Please join us this Saturday, July 31st, at Weygandt Wines, from 1PM until 4PM, for a tasting and discussion with Peter Weygandt. In addition, all of the wines poured will be on sale between 15-30% off! The Lineup:

Georg Mosbacher Forster Elster Riesling Kabinett Trocken 2007,  Regular Price $26.99, Sale Price $19.99 – Pfalz, Germany – 100% Riesling – 12% abv – Organic - “Rich, round and spicy, offering grapefruit, nutmeg and white pepper aromas and flavors, with a savory aftertaste. Nicely balanced and long. Drink now through 2015. 50 cases imported.” – Rated 90 Points, Wine Spectator.

Tement Sauvignon Blanc Steirische Klassik 2007, Regular Price $24.99, Sale Price $18.99 – Sytria, Austria – 100% Sauvignon Blanc – 12.5% abv – Organic - Southern Styria is a traditional production area which enjoys excellent growing conditions, especially for white grapes. For this reason, 95% of the vineyard area is devoted to white varieties and 5% to red wine grapes (Blauer Zweigelt). The Tement Estate lies on a narrow plateau, into which the slope of the Zieregg cru gently flattens. Tement’s ‘classic’ Sauvignon Blanc shows ripe tropical fruit flavors with sweet herbs in the finish.

Chateau Castigno Saint-Chinian Blanc 2007, Regular Price $25.99, Sale Price $19.99 – Languedoc, France – 90% Grenache Blanc, 10% Roussanne – 14% abv – Organic - With an average of 25 years for the vines, these grapes are grown on clay and limestone soils. Vinification is in 100% new oak barrels. The color is golden-yellow. The nose is of exotic fruits and an and impression of candied citrus. The palate is strong, round, well-balanced by firm acidity.

Domaine du Vissoux Beaujolais Rosé “Les Griottes” 2009, Regular Price $16.99, Sale Price $13.99 – Beaujolais, France – 100% Gamay – 12.5% abv – Organic - A light-bodied, cherry-scented rosé made from 100% Gamay. Domaine du Vissoux may just be the most perfect expression in my whole portfolio of what I seek, for the very ability to be natural and great, at once.

Giovanna Ciacci Rosso di Montalcino 2005, Regular Price $26.99, Sale price $22.99 – Tuscany, Italy – 100% Sangiovese – 14% abv – Organic - The Ciacci family has been growers in the area of Sant’Antimo for centuries. The estate dates back 800 years and once totaled 700 hectares (nearly 1700 acres) in size. It has been divided over the generations (there are several producers named Ciacci, now). Giovanna markets most of her production under another label, through another importer and the style there is fairly modern. But Giovanna is at heart a traditionalist and produces, under the name Giovanna Ciacci, a limited quantity of traditionally crafted wines. A perfect fit for us. The Rosso is younger vines, less ideally situated parcels of Brunello di Montalcino. The 2005 is beautifully balanced and long, and a value.

Chateau Castigno “Secret des Dieux” Saint-Chinian 2007, Regular Price $25.99, Sale price $19.99 – Languedoc, France – 50% Syrah, 30% Carignan, 25% Grenache, 5% Mourvedre – 13.5% abv – Organic - Secret des Dieux is grown on clay and limestone soils (mainly limestone for the Grenache). The average age of the vines here is 25 years (but for the Carignan the vines are 100 years old). Deeply saturated dark red color. The nose gives refined impressions of red fruit and garigue. The palate is rich and generous with well-integrated tannins.

Sale prices last through July 31st. No other offers may be applied.

Please join us at Weygandt Wines on Saturday, June 26th as we host a tasting of dry Reislings and Gruner Veltliners from some of Austria’s best producers, from 1PM-4PM.

Let’s face it. It’s hot outside. Really hot. And summer’s only just begun! So maybe we should take a moment to rethink this whole idea of grilling hunks of red meat and serving them on the back porch alongside a full-bodied red wine (we can rethink this but certainly not dismiss the idea!)

