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.

Explore Touraine and Chinon from the central Loire Valley! This Weekend at Weygandt Wines

Cabernet Franc, Chinon, Events, France, Grower, Loire, Organic, Producer, Red Wine, Sale, Sauvignon Blanc, Tasting, Touraine, White Wine, Winemaker No Responses »

May 252011

Chateau de la Bonneliere is a family estate of 18 hectares situated on the “rive gauche” of Chinon and around Ligré and la Roche-Clermault since 1846. Marc Plouzeau took over the estate in 1988 and in 1999 began the conversion to “agriculture biologique,” and the vineyards are now all certified as such by ECOCERT. Low yields, predominantly hand-harvested at ideal physiological ripeness, and vinification directed towards emphasizing fruit and not extracting tannins. Along the river, Plouzeau has 6 hectares from which he produces a very fruity Chinon call “Rive Gauche.” In addition, Plouzeau also produces a range of fine, age-worthy Chinon reds from the Cabernet Franc grape, an excellent Chinon Rosé, and a pair of delicious Touraine Sauvignon Blancs.

Join us on Friday evening May 27th, between 5PM and 7:30PM, then again on Saturday, May 28th, from 12PM to 4PM for our tasting and enjoy discounted prices on these special selections. The Lineup:

Domaine Plouzeau Touraine Sauvignon, List Price $~~12.99~~, Sale $10.99 – Touraine, Loire, France – 100% Sauvignon Blanc – 12.5% abv – Organic – From chalky, flinty soils along the Cher, Marc Plouzeau has crafted a 2010 Touraine Sauvignon redolent of white peach and passion fruit; lean and quite dense; but finishing with refreshing juiciness, a saline tang, and hints of cherry pit and pistachio.

Château de la Bonnelière Touraine Cepage Sauvignon Les Devants 2010, 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.

Château de la Bonnelière Chinon Rosé Rive Gauche 2010, List Price $~~13.99~~, Sale $11.89 – Chinon, Loire, France – 100% Cabernet Franc – 12.5% abv – Organic – Very pale, orange-tinged pink. Vibrant aromas of wild strawberry, redcurrant, cracked pepper and minerals, plus a gentle floral overtone. Racy, tightly wound red berry and blood orange flavors are refreshingly dry and well-focused. Pure, bracing and penetrating, with strong finishing minerality and excellent persistence. This would actually work with shellfish or fresh-to-moderately-aged goat cheeses.

Château de la Bonnelière Chinon Rive Gauche 2010, List Price $~~14.99~~, Sale $12.69 – Chinon, Loire, France – 100% Cabernet Franc – 12.5% abv – Organic – Very fresh, almost primal, with intense blackberry and cherry fruit coursing along, held together by chalk and tobacco notes that ripple underneath. There’s a nice bright finish. On the palate, the tannin is full and silky. The overall taste lasts and is harmonious. Try it slightly chilled with grilled meats.

Château de la Bonnelière Chinon Cornuelles 2009, List Price $~~18.99~~, Sale $15.99 – Chinon, Loire, France – 100% Cabernet Franc – 12.5% abv – Organic – Plouzeau’s new winery gives him the opportunity not only to make wines with the greatest care but also to ensure that they may keep. This Chinon wine is of a ruby-red color and exudes an aroma of merello cherries and redcurrant. Well-balanced with an excellent tannic quality. It has a fresh taste with a hint of liquorice. It will accompany well rich dishes served in sauces such as Coq au Vin.

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 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

A Taste of the Loire - Part I - Fri, Mar 25, 5-7:30 pm and Sat, Mar 26, 12-4 pm

Biodynamic, Bourgueil, Cabernet Franc, France, Grower, Loire, Melon de Bourgogne, Organic, Pouilly-Fumé, Producer, Red Wine, Sale, Sancerre, Saumur Champgny, Sauvignon Blanc, Tasting, White Wine No Responses »

Mar 242011

Please join us on Friday, March 25th from 5PM until 7:30PM, and again on Saturday, March 26th, from 12PM until 4PM to sample delicious Cabernet Francs from two different regions, two Sauvignon Blancs and a terrific wine made of Melon de Bourgogne!

The Loire is a region of diversity, both in terms of landscape, and varietal. This week, and again next, we will explore the length of the Loire Valley, sampling outstanding wines, different producers, and contrasting styles and tastes.

