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…

On Saturday, May 8th, 2010, from 12PM – 4PM, Weygandt Wines welcomes you to a tasting of a selection of our recent rosé wine arrivals.

Rosé is one of those everything sort of wines . . . that is to say, that it goes well with nearly everything! With the aromas of juicy red fruit and the texture and dryness of a fresh white, Rosés are the perfect go-to warm weather wines to accompany anything from light fair to grilled meats . . . If you’re not a convert yet, come in on Saturday for our free tasting and we are sure that we’ll change your mind! And besides, the world always looks a little better through rosé colored glasses!

Our In-Stock Rosé Selections
Domaine Les Aphillanthes Cotes-du-Rhone Rosé 2009, 60% Cinsault, 20% Grenache, 15% Cunoise, 5% Mourvedre. $13.99 by the bottle

Rive Gauche Chinon Rosé 2009, 100% Cabernet Franc. $15.99 by the bottle

Domaine les Grands Bois Cotes du Rhone “Cuvee les Trois Soeurs” Rosé 2009, 75% Grenache, 15% Carignan, 5% Syrah. $13.99 by the bottle

Buchegger Pinot Noir Niederosterreich Rosé 2009, Austria. 100% Pinot Noir. $16.99 by the bottle

Chateau Mourgues du Gres Fleur d’Eglantine Costieres de Nimes Rosé 2009, 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 10% Carignan. $13.99 by the bottle

Chateau Mourgues du Gres Les Galets Roses Costieres de Nimes Rosé 2009, 60% Syrah, 40% Grenache. $15.99 by the bottle

Pierre-Marie Chermette Les Griottes Beaujolais Rosé 2009, 100% Gamay. $16.99 by the bottle

Chateau de Manissy Tavel “Cuvee des Lys” Rosé 2009, 60% Grenache, 30% Clairette, 10% Syrah. $18.99 by the bottle

Domaine Duseigneur Lirac Rosé 2009, 50% Cinsault, 37% Mourvedre, 7% Clairette, 3% Grenache, 3% Syrah. $16.99 by the bottle

Domaine La Bastide Blanche Bandol Rosé 2009, 70% Mourvedre, 8% Grenache, 22% Cinsault. $22.99 by the bottle*

Chateau de Baumelles Bandol Rosé 2009, 30% Mourvedre, 36% Cinsault, 34% Grenache. $22.99 by the bottle*

Domaine Charvin Cotes du Rhone Rosé 2009, 80% Grenache, 20% Bourboulenc. $18.99 by the bottle*

*arriving at the shop late this week

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What to taste, what to taste? Here at the shop, we often hear the question, “How do you decide which wines to use for your tastings?” And like many questions , there are many right answers (unless you’re a mathematician). Some of the wines we choose are new to the shop, so we want to try them out ourselves. Some have been requested by our regulars (yes, we do listen). Some have been collecting dust because we have been neglectful. And others just seem right at the time. Whatever the reason, we try and open new wines every week, and this week is no exception. The Lineup:

Tement Sauvignon Blanc Grassnitzberg 2007, $39.99/btl – Styria, Austria – 100% Sauvignon Blanc – 13% abv – Fermented in tank and matured in larger barrels, Tement’s 2007 Sauvignon Blanc Grassnitzberg is cooling and minty in personality yet with a glossy texture and lovely cling. Another year in bottle may bring more complexity, but this very proportional and refreshing Sauvignon should be worth following for 2-3 years. – WA 87 points

Chateau Mourgues du Gres Vin de Pays du Gard Blanc Terre d’Argence 2007, $15.99/btl – Rhone, France – 50% Viognier, 50% Roussanne – A blend of equal parts Viognier and Roussanne, a small percentage fermented in new wood, the very good 2007 Terre d’Argence blanc is surprisingly restrained compared to the Galets Dores. It offers abundant amounts of white currant, honeysuckle, and apricot notes in a medium-bodied, dry, refreshing style. – WA 87 points

Chateau Pont de Brion Graves Rouge 2005, $20.99/btl – Bordeaux, France – 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot – 12% abv – Classic Left Bank Bordeaux from a classic vintage. Dark fruit and cedar with a long, balanced finish.

Clos Marie Coteaux du Languedoc L’Olivette Pic Saint Loup 2008, $26.99/btl – Languedoc, France – Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault – 13.5% abv – Displaying aromas not only of ripe black fruits but of spiced apple cider such as one would more expect in a white wine, and a soothingly-textured and fruit-forward palate, this also hints at the sort of saline, iodine, and stony mineral dimensions that help make Clos Marie’s wines so fascinating as a group.

