage of DAOU exemplifies the true nature of Paso Robles and what can be achieved there. The highly perfumed nose shows off aromas of black cherry, cassis, plum and sandalwood up front, with secondary aromas of desert sage and bay leaf. On the palate, rich and weighty offerings of black raspberry, spicy currant and blueberry compote take over and gradually lead you into the more subtle flavors of bing cherry and fresh fig. From there the ripe, refined tannins carry into a structured finish with lingering accents of cherry, espresso and vanilla. So if you are the type that still ventures out to the grill on the cool autumn nights, or you have decided it's time for the first roast of the season, the 2022 DAOU Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ($26.99) is waiting for you.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, November 4th from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both 2022 DAOU Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ($26.99) along with the 2021 Château Saint Roch Old Vines White ($15.99) — a delicious white wine from the village of Maury in the Roussillon.

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2022 Clos Henri Sauvignon Blanc & The Pathfinder NA Mixer

As we close out October we still have only grazed the surface of new wines we have in stock. Today we not only have a delicious Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, but we also have a terrific Non-Alcoholic cocktail mixer that is making a big splash in the NA spirit market.

We start in New Zealand with the Famille Bourgeois. Most of you are familiar with this French winemaking family from the Loire from their 2023 Henri Bourgeois Les Baronnes Sancerre ($29.99) and their 2022 Bourgeois Sancerre Rosé Les Jeunes Vignes ($22.99), but today we are going to talk about their New Zealand venture.

Back in 2000, brothers Jean-Marie and Rémi Bourgeois set out to New Zealand in search of land suitable for growing Sauvignon Blanc. Their journey led them to Marlborough and the Wairau Valley that was carved by ancient glaciers millions of years ago. They fell in love with the region and purchased 98 hectares of land and named it Clos Henri. By 2010 they had their first vintage and by 2013 they were certified organic and they have been moving forward ever since.

All this brings us to our feature wine, the 2022 Clos Henri Otira Sauvignon Blanc ($23.99). Named after the Ōtira Glaciation (the most recent ice age) period, this wine greets you with hints of sliced lemon and pineapple. The wine itself is full and layered with flavors of mango and white fruit. The density on the palate is enhanced by the crisp, mineral finish not unlike the glacial soil in which the vines grow. Serve this up with your favorite snapper or white fish recipe, or a delicious plate of fresh oysters.

For those of you who are in the market for a Non-Alcoholic drink, we introduce to you The Pathfinder Hemp & Root ($39.99). The Pathfinder is a fermented and distilled hemp-based mixer. This unique herbal elixir lends itself to a variety of mocktail possibilities. If you are a fan of herbal, aromatic cocktails, The Pathfinder is made for you. Their signature "The Pathfinder Spritz" is a combination of The Pathfinder, freshly squeezed lemon juice and club soda which turns into a delicious and refreshing NA cocktail. This is one NA mixer that you definitely want to try.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, October 28th from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2022 Clos Henri Otira Sauvignon Blanc ($23.99) and the 2020 Camarda Nerello Mascalese ($23.99) along with The Pathfinder Hemp & Root ($39.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2019 Uccelliera Rapace — The Taste of Tuscany

There is nothing more inviting than the Tuscan countryside and wines from this region are always a welcome sight on any table. Home to the Sangiovese grape, this region brings us everything from a simple Chianti all the way up to the celebrated Brunello.

Today we visit Andrea Contonesi, owner and winemaker at Uccelliera Estate. Andrea worked for Ciacci Piccolomini until the mid 1980's when he purchased some of the land from his former employers and formed the Uccelliera Estate with his first vintage making an appearance in 1991.

While Uccelliera produces several wines, today we focus on a Super-Tuscan style blend Andrea produces, the 2020 Uccelliera Rapace ($36.99). Garnering 92 points from Robert Parker, this wine is a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The loose and stony soil of this region, coupled with the warm microclimate, gives this wine a rich, ripe expression. This wine opens with a medium-dark color and nice concentration. The bouquet offers primary aromas of dark fruit and plum framed by nuances of sweet spice, cedar and tobacco. There is so much this wine has to offer which makes it quite versatile and you can pair it with everything from appetizers to any meat-based main dishes. Limited in production, Uccelliera made less than 900 cases of this wine so it will not last long. We suggest to strike while the iron is hot and pick up a bottle today.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, October 21st from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2020 Uccelliera Rapace ($36.99) along with the 2022 Lafon Mâcon Villages Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon ($29.99) — a beautiful white Burgundy that also has a place in your autumn menus and entertaining.

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2019 Sierra Cantabria - Seductively Spain

The temperature took a downward turn this week and so you may want to warm things up. One way that can be accomplished is with a quick trip to Spain, to the northern region of Rioja.

The Eguren family has produced outstanding wines in this region for five generations, including their 2019 Sierra Cantabria Crianza Rioja ($21.99). For decades the Eguren family has grown grapes in the foothills of the Sierra de Cantabria mountain range that not only lends the name to their wine, but more important, shelters their vineyards. This wine is a Crianza, which means its ages for more than 12 months in both French and American oak barrels in their underground cellars before release. The 2019 Sierra Cantabria Crianza Rioja ($21.99) is 100% Tempranillo grape, all grown on their estate in the rich, clay soil where they practice organic dry farming and only do hand-picking and hand-harvesting of the grapes. The result is a wine with a bright, ruby-red color with tones of ripe berry fruit and notes of cocoa and coffee. The palate is powerful and well balanced with nuances of the oak aging. Sturdy but with ripe tannins, this wine remains both complex and harmonious right through the finish. As the nights get cooler, this is the wine that will warm you up by pairing beautifully with anything from a stuffed flank steak to braised short ribs.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, October 14th from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2019 Sierra Cantabria Crianza Rioja ($21.99) along with the 2018 Marie de Beauregard Vouvray ($24.99) — a delicious white wine from the Loire Valley made from 100% Chenin Blanc grape.

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2022 Jean Masson Apremont — An Amazing Alpine White

As the flavors of fall come into place it's time to seek out some wines to match up with your autumn menus. While there are many regions to explore, today we are going to visit the Alpine region of the Savoie.

Most of Savoie is located on the southern slopes of the Chartreuse Mountains and Apremont is one of the best known villages and home to Mount Granier. Here in 1248 a catastrophic slide caused the twenty-three hundred foot north face of the mountain to break off (Apremont translates as "after the mountain"). The resulting rockslide caused widespread devastation and what was left was new terrain comprised of a layer of limestone and metamorphic rock. It is this region that is now home to Domaine Masson that covers roughly 10 hectares.

Today we present to you their 2022 Jean Masson Apremont ($18.99). Jacquère is an indigenous grape varietal that grows throughout this region and is the grape used to make this incredible white wine of the Savoie. The vines thrive in the clay-limestone soil that the great mountain slide left behind and the soil makeup is what gives this wine its mineral undertones. The nose of the Jean Masson Apremont is fresh, clean and dry with aromas of green apple. Mid-palate, nuances of white pear and beeswax can be detected as the lemony acids trail off into a smooth finish. This versatile wine is a perfect pairing with any white fish recipe but also goes well with alpine cheeses such as Gruyere and Emmenthaler.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, October 7th from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2022 Jean Masson Apremont ($18.99) along with the 2021 Planet Oregon Pinot Noir ($23.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2021 Château de Combel la Serre — Cahors Galore!

We've had a couple of weather reminders that Autumn is on the way, and as we see friendly faces coming back from summer vacation we also see some friendly wine labels returning as well. One of those labels arrived this past week from the fabulous appellation of Cahors.

To get to Cahors one needs to travel to southern France, almost 400 miles south of Paris. Once there we find winemaker Julien Ilbert toiling among his vines that have been in his family for generations. His 2021 Château de Combel la Serre 'Le Pur Fruit du Causse' ($16.99) is one of his prized efforts. Made from Malbec, this grape is commonly called "Cot" in the region of Cahors. In the terroir of the Cahors region this grape (often referred to as the "black grape") produces a very dark colored wine, yet has a tremendous flavor of blackberry fruit. This wine in particular shows off these berry flavors mostly due to the limestone soil that is widespread throughout the region. Unlike its beefier South American cousins, this Malbec is lighter in style, yet still big in flavor and would be a perfect pairing for a Flat Iron Steak or even a more full-flavored Rib-Eye. While often used as a blending grape in Bordeaux, the thin skin of the Malbec grape can make it sensitive to the climate and soil conditions in some areas, but this grape has truly found a comfortable home in the Southwest region of France in the Cahors appellation.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, September 23rd from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2021 Château de Combel la Serre 'Le Pur Fruit du Causse' ($16.99) and the 2022 Wölffer Estate Rosé ($18.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2022 Lafon Mâcon Villages - Burgundy Season Arrives

The white shorts have been put away; the evening sweatshirt will soon come out of the closet; and your favorite food blogs have started to feature the comfort foods of fall. All these signs tell us it's the cusp of Burgundy Season and Francos Wine Merchants has some of the first arrivals.

Dominique Lafon has been in command of his family's property for over thirty years and is considered one of the finest winemakers in France. He strongly believes in the potential of the Mâconnais region where he has been making terroir-driven wines since 1999. Today we present to you the 2022 Lafon Mâcon Villages Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon ($29.99). Made from 100% Chardonnay grape, this entry-level wine from Lafon's Mâconnais operation offers spectacular value. This Mâcon-Villages is fleshy, with a mélange of citrus, melon and mineral aromas and flavors, a bright profile and good persistence. One can almost taste the care that Dominique Lafon lends to every wine he produces with his careful use of organic and biodynamic farming methods. As you make your first roast chicken of the autumn season the 2022 Lafon Mâcon Villages Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon ($29.99) will pair perfectly with the early season root vegetables and late season herbs.

Francos Wine Minute: You can hear more about this wine from Dominique Lafon by tuning into our Francos Wine Minute on our Home Page.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, September 9th from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2022 Lafon Mâcon Villages Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon ($29.99) along with a terrific red wine which is a new arrival from Sicily, the 2020 Camarda Nerello Mascalese ($23.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Wines for Labor Day Weekend

2022 Domaines Ott Chateau de Selle Cotes de Provence

Labor Day Weekend is here and while the calendar says summer is winding down you can easily extend it. We here at Francos Wine Merchants talked about some fabulous wines over the past couple of months, so let us recap the highlights which will be perfect for your Labor Day Weekend.

If you are going to bid adieu to summer with lobster then you need to turn to rosé. You can do so with a bang by serving the classic 2022 Domaines Ott Château de Selle Côtes de Provence ($54.99) or the 2022 Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre Rosé ($35.99). But if you want to enjoy the season's most popular rosé at an extremely modest price, you have to pick up a bottle of the 2022 Château Saint Roch Old Vines Rosé ($16.99) which is a blend of Grenache Gris and Syrah grapes from the Cotes du Roussillon.

If seafood or chicken is more your style you can stay right in the Cotes du Roussillon and enjoy the 2021 Château Saint Roch Old Vines White ($15.99) which is a blend of Grenache Gris and Roussanne, or travel to Spain and pick up a bottle of the 2021 La Val Albariño ($17.99). With its aromatic fruit on the nose and flavors of zesty lemon and Anjou pear, this Spanish white wine is the perfect warm weather refresher with its crisp, inviting style. .

If you are throwing burgers or steak on the grill this holiday weekend then the 2018 Domaine Mouthes Le Bihan L'Aime Chai ($19.99) is a terrific Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec from the Codes de Duras in SW France. If you crave something a little smoother the 2021 Jean Paul Brun L'Ancien Beaujolais ($18.99) will welcome you with its gentle style. Made from 100% Gamay grape, this wine will win over any red meat dinner menu while still providing good structure and a pleasant mouthfeel.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, September 2nd from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2021 Château Saint Roch Old Vines White ($15.99), the 2022 Château Saint Roch Old Vines Rosé ($16.99) and the 2018 Domaine Mouthes Le Bihan L'Aime Chai ($19.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Holiday Hours

Friday September 1st 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Saturday September 2nd 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday September 3rd 12:00PM - 4:00PM (No Deliveries)
Monday September 4th (Labor Day) CLOSED
Local orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will be available for "in store" pick up on Sunday or will be delivered on Tuesday.

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Agostino Soave — End of Summer Trip to Italy

As we get ready to close out August we may be stuck at home getting the kids ready for school, but there is still time to make one last escape before summer is over. Today that brings us to Italy.

Pack your bags as we head to the Veneto in northern Italy. This is the home to the small commune of Soave where we find the Vicentini family working their three distinctive terroirs at very different altitudes. Today we present to you their 2021 Vicentini Agostino Terrelunghe Soave ($15.99). Here, the 30 year old Garganega vines thrive in the clay soil using a traditional pergola system to train the vines. Blended with a small amount of Trebbiano di Soave these two grapes together show off a straw yellow color and a very flowery nose. Centered around a mid-weight core, this wine enjoys hints of herbs with a nuanced almond finish. If you are grilling up some herbed chicken or white fish, this Soave from Vincentini Agostino is your perfect match.

Should your passport be expired, we can keep our travels to the United States and head to sunny Monterey on the California coast. Here we find the 2021 Tassajara Pinot Noir ($15.99) from the certified sustainable vineyards of the Scheid Family. The vineyards of Tassajara benefit from the cool climate and maritime influences of Monterey Bay. Made from 100% estate grown grapes, this wine shows off a vibrant ruby color right from the very start. Once in the mouth, flavors of rich black cherry, raspberries and currants abound, highlighted with notes of violets, mocha and vanilla. This medium-bodied wine offers soft tannins and a balanced acidity which make it extremely food friendly.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, August 26th from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2021 Vicentini Agostino Terrelunghe Soave ($15.99) and the 2021 Tassajara Pinot Noir ($15.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2020 Iris Vineyards Pinot Noir — Your Warm Weather Red

The lazy days of summer are here and it's time to slow down the pace. These are the perfect days to select some easy wines to enjoy with your summer menu and today that brings us to Oregon.

While Pamela Frye and Richard Boyles' careers took them in other directions, they always felt a connection to the Oregon wine industry, especially Pamela who had grown up in Eugene, Oregon. In 1992 their dream of creating a vineyard was realized as they purchased an 870 acre site in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Richard and Pamela began planting their vineyard in 1996 and their first vintage was in 2001. In the years ahead they would be joined by Vineyard Manager Arpad Walker and Winemaker Aaron Lieberman and along with Pamela and Richard the vineyard excelled in production while their passion kept them on course to produce some of the most outstanding wines in the region.

Today we focus on the 2021 Iris Vinyards Pinot Noir ($22.99). Named for the wild Douglas Iris that bloom here in the spring, Iris Vineyards is a south facing, bowl shaped valley surrounded by the rolling foothills of the Oregon Coast Mountain Range. What first strikes you with the Iris Vineyards Pinot Noir is the bright ruby color as it hits the light leaving the bottle. Aromas of raspberry, plum and blackberry are released as you pour it into your glass. In the mouth you are treated to a deep, rich flavor and a long palate which makes this wine so versatile with a variety of foods and a perfect pairing for that salmon filet on the grill as well as many other summer fare menus.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, August 12th from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2021 Iris Vinyards Pinot Noir ($22.99) alongside the 2021 La Grande Cuvée de Dourthe ($14.99) — an elegant little white Bordeaux made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grape.

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2021 La Val Albariño & the Sidewalk Sale

You know it's July in New Canaan when the Annual Sidewalk Sale takes place. While the street will be full of hot deals, Francos Wine Merchants will be pouring a thirst-quenching wine for all the busy shoppers.

Dirty Pelican Jalapeno Margarita Organic Mixer

The New Canaan Sidewalk Sale begins on Friday July 21st when stores put their merchandise out on the sidewalks in town at sale prices, but the big focus is on Saturday July 22nd, when Elm and Main Streets in downtown New Canaan will be blocked off from vehicular traffic and turned into a one-day pedestrian mall. Outside our store we will be hosting two vendors. Dirty Pelican is a line of organic cocktail mixers that are ready to mix with your favorite spirit for a delicious cocktail or with club soda/tonic/seltzer for a refreshing non-alcoholic mocktail. The lineup includes Dirty Pelican Jalapeño Margarita Organic Mixer ($19.99), Dirty Pelican Elderflower Paloma Organic Mixer ($19.99) and Dirty Pelican Mango Passionfruit Margarita Organic Mixer ($19.99). Stop by and sample them all from 11:00-3:00PM. Also outside our doors will be the crew from Get Joy, which is a company focused on the wellness of your dogs through their natural dog food and their entire line of natural pet products.

Inside the store on Saturday we will be hosting a Wine Tasting. Our focus turns to white wine and if any of your summer menus call for one then you have to consider the 2021 La Val Albariño ($17.99). This wine from Bodegas La Val is both Estate Grown and Estate Bottled and delivers aromatic citrus fruit with hints of chalky minerality. Dry on the palate, it offers up zesty lemon and d'Anjou pear flavors. La Val produces its wines solely from the grapes grown on their 150-acre estate. Jose Maria Ureta is a young and extremely well-respected winemaker and is definitely making his mark in Ria Baixas. So, as the summer gets into full swing and our tastes turn to wines that are refreshing with a clean, racy finish, look no further than La Val Albariño.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, July 22nd from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2021 La Val Albariño ($17.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Perfectly Paso Robles - 2021 Daou Cabernet Sauvignon

As the calendar speeds towards summer, the weekends are busy with casual get-togethers and Sunday evenings with family and friends; it certainly is not unusual to stop by the local butcher and pick out a delicious steak to throw on the grill. For this occasion, you'll need the perfect bottle of wine.

Today the search for that perfect bottle brings us to Paso Robles, California where we find Georges and Daniel Daou. In the early 1980's Georges and Daniel moved to California to pursue the American Dream. For these brothers that first meant making money in the technology field starting up DAOU systems. Once they tackled that dream they took on their next dream of starting a winery. After the same careful research that led them to success in the technology field, they found the perfect plot of land in Paso Robles California where Georges and Daniel knew they could make true California varietals.

This week we bring you the wine where it all began, the 2022 DAOU Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ($26.99). This vintage of DAOU exemplifies the true nature of Paso Robles and what can be achieved there. The highly perfumed nose shows off aromas of black cherry, cassis, plum and sandalwood up front, with secondary aromas of desert sage and bay leaf. On the palate, rich and weighty offerings of black raspberry, spicy currant and blueberry compote take over and gradually lead you into the more subtle flavors of bing cherry and fresh fig. From there the ripe, refined tannins carry into a structured finish with lingering accents of cherry, espresso and vanilla. So when your NY strip or dry-aged ribeye reaches that perfect temperature on the grill, the 2022 DAOU Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ($26.99) will be at the ready to seamlessly pair.

2022 Bourgeois Sancerre Rose Les Jeunes Vignes

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, July 15th, from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2022 DAOU Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ($26.99) along with the 2022 Bourgeois Sancerre Rosé Les Jeunes Vignes ($22.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2021 Jean-Paul Brun L'Ancien — Your Cool Summertime Red

The 4th of July is over and the days of summer will start to go by fast. Time to soak up the warm weather we've waited for all winter and you will need some wines to help you ease into July.

Just north of Lyon, France we find Jean Paul Brun in Charnay in an area known as the "Terres Dorées" (Golden Stones). Jean Paul Brun is the owner and winemaker at this 60+ hectare family estate. He first started to attract attention in the wine world for producing "old-style" wines by the traditional methods of vinification that differ from the prevailing practices in the region.

Today we offer to you his 2021 Jean Paul Brun L'Ancien Beaujolais ($18.99). This wine is 100% Gamay grape and a Vieilles Vignes which means the vines are at least 25 years in age. Jean Paul Brun believes that the charm of the Gamay grape is best expressed by the grapes' indigenous yeasts rather than by adding industrial yeast. All these factors become evident as you open the bottle and you are greeted with a beautiful freshness. As you start to pour, loads of black cherry and raspberry aromas are released and invite you right into the glass. Once in the mouth, more red fruit comes forward with a hint of licorice in the underbrush all wrapped up in a silky exterior. This wine is elegant enough to enjoy with a honey glazed salmon and approachable enough to enjoy with burgers off the grill. The best feature about the gamay grape is that if it is a warm day, you can enjoy this wine with a bit of a chill on it without muting the flavor of this versatile grape.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, July 8th, from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2021 Jean Paul Brun L'Ancien Beaujolais ($18.99) along with the 2022 Muga Rioja Blanco ($19.99) which is a superb Spanish white wine made from Viura grape that enjoys a fresh, vibrant acidity and a long, clean finish.

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

Tuesday - Friday 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday 12:00AM - 4:00PM
Francos is closed on Mondays
Local orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will be available for "in store" pick up on Sunday or will be delivered on Tuesday.

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2021 Château Saint-Roch — Remarkable Roussillon

As we close out June we jump right into summer with the 4th of July weekend upon us. Wherever your holiday is taking you, you will need some versatile, easy drinking wine to tote along and today the answer lies in the Côtes du Roussillon.

Our visit to the Côtes du Roussillon takes us to southern France near Spain's border. Here, the Lafage family has been growing grapes and making wine since 1798. Today it is Jean-Marc Lafage who is at the helm in the village of Maury, where Château Saint Roch is located. It is here Jean-Marc made his first wines as a teenager under the guidance of his grandfather. After graduating with a degree in enology, Jean-Marc left Roussillon and spent time working in South America, California and Australia. In 2001 he returned home to his roots and took over his family's estate.

The varietal focus at Château Saint Roch is Grenache and Syrah and today we highlight two of the Jean-Marc Lafage wines. First up is the 2021 Château Saint Roch Old Vines White ($15.99), a blend of 60% Grenache Gris and 40% Roussanne. This wine first offers up a very inviting flaxen hue leading you in with aromas of lime zest and ripe pear. The fruit enjoys a very solid mouthfeel as the pear and ripe fruit flavors carry through to the lingering finish. This white wine is hearty enough to stand up to any chicken or fish off the grill, yet the subtle flavors will also make it work with shellfish, sushi and many vegetarian dishes.

Next we have their 2022 Château Saint Roch Old Vines Rosé ($16.99). This wine blends Grenache Gris and Syrah grapes into a gregariously friendly rosé. The floral aromas and delicate strawberry flavors play off the lively acidity. Full of decadent fruit on the palate, the ripe berry flavors mesh with the minerality from the gravelly, slate soil which makes it perfect not only as an aperitif, but also pairing up with any seafood menu, hot or cold.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, July 1st 2023, from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2021 Château Saint Roch Old Vines White ($15.99) and the 2022 Château Saint Roch Old Vines Rosé ($16.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Minute: Want to hear more about the wines of Château Saint Roch? Tune into the Francos Wine Minute on our Home Page and give a listen.

