This weekend’s tasting features a red Burgundy that is beyond scarce. Join us on Friday evening June 3rd, between 5PM and 7:30PM, then again on Saturday, June 4th, from 12PM to 4PM for our tasting and enjoy discounted prices on David Clark’s 2007 Morey-Saint-Denis Les Porroux, and get a chance to taste it alongside some distinguished company: a diverse group of outstanding 90-Point wines from Austria, Germany and France. The Lineup:

Georg Mosbacher Riesling Spatlese Forster Elster 2007, List Price $~~34.99~~, Sale $29.99 – Pfalz, Germany – 100% Riesling – 10% abv – Organic - Plenty of tangy grapefruit, clove and white pepper notes match a bright structure, making this harmonious and tasty. It could use a little time to integrate more fully. Best from 2010 through 2020. 30 cases imported. – Rated 90 Points, Wine Spectator

Buchegger Gruner Veltliner Pfarrweingarten 2007, List Price $~~29.99~~, Sale $24.99 – Kremstal, Austria – 100% Gruner Veltliner – 13.5% abv – Sustainable - This is buttery-tasting, like a fruity hot toddy. The supple finish is very ripe, with touches of cream. Drink now through 2012. – Wine Spectator

Domaine L’Oustal Blanc Naick 7, List Price $~~34.99~~, Sale $29.99 – Minervois, France – 95% Grenache Gris, 5% Macabeu – 14% abv – Sustainable - The white Naick 7 of 2007 (this qualifying only as vin de table, no vintage date is permitted on the label) displays a richness of fruit, a body, and meaty, chewy, texture that I am sure would have led me to say “red wine,” if served from a jet-black glass. It’s as though a lot of veal bones and lobster shells had been cooked down to a demi-glace essence. Not that this wine is lacking for brightness, lift, or refreshment, though: there is a citrus streak enlivening its stock pot reduction of bones, marrow, and shells, almost as if this were Chablis. The finish won’t quit, and I imagine the wine will show stamina if cellared, too. Since this was just bottled when I tasted, and Fonquerle elected to filter for safety’s sake, it should prove yet more intensely expressive and more organized when you read this. - Rated 92+ Points, The Wine Advocate

Domaine David Clark Morey-Saint-Denis Les Porroux 2007, List Price $~~59.99~~, Sale $49.99 – Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Organic - ONE BARREL ONLY of this lovely, classic Morey for the WORLD! Harvested at 22 hectoliters per hectare, and the fruit sorted bunch by bunch. Roughly translated, that means that David Clark’s 0.25-acre Morey-Saint-Denis parcel, named “Les Porroux,” produced only 60 gallons of juice! Or one barrel full! Aged for 18 months in a one-year-old Damy barrel. Malolactic fermentation finished on September 2008, then bottled on March 28, 2009, direct from the barrel. All of the vineyards at Domaine David Clark are farmed organically: All vineyard work is done by hand with the exception of ploughing which is done by tractor or by horse. Low yields; ploughing and mowing to control weeds – never any herbicides; extreme rigour in all aspects of hand-tending the vines; hand de-leafing to promote grape ripeness and color; organic certified spray program to control diseases and pests; minimal use of heavy machinery in order to reduce soic compaction and thus respect the native flora dn fauna. “…builds nicely towards the more harmonious finish with smooth raspberry and cherry. Very fine.” - Neal Martin “…cool yet moderately earthy red berry fruit aromas that complement well the rich, full and detailed middle weight plus flavors that possess solid depth and punch on the energetic, tangy and sappy finish that is impeccably well balanced.” - Allen Meadows

Clos Marie L’Olivette Pic Saint Loup 2009, List Price $~~21.99~~, Sale $18.69 – Languedoc, France – 40% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre and Cinsault (from vines 15 to 50 years of age) – 13.5% abv – Biodynamic - The vines are worked according to the principles of the biodynamy and the grape harvest is always by hand. The aging is carried out out of barrels. Tasting notes of winemaker Christophe Peyrus: ‘The bottling was carried out three weeks ago. 2009 made rich and concentrated wines. A vintage for aging, even on Olivette, which one will need to wait 3 or 4 years for the wine to reach it’s peak. Olivette is a wine very ‘charged’ right now, but it will gain purity and smoothness with time. It has a discrete nose right now, but an a more generous palate, and decanting will be needed absolutely because I always leave carbonic gas (as a way of protecting the wine). The tannins are thick with beautiful spices and sweetness in the finish.”

Clos de l’Origine Les Quilles Libres Cotes-du-Roussillon 2007, List Price $~~28.99~~, Sale $23.99 – Roussillon, France – 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Carignan – Organic - 14.5% abv – Barriot’s 2007 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Les Quilles Libres is according to his own account overwhelmingly Grenache (including some white grapes), so how it qualified for its appellation is a mystery to me. Wood smoke, tobacco, brown spices, soy, peanuts, and ripe red fruits mingle in the nose. On a sappy, palpably extract-rich palate, lightly cooked red raspberry and strawberry are dusted with cardamom, cinnamon, and white pepper, and underlain with toasted praline and peanuts, and there is no hint of finishing heat or roughness from the wine’s nearly 15% alcohol, but rather a sense of exuberant brightness that brings you back for the next sip. I can imagine this evolving fascinatingly for at least 3-5 years, but only in a proper cellar. - Rated 91 Points, The Wine Advocate

Sale prices last through Saturday, June 4th. No further discounts may apply.

Temperatures are going to start to rise this weekend! So why not cool off with one of our delicious dry rosés. And while your at it, how about trying a few more wines…everything from delicious bargains, to profound reds to German sweet wine bliss.

Join us on Friday evening May 20th, between 5PM and 7:30PM, then again on Saturday, May 21st, from 12PM to 4PM for our tasting and enjoy discounted prices on our special selections. The Lineup:

Domaine du Vissoux/Pierre-Marie Chermette Beaujolais Rosé Les Griottes, List Price $~~15.99~~, Sale $13.59 – Beaujolais, France – 100% Gamay – 12% abv – Sustainable - Pale pink. Light floral and fruity aromas on the nose. Lip-smacking and round, notes of wild strawberry, blackberry, raspberry and loganberry ending with a touch of star anise. Open with any variety of salads, grilled meats, barbecue, seafood, savoury pastries and fish. Ideal with exotic cuisines including West Indian and Asian, desserts and fruit sorbets. Recommended for the hottest days of the year!

Domaine Charvin Vin de Pays Principauté d’Orange à Côté 2008, List Price $14.99, Sale $9.99 – Rhône, France – 58% Merlot, 42% Grenache – 13.5% abv – Sustainable - Rustic red exhibiting red and black fruit characteristics intermixed with notions of herbs and earth. There is good structure to this very enjoyable table wine. Drink it over the next 1-2 years.

