Domaine South
French Wine Tasting
Featuring Thomas Calder Selections
Special Guest, Allaina Nielsen of International Wines
Friday, July 17th, 4pm - 6pm
$20 per person
256-759-9952 to Reserve
The Wines
2025 Le Lievre Leucquois Blanc de Noir, Cotes Du Tour, France $26.99
The Méthode Traditionelle Leucquois Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut represents an enchanting expression of sophistication and refinement. Produced following the strict traditional method, this sparkling wine is made entirely from black grape varieties, which gives it a unique intensity and body.
Its color is a bright and intense pellet. On the nose, the bouquet is rich and complex, with notes of ripe red fruits that harmoniously blend with hints of yeast and toasted bread, a result of the long aging on the lees. The sip is vigorous yet refined, with a freshness that perfectly balances the structure. The fine and persistent bubbles add an additional level of elegance.
This Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut is ideal as an aperitif or paired with raw fish and seafood dishes, thanks to its extraordinary ability to enhance delicate flavors. It is also perfect for celebrating special occasions, offering a memorable tasting experience that pleasantly lingers on the palate.
2025 Le Lievre Auxerrois, Cotes Du Tour, France $24.99
This vintage Pinot Auxerrois comes from well-drained, east-facing clay-limestone slopes, sheltered from the humid westerly winds. These slopes are not subjected to intense heat, and this Lorraine grape variety, adapted to cooler temperatures, thrives in these conditions. Harvested by hand at the end of September and pressed immediately afterward, the Auxerrois grapes are fermented at a controlled temperature to preserve fruit and freshness. They are then vinified and aged on their lees separately in stainless steel tanks before being blended before bottling.
The Auxerrois grape variety was developed in Lorraine during the replanting of the vineyards after the phylloxera epidemic. Teams at the Laquenexy fruit research center adapted Pinot Blanc grapes to the clay-limestone soils and climate of Lorraine. After being stored in vine nurseries around Auxerre during the Franco-Prussian War, the Pinot from Laquenexy returned to Lorraine under the name Pinot Auxerrois.
2023 Benedicte et Stephane Tissot Patchwork Chardonnay, Jura, France $42.99
Suspending all expectations of “Chardonnay-ness.” The startling bouquet of tropical, spicy and savory tones — as well as the interplay of zestiness and creaminess on the palate — makes this is a multidimensional wine that is many things at once, yet not quite typical either.
This wine comes from the Arbois appellation within the greater Jura wine region of France — a mere 30 miles west of the Swiss border. Arbois was one of France’s “original six” protected appellations for wine production in France (1936). It has developed a sterling reputation for red and rosé wines (Pinot Noir, Poulsard and Trousseau) as well as white wines (Savagnin and Chardonnay). Jura wines offer a wide spectrum, including deliberately oxidized styles. They’re not for everyone. But winemaker Stéphane Tissot is a clear leader from the area. The estate was certified organic in 1999 and biodynamic in 2004. The wines are meticulous made and tend not to be in the oxidative style, making them — I feel — more accessible to a broader variety of wine drinkers. Also look for their “En Barberon” Côte du Jura Pinot Noir.
2025 Le Lievre Gris Pique-Nique Rose, France $21.99
Domaine Lelièvre is located in the Côtes de Toul, a small and historic region in Lorraine, perched along the Moselle River in northeastern France.
Lelièvres vin gris is a pale, almost white rosé made from Gamay and Pinot Noir, and it’s absolutely feather-light and fresh. Aromas of redcurrant, white strawberries, and citrus peel leap from the glass, while the palate is dry, crisp, and bright, with flavors of pink grapefruit and a stony mineral backbone shaped by the region’s Jurassic clay-limestone soils.
Lorraine’s identity has long been shaped by the ebb and flow of European power. Historically part of the Roman Empire, then caught between French and German rule for centuries, the region has endured repeated cultural and territorial upheaval. This shifting national identity has created a distinctly Franco-Germanic heritage, present in the language, cuisine, and especially in the wine. Though the vinification is classically French, the presence of Germanic slate combined with the region’s cooler climate lends a precision and minerality to the wine that echoes its German neighbors along the Mosel (yes, the same river as the Moselle just spelled differently).
“Gris Pique-Nique” is a non-vintage cuvée blending fresh wines from young vines with reserve wines held back from previous harvests. This careful blending tempers vintage variation and adds complexity, while also helping the domaine hedge against climate risks like spring frost and hail. Fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel, the wine stays sleek and focused. Its mechanical closure makes it especially easy to open anywhere you happen to be! Beach day or an actual picnic, anyone?
Joyful, unpretentious, and laced with cultural and personal depth, this bottle is a reminder that the most rewarding wines often come from the margins. Pair it with grilled trout, soft funky cheeses, or nothing but a smile on your face.
2025 Le Lievre Pinot Noir, Cotes Du Tour, France $26.99
Domaine Lelièvre was established in 1971 in the town of Lucey, within the Côtes de Toul, when Jean Lelièvre chose to vinify and bottle the family’s grapes rather than sell them to neighboring winemakers. The family cultivates Auxerrois, Gamay, and Pinot Noir, producing three still wines and one sparkling wine. Today, the domaine is run by brothers Vincent and David Lelièvre, whose passion for the Côtes de Toul appellation and dedication to their family’s legacy are undeniable.
Though the appellation only received AOC status in 1998, the region’s winemaking history stretches back centuries. The Romans first planted vines in the Moselle region of Gaul, cultivating them on the area's clay-limestone slopes. By 1860, vineyards had expanded to over 50,000 hectares. However, the region’s fortunes shifted in 1870 with the arrival of phylloxera, followed by the devastation of the Franco-German wars of 1870, 1914, and 1939. These hardships took a heavy toll on local vignerons, and by 1951, only 30 hectares of vineyards remained.
2023 Benedicte et Stephane Tissot DD Arbois Rouge, Jura, France $45.99
This lovely wine from the Tissot family is a blend of 25% Poulsard, 40% Trousseau, and 35% Pinot Noir. The Poulsard and Trousseau are hand de-stemmed & macerated for 3 months, while the Pinot is done for 3 weeks, whole-cluster. A long and slow fermentation in foudre and demi-muid ties this lovely wine up. It would make a really lovely pairing with Lamb kofta, and Babaganoush with pita.