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

Jean-Louis Tribouley stands amongst some of his ancient Grenache vines

Please join us on Saturday, March 12th, from 12pm until 4pm to sample a grab bag of staff picks. “Grab bag” could not give the wines selected any sort of justice. But no matter how we label the tasting the diverse selections are all unique and utterly delicious. We look forward to seeing you Saturday at Weygandt Wines. The Lineup:

Domaine Albert Mann Cremant d’Alsace Brut 2008, List Price $22.99, Sale $18.99 – Wettolsheim, Alsace, France – 60% Auxerrois, 40% Pinot Blanc – 12.5% abv – Biodynamic - Based on the same varietal blend as their Pinot Blanc, the Barthelme’s non-vintage Cremant d’Alsace (the lot under review is L34) offers citrus zest and floral aromas, delicate mousse, and a salty, chalky, wet stone-inflected and subtly bitter finish. Enjoy this admirably clear, pure traditional sparkling wine over the next 6-9 months. Compared with it, most Alsace Cremant is sadly lacking in concentration or personality. – The Wine Advocate

Heymann-Lowenstein Riesling Winningen Rottgen 2006, List Price $29.99, Sale $24.99 – Winnigen, Mosel, Germany – 100% Riesling – 13% abv – Organic - Dry and spicy, with more saline and savory flavor elements than fruit. There are hints of peach, grapefruit and yellow plum, but more smoke and a firm, chalklike sensation. Fine length. Drink now through 2016. 20 cases imported. - Rated 90 Points, Wine Spectator

Jobard-Chabloz Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2007, List Price $129.99, Sale $79.99 – Meursault, Burgundy, France – 13% abv – Sustainable – A relatively high-toned nose of green apple, rose petal and a hint of spice leads to very fresh, cool and reserved big-bodied flavors that brim with a fine minerality and excellent linearity and drive on the palate staining finish. This is not a massive example as it doesn’t have better than average concentration but the focus and energy are impressive. This should be quite good in time. – Rated 92 points, Burghound, 92 points, The Wine Advocate

Domaine Chevillon-Chezeaux Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Champs-Perdrix 2006, List Price $48.99, Sale $39.99 – Nuits-Saint-George, Burgundy, France – 13% abv – Sustainable - Philippe Chezeaux is related to Jérôme Chezeaux and his father-in-law is the cousin of Robert Chevillon. Philippe’s style is rather unique in that he is adamant about finding the balance between fruit, acidity, and terroir in his wines, especially in an appellation that is more commonly associated with wines that trade on power first. The 2006 Aux Champs-Perdrix, sourced from a tiny, highly perched, southeast facing vineyard on the Vosne-Romanee side of Nuits-Saint-George, displays very pronounced red Pinot Noir fruit – cherries, red currant, mineral. Fine-grained tannins and lively acidity, and a lingering spiciness in the finish. – Todd Ross, Weygandt Wines

Jean-Michel Gerin Saint-Joseph 2008, List Price $29.99, Sale $24.99 – Saint-Joseph, Rhone, France – 100% Syrah – 12.5% abv – Sustainable - A piercing iron note runs through the mix of red cherry, currant and pomegranate fruit flavors in this red, keeping it all lively and fresh. Drink now through 2011. 100 cases imported. – Wine Spectator

Jean-Louis Tribouley Orchis Vin de Pays de Cotes Catalanes 2008, List Price $29.99, Sale $24.99 – Roussillon, France – 80% Grenache, 10% Carignan, 5% Cinsault, 3% Grenache Gris, 2% Grenache Gris – 14.5% abv – Biodynamic - The following are the tasting notes for the 2007 Orchis by David Schildknecht in The Wine Advocate (there are no independent tasting notes as yet for the 2008). The main difference between the two vintages is that the 2008 shows an even more vibrant focus and perhaps “bluer” fruit. – Tasted assembled from tank Tribouley’s 2007 Orchis is the latest vintage of what was formerly called “Serrat den Franc.” Its explosive nose of black raspberry and blueberry confiture incorporates overtones of almond extract, prunelle eau de vie, wood smoke and cocoa powder. Liqueur-like and loaded with distilled berry inner-mouth esters, this nevertheless retains clarity and purity, avoiding even the slightest temptation toward superficial sweetness or confectionary stickiness. Deep roasted meat and wet stone flavors emerge in a long, smoke-tinged finish founded on a veritable ocean of concentrated blue and black fruit. Despite offering abundant immediate gratification, their well-covered tannins encourage the belief (absent any track record to which I can point) that the amazing Tribouley trio under present consideration possess enough structure and stamina for mid-term cellaring. Unfortunately, I have yet to track down a bottle of the 2006 Orchis; Tribouley indicated that he had sold them all.

