Please join us at Weygandt Wines on Saturday, June 26th as we host a tasting of dry Reislings and Gruner Veltliners from some of Austria’s best producers, from 1PM-4PM.

Let’s face it. It’s hot outside. Really hot. And summer’s only just begun! So maybe we should take a moment to rethink this whole idea of grilling hunks of red meat and serving them on the back porch alongside a full-bodied red wine (we can rethink this but certainly not dismiss the idea!)

Something more refreshing, chilled, dry and white is in order to partner with good food that’s just a bit lighter. Grilled seasonal vegetables, seafood sausages, white meat, fish and shellfish. Austrian whites, Rieslings and Gruner Veltliners are ideal accompaniments. Their complex flavors give them the richness to stand up to a variety of foods, and their crisp dryness make them especially refreshing.

So when choosing your menu for this weekend, spend a few moments pondering the perfect wine selection. Or, better yet, come in to the shop and sample some excellent, limited production wines and pick up a few bottles or a case.

Through June 26, 2010, all Austrian wines will be discounted 15% off their regular retail price for single bottles, and 20% by the case, mixed or matched. SALE ENDS 8PM JUNE 26, 2010. The Lineup:

Josef Schmid Riesling Vom Urgestein Bergterrassen 2007, Regular Price $24.99, Sale Price $21.24 – Kremstal, Austria – 100% Riesling – 13% abv – Sustainable – 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.

Josef Schmid Riesling Pfaffenberg Reserve 2007, Regular Price $29.99, Sale Price $25.49 – Kremstal, Austria – 100% Riesling – 13.5% abv – Sustainable – Rich, well-concentrated flavors of peach and apricot, with hints of tropical fruit, give this plenty of punch. The long, spice-filled finish features notes of mineral and cream. Drink now through 2012. 250 cases made.

Kurt Angerer Riesling Ametzberg 2007, Regular Price $26.99, Sale Price $22.94 – Kamptal, Austria – 100% Riesling – 14% abv – Sustainable - Concentrated tropical fruit flavors of mango and pineapple fill this rich Riesling. There’s a ripe appley note as well, with intriguing savory herbal elements. This really hums on the creamy finish. Drink now through 2015. 267 cases made. – Rated 93 points, Wine Spectator

Nothnagl Grüner Veltliner Ried Steinborz Federspiel 2007, Regular Price $16.99, Sale Price $14.44 – Wachau, Austria – 100% Grüner Veltliner – 12% abv – Sustainable - Medium-bodied, with pear and green peach flavors. Finishes with plenty of vanilla and spice. Drink now.

Buchegger Grüner Veltliner Gebling 2008, Regular Price $21.99, Sale Price $18.69 – Kremstal, Austria – 100% Grüner Veltliner – 13% abv – Sustainable - Starts off a little fat, but gains focus with concentrated flavors of Fuji apple, pear, lentil and spice. Cream-filled finish. Drink now. 50 cases imported.

Pichler-Krutzler 2007 Grüner Veltliner Superin, Regular Price $57.99, Sale Price $49.29 – Wachau, Austria – 100% Grüner Veltliner – 13.5% abv – Organic - From sandy, eroded Urgestein vineyards just upstream but very different in character from the gravelly, alluvial Klostersatz – combines rich pit fruits, a glossy texture, and a plush sense of stuffing with piquant nuttiness, white pepper, and saline and wet stone minerality. This should prove versatile and satisfying for at least 4-5 years in bottle.

Trip to the local butcher that only sells prime cuts? Check. Scrutinizing the perfect catch with the best fishmonger in town? Check. Farmer’s Market for fresh local produce? Check. Countless hours of prep, marinating, more prep and finally cooking and/or grilling? Check. We spend countless hours on making sure every last detail of our backyard bbqs is taken care of, but when it comes to what to serve with these carefully crafted culinary creations, we often fall short. So let us help you take on the sometimes daunting task of picking out the right wines for your next outdoor event. Whether you’re looking for something to sip on the porch, or what to serve with your freshly caught rockfish or even something to wash down a perfectly grilled hot dog, we’ve got you covered.

