Greetings,
Special note to introduce you to a special winemaker and person, Paolo de Marchi of Isole e Olena. Paolo is an old friend and one of Italy's best winemakers and he will be in our store next Wed., to sample his extraordinary wines. Chianti Classico, Super Tuscan Cepparello, Chardonnay and more. This is a great opportunity to talk with a true master in his field and one of the nicest. Come and join us Wed evening the 23rd, from 5:00 til 6:00.
Five new French whites have just arrived I thought you might like. 1. "Les Rials" from the south west of France is an easy drinking, charming, light bodied delight for warm summer? eve's. The grape--the very obscure Loin de L'oel.$9.99 2. Macon-Uchizy, 100% Chardonnay, it dispalys a soft easy entry but finishes with beautiful butterscotch and spice. $14.00 3. Hautes Cotes de Beaune Blanc. A classy, very typically French white Burgundy from the highly acclaimed 06' vintage at a great price---$19.99. 06' produced relatively soft wines with decent acidity and for immediate enjoyment. I love those words. Next a classic Chablis from Domaine Defaix that shows typical minerality with lemon and other citrus flavors. Try, obviously, with oysters or any shellfish and richer fish. Finally, a beautifully crafted Montagny from Boillot. Elegant, perfectly balanced and delicious. It is a eye closing (know what I mean?) type of wine. $29.99--Don't wait.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
New Arrivals
Hi,
Some new and interesting wines have arrived this week that I thought you'd like to know about.
First is the very pretty, Le Pas de la Beaume from Cave de Cairanne in the southern Rhone valley. A cepage of 76%Grenache, 8% Syrah, 8% carignan, 8% Cinsault it has a nice red berry and garrique (oak,lavender thyme etc. from Provence)aromas. In the mouth the wine exhibits soft and clean fruit flavors with nice drying tannins on the finish. Typically French and a very good everyday wine for spring barbecue. $8.99
Next a clever package and a nice French blend called "Le Coq Rouge". A blend of Syrah and Cab. with splash of Merlot, it is easy to drink and easier to enjoy. Black cherry nose with a wiff of black pepper it has soft, smooth tannins that carry the blackberry and pepper flavors nicely. Its twin sister white is called "Le Poule Blanche" a blend of Chard, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier and is crisp and fruity with a slight touch of oak on the finish. Both from the South of France and very well priced at $9.99 each. $8.99 /bottle 12 or more.
For the serious Chateaneuf du Pape collector the just arrived 05' Lucien Barrot et Fils ( 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre) at $37.99 is a steal that should be in your cellar. Come to think of it with the forecast this weekend, open one up Sat., make a roast leg of lamb, and forget the weather. " Living well is the best revenge".
Will be away from Sat. night until Thurs. Store will be open reg. hours. No tasting tues. however.
Some new and interesting wines have arrived this week that I thought you'd like to know about.
First is the very pretty, Le Pas de la Beaume from Cave de Cairanne in the southern Rhone valley. A cepage of 76%Grenache, 8% Syrah, 8% carignan, 8% Cinsault it has a nice red berry and garrique (oak,lavender thyme etc. from Provence)aromas. In the mouth the wine exhibits soft and clean fruit flavors with nice drying tannins on the finish. Typically French and a very good everyday wine for spring barbecue. $8.99
Next a clever package and a nice French blend called "Le Coq Rouge". A blend of Syrah and Cab. with splash of Merlot, it is easy to drink and easier to enjoy. Black cherry nose with a wiff of black pepper it has soft, smooth tannins that carry the blackberry and pepper flavors nicely. Its twin sister white is called "Le Poule Blanche" a blend of Chard, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier and is crisp and fruity with a slight touch of oak on the finish. Both from the South of France and very well priced at $9.99 each. $8.99 /bottle 12 or more.
For the serious Chateaneuf du Pape collector the just arrived 05' Lucien Barrot et Fils ( 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre) at $37.99 is a steal that should be in your cellar. Come to think of it with the forecast this weekend, open one up Sat., make a roast leg of lamb, and forget the weather. " Living well is the best revenge".
Will be away from Sat. night until Thurs. Store will be open reg. hours. No tasting tues. however.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Spanish Superlatives
Hi,
Thinking about the new Spanish wines I've been introduced to the last couple months and thought I'd share some conclusions. When I opened three months ago I thought my Spanish section would be fairly small. I liked what I had tried from Spain but naively thought I had seen most of the "good stuff" (Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorat, etc). The reeducation of Eric has been fast and very enjoyable as I've been shown wonderful wines from Bierzo, Jumilla, Mentrida, Campo de Borja, and others regions not previously "important". Lets look at a few.