Something more refreshing, chilled, dry and white is in order to partner with good food that’s just a bit lighter. Grilled seasonal vegetables, seafood sausages, white meat, fish and shellfish. Austrian whites, Rieslings and Gruner Veltliners are ideal accompaniments. Their complex flavors give them the richness to stand up to a variety of foods, and their crisp dryness make them especially refreshing.

So when choosing your menu for this weekend, spend a few moments pondering the perfect wine selection. Or, better yet, come in to the shop and sample some excellent, limited production wines and pick up a few bottles or a case.

Through June 26, 2010, all Austrian wines will be discounted 15% off their regular retail price for single bottles, and 20% by the case, mixed or matched. SALE ENDS 8PM JUNE 26, 2010. The Lineup:

Josef Schmid Riesling Vom Urgestein Bergterrassen 2007, Regular Price $24.99, Sale Price $21.24 – Kremstal, Austria – 100% Riesling – 13% abv – Sustainable – Offers a floral, spicy aroma, with intense Granny Smith apple, peach and pear flavors. Slate and pepper flavors fill the finish. Drink now through 2012. 833 cases made.

Josef Schmid Riesling Pfaffenberg Reserve 2007, Regular Price $29.99, Sale Price $25.49 – Kremstal, Austria – 100% Riesling – 13.5% abv – Sustainable – Rich, well-concentrated flavors of peach and apricot, with hints of tropical fruit, give this plenty of punch. The long, spice-filled finish features notes of mineral and cream. Drink now through 2012. 250 cases made.

Kurt Angerer Riesling Ametzberg 2007, Regular Price $26.99, Sale Price $22.94 – Kamptal, Austria – 100% Riesling – 14% abv – Sustainable - Concentrated tropical fruit flavors of mango and pineapple fill this rich Riesling. There’s a ripe appley note as well, with intriguing savory herbal elements. This really hums on the creamy finish. Drink now through 2015. 267 cases made. – Rated 93 points, Wine Spectator

Nothnagl Grüner Veltliner Ried Steinborz Federspiel 2007, Regular Price $16.99, Sale Price $14.44 – Wachau, Austria – 100% Grüner Veltliner – 12% abv – Sustainable - Medium-bodied, with pear and green peach flavors. Finishes with plenty of vanilla and spice. Drink now.

Buchegger Grüner Veltliner Gebling 2008, Regular Price $21.99, Sale Price $18.69 – Kremstal, Austria – 100% Grüner Veltliner – 13% abv – Sustainable - Starts off a little fat, but gains focus with concentrated flavors of Fuji apple, pear, lentil and spice. Cream-filled finish. Drink now. 50 cases imported.

Pichler-Krutzler 2007 Grüner Veltliner Superin, Regular Price $57.99, Sale Price $49.29 – Wachau, Austria – 100% Grüner Veltliner – 13.5% abv – Organic - From sandy, eroded Urgestein vineyards just upstream but very different in character from the gravelly, alluvial Klostersatz – combines rich pit fruits, a glossy texture, and a plush sense of stuffing with piquant nuttiness, white pepper, and saline and wet stone minerality. This should prove versatile and satisfying for at least 4-5 years in bottle.

Trip to the local butcher that only sells prime cuts? Check. Scrutinizing the perfect catch with the best fishmonger in town? Check. Farmer’s Market for fresh local produce? Check. Countless hours of prep, marinating, more prep and finally cooking and/or grilling? Check. We spend countless hours on making sure every last detail of our backyard bbqs is taken care of, but when it comes to what to serve with these carefully crafted culinary creations, we often fall short. So let us help you take on the sometimes daunting task of picking out the right wines for your next outdoor event. Whether you’re looking for something to sip on the porch, or what to serve with your freshly caught rockfish or even something to wash down a perfectly grilled hot dog, we’ve got you covered.

