So Many Things...

Beaujolais, Burgundy, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Events, France, Gamay, Miscellaneous, Red Wine, Rhône, Tasting No Responses »
Nov 132009

We have a ton of things to go over in the upcoming weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, so we’re going to get a head start on next week by posting mid-week. We’ve heard that a couple of the businesses in the Park and Shop are no longer validating for the parking lot, but don’t despair, you still get an hour on us. So, without further ado, let’s get down to business:

1. We have two great Chateauneuf du Pape producers that we are selling for a terrific deal at $39.99 and one at $49.99, while supplies last. All three are from the 2006 vintage that, while not reviewed as well as the ’07 vintage, scored 92 or 93 points in the Wine Advocate. The lineup is as follows:

Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes 2006 – $39.99 – “The 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes’ dark opaque color is accompanied by a gorgeous nose of incense, licorice, spice box, creme de cassis, cherries, and smoked meats. Notions of soy and fig are also apparent in this full-bodied, concentrated, sexy wine. Enjoy it over the next 12-15+ years.” – WA 93 pts

Domaine Gerard Charvin Chateauneuf du Pape 2006 – $49.99 – “Charvin’s 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape has turned out to be one of the vintage’s top efforts. Lovely sweet notes of glove leather, roasted meats, spice box, ground pepper, kirsch, and raspberries are present in this deep, full-bodied 2006. More evolved than the 2007, with copious concentration, elegance, and a Burgundy grand cru-like complexity as well as freshness, it should be enjoyed over the next 12-15+ years.” – WA 93 pts

Domaine de Ferrand Chateauneuf du Pape 2006 – $39.99 – “Bravay has also turned in a beautiful 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape displaying the classic, complex aromatic profile that he seems to achieve routinely. Aromas of black fruits, scorched earth, incense, licorice, pepper, and roasted Provencal herbs are followed by a full-bodied, rich, deep, long, concentrated wine with impressive layers of black cherries and black currants. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.” – WA 92 pts

This is a very good opportunity to try three of the bigger names from the Southern Rhone for a very, very reasonable price.

2. With Thanksgiving looming, please come in next week and taste some of our holiday selections. We’re still filling out our lineup card, but we’ll have a few sparklers, some alsatian whites, some Cru Beajolais, maybe a Bourgogne Rouge and a couple of dessert wines available to taste. In addition, try our Domaine du Vissoux Kir Royale. Made from their Cremant de Bourgogne and Creme de Cassis, it’s a delicious cocktail that’s perfect for the upcoming holidays.

3. Speaking of Thanksgiving, the much anticipated and highly touted 2009 Beaujolais Nouveaus will be arriving next week and we are offering Domaine du Vissoux for $12.99 a bottle. Regularly $18.49, another great deal for those that love Beaujolais Nouveau or those who were turned off previously by poorly crafted wines. This is the Beaujolis Nouveau that will be featured at Willi’s Wine Bar in Paris and it is one of number of wines that we think pair perfectly with turkey.

4. A reminder that next Friday, November 20, we are hosting a not-to-be-missed 2007 Horizontal Burgundy Tasting with Domaine des Lambrays, Domaine Christian Serafin, Domaine Remi Jobard and Domaine Dugat-Py. Four of the best in the business and wines we do not usually open, so be here between 4-7 pm to taste a real treat.

Thanks, and be sure to ask us what wine will go with whatever you’re cooking for dinner. With a couple of former chefs in the shop and the co-proprietor, Todd Ross, who knows all of our wines, inside and out, we’re sure to be able to suggest a perfect wine pairing for you.

Posted by Weygandt Wines at 12:39 am

What We're Tasting This Week (Oct 26-31)

Beaujolais, Burgundy, France, Gamay, Grenache, Mourvedre, Picpoul, Red Wine, Rhône, Riesling, Syrah, Tasting No Responses »
Oct 252009

If you’ve followed this blog as closely as I have, you probably noticed the different format that we’re going to try on for size. Instead of a different group of wines each day, we’re going to give our customers a little bit more time to get a chance to come in a taste what we’re pouring. Unfortunately, not all of our patrons can pop in anytime they want, so we’re going to stretch our timeline for each wine we pour. In addition, we’re going to offer a 15% discount on any single bottle of wine from this list. All in all, we think it’s win(e)/win(e). Arghhh, sorry about that. Stop by this week and we promise we won’t make any (more) bad jokes…

Chateau Font-Mars Picpoul de Pinet 2008, Languedoc, France – 100% Picpoul de Pinet – “Font-Mars – with its coat of arms flanked by dinosaurs, an allusion to fossilized eggs found on the property – once again offers a distinctively delicious wine with their 2008 Coteaux du Languedoc Picpoul de Pinet, smelling of honeydew melon and passion fruit; refreshing, sappy, and stimulatingly bitter in its notes of green apple and melon rind, and guaranteed to improve the contents of any refrigerator over the next 6-9 months.” – WA 87 points

Domaine Albert Mann Riesling Cuvee Albert 2008, Alsace, France – 100% Riesling – Soft yellow stone fruit and firm acidity. A beautiful, nicely balanced Riesling.

