MCF Rare Wine
The 'Infinitely Crazy' Sparkling Wine
As my newsletter from a couple of weeks ago demonstrated, we're not scared of selling very ambitious sparkling wines from places that don't say 'Champagne' on the label.
Well, here's one that tastes a lot like tête de cuvée Champagne, and is made from a classic Champagne varietal...
...but it's from Alsace.
Domaine Mann - Vignobles des 3 Terres has been around since the years following WWII, and is now led by third generation winemaker Sébastien Mann, who honed his winemaking skills at a rolodex of who's-who estates - Boxler, Barmes Buecher, Vouette et Sorbee, Gaillard, etc.
They craft incredibly complex, deeply textured and utterly classic expressions of Alsatian white and red wines, which absolutely deserve to be on your radar, but the upon hearing of their 'ambitiously priced, unbelievably delicious' 2014 (!) Cremant d'Alsace called Infiniment Fou, I knew I had to see what it was all about.
About a week later, we were here at the shop, swirling this mad sorcerer's elixir in our glass and, after the first whiff, I was like 98% positive that it was not only going to find a home on our shelf, but probably deserved to be singled out here in the newsletter.
Upon first sip...
...well...you're reading this newsletter now, so...
Seriously, though, as the name 'Infiniment Fou' (infinitely crazy) clearly states...
...this stuff is insane...
It's made entirely of granitic alluvial grown, biodynamic Chardonnay, which is harvested by hand. After a long and gentle pressing, it was fermented with ambient yeasts and aged on the fine lees for seven years, before being disgorged in 2022.
It has as an unbelievably textured mouthfeel, with a rich, lees-y complexity that expands across the palate with plenty of classically Alsatian aromatic fireworks.
Despite that rich, flowery profile that screams Alsace, there's a spicy/herbaceous nuance that clings to your taste buds thanks to the racy acidity the pulsates throughout.
The finish is all minerals, flowers and a refined nuttiness that reminds you that, yes, you're in Alsace, and not that other famous region...
(and all of that is, of course, followed by a visceral urge to take another sip)
This is crazy, yes...
...we love crazy...
...not sure what that says about us, but...
MANN VIGNOBLES des 3 TERRES
Cremant d'Alsace Infiniment Fou 2014
You may order by calling 212.255.8870.
Matt Franco
MCF Rare Wine, Ltd
249 West 13th Street NYC 10011
212.255.8870
Looking for a wine you loved from a past newsletter or a favorite you can't find anywhere? Email Raphael at raphael@mcf-rarewine.com, and we'll do our best to find it for you!