Holiday Hours: 4th of July

Friday June 30th 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Saturday July 1st 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday July 2nd 12:00PM - 4:00PM (no deliveries)
Monday July 3rd 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Francos is closed Tuesday July 4th

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2021 Sokol Blosser Redland Cuvée — Positively Pinot

Summer menus are everywhere - grilled lemon salmon, applewood smoked pork, T-bone steak with herbed butter. When searching for the perfect wine pairing, Pinot Noir comes to mind, and one of the most incredible regions for this grape is the Willamette Valley in Oregon.

When Susan Sokol and Bill Blosser planted their first vines in the Willamette Valley in 1971, it was at a time when the wine industry in Oregon was basically nonexistent. Since then, Sokol Blosser has survived, grown, and prospered as a family-owned operation and is still keeping things in the family with Alex and Alison Sokol Blosser now at the helm. Sokol Blosser has carried the torch for Oregon's wine industry, which is now home to over 900 wineries.

2021 Sokol Blosser Redland Cuvee Pinot Noir

Today we offer to you their 2021 Sokol Blosser Redland Cuvée Pinot Noir ($29.99). The grapes for this Pinot Noir are an inclusive blend sourced from the Sokol Blosser Estate vineyards across the Willamette Valley. The bright, ruby hue is the first invitation to this wine followed closely by the showy notes of red currant and pomegranate on the nose. The palate largely matches the nose with the addition of an undertow pulling you in with nuances of toast and mushroom. The red cherry flavor is accented by a hint of clove and dried leaves. Extremely versatile, this exceptional Pinot Noir will make a perfect marriage for many of your summer recipes. Stop in for a bottle of the 2021 Sokol Blosser Redland Cuvée Pinot Noir ($29.99) and you won't be disappointed.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, June 24th 2023, from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2021 Sokol Blosser Redland Cuvée Pinot Noir ($29.99) and the 2023 La Croix Gratiot Picpoul de Pinet ($14.99) — a perfect summer white wine from southern France.

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Cab for Dad - 2020 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon

Father's Day is upon us and if Dad likes to spend the day out by his grill, Francos Wine Merchants has one of Napa's most famous Cabernet Sauvignon on sale.

The Wagner family's long, rich history of grape growing and winemaking precedes them. Chuck Wagner founded Caymus Vineyards almost 50 years ago along with his parents Lorna and Charlie Wagner, and Napa Valley has never been the same. Today, Chuck is joined by his children Charlie and Jenny Wagner who are now part of the Caymus legacy. Honoring the craft of wine making with every vintage, the Wagner family has excelled at producing some of the most celebrated wines in Napa.

All this brings us to their signature wine, the 2020 Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($89.99). For those of you familiar with this wine, you know this Cabernet Sauvignon boasts a traditional elegance unique even among Napa Cabernets. The Wagner family practices a technique called "hang time" where they let the fruit "hang" on the vine unusually long to develop the suppleness and mature tannins for which Caymus is known. These techniques combined with the special climate and soil of Napa help produce a wine with the signature deep red color in the glass. Once in the mouth you discover layer after layer of flavors consisting of cocoa, cassis and ripe berry. The wine's firm core captivates the taste buds and guides them through a bold, yet elegant finish. So if Dad is a Cabernet lover, treat him to the 2020 Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($89.99) and remind him how special he is.

Since we are on the topic of the Wagner family, we may as well mention their 2021 Mer Soleil Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay ($21.99). This Chardonnay from the Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey enjoys a palate of tropical fruit, honeysuckle and citrus. Perfect for any season, this wine definitely pairs well with all your grilled chicken and fish menus and is absolutely an inviting choice for summer.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, June 17th 2023, from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2020 Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($89.99) and the 2021 Mer Soleil Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay ($21.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2019 L'Abeille de Fieuzal — Bargain Bordeaux

Bordeaux offers us a unique blend of culture, history and most important, wine. Today we travel to the appellation of Pessac-Léognan, a sub-region with the Graves located on the left bank of the Gironde river. We will also visit Roussillon where we find a terrific white wine made from some of the oldest planted vineyards in France.

Starting in Bordeaux, the Chateau Fieuzal history goes back centuries to a time when the land was farmed by a handful of modest wine growers. While five families have owned the property since, the Fieuzal name has lived on. Today the property is owned by Brenda and Lochlann Quinn who fell in love with the property back in 2001.

Today we take focus on the 2019 L'Abeille de Fieuzal ($42.99) which is the second label for their famous Chateau Fieuzal. The 2019 L'Abeille de Fieuzal ($42.99) is a classic blend of 55% Merlot 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. The mild winter in the 2019 growing season enhanced the growing conditions of the 35+ year old vines, and helped produce this fabulous vintage. This wine enjoys an aroma of ripe, red fruit and wonderful dark berries. The mouthfeel is smooth with hints of lush currant flavors and the wine is delicately balanced with fine acidity, structure and tannins. This gem from Bordeaux is ready to be enjoyed now and would make a perfect accompaniment to a delicious dry-aged steak and, for those of you thinking ahead, it would also make a fabulous Father's Day gift.

Traveling South to the Roussillon is where we find Jean-Marc Lafage and Château Saint-Roch. After his schooling and working vineyards in California, South Africa and Australia Jean-Marc returned to the village of Maury in Roussillon where he grew up, and purchased Château Saint-Roch. Today we have his 2021 Château Saint Roch Old Vines White ($15.99). This white wine is a delicious and solid blend of 60% Grenache Gris and 40% Roussanne and is ready to stand up to most any grilled dinner you are serving this summer. The inviting flaxen hue of this wine leads you into aromas of lime zest and ripe pear. The round white fruit flavors are deep in flavor and ready to pair with any chicken or hearty white fish off the grill. Of course if sushi, shellfish or vegetarian cuisine is on the menu, this wine can easily adapt.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, June 10th 2023, from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2019 L'Abeille de Fieuzal ($42.99) and the 2021 Château Saint Roch Old Vines White ($15.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2022 Bourgeois Sancerre Rosé Les Jeunes Vignes — Pretty in Pink

The summer heat is starting to creep in and the Rosé are starting to come out. While there are many wines we can enjoy in the warmer weather, today we focus on a Rosé from the Loire Valley in France.

For 10 generations the Bourgeois family has been committed to cultivating vines in the Loire Valley. However, it was not until the 1950s when Henri Bourgeois started to experiment with growing vines in areas that, until then, were unknown to the world of wine in the Valley. He started to farm hectares of slopes in Chavignol while developing partnerships with other families in the region of Sancerre. Henri was joined by his sons Jean-Marie and Rémi by the 1960s, and today Arnaud, Lional and Jean-Christophe Bourgeois are at the helm and "Famille Bourgeois" is now a name synonymous with Sancerre.

All this background brings us to our feature wine, the 2022 Bourgeois Sancerre Rosé Les Jeunes Vignes ($22.99). This wine is produced from 100% Pinot Noir grape that undergoes both cold maceration and fermentation in stainless steel tanks. It is these careful production methods that transform this wine into the stunning Rosé before you. The wine first greets you with a brilliant pink color with nuances of red berry rising from the glass. On the palate, the wine treats the tastebuds to a delicate balance of both salinity and minerality that leads you directly into a dry, crisp finish. As the mercury starts to rise, the 2022 Bourgeois Sancerre Rosé Les Jeunes Vignes ($22.99) is the wine you want to whisk away the summer heat. You can find this wine and our entire collection on the Refreshing Summer Rosé link on our Home Page.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, June 3rd 2023, from 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2022 Bourgeois Sancerre Rosé Les Jeunes Vignes ($22.99) and the 2022 Domaine Jean Royer Le Petit Roy ($19.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Wines for Your Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day is here and whether you are packing up and headed out of town for the weekend or only traveling as far as your backyard, Francos Wine Merchants has the wines you need.

2023 Henri Bourgeois Les Baronnes Sancerre

If white wines are the order for the weekend then you have to check out the newly arrived Sancerre that is in stock. For those of you who have been waiting, the 2023 Henri Bourgeois Les Baronnes Sancerre ($29.99) has finally arrived and is perfect for those of you planning on throwing some fish on the grill or enjoying a platter of clams or oysters. If you are looking for something both different and delicious, the 2023 La Croix Gratiot Picpoul de Pinet ($14.99) is where you want to land. This refreshing white wine from the Languedoc region is made from a local grape called Picpoul and is destined to become your "go to" summer white wine. The inviting bright yellow color and the flavors of pear and melon make this wine lovely for enjoying on its own and also perfect for your light summer menus.

If you are going with the traditional burgers and hotdogs this Memorial Day Weekend, then the red for you is the 2018 Domaine Mouthes Le Bihan L'Aime Chai ($19.99). This Bordeaux-style blend from the Cotes du Duras is a bold/peppery blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec and the perfect red wine for the summer season. If you are raising the bar and serving a ribeye or dry-aged steak for the holiday, you can certainly go big with the 2020 Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($89.99). The classic Caymus style offers up rich, ripe fruit and solid tannins and the lush layers of cocoa, cassis and dark berries will stand up to any red meat on the grill.

Francos Wine Minute — Tune into the most recent installment of the Francos Wine Minute where you can learn more about the 2023 La Croix Gratiot Picpoul de Pinet ($14.99).

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please join us on Saturday May 27th 2023 as we pour both the 2023 La Croix Gratiot Picpoul de Pinet ($14.99) and the 2018 Domaine Mouthes Le Bihan L'Aime Chai ($19.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Memorial Day Weekend Hours

Tuesday - Friday 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday 12:00AM - 4:00PM
Monday (Memorial Day) - CLOSED
Local orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will be available for "in store" pick up on Sunday or will be delivered on Tuesday.

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2022 Gérard Fiou - Sancerre for the Season

When the temperature warms we start to seek out wines that will whisk away the summer heat. What better place to search for these wines than France's Loire Valley, and what better appellation than that of Sancerre?

Domaine Gerard Fiou is a small family domaine in the east of the Sancerre appellation in the town of Saint Satur. There are only a handful of producers here and the soil is unique in that it has a high percentage of silex. Silex soils are composed of a mixture of clay and flint stones which provide a variety of benefits to the 63 year old vines that make up this vineyard. It is here that we find the 2022 Domaine Gérard Fiou Silex Sancerre ($26.99). Upon pouring this wine you are immediately struck by the bright, flinty nose of cut grass and citrus blossoms. On the palate the wine is full-bodied and focused and the intense flavors and zesty acids surround the core and lead you into a very nicely balanced finish. The fine, mineral finish is long and complex and will leave its impression long after the wine is gone from the palate.

For those of you wanting to throw something on the grill and looking for a red wine, look no further than the 2020 Crocus Malbec de Cahors L'Atelier ($19.99). Perfect for the upcoming grilling season, this is a stunning Malbec from Southwest France hailing from the region of Cahors. This red wine is a partnership between Paul Hobbs of Napa fame and international winemaker Bertrand Gabrial Vigouroux who specializes in Malbec. This wine immediately greets you with a dark, garnet color with lively aromas of violet, cherry blossom and wildflowers. Smooth flavors of black cherry, fresh raspberry, and ripe blueberry abound on the palate. There is a slight rustic earthiness on the underside which is present right through the finish which is bright with acidity and firm with tannins.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Join us this Saturday, May 20th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2022 Domaine Gérard Fiou Silex Sancerre ($26.99) and the 2020 Crocus Malbec de Cahors L'Atelier ($19.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2020 Rémi Jobard Bourgogne Cote d'Or — Treat Mom Right

Mother's Day is here and we all want to find a way to treat mom right for the weekend. For those of you who are planning a special meal for Mom, Francos Wine Merchants is offering two incredible wines this weekend, and you can try them both at our regular Saturday wine tasting.

First we visit the certified organic vineyard of Remi Jobard where we find their 2020 Remi Jobard Bourgogne Cote d'Or "Vieilles Vignes" ($49.99). This exceptional white Burgundy is crafted from 40 year old Chardonnay vines from six parcels in Meursault. This wine first greets you with a ripe aroma of pear and apple while hints of lemon and lime linger in the background and the soft floral wisps draw you into the glass. In the mouth, the full bodied style offers up suave and round flavors that easily seduce you into another sip. The flavors offer up superb complexity leading you into a clean, dry and citrus finale. For those of you with poultry on the menu this holiday season, this wine cannot steer you wrong.

2020 Paul Hobbs Crossbarn Pinot Noir Sonoma

If mom is a red wine lover, we need to travel back to the United States to California's Sonoma Coast, where we find the 2020 Paul Hobbs Crossbarn Pinot Noir Sonoma ($33.99). Sourced from their cool climate vineyards along the coast, this 100% Estate grown wine shows off a vibrant ruby red color in the glass, with inviting aromas of pomegranate, black cherry and a touch of violet. On the palate, juicy notes of fresh raspberry mingle with tart cranberry and a hint of salinity with an undertone of earth notes. The bright and refreshing finish makes this a perfect wine for the upcoming warmer season.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Join us this Saturday, May 13th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2020 Remi Jobard Bourgogne Cote d'Or "Vieilles Vignes" ($49.99) and the 2020 Paul Hobbs Crossbarn Pinot Noir Sonoma ($33.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2021 La Val Albariño - Your Spanish Summer Awaits

May has arrived and it's time to light the firepit and enjoy a cool evening by a warm fire with a glass of wine. While New England is in full bloom, Francos has wines that will take you to any region you like, and today we bring you to Spain.

As you peruse your summer cooking magazines, many of the recipes will call for a white wine pairing. Should any of them call for a terrific dry white wine, then you have to consider the 2021 La Val Albariño ($17.99). This wine is both Estate Grown and Estate Bottled and delivers aromatic citrus fruit with hints of chalky minerality. Dry on the palate, it offers up zesty lemon and Anjou pear flavors. La Val produces its wines solely from the grapes grown on their 150 acre estate. Jose Maria Ureta is a young and extremely well respected winemaker and is definitely making his mark in Ria Baixas. So, as the summer starts its approach and our tastes turn to wines that are refreshing with a clean, racy finish, look no further than La Val Albariño.

Traveling back to the United States, we head to the California coast and land in Monterey. Here we find the 2021 Tassajara Pinot Noir ($15.99) from the certified sustainable vineyards of the Scheid Family. The vineyards of Tassajara benefit from the cool climate and maritime influences of Monterey Bay. Made from 100% estate grown grapes this wine shows off a vibrant ruby color right from the very start. Once in the mouth flavors of rich, black cherry, raspberries and currants abound highlighted with notes of violets, mocha and vanilla. This medium-bodied wine offers soft tannins and a balanced acidity which makes it extremely food friendly.

Derby Day/Cinco de Mayo Deals — This celebratory weekend has two events taking place. Friday is Cinco de Mayo and Saturday is the Kentucky Derby and Francos has you well supplied for both. Check out both our Tequila link and our Bourbons under our Small Batch American Whiskey link to find the perfect bottle for your Cinco de Mayo/Derby Day party.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Join us this Saturday, May 6th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2021 La Val Albariño ($17.99) and the 2021 Tassajara Pinot Noir ($15.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Domaine Pinson Chablis — Not Your Everyday Chardonnay

Every day is getting a little warmer as spring evolves, as do our wine choices. This week we head to Burgundy along with a quick stop in Oregon where we find two wines perfect for your spring menus.

Starting off in Burgundy we find ourselves in an appellation of Chablis where we find out why Chardonnay from this region tastes like no other Chardonnay in the world. Domaine Pinson stands out as one of the oldest families in all of Chablis, having farmed in the village since at least 1640. The soil here was formed by the recession of a prehistoric basin that once covered all of northern France including eastern Loire. This brings us to their 2021 Domaine Pinson Chablis ($31.99) whose 40 years old Chardonnay vines thrive in this marine-like terroir. No winery in this region translates that distinct salty marine life into their wines as clearly as the Pinson family. The result is a white wine that is brisk and pure on the nose. Once in the mouth flavors of lemon peel, blood orange, stone and sea spray come forth and the finish is mineral-infused and crisp right to the end. As you start to imagine the shellfish raw bars and the scrumptious Maine lobsters that await you in the summer months, this Chablis is the wine you want to enjoy with them.

2021 Cristom Mt. Jefferson Cuvee Pinot Noir

Traveling back to the United States and to the west coast we find ourselves about 43 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean at Cristom Vineyards in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, and owners Paul and Eileen Gerrie and their 2021 Cristom Mt. Jefferson Cuvée Pinot Noir ($39.99). This exceptional Pinot Noir is the product of biodynamic farming, hand-harvesting, hand-sorting and use of only native yeasts. This wine first reels you in with a spicy and fresh array of dark cherry on the nose. Once in the mouth flavors of blueberry and cherry are released and fresh, fleshy tannins intensify the flavors into a long finish with subtle savory notes. This fantastic pinot noir is the perfect pairing for that quickly seared skirt steak or a meaty, marbled T-Bone.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Join us this Saturday, April 29th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2021 Domaine Pinson Chablis ($31.99) and the 2021 Cristom Mt. Jefferson Cuvée Pinot Noir ($39.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2018 L'Aimé Chai — Calling all Burgers

Mother Nature gave us a little reminder last week that Summer is not that far off. The little bump in temperature definitely makes one think about all the summer grilling that lays ahead and of course you need the perfect backyard wine to accompany your seasonal menus.

Traveling just outside Bordeaux in southwest France we find the appellation of Cotes du Duras. Jean-Mary and Catherine Le Bihan have made their home here and are dedicated growers who have one goal, to make wines as naturally as possible. This is all evident in their 2018 Domaine Mouthes Le Bihan L'Aime Chai ($19.99). This wine shows off a bold/peppery style and remarkably polished tannins and is a Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. The appearance greets you with a brilliant, garnet color while a nose of currants and cranberries pulls you in further. Once in the mouth, the dark fruit takes over as flavors of black cherry come forward, all leading you into a velvety finish and fine tannins. The wine is destined to become your red wine of the season, perfect for everything from a burger off the grill to that perfectly marbled steak.

If you have time, may we suggest a quick trip to the Veneto in northern Italy to the small commune of Soave where we find the Vicentini family working their three distinctive terroirs at very different altitudes. Today we present to you their 2021 Vicentini Agostino Terrelunghe Soave ($15.99). Here the 30 year old Garganega vines thrive in the clay soil using a traditional pergola system to train the vines. Blended with a small amount of Trebbiano di Soave these two grapes together show off a straw yellow color and a very flowery nose. Centered around a mid-weight core, this wine enjoys hints of herbs with a nuanced almond finish. If you are grilling up some herbed chicken or white fish on the grill, this Soave from Vincentini Agostino is your perfect match.

Francos Wine Minute — If you would like hear more about the 2018 Domaine Mouthes Le Bihan L'Aime Chai ($19.99), tune into the Francos Wine Minute on our Home Page.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Join us this Saturday, April 22nd 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2018 Domaine Mouthes Le Bihan L'Aime Chai ($19.99) and the 2021 Vicentini Agostino Terrelunghe Soave ($15.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Celebrating New Spring Arrivals at Francos

We have finally shaken off the dreary winter days and spring is hopefully here to stay. What better way to welcome spring then with some new arrivals at Francos Wine Merchants.

Our first spring arrival comes from Languedoc in Southern France where the loamy-limestone soils situated between Bassin de Thau and the hills of pines are where we find the vineyard of La Croix Gratiot. The village of Montagnac is home to this vineyard where the marine microclimate allows the grapes to achieve optimal maturity and reach their true expression. It is here where we find the 2023 La Croix Gratiot Picpoul de Pinet ($14.99). Offering up a bright yellow color with green hues, this wine is destined to become your summer pour. Fleshy white aromas greet you followed up by flavors of pear and a hint of citrus. Fresh and lively on the palate leads you into a noticeable roundness in the mouth. As your spring and summer menus develop, this wine is perfect for seafood, shellfish and grilled fish.

Traveling over to Italy and enjoying the Tuscan countryside, we come to Casanova di Neri just south of Montalcino. Known for their Brunellos we now have their newest creation, the 2020 Casanova di Neri "Irrosso" ($25.99). Made primarily from Sangiovese grapes (90%) it is also blended with a small portion of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Enjoying a lively aroma of black currant, once in the mouth flavors of Mediterranean herbs mesh with flavors of blackberry and violet. Ripe and balanced, this wine is perfect as the seasons start to transition and your beef menus move from the stovetop to the grill.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Join us this Saturday, April 15th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2023 La Croix Gratiot Picpoul de Pinet ($14.99) and the 2020 Casanova di Neri "Irrosso" ($25.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Mâcon & Eggs - Hopping Down the Bunny Trail

Whether the upcoming holiday has you serving Spring Lamb or Spring Chicken or a Honey Baked Ham, Francos is featuring two fantastic wines this week that will pair nicely no matter what your menu. Today's journey brings us back to France, so let's hop to it!

2021 Domaine Barraud Macon Chaintre Les Pierres Polies

Driving south from the Côte d'Or in Burgundy we eventually arrive in the appellation of Mâcon and the village of Chaintré. It is here where we find Domaine Barraud, created by the Barraud family in 1905. Now at the helm, Daniel Barraud, his son Julien and wife Martine have turned their family domaine into a benchmark producer in the region. Today we have their 2021 Domaine Barraud Mâcon Chaintré Les Pierres Polies ($28.99). This reasonably priced White Burgundy is crafted from 30 year old Chardonnay vines that thrive in the limestone soil of the Mâcon. Using indigenous yeast and practicing organic farming methods, these grapes are hand-picked and hand-sorted to produce a wine that is fresh, bright, and perfect for your spring menus. The aromas of stone fruit stimulate the olfactory sense and lead you into an inviting mouthfeel of green apple and white peach. Supple, with lively fruit and acidity on the tongue, this wine is perfect for your dinner of Cornish hens or holiday ham.

If spring lamb is on the menu, that requires us to travel to Rhône where vineyard sites both in and out of Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation contribute to bring us the 2022 Domaine Jean Royer Le Petit Roy ($19.99). Drinking a bit above its modest price point, this red wine is a blend of Mouvedre, Grenache and Syrah. The big and burly character of this wine enjoys notes of blackberry and crushed herbs that are soon followed by flavors of black pepper and spice. If you are having a crowd over for the holiday and lamb is on the menu, this delicious, modest and enjoyable Rhône wine can't be beat.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Join us this Saturday, April 8th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2021 Domaine Barraud Mâcon Chaintré Les Pierres Polies ($28.99) and the 2022 Domaine Jean Royer Le Petit Roy ($19.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Holiday Hours

Friday 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Francos Wine Merchants will be CLOSED Easter Sunday.
Francos is closed on Mondays
Local orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will be delivered on Tuesday.