“In the nearly two decades since this domaine was consolidated, the Barthelme brothers – Jacky and Maurice – have maintained their position near the forefront of Alsace viticulture, farming a range of relatively far-flung and outstanding vineyards, as well as offering excellent value virtually throughout their range. The Barthelmes are especially enthusiastic about their 2004s – and with good reason – wines whose honeyed richness and generosity of fruit sometimes make for vintage character more recognizable than that of the grape variety. The brothers believe that the strength of 2005 lies in nobly sweet wines (not all of which I have yet tasted). But when asked about what it was like to optimize these vintages, Maurice Barthelme gestured to his increasingly bald head! The brothers are very conscious of the need to promote ripeness while inhibiting sugar-retention and hard at work experimenting with ways (including certain bio-dynamic practices) they think might solve this arguably definitive wine growing dilemma of our time. (Inexplicably, Barthelmes did not sample me on their Riesling from the Rosenberg, and I apologize for having realized this omission too late to remedy it.) The Barthelme brothers have continued a serious passion for Pinot Noir, their parcels in the Hengst having been joined by a tiny plot of forty year old vines in Eguisheim’s Pfersigberg and one recent planting elsewhere. Wines from both of these new plots were promisingly concentrated and fresh-fruited in 2005, although somewhat over-burdened (at least at this early stage) by their respective loads of wood.” – The Wine Advocate

Domaine Duseigneur Antares 2007, Rhone, France – 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre – Domaine Duseigneur is the collaboration of three – the family Duseigneur (Frederic and Bernard), their oenologist, the greatly talented Philippe Cambie and Philippe Faure-Brac, Best Sommelier of the World 1992. Because of the family’s long tradition of respect of nature, the wines have always been cultivated following biodynamic principles. Yields are low, the grapes are harvested entirely by hand and the wine has been bottled unfiltered – a deposit may form; advised to carafe an hour.

Domaine Grand Nicolet Rasteau Villes Vignes 2007, Rhone, France – 80% Grenache (70 years old), 20% Syrah (50 years old) – “Chocolate, creme de cassis, graphite, and pen ink characteristics can be found in the inky/purple-colored 2007 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Rasteau Vieilles Vignes. Old vine Grenache dominates this full-bodied, powerful, tannic, brawny, muscular wine. Think of it as a nose tackle in professional football, it’s that big. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2020+.

“These fairly priced as well as exceptionally high quality efforts are made under the guidance of winemaking consultant Philippe Cambie, who has quickly brought Domaine Grand Nicolet to the top.” – WA 91-93 points

Domaine Constant-Duquesnoy Vinsobres 2007, Rhone, France – 65% Grenache, 35% Syrah – “Another terrific discovery in the southern Rhone, this blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah from the cool-climate village of Vinsobres possesses an inky/ruby/purple color as well as black cherry, black currant, underbrush, forest floor, and crushed rock-like aromas and flavors. It is medium to full-bodied and pure with good acidity and a long finish. Enjoy it over the next 5-7 years.” – WA 90-92 points

Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie Poncie 2008, Beaujolais, Burgundy, France – 100% Gamay – “The Vissoux 2008 Fleurie Poncie offers palate-staining black fruits and serious grip, with iodine and peat, rose hip and cherry pit; and as usual for this site, salt and stone lending intriguing complexity. The sheer lip-smacking juiciness on display here can draw your attention from its complexity. Cellar it for at least 4-5 years.

“Pierre Chermette has successfully expanded from his base in southern Beaujolais without quality in any way suffering; on the contrary his mastery of the northern Beaujolais crus is now also a fait accompli. With the new generation coming on and with lots of new plans, following these wines – which, of course, includes in your own cellar – is going to continue to be exciting. Prices have crept upward, but given the quality – not to mention the labors needed to achieve it – one can hardly complain. Yields were very low in 2008, a condition, Chermette opines, for achieving genuine and complete ripeness. (Note that since Chermette’s label now features his name writ large and “Vissoux” in tiny letters, I have listed his wines accordingly.)” – WA 91 points

Posted by Weygandt Wines at 12:58 am

What We're Tasting Today

Austria, Bajo Aragon, Beaujolais, Carignan, Carnuntum, Gamay, Grenache, Grüner Veltliner, Kremstal, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Red Wine, Slovenia, Spain, Sylvaner, White Wine No Responses »
Oct 232009

