Please join us on Friday, April 8th from 5PM until 7:30PM, and again on Saturday, April 9th, from 12PM until 4PM to continue our trip through France’s Loire – an ancient valley full of fascinating castles, villages and vineyards. This week we explore more Muscadet, a dry Anjou, two unusual wines from Sancerre (one a dry rose, and the other a beautiful Piont Noir), and finally a mature Cabernet Franc from St.-Nicolas de Bourgueil. The Lineup:

1.  Bonnet-Huteau Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie Cuvee La Levraudiere 2009, List Price $10.99, Sale $9.34 – Muscadet, Loire, France – 100% Melon de Bourgogne – 12% abv – Sustainable - Light, bright straw. Dusty minerals, quince and lemon zest on the nose, with a hint of white flowers adding complexity. Dry, sharply focused citrus and mineral flavors show a weightier aspect in the mid-palate and pick up a hint of musky herbs with air. Finishes clean and brisk. – International Wine Cellar

2.  Domaine Richard Leroy Anjou Blanc Le Clos des Rouliers 2007, List Price $26.99, Sale $17.99 – Anjou, Loire, France – 100% Chenin Blanc – 12.5% abv – Organic - Pale Gold. Lemon curd, dried pear, melon and vanilla bean on the nose. Fairly bright and lush and creamy, offering gently sweet and weighty citrus and pit fruit flavors and bracing saline notes. Pliant and broad on the finish, which repeats the lemon and pear notes and lingers with very good spicy intensity. – Rated 90 points, International Wine Cellar

3.  Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy Sancerre Rose Terre de Maimbray 2010, List Price $21.99, Sale $18.69 – Sancerre, Loire, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Organic - Offers juicy strawberry and mixed red fruit aromas, with a hint of yellow peach. Dry and refreshing.

4.  Gerard & Pierre Morin Sancerre Rouge 2008, List Price $24.99, Sale $21.24 – Bue, Loire, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv - Sustainable - This Pinot Noir is planted in different parcels all situated in the commune of Bue. The roots of the vines draw from two particular terroirs to imbue the wine with its unique characteristics: “Les Caillottes,” predominantly limestone, brings finess and fruits notes. “Les Marnes,” deeper and with more clay, gives the wine structure and excellent potential as a “vin de garde.” Morin’s manner of working the soil and natural weed-control enhances the effect of the two soils, particularly through their harvesting entirely by hand.

5.  Yannick Amirault, Pavillon du Grand Clos, St.-Nicolas de Bourgueil Les Malgagnes 2006, List Price $31.99, Sale $25.99 – St.-Nicolas de Bourgueil, Loire, France – 100% Cabernet Franc – 13.5% abv – Organic -  Produced from vines planted originally in 1936, with portions of the vineyard replanted in 1973 and 1994. Vinified in wooden vats and then aged in once-used oak demi-muids. Only 583 cases produced. With vibrant flavors of plum, cassis and black berry, tinged by coffee and bittersweet chocolate, and notes of game, minerals and olive, held together by bright acidity.


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.

As stated previously, we have an alliance with Soupergirl. For more info, visit her website or click here for info from our blog. Instead of dangling a carrot in front of you with next week’s selections, we thought that it makes a bit more sense to let you know what’s available this week. At the risk of repeating ourselves, here’s this week’s Souper Lineup:

Rave on Mulligatawny Soup – Ingredients (in no particular order): lentils, chickpeas, tomato, curry, cumin, coriander, cayenne pepper, coconut milk, agave, basmati rice, cilantro, garlic, carrots, onions, olive oil, homemade vegetable stock goodness.

Paired with…

Bernard et Robert Schoffit Gewurztraminer Cuvee Caroline, SG Price $19.99/btl,, Regularly $26.99 – Alsace, France – 100% Gewurztraminer – 13.8% abv – Organic – Aromas of celeriac and celery seed, clove and rose petal. A touch sweet on the palate this wine’s caramel and mocha-coffee tones lend a sense of low-toned richness s and it finishes with persistent rose perfume, and dominant sweetness. Gewurz and spicey foods are like peas and carrots.

Let the Bright Orange Shine In Soup – Ingredients (in no particular order): sweet potatoes, carrots, cardamom, turmeric, ginger, red pepper flakes, cinnamon, touch of cayenne, onion, canola oil, salt, pepper, homemade vegetable stock goodness.

Paired with…

Richard Leroy Anjou Le Clos des Rouliers 2006, SG Price $16.49/btl, Regularly $26.99 – Loire, France – 100% Chenin Blanc – 12.5% abv – Organic - A tangy, stony style, with yellow apple, lemon verbena and chamomile notes pushed by a melon- and lime-filled background. There’s nice length and purity.