And on Saturday, June 12, from 1-4 pm, please join our importer, Peter Weygandt, in the shop to taste some of the perfect hot weather wines. All of these wines will be discounted 15% off their regular retail price for a single bottle and 20% off a mixed or matched case. In addition to the sale on the bottles that we are pouring tastes of, we are extending the special pricing to any of the wines of the producers that we are featuring. The entire portfolios of Bonnet-Huteau, Marof, Birgit Eichinger, Clos de l’Origine and Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy will be on sale. So stop by and taste some great summer sippers with Peter Weygandt! The Lineup:

Bonnet-Huteau Muscadet de Sevre et Maine Sur Lie La Levaudiere 2009, Regular Price $12.99, Sale Price $11.04 – Loire, France – 100% Muscadet – 12% abv – Biodynamic - Light, bright straw. Dusty minerals, quince and lemon zest on the nose, with a hint of white flowers adding complexity. Dry, sharply focused citrus and mineral flavors show a weightier aspect in the mid-palate and pick up a hint of musky herbs with air. Finishes clean and brisk. – Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar

Marof Renski Rizling, Regular Price $18.99, Sale Price $16.14 – Mackovci, Slovenia – 100% Riesling – 12% abv – Sustainable - Marof’s 2007 Renski Riesling is simply one of the ten or dozen finest Riesling wines I can recall tasting from outside of the greater Rhine basin or Austria. A gorgeous aromatic display of smoke-tinged apricot, Meyer lemon, apple blossom, and rowan leads to a silken-textured, infectiously juicy palate that makes a virtue of its relative looseness by conveying an airy elegance. Apricot kernel, lime zest, and an amazingly savory underlying sense of meat broth add complexity, and the interchange of flavors with which this wine finishes is positively vibratory. I suspect it will be best relished over the next 12-18 months, but there’s really no way of knowing absent any track record. – Rated 91 points, David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate

Birgit Eichinger Grüner Veltliner Qualitätswein Trocken Kamptal Wechselberg 2008, Regular Price $22.99, Sale Price $19.54 – Kamptal, Austria – 100% Gruner Veltliner – 12.5% abv – Organic - Powerful, with concentrated grapefruit, Asian pear and gooseberry flavors that are supported by plenty of crisp acidity. Very vibrant and rich on the buttercream- and spice-filled finish. Drink now through 2015. 50 cases imported. – Rated 90 points, Kim Marcus, Wine Spectator

Clos de l’Origine Les Quilles Libres Vin de Pays des Cotes Catalanes Blanc 2007, Regular Price $23.99, Sale Price $20.39 – Roussillon, France – 80% Grenache Gris, 20% Grenache Blanc – 13% abv – Organic - The l’Origine 2007 Les Quilles Libres white is from Grenache Gris in both schist and chalk-clay terroirs of Maury (plus whatever bit of Grenache blanc may have been unavoidably harvested along with it), and was fermented for two months and aged in used barriques. An overlay of barrel-engendered lanolin and coconut in the nose segues into toasted nuts and grain and musky, narcissus-like scents. Firm and refreshing on the palate, it displays toasted nut, coconut, lanolin, lemon zest and brine, finishing long on piquant nuttiness, invigorating zest, but without the clarity or depth of the l’Original cuvee, and with an aura of oxidative evolution that some tasters may find slightly off-putting. This will demand careful pairing and I would advise exploring the options within the coming year. Inexperienced as I am with this estate I could easily end up being fooled by this wine’s potential. But given its low sulfur, it definitely requires vigilant, cool care. – Rated 88 points, David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate

Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy Sancerre Terre de Maimbray Rose 2009, Regular Price $24.99, Sale Price $21.24 – Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Organic - Medium red color. Mineral-driven aromas of redcurrant, strawberry and rose, with notes of orange peel and herbs adding complexity. Dry, focused and pure, with tangy red fruit flavors and good mineral bite. Impressive for its elegance and understatement; the finish is brisk and focused but just a touch dry. – Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar

On Saturday, May 8th, 2010, from 12PM – 4PM, Weygandt Wines welcomes you to a tasting of a selection of our recent rosé wine arrivals.