Domaine de Beauregard Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie 2009, List Price $~~11.99~~, Sale $9.99 – Muscadet, Loire, France – 100% Melon de Bourgogne – 12% abv – Sustainable - Laurent Gregoire’s 2009 Muscadet de Sevre et Maine Sur Lie from Domaine de Beauregard (a name that only figures on a neck label, but then, his own is even more hidden-away) delivers the sort of soft, generous satisfaction that was to be derived from his 2005. Suggestions of Persian melon, nut oils, and grapefruit are tinged with salt and herbs, and there is ample juicy refreshment in a finish with alkaline and saline accents. Enjoy it over the coming year. – The Wine Advocate

Domaine Serge Dagueneau et Filles Pouilly-Fumé Les Pentes 2009, List Price $~~24.99~~, Sale $19.99 – Pouilly-Fumé, Loire, France – 100% Sauvignon Blanc – 12.5% abv – Organic - Stylish, with straw and lemon curd notes carried by very fresh acidity. The long finish has nice precision, leaving a lingering verbena note. Drink now through 2012. 500 cases imported. – Rated 90 points, Wine Spectator

Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy Sancerre Vieilles Vignes Les Angeslots 2006, List Price $~~34.99~~, Sale $29.99 – Sancerre, Loire, France – 100% Sauvignon Blanc – 13.5% abv – Organic - Offers a hint of paraffin, along with honeysuckle, lemon verbena and shortbread notes that all linger gently on the elegant finish. Drink now. 75 cases imported. – Wine Spectator

La Source du Ruault Saumur Champigny 2008, List Price $~~18.99~~, Sale $15.99 – Saumur Champigny, Loire, France – 100% Cabernet Franc – 12.5% abv – Biodynamic - Fresh, with a brisk edge to the black cherry, tobacco leaf and iron hints. Slightly crisp finish. Drink now. 200 cases imported. – Wine Spectator

Yannick Amirault Pavillon du Grand Clos Bourgueil Le Grand Clos 2007, List Price $~~27.99~~, Sale $23.99 – Bourgueil, Loire, France – 100% Cabernet Franc – 12.5% abv – Organic - Still fresh, despite the mature hints of tea and cedar around the edges. A lively core of mulled red and black cherry fruit is backed by tobacco and olive hints, with a lovely, perfume- and mineral-filled finish. Drink now. 25 cases imported. – Rated 90 points, Wine Spectator; 90 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

Yannick Amirault Pavillon du Grand Clos Bourguiel Les Quartiers 2008, List Price $~~28.99~~, Sale $24.99 – Bourgueil, Loire, France – 100% Cabernet Franc – 13% abv – Organic - This has just started to soften, as an alluring black tea edge moves in on the core of damson plum, raspberry and black cherry flavors. Long and suave on the finish, offering perfumy spice, incense and sweet tobacco notes. Drink now through 2014. 50 cases imported. – Rated 91 points, Wine Spectator

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

Albert Mann, Alsatian Giant - Tasting and Sale - Sat, Feb 26, 12-4 pm

Alsace, Auxerrois, Biodynamic, Events, France, Gewurtztraminer, Grower, Pinot Blanc, Producer, Riesling, Sale, Tasting, White Wine, Winemaker No Responses »

Feb 232011

Please join us on Saturday, February 26th, from 12pm until 4pm to sample offerings from perhaps the outstanding producer in Alsace today, Domaine Albert Mann, run by Jacky and Maurice Barthelme. This year Domaine Albert Mann received a coveted 3rd Star from Revue du Vin de France, the famed publication’s top rating. And no other producer in the region is more deserving of this honor. Wines produced from completely biodynamic viticulture and the ultimate and unique expressions of their varietal types.

The Barthelme brothers, two giants in physical stature, benefit from the ideal micro-climate of Colmar, producing wines that are rich, onctuous, endowed with significant residual sugar but well integrated in concentration. . . . – Le Classement, Revue du Vin de France

Please visit Weygandt Wines this Saturday, February 25th from 12pm-4pm to sample six fine examples and new releases from Domaine Albert Mann. The Lineup:

Domaine Albert Mann Pinot Blanc 2009, List Price $~~17.99~~, Sale $15.29 – Wettolsheim, Alsace, France – 70% Auxerrois, 30% Pinot Blanc – 12.5% abv – Biodynamic - Straw-yellow. Musky soft citrus fruits, hazelnut and spring flowers on the nose. Fat, supple and slightly sweet, but with good shape to its creamy stone fruit and spice flavors. A persistent, easygoing midweight with modest complexity. – Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

