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…
Our 3WC (Weygandt Wines Wine Club) June Backyard BBQ Pack is now available for shipping or pickup in the store. If you have any questions about our Wine Club, please click HERE or call the shop at (202) 362-9463 and ask for Tim. The Lineup:
Classic Wine Club:
Domaine Les Grand Bois Cotes du Rhone Viognier 2009 – Rhone, France – 100% Viognier – Sustainable - Classic Viognier aromas of white peach, apricot and violet with gentle mineral notes adding energy. An exotic papaya quality lingers on the juicy finish. This is perfect as an aperitif or with freshly grilled halibut or rockfish.
Domaine Duseigneur Lirac Antares 2007 – Rhone, France – 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre – 14.5% abv – Biodynamic - 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. – Rated 91 points, The Wine Avocate
Regular Price $38.98, 3WC Price $29.99 – A 23% Savings!
Gourmet Wine Club
Bodega Pedralonga Albariño Rias Baixas 2007 – Rias Baixas, Spain – 100% Albarino – 13% abv – Sustainable - A very full-bodied nose with notes of grapefruit, apple and floral hints. Structured and robust on the palate with prominent minerality, lactic hints and slight, fruity acidity. Quite a bit richer and fuller than your average Albariño, serve this with a nice, oily fish such as mackerel or fresh sardines.
Yann Chave Crozes Hermitage Le Rouvre 2007 – Rhone, France – 100% Syrah – 12.5% abv – Sustainable - Dark and winey, with crushed currant, fig and boysenberry fruit laid over a strong graphite note. Additional tobacco, plum sauce and coffee notes fill in the briary finish. Best from 2010 through 2013. 2,080 cases made. – Rated 91 points, Wine Spectator
Regular Price $63.98, 3WC Price $49.99 – A 22% Savings!
Deluxe Wine Club
Domaine Remi Jobard Meursault Le Chevalieres 2007 – Burgundy, France – 100% Chardonnay – Organic - The most elegant, and most complex, aromas to this point with citrus blossom, anise, delicate pain grille notes and a background hint of orange peel marries into very pure and stony flavors that are chiseled and gorgeously intense, all wrapped in a dry and mouth coating finish that again offers excellent length for a wine of this level. As it usually is, this is the best of this fine group of villages wines. Recommended. – Rated 90 points, Burghound
La Campana Brunello di Montalcino – Tuscany, Italy – 100% Sangiovese Grosso – 14% abv – Sustainable - Medium-deep red. Ripe red cherry, plum, marjoram, cinnamon and smoke on the nose and palate. Creamy and sweet, this Rosso offers lovely texture and intensity to its flavors, with fresh acidity giving it a penetrating quality. Though it starts off rather sweet and lush, it finishes with substantial tongue-coating tannins that leave you scrambling for something to eat.
Regular Price $125.98, 3WC Price $99.99 – A 24% Savings!
On Saturday, March 20, from 1 pm to 4 pm, please help us welcome Micheal Gerin of the great house, Jean-Michel Gerin, to the shop. He will pouring his very well reviewed wines that are written about as some of the very best from the Northern Rhone. The whites are all Viognier and the reds are all Syrah; one can see from the picture above the amount of care and work that must go into tending grapes that are grown on these rocky, mineral-rich, mountainside vineyards. Rare and outstanding wines, this is another great opportunity to taste some cuvees that you just don’t open up for general consumption. Unless you’re us. Which we are. All bottles will be priced 15% off the normal retail price, with a 20% discount to be applied by the case. The Lineup:
Jean-Michel Gerin Condrieu Coteau de La Loye 2007, SALE $42.49/btl, Regularly $49.99 – Rhone, France – 100% Viognier – 14.5% abv – Quite ripe, but with excellent precision, as a clear minerally streak and crunchy acidity runs through the peach, mango and anise flavors. Long, bright finish lets the anise and mineral notes stretch out nicely. Drink now through 2010. 1,165 cases made. – WS 91 points
The superb 2007 Condrieu La Loyes is a bigger, bolder white with more crushed rock and minerality accompanying its white peach, apricot, and lychee nut characteristics. – WA 91 points
Jean-Michel Gerin Syrah Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes 2007, SALE $16.99, Regularly $19.99/btl – Rhone, France – 100% Syrah – 13% abv – A hint of reduction blows off quickly, leaving incense, crushed cherry, violet and mineral notes to glide through the iron-tinged finish. Drink now. 1,415 cases made. – WS 88 points
Jean-Michel Gerin St. Joseph 2007, SALE $25.49/btl, Regularly $29.99 – Rhone, France – 100% Syrah – 12.5% abv – Shows the bright, crunchy acidity of the vintage, with hints of violet, pastis, black cherry and incense gliding through the fresh, lengthy finish. Drink now through 2011. 1,665 cases made. – WS 91 points
Jean-Michel Gerin Cote Rotie Champin Le Seigneur 2006, SALE $50.99/btl, Regularly $59.99 – Rhone, France – 100% Syrah – 13% abv – 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. – WS 91 points
Jean-Michel Gerin Cote Rotie Les Grandes Places 2006, SALE $84.99/btl, Regularly $99.99 – Rhone, France – 100% Syrah – 13% abv – Still a bit taut, with briary tannins framing the red currant, black cherry, licorice and iron notes. Firm, with the licorice edge winning out on the slightly tangy, olive- and mineral-filled finish. This needs cellaring to flesh out fully. Best from 2010 through 2020. 625 cases made. – WS 93 points