Jean-Michel Gerin Cote Rotie Champin Le Seigneur 2006, List Price $~~59.99~~, Sale $49.99 – Côtes Rotie, Rhône, France – 100% Syrah – 13% abv – Sustainable - Vibrant and racy, with good drive to the red licorice, red currant and damson plum notes, backed by hints of fruitcake, roasted vanilla and iron. The long, silky finish is finely tuned. Drink now through 2016. 3,750 cases made. – Rated 91 points, Wine Spectator

Domaine Les Grands Bois Côtes du Rhône-Villages Rasteau Cuvée Marc 2008, List Price $~~22.99~~, Sale $19.54 – Rasteau, Rhône, France – 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Carignan – 14.5% abv – Sustainable - Ripe and fleshy, with a mix of damson plum, blueberry and red cherry fruit laced with lightly firm tannins and a lingering, violet- and pastis-tinged finish. Drink now through 2011. 50 cases imported.

Weingut Georg Mosbacher Riesling Auslese Pfalz Forster Ungeheuer 2007 , List Price $~~39.99~~, Sale $33.99 – Pfalz, Germany – 100% Riesling – 10% abv - Organic - Very pure, exhibiting vivid passion fruit, ruby grapefruit and stone flavors. A lighter style of auslese that’s balanced and ideal for Asian dishes that have some heat. Drink now through 2030. 15 cases imported. – Rated 92 points, Wine Spectator

This Friday, May 13 - 2 Events in 1!

Beaujolais, Chardonnay, Events, Food, France, Gamay, Grower, Miscellaneous, Producer, Red Wine, Sparkling Wine, Sustainable, Tasting, White Wine, Winemaker No Responses »

May 092011

Pierre-Marie Chermette in Foudre! Join us on Friday evening, May 13th, from 6PM-8PM for a free wine tasting and discussion with Martine and Pierre-Marie Chermette of one of France’s most most-lauded wineries: Domaine du Vissoux.

On the same night, meet Barton Seaver, acclaimed Washington, DC, chef, one of the most important voices today regarding seafood and sustainability, who will be on hand to introduce and sign copies of his new book, For Cod and Country.

Please join Weygandt Wines as we welcome Beaujolais winemaking giants Martine and Pierre-Marie Chermette of Domaine du Vissoux, as we host a tasting of their extraordinary 2009 vintage wines on Friday, May 13th at 6PM ’til 8PM, then again on Saturday, May 14th from 12PM ’til 3PM. Contact us at info@weygandtwines.com or (202) 362-9463 to reserve your space. Or visit our Event Page on Facebook (you must be signed in to view).

Domaine du Vissoux may just be the most perfect expression of naturally-made wine in the whole Weygandt Wines portfolio for the very ability to be natural, and great, at once. First natural. How’s this: Pierre Chermette’s yields are so low and the grapes so naturally ripe that he does not chaptalize. He uses only indigenous yeasts (no “banana yeast” culture, a la Duboeuf). Then a traditional, longer fermentation, aging in oak foudre and bottling for us with no filtration, and without adding any sulfites, in most vintages. It is as natural a Beaujolais as one could have had in a café in Lyon in the ’40′s. As for quality, Domaine du Vissoux is the Beaujolais at Willi’s in Paris, Cave la Grande, and just about every bar-a-vin in Paris. The Chermette’s reviews in the wine press also testify to this domaine’s relentless pursuit of quality and attention to detail.

To visit Domaine du Vissoux’s website for more detailed information about the vineyards, history and wines, please click here.

The art of making wine that reveals the grape

Our aim is for the grapes to be perfectly ripe and healthy so that we can make really natural wine.

Martine and Pierre-Marie Chermette have always been inclined towards making wine that is as natural as possible and have a single goal: that their work and produce be of the highest quality. Both in tending the vines and in vinification, Pierre-Marie Chermette intervenes as little as possible. This respect means that the terroir is able to express itself authentically in each of his wines.

Eco-friendly vinegrowing

Pierre-Marie is convinced that integrated agriculture, to give it its official name, is the style best suited to the evolution in the climate in our region today – victim of excesses – and the fragility of the Gamay grape variety.

Tilling or shallow ploughing between the vines on all the plots where it is possible or grassing.
Yield control through hard pruning (goblet and cordon de Royat) and growth management: budding, bunch thinning if necessary.
Manual harvest when the bunches of grapes reach peak ripeness.
Successive sorting of the harvest, first in the vines, then on vatting, systematic use of a sorting table.

Vinification that is as natural as possible

No use of chemically produced yeasts, to retain the natural yeasts and the specificity of each terroir.
Little or no chaptalisation..
A minimum use of sulphur dioxide from vinification to bottling.

Pierre-Marie Chermette makes wine using semi-carbonic vinification:

This is the traditional Beaujolais vinification method. I use it because it is perfectly adapted to the Gamay grape and our terroir.

The Lineup:

Domaine du Vissoux/Pierre-Marie Chermette Beaujolais 2009, $15.99/btl – Beaujolais, France – 100% Gamay – 12.5% abv – Sustainable - Dark purple. Pierre Chermette’s basic bottling of Beaujolais is just superb in 2009 and has to be one of the very best red wine values to be found in the world of wine today. The bouquet is deep, sappy and vibrant, as it roars from the glass in a blend of black cherries, sweet cranberries, woodsmoke, lovely soil tones, a touch of raw cocoa and a bit of nuttiness in the upper register. On the palate the wine is medium-full, sappy and beautifully balanced, with excellent mid-palate depth, modest tannins, fine framing acids and impressive length and grip on the complex and palate-staining finish. Just a lovely, lovely bottle of Beaujolais. 2010-2020 – Rated 91 points, View from the Cellar

Domaine du Vissoux/Pierre-Marie Chermette Beaujolais Cuvée Traditionnelle Vieilles Vignes 2009, $16.99/btl – Beaujolais, France – 100% Gamay – 12% abv – Sustainable - Bright violet. High-pitched, intensely perfumed aromas of spicecake, redcurrant and wild strawberry, plus a hint of white pepper. Racy, sappy and gently sweet, offering palate-staining red fruit preserve and candied rose flavors with hints of licorice and succulent herbs. Finishes on a gripping note of bitter cherry, with very good precision and length. Smells like a lot of ripe stems in here; fans of Dujac Burgundies should check this out. 2010-2025+ – Rated 93 points, View from the Cellar; 90 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