First and foremost the elegant "Petalos" from the Descendents De J. Palacios, the actual winery name. Guess some years back the son of J. Palacios, Alvaro, went his separate way from a prestigeous Rioja wine family and struck out alone. I guess it wasn't a pleasant separation. Years later after traveling France and working in Bordeaux, including a stint at Petrus, Alvaro returned to Spain looking for the the perfect place to begin his own venture. After investigating almost every sq. mile looking for the perfect combination of grapes, climate, and land he settled in Bierzo, in the N.W. corner of Spain near the Atlantic coast. An old winemaking region, Bierzo suffered from antiquated techniques and low quality products. No longer as Alvaro has brought some Bordeaux techniques (French Oak, less wood ageing, lower yields)) to the region and its Mencia grape. His winery named after his father after a rapprochement, honors his family and here produces a truely fine wine. Elegant and polished it shows nice cherry and mineral aromas, smooth entry with berry and mineral flavors. beautiful mouth feel and a high toned, long, flavorful finish. I think you will enjoy this "unusual" wine as much as I. Lovely reason to spend $26.99.
Next the soon to be gone, "Tres Patas" from Mentrida, near Madrid. Not as much story but just as much wine the 75% Garnacha and 25% Syrah is a deep ruby mouthfull of surprises. I try to describe a big wine that is not in the least heavy and people look perplexed. Try this and see the concept--light and lively on the palate but with an incredible melange of flavors that are at once pure and clean with red berry and strawberry. Long, satisfying, complex finish. Bad news for this "steal" at $19.99 is I just bought the last 3 cases in the State. Come in or call cause 36 bottles won't last as I'm buying 6.
Don't forget Thurs at 6:30 we will have "open anything night:. Where we pay $20 per person and pool our resources to buy any wine or two in the store to taste. Cepparello anyone? Sandrone, Barolo? La Coulee de Serrant? Fay Cab.?
Thinking about the new Spanish wines I've been introduced to the last couple months and thought I'd share some conclusions. When I opened three months ago I thought my Spanish section would be fairly small. I liked what I had tried from Spain but naively thought I had seen most of the "good stuff" (Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorat, etc). The reeducation of Eric has been fast and very enjoyable as I've been shown wonderful wines from Bierzo, Jumilla, Mentrida, Campo de Borja, and others regions not previously "important". Lets look at a few.
First and foremost the elegant "Petalos" from the Descendents De J. Palacios, the actual winery name. Guess some years back the son of J. Palacios, Alvaro, went his separate way from a prestigeous Rioja wine family and struck out alone. I guess it wasn't a pleasant separation. Years later after traveling France and working in Bordeaux, including a stint at Petrus, Alvaro returned to Spain looking for the the perfect place to begin his own venture. After investigating almost every sq. mile looking for the perfect combination of grapes, climate, and land he settled in Bierzo, in the N.W. corner of Spain near the Atlantic coast. An old winemaking region, Bierzo suffered from antiquated techniques and low quality products. No longer as Alvaro has brought some Bordeaux techniques (French Oak, less wood ageing, lower yields)) to the region and its Mencia grape. His winery named after his father after a rapprochement, honors his family and here produces a truely fine wine. Elegant and polished it shows nice cherry and mineral aromas, smooth entry with berry and mineral flavors. beautiful mouth feel and a high toned, long, flavorful finish. I think you will enjoy this "unusual" wine as much as I. Lovely reason to spend $26.99.
Next the soon to be gone, "Tres Patas" from Mentrida, near Madrid. Not as much story but just as much wine the 75% Garnacha and 25% Syrah is a deep ruby mouthfull of surprises. I try to describe a big wine that is not in the least heavy and people look perplexed. Try this and see the concept--light and lively on the palate but with an incredible melange of flavors that are at once pure and clean with red berry and strawberry. Long, satisfying, complex finish. Bad news for this "steal" at $19.99 is I just bought the last 3 cases in the State. Come in or call cause 36 bottles won't last as I'm buying 6.
Don't forget Thurs at 6:30 we will have "open anything night:. Where we pay $20 per person and pool our resources to buy any wine or two in the store to taste. Cepparello anyone? Sandrone, Barolo? La Coulee de Serrant? Fay Cab.?
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