And on Saturday, June 12, from 1-4 pm, please join our importer, Peter Weygandt, in the shop to taste some of the perfect hot weather wines. All of these wines will be discounted 15% off their regular retail price for a single bottle and 20% off a mixed or matched case. In addition to the sale on the bottles that we are pouring tastes of, we are extending the special pricing to any of the wines of the producers that we are featuring. The entire portfolios of Bonnet-Huteau, Marof, Birgit Eichinger, Clos de l’Origine and Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy will be on sale. So stop by and taste some great summer sippers with Peter Weygandt! The Lineup:

Bonnet-Huteau Muscadet de Sevre et Maine Sur Lie La Levaudiere 2009, Regular Price $12.99, Sale Price $11.04 – Loire, France – 100% Muscadet – 12% abv – Biodynamic - 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. – Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar

Marof Renski Rizling, Regular Price $18.99, Sale Price $16.14 – Mackovci, Slovenia – 100% Riesling – 12% abv – Sustainable - Marof’s 2007 Renski Riesling is simply one of the ten or dozen finest Riesling wines I can recall tasting from outside of the greater Rhine basin or Austria. A gorgeous aromatic display of smoke-tinged apricot, Meyer lemon, apple blossom, and rowan leads to a silken-textured, infectiously juicy palate that makes a virtue of its relative looseness by conveying an airy elegance. Apricot kernel, lime zest, and an amazingly savory underlying sense of meat broth add complexity, and the interchange of flavors with which this wine finishes is positively vibratory. I suspect it will be best relished over the next 12-18 months, but there’s really no way of knowing absent any track record. – Rated 91 points, David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate

Birgit Eichinger Grüner Veltliner Qualitätswein Trocken Kamptal Wechselberg 2008, Regular Price $22.99, Sale Price $19.54 – Kamptal, Austria – 100% Gruner Veltliner – 12.5% abv – Organic - Powerful, with concentrated grapefruit, Asian pear and gooseberry flavors that are supported by plenty of crisp acidity. Very vibrant and rich on the buttercream- and spice-filled finish. Drink now through 2015. 50 cases imported. – Rated 90 points, Kim Marcus, Wine Spectator

Clos de l’Origine Les Quilles Libres Vin de Pays des Cotes Catalanes Blanc 2007, Regular Price $23.99, Sale Price $20.39 – Roussillon, France – 80% Grenache Gris, 20% Grenache Blanc – 13% abv – Organic - The l’Origine 2007 Les Quilles Libres white is from Grenache Gris in both schist and chalk-clay terroirs of Maury (plus whatever bit of Grenache blanc may have been unavoidably harvested along with it), and was fermented for two months and aged in used barriques. An overlay of barrel-engendered lanolin and coconut in the nose segues into toasted nuts and grain and musky, narcissus-like scents. Firm and refreshing on the palate, it displays toasted nut, coconut, lanolin, lemon zest and brine, finishing long on piquant nuttiness, invigorating zest, but without the clarity or depth of the l’Original cuvee, and with an aura of oxidative evolution that some tasters may find slightly off-putting. This will demand careful pairing and I would advise exploring the options within the coming year. Inexperienced as I am with this estate I could easily end up being fooled by this wine’s potential. But given its low sulfur, it definitely requires vigilant, cool care. – Rated 88 points, David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate

Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy Sancerre Terre de Maimbray Rose 2009, Regular Price $24.99, Sale Price $21.24 – Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Organic - Medium red color. Mineral-driven aromas of redcurrant, strawberry and rose, with notes of orange peel and herbs adding complexity. Dry, focused and pure, with tangy red fruit flavors and good mineral bite. Impressive for its elegance and understatement; the finish is brisk and focused but just a touch dry. – Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar

Thanks to all who participated in our tasting with the incomparable Thierry Brouin on Saturday. His wines from his “quasi-monopole” (his words–he owns 99.5% of the vineyards) are both forward and elegant, silky and powerful. This was a real treat to taste his wines and even more so to get to know such a dedicated winemaker and kind man. But enough groveling–we have business to attend to. This week’s forecast is calling for beautiful heat. Not the oppressive, mid-summer pea soup kind, but the mid-8os bright sunshine type. The perfect weather for something cold and pink. So, along with a crisp Gruner Veltliner and an outstanding Gigondas, we’ll pour a couple of rosés so that you can enjoy the few gorgeous days that this are offers to us each spring. The Lineup:

Nothnagl Gruner Veltliner Ried Steinborz Federspiel 2007, $16.99/btl – Wachau, Austria – 100% Gruner Veltliner – 12% abv – Sustainable - Medium-bodied, with pear and green peach flavors. Finishes with plenty of vanilla and spice.

Domaine Collotte Marsannay Rosé 2009, $18.99/btl – Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Sustainable - With a beautiful red current hue and a concentrated nose of peach nectar, this rosé is soft and fruity, backed by good strength and liveliness. The perfect accompaniment to charcuterie!

Domaine Les Grand Bois Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Les Trois Soeurs Rosé 2009, $13.99/btl – Burgundy, France – 75% Grenache, 15% Carignan, 5% Syrah -14.5 % abv – Sustainable - Black cherry and bright strawberry highlight this blend with a finish that belies it’s fresh and intense, dry, long-lasting finish. Try it as an aperitif or with almost all foods. Great with Asian spices.

Domaine St.-Damien Gigondas Vieilles Vignes 2006, $27.99/btl – Rhone, France – 90% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and Carignan – 14.5% abv – Sustainable - The well-made 2006 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes’ deep ruby/purple hue is followed by aromas of black cherries, raspberries, spring flowers, earth, and spice. Not as extravagantly rich as the 2007, it is a medium-bodied, well-balanced wine to consume over the next 7-8 years. Proprietor Joel Saurel’s goal is to produce Gigondas as fine as those fashioned by the appellation’s two superstars, Domaine Santa Duc and Chateau St.-Cosme. An estate to watch, Saint-Damien produces three sensational cuvees of Gigondas as well as two stunning, value-priced Cotes du Rhones, which readers should be buying by the trunkful. As one might expect, the 2007 Gigondas look very strong, but Saurel also succeeded in 2006, a difficult vintage in Gigondas. – WA 90 points

Thanks to all who made it by the shop on a beautiful early spring day this past Saturday to meet the wonderfully affable Micheal Gerin of Jean-Michel Gerin. (We know that technically winter did not succomb to spring until midnight Saturday, but the day was nice enough to take a pass on a technicality.) Next Saturday, we will have one of the undoubtedly great winemakers of the Priorat region of Spain in our shop to pour and talk about her wines. Sara Perez of Mas Martinet will be here, probably between 1 and 4 pm, but we’ll give you a definite schedule sometime in the next couple of days. Meanwhile, we’ll continue to pour our normal assortment of wines between 4 and 7 pm from Monday thru Friday. This week, we’ll offer two bottles under $11, a 90 point wine under $13 and a 91 point wine under $23. The lineup:

Chateau Font-Mars Picpoul de Pinet 2008, $10.99/btl – Languedoc, France – 100% Picpoul – 12.5% abv – 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.

Weingut Trapl Gruner Veltliner 2008, $15.99/btl – Carnuntum, Austria – 100% Gruner Veltliner – 11.5% abv – White grapefruit that lingers for a considerable amount of time given the price point. Finishes with an abundance of mineral and a touch of chalk.

Domaine La Bastide Syrah Vin de Pays d’Hauterive Les Genets Vieilles Vignes 2007, $12.99/btl – Languedoc, France – 100% Syrah – 14.5% abv – The 2007 Syrah Vieilles Vignes came in at close to 15% alcohol, yet its wonderfully-concentrated, brown-spiced, sweetly-ripe cassis, black cherry, and purple plum retain a refreshing brightness and are not in the least marred by bitterness or heat. Anything this wine lacks in complexity it makes up for in seamlessness and generosity, not to mention ridiculously good value. Enjoy it over the next 2-3 years. – WA 90 points