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Bodega Akutain Rioja — Rediscover Spain

Spain offers us so much in the world of food, culture and of course, wine. This week we travel back to Spain to refresh our memory of the wonders of this fabulous country. Our focus today will be the wines of Bodega Akutain.

Bodega Akutain was founded by Juan José Peñagarikano Akutain in the 1970s and since 2013 his son Jon Peñagarikano Akutain has been in charge of the operation at Bodega Akutain after growing up , participating and watching the evolution of this incredible winery.

Today we present to you two of the wines from this fabulous estate. First we have 2017 Akutain Rioja Reserva ($49.99). Garnering 92 points from Robert Parker this wine first greets you with an intense nose of baked plums and tobacco. Once in the mouth the blend of 93% Tempranillo, 5% Garnacha and 2% Viura shows off an incredibly muscular style with chocolate and cherry nuances and abundant, grainy tannins with a hint of herbal notes on the finish.

For those of you wanting to move up the ladder a bit, you can graduate to the 2015 Akutain Rioja Gran Reserva ($74.99). Produced in only exceptional years, Robert Parker gave this wine a solid 95 rating, calling it a classic. While this wine is the same grape makeup as the Reserve (93% Tempranillo, 5% Garnacha, 2% Viura) there is a lot more power here. Flavors of dried fruit radiate from the core of this complex wine and once in the mouth delicious quality tannins make themselves known while the smokey, earthy, rustic style shines through to the finish. If you are a true lover of Spanish wine you cannot miss this one.

Francos Wine Minute — This week we are taking a break from wine and highlighting the Doc Swinson's Alter Ego Triple Cask Bourbon ($64.99). Click through to our Home Page and tune in to hear about this unique bourbon.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Join us this Saturday, April 1st 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2017 Akutain Rioja Reserva ($49.99) along with the 2021 Arndorfer Anina Verde ($28.99) which is an orange wine made from Grüner Veltliner that is fermented on Riesling skins.

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

The First Crocus of Spring — Crocus L'Atelier Malbec

Signs of Spring are starting to appear, even here at Francos Wine Merchants. This week we saw our first crocus in the form of a fabulous Malbec.

The 2020 Crocus Malbec de Cahors L'Atelier ($19.99) is a stunning red wine from Southwest France hailing from the region of Cahors. This red wine is a partnership between Paul Hobbs of Napa fame and international winemaker Bertrand Gabrial Vigouroux who specializes in Malbec. This wine immediately greets you with a dark, garnet color with lively aromas of violet, cherry blossom and wildflowers. Smooth flavors of black cherry, fresh raspberry, and ripe blueberry abound on the palate. There is a slight rustic earthiness on the underside which is present right through the finish which is bright with acidity and firm with tannins. As you venture out to the grill for the first time this season, this Malbec would make a great accompaniment for the inaugural burger of the season.

Staying in France but moving north, we come to the region of Savoy where we find the 2020 Domaine Yves Duport Bugey Blanc ($18.99). This fabulous, yet affordable, French Chardonnay is crafted from vines grown on the south/south-eastern slopes of the vineyard where the vines thrive in the calcareous/limestone soil. In the glass, this wine shows off a fresh, golden yellow color. The nose is clean and vibrant with nuances of green apple and citrus. Flavors of lemon verbena flood the palate wound tight around a core that boasts both minerality and acidity. If you are looking for a French Chardonnay that drinks well above its price point, you will find it in this bottle.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Join us this Saturday, March 25th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2020 Crocus Malbec de Cahors L'Atelier ($19.99) and the 2020 Domaine Yves Duport Bugey Blanc ($18.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Store Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Go West Young Man…

California is known for many things, but for wine lovers it's known for their many wine regions. So take a quick journey with us today as we head out to the west coast and see what it has to offer.

The Wagner family of Caymus fame has brought us many wines and today Jenny Wagner brings us the 2022 Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc ($19.99). This terrific wine is a blend of sauvignon blanc grapes from both Solano and Napa County. Both sets of of vines are adjacent and share the near perfect maritime climate and soil. The warm summer days and the cool sea breezes help develop this wine into the refreshing stunner that it is. You are first greeted with a fresh, clean aroma with underlying notes of honeysuckle and tangerine. Soft flavors of citrus fruit lead you directly into a finish that enjoys a zesty minerality. Any pasta dish featuring spring vegetables would pair well with this wine's character and acidity.

Next we head to Mendocino County and a beautiful stretch of land that enjoys similar warm days and cool nights. This is where we find the 2021 Seventy Five Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.99). Tuck Beckstoffer, son of famed Napa grower Andy Beckstoffer, works hard to bring to you this fabulous California Cabernet. Right from the start, you notice the deep blackberry color but you are soon drawn in by that same aroma of blackberries as well as hints of dry cedar. As the wine hits the mouth, flavors of plum, raspberry and espresso beans envelop the palate, all balanced out by the wine's tannin and oak. If you aren't the type to shy away from manning the grill on a cold March evening, then this is the wine you will want to pair with your steak.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Join us this Saturday, March 18th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both 2022 Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc ($19.99) and the 2021 Seventy Five Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Winter 2023 Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Return to Italy

No one ever complains about returning to Italy, and we here at Francos Wine Merchants always love to revisit the regions and wines of this wonderful country. Today we visit two of these regions and bring you a wonderful wine from each.

2018 La Valentina Montepulciano D'Abruzzo "Spelt"

Our first stop is in central Italy. As we travel east of Rome towards the Adriatic sea, we come to the region of Abruzzo. Here we find the estate of La Valentina that is run by the Di Properzio brothers, Sabatino, Robert and Andrea. La Valentina is a perfect example of modern renaissance winemaking in Abruzzo. Among the many variatials they grow is the Montepulciano grape, from which they produce their 2018 La Valentina Montepulciano D'Abruzzo "Spelt" ($21.99). The name Spelt refers to a type of wheat that once grew where the winery is now located. Grown using sustainable and organic practices and aged for 18 months in wood, this wine is more robust and complex than your average Montepulciano D'Abruzzo. Known for its deep ruby color and intense aroma, this wine also offers up an enticing combination of red fruit, spice and herbs all encompassing a well-structured core and a good balance of acidity and tannins. Pair this up with red/game meats or your favorite aged cheese and you will be basking under the sunny skies of Italy before you know it.

Next we head north to Piedmont to the commune of Gavi where we find siblings Massimo, Stefano and Tiziana Moccagatta working hard, producing a range of Gavi wines from Villa Sparina. The vineyards of this winery stretch over 70 hectares in the northern section of the Gavi appellation where the vines grown in the gravelly soil are perfect for the production of richly flavored white wines. Among the wines they produce is the 2021 Villa Sparina Gavi di Gavi ($18.99). Made from the Cortese grape, this wine offers up a bright fresh scent of white peach and green apple. This dry wine enjoys a medium body and a crisp acidity that pairs perfectly with seafood, salad and light pasta dishes.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Join us this Saturday, March 11th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2018 La Valentina Montepulciano D'Abruzzo "Spelt" ($21.99) and the 2021 Villa Sparina Gavi di Gavi ($18.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Winter 2023 Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Frantz Chagnoleau White Burgundy for Under $30

It's the small producers that make Burgundy such an interesting and wine immersing region. While the price of White Burgundy is on the rise and the inventory on the decline, it's great to know there are producers that can still bring you a quality wine at an affordable price.

Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau is a small estate in the heart of the Mâconnais run by talented wine-makers Frantz Chagnouleau and his wife Caroline Gon. Caroline worked in both Napa Valley and Burgundy and Frantz has a degree in Oenology and worked for Olivier Merlin, also in Burgundy.

This duo is one of the most talented in Burgundy and have earned their reputation by farming the old-fashioned way. This means among other things the use of hand-pruning, hand-picking, and indigenous yeast. Harvest is done in a plot by plot basis allowing each vine to achieve the appropriate balance of sugar and acidity before being picked.

This brings us to their 2022 Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau Macon Villages Clos Saint Pancras ($29.99). This wine is made from 30 year old Chardonnay vines grown in the Mâconnais where the terroir is comprised of a rich, rocky, limestone soil. All this factors into the wine, starting out with a nose that is abundant with aromas of pear, lime and green apple. On the palate, flavors of lightly toasted nuts lead you to a full-bodied mouthfeel with subtle notes of citrus. Pair this wine with your favorite roast chicken or sole recipe and you have culinary delight for your dinner party or Sunday meal.

You can find this wine as one of our March Cellar Specials as well as hear about it in this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute both located on our Home Page.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Join us this Saturday, March 4th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2022 Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau Macon Villages Clos Saint Pancras ($29.99) along with the 2021 Planet Oregon Pinot Noir ($23.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Winter 2023 Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Wrapping up February in France

We can finally put another winter month behind us, and while we are ready to close up February, March can still be a rollercoaster of temperatures. Thankfully we have plenty of wine choices to weather us through and this week at Francos we have two such gems from France.

The 2019 Château de Parenchère ($16.99) brings us to the far eastern end of Bordeaux near the region of Périgord. This region is noted for its cuisine, especially duck and goose, so it is not unusual that this region is home to the merlot based Bordeaux. This petite Bordeaux encompasses a wine that shows off a full and balanced flavor with lively fruit and classic nuances of terroir. The nose first greets you with an intense red fruit aroma with hints of cassis and black cherry balanced out by elegant, soft tannins. The wine's freshness is an invitation to many menus, but dig out a Confit de Canard recipe and you have a lovely wine pairing.

Traveling over to Burgundy, the 2022 Jean Paul Brun Beaujolais Blanc Chardonnay ($18.99) is ready to greet you with an inviting, bright yellow hue and a waft of ripe citrus aromas. The flavors of orchard fruit come directly from the clay and limestone soil where the vines grow. Flavors of apple and pear entice the tastebuds and are followed up by a bright acidity and clean taste from the stainless steel aging. Easy to drink as well as easy on the wallet, this wine is a perfect pairing for a tarragon roast chicken or any herb-based poultry recipe.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Join us this Saturday, February 25th 2023 as we pour the 2019 Château de Parenchère ($16.99) and the 2022 Jean Paul Brun Beaujolais Blanc Chardonnay ($18.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Winter 2023 Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Mid-February Selections at Francos

There is nothing exciting about February when you live in the Northeast, even in the mildest of winters. The weeks can be long and gray and, while sunlight is gradually starting to get longer, the days still seem short. But at least we can liven up the gray days of February by traveling to places simply by uncorking a bottle.

Let's begin our escape with a trip to Germany, specifically the Mosel in the northern part of the country. Most of the vineyards in Mosel are dominated by slate soil which helps give the wines of this region a perfect minerality. It is here where we find Johannes Selbach toiling away to produce the 2020 Selbach Incline Riesling ($12.99). The impossibly steep slopes of the vineyard lend themselves to the name "Incline". Like most of the wines from Mosel, vibrant acidity with underlying fruit and clarity are present in the glass. The residual sugar and intense slate-driven minerality make this wine a perfect pairing for many of your spicy Asian dishes.

Next we find ourselves traveling to the right bank of the Gironde river in Bordeaux, in the region of Fronsac. Since 1918 the Seze family has focused on production of high quality red wines. The 2018 Château Mayne Vieil ($15.99) enjoys minimal barrel aging which helps produce a wine that is fresh and plush in the mouth. Primarily Merlot grape, this wine has a medium weight with dark berry flavors and ripe fruit with a vibrant finish. Pair this up with your favorite beef stew recipe and your evening will be complete.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Join us this Saturday, February 18th 2023 as we pour the 2020 Selbach Incline Riesling ($12.99) and the 2018 Château Mayne Vieil ($15.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Winter 2023 Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Superbowl Saturday Selections at Francos

Superbowl LVII is upon us and whether you are rooting for the Eagles, KC, the halftime show, or the commercials, Francos Wine Merchants has what you need for your Super Bowl party.

2020 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhone

Perhaps your crowd enjoys a traditional beef chili while watching the game? Or maybe shake things up with some pregame hamburger sliders. Some of you may even venture from the traditional and set up a taco bar or fancy things up with steak fajitas. If that is the case Francos has a selection of red wines that would be perfect. You can keep things modest with the 2021 Seventy Five Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.99) or the 2021 Alexander Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon ($27.99). If you are in the mood to travel to Europe the 2020 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhône ($29.99) or 2019 Muga Reserva Rioja ($32.99) would both be good choices.

Perhaps your crowd veers towards the unconventional? Your menu may consist of Chicken Chili, Vegetarian Chili or even Fish Tacos. If that is the case a selection of white wines may be what you are serving on the sidelines. You should consider the 2020 Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay ($49.99) or if a clean and crisp is more your style the 2022 Honig Sauvignon Blanc ($22.99) is always a crowd-pleaser. You also may want to consider the 2021 Perrin Cotes du Rhone Blanc ($13.99) if you are in search of something with a little more depth.

If you are going to set up a whiskey bar, then don't miss out on our Bourbons & Ryes. We have a great price on the Basil Hayden Kentucky Straight Bourbon ($48.99) which is our feature Bourbon of the week. For a Rye, the Sagamore Spirit Rye ($41.99) always makes for a fantastic drink. You can view our entire selection on our Small Batch American Whiskey link.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Join us this Saturday, February 11th 2023 as we pour the 2020 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhône ($29.99) and the 2021 Perrin Cotes du Rhone Blanc ($13.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Winter 2023 Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

2018 Muga - Traditional Rioja at its Best

Spain offers up a variety of wine regions, but sometimes it's nice to explore the familiar territories. Today this brings us to the northern part of the fabulous wine country.

In the northwestern villages of Rioja Alta we come to the foothills of Montes Obarenes and the Sierra Cantabria. It is here where we find Bodegas Muga and their 2019 Muga Reserva Rioja ($32.99). The vineyards of Bodegas Muga practice a viticulture that is sustainable and organic. Their vineyards are not irrigated and are farmed without the use of fungicides, pesticides or herbicides.

The 2019 Muga Reserva Rioja ($32.99) is a blend of 70% Tempranillo with the last 30% being a makeup of Garnacha, Granciano and Mazuelo. The vines thrive in the calcareous clay soil while enjoying the influences of the Atlantic climate. The result of all these factors is a wine with a rich cherry color and a bright nose. The aromas of black fruit with touches of cedar are the first characteristics to greet you. The mouth entry is peppered with spicy notes and hints of ripe, red fruit. The wonderful and well-intergrated acidity enhances the flavors and leads you into a lingering finish. The 2019 Muga Reserva Rioja ($32.99) pairs well with any red meats, lamb and all kinds of game dishes.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Join us this Saturday, February 4th 2023 as we pour the 2019 Muga Reserva Rioja ($32.99) along with the 2022 Muga Rioja Blanco ($19.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Winter 2023 Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Finish up your Dry January with St. Agrestis "Phony Negroni"

January is coming to an end and if you are looking for a way to elevate your Dry January and segue into February, Francos Wine Merchants has the perfect transition.

For those of you in search of the perfect Non-Alcoholic Cocktail to finish up your Dry January, let us introduce to you the St Agrestis Phony Negroni ($4.99). St Agrestis has crafted this cocktail in a 200ML bottle, giving your Dry January an impressive upgrade. Enjoying nuances of Juniper, Citrus and floral notes, the St Agrestis Phony Negroni ($4.99) very much mimics the classic Negroni but without the alcohol. The reviews on this pre-made "mocktail" are off the charts. You can enjoy this drink straight from the bottle or over ice with an orange twist.

For those of you who want to be ready for the end of Dry January, we have the 2020 Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico ($24.99). One of Tuscany's exemplary wines, this Chianti Classico is a perfect example of the signature grape of the region, Sangiovese. Rich and vibrant, this wine evokes flavors of black cherry and plum with undertones of earth and spice. The 2020 Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico ($24.99) showcases the distinct style of this grape with its earthiness balanced out by the bright and lively fruit notes. The long, enticing finish make this the perfect wine for a wide variety of dishes from a classic pasta to a warm winter dish of Chicken Cacciatore.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Join us this Saturday, January 28th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the St Agrestis Phony Negroni ($4.99) and the 2020 Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico ($24.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

Winter 2023 Hours

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Ease into January with the 2018 Tenuta Sant'Antonio Valpolicella Ripasso

January is here and it's time to relax and enjoy a quiet winter night with a good meal, a warm fire, and of course a fantastic bottle of wine. While we ease into the season of comfort foods and uncomplicated wines Francos Wine Merchants has your winter wine choices at hand.

Today we travel to northern Italy, specifically the Veneto and the region of Valpolicella. It is here we find winery owners Armando, Tiziano, Paolo and Massimo Castagnedi and their 2020 Tenuta Sant'Antonio Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso Monti Garbi ($22.99). Family member Paolo Castagnedi is the winemaker and carefully crafts this wine adhering to sustainable farming practices. Ripasso is a traditional and unique style of wine where the standard Valpolicella wine undergoes a second fermentation in the presence of pressed grape skins used to make the most famous wine of the region, Amarone. The use of this method adds an impressive degree of body and complexity to these wines, putting them a step above your average Valpolicella.

Francos Wine Minute: You can hear more about the 2020 Tenuta Sant'Antonio Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso Monti Garbi ($22.99) by listening to this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute on our Home Page where the wine is also featured as one of our January Cellar Specials.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Join us this Saturday, January 21st 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2020 Tenuta Sant'Antonio Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso Monti Garbi ($22.99) along with the 2021 Alois Lageder Pinot Bianco ($15.99).

You can find these, and all the wines we pour on the Tasting link on our Home Page.

January Hours

Tuesday - Friday 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Francos is closed on Sunday and Monday

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Two Great Bordeaux to Liven up January

There is not that much exciting about January — vacations are over, we are back at work, the Christmas tree is dying a slow death, and you are avoiding any bathroom with a scale. But as you plan your post-holiday menus, you can always count on Francos Wine Merchants to help brighten the dull days of January.

Today we travel to Bordeaux, which often conjures up thoughts of some of the many famous, higher end wines. But this region actually offers plenty of modest wines that are perfect for your January menus.

Our journey starts off in the region of Saint-Emilion on the right bank of the Gironde river. Here, right at the estuary of this famous river, we find the appellation of Fronsac which brings us the 2018 Château Mayne Vieil ($15.99). This Merlot based wine has minimal barrel aging which allows it to show off flavors of raspberry and black currant that are fresh and plush.

Traveling next to Montagne Saint-Emilion we are greeted by the 2016 Château Haut Plaisance ($19.99). This northern appellation wine is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. An amazing amount of structure comes out of this modest bottle and complex mouthfeel leads you into a pleasant herbal and tobacco finish.

Both of these wines drink much higher then their modest price point and make perfect pairings for your winter menus. Braised short ribs, beef stew, a juicy burger or even a simple cheese tray would all work well with either one of these wines.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us Saturday January 14th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2016 Château Haut Plaisance ($19.99) along with the Lobster Reef Sauvignon Blanc ($12.99).

January Hours

Tuesday - Friday 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Francos is closed on Sunday and Monday

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Ring in the New Year with the Most popular Champagnes of the season

If you want to celebrate in style, then the 2014 Louis Roederer Cristal ($349.99) is how to do it. The 2014 was chosen as one of Wine Spectator's Top Ten Wines of the year. Complex and intense, this wine shows off a bouquet of candied citrus, yellow fruit, pear and a hint of toasted almond. The 2014 is undeniably well structured yet the smooth entry gives way to underpinned freshness and a soft, velvety texture. If you are looking to ring in 2023 with an elegant dinner and want to pair an elegant Champagne, this is the one.

Ruinart Blanc de Blanc ($99.99) has never once disappointed a champagne lover. Made exclusively with Premiers Crus from the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims terroirs, it is intensely aromatic and powerfully reminiscent of fresh fruits with dominant notes of citrus and exotic fruit. The palate is both precise and clean as the wine delivers a radiant balance between roundness and smoothness.

Without a doubt, the Pol Roger Reserve Brut Champagne ($69.99) has been our biggest seller of the season. The beautiful straw gold hue sparkles in the fine bubbles of this terrific Champagne. The attractive nose of pear and mango leads into the light flavors of honeysuckle and white jasmine. Once in the mouth the bolder flavors of vanilla and brioche enter in a seamless harmony along with a pleasant freshness all while preserving the structure of this fine wine.

You can see our complete selection by clicking on the Champagne link on our Home Page as well as our Prosecco & Other Sparkling Wine link to view our other sparkling selections.

Holiday Hours: Francos Wine Merchants will be open the following hours this week/weekend:

Tuesday - Friday 10:00AM - 6:30PM
Saturday (New Year's Eve) 10:00AM-6:00PM
Sunday (New Year's Day) — Closed
Monday (Federal Holiday) — Closed

The Staff at Francos Wine Merchants wishes all our customers the best for 2023.

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Cellar Collectables for your Holiday Gift List

December 25th is looming and for those of you still looking for gifts, Francos has a few suggestions.

If you are shopping for a serious collector of wine, we have several of the BOND Estate vineyard sites: Melbury, Pluribus, Quella, St. Eden, and Vecina. These wines are sold in a 3-bottle wooden presentation case. Each 3-bottle case is On Sale for $2250.00 and you can read about each of these vineyard sites by clicking on the BOND Estate link on our Home Page.

2020 Louis Jadot Corton Charlemagne Domaine des Heritiers

2020 Louis Jadot Puligny Montrachet Clos de la Garenne

Also for the serious collector, the 2020 Burgundy release still holds some incredible wines for anyone who enjoys the Burgundian style of winemaking. Staring off with White Burgundy, it does not get better than the 2020 Louis Jadot Corton Charlemagne Domaine des Heritiers ($316.99), but you can always come down to earth a little more with the 2020 Louis Jadot Puligny Montrachet Clos de la Garenne ($138.99). Lovers of Red Burgundy are never disappointed with the 2020 Jadot Chambolle Musigny Les Fuées ($162.99) or the 2020 Jadot Gevrey Chambertin Clos Saint Jacques ($269.99), but no matter what village of Burgundy is preferred, you can find them all on our Jadot Burgundy link.

If you need some wines for the holiday table, the 2020 Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($89.99) will pair up with any roast from a simple Beef Filet to a Beef Wellington. But if duck, turkey or any type of poultry is on the menu, the 2020 Remi Jobard Bourgogne Cote d'Or "Vieilles Vignes" ($49.99) will deliver a full, round flavor of apple and pear before leading you into its suave and seductive finish.

Lastly if you need to add some sparkle to your holiday, you can do it with this wine from the Top 10 of 2022 on Wine Spectator's list — the 2014 Louis Roederer Cristal ($349.99). One sip of this Champagne and you will see why it garnered its 98 point rating from Robert Parker.

Do you have a Bourbon or Rye drinker on your shopping list? Check out our Small Batch American Whiskey link or if they are a Scotch whiskey drinker you will find their favorite on our Single Malt Scotches link.