Rosé is one of those everything sort of wines . . . that is to say, that it goes well with nearly everything! With the aromas of juicy red fruit and the texture and dryness of a fresh white, Rosés are the perfect go-to warm weather wines to accompany anything from light fair to grilled meats . . . If you’re not a convert yet, come in on Saturday for our free tasting and we are sure that we’ll change your mind! And besides, the world always looks a little better through rosé colored glasses!

Our In-Stock Rosé Selections
Domaine Les Aphillanthes Cotes-du-Rhone Rosé 2009, 60% Cinsault, 20% Grenache, 15% Cunoise, 5% Mourvedre. $13.99 by the bottle

Rive Gauche Chinon Rosé 2009, 100% Cabernet Franc. $15.99 by the bottle

Domaine les Grands Bois Cotes du Rhone “Cuvee les Trois Soeurs” Rosé 2009, 75% Grenache, 15% Carignan, 5% Syrah. $13.99 by the bottle

Buchegger Pinot Noir Niederosterreich Rosé 2009, Austria. 100% Pinot Noir. $16.99 by the bottle

Chateau Mourgues du Gres Fleur d’Eglantine Costieres de Nimes Rosé 2009, 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 10% Carignan. $13.99 by the bottle

Chateau Mourgues du Gres Les Galets Roses Costieres de Nimes Rosé 2009, 60% Syrah, 40% Grenache. $15.99 by the bottle

Pierre-Marie Chermette Les Griottes Beaujolais Rosé 2009, 100% Gamay. $16.99 by the bottle

Chateau de Manissy Tavel “Cuvee des Lys” Rosé 2009, 60% Grenache, 30% Clairette, 10% Syrah. $18.99 by the bottle

Domaine Duseigneur Lirac Rosé 2009, 50% Cinsault, 37% Mourvedre, 7% Clairette, 3% Grenache, 3% Syrah. $16.99 by the bottle

Domaine La Bastide Blanche Bandol Rosé 2009, 70% Mourvedre, 8% Grenache, 22% Cinsault. $22.99 by the bottle*

Chateau de Baumelles Bandol Rosé 2009, 30% Mourvedre, 36% Cinsault, 34% Grenache. $22.99 by the bottle*

Domaine Charvin Cotes du Rhone Rosé 2009, 80% Grenache, 20% Bourboulenc. $18.99 by the bottle*

*arriving at the shop late this week

Save Money When You Buy A Case or More
10% Off Mixed Cases
15% Off Matched Cases

Thanks to all who participated in our tasting with the incomparable Thierry Brouin on Saturday. His wines from his “quasi-monopole” (his words–he owns 99.5% of the vineyards) are both forward and elegant, silky and powerful. This was a real treat to taste his wines and even more so to get to know such a dedicated winemaker and kind man. But enough groveling–we have business to attend to. This week’s forecast is calling for beautiful heat. Not the oppressive, mid-summer pea soup kind, but the mid-8os bright sunshine type. The perfect weather for something cold and pink. So, along with a crisp Gruner Veltliner and an outstanding Gigondas, we’ll pour a couple of rosés so that you can enjoy the few gorgeous days that this are offers to us each spring. The Lineup:

Nothnagl Gruner Veltliner Ried Steinborz Federspiel 2007, $16.99/btl – Wachau, Austria – 100% Gruner Veltliner – 12% abv – Sustainable - Medium-bodied, with pear and green peach flavors. Finishes with plenty of vanilla and spice.

Domaine Collotte Marsannay Rosé 2009, $18.99/btl – Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Sustainable - With a beautiful red current hue and a concentrated nose of peach nectar, this rosé is soft and fruity, backed by good strength and liveliness. The perfect accompaniment to charcuterie!

