Southbury Package Store

I must be honest; I had no idea this wine production area existed before two weeks ago. The area surrounding Marmande is known more for growing vegetables, especially tomatoes than grapevines. Elian Da Ros is a trailblazer and his Côtes du Marmandais makes a compelling argument for more attention to this region. As a child he watched as his father and grandfather grew grapes and sold them to the local cooperative winery and knew he wanted to be a winemaker. A few twists and turns along the way, including a stint at the revered Zind Humbrecht in Alsace, Elian began his own project in 1998. This is no small feat. He was the first to produce and bottle his own wine under the Côtes du Marmandais appellation. A blend of Abouriou (local varietal), Cabernet Franc and Merlot this wine is a true crowd pleaser. Packed with minerality with a deep concentration of earthiness and graphite, it’s super grippy with just the right amount of black fruit ripeness. You would be remiss to pass this value up.

“Wine is a party” (le vin es tune fete) – simply named, and frankly quite yummy. A daily drinker for any event. The taste? Like Beaujolais meets the Loire made by a Burgundy lover near Bordeaux — yes, it’s a mishmash, but a delicious one.

$19.98 Bottle