Domaine du Vissoux/Pierre-Marie Chermette Brouilly Pierreux 2009, $24.99/btl – Beaujolais, France – 100% Gamay – 12.5% abv – Sustainable - Bright violet. Musky dark berries and singed plum on the nose, with complicating notes of anise, black tea and smoky herbs. At once rich and energetic, offering subtly sweet dark berry flavors supported by sound mineral spine. The anise note repeats on the long, sappy, refreshingly spicy finish. 2010-2040 – Rated 94+ points, View from the Cellar; 91 points, The Wine Advocate; 91 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

Domaine du Vissoux/Pierre-Marie Chermette Fleurie Poncié 2009, $24.99/btl – Beaujolais, France – 100% Gamay – 13% abv – Sustainable - Bright purple. Sexy, highly perfumed bouquet of black raspberry, cherry pit, minerals, black pepper and musky herbs. Assertive red and dark berry flavors are lifted by zesty minerality, with the herb and mineral notes repeating. A touch of bitter cherry adds bite to the impressively forceful finish. The high altitude and southeasterly inclination encourages a sense of refreshment and energy that – for all of their manifest virtues – one often seeks in vain among Beaujolais’s 2009s. 2010-2040+ – Rated 95 points, View from the Cellar; 91 points, The Wine Advocate; 91 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 90 points, Wine Spectator

Domaine du Vissoux/Pierre-Marie Chermette Fleurie Garants 2009, $24.99/btl – Beaujolais, France – 100% Gamay – 13% abv – Sustainable - Vivid purple. The 2009 Fleurie “Les Garants” from Pierre-Marie Chermette was very much worth the wait, as this is a brilliant bottle of Fleurie in the making. The Poncie is cooler in personality though still full of energy, whereas the Les Garants is richer on the palate and more overtly (in this case) black-fruited.The bouquet is deep, pure and utterly stunning, as it soars from the glass in a blaze of cassis, black cherries, vinesmoke, a touch of espresso, gentle notes of currant leaf, a whiff of cinnamon and a great base of soil. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and quite plush on the attack, with stunning transparency down to the soil (and a very soil-driven personality for Fleurie!), a bit of ripe tannin, superb focus and grip and a very, very long, complex and seriously structured finish. This great bottle of Fleurie will have no difficulties aging thirty to forty years! 2013-2040+ – Rated 95 points, View from the Cellar; 92 points, The Wine Advocate; 90 points, Wine Spectator

Domaine du Vissoux/Pierre-Marie Chermette Moulin-à-Vent Les Trois Roches 2009, $25.99/btl – Beaujolais, France – 100% Gamay – 13% abv – Sustainable - Vivid purple. The Vissoux 2009 Moulin-a-Vent Les Trois Roches – named for the Rochegres, La Rochelle, and Roche Noire sites south of Chenas – smells of black raspberry, cherry, herbs and licorice, along with a sexy floral quality and building minerality. Juicy, palate-staining dark berry flavors show a refreshing bitterness, with nervy acidity providing lift. Seamless and silky in texture, finishing with very good grip and lingering floral and spice notes.2012-2035 – Rated 93+ points, View from the Cellar; 91 points, The Wine Advocate; 91 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 90 points, Wine Spectator

Domaine du Vissoux/Pierre-Marie Chermette Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Blanc de Blancs NV, $22.99/btl – Beaujolais, France – 100% Chardonnay – 12% abv – Sustainable - Brims with tangerine, pineapple and lime. Exuberantly aromatic and vividly and lusciously citric, it is mouth-filling yet delicate, and finishes with a salt-tinged, saliva-inducing and invigorating savor.

Domaine du Vissoux/Pierre-Marie Chermette Beaujolais Blanc Cépage Chardonnay 2008, $19.99/btl – Beaujolais, France – 100% Chardonnay – 12.5% abv – Sustainable - High-toned, ester-rich citrus and distilled pit fruit aromas; piquant nuttiness; and a soft, oily texture characterize Chermette’s 2008 Beaujolais Blanc. There is a satisfying underlying chalkiness as well as excellent sheer length.

Domaine du Vissoux/Pierre-Marie Chermette Beaujolais Rosé Les Griottes 2010, $15.99/btl – Beaujolais, France – 100% Gamay – 12% abv – Sustainable - Pale pink. Light floral and fruity aromas on the nose. Lip-smacking and round, notes of wild strawberry, blackberry, raspberry and loganberry ending with a touch of star anise. Open with any variety of salads, grilled meats, barbecue, seafood, savoury pastries and fish. Ideal with exotic cuisines including West Indian and Asian, desserts and fruit sorbets. Recommended for the hottest days of the year!

Prices listed are net, no further discount may apply.

AND…

On Friday, May 13, from 6-8 pm, Chef Barton Seaver will be in the shop to sell and sign his just-released book, For Cod and Country (http://bartonseaver.org/). Additionally, Barton is bringing a free For Cod and Country Tote for the first 40 people to purchase his book! The wines poured and discussed by winemakers Pierre and Martine Chermette (see above), will be a perfect complement and make for a complete evening of sustainability. Contact us at info@weygandtwines.com or (202) 362-9463 to reserve your space. Or visit our Event Page on Facebook (you must be signed in to view).

Eat a few dishes prepared by Esquire chef of the year Barton Seaver, thirty, and you’ll feel good about living on Earth…Listen to him talk about how to save us all from destroying the food chain (and ourselves in the process) and you’ll feel even better about it. – John Mariani, Esquire magazine

National Geographic Fellow and Washington, D.C. chef Barton Seaver is an influential voice in the culinary world because of his take on seafood and sustainability. In his first book, For Cod and Country, Seaver introduces an entirely new kind of casual cooking featuring seafood that hasn’t been overfished or harvested using destructive methods.

Organized by season, For Cod and Country is a full-color exploration of recipes showcasing a wide variety of fish caught at specific times of year combined with fresh vegetables and vibrant spices. The book also includes “A Separate Season” for seafood available year-round, and healthful and ocean-friendly substitutes for fish species that are popular yet overharvested. In addition, Seaver takes a holistic approach to sustainability and covers wellness, portion size, fishermen, catch methods, and a fish’s role in the marine ecosystem.

Tantalizing dishes with easy-to-follow instructions, purchasing recommendations, and helpful tips for preparation and seasonings make For Cod and Country the ideal guide for environmentally minded cooks. Seaver weaves his insights and wit through a compelling narrative about how the choices we make for dinner deeply impact our own well-being, our planet, and the global community.

For Cod and Country is part of Seaver’s mission to help us engage in a more sustainable food system on nearly every level. The story of successful conservation is a lesson of responsible consumption. It is a tale of the opportunity that we have to make tasty and personally sustaining choices that keep our needs in balance with what the world can provide.

