
AŸ: A PRESTIGIOUS,
THOUSAND-YEAR OLD GRAND CRU VINEYARD
Aÿ’s winemaking history dates back almost 1,700 years to the Roman era. In the 16th century, Henry IV, ”His Majesty of Aÿ and good wine’‘, created the reputation of still white wines from Aÿ throughout his kingdom.
Around two hundred years later, the invention of blending, and the control of secondary fermentation in bottle, gave birth to Champagne, the sparkling wine that we know today.
rancis Tribaut is the heir to four generations of winemakers and Champagne producers in the Marne region. He graduated from the Dijon School of Oenology in 1987 before working his way up through the ranks of prestigious Champagne houses where he gradually developed his technical expertise. He devoted himself to his family’s wine domaine in 1991 while continuing to act as a consultant to prestigious Champagne houses. LALLIER was one of them. He took over from René-James Lallier in 2004 when he became its new owner.
100% ownership of the company means Francis Tribaut has complete independence in decision-making.
He is also the estate Manager of the Domaine LALLIER (a vineyard of 15 hectares, the majority of which is Grand Cru). He also personally manages the supply of grapes from partner wine growers.
Francis Tribaut is supported in his task by a small dedicated team. A man of great conviction and insight, he knows how to listen to people and to identify trends. Constantly good humoured, he also appreciates fine wine and quality cuisine !
Francis Tribaut’s forward-thinking approach has convinced him that there can be a new way of working between the independent, and often single vineyard producers , and the major, and sometimes impersonal, Champagne houses. This unique vision is at the core of LALLIER’s production processes, where the Champagne house’s ”craftsmen” create champagnes of exceptional quality in the Oger cellars.
These cellars combine state-of-the art facilities with traditional techniques ensuring that ancestral skills and experience are backed up by technical innovation.
LALLIER’s art is built on a very fine balance between an in-depth understanding of the champagne making process, respect for the unique personality of the terroir, and the ability to express the true emotion of a prestigious Cru of Champagne in each and every glass.
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Gaja Sperss is made from 100 percent Nebbiolo.
Vibrant and intense notes of herbs and spices such as thyme, cloves and black pepper. On the palate the wine is tense, loaded with energy that will need serious ageing to fully develop although extremely approachable in its youth. Impressive fruit concentration, with dark and ripe fruits – prunes and black cherries. Acidity and tannins lift this wine to its freshest expression.
Nebbiolo based wines have not only complexity and structure but also great elegance and finesse. The distinctive silky tannins of the Nebbiolo make it the right wine to drink with meat. Usually a young vintage goes very well with richer dishes because of the stronger tannins; mature Barolos are more suitable with delicate white meat courses or braised meat courses with sauces or concentrated red wines reductions.
Review:
-Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points
Toil Oregon Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
Dark garnet color. Seductive aromas of black tea, tobacco, and crushed tart cherry and blackberry. Faint notes of vanilla and toast accentuate dark plumb and cherry character. The palate is seamless with silky texture and long sweetness. Classic Oregon Pinot Noir from an outstanding vintage. So incredibly pleased to present the first Toil Oregon Pinot Noir that includes fruit from Toil Estate Vineyard! It is an understatement to say our estate fruit is an amazingly positive contributor to the final blend.
Toil Oregon is the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir project of the Figgins family, long known for Leonetti Cellar and FIGGINS in Walla Walla. Drawing largely on Chehalem Mountains fruit, the 2022 — the first Toil to include estate-grown fruit — reflects a classic, cool Oregon season: red-fruited, savory and energetic, with the bright acidity that marks the valley.
Review:
-Vinous 93 Points