Tribouley – an outsider who understudied with Gauby and then began his own estate in 2002 – farms roughly 30 acres (biodynamically) and sells no grapes. That statistic shocked me when I entered his cramped and tiny cellar. Where in the world does he find room there for wine from 30 acres? The solution to this seeming mystery is that he has all the room he requires given his pathetically low yields. In a quantitatively good vintage, he bottles 1,700 cases. But it is fruit from his 10 acres near Maury (variously on reddish Marne chalk, and quartzite-rich schist and sandstone) that are the focus for the two cuvees (both matured in older barrels, favoring demi-muids) that are sold in the U.S. Both his parcels in the Les Bacs just east of Maury and in the Coume du Roi (the basis for his Orchis) are around 75:25 Grenache-to-Carignan; northwestern in exposure; and, he says, almost perpetually windy. (I had to crouch down like a head-pruned vine just to walk against the gusts in Les Bacs on a December afternoon.) 2007 – Rated 93-94 points, The Wine Advocate

Sale pricing for selected wines lasts through the end of Saturday, March 12th, 2011. No other discounts may apply.

Please join us on Saturday, February 12th, from 12pm until 4pm to sample these tempting sparkling and sweet wines! The Lineup:

San Giovanni Prosecco Superiore Brut, List Price $18.99, Sale $15.99 – Veneto, Italy –100% Prosecco –11.5% abv –Sustainable –Sparklingly clean, pleasantly fruity fragrance of apple and slightly reminiscent of roses. Thanks to its soft and harmonious taste, it is suitable as an aperitif, with fish and cheese snacks, but fits perfectly with chocolate!

Domaine de La Chapelle Cremant de Bourgogne 2007, List Price $26.99, Sale $22.99 –Maconais, France –100% Chardonnay – 12.5% abv – Organic – A rich sparkling wine, with a creamy texture supporting baked apple, citrus and honey flavors. It all wraps up in a fresh, lingering finish.

Nathalie Falmet Brut Nature NV, List Price $45.99, Sale $38.99 – Rouvres-Les-Vignes, Champagne, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 12% abv – Sustainable – I really like the balance and zesty complexity of the Nathalie Falmet Brut Nature, which does not come off sharp or austere, but is perfectly poised and focused. The bouquet is a classy blend of apple, bread dough, an exotic touch of cinnamon, stony minerality and a bit of lemon peel in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and classy, with lovely focus, a good core, refined mousse and crisp acids perking up the low fat chassis on the very long and pure finish. This is a lovely bottle right out of the blocks, which should drink very well over the next decade and may gain in complexity with a bit of bottle age. 2010-2020. – Rated, 91+ points, View From the Cellar

Cascina Noto Moscato d’Asti, List Price $17.99, Sale $14.99 – Piedmont, Italy – 100% Moscato – 5.5% abv – Sustainable – Clean and crisp, with peachy character. Medium-bodied and lightly sweet, with a simple finish. There’s lots of pear, peach and lemon on the palate.

Weingut Georg Mosbacher Riesling Auslese Pfalz Forster Ungeheuer 2007, List Price $39.99, Sale $33.99 – Pfalz, Germany – 100% Riesling – 10% abv –  Organic – Very pure, exhibiting vivid passion fruit, ruby grapefruit and stone flavors. A lighter style of auslese that’s balanced and ideal for Asian dishes that have some heat. Drink now through 2030. 15 cases imported. – Rated 92 points, Wine Spectator

Ployez-Jacquemart Brut NV, List Price $51.99, Sale Price $29.99 – Ludes, Champagne, France – 50% Chardonnay, 42% Pinot Noir, 8% Pinot Meunier – 12% abv – Sustainable - Light yellow with an energetic bead. Delicate, finely etched lemon and green apple on the nose, with a subtle undercurrent of talc and white flowers. Admirably understated wine with finely etched citrus and mineral flavors, snappy back-end acidity and very good grip. The clean, focused finish repeats the talc note. Refined, balanced and pure Champagne that should be great with oysters. – Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
BH 91, RP 90, ST 90

