Please join us on Friday, April 15th from 5PM until 7:30PM, and again on Saturday, April 16th, from 12PM until 4PM to sample delicious wines from France’s Savoie, Rhone and Languedoc regions, Austria’s Kremstal and Carnuntum regions, and Italy’s Piedmont. The Lineup:

 

1.  Domaine de L’Aigle à Deux Têtes Côtes du Jura En Griffez Vieilles Vignes 2007, List Price $23.99, Sale $19.99 – Jura, France – 100% Chardonnay – 11.5% abv – Organic – A very firm white, with impressive structure to the lemon curd and green apple flavors that also feature intense notes of sea salt and hints of iodine. This is a powerful and distinctive style. Needs time in the cellar to fully develop. Best from 2013 through 2020. 75 cases imported. – Rated 91 points, Wine Spectator

2.  Weingut Buchegger Grüner Veltliner Pfarrweingarten 2007, List Price $29.99, Sale $24.99 – Kremstal, Austria – 100% Grüner Veltliner – 13.5% abv – Sustainable - Buttery and full of wild flowers and caramel-like notes–like a fruity hot toddy. The supple finish is ripe, with touches of cream.

3.  Château Mourgues du Grès Costières de Nîmes Rosé Fleur d’Eglantine 2009, List Price $11.99, Sale $9.99 – Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France – 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, 10% Carignan – 13.5% abv – Sustainable - Very pale pink. High-pitched aromas of red currant, blood orange and rhubarb, plus a strong kick of white pepper. Dry and nervy in the mouth, offering zesty red berry flavors and incisive acidity. An emphatically dry, slightly austere wine. – Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

4.  Markowitsch Pinot Noir Qualitätswein Trocken Carnuntum 2006, List Price $25.99, Sale $19.99 – Carnuntum, Austria – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Sustainable - Light- to medium-bodied, with delicate cherry and Santa Rosa plum flavors and plenty of bright spicy notes. The finish is crisp and juicy. Drink now. 150 cases imported – Wine Spectator

5.  Domaine Gardies Côtes du Roussillon Mas Las Cabes 2008, List Price $16.99, Sale $13.99 – Roussillon, France – 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 10% Carignan – 13.5% abv – Organic - Red raspberry, cherry, mocha, vanilla, and toasted pecan rise from the glass of the 2008 Cotes du Roussillon Mas Las Cabes Rouge, a blend vinified in cement and older barriques. Marjoram and cedar as well as a subtle smokiness and a refreshing note of salinity join the red fruits on a rather firm palate which barely suggests the sweeter, nuttier notes in the nose. A bright, savory, red fruit- and herb-filled finish hints also at anchovy, calling forth the next sip and promising a versatile performance at table for at least the next couple of years.

6.  Simone Scaletta Barolo Chirlet 2004, List Price $58.99, Sale $49.99 - Piedmont, Italy – 100% Nebbiolo – 14% abv – Organic - Pretty. floral, elegant and quite complete. Well-balanced and fine. Ripe fruits with a dry finish. Drink from 2009. – Decanter

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.

Please join us on Saturday, March 5th, from 12pm until 4pm to sample offerings from the 2008 southern Rhone valley, including wines from Costieres de Nimes, Vinsobres, appellation Cotes du Rhone and Cotes du Rhone Villages, Rasteau and Gigondas. Sandwiched between the highly touted 2007 and 2009 vintages, these wines are nonetheless delicious and complete, and are relative bargains. The Lineup:

Domaine Charvin Côtes du Rhône Le Poutet 2008, List Price $19.99, Sale $16.99 – Orange, Rhône, France – 85% Greanche, 10% Syrah, 5% Carignan – 14% abv – Sustainable - A blend from 40-year-old vines, the 2008 Le Poutet is aged in concrete tanks and bottled unfiltered. It possesses elegant black cherry and strawberry fruit intermixed with notes of garrigue, new saddle leather, and pepper. Drink this elegant, well-balanced, delicious 2008 over the next year. – The Wine Advocate

Domaine Constant-Duquesnoy Vinsobres 2008, List Price $23.99, Sale $19.99 – Vinsobres, Rhône, France – 75% Grenache, 25% Syrah – 15% abv – Organic - Dark and rich, with ample flesh, particularly for the vintage, as mulled currant, fig paste and blackberry fruit courses along black tea, graphite and bittersweet ganache notes. Delivers nice integrated grip on the applewood-tinged finish. Drink now through 2012. 100 cases imported. – Rated 90 points, Wine Spectator

Domaine Grand Nicolet Côtes du Rhône-Villages Rasteau Vieilles Vignes 2008, List Price $19.99, Sale $16.99 – Rasteau, Rhône, France – 95% Grenache (70 year old vines), 5% Syrah (50 year old vines) – 15% abv – Sustainable - The 2008 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Rasteau Vieilles Vignes may compete with its brilliant 2007 counterpart. Its dense inky/purple color is followed by a big, rich nose of chocolate, graphite, black currants, spring flowers, and scorched earth. With full body, sweet tannins, and stunning concentration for a 2008, it should drink well for up to a decade. Another superb estate in the Cotes du Rhone village of Rasteau, Domaine Grand Nicolet has the seemingly -can’t miss making great wines- Philippe Cambie as its consultant. Shrewd consumers seeking super high quality at fair prices should check out these offerings. Previously recommended in issue 181: 2007 Cotes du Rhone (90-92), 2007 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Rasteau Les Esqueyrons (92-94), 2007 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Vieilles Vignes (91-93) – Rated 90-92 points, The Wine Advocate

Domaine Les Grands Bois Côtes du Rhône-Villages Rasteau Cuvée Marc 2008, List Price $22.99, Sale $18.99 – 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. – Wine Spectator

Château Mourgues du Grès Costières de Nîmes Les Capitelles 2008, List Price $22.99, Sale $18.99 (plus an additional 10% off a solid case of 12 btls) – Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France – 83% Syrah, 15% Carignan, 2% Grenache – 14.5% abv – Sustainable - The outstanding, dark ruby/purple-tinged 2008 Capitelles du Mourgues offers up abundant aromas of blackberries, licorice, camphor, and forest floor as well as a lush, dense, chewy style. The richest of these reds, it is capable of lasting for 3-4 years. Costieres de Nimes, an appellation centered around the ancient Roman settlement of Nimes, just south of Chateauneuf du Pape, remains one of France’s top sources for value wines. Chateau Mourgues du Gres has been producing successful wines for as long as I’ve been tasting in this region, and their current portfolio includes two strong whites, two strong roses, and a bevy of delicious reds. – Rated 90 points, The Wine Advocate

Domaine Saint-Damien Gigondas Vieilles Vignes 2008, List Price $25.99, Sale $21.99 – Gigondas, Rhône, France – 80% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre – 15% abv – Sustainable - Dark ruby. Deeply pitched dark berries and dried flowers on the nose, with a brighter red fruit quality emerging with air. Spicy raspberry and blackberry flavors coat the palate, with zesty acidity providing lift. This shows good heft for an ’08. Offers expansive, alluringly sweet dark fruit and floral notes on the finish, leaving a gentle spicy note behind. – Rated 90 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

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