Le Midi Newsletter!

LE MIDI UPDATES

Hello Le Midi subscribers!

We hope everyone has been enjoying the Chicago summer so far! We know lots of things are happening around the city, so we truly appreciate those who keep Le Midi in mind. This past Sunday’s Bastille Day festivities were so much fun, and we definitely intend to do continue the tradition annually, so mark your calendars now!

We have changed up a few by-the-glass selections on the list and Chef Suman has been working on a delicious orange and chocolate pots de crème for those who come in with a sweet-tooth. It’s a great way to end the evening with a glass of tawny port.

For those looking for a great wine-inspired cocktail, Steven has also come up with a refreshing Beaujolais Sour that has become very popular with our patio visitors on hot days. We make our own homemade sour mix from fresh lemon and lime juice then splash it into a rich Cru Beaujolais Gamay that adds more tannin and greater complexity than a fruitier Beaujolais Noveau. This is also a great option for those looking for a take on sweeter red wine as our other red by-the-glass pours are going to be dry.

We look forward to having you in, and have a great rest of your week!

Seth and Craig

LE MIDI WEBSITE

Glass Pour of the Week

Gallica "Terra Alta Vineyard" Albariño
Clements Hills, California, 2023
$24/glass

Every time I hear the name Gallica it takes me back to memories of shooting fast moving alien crafts in the 1980’s Billiard’s game Galaga, and it makes me smile; but, I digress.

Many of our readers may be familiar with the renowned Cakebread Winery which played a significant role in establishing high-quality winemaking in California during the 70s and 80s. While there is no professional connection between Cakebread and Gallica, winemaker Rosemary Cakebread (who is married to Bruce Cakebread) started cutting her teeth at the esteemed Inglenook and Spotswoode wineries and over the past 35 years has established her own unique style. Pursuing this vision, Rosemary founded Gallica Winery in 2007, crafting wines that represent her distinct approach and dedication to high-quality winemaking. Rosemary’s wines are known for their incredible elegance and are highly allocated with most going directly to her mailing list members. However, we are fortunate to offer this wine by the glass at Le Midi!

The 2023 Albariño perfectly showcases Rosemary’s refined and elegant ethos to winemaking. This bright and clear wine originates from the organic Terra Alta Vineyard in eastern Lodi managed by the famed Bokisch family. Fermented in stainless steel to maintain its aromatic character and high acidity, this refreshing summer wine features floral notes of honeysuckle and yellow flowers, alongside notes of white peaches, white plums, and a unique briny character. It boasts a long, clean, and elegant finish, and clocks in at a modest 12.8% ABV.

Gallica Winery is located in Napa Valley and focuses primarily on single-varietal red wines, so this Albariño is a stand out as it is the winery’s only white wine produced. Rosemary’s vision for Gallica is to craft organically farmed, single-vineyard wines that accurately depict the unique qualities of each vintage and the land from which they come. Le Midi received 30 bottles of this rare gem and we are delighted to share it with you for a short time!

Our Retail Promise to You!

Not only is Le Midi a great place to have a glass of wine and a small bite, we also aim to be your go-to wine store. We’ve worked hard to select what we feel are the “best of the best” producers from Europe and beyond. We pride ourselves on our customer service and believe the following promises will solidify Le Midi as your personal wine store.

Weekly new arrivals highlighted by our newsletter
Customized selections based on your palate
Always evolving e-commerce website
Curbside pick up

Featured Retail Offerings

Domaine Rolet
Chardonnay
Arbois, Jura Valley, 2021
($27.99)

This Chardonnay isn’t your average Jura Chardonnay. What I love about this organic producer is more of a penchant to producing Burgundian-style wines like you find in Meursault more than the abundantly nutty, oxidative style that most associate with most Jura producers. Arbois has the perfect cool-climactic conditions and unique mountainous schist soils to produce top-notch, age-worthy Chardonnays that fly under the radar next to its more popular neighbor Burgundy. Because the Jura valley is so small, production is very low, and prices are not always that much different from what you see from Burgundy, so this is a steal and a fantastic way to experience the region!

Vignobles Levet
Côte Rotie, 2021
($117.99)

This family operated winery has its roots firmly placed in the Côte Rotie appellation since the 1930s and is currently operated by the 4th generation female winemaker, Agnes Levet. These wine are highly sought-after and are unique in their delicate approach to the appellation’s otherwise famously massive Syrahs. The Levet style focuses on all old vines, minimizing oak usage while also allowing for extended and delicate skin macerations to showcase a clean and uncompromising focus on the quality of their fruit. That and a minimum cellaring of 3 years for all of their wines before release help maintain the strong reputation the Levet family has made for itself. The family’s entire production is around 12,000 bottles a year, and this Côte Rotie AOC bottling is the largest production of the few wines they make. It is a rare chance to try this famous producer, so feel free to open now or age for many more years! Only 6 bottles available.

Wine Tasting Events

We will come out with our August tastings soon!