In addition to having open bottles of Dolcetto and Barbera, and hosting an exquisite chocolate tasting, we have about 65 open bottles of assorted Rhone wines that were left over from Peter Weygandt’s tasting with Robert Parker yesterday. A few ’07s, a handful of ’08s and a bunch of the much ballyhooed ’09 Southern Rhone wines will be available for tasting. If you made it into the shop for our Burgundy Bonanza, this is the Rhone equivalent. Only bigger. Yann Chave, Chateau Mourgues du Gres, Domaine Font Sarade, Domaine Alary, Domaine Charvin, Domaine de Cristia, Chateau de Manissy, La Ferme Du Mont, Jean Michel-Gerin, Domaine Les Aphillanthes, Domaine Beau Mistral, Domaine Constant-Duquesnoy, La Tour Coste and Domaine Les Grand Bois. So maybe come in with a game plan, because the above picture doesn’t even show the white wines that are open…
We have a ton of things to go over in the upcoming weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, so we’re going to get a head start on next week by posting mid-week. We’ve heard that a couple of the businesses in the Park and Shop are no longer validating for the parking lot, but don’t despair, you still get an hour on us. So, without further ado, let’s get down to business:
1. We have two great Chateauneuf du Pape producers that we are selling for a terrific deal at $39.99 and one at $49.99, while supplies last. All three are from the 2006 vintage that, while not reviewed as well as the ’07 vintage, scored 92 or 93 points in the Wine Advocate. The lineup is as follows:
Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes 2006 – $39.99 – “The 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes’ dark opaque color is accompanied by a gorgeous nose of incense, licorice, spice box, creme de cassis, cherries, and smoked meats. Notions of soy and fig are also apparent in this full-bodied, concentrated, sexy wine. Enjoy it over the next 12-15+ years.” – WA 93 pts
Domaine Gerard Charvin Chateauneuf du Pape 2006 – $49.99 – “Charvin’s 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape has turned out to be one of the vintage’s top efforts. Lovely sweet notes of glove leather, roasted meats, spice box, ground pepper, kirsch, and raspberries are present in this deep, full-bodied 2006. More evolved than the 2007, with copious concentration, elegance, and a Burgundy grand cru-like complexity as well as freshness, it should be enjoyed over the next 12-15+ years.” – WA 93 pts
Domaine de Ferrand Chateauneuf du Pape 2006 – $39.99 – “Bravay has also turned in a beautiful 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape displaying the classic, complex aromatic profile that he seems to achieve routinely. Aromas of black fruits, scorched earth, incense, licorice, pepper, and roasted Provencal herbs are followed by a full-bodied, rich, deep, long, concentrated wine with impressive layers of black cherries and black currants. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.” – WA 92 pts
This is a very good opportunity to try three of the bigger names from the Southern Rhone for a very, very reasonable price.
2. With Thanksgiving looming, please come in next week and taste some of our holiday selections. We’re still filling out our lineup card, but we’ll have a few sparklers, some alsatian whites, some Cru Beajolais, maybe a Bourgogne Rouge and a couple of dessert wines available to taste. In addition, try our Domaine du Vissoux Kir Royale. Made from their Cremant de Bourgogne and Creme de Cassis, it’s a delicious cocktail that’s perfect for the upcoming holidays.
3. Speaking of Thanksgiving, the much anticipated and highly touted 2009 Beaujolais Nouveaus will be arriving next week and we are offering Domaine du Vissoux for $12.99 a bottle. Regularly $18.49, another great deal for those that love Beaujolais Nouveau or those who were turned off previously by poorly crafted wines. This is the Beaujolis Nouveau that will be featured at Willi’s Wine Bar in Paris and it is one of number of wines that we think pair perfectly with turkey.
4. A reminder that next Friday, November 20, we are hosting a not-to-be-missed 2007 Horizontal Burgundy Tasting with Domaine des Lambrays, Domaine Christian Serafin, Domaine Remi Jobard and Domaine Dugat-Py. Four of the best in the business and wines we do not usually open, so be here between 4-7 pm to taste a real treat.
Thanks, and be sure to ask us what wine will go with whatever you’re cooking for dinner. With a couple of former chefs in the shop and the co-proprietor, Todd Ross, who knows all of our wines, inside and out, we’re sure to be able to suggest a perfect wine pairing for you.