Domaine Les Grand Bois Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Les Trois Soeurs Rosé 2009, $13.99/btl – Burgundy, France – 75% Grenache, 15% Carignan, 5% Syrah -14.5 % abv – Sustainable - Black cherry and bright strawberry highlight this blend with a finish that belies it’s fresh and intense, dry, long-lasting finish. Try it as an aperitif or with almost all foods. Great with Asian spices.

Domaine St.-Damien Gigondas Vieilles Vignes 2006, $27.99/btl – Rhone, France – 90% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and Carignan – 14.5% abv – Sustainable - The well-made 2006 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes’ deep ruby/purple hue is followed by aromas of black cherries, raspberries, spring flowers, earth, and spice. Not as extravagantly rich as the 2007, it is a medium-bodied, well-balanced wine to consume over the next 7-8 years. Proprietor Joel Saurel’s goal is to produce Gigondas as fine as those fashioned by the appellation’s two superstars, Domaine Santa Duc and Chateau St.-Cosme. An estate to watch, Saint-Damien produces three sensational cuvees of Gigondas as well as two stunning, value-priced Cotes du Rhones, which readers should be buying by the trunkful. As one might expect, the 2007 Gigondas look very strong, but Saurel also succeeded in 2006, a difficult vintage in Gigondas. – WA 90 points

Thanks to all who made it by the shop on a beautiful early spring day this past Saturday to meet the wonderfully affable Micheal Gerin of Jean-Michel Gerin. (We know that technically winter did not succomb to spring until midnight Saturday, but the day was nice enough to take a pass on a technicality.) Next Saturday, we will have one of the undoubtedly great winemakers of the Priorat region of Spain in our shop to pour and talk about her wines. Sara Perez of Mas Martinet will be here, probably between 1 and 4 pm, but we’ll give you a definite schedule sometime in the next couple of days. Meanwhile, we’ll continue to pour our normal assortment of wines between 4 and 7 pm from Monday thru Friday. This week, we’ll offer two bottles under $11, a 90 point wine under $13 and a 91 point wine under $23. The lineup:

Chateau Font-Mars Picpoul de Pinet 2008, $10.99/btl – Languedoc, France – 100% Picpoul – 12.5% abv – Font-Mars – with its coat of arms flanked by dinosaurs, an allusion to fossilized eggs found on the property – once again offers a distinctively delicious wine with their 2008 Coteaux du Languedoc Picpoul de Pinet, smelling of honeydew melon and passion fruit; refreshing, sappy and stimulatingly bitter in its notes of green apple and melon rind, and guaranteed to improve the contents of any refrigerator over the next 6-9 months.

Weingut Trapl Gruner Veltliner 2008, $15.99/btl – Carnuntum, Austria – 100% Gruner Veltliner – 11.5% abv – White grapefruit that lingers for a considerable amount of time given the price point. Finishes with an abundance of mineral and a touch of chalk.

Domaine La Bastide Syrah Vin de Pays d’Hauterive Les Genets Vieilles Vignes 2007, $12.99/btl – Languedoc, France – 100% Syrah – 14.5% abv – The 2007 Syrah Vieilles Vignes came in at close to 15% alcohol, yet its wonderfully-concentrated, brown-spiced, sweetly-ripe cassis, black cherry, and purple plum retain a refreshing brightness and are not in the least marred by bitterness or heat. Anything this wine lacks in complexity it makes up for in seamlessness and generosity, not to mention ridiculously good value. Enjoy it over the next 2-3 years. – WA 90 points

Domaine Duseigneur Lirac Antares 2007, $22.99/btl – Rhone, France – 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre – 14.5% abv – A bigger, richer offering, the 2007 Lirac Antares is a blend of 60% Grenache and equal parts Mourvedre and Syrah. The Grenache is aged in tank, and the other two varietals are kept in barrel. In keeping with the style of this vintage, it possesses plenty of freshness and ripeness in addition to deep black raspberry and black cherry fruit, licorice, smoke, and garrigue notes. This dense, medium to full-bodied, elegant as well as substantial Lirac should drink well for 5-6 years. This biodynamically-farmed vineyard, which has Philippe Cambie as its consultant, is a sleeper selection for value and high quality. – WA 91 points

