For today’s Fix, we have a special treat for Open Tuesday members – Michel Gonet vintage Champagne at a fantastic price!

I know what you’re thinking: “Wait, wait, wait, isn’t this wine French? And isn’t Open Tuesday an Italian outfit that leans on local connections to get members access to great pricing on unique, small-batch Italian wines?”

Yes, all true. But why be rigid? When opportunity knocks, and we can offer something special like this wine, we like to be flexible. 

Our friend Alessandro Pepe at Rimessa Roscioli in Rome made this offer possible. Rimessa sells more Michel Gonet than any other Champagne during the holidays. As a result, Alessandro was able to get us access to a large enough parcel for an Open Tuesday “Fix” offer.

The December holiday season is coming up. There’s no better time to open a few bottles of exquisite vintage Champagne, especially at this price.

Michel Gonet - 2017 “Les 3 Terroirs” Extra Brut Champagne ($39.95)

Bottom Line - Michel Gonet’s Les 3 Terroirs is a sensational dry sparkling wine made with Chardonnay grapes (blanc de blancs) from three different Champagne villages, Mesnil sur Oger, Montgueux, and Vindey. It's classically styled and fresh, showing rich, focused fruit that lingers on the palate, relentlessly tempting additional sips. My notes: “Typical blanc de blancs notes of lemon, apple, toast, almond, chalk, wet stones; grippy minerality with substantial length; clean, vivacious bubbles. Splendid Champagne.”

Food pairing: My favorite food with Champagne is french fries, although just about anything fried pairs with good sparkling wine. When in Rome–or wanting to be in Rome–go with a plate of mixed supplí (rice croquettes). Or a frittura di verdure miste (mixed fried vegetable appetizer plate.)

Our guy in Rome, Mr. Gianluca Torelli, claims food and wine pairings don’t get any better than good Champagne served with mozzarella di bufala. That may even rival french fries, come to think of it.

Open Tuesday has the lowest price in the U.S. on this wine.

This Week’s Offers (Re-up)

Du Nemu - 2021 Cheló Rosato ($18.95)

Bottom Line - Du Nemu’s Cheló is a graceful, incredibly refreshing rosato (rosé) made in western Liguria, very near Italy’s border with France. As you might expect, this wine has a lot in common with rosé from Provence. Cheló is crisp and pretty, with a firm backbone and subtle flavor depth. I know of no better aperitivo wine, especially at this price. My notes: “Rosemary and sage with a dash of bright cranberry; pale color; nothing sugary; delicate fruit with an underlying zing of acidity; salinity on the close. Very pretty Mediterranean rosé!”

Francesco Boschis - 2020 “Vigna dei Prey” Dogliani Superiore ($21.95)

Bottom Line - The 2020 Boschis Vigna dei Prey is a rich and juicy single-vineyard organic red wine made with dolcetto grapes in the high-altitude Dogliani appellation, just a few kilometers south of Barolo. Dogliani turns out the greatest Dolcetto wines in Italy, and Boschis is one of the region’s elite producers. The wines are consistently expressive, complex, invigorating, and a great value. My notes: “Blackberry, dark cherry, ink, iron, cacao; savory notes dominate, but the fruit is exuberant too; smooth but firm tannins; no overt oak. Peak Dolcetto!”

Francesco Boschis - 2021 Barbera (Langhe) ($17.95)

Bonus Wine - The 2021 Boschis Langhe Barbera is a crowd-pleasing, thirst-quenching organic red wine that will leave you wishing you had ordered a few more bottles. It’s extremely versatile at the table, capable of pairing with both turkey and red meat, and everything in between. It doesn’t even miss a beat with soft cheeses. Your upcoming Christmas or holiday feast would be the perfect time to employ the charms of this Boschis Langhe Barbera. My notes: “Crushed raspberry, blueberry, and metallic notes on the nose; bright acidity, with plenty of luscious fruit for balance; lightly tannic yet the wine still feels substantial. Generous Barbera!”

To order, just click the one of the links above and follow the prompts.

Happy Tuesday,

Chris and Rob

Open Tuesday Wines S.r.l.s.

Via Augusto Anfossi 19, 20135 Milano - Italy