Domaine Duseigneur Lirac Antares 2007, $22.99/btl – Rhone, France – 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre – 14.5% abv – A bigger, richer offering, the 2007 Lirac Antares is a blend of 60% Grenache and equal parts Mourvedre and Syrah. The Grenache is aged in tank, and the other two varietals are kept in barrel. 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, smoke, and garrigue notes. This dense, medium to full-bodied, elegant as well as substantial Lirac should drink well for 5-6 years. This biodynamically-farmed vineyard, which has Philippe Cambie as its consultant, is a sleeper selection for value and high quality. – WA 91 points

We need to squeeze in a few wines to taste before our big Jean-Michel Gerin Cote Rotie Tasting on Saturday (details to come). We thought to match the changing weather, we’d pour a couple of delightfully refreshing, wallet-friendly Gruner Veltliners and two sub-$20 reds with bright, fresh fruit flavors. The lineup:

Markowitsch Gruner Veltliner Schanzacker 2008, $15.99/btl – Carnuntum, Austria – 100% Gruner Veltliner – 12% abv – There’s plenty of fresh herb and green peach notes in this light white. A refreshing minerality finishes this delightful sipper. Drink now.

Soellner Gruner Veltliner Danubio 1-Liter 2008, $16.99/btl – An herbal style, with straightforward fresh-cut apple flavors and a medium finish. A bit more bang for the buck considering the larger format bottle. Drink now. 500 cases imported.

Chateau de La Bonneliere Chinon 2007, $17.99/btl – Loire, France – 100% Cabernet Franc – 13% abv – This displays a satisfying amalgam of bitter-edged black fruits, toasted nuts, salt, and herbs with positively lip-smacking sappiness and a tart, but persistently invigorating finish. Plan on enjoying it over the next couple of years.

Markowitsch Blaufrankisch Carnuntum Spitzerberg 2007, $19.99/btl – Carnuntum, Austria – 100% Gruner Veltliner – 12% abv – Medium-bodied, with fresh and lively red berry and plum flavors that show an elegant side. Spicy finish features notes of beef and pepper. Drink now. – WS 88 points

We just had an informal tasting with a local sommelier who was interested in going through our Austrian portfolio. A number of Gruner Veltliners, a Riesling, a couple of Sauvignon Blancs, a St. Laurent and a few Blaufrankisch are open and lonely at the shop right now. Net result for you? Taste whatever we have left. FX Pichler, Uwe Scheifer, Tement, Birgit Eichinger and Kurt Angerer will all be represented, so stop by the shop to taste some unique and truly excellent wines.

Background for this special event can be found here. Other than telling you Uwe Schiefer will be in the shop today and is a truly nice and interesting man (along with being a star winemaker), we’ll just cut to the chase and let you know what we’re pouring. The lineup:

Schiefer Gruner Veltliner Tschaterberg 2008, $18.99

Schiefer Blaufrankisch Konigsberg 2007, $24.99

Schiefer Blaufrankisch Eisenberg 2007, $26.99

Schiefer Blaufrankisch Pala 2007, $27.99

Schiefer Blaufrankisch Reihburg 2006, $66.99

We expect Uwe Schiefer to get into the store just after noon, so we’re planning a 1 pm to 4 pm tasting.

There’s just one week left in the year, and while we’re thankful to 2009 because it was our inaugural year, we’re happy to see 2010 coming down the line. To help us celebrate the New Year, we’ll be closed on Friday, January 1, 2010. To help you celebrate the New Year, we have a special sparkler at a special price. The lineup:

Hubert Clavelin et Fils Cremant du Jura Brut Comte Chardonnay Tete de Cuvee NV, $18.99/btl ($17.99/btl case price) – 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

Kurt Angerer Gruner Veltliner Kies 2008, $17.99/btl – Kamptal, Austria – 100% Gruner Veltliner – 12.5% abv – This has concentrated flavors of ripe peach, ruby grapefruit and pear. The long finish is spicy and intense, with hints of glazed citrus. Drink now through 2013. 500 cases imported. – WS 88 points

Domaine Pascal Bonhomme Vire-Clesse Recolte 2008, $21.99/btl – Burgundy, France – 100% Chardonnay – 13% abv – A medium bodied chardonnay from the Macon. A versatile food wine that goes well with anything from chicken to medium to high oil fish. A great place  to start for those who love white Burgundy.