Kudos to Barton Seaver for raising awareness about the ingredients in our food-where they come from, how they got there, and the impacts they have on the environment. By making informed choices in the kitchen, we can all make a difference in protecting the lands and waters that sustain us. – Mark R. Tercek, President and CEO, The Nature Conservancy

Please join us on Friday, April 1st from 5PM until 7:30PM, and again on Saturday, April 2nd, from 12PM until 4PM to taste an eclectic lineup of regional French wines spanning the Loire Valley, the Rhone and Burgundy. Representing both outstanding values and superb quality, this is a tasting you will not want to miss! The Lineup:

1. Chateau de la Bonneliere Touraine “Cepage Sauvignon – Les Devants” 2008, List Price $14.99, Sale $12.69 – Touraine, Loire, France – 100% Sauvignon Blanc – 12.5% abv – Organic - Pale yellow. Assertive bouquet of lime zest, lemongrass and wet stone. Dry, nervy, tightly wound citrus and green apple flavors are underscored by dusty minerality and expand on the back half. Leaves a trail of mineral and citrus notes behind on the nicely persistent finish. This is a very good value and can compete with plenty of Sancerres. – Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

2. Domaine Pascal Bonhomme Vire-Clesse Vieilles Vignes 2009, List Price $23.99, Sale $19.99 – Macon, Burgundy, France – 100% Chardonnay – 13% abv – Sustainable - A throw back to classic and artisanal wine making, we are very excited to have recently found this treasure in southern Burgundy. Pascal Bonhomme has some of the best situated sites in Vire-Clesse and he makes every effort in his vines to convey that in the bottle. Similar to vignerons in the Cot D’Or, Pascal harvests completely by hand and vinifies meticulously using pneumatic pressing. The estate is 2.5 hecates in size with most of it’s production being sold cellar door and, now, to the U.S. 60 year old vines; vinification is 20% in oak barrels and 80% in stainless steel tanks, 100% malolactic fermentation.

3. Domaine Mourgues du Gres Terre d’Argence Blanc Vin de Pays du Gard 2008, List Price $17.99, Sale $14.99 – Costieres de Nimes, Rhone, France – 50% Viognier, 30% Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc – 12% abv – Sustainable - Slightly fuller, with undeniable minerality as well as a more exotic character. . . . Approximately one-fourth of this cuvee is aged in French oak, and the rest in vat. More honeysuckle, white peach, and currant notes make an appearance in this medium-bodied, elegant, authoritatively fruity, stylish wine. Drink it over the next year. – The Wine Advocate

4. Domaine Serafin Pere & Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 2007, List Price $54.99, Sale $46.99 -Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Organic - A hint of wood spice frames moderately sauvage, earthy and layered currant and dark pinot fruit aromas that merge into rich, full and serious medium weight flavors underpinned by ripe tannins and a balanced, intense and persistent finish. A classic Gevrey with fine quality for a villages wine. – Burghound

5. Domaine des Soulanes “Cuvee Jean Pull” Vin de Pays de Cotes Catalanes 2007, List Price $18.99, Sale $15.99 – Roussillon, France – 60% Grenache, 40% Carignan – 14.5% abv – Organic - Intense kirsch, red plum and raspberry flavors give this southern French red real character and power. The finish is spicy, with plenty of finesse to the black licorice notes. Grenache and Carignane. Drink now through 2012. – Wine Spectator

6. Domaine Georges Vernay Cote-Rotie “Blonde du Seigneur” 2006, List Price $69.99, Sale $49.99 – Northern Rhone, France – 100% Syrah – 12.5% abv – Sustainable - Bright ruby-red. Finely etched red and dark berry, floral, herbal and mineral aromas, plus a slow-building anise quality. Tangy and focused, offering sweet raspberry and blueberry flavors and showing no obvious tannins. Finishes lush and creamy, but with a jolt of zesty minerals adding vivacity and cut. Extremely fresh and delicious right now. These vines are planted entirely in the Cote Blonde, at Lancement and Coteaux des Semons. Incidentally, Paul Amsellem describes 2006 as a “subtle, smooth and classic vintage for red wines,” adding that they will be best in their youth, like the ’04s. “The 2007s, though, are agers.” – Rated 91 Points, Wine Spectator; 91 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

Sale pricing for selected wines lasts through the end of Saturday, April 2, 2011. No other discounts may apply.

Jean-Louis Tribouley stands amongst some of his ancient Grenache vines

Please join us on Saturday, March 12th, from 12pm until 4pm to sample a grab bag of staff picks. “Grab bag” could not give the wines selected any sort of justice. But no matter how we label the tasting the diverse selections are all unique and utterly delicious. We look forward to seeing you Saturday at Weygandt Wines. The Lineup:

Domaine Albert Mann Cremant d’Alsace Brut 2008, List Price $~~22.99~~, Sale $18.99 – Wettolsheim, Alsace, France – 60% Auxerrois, 40% Pinot Blanc – 12.5% abv – Biodynamic - Based on the same varietal blend as their Pinot Blanc, the Barthelme’s non-vintage Cremant d’Alsace (the lot under review is L34) offers citrus zest and floral aromas, delicate mousse, and a salty, chalky, wet stone-inflected and subtly bitter finish. Enjoy this admirably clear, pure traditional sparkling wine over the next 6-9 months. Compared with it, most Alsace Cremant is sadly lacking in concentration or personality. – The Wine Advocate

Heymann-Lowenstein Riesling Winningen Rottgen 2006, List Price $~~29.99~~, Sale $24.99 – Winnigen, Mosel, Germany – 100% Riesling – 13% abv – Organic - Dry and spicy, with more saline and savory flavor elements than fruit. There are hints of peach, grapefruit and yellow plum, but more smoke and a firm, chalklike sensation. Fine length. Drink now through 2016. 20 cases imported. - Rated 90 Points, Wine Spectator

Jobard-Chabloz Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2007, List Price $~~129.99~~, Sale $79.99 – Meursault, Burgundy, France – 13% abv – Sustainable – A relatively high-toned nose of green apple, rose petal and a hint of spice leads to very fresh, cool and reserved big-bodied flavors that brim with a fine minerality and excellent linearity and drive on the palate staining finish. This is not a massive example as it doesn’t have better than average concentration but the focus and energy are impressive. This should be quite good in time. – Rated 92 points, Burghound, 92 points, The Wine Advocate