Holiday Hours: Francos Wine Merchants will be open the following hours this week:

Monday - Friday 10:00AM - 7:00PM
December 24th (Christmas Eve) 9:00AM - 5:00PM
December 25th (Christmas) Closed
December 26th (Federal Holiday) Closed

Francos wishes its customers the very best for the holidays.

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

The Holiday Wine Countdown Continues…

Shopping days are numbered and if you still have a few people on your gift list, Francos is here with plenty of incredible suggestions for the wine and spirit lovers on your gift list.

2017 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova

For the red wine lovers on your gift list, you can start out in Italy with the always fabulous region of Tuscany where we find the 2017 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova ($159.99). This premier offering from Casanova di Neri is layered with bold tones of dark fruit wrapped up in flavors of spice, leather and tobacco. If the subtle flavors of Bordeaux are more your speed, the 2019 Château Gloria Saint Julien ($59.99) is where you want to land. This Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc sings out with its aroma of plum and cassis followed up by an elegant and savory presence on the palate. But if the siren call of Napa Valley lures you in, the 2020 Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($89.99) is the call you want to answer. This Cabernet offers layers of lush dark berry flavors with a classic Napa style of red fruit and velvety tannins. The wine always puts a smile on the face of any California Cabernet lover.

For the white wine lovers on your list there is no more pure expression than white Burgundy. The arrival of the 2020 Louis Jadot LaDoix Le Clou D'Orge ($50.99) is a great place to start. Medium to full-bodied in style, this wine — with its nuances of citrus on the nose and concentrated mineral style — is classic white Burgundy. Moving over to a different producer, the 2020 Bachelet Monnot Puligny Montrachet ($92.99) greets you with a bright floral nose and leads you directly into a taste full of white orchard fruit and subtle wisps of spice. One taste of this white Burgundy leave no doubt why brothers Marc and Alex Bachelet have the magic touch when it comes to producing some of the top wines in Burgundy. Lastly, if its back to the classic Napa style for your chardonnay, the 2022 Far Niente Chardonnay ($69.99) has been an outstanding chardonnay since their first vintage in 1979. The toasted oak flavor, followed by notes of melon and citrus and a silky style, make this wine very appealing to pair with many foods. Napa Valley Chardonnay does not get much better than this.

2020 Louis Jadot Chateau Des Jacques Morgon

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us Saturday December 17th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour three other wines perfect for the season. For red wines we have the 2020 Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($89.99) and the 2020 Louis Jadot Chateau Des Jacques Morgon ($29.99). For a white wine we have the 2020 Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay ($49.99) and the 2021 Domaine Pinson Chablis ($31.99).

You can find these wines as well as all the wines we pour on the Tastings link located on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation for December 2022

Monday - Friday 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday 12:00PM - 4:00PM (No deliveries)
Local orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will be available for "in store" pick up on Sunday or will be delivered on Monday.

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Holiday Helpers from France to California

December is underway with Holiday parties and menu planning and Francos Wine Merchants always has a selection of wine choices at the ready. This week we return to Burgundy and also take a quick detour to Napa Valley.

Returning to the certified organic vineyard of Remi Jobard, last week we talked about his Aligoté, but this week we have the 2020 Remi Jobard Bourgogne Cote d'Or "Vieilles Vignes" ($49.99). This exceptional white Burgundy is crafted from 40 year old Chardonnay vines from six parcels in Meursault. This wine first greets you with a ripe aroma of pear and apple while hints of lemon and lime linger in the background as the soft floral wisps draw you into the glass. In the mouth the full style offers up suave and round flavors that easily seduce you into another sip. The flavors offer up superb complexity leading you into a clean, dry and citrus finale. For those of you with poultry on the menu this holiday season, this wine cannot steer you wrong.

Traveling back to the United States, we find ourselves in Napa Valley where we find the 2018 Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon ($54.99). This wine greets you with a classic Napa style with its dark red color and nose of blackberry and cherry. The nose of spice entices you into that first sip which is rife with intense dark fruit flavors and floral notes with hints of roasted nuts. The firm, yet silky tannins lead you into an elegant and seamless finish. If you are looking for a Cabernet to pair with your holiday roast or Beef Wellington, your search ends here.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us Saturday December 10th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2020 Remi Jobard Bourgogne Cote d'Or "Vieilles Vignes" ($49.99) and the 2018 Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon ($54.99).

You can find these wines as well as all the wines we pour on the Tastings link located on our Home Page.

Also, be sure to check out our most recent installment of the Francos Wine Minute also on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation for December 2022

We look forward to seeing you online or in our store soon.

Ring in the Holiday Stroll from Tuscany to Burgundy

The December shopping season starts in New Canaan with the Annual New Canaan Chamber Holiday Stroll (follow the link to see the stroll hours/activities), as well as a month of exciting Saturday Wine Tastings here at Francos Wine Merchants.

The Holiday Stroll kicks off Friday evening December 2nd, as Elm Street is shut down to vehicular traffic and the trees lining the street will be lit. There will be a variety of themed performers, New Canaan Cares will be serving up s'mores and the Waffle Cabin from Vermont will be dishing out their goodies as well. The stores will stay open late, including Francos Wine Merchants which will be open Friday till 8:00PM so be sure to stop in for some early holiday shopping.

Saturday Elm Street will be back open to traffic and the Holiday Stroll continues as Santa will be in town for a meet and greet for the kids, and Francos Wine Merchants will be pouring two great wines at our Saturday Wine Tasting from 1:00-5:00PM.

For a white wine we will be pouring something very special from Burgundy, the 2020 Remi Jobard Aligoté ($37.99). The Aligoté grape is a little know varietal that has been part of the Burgundian landscape for over two centuries. The vineyards of Remi Jobard are certified organic as they take great care in all the wines they make. The 2020 Remi Jobard Aligoté ($37.99) greets you with a very spicy aroma of grapefruit and green apple that is always fresh and aromatic. Once in the mouth the racy and intense flavors of apple are present with a good balance between softness and acidity. Don't miss the chance to sample this very special White Burgundy.

Moving over to Italy for the red wine, we will be pouring the 2021 Uccelliera Rosso di Montalcino ($27.99). Located on a hill just south of Florence in the hills of Tuscany is the village of Montalcino where this wine is crafted from 100% Sangiovese grape. The 2021 Uccelliera Rosso di Montalcino ($27.99) offers vibrant aromas of black cherry and strawberry that rise up to greet you as you pour this wine into your glass. Rich and layered, flavors of red cherry and touch of pepper give this wine some very defined spice. For those of you with a love for Italian wines, you can never go wrong with the wines of Uccelliera vineyards.

You can find these wines as well as all the wines we pour on the Tastings link located on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation for Fall 2022

Tuesday - Friday 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday 12:00PM - 4:00PM (No deliveries)
Francos will be closed on Mondays
Local orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will be available for "in store" pick up on Sunday or will be delivered on Tuesday.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Last Minute Thanksgiving Selections from Francos

Thanksgiving is upon us and if you are still in need of selecting your holiday wine or perhaps in need of stocking up on a few last minute items, Francos Wine Merchants is here to help.

If you like to start things off in a celebratory way, why not consider the 2014 Louis Roederer Cristal ($349.99)? The 2014 Vintage has set a new standard, receiving a 96 rating from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. Now produced from organically farmed fruit, this champagne enjoys a broad, textural and muscular style which makes it perfect for your Thanksgiving.

Or maybe you like to start off your Thanksgiving mixing up a batch of Manhattans or a classic Old Fashioned, in which case you want to check out our selection of Rye & Bourbon on our Small Batch American Whiskey link.

Does your crowd lean towards American White Wine for the turkey? If so you can select one of the many American white wines such as the 2021 Rombauer Carneros Chardonnay ($42.99) or the 2022 Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($54.99).

2017 Heitz Cellar Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Is it American Red Wines your table enjoys? For you Cabernet lovers we have the 2020 Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($89.99) and the 2017 Heitz Cellar Napa Cabernet Sauvignon ($59.99). For you Pinot Noir lovers we have the 2022 Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($56.99) and the 2020 Merry Edwards Russian River Pinot Noir ($74.99). And if it's European Pinot Noir and Chardonnay you enjoy, definitely browse our selection of 2020 Jadot Burgundy.

For the end of the night, nothing is more traditional than Port for the perfect conclusion to your Thanksgiving dinner, so be sure to also check out our entire list of Vintage Ports and Tawney Ports on our Port link.

Francos will be open the following hours during Thanksgiving week

Monday - Wednesday 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Thursday (Thanksgiving) Closed
Friday & Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday 12:00PM - 4:00PM (No deliveries)

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Francos Top Choices for your Thanksgiving Table

Thanksgiving is here and the 2022 Holiday Season is underway! While you have been busying yourself with the Holiday Menu, Francos Wine Merchants has been busy searching out the best wines to grace your Turkey Table.

For those of you who enjoy a Traditional California Chardonnay with its full flavor and a little bit of oak, Francos would like to suggest the 2019 Domaine Eden Chardonnay ($29.99). The 2022 Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($54.99) moves you up the ladder a bit on both fullness and flavor, and the 2022 Far Niente Chardonnay ($69.99) will definitely be the star of the table with its classic Napa style.

If your table craves the fullness of a California Cabernet, you have a few choices around the $50 range with the 2018 Honig Cabernet Sauvignon ($59.99), the 2019 Details Cabernet Sauvignon by Sinegal ($49.99) or the 2018 Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon ($54.99). Then for those of you who enjoy the best of what Napa has to offer, there is the always delicious 2020 Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($89.99) or the 2020 Dominus Napanook ($99.99).

But by far the most popular grape for your turkey is Pinot Noir, mostly because this grape enjoys a lighter mouthfeel, yet has the firm structure to stand up to all the flavors on the Thanksgiving table. This leaves a variety of choices starting out with the 2021 Cristom Mt. Jefferson Cuvée Pinot Noir ($39.99), the 2022 Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($56.99) or the newly arrived 2021 Drouhin Roserock Pinot Noir ($41.99).

Of course if your preference is European Chardonnay, Cabernet or Pinot Noir then definitely check out the newly arrived 2020 Jadot Burgundy or our outstanding selection of 2016 Bordeaux and 2018 Bordeaux.

Lastly, one of the most overlooked grapes for the Thanksgiving table is Riesling as this incredibly food-friendly wine pairs perfectly with the variety of flavors that are on your Thanksgiving table. If we can entice you to serve this outstanding varietal you may want to consider the the 2021 Dr. Crusius Sonnenfels Riesling ($19.99), the 2019 Selbach Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett ($27.99) or the 2020 Selbach Incline Riesling ($12.99).

Francos also has you covered both before and after dinner with their vast selection of Bourbons & Ryes which can be found on our Small Batch American Whiskey link as well as Scotch which can be found on our Single Malt Scotches link, and don't forget about our selection of both Vintage and Tawny Ports which can be found on our Port link all on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Minute — You can also listen to our top choices for Thanksgiving on this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute on our Home Page.

2019 Henri Bourgeois La Bourgeoise Sancerre

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please join us Saturday, November 19th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour an incredible line-up of wines for Thanksgiving which includes the 2022 Far Niente Chardonnay ($69.99), 2019 Henri Bourgeois La Bourgeoise Sancerre ($36.99), 2020 Louis Jadot Chateau Des Jacques Morgon ($29.99), 2021 Cristom Mt. Jefferson Cuvée Pinot Noir ($39.99), and the 2021 Drouhin Roserock Pinot Noir ($41.99).

You can find these wines as well as all the wines we pour on the Tastings link located on our Home Page.

Francos will be open the following hours during Thanksgiving week

Monday - Wednesday 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Thursday (Thanksgiving) Closed
Friday & Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday 12:00PM - 4:00PM (No deliveries)

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

The Doctor is In — 2021 Berncasteler Doctor and the World of Rieslings

The many flavors of Fall are enhanced by the vineyards of Germany, most notably the Riesling grape. From the Nahe to the Mosel, from Kabinett to Spatlese, this grape has many moods.

2021 Dr. H. Thanisch Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Kabinett

Our first stop is in Mosel where we find one of the most famous Rieslings the Mosel has to offer, the 2021 Dr. H. Thanisch Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Kabinett ($48.99). Legend has it that in 1360 Archbishop Boemond II of Trier fell deathly ill during his visit to Bernkastel. The Bishop prescribed a special wine from one of the local vineyards which cured the Archbishop from his ailments. From then on this sacred plot of land in the Mosel became known as the Doctor Vineyard for its purported curative properties. Intense and mineral-driven with notes of eroding slate, concentrated stone, and more aptly perhaps, the sap of the earth. This is pure Mosel Riesling from what is often called the finest vineyard site in Germany.

2019 Selbach Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett

Curative properties or not, Germany has many other Rieslings to offer. Staying in the Mosel, we also have from Thanisch the 2020 Dr. Thanisch Riesling ($19.99). The slate soil that dominates most of the vineyards on their property is present here. It is this soil makeup that delivers this fruit forward wine with a lot of minerality present in the glass. Combine this with the low alcohol typical of Mosel Riesling and you have an incredible wine with which to start your meal. The 2019 Selbach Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett ($27.99) got a solid 93 point rating from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. This wine's highlights are its pure and flinty nose and elegant terroir-driven nose. Well concentrated, this wine from the Schlossberg Vineyard is crisp with juicy fruit and a refined finish. Before leaving the Mosel, we have the 2020 Selbach Incline Riesling ($12.99) to show you. This wine is produced by Johannes Selbach to outshine all Mosel Rieslings at its price point. Named for the impossibly steep slope from which these grapes are grown, this wine offers fruit, acidity, clarity and precision all highlighted by slate-driven minerality.

Lastly, from the Nahe region, we have the 2021 Dr. Crusius Sonnenfels Riesling ($19.99). The sandy/stony loam where these vines thrive mostly enjoy the debris of the red rhyolite-volcanic rock. The name Sonnenfels signifies this wine comes from the estate's own vineyards. This wine combines the classic minerality of the soil with nuances of apple and peach aromas.

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please join us Saturday, November 12th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour two of the Rieslings, the 2019 Selbach Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett ($27.99) and the 2020 Selbach Incline Riesling ($12.99). And for you Pinot Noir lovers, we have from California's Russian River Valley the 2022 EnRoute Pinot Noir "Les Pommiers" ($59.99).

You can find these wines as well as all the wines we pour on the Tastings link located on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation for Fall 2022

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2020 Jadot Burgundy has Arrived!

One sure sign that Autumn is underway is the arrival of the Jadot Burgundy and Francos Wine Merchants has just received shipment of the long awaited 2020 vintage.

Louis Jadot was founded in 1859 by Louis Henry Denis Jadot, and ever since those days the family has maintained a well-earned reputation for excellence. Their philosophy of acquisition and expansion allows the wines of Louis Jadot to be immensely diverse, representing the finest examples of Burgundy's appellations, while maintaining the quality and integrity of each wine. Special care is taken by the winemakers and growers to focus on sustainable vineyard practices, ensuring each wine expresses pure terroir character. As a result Louis Jadot is and has been the most prolific negociant and producer of Burgundian wine.

2020 Jadot Puligny Montrachet La Garenne

Starting off with their Burgundian White Wines we have a couple of nice entry level wines with the 2020 Louis Jadot Marsannay Blanc ($49.99) and the 2020 Louis Jadot LaDoix Le Clou D'Orge ($50.99). Moving up the ladder you can explore the 2020 Louis Jadot Meursault ($83.99), or the 2020 Jadot Puligny Montrachet La Garenne ($134.99). Of course if you feel like really treating yourself, you can explore the top of the chain with the very limited 2020 Louis Jadot Corton Charlemagne Domaine des Heritiers ($316.99).

2020 Louis Jadot Beaune Theurons Premier Cru

2020 Jadot Gevrey Chambertin Clos Saint Jacques

Moving over to the Louis Jadot Red Burgundies, you can easily get a feel for this vintage with the 2020 Louis Jadot Mercurey ($42.99). If you are already familiar with most of the villages, you can dive right into the 2020 Louis Jadot Beaune Theurons Premier Cru ($71.99) or the 2020 Louis Jadot Pommard ($84.99). Or once again you just reach toward the top of the ladder with the 2020 Jadot Chambolle Musigny Les Fuées ($162.99) or the 2020 Jadot Gevrey Chambertin Clos Saint Jacques ($269.99).

These wines represent a fraction of our shipment; to view our entire list, click on the Jadot Burgundy link on our Home Page.

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please join us Saturday, November 5th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour two of the 2020 Jadot Burgundies, the 2020 Louis Jadot Pommard ($84.99) and the 2020 Louis Jadot LaDoix Le Clou D'Orge ($50.99).

You can find these wines as well as all the wines we pour on the Tastings link located on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation for Fall 2022

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2018 Details by Sinegal — The Devil is in the Details

October is here and every day gets a little more crisp. As the mercury starts to dip, our craving for heavier, more full-bodied wines begin to rise. California Cabernet is always a great remedy for those cool nights and today we bring you something new to the California wine scene.

Let us introduce you to David Sinegal, founder of Details Wines. David made his mark in the business world and then, in 2013, entered the Napa wine community when he purchased the St. Helena property where he runs Sinegal Vineyards. David's newst venture brings him to Sonoma where he has founded Details Wines by Sinegal.

Today we present to you the 2019 Details Cabernet Sauvignon by Sinegal ($49.99). David, along with winemaker Ryan Knoth, has created this fabulous wine that is a blend from vineyards in both Knights Valley and Alexander Valley in Sonoma. The 2019 Details is a carefully crafted blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance being Malbec, Merlot, Petite Syrah and Petite Verdot. The nose on this wine is a sensual elegance of ripe raspberry and plum with a touch of subtle oak, sage and allspice. In the mouth, the flavors of black currant and blueberry compote take over and marry perfectly with the earthly mineral notes that explode on the palate. The nose and flavors of this stunning Cabernet Sauvignon carry right through to the end as the fresh acidity elevates the finish.

You can find the 2019 Details Cabernet Sauvignon by Sinegal ($49.99) as one of our October Cellar Specials as well as hear about it in this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute, borh located on our Home Page.

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please join us Saturday October 29th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2019 Details Cabernet Sauvignon by Sinegal ($49.99) along with the 2022 Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($54.99).

You can find these wines as well as all the wines we pour on the Tastings link located on our Home Page.

2020 Jadot Burgundy — the 2020 Jadot Burgundy shipment has arrived and we will be writing about these in detail next week, but for now they are all up on our website and you can view them on the Jadot Burgundy link on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation for Fall 2022

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

A Flurry of Fleurie - 2020 Jean Paul Brun Fleurie

Jean Paul Brun is an old friend you are always happy to see and he never shows up empty-handed. Jean Paul Brun is the owner/winemaker of this 60+ hectare family estate. He always attracts great press when it comes to the wines he produces, and today we have another wine winner of his that just arrived on our doorstep.

Jean Paul Brun is known for his "old-style" Beaujolais; thus his vinification differs from the prevailing practices of the region. Brun believes that the charm of the Gamay grape is best expressed by the grapes' indigenous yeast rather than by adding industrial yeast. Brun's view is that the Gamay grape drinks best at a lower degree of alcohol content and thus finds no need to systematically add sugar. This method keeps his Beaujolais a more pleasurable drink that lets the true flavor of the Gamay grape shine.

All this brings us to our feature wine, the 2020 Jean Paul Brun Fleurie ($23.99). Made from 100% Gamay grape, this wine first greets you with deep aromas of black cherry, pomegranate, and a burst of fresh herbs. The subtle tannins and superb length keeps the palate awash with red fruit while the firm structure keeps you focused right through to the flavorful finish. The modest 13% alcohol content also helps keep the ruby red berry nuances fresh and bright throughout. This wine is perfect for everything from a flat iron steak to an herb roasted chicken.

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please join us Saturday October 22nd 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2020 Jean Paul Brun Fleurie ($23.99) and the 2022 Colli di Lapio Fiano di Avellino ($19.99).

You can find these wines as well as all the wines we pour on the Tastings link located on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation for Fall 2022

Tuesday - Friday 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday 12:00PM - 4:00P (No deliveries)
Francos will be closed on Mondays
Local orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will be available for "in store" pick up on Sunday or will be delivered on Tuesday.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2019 Rebellious Red – Rebel Without a Glass

Autumn nights sometimes need a zip to give us some warmth. Often this requires a robust selection of grapes, crafted with perfection, to give us the full-bodied red that we need to counter the chill. Today, that brings us to California.

Traveling to the north of San Francisco we soon find ourselves in one of the prized grape-growing regions of California known simply as the North Coast. It is here where we find our feature wine of the week, the 2019 Rebellious Red ($19.99). This red wine boasts a blend of 42% Zinfandel, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 7% Petite Sirah 7% Syrah, 7% Mourvedre and 1% Sauvignon Blanc, that lives up to its name. This wine offers up abundant aromas of dark cherry, brown sugar and dark chocolate that slowly draw you in. The bright and vibrant mouthfeel treats the tastebuds to flavors of fresh blueberries and allspice before inviting in the lush, ripe fruit flavor that leads you into a luxurious finish. This exceptional balance of grapes is expertly blended to craft this exciting and unusual red blend.

You can find the 2019 Rebellious Red ($19.99) listed in the New Arrivals link on our Home Page.

Saturday Wine Tasting – Please join us Saturday October 15th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2019 Rebellious Red ($19.99) and the 2022 Honig Sauvignon Blanc ($22.99).

You can find these wines as well as all the wines we pour on the Tastings link located on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation for Fall 2022

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2019 Mo Monastrell — Go with Mo

Sometimes, cool October nights find us with an easy/favorite Crockpot, Instant-pot or air fryer recipe — something simple, good and comfortable. Often we look for an easy and simple wine to pair with these foods, and while that search can take us to many regions, today it brings us to Spain.

Traveling to the northwest region of Spain we find Villena in the province of Alicante. Here, in 2013, the Miñano and Gómez families purchased the Bodega Sierra Salinas winery. Their philosophy has been to focus their efforts on the vineyards by converting all of them to organic farming methods. The weather zone for this region leads most vineyards to use some form of irrigation system, but Bodega Sierra Salinas concentrated on dry farming, which forces the root structure to grow deep and produces grape bunches with tremendous balance and ripeness.

All this brings us to our feature wine, the 2019 Mo Monastrell ($10.99). This enjoyable, inexpensive red wine is made from 100% Monastrell grape from vines with an average age of 35 years which thrive in the rocky/limestone soil of the region. This rocky and chalky terrain keeps the soil loose and thus provides excellent drainage. All these factors help produce a wine that enjoys a nose of white pepper and graphite. In the mouth, flavors of blackberry with hints of toffee and chocolate undertones come forth. Nuances of bright fruit and fine tannins lead you into a fresh and clean finish. This wine is perfect for any simple meal or anytime you want to relax and enjoy a glass of red wine.