Yannick Amirault Bourgueil La Coudraye 2007, $23.99/btl – Loire, France – 100% Cabernet Franc – 12.5% abv – This shows nice ripeness and weight for the vintage, with fresh dark berry fruit and sweet spice notes offset by fresh acidity, an herbal hint and a taut, minerally spine. Drink now through 2010. 150 cases imported. – WS 89 points

Chateau Castigno Saint-Chinian Secret des Dieux 2007, $25.99/btl -  Languedoc, France – 50% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 20% Carignan and 5% Mourvèdre – 13.5% abv – This red shows nice focus and concentration to its red berry flavors, which are accented by semi-sweet chocolate notes. The plush finish features red cherry and spice. Drink now through 2012. 400 cases imported. – WS 88 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

Lucas Pichler from the legendary Austrian house F.X. Pichler will be in the store between 2 and 5 pm today. We validate for parking in the lot right in front of Weygandt Wines, so really, there’s no excuse to skip this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Lucas Pichler was one of the numerous growers to describe the relatively low alcohol and efficacious acidity of his 2007s as “classic,” even though at this address in particular, one can hardly consider that statistically correct. The finished wines remind me a bit of the superb Pichler 1999s which were lushly, at times even extravagantly fruity (not to mention intensely mineral) while remaining refreshing and moderate in alcohol. F.X. Pichler compares the best of this year’s Rieslings with his 1997s, and certainly in terms of sheer quality it is hard to argue with that assessment. The Pichlers have never favored hedging or leaf pulling, and think that the consequence this year was to protect the embryonic bunches from the searing heat and sun of July and to enhance ripening in the long autumn. Of course, the flip side of this could be the trapping of water and promotion of botyrtis. And Lucas Pichler relates that to achieve excellent Federspiel, it was necessary to laboriously cut out botrytized and otherwise imperfect portions from a substantial share of the clusters. For Pichlers (in contrast with Alzingers) – 2007 was more difficult in terms of botrytis and selection – than 2006, especially with Gruner Veltliner. In both Federspiel and Smaragd categories, they held off on picking Riesling, with (to say the least!) demonstrable success. – The Wine Advocate

Lucas will be available to discuss all of his wines and the process behind them and we will be pouring tastes of the following:

F.X. Pichler Gruner Veltliner Federspiel Loibner Frauenweingarten 2007, Austria – 100% Gruner Veltliner – “Picked at the beginning of harvest, mid-September, the 2007 Gruner Veltliner Federspiel Frauenweingarten highlights green bean and snap pea. Juicy and melony, this finishes with crisp vegetable notes, lip-smacking refreshment, and hints of chalk and crushed stone. It will be best enjoyed within the next 12-18 months.” – WA 88 points

F.X. Pichler Gruner Veltliner Federspiel Loibner Klostersatz 2007, Austria – 100% Gruner Veltliner – “The 2007 Gruner Veltliner Federspiel Klostersatz smells of lentils and lemon zest. An excellent combination of concentrated lentil and snap pea flavors and underlying extract with delicacy and lift (at 12.5% alcohol) make an excellent case for the concept of Federspiel, and this finishes with pungent herbal and fruit skin pungency and a crushed stone mineral suggestion. It should perform well for at least 2-3 years.” – WA 89 points

F.X. Pichler Riesling Federspiel Urgestein Terrassen 2007, Austria – 100% Riesling – “The Pichler 2007 Riesling Federspiel Urgestein Terrassen a bottling formerly known as “Von den Terrassen” is beautifully-scented with linden flower, mint, and lime; is refined in texture, infectiously juicy, and citric on the palate; and finishes with a vibrant, sappy amalgam of citrus, herb, pepper, and salt. A significant share of contract fruit from the Loibenberg helps give this its pronounced minerality.” – WA 90 points