Cape Classics Adds Fourth Chapter to its French “Book”
Cape Classics Adds Fourth Chapter to its French “Book”Leading Wine Importer Enters the Languedoc Through Partnerships with Top Producers
NEW YORK, NY (October 13, 2015)—Cape Classics announces its first foray into the Languedoc region with the addition of two new brands to its French portfolio: Mas Janeil and Domaine de La Réserve d’O. Crafted by producers François Lurton and Marie Chauffray respectively, the latest partnerships are with two of the region’s most prominent vintners; Lurton is the fifth generation of his family to be in the wine business in Bordeaux, with roots dating back to 1897 and Chauffray is a leader in biodynamic winemaking processes, serving as president of the Languedoc appellation. With these additions, Cape Classics—known primarily for its import of South African wines—now has partnerships in four of the major grape growing regions in France, with over 50 labels between them all.
“The vision of bringing our portfolio to the South of France was set well over two years ago,” commented Robert Bradshaw Cape Classics’ President and COO. “Working with François and Marie has helped to make that aspiration a reality. From the game-changing reds of Mas Janeil to the fruit-forward bottlings from La Réserve d’O, these new selections are true halos in our portfolio and we’re honored to represent them.”
François Lurton leads the charge at Mas Janiel where he works closely with the winemaking process. Maintaining a commitment to sustainable, earthy-friendly agriculture, Mas Janiel refrains from the use of pesticides and synthetic chemicals in the vineyards. Located at the foot of a cliff dominated by the Chateau de Quéribus castle—on schist, slate and chalk soils—the estate produces wines that convey the unique characteristics of the terroir. In addition to upholding practices that respect the environment, Mas Janeil is working to minimize the use of sulphur in wines, and currently producing a sans soufre.
- 2014 Mas Janeil Les Hauts de Janeil Grenache Sauvignon: Enticing floral, truffle and brioche aromas lead to a well-balanced, complex palate with just the right amount of acidity that lingers on the finish in this food friendly, crowd-pleasing wine. Vegan friendly. (SRP $12.99)
- 2014 Mas Janeil Les Hauts de Janeil Syrah-Grenache: A brooding, concentrated nose of black fruit and licorice is balanced with bright notes of strawberry and raspberry. The supple palate reveals good roundness and dense tannins that makes this aromatic wine exceptionally food friendly. Vegan friendly. (SRP $12.99)
- 2014 Le Petit Pas Pas Rouge: A beautiful garnet red color, with notes of fresh fruit mixed with spices and hints of licorice and smoke on the nose. Good length and freshness make this a pleasant, easy drinking wine. Vegan friendly. (SRP $16.99)
- 2012 Mas Janeil Côtes du Roussillon Villages: A concentrated nose of red fruit, fresh figs, regional herbs and black pepper segues to a silky, well-rounded mouthfeel that has an underlying smoky character. Vegan friendly. (SRP $24.99)
Farming biodynamically since the inception of Domaine de La Réserve d’O in 2005, Marie Chauffray maintains wine production that respects nature and all its inhabitants. With a barrier made from plantings of trees, bushes and flowers, Réserve d’O’s vineyards are protected from its non-organic neighbors. Furthermore, Chaffray follows the solar cycles and only bottles wine at the optimal time of day. Touting 95 points, the estate’s “Hissez O” is bottled at the end of the day to reinforce aging capacity. With a harvest performed completely by hand, as little intervention in the cellar as possible, and grapes that are transported by gravity, Domaine de La Réserve d’O encompasses unique factors not found in neighboring bottlings.
- 2012 Domaine de La Réserve d’O “Reserve d’O”: Lush notes of blueberries and black cherry mingle with tapenade and white pepper to leave a lasting impression. Hints of brine and floral characteristics are supported by a finely structured minerality. Ecocert certified organic. (SRP $29.99)
- 2011 Domaine de La Réserve d’O “Hissez O”: The stony, clay and limestone terroir is evident in the lively minerality of this ripe, full bodied bottling. Notes of raspberry, licorice, and smoked meat seamlessly intertwine leading to a long, pepper filled finish. Ecocert certified organic. (SRP $34.99)
“In over 20 years of business, we’ve maintained the tradition of not only knowing who our partners are, but understanding what they’re about,” concluded Bradshaw. “Walking through the Mas Janeil and Reserve d’O farms, getting dirty in the vineyard soils, seeing the vibrancy of organic farming, and spending time with winemakers as they show us the magic of what they do, is part of our commitment to the partnerships we secure.”
About Cape Classics
Cape Classics was co-founded by Andre Shearer in 1992 with a mission of bringing the crème de la crème of South Africa’s then-fledgling boutique wine industry to the American market. In 2013, Cape Classics expanded its portfolio to include wines from France, and now proudly represents 28 of the finest estates and labels from the regions. Cape Classics’ mission is to provide a unique range of selections that are exciting and delicious and that offer outstanding value.
