Three wines and cellars from different places
Valtellina: Nino Negri
The Negri winery was born a century ago and tells of a strong will and great intuitions that followed year after year and from generation to generation. The business was founded in 1897 when Nino Negri decided, following his marriage to Amelia Galli, to start his wine business in Chiuro. After various transfers, the winery became the flagship of the Italian Wine Group and was recognized throughout Europe, also thanks to the prestigious work of the oenologist Casimiro Maule who later passed the scepter to Danilo Drucco (current oenologist). They are wines of great elegance that demonstrate longevity and savoir-faire in terms of tasting. You cannot pass through Valtellina without stopping to admire the wonderful lands of the Negri winery which has been putting exceptional wines on the market for years! Don't be fooled...one bottle won't be enough!
Burgundy: Domaine Le Roy
There are three entities in the Leroy empire: the Maison Leroy based in Auxey-Duresses; the Domaine d'Auvenay named for the home of Lalou Bize-Leroy near St-Romain and the notable Domaine Leroy in Vosne-Romanée. Lalou Bize-Leroy also owned a quarter of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, where she was co-director. In 1988 Lalou Bize-Leroy bought Domaine Charles Nöellat in Vosne Romanée and renamed it Domaine Leroy. The Domaine has been grown biodynamically since the beginning. Lalou Bize-Leroy has 23 hectares of vines, mostly classified as Premier and Grand Cru. Domaine Leroy is blessed with a legacy of ancient vines and is one of the best known for its great quality. A Domaine wrapped in a fascinating mysticism.
His wines express depth and complexity thanks to their aromas of strawberry, cassis, currant, and bloody notes in the finish. They show a slim and elegant structure. Often they are wines to drink immediately but have great aging potential.
Champagne: Maison Les Gras Haas
The brand was born in 1991, a relatively recent date, but the family's experience has developed over several generations: the first acre of land was in fact purchased almost 200 years ago. Today the company owns about 30 hectares of vineyards mainly cultivated with Chardonnay, with some parcels of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The rigorously manual harvest and the care in the vinification, carried out cru by cru, parcel by parcel, vine by vine, guarantee the high quality level of these Champagnes.
Their thought:
Independence is in the blood of the family, an integral part of their DNA, and this is evident in their decisions. Their experience and ability to remain objective translate into a freedom of choice which greatly benefits the quality of their Champagnes. They trust their instincts and let themselves be guided by the quality of the fruit. They have no qualms about pushing the harvest date forward if they think one parcel or another is already ripe. Likewise, if a parcel is slow to ripen, they will patiently wait for it to be ready before harvesting.
A huge cellar full of history and tradition! A Champagne that is worth its name and worth trying!