Nathalie Falmet Brut NV, List Price $39.99, Sale Price $33.99 – Rouvres-Les-Vignes, France – 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay – 12% abv – Sustainable - Sweet smoke and spice notes waft through this floral and aromatic Champagne, along with bright, citrusy acidity and layers of tea rose, biscuit, vanilla and candied orange peel. Very charming. Drink now through 2018. 100 cases imported. – Wine Spectator
WS 91, VC 90+

Nathalie Falmet Brut Nature NV, List Price $45.99, Sale Price $38.99 – Rouvres-Les-Vignes, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 12% abv – Sustainable - I really like the balance and zesty complexity of the Nathalie Falmet Brut Nature, which does not come off sharp or austere, but is perfectly poised and focused. The bouquet is a classy blend of apple, bread dough, an exotic touch of cinnamon, stony minerality and a bit of lemon peel in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and classy, with lovely focus, a good core, refined mousse and crisp acids perking up the low fat chassis on the very long and pure finish. This is a lovely bottle right out of the blocks, which should drink very well over the next decade and may gain in complexity with a bit of bottle age. 2010-2020. – View From the Cellar
VC 91+

Nicolas Maillart Brut Champagne Platine NV, List Price $49.99, Sale Price $41.99 – Bouzy, Champagne, France – 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay – 12.5% abv – Organic - An elegant, aperitif-style Champagne that offers layers of flavor, with notes of Gala apple, tangerine, smoke, biscuit, cumin, honey, lime zest and salted butter. Texturally refined, with a bright juiciness to the acidity. Drink now through 2018. 200 cases imported. – Wine Spectator
WS 92, BH 92, VC 91+, RP 90, ST 90

Nicolas Maillart Brut Rosé Champagne NV, List Price $69.99, Sale Price $58.99 – Bouzy, Champagne, France – 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay – 12.5% abv – Organic - The current release of the Nicolas Maillart Brut Rosé is simply a stunning bottle of Rosé. The nose soars from the glass in a blaze of blood orange, cherries, bread dough, chalky minerality and orange peel. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, crisp and complex, with a fine core of fruit, very elegant and vibrant bubbles, impeccable focus and balance and great length and grip on the snappy finish. The acids here are zesty, but beautifully ripe and simply buried in the core of the wine, making this young Brut Rosé already a great drink- though it will have no difficulty aging another ten to fifteen years or more. Very impressive! 2010-2025. – View From the Cellar
VC 93, BH 91, ST 90

BH – Bourghound
RP – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
ST – Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
VC – View from the Cellar
WS – Wine Spectator

Sale prices are net, no further discount may apply.

Cremant de Bourgogne Brut 2007, Regular Price $26.99, On Sale $22.89/bottle – Macon, Burgundy, France – 100% Chardonnay – 12.5% abv – Organic

Macon Solutré Pouilly 2008, Regular Price $19.99, On Sale $16.99/bottle – Macon, Burgundy, France – 100% Chardonnay – 13% abv – Organic

Saint-Veran “Madame Noly” 2008, Regular Price $25.99, On Sale $22.09/bottle – Macon, Burgundy, France – 100% Chardonnay – 13% abv – Organic

Pouilly-Fuissé “Les Grands Climats” 2007, Regular Price $29.99, On Sale $25.49/bottle – Macon, Burgundy, France – 100% Chardonnay – 13.5% abv – Organic

Pouilly-Fuissé “Vieilles Vignes” 2007, Regular Price $33.99, On Sale $28.89/bottle – Macon, Burgundy, France – 100% Chardonnay – 13.5% abv – Organic

Pouilly-Fuissé “Clos de la Chapelle” 2006, $49.99, On Sale $42.49/bottle – Macon, Burgundy, France – 100% Chardonnay – 13.5% abv – Organic

All Macon regional wines at Weygandt Wines on sale through Saturday, May 29, 2010, 15% off the normal retail price. No further discounts may apply.

