There is something about sitting down to a true French breakfast that seems so quintessentially French. Coffee, baguette, confiture, beurre; the French make something so simple so magnificently délicieux. It is one of those special traditions I love most about French culture, and I like to recreate it when I am feeling wistful for France. Lucky for us French breakfast lovers, Paris Grocery now carries café bowls and egg cups! Soft boil an egg, top toast with your favorite confiture, wrap your hands around a bowl of freshly brewed coffee, and transport yourself to France with a leisurely French breakfast.
Latte Bowl $14.99
Egg Cup $7.99
New Chocolat! Leonidas Belgian Chocolates
Leonidas produces 100 different varieties of chocolates, each made with 100% pure cocoa butter, and using only the highest quality and freshest ingredients. Roasted hazelnuts from Turkey, salted butter from Isigny in Normandy, and smooth white, dark, and milk chocolate make these luscious bars a truly unique treat for chocolate fanatics.
Milk Chocolate Baton with Salted Caramel $2.99
Milk Chocolate Baton with Hazelnut Praline $2.99
Dark Chocolate Baton with Coffee Praline $2.99
Milk Chocolate Bar with Salted Caramel $4.99
White Chocolate Bar with Crunchy Puffed Rice $4.99
Spotlight: Domaine de la Janasse
One of my absolute favorite Rhône producers! Making wines in a decidedly modern style, Domaine de la Janasse crafts wines with great purity and concentration. This estate is at the forefront of Châteauneuf-du-Pape producers, and an estate that should become known to you, if you have missed their wines.
The story of Domaine de la Janasse’s rise to the top echelon of Rhone producers begins in 1967, when Aimé Sabon returned home from military service. He took over his father’s vineyard, who used to sell his grapes to the local wine cooperative. A few years later, Aimé built his own cellar; it was then that Domaine de la Janasse was born, and named after the family farm that was in Courthézon, in the locality of “La Janasse”. Aimé had ambitions for his estate; he knew the estate had fabulous soil, and he wanted to expand its size by acquiring additional plots. From 15 hectares at the beginning, La Janasse, today, has grown to more than 90 hectares.
Domaine de la Janasse is very much a family affair. Aimé’s son, Christophe, who received a technical diploma in viticulture and oenology in Beaune in 1991, and a further degree in marketing in Mâcon, returned to the domaine to take over day-to-day duties. By adding new cuvees, and developing new markets for his wines, the domaine saw an increase in the availability and renown of the estate. In 2001, Isabelle –Aimé’s daughter– graduated as an oenologist from the University of Toulouse, and joined the team. Today, the entire family is involved in the estate’s operations.
Domaine de la Janasse ‘Réserve’ Cotes du Rhône 2013 $15.99
The entry level Rhône wine from Domaine de la Janasse. The fruit is sourced from one of the estate’s plots, located to east of Châteauneufdu-Pape, in the city of Courthézon. The wine is aged between 6-9 months in concrete tanks.
“The 2013 Côtes du Rhône (40% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 20% Carignan and the balance Syrah and Cinsault) is superb in the vintage. Medium-bodied, juicy and peppery, with plenty of spice and character, drink it over the coming couple of years.” —Wine Advocate
Domaine de la Janasse ‘Terre d’Argile’ Cotes du Rhône Villages 2013 $24.99
At a stone’s throw from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this wine comes from the beautiful land of pebbles and red clay north of the city of Courthézon. It’s a blend of 25% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 25% Mourvèdre, and 25% Carignan. The wine is aged for 12 months in a combination of oak barrels, including the use of large barrels, foudres, used exclusively for the Grenache.
“Since there was no Côtes du Rhône Les Garrigues in the vintage, the 2013 Côtes du Rhône Villages Terre d’Argile got the grapes that are normally designated for that cuvée. A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Mourvèdre raised in foudre, it offers lots of black cherries, crushed violets, loamy earth and pepper on the nose. Medium-bodied, elegant, and seamless with fine tannin, it’s a rock solid Côtes du Rhône from a difficult vintage. Drink it over the coming 3-4 years.” — Wine Advocate.
Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2013 $60.00
This wine is made from grapes sourced from a plot in the famed La Crau vineyard in the northern part of the appellation. It’s a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault. As most Janasse wines, it’s aged for 12 months in a combination of concrete tanks (80%) and oak barrels (20%).
“A great wine – from a difficult vintage – that shows the talent and hard work of this brother/sister pair, the 2013 Châteauneuf-du-Pape reveals a healthy ruby/purple color to go with perfumed notes of black and red raspberry, pepper, licorice and violets. Medium plus in body and elegant, with gorgeous purity and fine tannin, drink this terrific 2013 over the coming 8-10 years.”
91 points, Wine Advocate
Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape ‘Chaupin’ 2012 $90.00
The grapes are sourced from three distinct plots: Chapouin, La Crau and La Janasse. This wine is made from 100% Grenache, of which, the oldest vines were planted in 1912. The Chaupin is aged in a combination of
foudres and the 600-litre barrels, known as demi-muids.
“The 2012 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Chaupin, which I was able to taste (and drink) from multiple bottles, is a beautiful Grenache that comes from the cooler, northeastern edge of the appellation. Coming almost all from the Chapouin lieu-dit (it gets a small bit from La Janasse), it gives up the classic notes of black berries, spring flowers, violets, and licorice that I always seem to find in this cuvee. Building nicely on the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured, has tons of sweet fruit and solid, if not firm, tannin that come out on the finish. It will be better in another couple of years and have 15+ years of overall longevity.”
94 points, Wine Advocate
Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape ‘Vieilles Vignes’ 2013 $120.00
This cuvée comes from four plots located on different soils that perfectly complement each other when the final blend is assembled. Firstly a southern pebbly soil that brings body and power. Secondly a Chaupin-like soil for freshness and acidity. A third red clay pebbly soil in the north of the appellation that brings structure and body. And finally a sandy-limestone soil for smoothness. The final blend comprises 64% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, 6% diverse varietals. 75% of the wine is aged in concrete tank, with the remaining 25% demi muids. This is the flagship wine of the estate, garnering the highest scores and accolades in the international press.
“While the cuvée Chaupin comes mostly from sandy soils, the 2013 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes comes more from the rolled pebble soils the region is famous for, and always shows the richer, more powerful profile imparted from these soils. Mostly foudre-aged Grenache, it incorporates 20% Mourvèdre and roughly 10% Syrah (slightly more Syrah in 2013) that’s raised all in barrel. Exhibiting a deep purple color, it offers fabulous dark berry fruits, licorice, Provençal herbs and earthy/stony minerality on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, ripe and with impressive sweetness to its tannin, it’s a fabulous wine that will have 10-15 years of overall longevity.”
94 points, Wine Advocate
Back in stock! 2014 Domaine Lafage “Tessellae” Carignan Vieilles Vignes Cote Catalanes $13.99
A Bientôt,
Kelsey & Manuel