This looks to be a busy, busy week here at Weygandt Wines. We’re creeping closer to Thanksgiving, so we’ll start tasting turkey friendly wines. And on Friday, we have our 2007 Horizontal Burgundy tasting between noon and 7 pm. We’re really trying to squeeze in as much fun before the great American tradition of cramming your mouth with as much food and drink as possible, so drop by and see what we have to offer: Todd’s thoughts on what to serve with a turducken, Tim’s pairing with an oyster stuffing and Matt’s idea of what to do when there’s no more space in the gullet…
While the lineup may change a couple of times this week, this is what we’re starting off with (all sale items are good for this week only or while supplies last):
Domaine Albert Mann Pinot Blanc 2008 – Regular Price $17.99, Sale Price $14.99 – Alsace, France – 100% Pinot Blanc, 12.5% abv – The Barthelme brothers, winemaker Jacky and vitiiculturist Maurice, have now attained the recognition they deserve. Rated by Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate as in the top tier of Alsace producers, and One Star Rating in The Classement by Revue du Vin de France. From the Pinot Auxerrois, through all their expressive Grand Crus, to their rich, Selection Grains Noble, they portray their unique style consistently; beautiful delineation of flavors and precise textures, never heavy, clumsy or out of balance.
A bit of history. Maurice Barthelme married Albert Mann’s daughter, Marie-Claire, and gradually took over the domaine. He brought his brother Jacky into the operation In 1990. From Mann, there were Grand Cru Vineyards, Hengst, Steingrubler, Pfersigberg (for Tokay VV) and the wonderful Rosenberg Vineyard. From their mother (a member of the Blanck Family of Kaysersberg) they inherited the Schlossberg and Furstentum Vineyards (as well as the Altenbourg, adjoining the Furstentum).
Beginning in 1993, the Barthelme’s started a string of dazzling successes. The 1998′s continue this tradition, adding the character of the 1998 vintage to the Barthelme style: even more brilliant delineation from a more challenging, but in turn, rewarding “vintage of the vigneron.”
“The Barthelme brothers, two giants in physical stature, benefit from the ideal micro-climate of Colmar, producing wines that are rich, onctuous, endowed with significant residual sugar but well integrated in concentration as is typical of Hengst and Furstentum.” – Le Classement, 1999 Revue du Vin de France
Domaine de Poulvarel Costieres de Nimes Rose 2008 – Regular Price $12.99, Sale Price $10.99 – Rhone, France – 90% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 13% abv – Round and floral, this rose has hints of currant and strawberry fruit finish.
A single domaine Kir Royale consisting of:
Domaine du Vissoux Cremant de Bourgogne Brut Blanc de Blancs – Regular Price $25.99, Sale Price $21.99 – Burgundy, France – 100% Chardonnay, 12% abv – This sparkler is straw-yellow with golden tints. The bubbles are fine and form a delicate pearls around the rim of the glass. Citrus, floral and mineral aromas and flavors are partnered by a fresh elegant mouth feel, making a perfect balance between the strength of the aromas and the lightness required of this celebration drink. The limestone-clay soil the vines grow in is perfectly adapted to the Chardonnay grape variety.
and
Domaine du Vissoux Creme de Cassis – Regular Price $18.99, Sale Price $15.99 – Burgundy, France – 100% Black Currants, 19.85% abv – This cassis liqueur is home-made in a totally natural way from Pierre Chermette’s own plot of blackcurrants. On it’s own, the best Creme de Cassis we’ve ever tasted. With a nice sparkler, as good a Kir Royale as you can find.
Daniel Bouland Chiroubles 2008 – Regular Price $20.99, Sale Price $17.99 – Beaujolais, France – 100% Gamay, 13% abv – “The 2008 Chiroubles shows what a difference terroir can make: even though Bouland’s parcel of Chiroubles is immediately adjacent to his Morgon, soil and exposure are different, and the result is a bright, exuberant, white wine-like, terrifically vivacious tonic of salt- and citrus zest-tinged red raspberry and purple plum. This light, lithe wine is palate-staining in its concentration, but I would be inclined to enjoy it over the next couple of years.
“This year, not just one wine but an entire family of Daniel Bouland’s as yet still little-known wines is coming to the U.S., and they should not be missed!” – WA 91 points
Domaine Collotte Bourgogne Cuvee de Noble Souche 2007 – Regular Price $19.99, Sale Price $16.99 – Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir, 12.5% abv – “It was at the 2005 Grand Jours de Bourgogne. I was looking for excellent Burgundies at equally excellent value. Marsannay came to mind as a good candidate, but aside from a couple of well-known producers, I was disappointed in the quality of many. That is until I came upon Philippe Collotte. A tall, quiet man, looking a bit like Gary Cooper, but with a lot of passion to make superb wines just waiting to be unleashed. His 2004′s were good, especially the Marsannay Champsalomon, but his 2005′s are special. And it is not just the vintage that explians it. One can see lower yields, more selection before and at harvest, and for us he bottled everything unfiltered. The Marsannay Clos de Jeu 2005 is the top Marsannay I have ever tasted – I put 6 magnums into my personal cellar.
“As I alluded to above, 2005 is no fluke – Philippe’s were some of the best 2006′s I tasted in February 2007 and when you taste his 2006 Rosé de Marsannay, it will be hard to argue that one who got that much fruit in his Marsannay Rosé, must have done something special that vintage.
“On the technical sheets we will be more specific but with special note is his Bourgogne parcel, planted in 1947 (bottled unfiltered for us) and there are 4 parcels of 50 + year vines in his super-value Marsannay VV. It is fun to find people like Philippe Collotte.” – Peter Weygandt
Domaine des Soulanes Maury 2006 – Regular Price $24.99, Sale Price $21.99 – Roussillon, France – 100% Grenache Noir, 16% abv – Pipe tobacco and plummy dark fruits make up the aromatic profile of the 2006 Maury. Broad, softly-textured, and sweet, it reveals a personality that is redolent with chocolate-covered raspberries, plums, and cherries. This medium to full-bodied wine is produced entirely from Grenache Noir and was aged for five years in 600-liter barrels before being bottled unfiltered. This beauty should be drunk after a meal on its own or with dark fruit-based desserts or dark chocolate.
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