Thanks to Uwe Schiefer and all who stopped by to talk about and taste this tremendously talented winemaker’s goods. We had a very good showing and had a lot of fun meeting all of the Austrian wine enthusiasts in the area.

Stay tuned for details of this coming Saturday’s Sancerre and Firefly Farms Goat Cheese Tasting. Other than Champagne and caviar or white Burgundy and lobster, we can’t think of a more classic combination than Sancerre with cheese made from goat’s milk. We’ll let you know exactly what we’re pouring and spreading as soon as we get details.

As for this shortened work week (for some of you), we’ll pour a couple of surprising whites and 4 reds we think most of you have not tried as of yet. (Two of which are rated 90 points or higher from The Wine Advocate!) The lineup:

Josef Schmid Riesling Vom Urgestein Bergterrassen 2007, 24.99/btl – Kremstal, Austria – 100% Riesling – 13% abv – Offers a floral, spicy aroma, with intense Granny Smith apple, peach and pear flavors. Slate and pepper flavors fill the finish. Drink now through 2012. 833 cases made. – WS 89 points

Domaine Schoffit Chasselas Vieilles Vignes 2008, $23.99/btl – Alsace, France – 100% Chasselas – 13% abv – Originating in Colmar, the historic cave is still situated in the city – the domaine owns lovely parcels in Harth, situated right outside the city. In 1986 the domaine purchased the Clos St. Theobald in the famous Rangen de Thann, and more recently a parcel in (Grand Cru) Sommerberg. The domaine is then divided into three relatively distant terroirs – with gravel of the Harth, the granite of Grand Cru Sommerberg and the volcanic in Rangen de Thann … with the opulent v.t.’s and s.g.n.’s of anthology, the immense notoriety of Rangen tends to eclipse the other terroirs. The other wines though are more accessible with, in particular, a lovely range of Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois, always well balanced. More rare the Chasselas Caroline presents a density little found in this varietal. The Riesling Sommerberg shows great promise. – Le Classement, 2003 Revue du Vin de France

Weingut Trapl St. Laurent 2007, $21.99/btl – Carnuntum, Austria – 100% St. Laurent – 13% abv – Young Johannes Trapl – who took over his family’s property (supplemented by rental acreage) and constructed a winery in 2000 – is one of four growers serious about Blaufrankisch in the Spitzerberg (for more about which, see my reports on Muhr-Niepoort in this issue and in issue 177). On my first visit, I did not attempt to canvass Trapl’s entire line, which includes also St. Laurent, Zweigelt, and even a bit of the Bordelaise varieties. Clearly, he is on a steep learning curve. Early in its evolution, a basic 2007 Blaufrankisch from young vines in the Spitzerberg and nearer the winery tasted promising, even if tartness of fruit and notes from barrel were somewhat at odds, and a dedicated 2007 bottling from some impressive Blaufrankisch grown in Stixneusiedel was also envisioned. – David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate

Domaine La Berangeraie Cahors Malbec Les Traversets 2007, $16.99/btl – Cahors, France – 100% Malbec – 13% abv – This has spicy and fruity aromas, with dense, ripe flavors of blackberry, dark plum and chocolate. The short, tannic finish features spiced cherry notes. Drink now through 2012. 50 cases imported. – WS 87 points

Domaine L’Oustal Blanc Naick 6 Rouge 2006, $20.99/btl – Languedoc, France – 100% 60% Cinsault, 20% Carignan, 20% Syrah and Grenache.- 14% abv – Aromas of nutmeg, sandalwood, pungent herbs, and ripe cherry distinguish the 2006 vintage Naick 6. Bitter hints of cherry pit, black tea, and herbs, along with an undertone of wet stone mark this wine’s palate personality as cooler, more aloof than its year-younger counterpart. But there is a similarly impressive sheer persistence of fresh fruit and herbs, and this should give a whole lot of pleasure for at least a couple more years. – WA 90 points

Chateau Mourgues du Gres Capitelles des Mourgues 2007, $24.99/btl – Rhone, France – 83% Syrah, 17% Carignan and Grenache – 14.5% abv – A sensational red wine is the 2007 Capitelles du Mourgues, a Cote Rotie look-alike from the treasure-trove of values, Costieres de Nimes. A combination of 83% Syrah and the rest Carignan and Grenache, all aged in 600 liter demi-muids, it boasts an opaque purple color as well as an extraordinary nose of blackberries, creme de cassis, licorice, and spring flowers. Sensational purity, full-bodied richness, good underlying freshness and vibrancy, and an amazingly long finish suggest a wine that costs 2-3 times as much. This exceptional effort should evolve for a decade. – WA 92 points