We need to squeeze in a few wines to taste before our big Jean-Michel Gerin Cote Rotie Tasting on Saturday (details to come). We thought to match the changing weather, we’d pour a couple of delightfully refreshing, wallet-friendly Gruner Veltliners and two sub-$20 reds with bright, fresh fruit flavors. The lineup:

Markowitsch Gruner Veltliner Schanzacker 2008, $15.99/btl – Carnuntum, Austria – 100% Gruner Veltliner – 12% abv – There’s plenty of fresh herb and green peach notes in this light white. A refreshing minerality finishes this delightful sipper. Drink now.

Soellner Gruner Veltliner Danubio 1-Liter 2008, $16.99/btl – An herbal style, with straightforward fresh-cut apple flavors and a medium finish. A bit more bang for the buck considering the larger format bottle. Drink now. 500 cases imported.

Chateau de La Bonneliere Chinon 2007, $17.99/btl – Loire, France – 100% Cabernet Franc – 13% abv – This displays a satisfying amalgam of bitter-edged black fruits, toasted nuts, salt, and herbs with positively lip-smacking sappiness and a tart, but persistently invigorating finish. Plan on enjoying it over the next couple of years.

Markowitsch Blaufrankisch Carnuntum Spitzerberg 2007, $19.99/btl – Carnuntum, Austria – 100% Gruner Veltliner – 12% abv – Medium-bodied, with fresh and lively red berry and plum flavors that show an elegant side. Spicy finish features notes of beef and pepper. Drink now. – WS 88 points

What to taste, what to taste? Here at the shop, we often hear the question, “How do you decide which wines to use for your tastings?” And like many questions , there are many right answers (unless you’re a mathematician). Some of the wines we choose are new to the shop, so we want to try them out ourselves. Some have been requested by our regulars (yes, we do listen). Some have been collecting dust because we have been neglectful. And others just seem right at the time. Whatever the reason, we try and open new wines every week, and this week is no exception. The Lineup:

Tement Sauvignon Blanc Grassnitzberg 2007, $39.99/btl – Styria, Austria – 100% Sauvignon Blanc – 13% abv – Fermented in tank and matured in larger barrels, Tement’s 2007 Sauvignon Blanc Grassnitzberg is cooling and minty in personality yet with a glossy texture and lovely cling. Another year in bottle may bring more complexity, but this very proportional and refreshing Sauvignon should be worth following for 2-3 years. – WA 87 points

Chateau Mourgues du Gres Vin de Pays du Gard Blanc Terre d’Argence 2007, $15.99/btl – Rhone, France – 50% Viognier, 50% Roussanne – A blend of equal parts Viognier and Roussanne, a small percentage fermented in new wood, the very good 2007 Terre d’Argence blanc is surprisingly restrained compared to the Galets Dores. It offers abundant amounts of white currant, honeysuckle, and apricot notes in a medium-bodied, dry, refreshing style. – WA 87 points

Chateau Pont de Brion Graves Rouge 2005, $20.99/btl – Bordeaux, France – 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot – 12% abv – Classic Left Bank Bordeaux from a classic vintage. Dark fruit and cedar with a long, balanced finish.

Clos Marie Coteaux du Languedoc L’Olivette Pic Saint Loup 2008, $26.99/btl – Languedoc, France – Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault – 13.5% abv – Displaying aromas not only of ripe black fruits but of spiced apple cider such as one would more expect in a white wine, and a soothingly-textured and fruit-forward palate, this also hints at the sort of saline, iodine, and stony mineral dimensions that help make Clos Marie’s wines so fascinating as a group.