Domaine Albert Mann Auxerrois Vieilles Vignes 2009, List Price $~~19.99~~, Sale $16.99 – Wettolsheim, Alsace, France – 100% Auxerrois – 13% abv – Biodynamic - Pale yellow-green. High-pitched aromas of lime, orange blossom and mint, with a whiff of coconut emerging with air. Juicier and drier than the pinot blanc, conveying less body but more cut and clarity. Tighter on the back end, with a suggestion of elevated alcohol giving it a slightly aggressive character. But there’s good grip too. – Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

Domaine Albert Mann Riesling Cuvee Albert 2009, List Price $~~27.99~~, Sale $23.79 – Wettolsheim, Alsace, France – 100% Riesling – 13% abv – Biodynamic - A pretty, aromatic white, this finds a fine fit for its delicate flavors of honeydew melon, peach, orange zest and spice. Dry and tangy, with lovely purity of flavor and balance. Drink now through 2016. 150 cases imported. – Rated 90 points, Wine Spectator

Domaine Albert Mann Gewurztraminer 2009, List Price $~~25.99~~, Sale $22.09 – Wettolsheim, Alsace, France – 100% Gewurztraminer – 14% abv – Biodynamic - Pale, green-tinged yellow. Varietally expressive aromas of lichee, smoked meat, brown spices and rose petal. Silky-smooth and sweet, with spice and meat flavors similar to the aromas. An easygoing and open-knit wine of good but not outstanding clarity and intensity, finishing with a light dusting of tannins and alcohol under control. – Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

Domaine Albert Mann Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg 2009, List Price $~~39.99~~, Sale $33.99 – Wettolsheim, Alsace, France – 100% Gewurztraminer – 14% abv – Biodynamic - There’s a lovely purity and transparency to this elegant white, showcasing its minerality, which drives the spring blossom, white peach and grapefruit zest flavors. The citrusy acidity shows precision and adds a streamlined quality, with a long, white pepper-laced finish. Drink now through 2025. 100 cases imported. – Rated 93 points, Wine Spectator; 90 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

Domaine Albert Mann Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Steingrubler 2007, List Price $~~34.99~~, Sale $29.79 – Wettolsheim, Alsace, France – 100% Gewurztraminer – 14% abv – Biodynamic - Bright pale yellow. Exotic orange blossom, curry powder, spices, wild herbs and a whiff of earth on the nose. Fat, rich and very sweet, with fairly low acidity but the fruit to handle its alcohol. This concentrated, gently styled gewurztraminer is broad and full without being heavy. – Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

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.

Yann Chave's Northern Rhone Syrahs - Tasting and Sale - Sat, Feb 5, 12-4 pm

Crozes-Hermitage, Events, France, Grower, Hermitage, Marsanne, Organic, Producer, Red Wine, Rhône, Roussanne, Sale, Sustainable, Syrah, Tasting, Winemaker No Responses »

Feb 032011

Please join us at Weygandt Wines on Saturday, February 5th as we present the wines of rising star Yann Chave, from 12PM-4PM.

You may not have heard of this domaine before, but it won’t be a secret much longer. Chave is making superb wines. – James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

Yann, in his late 30s, has taken over from his father, Bernard Chave, and in 2001 the name of the Domaine became Yann Chave. It consists of 14.77 hectares (35.4 acres) of Crozes-Hermitage Rouge, 1.20 hectares (2.8 acres) of Hermitage, and 0.76 hectares (1.8 acres) of Crozes-Hermitage Blanc.

The Crozes-Hermitage “Classique” is a selection of vines all situated in the sector “Chassis,” ranging from 18 to 40 years old. Elevage is 20% in two-year demi-muids and 80% in tank with micro-oxygenation. The “Le Rouvre” is a single parcel in Chassis, his best parcel of Crozes, lying on “caillouteux” (large rounded stones) and the vines average 50 years-old. It is pure “vin de goutte” and is aged entirely in one- and two-year old demi-muids. The Hermitage is from two parcels, one in Baumes (next to Le Méal) and the other in “Péléat,” with vines averaging 25 years of age. The wine is aged in 100% new demi-muids.

Pumping over is done twice a day, but Yann does very little punching down (pigeage) – only two times altogether during the three weeks of vinification. He works hard in the vineyards – low yields, harvesting later at optimum phenolic maturity, natural viticulture, indigenous yeasts and no filtering – if you like loads of Syrah fruit and lots of texture on the palate, these are wines for you.