Domaine Alary La Grange Daniel Blanc 2008, $14.99/bottle – The 2008 La Grange Daniel blanc (100% Roussanne) could easily be compared to a top vintage of Beaucastel’s renowned white Chateauneuf du Pape (which is dominated by Roussanne). Honeysuckle, rose petal, and apricot notes emerge from this tank-fermented and aged white. It exhibits surprising body and flavor intensity along with beautiful richness and length. I wouldn’t age it beyond a year, but it is ideal for current drinking with intensely flavored shellfish and poultry dishes. – WA 90 points

Soellner Grüner Veltliner Hengstberg 2007, $21.99/bottle – Ripe peach flavors dominate this medium-bodied white, which features some almond notes and a smoky finish. Drink Now. 500 cases made. – WS 85 points

Schiavenza Dolcetto d’Alba Vughera 2005, $21.99/bottle – Medium bodied with dark plums and cherries, good with pasta and pizza. Drink young. A classic Dolcetto d’Alba.

Domaine Charvin Vin de Pays à Côté 2007, $14.99/bottle – I don’t know why Laurent Charvin never shows me this wine when I taste with him as the 2007 is a brilliant effort. A blend of 42% Grenache, from 60-year-old and 45-year-old parcels, and 58% Merlot from much younger vines, aged for 18 months in concrete tanks, and bottled without filtration, it represents a gorgeous bargain. A deep ruby/purple-tinged color is followed by sweet black cherry, spice box, pepper, and unsmoked cigar tobacco notes. The wine possesses a ripe, round texture, and a long, lusty finish. This is pure hedonism at its best combined with the unmistakable character of Provence. Drink it over the next 1-2 years. – WA 90 points

Domaine les Aphillanthes Vin de Pays 2007, $13.99/bottle – A blend of Syrah, Merlot, and Grenache, the 2007 Vin de Pays possesses straightforward, crunchy, chunky, juicy notes of kirsch, black currants, licorice, and loamy soil undertones. This fresh, lively, bistro-styled red sells for a song. Consume it over the next year. – WA 87 points

Domaine Font-Mars Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, $7.99/bottle – Firm, with plum and berry flavors, and some herbal notes on the finish. Drink now. 1,250 cases imported. – WS 83 points

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…

Another week, six more wines to taste. Thanks to all who have come by during our inaugural first couple of weeks to talk, wish us good luck, taste some wines and join us in doing whatever we do here. Just a reminder, we have a parking lot right in front of our entrance and we validate for up to one hour. So, without further ado, our lineup for this week:

Domaine La Bastide 2007, Languedoc, France – 100% Viognier – “The 2007 Viognier represents one of several remarkable opportunities of which I’ve recently become aware to discover the true charms (without the common weaknesses) of this world-traveled grape made famous in the Northern Rhone. A pungent, classic nose of acacia, pepper cress, and alkaline mineral notes leads to a luscious, subtly oily, yet refreshing rather than at all heavy palate, and faint but pleasant bitterness of citrus zest and apple pit mingles with salt and white pepper in a palate-coating finish. Give this a workout at your dinner table over the coming 6-9 months.

“Guilhem Durant’s La Bastide wines have long represented an excellent collection of wines at almost embarrassingly modest prices, but in vintage 2007, he simply out did himself with amazing abundance of value.” – WA 89 point

Strele Soave 2007, Veneto, Italy – 100% Garganega – Yellow strong color, with nice flavory, fresh and intense taste with a little of almond note in the end. This wine is a very good combination with light appetizers fish, pasta dishes and even white meat with light sauces.

“Strele” is the old name for the cru which one exists and does part of Francesco and Gaetano family more than 50 years. The family Strele has worked hard on this young cru and they were selling in the past the grapes to other cantinas. Last year, one members of the family, Francesco decided to keep for himself this Garganega nectar without giving away to other wine makers.

Garganega grape is ancient grape from Greece origin and have found his perfect habitat in Verona area for thousand years back. Soave wine is mention about 1.500 years ago and beside Veneto we can find this grape only at Friuli, Umbria and Lombardia. Garganega is a late-ripening and ultra vigorous vine, with medium sized, pentagonal leaves with pronounced notches. The loosely-knit clusters are a little bit long, cylindrical and winged, supporting spherical, juicy berries of good acidity, thick skinned, medium in size and white-green in colour.

Domaine La Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose 2008, Provence, France – 70% Mourvedre, 22% Cinsault, 8% Grenache – “Another summer …bone-dry rose…fuller-bodied style with surprising power,depth and even structure…behaves more like a mid-weight dry red ….most Bandol roses are rare and expensive (very popular in Europe and quantities are limited)…this is right up there with my standard Bandol reference rose…Domaine Tempier…but Tempier sells for $35…this costs $20….ordered a case myself…..” – Robert M. Parker, Jr.