Domaine du Vissoux Cremant de Bourgogne NV – Beaujolais, France – 100% Chardonnay – 12% abv – A terrific alternative to pricey Champagne, this Blanc de Blanc  made by star Beaujolais winemaker Pierre Chermette is made in the methode tradtionelle. Hand crafted and hand riddled, this 100% ORGANIC sparkling wine offers outstanding structure and weight, with notes of green apple and spiced pear, all in a crisp, well-balanced package. EVENT PRICE, $20.99/btl

Chateau de La Bonneliere Touraine Les Devants Cepage Sauvignon 2008 – Loire, France – 100% Sauvignon Blanc – 12.5% abv – Marc Plouzeau’s BIODYNAMIC bottling of his 2008 Touraine Sauvignon is redolent of citrus and herbs; lean and unusually bright on the palate even for its genre, and finishes with a combination of fresh lemon, salt, peppermint, and nettles that will leave your palate both scoured and invigorated! EVENT PRICE, $12.99/btl

Domaine Albert Mann Pinot Blanc 2008 - Alsace, France – 50% Pinot Blanc, 50% Auxerrois – 12.5% abv – Jacky and Maurice Barthelme’s BIODYNAMIC 2008 Pinot Blanc portrays their unique style consistently; beautiful delineation of flavors and precise textures, never heavy, clumsy or out of balance. A lovely mineral-scented nose is followed by palate coating pear, white peach and apricot. EVENT PRICE, $14.99/btl

Domaine David Clark Bourgogne Au Pelson 2006 – Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 12.5% abv – Scottsman David Clark’s ORGANIC is firm and complex, with a mix of smoke, herb, dried currant and wild raspberry flavors that expand to ripe cherry and plum. Full-bodied and well-structured, gaining depth and picking up a nice fresh earthy edge. The finish is long and persistent. EVENT PRICE, $16.99/btl

Domaine Duseigneur Lirac Antares 2007 – Rhone, France – 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre – 14.5% abv – Jean and Frederic Duseigneur’s 2007 Lirac Antares is a big rich offering. 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 and smoky notes. This dense, medium to full-bodied, elegant as well as substantial BIODYNAMIC Lirac should drink well for 5-6 years. EVENT PRICE, $18.99/btl

Clos de L’Origine Cotes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Les Quilles Libres Rouge 2007 - Roussillon, France – 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Carignan – Marc Barriot’s ORGANIC 2007 Les Quilles Libres is loaded with 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. EVENT PRICE, $23.99/btl

On Saturday, February 13, between noon and 5 pm, Bailey Kasten from Double Premium Confections will be in the shop to offer tastes of her exquisite chocolates. And to make your Valentine’s Day that much more special, we’ll be offering tastes of six of our fabulous sparkling wines from France and Italy, along with a special surprise that will be unveiled at the event.

We’re not going to sit back and try to tell you what the perfect gift is for Valentine’s Day. To the contrary, if you need advice from us, you’re probably in pretty bad shape to begin with. However, we will tell you that be it Valentine’s Day or Arbor Day or Groundhog Day, sumptuous sparkling wines and captivating chocolates are a match made in gastronomic heaven. And they make a pretty good Valentine’s Day gift…The Lineup:

Boeri Moscato d’Asti Ribota 2008, $17.99/btl – Piedmont, Italy – 100% Moscato – 5.5% abv – Clean and crisp, with lemony character. Medium-bodied and lightly sweet, with a simple finish. There’s lots of melon and lemon on the palate. Drink now. 250 cases imported.

San Giovanni Prosecco Brut, $18.99/btl – Veneto, Italy – 90% Prosecco, 10% Chardonnay – 11.5% abv – Sparklingly clean, pleasantly fruity fragrance of apple and slightly reminiscent of roses. Thanks to its soft and harmonious taste, it is suitable as an aperitif, with fish and cheese snacks, but fits perfectly with chocolate!