Through February 5th, 2010, all Yann Chave wines will be discounted 25% off their regular retail price for single bottles. No other discounts may apply. Please join us on Saturday, February 5th, from 12pm until 4pm to sample these classic expressions of Northern Rhone Syrahs and more! The Lineup:

Yann Chave Crozes-Hermitage Blanc 2008, List Price $27.99, Sale $20.99 – Rhone, France – 70% Marsanne, 30% Roussane – 13% abv – Sustainable - Vineyard composition is of argilo-limestone. All vine treatments are organic, and only indigenous yeast is employed in the long, slow fermentation, the temperature of which is controlled for that purpose, and to preserve the maximum varietal character and richness. Elevage is 100% in tank, also in order to preserve the clarity of the varietal character. An elegant white wine from fully-mature fruit, characterized by complex and powerful notes of stone-fruits; the mouth-feel is structured, fatty and full. Chave recommends this wine as an excellent aperitif, or to be served with fresh water fish in a sauce.

Yann Chave Crozes-Hermitage Classique 2007, List Price $27.99, Sale $20.99 – Rhone, France – 100% Syrah – 13% abv – Sustainable - Bright and open, with tasty black cherry, currant and aged tobacco notes. Fresh finish. Drink now. 5,000 cases made.

Yann Chave Crozes-Hermitage Le Rouvre 2008, List Price $35.99, Sale $26.99 – Rhone, France – 100% Syrah – 13% abv – Sustainable - This lightly firm red offers a core of crushed plum and blueberry fruit laced with cocoa powder and tobacco notes. The long finish is carried by fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. Nicely ripe for the vintage. Drink now through 2011. 100 cases imported. – Rated 90 points, Wine Spectator

Yann Chave Hermitage 2005, List Price $109.99, Sale $82.49 – Rhone, France – 100% Syrah – 13.5% abv – Sustainable - Packed with black currant, fig and black cherry fruit, this is also very refined, with incense, graphite, mineral and spice notes helping to extend the long, silky finish. Has power and grace and should age beautifully. Best from 2008 through 2022. 540 cases made. – Rated 93 points, Wine Spectator; 92 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 90 points, The Wine Advocate

Yann Chave Hermitage 2006, Regular Price $79.99, Sale Price $59.99 – Rhone, France – 100% Syrah – 13.5% abv – Sustainable - Really inviting, with crushed currant and blackberry fruit mingling with cassis bush, iron and mineral notes. Has a supple, lingering, violet-tinged finish. Silky. Drink now through 2020. 50 cases imported. – Rated 93 points, Wine Spectator; 92 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 90 points, The Wine Advocate

This branch of the Alary family has been growers for 11 generations. One of their sites is on the choicest parcel of Cairanne, known as the Font D’Estevenas. Here, the latest in this long line of vignerons, Denis Alary, fashions the lineup that has earned him the notation by Robert Parker as “one of the stars of the Cotes du Rhone Village of Cairanne”.

Starting with his Vin de Pays, called La Grange Daniel Rouge, Denis fashions a blend of Grenache, Syrah with a little Cinsault and about 15% 40 year old vines Cabernet Sauvignon. As Robert Parker says it has “the pepper, spice, herb characteristics found in a good Southern Rhone”. The Alary Cotes du Rhone is a blend of Grenache and Syrah in a more full-bodied style exhibiting “classic Southern Rhone character”. The Cairanne is approximately an 85% Grenache, 15% Syrah blend of a “excellent concentration” and classic character of that village appellation. The Cairanne Brunotte is a blend a Grenache and Mourvedre and as the name would suggest is built more for evolving over five to six years. The Font D’Estevanas site in Cairanne gives its name to two of Denis’ top wines. The red is a blend of 60% Syrah planted by Daniel Alary some 40 years ago from cuttings he brought from Hermitage, blended with Grenache and Counoise, some of the Grenache vines being over 100 years old. This is an exotic, richly flavored wine that reminds both of Cote Rotie and of fine Chateauneuf all at once. The Font D’Estevanas Blanc is a blend of 65% Roussanne, 10% Marsanne and 25% Viognier. While lush and very eromatic, is also beautifully balanced and elegant. Starting in 1998 the Alary family kept aside grapes from a parcel, the family purchased in 1860 from a man named Jean de Verde and had thus always been referred to as “La Jean de Verde”. These are 70 plus years old Grenache vines with yield of about a ton and a half per acre, producing an exquisite, sumptuous delicacy weighing in at over 14% natural ripeness. The domaine is also included in the Revue du Vin de France Le Classement as one of the top domaines in France.