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please join us Saturday October 8th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2019 Mo Monastrell ($10.99) along with the 2022 Muga Rioja Blanco ($19.99).

You can find these wines as well as all the wines we pour on the Tastings link located on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation for Fall 2022

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2020 Daou Bodyguard — Security for the Dinner Table

The evenings are starting to get cooler and autumn is definitely on the way. As the mercury drops a bit, we definitely seek out wines to warm us up. Like a snug sweater, wines with a little more weight to them are just what we need to keep cozy.

After pursuing a successful career in Network Technology, brothers George and Daniel Daou sought out land in Paso Robles, California, and founded Daou Vineyards. They specifically sought out the land which is now Daou Mountain because of the rare calcareous clay, which mimics perfectly the terroir of Bordeaux. They started off being one of the few vineyards to introduce Cabernet Sauvignon to the region; they now grow several other varieties including Pinot Noir, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah and Chardonnay — all biodynamically.

Today we are going to focus on one of the newest additions to their collection, the 2021 Daou Vineyards Bodyguard ($36.99). Here winemaker Daniel Daou has created a bold and brooding blend that displays a vivid deep purple color, which is the first characteristic to pique your curiosity. Upon pouring the wine, a nose of blueberry, blackberry and chocolate first greet the olfactory senses. In the mouth, flavors of black plum, dried cherry and sage tantalize the taste buds. Soon after, the blend of Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah reveal further layers of complexity, all supported by a firm structure and finely polished tannins. This wine will inspire a drive to the butcher so you can peruse his selection of steaks and find the right cut for the perfect pairing.

Francos Wine Minute — Please be sure to tune into this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute on our Home Page where you can hear about the 2021 Daou Vineyards Bodyguard ($36.99).

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please join us Saturday October 1st 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2021 Daou Vineyards Bodyguard ($36.99) along with the 2019 Domaine Eden Chardonnay ($29.99).

You can find these wines as well as all the wines we pour on the Tastings link located on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation for Fall 2022

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2018 La Vielle Cure — An Autumn Welcome

September is well underway and as we look for ways to warm up the cool autumn evenings, our minds wander to wines that enjoy a little more weight and body. One of those wine regions is Bordeaux and Francos Wine Merchants has the perfect Bordeaux as an introduction to these fall evenings.

Our travels bring us to Bordeaux, specifically, the right bank of the Gironde River. Adjacent to the regions of Saint Emilion and Pomerol, we find the appellation of Fronsac and the home of our feature wine for this week, the 2018 Château La Vielle Cure ($36.99).

The 2018 Château La Vielle Cure ($36.99) comes from one of the benchmark producers on the right bank. Here the vines are an average of 40+ years old and thrive in the heavy limestone soil. They practice sustainable farming methods and hand harvest this blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, and use indigenous yeast. This wine first greets you with cedar notes highlighted by a hint of graphite and subtle tree bark scents. In the mouth, flavors of ripe blackberries, stewed plums and cherry compote are enhanced by herbal notes of Sichuan pepper and star anise. The full-bodied palate is cloaked in oak with loads of exotic spice all supported by grainy tannins. Our recommendation is to stop in and try a bottle today and we think you will agree that the 2018 Château La Vielle Cure ($36.99) is definitely a contender for your Autumn menus and you will see why Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave this wine a solid 92+ rating.

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please join us Saturday September 24th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2018 Château La Vielle Cure ($36.99) along with the 2021 Masseria Li Veli Verdeca ($23.99).

You can find these wines as well as all the wines we pour on the Tastings link located on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation for Fall 2022

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Clos du Moulin Aux Moines — Burgundy Season Returns

September is moving along, and as we get closer to fall, the 2020 Burgundy vintage slowly start their release. While we wait for some of the larger domaines, the smaller ones are beginning to float our way.

Moulin aux Moines is located in the heart of the Côte de Beaune, specifically in the village of Auxey-Duresses. Owned by the Abbaye de Cluny in the 10th century, this domaine was purchased by the Andrieu family in 2008. Since purchasing the domaine, the Andrieu family's focus has been on restoring the ancestral values of these legendary wines by returning to the organic and biodynamic principles on which the domaine was founded. Francos has two of their 2020 vintage wines in stock now, both priced under $35, which is a sweet deal for Burgundy these days.

Starting off with their white Burgundy, we have their 2021 Clos du Moulin Aux Moines Bourgogne Blanc Clos de la Perriere ($39.99). This stunning white wine is made from grapes grown on 50 year old Chardonnay vines that thrive in the red clay/limestone soil of the region. This wine shows off a rich, yellow hue with aromatic notes of acacia and almonds that direct your tastebuds to a well-balanced mouthfeel and a notably firm finish.

We've also just received their red Burgundy, the 2021 Clos du Moulin Aux Moines Bourgogne Rouge Clos de la Perriere ($39.99). No chemicals are needed to encourage the richness of this terroir as the Pinot Noir vines for this wine thrive in the same red clay/limestone soil makeup, as do most of the vines planted here in the 1950s. Although classified as a Bourgogne, the Aux Seurrets is from a vineyard in Pommard and offers up flavors of red cherry fruit, earth, and cocoa notes. All these flavors are braced by a nice and balanced acidity with a core of firm, but fine tannins. As your autumn menus come into focus, this is the wine you want to consider.

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please join us Saturday September 17th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2021 Clos du Moulin Aux Moines Bourgogne Blanc Clos de la Perriere ($39.99) and the 2021 Clos du Moulin Aux Moines Bourgogne Rouge Clos de la Perriere ($39.99) and you can taste these fabulous wines for yourself.

You can find these wines as well as all the wines we pour on the Tastings link located on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Minute — Please be sure to tune into this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute on our Home Page where you can hear about the wines of Clos du Moulin Aux Moines.

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation for Fall 2022

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Colli di Lapio - Campania Companions

September is underway and we are trying to transition into a routine of school, work and post-vacation blues. While it will take a couple of weeks to get into the groove of things, we have a couple of superb drinking wines that come to us from Southern Italy that will definitely help you over the hump.

The wines of Colli di Lapio come to us from Italy's Campania region. This young estate was founded in 1994, and is where Owner-winemaker Clelia Romano and her daughter Carmela produce textbook examples of the signature grapes of Campania. The windblown slopes of Campania's mountains are home to some of the most spectacular vineyards in Italy. Combine that with the calcareous clay-rich soil, the warm climate, and their practice of organic farming and hand harvesting, and you have wines elevated to the next level.

Starting off with their white wine, we have the 2022 Colli di Lapio Fiano di Avellino ($19.99). You are first greeted by this wine with its vibrant, straw-yellow color in the glass soon followed by aromatics of peach, nuts and white flowers. Once in the mouth the flavor is rich and soft leading you directly into a fresh, long finish that lingers on the tongue long after it's gone. This wine would make a great pairing for so many of your autumn poultry dinners that are just around the corner.

2019 Colli di Lapio Irpinia Campi Taurasini

For you lovers of full-bodied red wine, if you have not familiarized yourself with the Agliancio grape, the 2019 Colli di Lapio Irpinia Campi Taurasini ($22.99) is a terrific place to start. Grown at their vineyard site in Irpinia, this wine enjoys intense aromas of raspberry jam with nuances of black fruit. In the mouth the full and elegant palate enjoys hints of white pepper around a core of grippy tannins. This wine pairs well with rich meats with a high fat content such as a traditional beef braciola dinner as well as many of your other hearty autumn pasta dishes. If you are fan of earth-driven, rustic Italian wines, this is the wine you want to try.

You can find these wines on our Organic & Naturally Produced Wines list.

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please join us Saturday September 10th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2022 Colli di Lapio Fiano di Avellino ($19.99) and the 2019 Colli di Lapio Irpinia Campi Taurasini ($22.99).

You can find these wines as well as all the wines we pour on the Tastings link located on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation

Tuesday - Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Francos is closed on Sunday and Monday
Local orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will not be delivered until the following Tuesday.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Wines for your Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day Weekend is here and while the calendar says summer is winding down, the thermometer is saying otherwise. It has been a great summer and we here at Francos Wine Merchants have brought you some fabulous wines over the past couple of months, so let us recap the highlights so you can pick the perfect wines for your Labor Day Weekend.

If you are going to bid summer adieu with lobster, then you need to turn to Rosé. The 2022 Domaines Ott Château de Selle Côtes de Provence ($59.99) will make a classic pairing your guests won't forget. If you need to come down to earth a bit while staying with the classic Provence style, then we suggest the always crisp and refreshing 2022 Aix Rosé ($22.99), or the 2022 Minuty Cotes de Provence Rosé ($21.99). If you are in the mood for a Rosé from the Loire, the 2022 Bourgeois Sancerre Rosé Les Jeunes Vignes ($22.99) will show you the subtle flavors of a Rosé, made from the Pinot Noir grape.

If seafood or clambake is more your style, then we have a couple of suggestions for French Sauvignon Blancs. From the Loire we have two Sancerres, the 2020 La Perriere Sancerre ($31.99) and the 2022 Le Roi des Pierres Sancerre ($32.99). Or you can wander over to Burgundy and enjoy the 2020 William Fevre Saint Bris ($24.99), a terrific appellation that grows Sauvignon Blanc grape.

Keeping Labor Day simple with burgers or steaks on the grill? Then some reds are in order — starting off with terrific Gamay from France, the 2021 Jean Paul Brun L'Ancien Beaujolais ($18.99) or from Provence, the 2019 Château de Roquefort Les Mûres ($22.99) a terrific blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan from Provence. Or you can live it up large and move right up the ladder with the 2020 Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($89.99).

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please join us Saturday September 3rd 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2022 Bourgeois Sancerre Rosé Les Jeunes Vignes ($22.99) and the 2019 Château de Roquefort Les Mûres ($22.99).

Francos Wine Minute — Please be sure to tune into this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute as we talk about the 2019 Château de Roquefort Les Mûres ($22.99), which can be found on our Home Page.

Hours for Labor Day Weekend

Our hours for Labor Day weekend are as follows:

Friday September 2nd 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Saturday September 3rd 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Francos will be closed on Sunday and Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2020 Louis Michel Chablis — Seafood Soirée

As the days of August wind down, we still have time to celebrate the offerings of the ocean. Summer and seafood go hand in hand and it's not a perfect pairing without the proper wine.

Enter the Michel family who have been making wines in the heart of Chablis since the 19th century. Louis Michel & Fils has been passed down through the generations, and their pride in their winemaking shines through in their continued excellence under current head, Guillaume Michel.

Today we feature their 2020 Louis Michel & Fils Chablis ($31.99). The 2020 growing season started early with flowering finished by the end of May; but despite the early growing season, this wine remained quite classic in style as the vines thrived in the clay-loam soil highlighted by limestone. The 2020 Louis Michel & Fils Chablis ($31.99) shows off fresh aromas of green fruit, apple and lemon rind scents. The mouthfeel is plump and vibrant with medium weight all while displaying a good persistence and a moderately dry and complex finale. The stony sensation, which is so typical of Chablis, makes this wine the perfect match for the briny characteristic of shellfish and seafood.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday August 27th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2020 Louis Michel & Fils Chablis ($31.99) as well as the 2021 Iris Vinyards Pinot Noir ($22.99).

You can find these wines as well as all the wines we pour on the Tastings link on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation

Tuesday - Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Francos will be closed on Sundays and Mondays for August
Local orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will not be delivered until the following Tuesday.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2021 Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre Rosé — Pretty in Pink

"All good things to those who wait" is the apt saying here. It took a while for one of the most popular Rosé wines of the season to arrive, the 2021 Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre Rosé ($34.99). Don't dawdle — though the wait is finally over, supplies were limited and won't last long.

In the small village of Verdigny, a commune in the eastern Loire, the Hippolyte Reverdy family has been making wine for generations. In 1971 Michel Hippolyte joined his father in the business and by 1983 he started working with importer Kermit Lynch. In true Kermit Lynch fashion, this importer only works with vineyards that work in some kind of natural/organic/biodynamic method. The vineyards of Hippolyte Reverdy see no pesticides, use indigenous yeasts and add no sulfites to their wines.

One of the jewels of their portfolio is their 2021 Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre Rosé ($34.99), which just arrived on our doorstep this week. Comprised entirely of Pinot Noir, the grapes are harvested from vines with an average age of thirty years. Don't let the light pink color and aromas of strawberry fool you; this wine is rife with flavors of red fruit and a noted touch of minerality. While delicate enough to serve with swordfish, grilled halibut and Chilean sea bass, the firm structure of the Pinot Noir allows you to also serve it with a variety of red meats and would be a perfect pairing for a grilled skirt steak with a fresh parsley gremolata. The supply of 2021 Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre Rosé ($34.99) is extremely limited, so don't miss out!

You can find the 2021 Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre Rosé ($34.99) on the Refreshing Summer Rosé link on our Home Page.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday August 20th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2021 Château Nicot White Bordeaux ($10.99) and the 2022 Minuty Cotes de Provence Rosé ($21.99).

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2020 Château de la Ragotière — Clams and Mussels Unite

As we enter August, we are coming into the final stretch of the lazy days of summer. Many of us still have plans for the shore where seafood and shellfish will definitely be on the menu. These beach dinners always beckon a classic seafood wine and the appellation of Muscadet in the Loire Valley never disappoints.

2020 Chateau de la Ragotiere Muscadet Sevre Et Maine

Built by the noble Loré de la Ragotière family in the 14th Century, Château de la Ragotière was purchased in 1979 by brothers Bernard, Francois and Michel Couillaud. The Couillaud brothers strive to carry on the tradition of making high quality, long lasting Muscadets and pass this legacy to the next generation.

Today we have their 2020 Château de la Ragotière Muscadet Sèvre Et Maine ($13.99). Château de la Ragotière's 60+ acres are located in the prized area near where the Sèvre and Maine rivers converge into the Loire before flowing into the nearby sea. Grown and cultivated organically, the Melon de Bourgogne vines — which produce the Muscadet — thrive in the rocky/limestone soil on this exposed hillside. The 30 to 60 year vine age means this Muscadet is a "Les Vieilles Vignes." All this results in a wine that is pale straw in color while giving off a light greenish tint. Once in the glass, aromas of citrus and mineral rise up to greet the olfactory senses. Once in the mouth, this wine has a light, refreshing feel with a hint of lemon leading into more intense herbal flavors with a hint of capers. Combined with the palate cleansing finish, you have the perfect wine to pair with something as simple as a goat cheese spread, to more classic pairings such as seafood, scallops and lobster.

You can find the 2020 Château de la Ragotière Muscadet Sèvre Et Maine ($13.99) on our Organic & Naturally Produced Wines link on our Home Page.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, August 13th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2020 Château de la Ragotière Muscadet Sèvre Et Maine ($13.99) along with the 2022 Aix Rosé ($22.99).

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Château de Roquefort Les Mûres — Elevate your Summer Burger

August is upon us, and as we enter the last leg of summer we have definitely slipped into the casual weeks of the season. This is when we search out wines to take to the concerts at the park, tote along on vacation, or simply to enjoy in the evening when the sun goes down.

Château de Roquefort is situated in the Côtes de Provence appellation. The landscape is a formation of high plateaus — at an altitude of 390 meters and cut out of the rocky clay/limestone soil — where organic vineyards are cultivated biodynamically. The vineyards of Château de Roquefort have been certified bio since 2006.

Today we focus on the 2019 Château de Roquefort Les Mûres ($22.99). This red wine is a blend of Grenache, Carignan, and Syrah from vines that range from 35 to 60 years of age. The vines thrive in a mixture of chalky clay and rocky soil with numerous flinty inclusions. The slopes gently rise facing west/northwest so the vines enjoy the cool climate at this altitude and produce generous yields. The wine first greets you with a rich, deep purple color. The sustained nose of red fruit is pristine and crisp on the palate, but the real enjoyment comes from the great elegance and purity, and perfect tannins that linger in the mouth. This wine is meant for current drinking and would be perfect to enjoy with any casual summer meal that is centered around red meats. So no matter if you are getting a nice cut of steak from the butcher, or just enjoying a classic burger with a thick slice of a summer tomato, the 2019 Château de Roquefort Les Mûres ($22.99) is the wine you want to enjoy with it.

You can find the 2019 Château de Roquefort Les Mûres ($22.99) as one of our August Cellar Specials as well as on the Organic & Naturally Produced Wines link, both located on our Home Page.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, August 6th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2019 Château de Roquefort Les Mûres ($22.99) along with the 2022 Muga Rioja Blanco ($19.99).

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2020 La Perrière Sancerre — Back to the Loire

July certainly flew by, but the summer still has some length to go as August is dead ahead. There is really no better way to counter the summer heat than with the refreshing wines of the Loire Valley and today that brings us back to the appellation of Sancerre.

Today on our visit to Sancerre we find the 2020 La Perriere Sancerre ($31.99), produced by the Saget Family at the Saget La Perrière house.

The nine generation Saget family was originally from Pouilly-sur-Loire but now showcase wines from many of the appellations of the Loire. All their vineyards follow strict guidelines focused on increasing biodiversity and decreasing negative environmental impact. The average vine age in their vineyards is 25 years.

The first sense of the magnitude of the 2020 La Perriere Sancerre ($31.99) is the exceptional, brilliant color the wine showcases in the glass. The Sauvignon Blanc grapes in this wine, with its bright yellow color and slight green hue, are like a siren call that beckons you right into the glass. Aromas of white flowers, peach and acacia balance each other out in harmony. On the palate, this wine is supple and structured, and leads you into a developed taste of mineral and white fruit. This wine is simply flawless and will seamlessly pair with most any seafood which makes it the perfect wine to tote along on your beach holiday. Of course if you are simply enjoying a cool summer evening in the backyard, this wine feels very much at home on your patio as well.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us this Saturday, July 30th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2020 La Perriere Sancerre ($31.99) along with the 2020 Paul Hobbs Crossbarn Pinot Noir Sonoma ($33.99).

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation

Tuesday - Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Francos will be closed on Sundays and Mondays for July
Local orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will not be delivered until the following Tuesday.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2021 La Val Albariño & New Canaan Sidewalk Sale

You know it's July in New Canaan when the Annual Sidewalk Sale takes place. While the street will be full of hot deals, Francos Wine Merchants will be pouring a thirst quenching wine at our Weekly Wine Tasting.

Please join us Saturday, July 23rd from 1:00 - 5:00PM for our Weekly Wine Tasting as we pour the 2021 La Val Albariño ($17.99).

If any of your summer menus call for a terrific dry white wine, then you have to consider the 2021 La Val Albariño ($17.99). This wine is both Estate Grown and Estate Bottled and delivers aromatic citrus fruit with hints of chalky minerality. Dry on the palate, it offers up zesty lemon and Anjou pear flavors. La Val produces its wines solely from the grapes grown on their 150 acre estate. Jose Maria Ureta is a young and extremely well respected winemaker and is definitely making his mark in Ria Baixas. So, as the summer gets into full swing and our tastes turn to wines that are refreshing with a clean, racy finish, look no further than La Val Albariño.

We will also be pouring a red wine from Oregon's Willamette Valley, the 2021 Iris Vinyards Pinot Noir ($22.99). What first strikes you with the Iris Vineyards Pinot Noir is the bright ruby color as it hits the light leaving the bottle. The aromas of raspberry, plum and blackberry are released as you pour it into your glass. In the mouth you are treated to a deep, rich flavor and a long palate which makes this wine so versatile with a variety of foods and perfect for summertime fare. Named for the wild Douglas Iris that bloom here in the spring, Iris Vineyards is a south facing, bowl-shaped valley surrounded by the rolling foothills of the Oregon Coast Mountain Range. Owners Richard Boyles and Pamela Frye began planting their vineyard in 1996 and their first vintage was in 2001. Currently their wines are crafted under the watchful eye of winemaker Aaron Lieberman who joined them in 2008

You can find both of these wines on the Tastings link and you can also hear about the 2021 La Val Albariño ($17.99) in this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute, all located on our Home Page.

New Canaan Sidewalk Sale: Also happening on Saturday is the Annual New Canaan Sidewalk Sale. For those of you not familiar with this yearly event, it begins on Friday July 22nd when stores put out their merchandise on the sidewalks of town at sale prices, but the big focus is on Saturday July 23rd, when Elm & Main Streets in downtown New Canaan will be blocked off from vehicular traffic and turned into a one day pedestrian mall. In addition to the stores' terrific sale prices, restaurants set up on the street serving adapted menus and there will be music and activities going on all day. This event takes place rain or shine and is a fun day for all.

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation

Tuesday - Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Francos will be closed on Sundays and Mondays for July
Local orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will not be delivered until the following Tuesday.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2021 La Roi des Pierres Sancerre - King of Stones

July is upon us and from here on out the mercury will rise. Long forgotten are the piles of snow and frigid mornings and it's time to enjoy summer. One favorite destination for our summer wines is the Loire Valley, particularly, the appellation of Sancerre.

The village of Sainte-Gemme is a commune within Sancerre and this is where we find 2022 Le Roi des Pierres Sancerre ($32.99). Winemaker Adrien Gaudiat spins his magic at this iconic vineyard site from vines ranging 20 to 40 years in age. There are three types of soil found in Sancerre, Terres Blanches, Caillottes and Silex. Silex is the rarest of the three types and represents only about 15% of the soil type in Sancerre. The 2022 Le Roi des Pierres Sancerre ($32.99) vineyard site is all Silex, so this soil is comprised of pebbly limestone and thus named "Le Roi Des Pierres" which translates to "The King of Stones". This is all evident as you pour this wine into the glass and you are greeted with a beautiful pale gold color. The wine then opens up to mineral, flint-like notes which is characteristic of the stony terrior. The intense nose offers up nuances of nectarine and blood orange which immediately seduces the palate with opulent ripe citrus, yet remains clean and fresh in the mouth. The lingering notes of white pepper and ginger lead you directly into a crisp finish and all leaves you salivating for more. So for those of you looking for a wine to enjoy with your seafood or lobster, the 2022 Le Roi des Pierres Sancerre ($32.99) is definitely the answer to that question.

You can find the 2022 Le Roi des Pierres Sancerre ($32.99) as one of our July Cellar Specials on our Home Page.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please Join us Saturday, July 16th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour both the 2022 Le Roi des Pierres Sancerre ($32.99) and the 2021 Kermit Lynch Côtes du Rhône ($14.99).