2007 was an incredible year for the Southern Rhône Valley in general and Châteauneuf-du-Pape more specifically…
“Vintage of a lifetime…Throughout the southern Rhône, 2007 is the greatest vintage I have tasted in my thirty years working in that region.” – Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
“It seems the Southern Rhône Valley can do no wrong. Fine weather plus skilled vintners equals great wines year after year. Every vintage from 1998 through 2004 was outstanding (rated 90 points or higher on Wine Spectator ‘s 100-point scale), with the sole exception of rain-drenched 2002 – and 2005 earned a classic score.” – James Molesworth, July 15, 2008, Wine Spectator
That being said, we have but a single bottle of Domaine Raymond Usseglio Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Girard Non Filtré 2007 available to taste in the store today. This is a great opportunity to taste a terrific wine from an outstanding winemaker from an incredible vintage.
“Importer Peter Weygandt-s 2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Girard has a deeper ruby/purple hue and a slightly more fleshy texture, but otherwise is similar to the regular cuvee. With plenty of Provencal herb, lavender, smoke, meat juice, black cherry, and black currant characteristics, this rich, pure, sultry, opulent wine should drink well for 10-15 years.
“The name Usseglio is well-known in Chateauneuf du Pape as the Usseglio family immigrated from Italy during the Great Depression. There are two top domaines named Usseglio, that of Raymond and Pierre Usseglio. The Raymond Usseglio estate is now being run by Stephane Usseglio, who has introduced a new Mourvedre-based cuvee called La Parte des Anges (reviewed here and called Reserve des Anges in last year-s report). The 2008s are very good for the vintage, but the 2007s are the finest wines I have tasted at Raymond Usseglio since their 1998s, and these may even eclipse them.” – WA 92 points
So come in and ask for it and if we have any left in the bottle, we’ll pour you a special taste…
Robert M. Parker, Jr. of The Wine Advocate asked Peter Weygandt to report on his recent trip to Burgundy and the Rhône river valley. The following is his account:
On September 15, I arrived in Burgundy and for a few days witnessed and participated in a very beautiful harvest there. The morning of September 16th, I heard on the weather news that the night before in Chateauneuf it had rained. I arrived in there mid-day on Friday the 18th. It had rained a little that morning and then it rained again that afternoon. On Saturday the 19th,it rained a little, over an area that stretched from Courthezon to Chateanueuf, but missed the northwest section of the appellation entirely. All told, the rains together totaled about 70-75 mm over 4 days, with the biggest coming the night of the 15th (around 60 mm).
Prior to this time there had not been any rain in Chateauneuf since mid-June (and then very little). July and especially August had been very hot. By late August some vines were showing stress. September turned cooler, which helped. Many growers started to pick around the 10th. In fact, many got their entire harvest of Chateauneuf in before the night of the 14th, when the first rain in 3 months came. These producers, depending on how much they had worked, produced, in many cases, wines of exceptional promise–great concentration and intense flavors that I tasted from the juice. The key was how much they had worked the soil, which had helped the vines mature and minimized any stress. For those who picked just because the grapes had high alcohol, their wines might not be successful (but I did not visit any domaine such as this). On the other hand, for those who had maturity (those who practice “bio” culture and who work the soil), the “First” harvest of 2009 should be exceptional.
Then comes the Second harvest: post September 15. Here there are two possibilities—those who started to pick right away the following Monday, and those who waited till the week of September 28. The week was significant because not only did it not rain for the rest of the month, but the weather was perfect–sunny days, cool nights, and starting the 21st, a week of mistral.
In this group I can report, from my own knowledge, Clos St. Jean, Stephane Usseglio, and Baptiste Grangeon for his Grenache in sandy soils (sand drains especially well). They did not start until the week of the 28th. These producers could possibly make extraordinary wines for several reasons–the skins on the grapes were very thick and hard when the rains came, so the skins never swelled (plus the vines were so starved for water that even the quantity that fell was not too much). The additional two weeks
enabled the vines to fully complete their maturation, boosted by re-started photosynthesis, and complete the softening of tannins. Finally, there was mistral and cool nights the last two weeks, to further concentrate the grapes, while preserving acidity.Whereas Burgundy, Beaujolais, and the northern Rhône are unquestionably potentially great (and easy) harvests, 2009 has presented a fascinating scenario in Chateauneuf for comparisons that will surely go on for years–the Tale of Two Harvests of 2009.
– Peter Weygandt – October 1, 2009