Starting this week, we team up with one of the true superheroes of DC: the protector of porridge, the star of spice, the conqueror of the cauldron. That’s right folks, the one, the only…Soupergirl! The Caped Cook and Weygandt Wines combine to make a Dynamic Duo of palate pleasing pairings. Every week, we’ll let you know what she’s creating and what will be the best wine from our shop to go with that selection. In addition, make sure to come by the shop and whisper the password, “Soupergirl,” and you’ll receive anywhere from 25%-45% off the regular retail price of the selected wines. Also, Soupergirl flew by the shop and left some postcards with info about her base of operations with a special treat: enter the word “Weygandt” at checkout in the Discount Codes box and receive 10% off your first order from Soupergirl. This week’s Souper Lineup:

Rave on Mulligatawny Soup – Ingredients (in no particular order): lentils, chickpeas, tomato, curry, cumin, coriander, cayenne pepper, coconut milk, agave, basmati rice, cilantro, garlic, carrots, onions, olive oil, homemade vegetable stock goodness.

Paired with…

Bernard et Robert Schoffit Gewurztraminer Cuvee Caroline, SG Price $19.99/btl,, Regularly $26.99 – Alsace, France – 100% Gewurztraminer – 13.8% abv – Aromas of celeriac and celery seed, clove and rose petal. A touch sweet on the palate this wine’s caramel and mocha-coffee tones lend a sense of low-toned richness s and it finishes with persistent rose perfume, and dominant sweetness. Gewurz and spicey foods are like peas and carrots.

Let the Bright Orange Shine In Soup – Ingredients (in no particular order): sweet potatoes, carrots, cardamom, turmeric, ginger, red pepper flakes, cinnamon, touch of cayenne, onion, canola oil, salt, pepper, homemade vegetable stock goodness.

Paired with…

Richard Leroy Anjou Le Clos des Rouliers 2006, SG Price $16.49/btl, Regularly $26.99 – Loire, France – 100% Chenin Blanc – 12.5% abv – A tangy, stony style, with yellow apple, lemon verbena and chamomile notes pushed by a melon- and lime-filled background. There’s nice length and purity.

More information about her soups can be found here.

As the snow turns from immaculate puffs of pristine powder to the inevitable byproduct of rubber, asphalt, CO emissions and frozen H2O, we thought we’d try to warm the cockles of your hearts by offering some new selections to taste.

What are your plans for holiday presents? Knick knacks? Holiday sweaters? CDs that they’ll never listen to? With the holiday season in full force, what better way to give, than by giving the gift of wine? Or better yet, what better way to recover from the madness that is holiday shopping, by uncorking a bottle. Regardless, whatever your holiday needs, we can help. In one way or another. The lineup:

Domaine Pascal & Nicolas Reverdy Sancerre Vieilles Vignes 2005, $22.99/btl – Loire, France – 100% Sauvignon Blanc – 13.5% abv – Has solid cut and definition, with delightful chive flower, fleur de sel, lime and chalk notes that race through the bright finish. Drink now. 50 cases imported. – WS 90 points

Domaine de Aubusieres Les Girardieres Vouvray 2008, $18.99/btl – Loire, France – 100% Chenin Blanc – 12.5% abv – A lovely semi-sweet wine, with a fine example of clayish-silicious terroir. Great as an aperitif, with cold and cured meat, fish, shellfish, poultry and cheese persillée.

Domaine de L’Abbaye du Petit Quincy Bourgogne Epineuil 2005, $17.99/btl - Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 12.5% abv – Hints of raspberry and strawberry with an ample, round finish, this Pinot Noir will go well with meats and cheeses.

Markowitsch Rubin Carnuntum, $19.99/btl – Carnuntum, Austria – 100% Zweigelt – 13.5% abv – Berry and plum flavors dominate this modest red. The crisp finish features spicy notes. Zweigelt. Drink now. 50 cases imported. – WS 83 points

Domaine Daniel et Denis Alary Cairanne 2007, $20.99/btl – Rhone, France – Grenache, Syrah and Carignan – 14.5% abv – Ripe and lush, with gorgeous mouthfeel to the pure, racy beam of raspberry ganache, black cherry and blackberry fruit. The finish lets melted licorice, roasted apple wood and spice bread notes flitter on. There’s solid depth and length to this. Grenache, Syrah and Carignan. Drink now through 2010. 2,080 cases made. – WS 90 points

The 2007 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Cairanne is a powerhouse. Earthy with a hint of weedy tobacco interwoven with creme de cassis and kirsch, lots of body, and remarkable freshness as well as exuberance, this is a full-bodied red with considerable power (14.5% alcohol), layers, and richness. It will be even better in 1-2 years, and should keep for a decade or more. – WA 90 points

Domaine La Bastide Blanche Bandol Rouge 2006, $22.99/btl – Provence, France – 74% Mourvedre, 22% Grenache, 3% Syrah, 1% Carignan – 14.5% abv – A powerful red, with intense red and dark fruit flavors, including fig, dark plum and raspberry. Formidable tannins and acidity support the finish, which is infused with notes of baker’s chocolate and black olive. Best from 2011 through 2015. 400 cases imported. – WS 92 points

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