Hubert Clavelin et Fils Cremant du Jura Brut Comte Chardonnay Tete de Cuvee NV, $20.99/btl – Jura, France – 100% Chardonnay – 12% abv – For over two decades, Hubert Clavelin and his importer have been promoting non-vintage Cremant du Jura Brut-Comte Chardonnay Tete de Cuvee, and this latest batch (lot number LBRC05, in tiny print on the back label) – based on the 2005 vintage, and having spent 36 months sur lattes – is as fine as any I can recall, and a wine that deserves to be taken seriously at the dinner table. A hint of Jura-typical pungency figures amid aromas of buckwheat, lime zest, and apple cider. With fine mousse and impressive vinosity, this coats the palate with zesty piquancy and saline, mineral-meaty savor of scallops and bacon. Both fascination and versatility are guaranteed for the coming year. – WA 90 points

Domaine des Aubuisieres Vouvray Brut Methode Traditionnelle NV, $20.99/btl - Loire, France – 100% Chenin Blanc – 13% abv – The latest rendition of Aubuisieres Non-Vintage Vouvray Brut Methode Traditionelle smells of ripe melons and narcissus, with a whiff of snuffed candle wick. Pineapple and lime join the melons on a juicy, delicate palate, with hints of salt as well as pungent citrus zest and smoke adding to the invigoration conveyed by a fine stream of bubbles. I was surprised to find the finish entirely satisfying and fruit-filled despite there being a mere 2 grams of residual sugar. The latest installment of what is surely the consistently best value in its appellation. – WA 89 points

Domaine Albert Mann Cremant d’Alsace NV, $23.99/btl – Alsace, France – 60% Pinot Blanc, 40% Auxerrois – 12.5% – Based on the same varietal blend as their Pinot Blanc, the Barthelme’s non-vintage Cremant d’Alsace (the lot under review is L34) offers citrus zest and floral aromas, delicate mousse, and a salty, chalky, wet stone-inflected and subtly bitter finish. Enjoy this admirably clear, pure traditional sparkling wine over the next 6-9 months. Compared with it, most Alsace Cremant is sadly lacking in concentration or personality. – WA 88 points

Domaine de La Chapelle Cremant de Bourgogne 2007, $26.99/btl – Burgundy, France – 100% Chardonnay – 12.5% abv – New to the shop, a deliciously fruit forward sparkler!

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Platine Brut Non Vintage, Sale Price $48.99/btl (Regular $57.99) – The NV Brut Premier Cru Platine is a floral, crisp style of Champagne laced with attractive white peaches, baking spices and minerals, all of which float on an impeccably refined, elegant mousse. This is an absolutely delicious and beautifully balanced wine. – WA 90 points

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rose Non Vintage, Sale Price $58.99/btl (Regular $69.99) – The NV Brut Grand Cru Rose (from vines in Bouzy) is an intense yet subtle wine that needs time in the glass for its richness to emerge. The wine reveals gorgeous inner perfume in its fragrant fruit in an incredibly elegant, understated style. Here, too, the wine offers terrific length and balance. – WA 91 points

Ployez Jacquemart Champagne Brut Non Vintage, Sale Price $43.99/bottle (Regular $51.99) – Generous white fruit on the palate in an elegant style. “A particulary good value.” – WA 91 points

Marie Weiss Champagne Brut Non Vintage, Sale Price $33.99/btl (Regular $39.99) – The NV Brut is straightforward and accessible, with lovely depth in its fruit. The wine’s balance and length are both commendable, and the toasty, creamy finish rounds things out nicely. – WA 89

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Platine Brut Non Vintage, Sale Price $48.99/btl (Regular $57.99) – The NV Brut Premier Cru Platine is a floral, crisp style of Champagne laced with attractive white peaches, baking spices and minerals, all of which float on an impeccably refined, elegant mousse. This is an absolutely delicious and beautifully balanced wine. – WA 90 points

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rose Non Vintage, Sale Price $58.99/btl (Regular $69.99) – The NV Brut Grand Cru Rose (from vines in Bouzy) is an intense yet subtle wine that needs time in the glass for its richness to emerge. The wine reveals gorgeous inner perfume in its fragrant fruit in an incredibly elegant, understated style. Here, too, the wine offers terrific length and balance. – WA 91 points

Ployez Jacquemart Champagne Brut Non Vintage, Sale Price $43.99/bottle (Regular $51.99) – Generous white fruit on the palate in an elegant style. “A particulary good value.” – WA 91 points

Marie Weiss Champagne Brut Non Vintage, Sale Price $33.99/btl (Regular $39.99) – The NV Brut is straightforward and accessible, with lovely depth in its fruit. The wine’s balance and length are both commendable, and the toasty, creamy finish rounds things out nicely. – WA 89 points