Please join us on Saturday, January 29th, from 12pm until 4pm to sample these classic expressions of southern Cotes du Rhone regional wines . . .

Many observers feel that Domaine Alary is the top estate in the village of Cairanne. I agree that they are one of the most reliable. A partial look at their just released wines includes two Vin de Pays cuvees, both excellent values. Readers should keep in mind that 2008 in the southern Rhone is a good vintage that is on a very fast evolutionary track. – Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

Domaine Alary Vin de Pays de la Principauté d’Orange La Grange Daniel Roussanne 2009, List Price $14.99/btl, Sale $12.99 – Cairanne, Rhone, France – 100% Roussanne – 14% abv – Sustainable - An amazing bargain for a wine made from 100% hand-harvested Roussanne. Orange and waxy honeysuckle aromas jump from the glass of this medium-bodied, richly fruit white that smells and tastes like Roussanne. Most Roussannes at this level of quality sell for 2 to 3 times the price. Consume it over the next year.

Domaine Alary Côtes du Rhône-Villages Cairanne La Font d’Estévenas Blanc 2008, List Price $21.99/btl, Sale $18.99 – Cairanne, Rhone, France – 90% Clairette, 10% Roussanne – 13% abv – Sustainable - The 2008 Font d’Estevanas blanc (a blend of 90% Clairette and 10% Roussanne) comes across like a Chablis from the Southern Rhone. Crisp minerality intermixed with flower, white currant, nectarine, and grapefruit notes are present in this medium-bodied, elegant, delicious white. This tank-fermented and aged 2008 should be consumed during its first year of life to take advantage of its tremendous aromatic character. – Rated 90 points, The Wine Advocate; 90 points, Wine Spectator

Domaine Alary Vin de Pays de la Principauté d’Orange La Grange Daniel 2009, List Price $14.99/btl, Sale $12.99 – Cairanne, Rhone, France – 20% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Cinsault, 20% Counoise, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon – 14% abv – Sustainable - A combination of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Counoise, and Cabernet Sauvignon, all planted just outside the domain’s home of Cairanne. Spicy cherries intermixed with saddle leather, resiny pine forest notes, and pepper are present in this full-bodied, chunky, but surprisingly flavorful and well-made wine. Drink it over the next 1-2 years.

Domaine Alary Côtes du Rhône La Gerbaude 2008, List Price $13.99/btl, Sale $11.99 – Cairanne, Rhone, France – 85% Grenache, 15% Syrah – 13.5% abv – Sustainable - A terrific bargain from this vintage. This is the estate’s declassified wine from their home village of Cairanne–this blend of 85% Grenache and 15% old vine Carignan is outstanding. Notes of black cherries, garrigue, loamy soil, spice, and new saddle leather emerge from this richly fruity, medium-bodied, elegant, complex red. It is ideal for drinking over the next 2-3 years.

Domaine Alary Côtes du Rhône-Villages Cairanne 2008, List price $19.99/btl, Sale $16.99 – Cairanne, Rhone, France – 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Carignan – 13.5% abv – Sustainable - Ripe and friendly, featuring a forward core of cherry and dark spice notes. A whiff of black tea checks in on the juicy finish, with a nice mineral hint, too. Drink now.

Domaine Alary Côtes du Rhône-Villages Cairanne La Font d’Estévenas 2008, List Price $24.99, Sale $21.99 – Cairanne, Rhone, France – 50% Grenache, 50% Syrah – 14% abv – Sustainable - Always one of Alary’s finest efforts, the outstanding 2008 Font d’Estevanas comes from old parcels of Grenache (50%) and Syrah (50%, all aged in neutral wood). The wine’s dense plum/garnet color is followed by an evolved bouquet of flowers, black raspberries, and roasted Provencal herbs, medium to full-bodied, fleshy flavors, and an irresistible, endearing finish. Enjoy this sexy 2008 over the next 2-3 years. – Rated 91 points, The Wine Advocate

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Yann Chave's Northern Rhone Syrahs - Tasting and Sale - Sat, Feb 5, 12-4 pm

Domaine Alary Tasting and Sale - Sat, Jan 29, 12-4 pm

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