If you are unable to join us you can find any of the wines we pour at our weekly tastings on the Tastings link on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation

Tuesday - Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Francos will be closed on Sundays and Mondays for July
Local orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will not be delivered until the following Tuesday.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2021 Masseria Li Veli Verdeca — Puglia Pleaser

If you are looking to shake up your July wine selections, then Italy is a good place to start. The various climates and terroirs of Italy offer us a selection of wines from which to choose and today these travels take us south of Rome to the region of Puglia.

The vineyard of Masseria Li Veli is located on an ancient Messapian site in the fertile and sunny Salento plain in Puglia in Southern Italy, commonly known as "the heel of the boot." Founded by Marquis Antonio de Viti de Marco (1858-1943), it is now owned by the Falvo family. With over 40 years in the wine business, in 1999, they purchased and renovated the property and helped reinvigorate the long vine-growing tradition in Apulia.

While Masseria Li Veli produces many organically farmed wines, one of their most ancient and prized varietals is an indigenous grape called Verdeca, and it is from this grape that they produce their 2021 Masseria Li Veli Verdeca ($23.99). The region is known for its reddish, clay-like soil which is full of gravel and tuff. This enables the vine roots to access the water beds deep underground and helps them survive the dry, hot summers. It is all these factors that contribute to what makes this wine so special, starting with its inviting, bright yellow color. After admiring the enticing color, the nuances of tropical fruit and citrus start to beckon you to the full-flavored mouthfeel which is complimented by well-balanced acidity. Located on the Ionian and Adriatic Seas, this region has a heavy Greek influence, so the 2021 Masseria Li Veli Verdeca ($23.99) would pair perfectly with the bright lemon flavor of your favorite Greek chicken recipe and will also shine with a classic Pasta Carbonara or Cacio e Pepe recipe.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us Saturday July 9th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour our featured wine, the 2021 Masseria Li Veli Verdeca ($23.99), along with the 2021 Vietti Barbera d'Asti Tre Vigne ($18.99).

If you are unable to join us you can find any of the wines we pour at our weekly tastings on the Tastings link on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Merchants Hours of Operation

Tuesday - Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday 12:00PM-4:00PM (No deliveries)
Francos will be closed on Mondays
Local orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will not be delivered until the following Tuesday, but will be available for in-store pick up on Sunday.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

4th of July Favorites at Francos

The 4th of July is upon us, and whether you are packing up the car and traveling to the beach or only going as far as your backyard, Francos Wine Merchants has some perfect wines choices for any destination.

If you are planning to celebrate your 4th of July with seafood or shellfish, then you want to look towards producer William Fevre. Their 2020 William Fevre Saint Bris ($24.99) always makes for a classic seafood pairing. This wine is 100% Sauvignon Blanc grape and enjoys a fresh, intense bouquet dominated by notes of exotic fruit along with its exquisite lightness in the mouth and is a perfect refresher for a summer evening. If you are a Chardonnay lover, then the 2020 Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay ($49.99) will move you up the ladder in both fullness and flavor. The concentrated flavor of white peach and hint of nuttiness makes it perfect for any herb-grilled chicken recipe.

For the Rosé lover, the newly arrived 2022 Domaines Ott Château de Selle Côtes de Provence ($59.99), mentioned in last week's email, is still in stock as well as the rest of our Rosés which can be found on our Refreshing Summer Rosé link on our Home Page.

If you are headed to the butcher and searching for that perfect steak, then red wine is on the menu. For those of you who like big and bold, the 2020 Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($89.99) is where you want to land. If structure and a delicate style is more your speed, then the 2022 Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($56.99) is your target wine. This Pinot Noir enjoys a floral aroma and flavors of bright cherry and earthiness all leading into a lengthy finish.

Saturday Wine Tasting: Please join us Saturday July 2nd 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2020 La Perriere Sancerre ($31.99) and the 2018 Château Mayne Vieil ($15.99).

If you are unable to join us you can find any of the wines we pour at our weekly tastings on the Tasting link on our Home Page

Hours for 4th of July Weekend

Please note our hours for the holiday weekend:

Friday 10:00-6:00PM
Saturday 10:00-6:00PM
Sunday 12:00-4:00PM (No Deliveries)
Monday (July 4th) CLOSED
Francos will reopen Tuesday July 5th at 10:00AM

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2021 Domaines Ott Château de Selle

The warm weather is here and rosé season has started offering a respite on hot summer evenings. While there are many wonderful rosés from which to choose, the Domaines Ott is the one everyone wants and the wait is over!

The roots of this historic estate go back to 1896 when Marcel Ott traveled to Provence and purchased several estates with the determination to create great Provencal wines from noble grape varieties. Today, 126 years later, Jean Francois Ott carries on the family tradition of dedicating their life to their ancestor's love for the land.

Today we are going to focus on a wine from one particular property, the 2022 Domaines Ott Château de Selle Côtes de Provence ($59.99). This particular estate was acquired by Marcel Ott in 1912 and the soil is a mix of gypsum, red clay, dolomite, and sandstone all in gravel and stone. The estate enjoys a microclimate of mild winters, early springs and warm, dry summers with plenty of sunshine. The growing conditions combined with the various grape varieties are what bring the magic to this highly rated Rosé. It is the Grenache grape which provides this wine with its exquisite pale pink color; Cinsault gives the wine its delicate softness and Syrah and Mouvedre usher in the expressive fruit flavor. Whether you are packing up for some time at the shore, heading to the park for a summer concert, or simply enjoying a night in the back yard, the 2022 Domaines Ott Château de Selle Côtes de Provence ($59.99) is the wine that will add summertime magic to the most humble of evenings.

You can find this wine on both our Refreshing Summer Rosé and New Arrivals links as well as hear about it in this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute, all found on our Home Page.

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please join us Saturday, June 25th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2021 Planet Oregon Pinot Noir ($23.99) and a Burgundian white, the 2020 William Fevre Saint Bris ($24.99).

If you are unable to join us you can find any of the wines we pour at our weekly tastings on the Tastings link on our Home Page.

Weekend Hours for June 25th/26th.

Francos Wine Merchants will be open regular hours on Saturday June 25th, but FRANCOS WILL BE CLOSED Sunday June 26th.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Father's Day Favorites at Francos

Father's Day is upon us and some Dads enjoy their wine and some Dads enjoy their bourbon, but no matter what is his beverage of choice, Francos Wine Merchants has it on sale for Father's Day.

If Dad's play is to enjoy his day out by the grill with a mouthwatering Ribeye or T-bone steak, then a delicious red wine is in order. If Dad prefers the full, bold flavor of a Napa Valley Cabernet, then our top choice would be the limited release of the 2020 Dominus Napanook ($99.99). Christian Moueix has hit another home run with the yearly favorite. Enjoy a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with a small amount of Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot. Of course, the classic 2020 Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($89.99) never disappoints. Their signature style delivers a wine with deep, dark colors, ripe fruit and velvety tannins. Of course this year you cannot ignore the newly arrived 2016 Bordeaux, and the 2019 Château Gloria Saint Julien ($59.99) is a standout. Receiving a 93 rating from Robert Parker, this wine sings with a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petite Verdot. But be sure to browse our 2016 Bordeaux link on our Home Page for the complete list of our 2016 arrivals.

If Dad is a whiskey drinker, Francos has you covered whether it is Bourbon, Rye or Scotch. Basil Hayden has a variety of whiskies including their Basil Hayden Kentucky Straight Bourbon ($48.99), Basil Hayden Toast Bourbon ($52.99), Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke Bourbon ($52.99) or their rye, Basil Hayden 10 Year Aged Rye ($73.99). If you are looking for something really special, check out the newly arrived Doc Swinson's Alter Ego Triple Cask Bourbon ($64.99) and the Rare Perfection 14 Year Old ($169.99). See the entire list of bourbon and rye on our Small Batch American Whiskey link, and for those Dads who are scotch lovers, check out our Single Malt Scotch.

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please join us this Saturday June 18th as we pour the 2018 Paul Hobbs River Valley Chardonnay ($53.99) and the 2022 Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($56.99) — two wines perfect for Father's Day.

If you are unable to join us you can find any of the wines we pour at our weekly tastings on the Tastings link on our Home Page.

June Hours

Francos Wine Merchants will be open the following hours for June 2022:

Tuesday - Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday 12:00PM-4:00PM (No deliveries)
Francos will be closed on Mondays
Local orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will not be delivered until the following Tuesday, but will be available for in-store pick up on Sunday.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2019 Napanook — The Magic of Christian Moueix

In the world of wine, few have had the experience of Christian Moueix. His record in both the old and new world is unparalleled with over fifty years of experience producing in Bordeaux and thirty eight years in Napa.

Christian Moueix, son of the legendary Jean-Pierre Moueix, completed his Agricultural Engineering studies in Paris and graduate studies in viticulture and enology at the University of California, Davis. Upon finishing his studies he returned to France to manage his family's many chateaux, including Pétrus. Fast-forward to 1983, when Christian began his work at the historic Napanook Vineyard producing both Dominus and Napanook from this estate at the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains.

Today we feature his 2020 Dominus Napanook ($99.99). This wine is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with about 10% of the blend being both Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This wine first greets you with punctuated notes of marjoram and candied orange peel that rise from the glass. Once in the mouth, flavors of earth and dark tobacco take root, and the deep red fruit flavors are the perfect segue into the wine's chewy tannins which carry you directly to the finish. We usually only have one shot at this wine every year, so if you are a fan of full-bodied California Cabernets, this is one you do not want to skip.

Also, for those of you who are fans, we have a very limited supply of Christian Moueix 2019 Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($349.99). This wine enjoys an incredibly rich and ripe flavor with notes of blueberry, blackberry and cassis intermixed. The full body, purity and richness is gorgeously lush and voluptuous. Collectors: don't miss out!

2019 William Fevre Chablis Champs Royaux

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please join us this Saturday June 11th 1:00-5:00 PM as we pour the 2019 Colli di Lapio Irpinia Campi Taurasini ($22.99) and the 2019 William Fevre Chablis Champs Royaux ($29.99).

If you are unable to join us you can find any of the wines we pour at our weekly tastings on the Tastings link on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Minute — Please be sure to tune into this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute as we talk about the newly arrived 2019 Bordeaux. You can find our Wine Minute on our Home Page.

June Hours

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2016 Bordeaux Shipment has Arrived!

It has been a long time coming, but our long awaited shipment of 2016 Bordeaux has arrived. This shipment has a large concentration of regions on the left bank of the Gironde river, including Margaux, Paulliac, Saint-Julien, Saint-Estephe, Médoc, etc., so be sure to come take a look.

Visiting the left bank, you can start out with something modest like the 2016 Château Lanessan ($29.99) which is from the Haut-Médoc, or from Saint-Julien the 2019 Château Gloria Saint Julien ($59.99). Hailing from the Médoc, the 2016 Château Potensac Médoc ($35.99) is always worth a look, and going over to Margaux, the 2016 Chateau Brane Cantenac ($109.99) never disappoints.

Also represented, for you collectors, are the upper tier Châteaux such as the 2016 Château Lynch Bages ($214.99), the 2016 Château Montrose Saint Estèphe ($279.99) or the 2016 Chateau Haut-Bailly ($189.99).

So we invite you to stop in this weekend and browse through our collection, or you can quickly view our complete inventory online by clicking on the 2016 Bordeaux link on our Home Page.

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please Join us Saturday June 4th 1:00-5:00 PM, as we pour the 2021 Iris Vinyards Pinot Noir ($22.99) and for a white wine we have the 2022 Colli di Lapio Fiano di Avellino ($19.99).

If you are unable to join us you can find any of the wines we pour at our weekly tastings on the Tastings link on our Home Page.

June Hours

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Bourgeois Sancerre Pinot Noir Rosé — Gateway to Summer

Memorial Day is upon us; the gateway to summer is open, and it's the perfect time to start enjoying the wines of the season. While there are many wines we can enjoy in the warmer weather, today we focus on a Rosé from the Loire Valley in France.

For 10 generations the Bourgeois family has been committed to cultivating vines in the Loire. However, it was not until the 1950s when Henri Bourgeois started to experiment with growing vines in areas that, until then, were unknown to the world of wine in the Loire. He started to farm hectares of slopes in Chavignol while developing partnerships with other families in the region of Sancerre. Henri was joined by his sons Jean-Marie and Rémi by the 1960s, and today Arnaud, Lional and Jean-Christophe Bourgeois are at the helm and "Famille Bourgeois" is now a name synonymous with Sancerre.

You can find this wine on our Refreshing Summer Rosé link as well as hear about it in this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute, both located on our Home Page.

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please Join us Saturday May 28th 1:00-5:00PM as we pour the 2022 Bourgeois Sancerre Rosé Les Jeunes Vignes ($22.99) and a delicious red from Saint Emilion, the 2016 Château Haut Plaisance ($19.99).

If you are unable to join us you can find any of the wines we pour at our tastings on the Tastings link on our Home Page.

Memorial Day Weekend Hours

Francos Wine Merchants will be open the following hours for the Memorial Day Weekend:

Friday 10:00AM-6:00PM
Saturday 10:00AM-6:00PM
Sunday 12:00PM-4:00PM
Monday (Memorial Day) CLOSED
Francos Wine Merchants will reopen Tuesday at 10:00AM.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Derby Day Bourbon Selections from Francos

The 148th Running of the Kentucky Derby is this Saturday and whether you are a year round thoroughbred horse fan, or just one on Derby Day — it's hard not to join the festivities without a celebratory glass of Kentucky Bourbon or fabulously refreshing Mint Julep in hand. If you have never looked over Francos Wine Merchants' selection of bourbons, here are a few of our favorites.

For those of you who go the traditional route, the Run for the Roses starts and ends with Four Roses Bourbon from one of the oldest distilleries in Kentucky. The Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon ($44.99) enjoys mellow spice, rich fruit and hints of oak and caramel. Or you can take to the inside with the Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon ($49.99) which enjoys a complex, full-bodied flavor that is surprisingly smooth with a delicate, long mellow finish.

Sticking with the traditional, the bourbons from Basil Hayden never disappoint. The classic Basil Hayden Kentucky Straight Bourbon ($48.99) boasts a unique blend of corn and rye while the Basil Hayden Toast Bourbon ($52.99) enjoys a new mashbill using brown rice which adds a hint of sweetness and an increased depth of flavor that comes from secondary aging in a toasted flash-charred oak barrel. The Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke Bourbon ($52.99) takes you to a new level using the same mash bill Basil Hayden loyalists know and love, but they then implement secondary aging to delivery a unique bourbon with layered flavors and refined hint of smoke.

For those of you who wish to stray from the traditional, some of the bourbons outside of Kentucky may be of interest, and we have two from here in Connecticut. The Litchfield Distillery Batchers Bourbon ($49.99) is distilled in Litchfield, Connecticut from locally grown grain and enjoys a wonderful vanilla/butterscotch flavor. The Sono 1420 BBN Bourbon ($69.99) is distilled in South Norwalk, Connecticut and enjoys a mash bill of 75% corn, %15 Rye and 10% Hemp seed. This produces a light and floral nose with nuances of honeysuckle and hints of dried cherry.

You can see a complete list of all our bourbon as well as the rest of our American Whiskeys on the Small Batch American Whiskey link on our Home Page.

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please Join us this Saturday May 7th 1:00-5:00PM for our Weekly Wine Tasting. This week we will be pouring a red wine from Sicily, the 2019 Planeta Cerasuolo di Vittoria ($19.99) and for a white wine we have the 2022 Jean Paul Brun Beaujolais Blanc Chardonnay ($18.99) from France. If you are unable to join us you can find any of the wines we pour at our Tastings link on our Home Page.

Spring Hours

Francos Wine Merchants will be operating the following hours for Spring 2022:

Tuesday - Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Francos will be closed on Sundays & Mondays
Local orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will not be delivered until the following Tuesday.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre Rouge - Uncork the Loire

Traveling southwest of Paris you find yourself in the Loire; this picturesque region is home to many wine-making villages. The most famous region in the Loire is the region of Sancerre. While mostly known for its white wines, today we are going to explore a red wine from the Domaine Hippolyte Reverdy.

Hippolyte Reverdy's family has been making wine in a small commune of Sancerre in the village of Verdigny located in the eastern Loire. Dating back to the 1600s, the Reverdy family has been planting vines in the Loire for many generations; the domain eventually came into the capable hands of Michel Reverdy who heads it now.

Today our focus is on a red wine produced in the region mostly known for their white wines, the 2019 Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre Rouge ($29.99). This red wine is made from 100% Pinot Noir grape from an area of the vineyard where the vines have an average age of 30 years. Being a Kermit Lynch Import (they are noted for only working with vineyards who work in some kind of natural method) the vineyards here are farmed sustainably with the grapes being entirely de-stemmed before fermentation and the wine bottled unfiltered with no added sulfites. The results of all this careful farming shines through as you pour this wine into the glass. The cherry red color is bright and inviting with flavors of vibrant red fruit greeting the palate. An elegant silkiness glides the first sip into the mouth easing you into a gentle finish. As your favorite cooking shows and food blogs start to bring forth their spring recipes, the 2019 Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre Rouge ($29.99) is the wine you will want as an accompaniment.

You can find this wine on our New Arrivals link as well as hear about it in this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute, both located on our Home Page.

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please Join us this Saturday April 30th 1:00-5:00PM for our Weekly Wine Tasting where we will be tasting the 2019 Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre Rouge ($29.99) along with a delicious French Sauvignon Blanc, the 2020 William Fevre Saint Bris ($24.99).

If you are unable to join us you can find any of the wines we pour at our tastings on the Tastings link on our Home Page.

Spring Hours

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2018 Faiveley Nuits Saint Georges - Where Burgundy Begins

Traveling back to Burgundy this week we will focus on their reds, specifically, the village of Nuits-Saint-Georges and the producer Domaine Faiveley.

Founded in 1825 by Pierre Faiveley, this native born cobbler worked simultaneously on both being a cobbler and the wine merchant business until 1840 when he decided to invest all this time and energy to his wine business. Passing thru several generations, today the domaine is run by Erwan Faiveley and his sister Eve. Wine values run deep in the Faiveley family blood and its values have remained unchanged thru seven generations mostly due to the instinctive passion for the vines and the terroirs.

While the reach of their wines is vast, today we present to you a wine that is a bedrock of their portfolio, the 2018 Faiveley Nuits Saint Georges ($74.99). This Nuit-Saint-Georges derives from over three hectares of vineyards owned by the Faiveley house. This wine offers up an initial greeting of an intense garnet red hue that shimmers in the glass. Once you give the wine a swirl, aromas of fruit, oak and spice rise up to greet the olfactory senses. The velvety tannins swim among the red fruit flavors in the mouth as the superb balance hugs a solid core. This wine is a textbook example of how Pinot Noir from the Burgundian region of Nuits-Saint-George keeps you right on track until you reach the seductive, delicate finish. So as your Spring recipes start to come into focus, the 2018 Faiveley Nuits Saint Georges ($74.99) is the wine you want on your table. You can find this wine on the New Arrivals link on our Home Page.

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please Join us this Saturday April 23rd 1:00-5:00PM for our Weekly Wine Tasting. This week we will be pouring a terrific white wine, the 2020 Vérizet Viré Clessé ($18.99), and for you red wine drinkers we have the 2020 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhône ($29.99). If you are unable to join us you can find both of these wines on the Tastings link on our Home Page.

Spring Hours

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Mâconnais Madness - The Wines of Dominique Lafon

2020 Les Heritiers du Comte Lafon Macon Prisse

2020 Les Heritiers du Comte Lafon Saint Veran

Traveling through the south of Burgundy the main attraction is the Mâconnais district. Taking its name from the village of Mâcon, this region is west of the Saône river and is mostly known for the white wines the region produces.

Visiting the Mâconnais it's impossible to not come across Dominique Lafon and his domaine Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon. Founded in 1999, Dominique first invested in the higher altitude, old vine parcels and then turned to sustainable farming methods so this land could reach its full potential.

Today we have three of his Chardonnays from some of his most select vineyard sites in the Mâconnais. All these wines have a noted crispness to them that is representative of the region which makes them a great pairing for all seafood and shellfish as well as ceviche and cheeses.

2020 Les Heritiers du Comte Lafon Pouilly Fuisse en Chatenay

Starting off we have the 2020 Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon Macon Prisse ($32.99). This white wine comes from a vineyard site in the Macon where the soil is a clay-limestone mix. This gives the wine a fleshy, bright flavor with nuances of citrus, melon and apple. Going up the ladder a bit, we find the 2020 Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon Saint Véran ($42.99). This wine is also from a site where the vines are at least 25 years old and showcase a true flavor of both fruit and terroir. Showing off a medium weight, this wine enjoys a nice lemon-tinged acidity leading you into a satiny palate and a vibrant, mineral finish. Rounding out this trio is the 2020 Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon Pouilly Fuisse en Chatenay ($54.99). The vines at this site are 50+ years in age and the well-established fruit make a definite impression in this bottle. This wine greets you with a crisp, clear hue of stunning yellow immediately followed by notes of white flower and toasted nuts. This full-bodied wine is elegant and textured and the racy acids bring you directly to the solid core.

You can find all three of these wines from Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon on the New Arrivals link as well as hear about them in this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute.

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please Join us this Saturday 1:00-5:00PM for our Weekly Wine Tasting. This week we will be tasting a fabulous Bordeaux from Fronsac, the 2018 Château La Vielle Cure ($36.99), and Burgundy, the 2019 William Fevre Chablis Champs Royaux ($29.99). If you cannot join us you can find both of these wines on the Tastings link on our Home Page.

Spring Hours

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Bergström Cumberland Reserve - Willamette Winner

As the warmer weather starts to greet us our spring menus begin to take focus. If you are a lover of the firm and delicate structure of a Pinot Noir, you definitely should acquaint yourself with the Bergström family.

The Bergström story begins with John Bergström who grew up in a small agricultural and logging village in northern Sweden. As a teenager he set out for Oregon in search of the American dream which brought him through medical school where he became a successful surgeon. After meeting his wife Karen and raising five children in his new homeland, John decided to return to his agricultural roots and pursue his dreams of owning a vineyard and eventually founded Bergström Wines. Today the vineyards consist of five biodynamic estate vineyards that span across the Willamette Valley's best appellations, crafting wines that are very much in the Burgundian style.

Today our focus is on the 2019 Bergström Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir ($41.99). This pinot noir is an artistic blending from their five estate farmed properties which highlights the fresh fruit character, sweet spices and warm earthiness that the Willamette Valley is best known for. Dark and vibrant, this cherry colored wine has explosive aromas of dark cherries, black currant and blueberries. The silky mouthfeel and mouthwatering finish will have you dreaming of how it will pair with the melody of spring recipes that will be gracing our dinner tables.

