Saturday, April 28th
4:30 - 7:00
At this Saturday's tasting, we will take a look at some fantastic imports from Louis/Dressner Selections. This import house has a great following in this area, due to their deidication to small, family Estate wineries of the highest caliber. The large majority of their wines would fit easily into the "Natural Wines" philosophy, utilizing traditional techniques, great respect for the land, and minimal intervention wine making styles. Louis/Dressner describe themselves best on their website:
"Louis/Dressner Selections is a portfolio of over 100 vignerons hailing from France, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Croatia, Slovenia and Chile. We are a partnership of Denyse Louis, a native Burgundian, Joe Dressner and Kevin McKenna. Collectively, we spend nearly nine months a year in Europe working with our growers and selecting wines for importation to America.
We have no brands. We are not looking for them. We do have a group of often fanatical growers who are doing their best to make wines that are original because they are honestly crafted. These might seem old-fashioned, but in the present context it is almost revolutionary....
There are no gobs, no exaggerations, no over-this and over-that. We don’t have fruit bombs. What we do have is a group of growers who work their vines and make their wines with honesty, passion and humor.
In that sense THE BRAND is the convergence of these crazy growers and their American importers. Working together to produce and market natural products that follow several principles.
The following techniques and guiding principles are what we believe is winemaking with integrity and respect for the traditions of the native region. This is fine winemaking at its purest, most fundamental level.
Wild Yeasts:
All wines are made with the natural yeasts on the grapes, in the vineyards and in the cellars. Cultured yeasts to rush fermentation or add “enhancing” aromas and flavors are unacceptable. We look for wines
that express their terroir. No enzymes, no hormones.
Hand Harvesting:
Growers harvest by hand, not machine. We want the ripest fruit to be brought carefully
and lovingly into the winery.
Low Yields:
The growers want low yields for greater concentration.
We look for growers with holdings in old vines.
Natural Viticulture:
We encourage growers to plow their vineyards to keep the soil an active eco-system, and to
use natural methods in tending their vines.
No or Minimal Chaptalization:
We do not want an artificially high degree of alcohol produced by adding sugar to the must. Non- or slightly chaptalized wines are more enjoyable and healthier to drink.
Non-Filtration:
Wines are either not filtered or minimally filtered. We also encourage low levels of SO2.
Non-Interventionist Winemaking:
We prefer a harmony, not an imposed style —wines should showcase their place of origin and varietal character. We are not looking for oak flavor, particular fruits or overly done aromatics. Minimal use of S02 is encouraged.
Enjoyment!
Lastly, our most important “principle.” Because, the overblown world of overdone wines is fundamentally tiresome. We’re not looking for tasting specimens, but for wines that are great fun,
and a great pleasure to drink."
Louis/Dressner is distributed in this area by Proof Wine & Spirits, and Proof partner Damon Haynes will join us on Saturday to taste through five of our favorite French wines of the L/D portfolio!
Domaine de la Pépière 'La Pépie'
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie
Loire Valley, France, 2016
Jean-Paul Brun
Beaujolais Blanc
Beaujolais, France, 2016
Éric Texier 'Chat Fou'
Côtes du Rhône
Rhone Valley, France, 2015
Château d'Oupia 'Les Hérétiques'
Pays d'Hérault
Languedoc, France, 2016
Domaine Bernard Baudry
Chinon
Loire Valley, France, 2015
"Louis/Dressner Selections is a portfolio of over 100 vignerons hailing from France, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Croatia, Slovenia and Chile. We are a partnership of Denyse Louis, a native Burgundian, Joe Dressner and Kevin McKenna. Collectively, we spend nearly nine months a year in Europe working with our growers and selecting wines for importation to America.
We have no brands. We are not looking for them. We do have a group of often fanatical growers who are doing their best to make wines that are original because they are honestly crafted. These might seem old-fashioned, but in the present context it is almost revolutionary....
There are no gobs, no exaggerations, no over-this and over-that. We don’t have fruit bombs. What we do have is a group of growers who work their vines and make their wines with honesty, passion and humor.
In that sense THE BRAND is the convergence of these crazy growers and their American importers. Working together to produce and market natural products that follow several principles.
The following techniques and guiding principles are what we believe is winemaking with integrity and respect for the traditions of the native region. This is fine winemaking at its purest, most fundamental level.
Wild Yeasts:
All wines are made with the natural yeasts on the grapes, in the vineyards and in the cellars. Cultured yeasts to rush fermentation or add “enhancing” aromas and flavors are unacceptable. We look for wines
that express their terroir. No enzymes, no hormones.
Hand Harvesting:
Growers harvest by hand, not machine. We want the ripest fruit to be brought carefully
and lovingly into the winery.
Low Yields:
The growers want low yields for greater concentration.
We look for growers with holdings in old vines.
Natural Viticulture:
We encourage growers to plow their vineyards to keep the soil an active eco-system, and to
use natural methods in tending their vines.
No or Minimal Chaptalization:
We do not want an artificially high degree of alcohol produced by adding sugar to the must. Non- or slightly chaptalized wines are more enjoyable and healthier to drink.
Non-Filtration:
Wines are either not filtered or minimally filtered. We also encourage low levels of SO2.
Non-Interventionist Winemaking:
We prefer a harmony, not an imposed style —wines should showcase their place of origin and varietal character. We are not looking for oak flavor, particular fruits or overly done aromatics. Minimal use of S02 is encouraged.
Enjoyment!
Lastly, our most important “principle.” Because, the overblown world of overdone wines is fundamentally tiresome. We’re not looking for tasting specimens, but for wines that are great fun,
and a great pleasure to drink."
Louis/Dressner is distributed in this area by Proof Wine & Spirits, and Proof partner Damon Haynes will join us on Saturday to taste through five of our favorite French wines of the L/D portfolio!
Domaine de la Pépière 'La Pépie'
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie
Loire Valley, France, 2016
Jean-Paul Brun
Beaujolais Blanc
Beaujolais, France, 2016
Éric Texier 'Chat Fou'
Côtes du Rhône
Rhone Valley, France, 2015
Château d'Oupia 'Les Hérétiques'
Pays d'Hérault
Languedoc, France, 2016
Domaine Bernard Baudry
Chinon
Loire Valley, France, 2015