Marof Zeleni Silvanec 2007,  Slovenia – 100% Sylvaner – “The Marof 2007 Zelini Silvanec is typically Sylvaner in its emphasis on flavors in the vegetable realm – raw potato, radish, green tomato – along with herbal inflections and an uncanny overall impression of “stone soup.” It manages to avoid the frequent pitfall with this variety, offer refreshment and definition rather than fattiness, and finishes with salinity, pungency, and crispness. Play around with it at table over the next 6-9 months and you’ll discover a wine with uncanny versatility.” – WA 87 points

Josef Schmid Grüner Veltliner Kremser Weingarten 2007, Kremstal, Austria – 100% Grüner Veltliner – “The Schmid bottling of diverse origins known as 2007 Grüner Veltliner Kremser Weingarten displays saline and alkaline mineral suggestions from the nose on, allied to lime, honeydew melon, and musky, narcissus-like floral perfume. A radish-like bite impinges on the lush melon and lime palate, and a deep note of beet root helps remind one of the grape variety in question. Less pungent than the Pfarrweingarten, this superb value boasts impressive concentration and persistence, and should be worth following for at least 3-4 years.” – WA 90 points

Domaine du Vissoux Brouilly  Pierreux 2007, Beaujolias, France – 100% Gamay – “The 2007 Brouilly Pierreux smells mouth-wateringly of tart blueberry and blackberry with a smoky, crushed-stone overtone. Intensely concentrated berries and smoked meat inform a dense, slightly grainy-textured palate, and the penetrating finish is palpably suffused with fruit skin and crushed stone. Give this another six months in the bottle and then enjoy over the subsequent 18-24 months.” – WA 90 points

Domaine La Berangeraie Cahors Cuvee Maurin, Sudouest, France – 100% Malbec – “The 2005 Cahors Cuvee Maurin (vinified in tank) represents the middle of their line-up. The effects of labor-intensive viticulture and gentle winemaking appear to be making themselves felt here, as neither fancy techniques nor barrels have proven necessary to making a complete, complex, and convincing statement. Ripe cassis and elderberry fill the nose and mouth, and juicy and expansive palate impression is supported by fine-grained tannins, and the finish delivers the real goods: deep bitterness-tinged black fruits, humus, black pepper, and iodine. The juxtaposition of generous, refreshing juiciness and a dark-hued, almost somber set of flavors is fascinating. Enjoy this now with grilled meats and let it step into other culinary roles with another 2-3 years in the bottle.” – WA 89 points

L’Oustal Blanc K8, Minervois, France – 100% Carignan – “A new release however is their K8. To the fruit of centenarian Carignan vines on which this cuvee is always based has been added a little old vines Cinsault, which does nothing to lift its official status above that of Vin de Table, but offers a prime display of varietal synergy while surpassing the quality of its predecessors in this numbered “K” series. A nose of kirsch distillate and fresh blackberries leads to a juicy, silken-textured palate where marzipan, vanilla, cherry pit, rosemary and mint join in. Here is a wonderful example of how to achieve formidable ripeness of flavor without superficial sweetness and a liqueur-like richness of texture while preserving fluidity, verve, and sheer refreshment. The exhilarating finish harbors distinctly, if ineffably, mineral traces as well. Enjoy this terrific value (priced as it is solely on account of the stupidity of appellation laws!) over the next 2-3 years.” – WA 90 points

Monte La Sarda Garnacha 2007, Bajo Aragon, Spain – 100% Garnacha (Grenache) – “The Garnacha is probably one of the eldest varietals grown in Spain. You may find it in many regions but the results of growing it in Bajo Aragon Are truly astonishing. We have used only old vines that are more than 45 years of age to make this wine. Some have survived over a century in these harsh lands of extreme sun and cool nights. The vines are mainly from the Peluda strain, local for the area around the Sardas (rocky hills) of Bajo Aragon, about 125 miles west of Barcelona on the eastern outskirts of Zaragoza. Yield is between just 1 and 1 1/2 tons to the acre, and this wine was bottled without filtration to preserve all of its unique aromas and flavors.”

Markowitsch Pinot Noir 2006, Carnuntum, Austria – 100% Pinot Noir – “For the Gault Millau Austrian edition each of the top growers in Austria was rated.  In a class by himself with a rating of 18 out of 20 is Gerhard Markowitsch.  Sixteen other growers were placed in the second category of 17 out of 20.   For red wines, Markowitsch is in a class by himself amongst Austrian producers.  His vineyards, in  Carnuntum are ideally situated on a slope approximately equi-distant from the Danube River on one side and the Neusiedlersee on the other.  He is equally famous for his rare cuvees of Pinot Noir, Rosenberg blend, and his ultimate Cuvee, labeled simply M  as he is for his value cuvees, Rubin Carnuntum and Carnuntum Cuvee.  The latter two are built around the varietal Zweigelt which is the workhorse and the best red wine varietal of Austria depending on soil, climate and yields. One of the greatest but not yet well known producers in Austria, and we hope to change that.”

Posted by Weygandt Wines at 2:47 pm
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