For those of you who wish to climb the ladder a bit, the 2017 Bergström Silice Pinot Noir ($82.99) is worth a look. This upper tier wine from Bergström has a deep and vibrant ruby red color, a youthful violet hue, and a bouquet of candied fruit, warm spices and savory herbs which rise up from the glass. The Bergström Silice has flavors of just-ripe berries that are bursting with juicy acidity, yet not over-ripe or jammy. The firm structure is enhanced by the complex nuances of smoke, spice and exotic wood. This is a fresh and vibrant pinot noir with a solid core of sweet fruit flavors.

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please Join us this Saturday 1:00-5:00PM as we taste the 2019 Bergström Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir ($41.99) along with a terrific white wine from the Loire, the 2020 La Perriere Sancerre ($31.99). If you are unable to join us you can find these wines on our Tastings link on our Home Page.

Spring Hours

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Saturday Wine Tastings Return with Colli di Lapio

Francos Wine Merchants is happy to announce the return of our Saturday Wine Tasting. We will celebrate this return with a visit to Southern Italy, specifically the vineyard of Colli di Lapio in the region of Campania.

This young estate was founded in 1994 where Owner-winemaker Clelia Romano and her daughter Carmela produce textbook examples of the signature grapes of Campania. The windblown slopes of Campania's mountains are home to some of the most spectacular vineyards in Italy. Combine that with the calcareous clay-rich soil. The warm climate and their practice of organic farming and hand harvesting have all help elevate these wines to the next level.

Starting off with their white wine, we have the 2022 Colli di Lapio Fiano di Avellino ($19.99). You are first greeted by this wine with its vibrant, straw-yellow color in the glass soon followed by aromatics of peach, nuts and white flowers. Once in the mouth the flavor is rich and soft leading you directly into a fresh, long finish that lingers on the tongue long after it's gone. This wine would make a great pairing for almost any seafood dish as well as many of your white meat recipes and is a perfect choice for an Italian white.

For you lovers of full-bodied red wine, if you have not familiarized yourself with the Agliancio grape the 2019 Colli di Lapio Irpinia Campi Taurasini ($22.99) is a terrific place to start. Grown at their vineyard site in Irpinia, this wine enjoys intense aromas of raspberry jam with nuances of black fruit. In the mouth the full and elegant palate enjoys hints of white pepper around a core of grippy tannins. This wine pairs well with rich meats with a high fat content such as a traditional beef braciola dinner. If you are fan of earth-driven, rustic Italian wines, this is the wine you want to try.

You can find these wines on both our New Arrivals and Organic & Naturally Produce Wines list as well as hear about them in this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute.

Saturday Wine Tasting — Please join us as we welcome the return of our Saturday Wine Tastings. We will have both the 2022 Colli di Lapio Fiano di Avellino ($19.99) and the 2019 Colli di Lapio Irpinia Campi Taurasini ($22.99) open this Saturday April 2nd 1:00-5:00PM. Please stop by and see us. If you are unable to join us you can find these wines on our Tastings link.

Spring Hours

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Flowers Winery — Perfect for Spring

Spring has officially arrived this week and all it takes is a few degrees of warmth to change our mood. Warmer temperatures can also cause some horticultural madness in that we start to see the early spring flowers attracting our attention as we pass the nursery and gardening centers. While the crocus and forsythia have started to bloom, Francos Wine Merchants has some blossoms of its own with the magnificent wines of Flowers Vineyard & Winery.

For those of you unfamiliar with Flowers Vineyard & Winery, you have to go back to 1989 when Walt and Joan Flowers purchased 321 acres on California's Sonoma Coast. Up until then they had been nursery owners in Bucks County Pennsylvania, but decided to put their success in the nursery trade and their knowledge of plants and growing climates to work in the wine industry by founding Flowers Vineyard & Winery.

One of their prized wines is the 2022 Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($54.99) which uses organic and sustainable farming practices. They carefully nurture this particular vineyard which enjoys the Pacific coast's bright sunny days, cool evening breezes and chilly evening fog — all of which ensures proper ripening, lively acidity and freshness of their fruit. The wine itself shows off a light straw hue along with expressive aromas of citrus zest and honeysuckle. On the palate the aromas are heightened by well-balanced minerality and textural salinity very much influenced by the Pacific Ocean. While the 2022 Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($54.99) will pair nicely with a delicious piece of halibut or swordfish, if you roast a chicken with the spring herbs of the season, you'd have a smashing spring pairing.

From there we go to the 2022 Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($56.99). Also benefiting from the same cool breezes and climate being on the coast of the Pacific, and from organic and sustainable farming, the Flowers Pinot Noir boasts a deep garnet color and aromas of cherry, spice and a pronounced flavor of red currants and cranberries all representing the best of what the vineyards of Sonoma Coast have to offer. Flowers Pinot Noir greets you with bright flavors of crushed fruit along with a gentle earthiness that carries through the core of this wine and extending into a lengthy finish. So as you take clean off the patio for the season, the 2022 Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($56.99) will pair perfectly with that first steak off the grill.

You can find both of these wines on the Organic & Naturally Produce Wines link on our Home Page.

Spring Hours

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Paul Hobbs Russian River Chardonnay — Sonoma's Gem

For over thirty years Paul Hobbs Winery has been making people take notice of California's Russian River Valley in Sonoma County.

Founded in 1991 it was not long before Paul Hobbs became known for his innovative work as a winemaker and his advances in sustainable farming. His knowledge of farming came from growing up on his 150 acre family farm in Upstate New York. The experiences of his youth led him into the wine industry and where he made the rounds working for various vineyards honing his skills as a winemaker before eventually striking out on his own.

All this brings us to our feature wine of the week, the 2018 Paul Hobbs River Valley Chardonnay ($53.99). This vineyard site is bordered by the Pacific ocean on one side and the Mayacamas Mountain range on the other side. This means that all day long the grapes soak up the heat and the sunshine; then at night they enjoy a gentle cooldown as the fog and the coastal breeze moves in. This unique micro-climate helps produce a Chardonnay that is bright and vibrant in the glass with lush flavors of white peach and with notes of almond and herbs on the nose. This wine's silky palate also enjoys a balanced, natural acidity that leads you directly into a long, lingering finish. The 2018 Paul Hobbs River Valley Chardonnay ($53.99) is the perfect wine as we start to transition from our winter to spring menus.

You can find the 2018 Paul Hobbs River Valley Chardonnay ($53.99) as one of our March Cellar Specials as well as hear about it in this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute, all located on our Home Page.

Winter Hours

Francos Wine Merchants will be operating the following hours for Winter 2022:

Tuesday - Saturday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Francos will be closed on Sundays & Mondays
Local orders received after the Saturday cutoff time will not be delivered until the following Tuesday.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Saint-Bris is Back!

After a long absence, one of our most popular wines of last season has made a return: the 2020 William Fevre Saint Bris ($24.99). While Burgundy is home of the Chardonnay grape, there are a handful of exceptions and one such exception comes from William Fèvre in the appellation of Saint-Bris which grows Sauvignon Blanc grape.

First a little background: the year was 1959 when William Fèvre declared his first crop and marked the birth of this domain. William Fèvre was a descendent of a family who had lived in the region for over 250 years. Starting off with a modest 7 hectares of vineyards, over the years the domain grew to 78 hectares and 90 separate parcels. To preserve their environment, the vineyards are carefully managed by limiting yields, hand harvesting, and the biggest factor being cultivating their organic farming methods over the years.

William Fèvre retired in 1998, but the domain was taken over by Joseph Henriot and under his formidable team headed by winemaker Didier Sequier, they have continued the Fèvre philosophy.

All this brings us to our featured wine, the 2020 William Fevre Saint Bris ($24.99). This wine is made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grape and has a fresh and intense bouquet. Round on the palate, it has an exquisite lightness with delicate notes of black currant and boxwood. Clean and silky in the mouth, this wine will lead you into a crisp and satisfying finish. While terrific with grilled fish, seafood and oysters, this wine will also pair perfectly with a simple charcuterie board or travel all the way up the ladder to scallops in a lemon/saffron cream sauce.

You can find the 2020 William Fevre Saint Bris ($24.99) as one of our March Cellar Specials located on our Home Page.

Winter Hours

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Discover Domaine Eden

South of San Francisco in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains we find the home of Domaine Eden. Purchased by Mount Eden Estates in 2007, the vineyards of Domaine Eden were founded and built by the late Tom Mudd in 1983 when it was the former Cinnabar Winery. Now under the Domaine Eden label, this winery has a major focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Even though Mount Eden and Domaine Eden are just a few miles apart, the wines here are quite different, mostly due to the soil makeup and their small micro-climates.

Heading directly into the Saratoga Foothills in Santa Cruz, we find the 2019 Domaine Eden Chardonnay ($29.99). Domaine Eden's Chardonnay offers up wonderful flavors of smoke and dried pear with a hint of toasted nuts. Supple and polished on the palate, this wine is noted for its purity, freshness and rock-solid finish. It has a solid Burgundian style and thus would make a perfect pairing with your favorite roast chicken recipe. Another exceptional pairing would be a grilled swordfish in a creamy lemon/butter sauce. But no matter what your food taste, the 2019 Domaine Eden Chardonnay ($29.99) has much to offer.

If steak is on the menu and you aren't the type to shy away from making your way out to the grill on a winter night, you may want to consider the 2019 Domaine Eden Pinot Noir ($43.99). Expressing the true style of Pinot Noir grown in the the Santa Cruz Mountains, this wine greets you with a classic ruby color and red cherry nose. Flavors of black currants, spices and dried herbs are all framed in its delicate palate leading you into a gentle and lasting finish. The 2019 Domaine Eden Pinot Noir ($43.99) offers up a lot of flavor considering its modest price.

You can find both the 2019 Domaine Eden Chardonnay ($29.99) and the 2019 Domaine Eden Pinot Noir ($43.99) on our website as well as hear about them in this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute located on our Home Page.

Winter Hours

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Under $20 Bordeaux are Back

Our best-selling wines from last fall are back! We just received another shipment of our Under $20 Bordeaux and they are all on sale at Francos Wine Merchants.

While Bordeaux often conjures up thoughts of higher end wines from the many famous regions and chateaux of France, there are plenty of modest wines that we can enjoy as we explore and familiarize ourselves with the region.

Our journey starts off in the region of Saint-Emilion on the right bank of the Gironde river. Here we find the appellation of Fronsac right at the estuary of this famous river which is the home of the 2018 Château Mayne Vieil ($15.99). This merlot-based wine has minimal barrel aging which allows it to show off flavors of raspberry and black currant that are fresh and plush.

Travelling due west of Fronsac, we come to Puisseguin Saint-Emilion in the northern part of the region which is home to the 2018 Château Fongaban ($17.99). This biodynamic wine is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc and shows off brooding dark fruit flavors as well as depth and complexity.

From the eastern end of this region near Perigord comes the 2019 Château de Parenchère ($16.99). This full-flavored Merlot based wine has lively fruit notes along with classic earthy nuances displaying intense red fruit aromas of cassis and black cherry. There is a notable balance between the ripe fruit expression and the elegant soft tannins.

All four of these wines will make excellent pairings for your end of winter menus and are perfect for enjoying in front of the fire as we dream of the spring weather that is hopefully around the corner. You can find all these wines on the New Arrivals link on our Home Page.

Winter Hours

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Clos du Moulin Aux Moines Bourgogne — Burgundy under $30

2019 Clos du Moulin Aux Moines Bourgogne Aux Seurrets

Burgundy is known for its small domaines and vineyard plots as they are as much of its history as are the grapes and villages. Both large producers and small independent producers coexist side by side throughout Burgundy, and today we are going to set our sights on one of the smaller producers.

Moulin Aux Moines is located in the heart of the Cote de Beaune, specifically in the village of Auxey Duresses. Owned by the Abbey of Cluny in the 10th century, this domaine was purchased by the Andrieu Family in 2008. Since purchasing the domaine, the Andrieu family's focus has been on restoring the ancestral values of these legendary wines by returning to the organic and biodynamic principles on which the domaine was founded.

All this brings us to our featured wine, the 2019 Clos du Moulin Aux Moines Bourgogne Aux Seurrets ($28.99). The Aux Seurrets is from a vineyard in the village of Pommard from vines planted in the 1970s. The age of these 50 year old vines is what helps produce the earthy undertones found in this Bourgogne. As you pour this wine into the glass, aromas of red cherry fruit and notes of cocoa rise up to greet your olfactory senses. This complex Bourgogne is braced by balanced acidity all framed by firm and finely tuned tannins. Don't let the modest price fool you; this wine drinks well above its price point and is perfect for so many of your winter night menus.

You can find the 2019 Clos du Moulin Aux Moines Bourgogne Aux Seurrets ($28.99) as one of our February Cellar Specials. You can also hear about this wine in this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute. Those of you wishing to go up the ladder a rung or two can find some of the Clos du Moulin Aux Moines Monopoles and Premier Crus on our New Arrivals link, located on our Home Page.

Winter Hours

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Super Bowl Sunday Supplies at Francos

Whether you are a Rams fan, a Bengals fan or a commercial fan, Super Bowl Sunday is your day. Much like the game, anything can happen when it comes to your menu for game day, so best make sure you are stocked up on your Super Bowl Sunday supplies.

Perhaps your crowd enjoys a traditional beef chili while watching the game? Or maybe shake things up with some pregame hamburger sliders. Some of you may even venture from the traditional and set up a taco bar or fancy things up with steak fajitas. If that is the case Francos has a selection of red wines that would be perfect. You can keep things modest with the 2021 Seventy Five Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.99) or go up a tier to the 2018 Honig Cabernet Sauvignon ($59.99). If you are in the mood for something different, you can certainly enjoy the 2019 Muga Reserva Rioja ($32.99) or any of our "Under $20 Bordeaux" which have just come back in stock. This delicious grouping includes the 2018 Château Mayne Vieil ($15.99), the 2019 Château de Parenchère ($16.99), the 2018 Château Fongaban ($17.99) and the 2016 Château Haut Plaisance ($19.99).

If your crowd veers towards the unconventional, your menu may consist of Chicken Chili, Vegetarian Chili or even Fish Tacos. If that is the case a selection of white wines may be what you are serving on the sidelines. The 2020 Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay ($49.99), the 2022 Jean Paul Brun Beaujolais Blanc Chardonnay ($18.99) or the 2023 Henri Bourgeois Les Baronnes Sancerre ($29.99) all would make a great line-up.

No matter what the menu is for the game, the selection at Francos Wine Merchants is one way to make sure you call the right play this Super Bowl Sunday.

Winter Hours

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Discover The Local Craft Distillery of Sono 1420

The American Whiskey market has exploded in recent years, and many of the old favorites have morphed into hard to find "cult" bourbons. While this made finding the old classic ones difficult, it has opened up an avenue for many new artisan distilleries.

SoNo 1420 is a small craft distillery located right in our own backyard on the waterfront in South Norwalk Connecticut. Founder Ted Dumbauld traveled to Kentucky where his interest grew, and then started touring more facilities around the country. Ultimately he ended up at Eight Oak Craft Distillers in Pennsylvania where he interned and learned the intricacies of the distillation process before opening Sono 1420 in South Norwalk, Connecticut.

Today we introduce to you the Sono 1420 BBN Bourbon ($69.99). While technically not a bourbon because the mash bill includes 10% milled hemp seed, the balance of this whiskey is a classic 75% Corn and 15% Rye. This unusual blend produces a whiskey with a very unexpected light and floral nose with nuances of honeysuckle and dried fruit, especially cherry. On the palate, all the classic bourbon flavors of vanilla, cinnamon and honey are present. But instead of trailing off to the usual butterscotch/caramel finish, the flavor journey takes a turn towards an interesting nutty flavor. The Sono 1420 BBN Bourbon ($69.99) will be a welcome addition to any whiskey collection.

You can find the Sono 1420 BBN Bourbon ($69.99) on our Small Batch American Whiskey link where you will also find it in the Half-Bottle Size — Sono 1420 BBN Bourbon ($34.99). You can also hear about this spirit in this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute — all located on our Home Page.

You may also want to check out the Sono 1420 Vo Vodka ($21.99), distilled from 100% corn.

Winter Hours

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Planet of the Grapes — Planet Oregon Pinot Noir

Wrapping up the first month of 2022 we have touched on regions in France and Italy, so let's head back to the United States to one of our favorite wine destinations, Oregon.

Planet Oregon Winery is located in the Willamette Valley in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Established in 2009, Planet Oregon was founded with a goal to make delicious, environmentally responsible wine at an accessible price. Winemakers James Cahill and Tony Soter continually seek to produce and bottle delicious young Pinot Noir where their actions are healthy not only for the people around them, but also the plants, animals and the planet as a whole — all the while producing a wine worth sharing.

This lands us on their 2021 Planet Oregon Pinot Noir ($23.99). Pouring this wine into the glass releases the nuances of raspberry and cherry that rise up and greet you. Once in the mouth the layers of complexity are laced with dusky spice and black tea. Supple and versatile, this wine shows a firm core of bright acid complemented by subtle spice notes, balanced tannins and a juicy finish. Certified sustainably grown, this classic Oregon Pinot Noir also offers up flavors of Bing cherry, tart cranberries and the classic Oregon strawberries. Pair this up with a delicious roast chicken or duck, or perhaps a slow roasted or grilled salmon, and you are in Pinot Noir heaven.

You can find the 2021 Planet Oregon Pinot Noir ($23.99) on our New Arrivals link on our Home Page.

Winter Hours

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Catina Sociale di Gattinara — Comfort Wine for you Comfort Food

2019 Cantina Sociale de Gattinara Vino Rosso

January is here and time for comfort foods and casual wines to take center stage as we slip into the cold, snowy nights of winter. While classic comfort foods come from many regions, we can all agree that many of our favorites are from Italy, so why not pair your favorite pasta and tomato dishes with an equally comfortable Italian wine.

Catina Sociale di Gattinara is a "social cellar" of forty wine growing families founded in 1908 in the centuries old city of Gattinara. The winery owners in this northern region have given the regional wine growing families a steady path to continued independence and stewardship of their lands by combining resources to produce exceptional wines. The forty families that comprise this particular Catina Sociale each care for their own tiny plots which total over 15 hectares of vines that thrive in the pure, volcanic soils in the hills of Alto Piedmont.

One of the wines produced is the 2019 Cantina Sociale de Gattinara Vino Rosso ($19.99). Comprised exclusively of grapes grown in the Alto Piedmont, their Vino Rosso is predominantly Nebbiolo grape blended with other local, indigenous grapes. Hand harvesting and aging in Slavonian casks lends to the enticing aroma its tobacco nose, highlighted with hints of cedar. On the palate you are greeted with flavors of red and black berries that instantly dazzle the tongue. From there the wine leads you directly into a gentle finish of firm tannins. This effort from Canina Sociale di Gattinara is a proud example of their 100+ years of production.

Pair the 2019 Cantina Sociale de Gattinara Vino Rosso ($19.99) with any classic Italian meal such as Lasagne Bolognese or perhaps a meal with a nuovo twist such as Mushroom Parmigiana. You can find this wine as one of our January Cellar Specials as well as hear about it in this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute — both of which can be found on our Home Page.

Winter Hours

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Slip into January with Château de Parenchère

The post-holiday blues have arrived; you are still writing 2021 on your checks. The bathroom scale taunts you daily and the family has abandoned all interest in the now dying Christmas tree. But fear not; you can still come home from work to a nice, warm dinner accompanied by a glass of wine, comfortable in both price and taste.

Bordeaux Supérieur is an appellation tier made within the Bordeaux and, as the name implies, the wines are slightly "superior" to your standard Bordeaux AOC wines. They are generally not aged that long in the barrel and therefore often offer an easy-drinking profile. These wines feature the grapes of Bordeaux, relying mainly on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with smaller amounts of Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc.

All this brings us to one of our featured wines for January, the 2019 Château de Parenchère ($16.99). Located about 25 miles from Saint-Emilion, near where the Dordogne flows into the Gironde, the property that comprises the 2019 Château de Parenchère ($16.99) rises in the heart of a green and hilly landscape. The terroir in this Bordeaux region is composed of mostly clay and limestone, and it is the high clay content which explains the power of the wines produced there. The foundation of this estate was laid in 1570 but was most recently renovated in 1958 by Raphael Gazaniol and today is in the hands of his son Jean and granddaughter Julia demonstrating that great wines can come from lesser-known terroirs.

The vineyards are planted with several varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Among the wines they produce, the 2019 Château de Parenchère ($16.99) is one of the classic cuvées of the estate. The wine is sourced from 25 year old vines and this is one of the major factors that make this full and fleshy wine so inviting. This wine displays intense red fruit aromas of cassis and black cherry that are balanced out by elegant, soft tannins. The ripe fruit expression and the wine's bright freshness add to its appeal as an easy drinking crowd pleaser. This wine is built for simple dishes that populate our winter menus.

You can find the 2019 Château de Parenchère ($16.99) as one of our January Cellar Specials on our Home Page.

Winter Hours

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Ring in the New Year's with the Most popular Champagnes of the season

The week leading up to New Year's Eve always seems to go by quickly, and you don't want to be caught short. If you still are in need of Champagne to ring in the New Year, Francos Wine Merchants has your selection at hand.

If you want to ring in 2022 in style, then the 2013 Dom Perignon ($299.99) is how to do it. This expressive vintage offers up aromas of crisp green apple, peach and yeasty hints of freshly baked bread. The moderately concentrated fruit core is soft and round with ripe acids and a subtle saline finish. The 2010 vintage garnered a 92 point rating from Robert Parker and is ready to enjoy now.

If Rosé champagnes are your choice, the Laurent Perrier Cuvée Rosé Brut ($84.99) is one champagne on which to set your focus. Bursting with notes of red berry, apples, blood orange and pomegranate, this wine is full-bodied and vinous. The core of ripe acids leads you into a gentle and elegant finish. Also of note is the Ruinart Rosé ($109.99) which has a vibrant style offering up aromas of tangerine, plum and brioche. This champagne is already showing well and its medium to full-bodied weight makes it a perfect wine to celebrate the season.

Without a doubt, the Pol Roger Reserve Brut Champagne ($69.99) has been our biggest seller of the season for a non-vintage champagne. The beautiful straw gold hue sparkles in the fine bubbles of this terrific Champagne. The attractive nose of pear and mango leads into the light flavors of honeysuckle and white jasmine. Once in the mouth the bolder flavors of vanilla and brioche enter in a seamless harmony along with a pleasant freshness all while preserving the structure of this fine wine.

You can see our complete selection by clicking on the Champagne link on our Home Page as well as our Prosecco & Other Sparkling Wine link to view our other sparkling selections.

Holiday Hours

Francos Wine Merchants will be operating the following hours through New Year's:

Monday - Thursday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Friday December 31st (New Year's Eve) 9:00AM - 5:00PM
January 1st, 2nd & 3rd - CLOSED. Francos will be closed for a Post-Holiday Shutdown and we will reopen Tuesday January 4th at 10:00AM.

