Discovery Time: New Labels Making Their Début
by Anthony Lynch
© Nicolas Maillart
© Nicolas Maillart
Discovery Time: New Labels Making Their Début
by Anthony Lynch
Have you tried our new Champagne?
This phrase has been on repeat for me ever since our first container from Nicolas Maillart, the latest Champagne grower to join the KLWM ranks, arrived at port a couple of months ago. His pure, precise, and vinous Pinot Noir-based cuvées have been a staple on my table through the holidays and into the new year, and I urge all Champagne aficionados to become acquainted with Maillart’s creations before they sell out.
But that’s not all there is to discover—we have been hard at work unearthing new domaines to introduce to American palates, and on top of that, some of our longtime producers have surprised us with compelling new bottlings we can’t get enough of. We’ve gathered some of the most exciting novelties below for your enjoyment.
Highlights include Montmajou, a fleshy white blend from the Languedoc’s Saint-Chinian appellation with alluring notes of gunflint and stone fruit, as well as new Loire whites showcasing Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc in off-the-beaten path appellations. In the realm of reds, there is a novel cuvée from Corbières trailblazer Maxime Magnon, plus labels from familiar domaines in Corsica, Alto Adige, and the Rhône making their début. We’ve also highlighted a deeply hued rosato from the little-known Molise region—a perfect winter rosé, robust and loaded with southern Italian sunshine.
Wines In The Collection
Nicolas Maillart France | Champagne
Beautiful perfume of orange blossom, very fine with an incredibly soft mousse.
Domaine Trotereau France | Loire
Textured, lush, full of aromatic gooseberry and passionfruit—all supported by spiny minerality.
Peter Dipoli Italy | Alto Adige
Merlot and Cabernet Franc born from such high altitudes display classic cedar, graphite, and black cherry notes, but with smooth, velvety tannins that bely the bottle’s youthful age.
Maxime Magnon France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Equal parts Grenache, Carignan, and Mourvèdre, this boasts all of Maxime’s trademark elegance and silkiness.
Christine de Mianville France | Loire
Juicy and open-knit, it mirrors the sensation of biting into fleshy slices of white peach, nectarine, and guava.
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
Deep, dynamic Grenache feels aptly highlighted by bright and fresh Clairette. Soft and rich, yet still defined.
Grange Saint Sauveur France | Loire
The new vintage shows great freshness and brightness, making me think of tart berries picked in the forest just a touch below full ripeness.
France | Champagne
Beautiful perfume of orange blossom, very fine with an incredibly soft mousse.
France | Loire
Textured, lush, full of aromatic gooseberry and passionfruit—all supported by spiny minerality.
Italy | Alto Adige
Merlot and Cabernet Franc born from such high altitudes display classic cedar, graphite, and black cherry notes, but with smooth, velvety tannins that bely the bottle’s youthful age.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Equal parts Grenache, Carignan, and Mourvèdre, this boasts all of Maxime’s trademark elegance and silkiness.
France | Loire
Juicy and open-knit, it mirrors the sensation of biting into fleshy slices of white peach, nectarine, and guava.
France | Southern Rhône
Deep, dynamic Grenache feels aptly highlighted by bright and fresh Clairette. Soft and rich, yet still defined.
France | Loire
The new vintage shows great freshness and brightness, making me think of tart berries picked in the forest just a touch below full ripeness.
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