In the early 70’s Michel and Louis Bronzo (the latter on the board of the INAO) acquired the property of the Bastide Blanche, with an eye to producing from appellation Bandol wines the equal of more famous appellations like Chateauneuf. Their painstaking efforts were rewarded in 1993 when vintage conditions created the benchmark year to put Bandol in general and Bastide-Blanche, in particular, on the map of top producers in France. They have various cuvees, depending on the vintage, but always about 75% Mourvedre as a minimum, up to 100% Mourvedre for the cuvee Fontanieu from a parcel of that name near the Mediterranean. Also, common each year to their success are their very low yields, never more than 34 or 35 hl/ha, and simply impeccable cellar conditions and attention. This shows in the pure, well-delineated fruit, that has become a hallmark of Bastide-Blanche, as well as the delightful Rose that we will be pouring.

La Ca’ Nova Langhe Nebbiolo 2005, Piedmont, Italy – 100% Nebbiolo – More approachable than a Barolo or Barbaresco when young, the La Ca’ Nova is soft and supple with hints of licorice, violets and tar. A fairly versatile red, drink this with anything from roasted chicken to braised meats.

La Ca’ Nova is a classic family-run operation. The three Rocca brothers, joined for some time now by sons Ivano and Marco, still labour in the vines and cellar, practising the style of winemaking traditional in Langhe: meticulous care for the vineyard, careful timing for the harvest, gentle pressing of the clusters, macerations of 15 to 20 days and maturation in large Slavonian oak casks.

Simone Scaletta Dolcetto d’Alba Viglioni 2007, Piedmont, Italy – 100% Dolcetto – Intense ruby violet color, aromas of fresh violets and blueberries. Tasting it, you may distinguish a final hint of almond note. Medium bodied, easy drinking, it is considered to be an excellent, everyday wine which doesn’t fear time passing.

The grapes are macerated on the skins for about 5 days in rotary fermentors with temperature control. The grapes are then pressed off the skins and the alcoholic fermentation and the malolactic one are completed in steel tanks. Wine is still kept into steel tanks for about 9 months. By the repeated pouring processes, the wine in the end is pure. At about the end of July the wine is bottled without filtration and fining and then settle for 3 months before being out in the market.

Uwe Schiefer Blaufrankisch Konigsberg 2007, Südburgenland , Austria – 100% Blaufrankisch – “Schiefer matured his 2007 Blaufrankisch Konisberg in a new 3,100 liter cask (meaning that there was around five and a half times more of it than of the 2006) and bottled it already last summer, because he was bereft of wine to sell. It includes some estate fruit, and some from the Eisenberg. Ripe cherry with bitter cherry pit and smoke accents in the nose, in turn inform a cool-fruited but ripe palate, with subtly stony and spicy notes that carry into a bright, sappy finish. This may well pick up some further nuance with time in bottle but, as things stand, offers an excellent introduction to Schiefer’s style of Blaufrankisch, perfect for enjoying over the next 2-3 years. The rest of Schiefer’s 2007s were highly promising, if backward, from barrel last summer.

“I wrote extensively in issue 177 about Uwe Schiefer and his remarkable and distinctive Blaufrankisch from the once-famous Eisenberg area on the Hungarian border in South Burgenland. His 2006 collection almost certainly represents the best of his eight to date, hence some of the most exciting red wine ever produced in Austria. Despite his relatively brief history, Schiefer’s conception of Blaufrankisch as a wine with site-sensitivity and finesse comparable, and best handled in a manner akin to that of Burgundian Pinot Noir and not a wine of, as he puts it, “tannin and power,” or one best marked by small toasty barrels, has begun to resonate within Austria, not least in the exciting Moric wines of Roland Velich (the 2006s of which are reviewed in this report).” – WA 89 points

Schiefer’s principle: “Less is more” – his aim is a genuine winemaking. He produces wines in a very puristic style focusing on naturalness. Currently he works in some vineyards biodynamic, but wants to change all vineyard culture to biodynamic in the coming years.

The Südburgenland is Austria’s smallest wine producing province and straddles the border with Hungary. There are a total of 400 hectares under vine. The finest vineyard is the 120 ha Eisenberg, a steep schistus slate hillside where Uwe Schiefer (by coincidence the word Schiefer meaning slate in German) works now on 5 hectares. About 10 years ago, he started putting together his estate, nearly all planted to Blaufränkisch.