DIRECT FROM THE ALPS--OUR MOST POPULAR BUBBLY

Hey Cru,

This wine has been without question one of our most popular sparklers of the past few years. I had an idea it might be, but the giant sucking sound it always makes going out the door is pretty impressive. Some of you will see the name and reply with your order without even reading the fine print. When we offered it about 6 months ago, you destroyed a 20 case allocation in about 2 hours.

So...I'm just not sure what's going to happen today!

I have to say, I love this wine too, and have never missed a chance to enjoy a glass, or more, under almost any circumstance. In fact, our last visit with the Boccard family was over a good long morning of tasting, followed by an even longer lunch. Throughout the meal there was never a glass of Cerdon Bugey too far away!

So without further ado, we welcome back:

Daniel Boccard Cerdon Bugey Demi-Sec

Need a reminder?

It's pink, bubbly, low alcohol, and dee-licious.

Vines have been planted in Bugey since Roman times, later resurrected by medieval monks, and only recently (2009) been recognized by France with AOC status. Today there are just three crus in Bugey, with Cerdon dedicated exclusively to the production of sparkling wine.

Bugey (pronounced Boo-zjay) is one of the best kept secrets in France. Mostly this is because what is made there, stays there. With minuscule quantities of production, a somewhat isolated populace, and hordes of visitors year round, the wines of Bugey don't travel far before being slurped with an Alpine meal, or washed down apres-ski.

Bugey lies equidistant between Lyon and Geneva, one of the tiniest wine appellations in all of France. Although one approaches the grand Alps from here, the altitude is modest, but the terrain is mountainous, roads are winding, and villages are seemingly hidden from plain sight, tucked into endless crags and crevices to protect them from winter. Vineyards are difficult to spot as well. An hectare here and there, always on a small scale. Our kind of place.

We are in the Bugey business because of a guy named Daniel Boccard.

Daniel is not going slow, and never has been. A six-time Alps Grand Prix racing champion in the 80's, he later retired to his family farm and began the task of making wine from their sub-alpine vineyards in the Savoie. To call his place in the wine world spectacular is selling it short.

Boccard works without fertilizers or chemicals and makes a wine that is as natural as could be called methode ancestrale. In this manner of producing sparkling wine, all fermentation is spontaneous, no added sugars or yeasts, and is accomplished partially in tank at the beginning, but then slowly completed in bottle over the winter and spring following the harvest. The finished wine essentially defines what Bugey Cerdon should be--delicate bubbles that capture a slightly sweet, frothy, strawberry cream soda of a pink sparkling wine. I am mouthwatering even at 9am while writing this.

There's only one way to drink a Bugey Cerdon--ice cold, to start a meal, or to convivially enjoy while preparing the repast. The bottle must stay on ice regularly until its gone. When it is first poured a nice bit of garnet foam rises to the top of the glass then quickly settles into a persistent stream of tiny bubbles. The carbon dioxide helps the wine attack the nose with aromas of apple cider, wild berries, and red-fleshed plums. A real Alpine aroma palette.

Daniel Boccard Bugey Cerdon NV, $22

On pre-arrival sale until its gone at $18

6-packs at 5% off, Solid cases at 10% off

There is no such thing as "a LOT" of Cerdon Bugey. As mentioned earlier, most is consumed locally, and most small vignerons politely turn away importers at the door. We've somehow hit if off with La Famille Boccard and scored a handful of cases. The ONLY ones avaialble in the whole US.

I know we often encourage you to write back immediately if you want some of our small production wines, but I really, extra, super duper, mean it on this one.

To order simply reply to this email with your request: "3", "Sixer", "solid box"--something to that effect. Or, click the link above to read more and order online. The wine will be in the house and ready to pickup or ship in December.

Cheers!

Dan