The Staff at Francos Wine Merchants wishes all our customers the best for 2022.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Last Minute Holiday Gift Suggestions from Francos

We are coming down to the wire, but for those of you who still have some shopping to finish up Francos is at the ready with gift suggestions for the wine and spirits lovers on your gift list.

Last week we had the spotlight on red wines and this week we'd like to highlight some of the fabulous white wines in our inventory. There is no better place to start than Burgundy where we find the 2019 Jadot Meursault Charmes ($109.99). This Premier Cru white Burgundy shows off notes of pear and apple followed by notes of ripe citrus. The mid-palate density of this wine delivers fine length finishing off with a touch of acacia blossoms in the mouth. If a California Chardonnay is more your style, you can travel to Napa Valley and enjoy the toasted nuts flavors and mouthwatering finish of the 2022 Far Niente Chardonnay ($69.99), or travel to the Russian River Valley in Sonoma where the 2018 Paul Hobbs River Valley Chardonnay ($53.99) lies in wait with its rich and fresh bright fruit flavors rife with nuances that only a coastal climate vineyard can produce. For those of you who need a Chardonnay a little more down to earth, definitely set your sights on the 2020 Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay ($49.99) from Napa or the 2022 Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($54.99).

Whether you are in need of something to end the holiday dinner or something fabulous for the collector on your gift list you cannot go wrong with Port. The 2003 Taylor Fladgate ($99.99) and the 2011 Taylor Fladgate ($104.99) are two outstanding vintages from this flagship port house. You can also explore the Port from Fonseca with the 2003 Fonseca ($96.99), or if you are having a large gathering the 2003 Fonseca ($288.99) in the Magnum (1.5 Liter) size will definitely wow the dinner table. You can view our entire collection by clicking on the Port link on our Home Page.

Our Holiday Hours

Francos Wine Merchants will be open the following hours Christmas week:

Monday-Thursday 9:00AM - 6:00PM
Friday (Christmas Eve) 8:00AM - 5:00PM
Saturday (Christmas Day) CLOSED
Sunday (Dec. 26th) CLOSED
Monday (Dec 27th) 10:00AM - 6:00PM

Francos Wine Merchants wishes all our customers the best for the Holiday Season.

Cellar Collectables for your Holiday Gift List

2019 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape

December 25th is just over a week away and the clock is ticking. For those of you still looking to knock off the last few items on your gift list, Francos has a few suggestions.

For those of you who have red wine lovers on your list, one of our top picks from California this season is the 2018 Far Niente Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($119.99). Boasting a solid 94 point rating from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, this full bodied palate features bright, crunchy black and red fruit with a soft texture and lively finish and will cellar well for the next 20 years. Moving north, the 2019 Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir ($99.99) will tantalize any lover of Oregon Pinot Noir. The nose of black current and dark cherry leads you directly into the wine's velvet tannins and long weighted finish. All it takes is one taste to see why this is the flagship wine of Domaine Serene. If you are shopping for a serious collector of wine, we have several of the BOND Estate vineyard sites: Melbury, Pluribus, Quella, St. Eden, and Vecina. These wines are sold in a 3-bottle wooden presentation case. Each 3-bottle case is On Sale for $2250.00 and you can read about each of these vineyard sites by clicking on our BOND Estate link on our Home Page.

Do you have a Bourbon or Rye drinker on your shopping list? Check out our Small Batch American Whiskey link to see whiskeys such as Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon ($49.99), Angel's Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon ($54.99) or the Whistlepig 10 Year Straight Rye ($89.99). You may also want to check out our Single Malt Scotches link for the scotch whiskey drinkers on your list.

Francos Open Every Day thru Dec. 24th

Our hours for December are as follows:

Monday-Saturday 10:00AM-6:00PM
Sundays 12:00PM-4:00PM (No Deliveries)
There will be no Local Delivery on Sunday. Local Delivery orders placed after the Saturday cutoff can be picked up on Sunday during business hours; otherwise they will be delivered on Monday.

For more details on delivery services please click thru to our Home Page.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

The Wines of Chateau de Beaucastel

The Rhône Valley takes center stage this holiday season with the arrival of two outstanding wines from Beaucastel. Whether you are familiar or unfamiliar with the wines from this region, there is one place to start and that is with the Perrin Family.

The Perrin Family has been presiding over the Rhône Valley for over a century and among the stars of their portfolio are the wines of Beaucastel. Just this week we have received shipment of two of their wines both of which have a place in the upcoming holidays.

Long regarded as one of the most outstanding wines in France, the 2019 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape ($99.99) has been the release we have been waiting for all fall. This wine is notorious for its elegance, balance and aging potential and is one of the rare wines to use all 13 grape varietals allowed to be grown in the Rhône. This 70 hectare vineyard located between Orange and Avignon enjoyed a stellar growing season. The near perfect weather conditions helped produce a wine that draws you in with its magnificent deep intense ruby-red color. Soon after the nose offers up rich and complex notes of spice, fresh fruit and cocoa. In the mouth you are treated to a silky texture and powerful flavors of blackberry and exotic spices. Full-bodied and generous on the palate, this wine leads you directly into a long and enjoyable finish. If there is a wine collector on your shopping list, the 2019 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape ($99.99) will be their favorite gift under the tree.

For those of you who are looking for an entry point to this renown winery without the hefty price tag, there is no better place to start than the 2020 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhône ($29.99). The enticing deep color leads you into a multi-layered nose of ripe fruit and spice. Full-bodied and balanced, the palate is delicate with flavors of cherry, plums and licorice leading you into a long finish. If you are looking for that special wine to serve at the holiday table without breaking the bank, look no further than the 2020 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhône ($29.99).

You can find the 2019 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape ($99.99) as one of our Cellar Specials and the 2020 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhône ($29.99) on the New Arrivals link, both located on our Home Page where you can also view this week's segment of the Francos Wine Minute where we talk about both of these incredible wines.

Francos Open Every Day thru Dec. 24th

For more details on delivery services please click thru to our Home Page.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2016 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino — December in Tuscany

December is here and time to start your holiday shopping. There are only three shopping weekends on this year's calendar so there's no time to waste, and today our wine brings you to Italy and Tenuta Il Poggione.

The story of this famous vineyard brings us back to the end of the 19th century and Landowner Lavinio Franceschi who was fascinated by tales told by a local shepherd who moved his sheep between pastures around the hills of Montalcino that he visited and ended up purchasing land there. Franceschi's greatest achievement was to recognize the area's potential for vine cultivation and winemaking and to see the possibilities of the Sangiovese grapes that had always been grown in the area. Today, Tenuta Il Poggione is one of Montalcino's largest wineries with both vineyards and olive groves. Still owned by the Franceschi family, they have always practiced diversified farming by planting different crops on their land. More recently, solar panels have been installed on the winery's roof, reducing the environmental impact of its wines.

All this brings us to our feature wine, the 2018 Il Poggione Brunello Di Montalcino ($99.99). This star wine from the Tenuta Il Poggione is produced exclusively from Sangiovese grapes picked by hand from the vineyards' oldest vines. The 2016 Vintage of this wine first greets you with a beautiful dark and concentrated appearance followed by exuberant and expressive aromas of candied cherry with hints of tobacco and smoke. The ruby red color in the glass is very intense and flavors of red fruit notes burst forward in the mouth. While ready to enjoy now, the warm, well-balanced flavor is home to firm and youthful tannins that will mellow out with aging for those of you patient enough to wait. This wine is tailor made for red meats and even game meats as well as mature cheeses. So if there is a lover of classic Italian wines on your holiday gift list, the 2018 Il Poggione Brunello Di Montalcino ($99.99) will put a smile on their face.

NewCanaanite.com is highlighting local retailers for the month of December and if you missed the recent article on Francos Wine Merchants you can read it here.

December Hours : Our hours for December are as follows:

Tuesday-Saturday 10:00AM-6:00PM
Sundays 12:00PM-4:00PM (No Deliveries)
Francos will be Closed Mondays.
We offer the delivery options of Local Delivery, Curbside Service and FedEx Services.
There will be no Local Delivery on Sunday or Monday. Local Delivery orders placed after the Saturday cutoff can be picked up on Sunday during business hours; otherwise they will be delivered on Tuesday.

For more details on these services please click thru to our Home Page.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Last Minute Thanksgiving Selections from Francos

Thanksgiving is upon us and if you are still in need of selecting your holiday wine or perhaps in need of stocking up on a few last minute items, Francos Wine Merchants is here to help.

If you like to start things off in a celebratory way, why not consider the 2014 Louis Roederer Cristal ($349.99). The 2013 Vintage has set a new standard, as it is now produced from organically farmed fruit and has received a 98 rating from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. The broad, textural and muscular style of this champagne makes it perfect for your Thanksgiving.

2019 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

For those of you who prefer to serve a red wine with your turkey, you may want to consider the 2019 Bergström Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir ($41.99) from Oregon. Dark and vibrant, this cherry colored wine has explosive aromas of dark cherries, black currant and blueberries. Moving over to California, we have the 2021 Drew Mid-Elevation Pinot Noir ($35.99). This vineyard site just north of Sonoma produces a richly colored wine with an intense nose of black cherries, plum and a hint of persimmon which ie balanced out by a long, mineral finish. Traveling to Burgundy, may we suggest the 2019 Domaine Fontaine Gagnard Bourgogne Rouge ($31.99)? Greeting you with a dash of spice on the nose, this simple Bourgogne travels far above its modest name. Racy and intense, this red wine enjoys a classic Burgundian style and is a perfect pairing for your Turkey dinner. For those of you looking for a red wine with a different structure, you should consider the 2018 Château La Vielle Cure ($36.99). This wine is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. First greeting you with cedar notes highlighted by a hint of graphite and subtle tree bark scents, this is soon followed up by loads of exotic spice all supported by firm, grainy tannins. Lastly, for those of you who prefer a classic Napa Valley Cabernet, you can't do better than the 2019 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($79.99). Caymus has a classic signature style that is dark in color and offers up layers of lush aromas of cassis and dark berries all followed by a ripe finish with velvety tannins.

We have not forgotten you lovers of white wines, and we have on sale the 2022 Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($54.99). Showing off a light straw hue along with expressive aromas of citrus zest and honeysuckle, this wine is well-balanced with a nice minerality and textural salinity. Moving over to Napa, we have the 2020 Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay ($49.99). Concentrated and balanced, this wine enjoys a pineapple and jasmine bouquet followed by a palate of white peach, minerality and a hint of nuttiness. Do you have a lover of White Burgundy at the table? Then look no further than the 2019 William Fevre Chablis Champs Royaux ($29.99). Delivering a nose of minerals and green apples, the flinty flavor of wet stone and the beautifully clean finish will definitely satisfy the lovers of a vibrant, crisp wine at the table.

Holiday Hours for Thanksgiving — Francos will be open the following hours from now through Thanksgiving week:

Tuesday November 23rd 9:00AM-6:00PM
Wednesday November 24th 9:00AM-6:00PM
Thursday (Thanksgiving) - CLOSED
Friday November 26th 10:00AM-6:00PM
Saturday November 27th 10:00AM-6:00PM

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2013 Louis Roederer Cristal — Celebrate your Turkey

As your Thanksgiving menu comes together, you may want to consider making room for something special. The Champagne House of Louis Roederer has been making champagne since 1833 and his Cuvées have been sought after ever since.

Entrepreneur Louis Roederer took a visionary approach to his champagnes, forging the wine's unique style and character. After acquiring some grand cru vineyards in the mid-nineteenth century, Louis Roederer set out to make his mark in contrast to contemporary practices. While other Champagne houses purchased their grapes, Louis Roederer nurtured his own vines and familiarized himself with each parcel of his land. Louis Roederer's guiding principle was that all great wines depend on the quality of soil, and thus his mark was made.

All this leads us to our featured wine, the 2014 Louis Roederer Cristal ($349.99) which is the pinnacle of the Louis Roederer portfolio. The 2013 Vintage has set a new standard, receiving a 98 point rating from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate; thus we could not help but purchase all the remaining stock available in Connecticut. The aroma of clear honey and crisp, green orchard fruit are your first introduction to this amazing vintage. Starting with the previous vintage, the Louis Roederer Cristal is now produced from 100% organically farmed fruit marking a new chapter for Louis Roederer. This vintage has a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and winemaker Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon has once again outdone himself with the 2013 vintage. The broad, textural and muscular style of this champagne is ready to stand up to any celebration from Thanksgiving through the holiday season.

You can find the 2014 Louis Roederer Cristal ($349.99) on the New Arrivals link on our Home Page.

Francos Wine Minute: Still mulling over wines to serve for Thanksgiving? Be sure to check out this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute on our Home Page for our top choices for your Thanksgiving menu.

Holiday Hours for Thanksgiving — Francos will be open the following hours from now through Thanksgiving week:

Thursday November 18th through Saturday November 20th 10:00AM-6:00PM
Sunday November 21st 12:00PM-4:00PM
Monday November 22nd 10:00AM-6:00PM
Tuesday November 23rd 9:00AM-6:00PM
Wednesday November 24th 9:00AM-6:00PM
Thursday (Thanksgiving) - CLOSED
Friday November 26th 10:00AM-6:00PM
Saturday November 27th 10:00AM-6:00PM

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2018 Chateau La Vieille Cure — Holidays on the Horizon

November has arrived and time to start thinking about wine for the holidays. Over the next few weeks we will have many suggestions, but today let's start in France.

Traveling to Bordeaux we land on the right bank of the Gironde River. Adjacent to the regions of Saint Emilion and Pomerol we find the appellation of Fronsac and the home of our featured wine, the 2018 Château La Vielle Cure ($36.99).

The 2018 Château La Vielle Cure ($36.99) is one of the benchmark producers on the right bank. Here the vines are an average of 40+ years old and thrive in the heavy limestone soil. This wine is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon and a stronghold in the northern part of Bordeaux. Practicing sustainable farming methods and hand-harvesting as well as the use of indigenous yeast all factor into this wine. This wine first greets you with cedar notes highlighted by a hint of graphite and subtle tree bark scents. In the mouth flavors of ripe blackberries, stewed plumbs and cherry compote are enhanced by herbal notes of Sichuan pepper and star anise. The full-bodies palate is cloaked in oak with loads of exotic spice all supported by grainy tannins. Our recommendation is to stop in aand try a bottle today and we think you will agree that the 2018 Château La Vielle Cure ($36.99) is definitely a contender for your Thanksgiving table and you will see why Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave this wine a solid 92+ rating.

You can find this wine as one of our Cellar Specials for November as well as hear about it in this week's installment of Francos Wine Minute, both of which can be found on our Home Page.

Store Hours for Autumn: : As we head into the Fall season Francos Wine Merchants will be open the following hours:

Tuesday-Saturday 10:00AM-6:00PM
Sundays 12:00PM-4:00PM (No Deliveries)
Francos will be Closed Mondays.
We offer the delivery options of Local Delivery, Curbside Service and FedEx Services.
There will be no Local Delivery on Sunday or Monday. Local Delivery orders placed after the Saturday cutoff can be picked up on Sunday during business hours; otherwise they will be delivered on Tuesday.

For more details on these services please click thru to our Home Page.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Vietti Winery — Next Stop Italy

What better way to warm up an October evening then to pull the cork on some terrific Italian wines. Italy brings to us some of the most food-friendly wines of Europe and today our travels take us to Northern Italy.

The history of Vietti Winery traces back to the 19th Century, but it was not until the 20th century that Patriarch Mario Vietti slowly transformed the family farm into a grape-growing and wine production business which is now one of the top producers in Piemonte.

Starting off, we have the 2021 Vietti Barbera d'Asti Tre Vigne ($18.99). This vibrant and youthful red wine displays pretty notes of ripe red cherry, as well as subtle mineral qualities. Medium-bodied and well rounded, it culminates in a long, easy finish. Barbera is an especially food-friendly wine that brilliantly complements a variety of recipes.

Next we move to the 2020 Vietti Perbacco Nebbiolo ($29.99). Made from 100% Nebbiolo grape, this wine comes from different vineyards from the Langhe/Barolo area. For all intents and purposes the Vietti Perbacco is a declassified Barolo. Aged approximately 2 years in oak and blended in steel tanks prior to bottling, this wine offers up a mid-weight style with generous fruit and spices. A perfect choice for hearty stews, roasted red meats and aged cheeses.

Last but most assuredly not least, we present the 2017 Vietti Barolo Castiglione ($55.99). Barolo is the crown jewel of Piedmont, and the Vietti Castiglione demonstrates why this is the case. In the glass it is a beautiful pale ruby color, complemented by rising aromas of rich cherry and soft hints of floral spice. The palate is rich and masculine, with full flavors balancing the supremely elegant structure. This is a food-lover's wine that greatly complements a wine-lover's meal.

Just search "Vietti" on our Home Page and you will find these fabulous wines. If you'd like to hear about another terrific Italian wine, be sure to tune into this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute also located on our Home Page to hear about the 2019 Planeta Cerasuolo di Vittoria ($19.99) from Sicily.

October Hours: As we head into the autumn season Francos Wine Merchants will be open the following hours:

Tuesday-Saturday 10:00AM-6:00PM
Francos will be Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
We offer the delivery options of Local Delivery, Curbside Service and FedEx Services. For details on these services please click thru to our Home Page.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

Our Fabulous Fall Collection of Bordeaux under $20

Now that Fall is here accompanied by the cooler nights, we can once again start to turn to wines a little more full in flavor. While this leaves many options open, today we are going to turn our eyes towards France, specifically Bordeaux.

While Bordeaux often conjures up thoughts of higher end wines from the many famous regions and chateaux of France, there are plenty of modest wines that we can enjoy as we explore the region.

Our journey takes us to the region of Saint-Emilion on the right bank of the Gironde river. Here we find the appellation of Fronsac right at the estuary of this famous river which is the home of the 2018 Château Mayne Vieil ($15.99). This merlot-based wine has minimal barrel again which allows it to show off flavors of raspberry and black currant that are fresh and plush.

Travelling due west of Fronsac, we come to Puisseguin Saint-Emilion in the northern part of the region which is home to the 2018 Château Fongaban ($17.99). This biodynamic wine is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc which shows off brooding dark fruit flavors as well as depth and complexity.

Traveling to Montagne Saint-Emilion we are greeted by the 2016 Château Haut Plaisance ($19.99). This northern appellation wine is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. An amazing amount of structure comes out of this modest bottle and complex mouthfeel leads you into a pleasant herbal and tobacco finish.

You can find all these wines on the New Arrivals link as well as hear about them in this week's installment of the Francos Wine Minute, both found on our Home Page.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2019 Planeta Cerasuolo di Vittoria — Direct from Sicily

Summer is officially over and it's time to set our eyes on fall. This means to start slowly shifting the meats we select, the sauces we create and the herb combinations we use. This also means a shift in the wines we use as pairings for these meals, and this week our choice brings us to Southern Italy.

For five centuries and seventeen generations the Planeta family has been part of Sicilian agriculture. Their work on this island off the tip of Italy in the Mediterranean Sea has contributed to the revitalization of Sicilian winemaking. Planeta Winery began on the estate owned by the family since the 1600s. Fast forward to mid-1980s and Alessio, Francesca and Santi Planeta under the guidance of Diego Planeta brought this family estate into the 20th century without losing its old-world winemaking traditions.

Today we are going to focus on their 2019 Planeta Cerasuolo di Vittoria ($19.99). Vittoria is a town in the southern part of the island of Sicily in the province of Ragusa. Here between the sea and the Iblean mountains are the vineyards that grow the grapes used in this incredible red wine. The 2019 Planeta Cerasuolo di Vittoria ($19.99) is a blend of 60% Nero d'Avola and 40% Frappato, grapes indigenous to the island of Sicily. The vines thrive in the warm summer temperatures of this region where the soil is mostly comprised of red sand. It's a unique wine, recognizable and unforgettable for its youthful flavors and aromas of cherry, strawberry and pomegranate, due to the particular soil and climate in which the grapes are cultivated. Bursting with flavor, this versatile wine pairs well with many classic southern Italian pasta sauces, as well as with almost any red meat. Should you decide to search out a traditional Sicilian recipe such as Pasta alla Norma or perhaps Spaghetti alla Nerano from the nearby Sorrento peninsula, the pairing will immediately whisk you away to the Mediterranean's most famous island.

You can find the 2019 Planeta Cerasuolo di Vittoria ($19.99) on the New Arrivals link on our Home Page.

September Hours: As we head into the autumn season Francos Wine Merchants will be open the following hours:

Tuesday-Saturday 10:00AM-6:00PM
Francos will be Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
We offer the delivery options of Local Delivery, Curbside Service and FedEx Services. For details on these services please click thru to our Home Page.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

2018 Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay — Welcome September

While Meteorological Summer has ended and Astronomical Summer is closing in, Francos Wine Merchants has options to stave off the inevitable, and one such way is with the 2020 Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay ($49.99).

First, let's reacquaint ourselves with the background of this famous Napa Valley Estate. Miljenjo "Mike" Grgich founded his namesake winery in 1977 after winning the 1976 Paris Tasting when he was winemaker for Chateau Montelena. Jumping to the present day, Mike, along with his daughter Violet and his nephew Ivo Jeramaz, is committed to natural winegrowing and sustainability. He farms his estate vineyards without artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides, and relies on wild yeast fermentation to handcraft food-friendly wines that are balanced and elegant. All his wines are 100% Certified Organic and 100% Estate grown.

Bringing the focus back to their 2020 Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay ($49.99), we need to travel to the southern tip of Napa Valley. Their Chardonnay vines grow in their American Canyon and Carneros vineyards near San Pablo Bay. The cool maritime breezes and morning fog allow the grapes to slowly ripen, producing complex flavors and a natural acidity that is impossible to achieve in warmer climates. The wine displays ripe peach, mango and tropical flavors. A note of minerality means this wine can be enjoyed with fresh seafood as well as chicken and grilled pork. So while the days are still warm, and the nights have a pleasant crispness in the air, our suggestion is to have a bottle of the 2020 Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay ($49.99) on hand for those mid-September evenings on the patio.

You can find this wine on our Home Page as one of our Cellar Specials for September.

Also, for those of you who enjoy a full-bodied, firm Cabernet, look no further than the 2016 Grgich Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($64.99).

September Hours: As we head into the Autumn season Francos Wine Merchants will be open the following hours:

Tuesday-Saturday 10:00AM-6:00PM
Francos will be Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
We offer the delivery options of Local Delivery, Curbside Service and FedEx Services. For details on these services please click thru to our Home Page.

We hope to see you online or in our store soon.

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