Domaine Chevillon-Chezeaux Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Champs-Perdrix 2006, List Price $~~48.99~~, Sale $39.99 – Nuits-Saint-George, Burgundy, France – 13% abv – Sustainable - Philippe Chezeaux is related to Jérôme Chezeaux and his father-in-law is the cousin of Robert Chevillon. Philippe’s style is rather unique in that he is adamant about finding the balance between fruit, acidity, and terroir in his wines, especially in an appellation that is more commonly associated with wines that trade on power first. The 2006 Aux Champs-Perdrix, sourced from a tiny, highly perched, southeast facing vineyard on the Vosne-Romanee side of Nuits-Saint-George, displays very pronounced red Pinot Noir fruit – cherries, red currant, mineral. Fine-grained tannins and lively acidity, and a lingering spiciness in the finish. – Todd Ross, Weygandt Wines

Jean-Michel Gerin Saint-Joseph 2008, List Price $~~29.99~~, Sale $24.99 – Saint-Joseph, Rhone, France – 100% Syrah – 12.5% abv – Sustainable - A piercing iron note runs through the mix of red cherry, currant and pomegranate fruit flavors in this red, keeping it all lively and fresh. Drink now through 2011. 100 cases imported. – Wine Spectator

Jean-Louis Tribouley Orchis Vin de Pays de Cotes Catalanes 2008, List Price $~~29.99~~, Sale $24.99 – Roussillon, France – 80% Grenache, 10% Carignan, 5% Cinsault, 3% Grenache Gris, 2% Grenache Gris – 14.5% abv – Biodynamic - The following are the tasting notes for the 2007 Orchis by David Schildknecht in The Wine Advocate (there are no independent tasting notes as yet for the 2008). The main difference between the two vintages is that the 2008 shows an even more vibrant focus and perhaps “bluer” fruit. – Tasted assembled from tank Tribouley’s 2007 Orchis is the latest vintage of what was formerly called “Serrat den Franc.” Its explosive nose of black raspberry and blueberry confiture incorporates overtones of almond extract, prunelle eau de vie, wood smoke and cocoa powder. Liqueur-like and loaded with distilled berry inner-mouth esters, this nevertheless retains clarity and purity, avoiding even the slightest temptation toward superficial sweetness or confectionary stickiness. Deep roasted meat and wet stone flavors emerge in a long, smoke-tinged finish founded on a veritable ocean of concentrated blue and black fruit. Despite offering abundant immediate gratification, their well-covered tannins encourage the belief (absent any track record to which I can point) that the amazing Tribouley trio under present consideration possess enough structure and stamina for mid-term cellaring. Unfortunately, I have yet to track down a bottle of the 2006 Orchis; Tribouley indicated that he had sold them all.

Tribouley – an outsider who understudied with Gauby and then began his own estate in 2002 – farms roughly 30 acres (biodynamically) and sells no grapes. That statistic shocked me when I entered his cramped and tiny cellar. Where in the world does he find room there for wine from 30 acres? The solution to this seeming mystery is that he has all the room he requires given his pathetically low yields. In a quantitatively good vintage, he bottles 1,700 cases. But it is fruit from his 10 acres near Maury (variously on reddish Marne chalk, and quartzite-rich schist and sandstone) that are the focus for the two cuvees (both matured in older barrels, favoring demi-muids) that are sold in the U.S. Both his parcels in the Les Bacs just east of Maury and in the Coume du Roi (the basis for his Orchis) are around 75:25 Grenache-to-Carignan; northwestern in exposure; and, he says, almost perpetually windy. (I had to crouch down like a head-pruned vine just to walk against the gusts in Les Bacs on a December afternoon.) 2007 – Rated 93-94 points, The Wine Advocate

Sale pricing for selected wines lasts through the end of Saturday, March 12th, 2011. No other discounts may apply.

Please join us on Saturday, February 19th, from 12pm until 4pm to sample these outstanding expressions of iconic regional French wines. The Lineup:

Richard Leroy Anjou Les Noëls de Montbenault 2007, List Price $29.99, Sale $19.99 – Anjou, Loire, France – 100% Chenin Blanc – 12.5% abv – Organic – Vivid yellow-gold. Honeydew melon, peach and nectarine on the nose, with exotic notes of gingerbread and musky herbs coming up with air. Initially pliant, gently sweet melon and pit fruit flavors turn firmer in the mid-palate and offer excellent palate coverage and strong spice character. Finishes with impressive length and lingering spiciness. Lots going on here but this still seems young. – Rated 91 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 90 points, Wine Spectator

Domaine Remi Jobard Meursault En Luraule 2007, List Price $68.99, Sale $42.99 – Burgundy, France – 100% Chardonnay – 13% abv – Sustainable – Lime and crushed stone aromas along with a bit of biscuity reduction. Then juicy and sweet, with enticing flavors of lime and spices. This broad, sweet village wine offers excellent energy and finishes with very good grip. There are five different plantings that go into this cuvee: Jobard bought these vines when they were “very young,” just before the 1994 harvest. – Rated 90 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

Domaine Sérafin Père & Fils Morey St.-Denis 1er Cru Les Millandes 2007, List Price $104.99, Sale Price $88.99 – Côte-de Nuits, Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Organic - A floral red berry and earth inflected nose serves as a relatively elegant introduction to the pure, detailed and lightly mineral suffused medium full flavors that possess good power, focus and intensity on the long and palate staining finish. This is lovely and understated. – Rated 90 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 90 points, Wine Spectator; 89-92 points, Burghound

Domaine Dugat-Py Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2006, List Price $99.99, Sale $74.99 – Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Organic - The Dugat-Py 2006 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes offers considerable depth of ripe black fruits and toasted meat on a palate so fine-grained it is able to sooth and seduce all the way to a succulently long finish. En route, cocoa powder, sage, iodine, and black pepper add interest and invigoration. It could be enjoyed young but will doubtless hold well for 6-8 years, given the track record at this estate. – Rated 90 points, The Wine Advocate; 90 points, Wine Spectator; 88-90 points, Burghound

Domaine Jean Royer Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Tradition 2007, List Price $43.99, Sale $36.99 – Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France – 90% Grenache, 5% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre – 15% abv – Sustainable - The most drinkable and precocious of the 2007s is the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape, made from essentially the same blend as the Hommage a Mon Pere, but from slightly younger vines (only 40 years old!). Kirsch and floral notes dominate this ruby/purple-tinged effort. Almost Burgundian in its freshness and vivacity, this full-bodied, rich, elegant, gorgeously textured, approachable wine should evolve for 10-15 years. This small estate (just over 12 acres) is run by the Royer family, who can trace its origins in Chateauneuf du Pape back to the 1800′s. However, they have only been estate bottling their wines since the mid-eighties. As the following notes indicate, these are very high quality, artisanal wines made with assistance from consultant Philippe Cambie. All of the vineyards are located in the southern sectors of Chateauneuf du Pape known as Bois de la Ville and Les Grandes Serres, the latter being one of the sources for the superb wines from Isabel Ferrando’s St.-Prefert Chateauneuf du Papes. – Rated 91 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 90 points, The Wine Advocate; 90 points, Wine Spectator

Domaine Clos St-Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 2005, List Price $69.99, Sale $42.99 – Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France – 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 4% Mourvedre, 3% Cinsault, 2% Vaccarese, 1% Muscardin – 14.5% abv – Sustainable - The 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes has a dark saturated ruby/purple color and a gorgeous nose of camphor, beef blood, roasted meat, pepper, lavender, spring flowers, and assorted red and black fruits such as kirsch and blackberry. The wine is very Provencal, extremely deep, full-bodied, and ideal for drinking over the next 12-15 years. The tannins are there, but they are nearly obliterated by the wine’s concentration and richness. – Rated 93 points, The Wine Advocate; 93 points, Wine Spectator; 91 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

Sale pricing for selected wines lasts through the end of Saturday, February 19th, 2011. No other discounts may apply.

