2008 Southern Rhone Overacheivers - Tasting and Sale - Sat, March 5, 12-4 pm

Carignan, Costières de Nîmes, Events, France, Gigondas, Grenache, Grower, Mourvedre, Organic, Producer, Rasteau, Red Wine, Rhône, Sale, Sustainable, Syrah, Tasting, Vinsobres No Responses »
Mar 022011

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

Posted by Weygandt Wines at 4:53 pm

One more thing...

Barbera, Carignan, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Cinsault, Cote Rotie, Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Crozes-Hermitage, Dolcetto, Events, Food, France, Gigondas, Grenache, Hermitage, Lirac, Mourvedre, Organic, Producer, Rasteau, Red Wine, Rhône, Sale, St. Joseph, Syrah, Tasting, Vinsobres, White Wine 1 Response »
Jul 102010

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…

Posted by Weygandt Wines at 12:45 pm

What We're Tasting This Week (April 5-9)

Austria, Burgundy, Carignan, Côtes du Rhône, Events, France, Gigondas, Grenache, Grüner Veltliner, Marsannay, Mourvedre, Pinot Noir, Red Wine, Rhône, Sustainable, Syrah, Tasting, Wachau, White Wine, Winemaker No Responses »
Apr 052010

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

Posted by Weygandt Wines at 4:19 pm

What We're Tasting This Week (March 29-April 2)

Beaujolais, Burgundy, Events, France, Gigondas, Loire, Rhône, Sustainable, Tasting No Responses »
Mar 292010

Thanks to all who showed up to meet with Sara Perez of Mas Martinet for a delicious and informative tasting this past Saturday. And please don’t worry (authorities), the young lady at the bar was not, in any way, involved in the tasting. She was just curious. As was he…This week, as we get ready for one of the very great Burgundy makers, Thierry Brouin of Domaine des Lambrays to pay us a visit, we’ll pour a handful of new selections to keep you interested until the Main Event on Saturday. And just a reminder, there are just a couple of seats left for the Domaine des Lambrays Winemaker Dinner at The Source by Wolfgang Puck. Puligny-Montrachets from 2006 and 2007, Morey-St.-Denis from 2007 and the famed Grand Crus Clos des Lambreys 2004 thru 2007 will all be tasted and paired with the elegant food from The Source. For more information, please contact the shop at (202) 362-9463 or email us a info@weygandtwines.com. As for the Lineup, here it is:

Domaine de Beauregard Muscadet Sevre et Maine 2008, $12.99/btl – Loire, France – 100% Muscadet – 12% abv – Sustainable - This offers bracing lemon and lime flavors steered by a lingering note of fleur de sel. Drink now. 600 cases imported. – WS 87 points

Marof Chardonnay 2008, $19.99/btl – Slovenia – 100% Chardonnay – 13% abv – Sustainable – Biscuit and ripe aromas, this full-bodied, creamy, dry white wine has a surprisinigly long and mineral-laden finish.

Domaine Piron-Lameloise Moulin A Vent Vieilles Vignes 2008, $21.99/btl – Beaujolais, France – 100% Gamay – 12.5% abv – Sustainable – The Pirons’ 2008 Moulin-a-Vent Les Vignes du Vieux Bourg comes from 5 acres of centenarian vines. Aromas of blackberry, iris, smoked meat, mace, pepper, and salt spray lead to a pungently spicy, tartly ripe and juicy, yet subtly creamy palate, followed by a rather brash finish of formidable tenacity. This is built for at least 5-6 years in the cellar, where it should gain in both further complexity and harmony. A steal for old vine Moulin A Vent!

Domaine St.-Damien Gigondas Souteyrade 2006, $29.99/btl – Rhone, France – 80% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre – 15% abv – Sustainable – A candidate for “wine of the vintage,” the 2006 Gigondas Les Souteyrades possesses superb notes of jammy strawberries, black cherries, raspberries, flowers, and a crushed rock-like minerality. This full-bodied, pure, layered 2006 does not display the compelling richness of the 2007, but it is a beautiful wine that is already drinking well. It should evolve for a decade or more. – WA 93 points

Posted by Weygandt Wines at 5:51 pm
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