Please excuse us as we catch our collective breaths after a very busy last week that included snow removal, a 45% off sale, a second visit and tasting from our cheesemaking friends at Firefly Farms, a meet and greet with Peter Martin of Martin & Keegan Tours and a stirring USA victory over Canada in ice hockey. While the last bit might not have anything to do with what happens in our shop, it does let you know we do something other than pour, drink and talk about wine…we watch TV. Even though it wasn’t in HD. Just saying. We hope that this week will return to business as usual, starting with a tasting of  six very unique bottles of wine, two of which are almost 50% off the regular retail price. The Lineup:

Domaine Remi Jobard Bourgogne Blanc 2006, SALE $18.14/btl, Regularly $32.99 – Burgundy, France – 100% Chardonnay – 13% abv – The 2006 Bourgogne (which receives essentially the same upbringing as his Meursault) offers aromas of orange blossom, honeysuckle, lemon oil, and toasted nuts. Grapefruit, lemon, orange, and nuts make for a bright and piquant palate, but with a sense of textural richness and chalky buffering acting as a foil to the penetrating citricity. This well-concentrated Bourgogne should be worth following for several years. Remi Jobard began harvesting September 25 – two days later than even Francois and Antoine Jobard – yet the two collections are dramatically different. These wines – which display uniformly prominent acidity – came out of barrel (generally 12-15% new) after a year, and were then given six months in tank (whence I tasted them) to permit stabilization and some evolution and, in Jobard’s words, “to preserve aromatic freshness and vivacity.” There are hints of botrytis here and there, but Jobard insists it was at a level of around 5%, in his opinion obviating any need to remove it. – WA (87-88) points

Domaine Schoffit Pinot Gris Colmar Tradition 2007, $24.99/btl – Alsace, France – 100% Pinot Gris – 13.8% abv – This inviting Pinot Gris has a lively golden hue and an open-knit texture. The round mouthfeel holds flavors of Gala apple and apricot, underscored by a light smoky minerality. Delicious. Drink now through 2012. 50 cases imported. – WS 89 points

Tement Gelber Muskateller Steirische Klassik 2006, $22.99/btl – Styria, Austria – 100% Muscat – 11.5% abv – Tement’s expansion has not stopped at the Slovenian border, and in 2006 he acquired the neighboring holdings of the Carmelites – where his father long worked as winemaker – and since replanted their 90 year old patchwork of vine varieties to insure more Zieregg Sauvignon for the future. Tement has begun using glass stoppers on his wines in lieu of corks. Given the extent of his offerings and given that I travel to Styria only every other year, I cannot pretend to have tasted Tement’s entire 2005 and 2006 collections, but only the subset (perhaps half) that he chose to show me in the time we had available. Tement is modifying his approach with Sauvignon – especially in the top sites – having decided that lower yields and the consequent ability to harvest somewhat earlier are more advantageous (not to mention less risky) than the long hang time he has traditionally practiced with this variety.

Domaine Bertagna Bourgogne Les Croix Blanches 2006, $22.99/btl – Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Sweet spice notes add interest to the tart cherry flavor in this red. Firm but fresh, with a lingering finish. Drink now. 175 cases imported.

Vial-Magneres Collioure Les Espades 2007, $27.99/btl – Roussillon, France – Cuvee Les Esperades is a dry red wine, warm and potent, which should be saved for roasts and game but goes well with flavourful Mediterranean fish too.

Domaine Gardies Cotes du Roussillon Villages La Torre 2006, SALE $27.49, Regularly $49.99 – Roussillon, France – 70% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache, 10% Carignan – Luscious, rich and ripe, with concentrated flavors of dark plum, blackberry and kirsch that are supported by fine-grained tannins and powerful structure. The long finish is filled with dark chocolate and mocha. 20 cases imported. – WS 93 points

We just had an informal tasting with a local sommelier who was interested in going through our Austrian portfolio. A number of Gruner Veltliners, a Riesling, a couple of Sauvignon Blancs, a St. Laurent and a few Blaufrankisch are open and lonely at the shop right now. Net result for you? Taste whatever we have left. FX Pichler, Uwe Scheifer, Tement, Birgit Eichinger and Kurt Angerer will all be represented, so stop by the shop to taste some unique and truly excellent wines.