It is said that Paris is the “Head” of France, and that Burgundy is its “Stomach.” But Champagne is France’s “Heart.” In this season of romance (amour, amore, liebe), we’re offering a tasting of Champange and a few other tempting sparkling and sweet wines from Italy and Germany that will bring joy and happiness to your Valentine and Valentine’s Day.

Please join us on Saturday, February 12th, from 12pm until 4pm to sample these tempting sparkling and sweet wines! The Lineup:

San Giovanni Prosecco Superiore Brut, List Price $18.99, Sale $15.99 – Veneto, Italy –100% Prosecco –11.5% abv –Sustainable –Sparklingly clean, pleasantly fruity fragrance of apple and slightly reminiscent of roses. Thanks to its soft and harmonious taste, it is suitable as an aperitif, with fish and cheese snacks, but fits perfectly with chocolate!

Domaine de La Chapelle Cremant de Bourgogne 2007, List Price $26.99, Sale $22.99 –Maconais, France –100% Chardonnay – 12.5% abv – Organic – A rich sparkling wine, with a creamy texture supporting baked apple, citrus and honey flavors. It all wraps up in a fresh, lingering finish.

Nathalie Falmet Brut Nature NV, List Price $45.99, Sale $38.99 – Rouvres-Les-Vignes, Champagne, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 12% abv – Sustainable – I really like the balance and zesty complexity of the Nathalie Falmet Brut Nature, which does not come off sharp or austere, but is perfectly poised and focused. The bouquet is a classy blend of apple, bread dough, an exotic touch of cinnamon, stony minerality and a bit of lemon peel in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and classy, with lovely focus, a good core, refined mousse and crisp acids perking up the low fat chassis on the very long and pure finish. This is a lovely bottle right out of the blocks, which should drink very well over the next decade and may gain in complexity with a bit of bottle age. 2010-2020. – Rated, 91+ points, View From the Cellar

Cascina Noto Moscato d’Asti, List Price $17.99, Sale $14.99 – Piedmont, Italy – 100% Moscato – 5.5% abv – Sustainable – Clean and crisp, with peachy character. Medium-bodied and lightly sweet, with a simple finish. There’s lots of pear, peach and lemon on the palate.

Weingut Georg Mosbacher Riesling Auslese Pfalz Forster Ungeheuer 2007, List Price $39.99, Sale $33.99 – Pfalz, Germany – 100% Riesling – 10% abv – Organic – Very pure, exhibiting vivid passion fruit, ruby grapefruit and stone flavors. A lighter style of auslese that’s balanced and ideal for Asian dishes that have some heat. Drink now through 2030. 15 cases imported. – Rated 92 points, Wine Spectator

With new vintages on the way, we need to make room. So we’re offering many of our highly-rated wines at unheard of prices–up to 1/3 off or more! Prices listed are net – no further discounts. No rain checks or holds; first come first served. Sale ends March 1, 2011.

Domaine Remi Jobard Meursault “Les Chevalieres” 2007, List Price $64.99, Sale Price $43.99 – Rated 91 Points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 91 Points, The Wine Advocate; 90 Points, Wine Spectator; 90 Points, Burghound
Domaine Remi Jobard Meursault 1er Cru “Genevrieres” 2007, List Price $89.99, Sale Price $59.99 – Rated 93 Points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 92 Points, The Wine Advocate; 92 Points, Burghound; 90 Points, Wine Spectator
Domaine Remi Jobard Meursault “En Luraule” 2007, List Price $68.99, Sale Price $42.99 – Rated 90 Points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 90 Points, The Wine Advocate
Domaine Remi Jobard Meursault 1er Cru “Poruzot-Dessus” 2007, List Price $74.99, Sale Price $49.99 – Rated 91 Points, Wine Spectator; 91 Points, Burghound; 90 Points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 90 Points, The Wine Advocate
Domaine Remi Jobard Meursault “Sous La Velle” 2007, List Price $64.99, Sale Price $41.99

Maison Jobard-Chabloz Puligny-Montrachet “Les Nosroyes” 2007, List Price $54.99, Sale Price $38.99 – Rated 90 Points, The Wine Advocate
Maison Jobard-Chabloz Auxey-Duresses 2007, List Price $38.99, Sale Price $25.99 – Rated 87 Points, Wine Spectator; 87 Points, Burghound
Maison Jobard-Chabloz Meursault “Le Limozin” 2007, List Price $49.99, Sale Price $32.99 – Rated 91 Points, The Wine Advocate; 91 Points, Burghound; 90 Points, Wine Spectator
Maison Jobard-Chabloz Meursault “Clos du Cromin” 2007, List Price $46.99, Sale Price $29.99 – Rated 91 Points, Wine Spectator; Rated 90 Points, Burghound
Maison Jobard-Chabloz Meursault 1er Cru “Les Charmes” 2006, List Price $91.99, Sale Price $59.99 – Rated 89-92 points, Burghound
Maison Jobard-Chabloz Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru “Morgeot” 2007, List Price $69.99, Sale Price $46.99 – Rated 91 Points, Burghound
Maison Jobard-Chabloz Grand Cru Corton-Charlemagne 2007, List Price $129.99, Sale Price $79.99 – Rated 92 Points, The Wine Advocate; Rated 92 Points, Burghound

Tement Sauvignon Blanc Grassnitzberg 2007, List Price $39.99, Sale Price $25.99 – Rated 90 Points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
Tement Sauvignon Blanc Zieregg 2005, List Price $49.99, Sale Price $32.99 – Rated 90 Points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

Henri et Philippe Gallet Cote-Rotie 2006, List Price $59.99, Sale Price $39.99 – Rated 92 Points, Wine Spectator

Domaine Gauby Vieilles Vignes VdP des Cotes Catalanes Blanc 2005, List Price $44.99, Sale Price $29.99 – Rated 92 Points, The Wine Advocate

Domaine La Bastide Blanche Bandol Blanc 2007, List Price $26.99, Sale Price $16.99

Domaine Gardies La Torre Cotes du Roussillon Villages 2006, List Price $49.99, Sale Price $32.99 – Rated 93 Points, Wine Spectator; 90 Points, The Wine Advocate

Schiavenza Barolo Prapo 2001, List Price $54.99, Sale Price $37.99
Schiavenza Barolo Bricco Cerretta 2001, List Price $59.99, Sale Price $49.99
Schiavenza Barolo Riserva 1999, List Price $79.99, Sale Price $49.99 – Rated 92 Points, The Wine Advocate
Schiavenza Barolo Bricco Cerretta 2004, List Price $58.99, Sale Price $34.99 – Rated 92 Points, The Wine Advocate
Schiavenza Barolo DOC 2004, List Price $63.99, Sale Price $54.99
Schiavenza Barbera d’Alba 2004, List Price $24.99, Sale Price $15.99

In addition, we will pour a selection of wines that will be included in the Winter Clearance Sale. The Lineup:

Domaine du Vissoux Beaujolais Blanc Cepage Chardonnay, List Price $19.99, Sale Price $12.99 – Beaujolais, France – 100% Chardonnay – 12.5% abv – Organic - High-toned, ester-rich citrus and distilled pit fruit aromas; piquant nuttiness; and a soft, oily texture characterize Chermette’s 2008 Beaujolais Blanc. An overly lactic note jars with the juiciness of citrus in the finish, but there is a satisfying underlying chalkiness as well as excellent sheer length.

Clos de L’Origine Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes Les Quilles Libres Blanc 2007, List Price $23.99, Sale Price $15.99 – Roussillon, France – 80% Grenache Gris, 10% Grenache Blanc, 10% Macabeo – 13% abv – Organic - 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, and invigorating zest.

Domaine Gardies Cotes du Roussillon Les Glaciaires 2007, List Price $19.99, Sale Price $13.99 – Roussillon, France – 40% Grenache Blanc, 40% Roussanne, 20% Macabeo – 13.5% abv – Organic - This rich, exotic white shows ripe tropical fruit flavors of mango and pineapple, with notes of baked peach. The finish is spicy, with plenty of firm acidity and a juicy freshness. Roussanne, Grenache Blanc and Macabeo. Drink now through 2012. 50 cases imported.

Domaine Piron-Lameloise Chenas Quartz 2008, List Price $22.99, Sale Price $15.99 – Beaujolais, France – 100% Gamay – 12.5% abv – Sustainable - Based on a small parcel that the estate holds dear, hail reduced its crop to the point where no assembly will be needed – there is but one small tank (although a portion of its contents briefly sojourned in older barriques). Sour cherry; musky, pungent floral perfume; and salinity inform this bright, lithe wine, which should merit following from at least 4-5 years.

Domaine Piron-Lameloise Moulin A Vent Vieilles Vignes 2008, List Price $21.99, Sale Price $14.99 – Beaujolais, France – 100% Gamay – 12.5% abv – Sustainable - There’s a suppleness to this spiced red, mixing lightly chewy tannins and understated acidity with the dark blackberry, damson plum, dried cranberry, sandalwood and cedar notes. Drink now through 2012. 50 cases imported.

Clos de L’Origine Cotes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Les Quilles Libres Rouge 2007, List Price $28.99, Sale Price $19.99 – Roussillon, France – 80% Grenache Noir, 10% Syrah, 10% Carignan – 14.5% abv – Organic - Barriot’s 2007 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Les Quilles Libres is according to his own account overwhelmingly Grenache (including some white grapes), so how it qualified for its appellation is a mystery to me. Wood smoke, tobacco, brown spices, soy, peanuts, and ripe red fruits mingle in the nose. On a sappy, palpably extract-rich palate, lightly cooked red raspberry and strawberry are dusted with cardamom, cinnamon, and white pepper, and underlain with toasted praline and peanuts, and there is no hint of finishing heat or roughness from the wine’s nearly 15% alcohol, but rather a sense of exuberant brightness that brings you back for the next sip. I can imagine this evolving fascinatingly for at least 3-5 years, but only in a proper cellar. – Rated 91 points, The Wine Advocate

Domaine Sérafin Père & Fils' Oustanding 2007 Gevrey-Chambertin - Saturday Tasting and Sale

Burgundy, Chambolle-Musigny, Chardonnay, Charmes-Chambertin, Côte de Nuits, Events, France, Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey-St.-Denis, Organic, Pinot Noir, Producer, Red Wine, Sale, Tasting, White Wine, Winemaker No Responses »

Oct 292010

The laconic Christian Sérafin reports that 2007 was a vintage that had a “lousy start but a great ending. Given the lousy summer that we had, I honestly didn’t believe that it would be anywhere near as good as it is. We began picking on the 3rd of September and while there was some sorting necessary, if you did your vineyard work properly when it needed to be done, it could be minimized. In particular, given the kind of weather and humidity where the pattern was a constant warm/cold, aeration of the grapes through dropping immature bunches, leaf thinning and correct canopy management was the difference between minimal rot and lots of it. We had good sugars that ranged between 12 and 13% with good acidities and phenolic ripeness levels. As such, I did a normal vinification that lasted about 3 weeks and I like the wines a lot as they’re wine of elegance and purity.” – Allen Meadows, Burghound

Please join us this Saturday, October 30th, from 12PM to 4PM for a tasting of the following selection from the portfolio of Domaine Sérafin. The Lineup:

Domaine Sérafin Père & Fils Bourgogne Blanc 2007, List Price $33.99, Sale Price $27.99 – Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France – 100% Chardonnay – 13% abv – Organic

Domaine Sérafin Père & Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 2007, List Price $54.99, Sale Price $45.99 – Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Organic - Medium red. Complex nose melds wild red berries, herbs and spices. Seems more primary in the mouth than the younger 2008, with ripe acids framing the red fruit and spice flavors. Finishes with dusty tannins, firm backbone and lingering notes of red berries and smoked nuts. – Rated 89 Points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 87-89 points, Burghound

Domaine Sérafin Père & Fils Morey St.-Denis 1er Cru Les Millandes 2007, List Price $104.99, Sale Price $88.99 – Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Organic - A floral red berry and earth inflected nose serves as a relatively elegant introduction to the pure, detailed and lightly mineral suffused medium full flavors that possess good power, focus and intensity on the long and palate staining finish. This is lovely and understated. – Rated 90 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 90 points, Wine Spectator; 89-92 points, Burghound

Domaine Sérafin Père & Fils Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Baudes 2007, List Price $116.99, Sale Price $98.99 – Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Organic - A more elegant and refined nose of ripe red and blue pinot fruit with violet and rose petal nuances leads to round, rich, serious and fresh flavors that are at once delicate and punchy on the mid-palate yet interestingly, fairly robust on the solidly long finish where a distinct note of anise surfaces. This is a lovely and understated Chambolle with a veneer of lace but a superstructure of firm tannins. – Rated 91 Points, Burghound; 91 points, Wine Spectator; 90 points Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

The following wines will not be poured at the tasting, but will be on sale:

Domaine Sérafin Père & Fils Bourgogne Rouge 2007, List Price $35.99, Sale Price $29.99 – Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Organic - A pretty but serious dark berry and fresh earth nose introduces equally earthy and fresh flavors that possess good detail and only mild finishing rusticity. – Burghound

Domaine Sérafin Père & Fils Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2007, List Price $85.99, Sale Price $72.99 – Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Organic - A touch of wood sets off complex, ripe, somber and animale suffused aromas of dark pinot fruit that precedes rich, full and powerful medium-bodied flavors brimming with dry extract, all wrapped in a powerful and impressively persistent finish. Outstanding quality for its level and recommended. – Rated 90 Points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 90 points Wine Spectator; 90 points, Burghound

Domaine Sérafin Père & Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Corbeaux 2007, List Price $104.99, Sale Price $88.99 – Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Organic - Good medium red. Serious, somewhat brooding aromas of black cherry and licorice. Suave on entry, then lush and sweet but firmly built, with noteworthy density and a fine-grained texture. This boasts lovely fresh fruit and finishes with lingering perfume and excellent lift. – Rated 91 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 90 points, Wine Spectator; 89-92 points, Burghound

Domaine Sérafin Père & Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Fontenys 2007, List Price $118.99, Sale Price $99.99 – Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Organic - A brooding and serious yet very fresh nose of mostly dark berries with earth, wood spice and forest floor notes that are in keeping with the character of the textured, intense and focused middle weight flavors that culminate in a textured, complex, vibrant and velvety finish. A seductive effort with excellent balance. – Rated 91 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 91 points, Burghound

Domaine Sérafin Père & Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers 2007, List Price $160.99, Sale Price $135.99 – Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Organic - Good bright, dark red. Stuffed with very ripe black raspberry, chocolate and oak flavors and quite long on the back end, finishing with firm tannic backbone and noteworthy energy. Give this at least five years. This is a classic Cazetiers with a distinct animale element to the ripe red berry, violet and underbrush tones that continue on the earth-inflected, sappy, precise and moderately concentrated flavors that possess real character and excellent power on the impressively long, balanced and textured finish. This has another dimension relative to all of the prior wines. – Rated 93 points, Wine Spectator; 92 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 92 points, Burghound

Domaine Sérafin Père & Fils Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2007, List Price $196.99, Sale Price $166.99 – Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Organic - Good medium red-ruby. Dark wild berries, violet, licorice and underbrush on the nose. Sweet, lush and deep. Densely packed flavors of wild berries and chocolate. Finishes broad and very ripe, with suave, fine-grained tannins and lingering subtle perfume. This isn’t quite as powerful as the Cazetiers but ultimately, there is just more here in the same fashion as there is more to the Cazetiers than any of the prior 1ers. – Rated 93 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 93 points, Burghound; 91 points, Wine Spectator

Special Pricing: Sale prices for individual bottles last through Saturday, October 30th, 2010.

Domaine Thierry Glantenay's Classic Volnays and Pommards - Saturday Tasting and Sale

Burgundy, Events, Pinot Noir, Pommard, Red Wine, Tasting, Volnay No Responses »

Oct 132010

Thierry Glantenay has taken over at his family domaine and is now producing exquisite, ethereal Volnay and full, powerful Pommard from many of the best terroirs. Thierry also has a small but brilliantly sited plot of Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières that has 80 year old vines. He only produces a few hundred bottles a year though and has loyal customers for it; I have put up my hand as the wine is fabulous, he poured it for me at the end of our tasting and I could still taste it as I drove the car back down the hill out of Volnay and back to Beaune.

Unfortunately they don’t have much to offer as the domaine is only 7 hectares but importantly they farm their own vines and make their own wines ensuring the best available quality. Such is this domain’s reputation that grapes and juice have regularly been sold to some of the top Burgundy negociant houses (including Dominique Laurent). Thierry would like to eventually bring an end to this as he would prefer to bottle everything himself – and all his customers would like more wine!

A reserved and gentle character, he was at pains to explain that he doesn’t practice extreme viticulture, preferring to achieve balance and harmony in the vineyard. Likewise in the winery, everything is done gently but with perfection. Thierry trained as an engineer and so is always asking questions of himself and his methods, perfecting things with each effort.

Across the board these wines are precise, focused and reflective of their underlying terroir, with great sappiness and depth in the mid-palates, coupled with brilliant structural integrity that makes them, to me, amongst the finest wines made in the southern half of Burgundy.

Thierry is a meticulous and talented winemaker, who uses no more than twenty-five percent new oak for any of his top wines, allowing for a beautiful synthesis of pure fruit, delicate framing and a beautifully transcribed expression of terroir in each and every wine. There is a refined elegance and perfumed precision to the Glantenay wines that is very special, and is most impressive when working with the sometimes rather youthfully “sauvage” elements that can be found in young Pommard. Thierry is one of the stars of the Côte de Beaune, and because he is working in the village of Volnay, rather than Vosne-Romanée or Gevrey-Chambertin, his brilliant wines also offer extraordinary value in today’s crazy world of Burgundy pricing.

Please join us this Saturday, October 16th, from 12PM to 4PM for a tasting of a selection from the portfolio of Domaine Thierry Glantenay in which we will explore it’s pure form, with six wines from the northern Rhone, southern Rhone and the Languedoc. The Lineup:

Domaine Bernard et Thierry Glantenay Bourgogne 2008, List Price $25.99, Sale Price $21.99

Domaine Bernard et Thierry Glantenay Volnay 1er Cru Les Santenots 2008, List Price $64.99, Sale Price $54.99

Domaine Bernard et Thierry Glantenay Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chenes 2008, List Price $66.99, Sale Price $56.89

Domaine Bernard et Thierry Glantenay Volnay 1er Cru Les Caillerets 2008, List Price $68.99, Sale Price $58.59

Domaine Bernard et Thierry Glantenay Volnay 1er Cru Les Brouillards 2008, List Price $54.99, Sale Price $46.69

Domaine Bernard et Thierry Glantenay Pommard 1er Cru Les Sassilles 2008, List Price $66.99, Sale Price $56.89

Domaine Bernard et Thierry Glantenay Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens 2008, List Price $78.99, Sale Price $66.99

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