Georg Mosbacher Forster Elster Riesling Kabinett Trocken 2007,  Regular Price $26.99, Sale Price $19.99 – Pfalz, Germany – 100% Riesling – 12% abv – Organic - “Rich, round and spicy, offering grapefruit, nutmeg and white pepper aromas and flavors, with a savory aftertaste. Nicely balanced and long. Drink now through 2015. 50 cases imported.” – Rated 90 Points, Wine Spectator.

Tement Sauvignon Blanc Steirische Klassik 2007, Regular Price $24.99, Sale Price $18.99 – Sytria, Austria – 100% Sauvignon Blanc – 12.5% abv – Organic - Southern Styria is a traditional production area which enjoys excellent growing conditions, especially for white grapes. For this reason, 95% of the vineyard area is devoted to white varieties and 5% to red wine grapes (Blauer Zweigelt). The Tement Estate lies on a narrow plateau, into which the slope of the Zieregg cru gently flattens. Tement’s ‘classic’ Sauvignon Blanc shows ripe tropical fruit flavors with sweet herbs in the finish.

Chateau Castigno Saint-Chinian Blanc 2007, Regular Price $25.99, Sale Price $19.99 – Languedoc, France – 90% Grenache Blanc, 10% Roussanne – 14% abv – Organic - With an average of 25 years for the vines, these grapes are grown on clay and limestone soils. Vinification is in 100% new oak barrels. The color is golden-yellow. The nose is of exotic fruits and an and impression of candied citrus. The palate is strong, round, well-balanced by firm acidity.

Domaine du Vissoux Beaujolais Rosé “Les Griottes” 2009, Regular Price $16.99, Sale Price $13.99 – Beaujolais, France – 100% Gamay – 12.5% abv – Organic - A light-bodied, cherry-scented rosé made from 100% Gamay. Domaine du Vissoux may just be the most perfect expression in my whole portfolio of what I seek, for the very ability to be natural and great, at once.

Giovanna Ciacci Rosso di Montalcino 2005, Regular Price $26.99, Sale price $22.99 – Tuscany, Italy – 100% Sangiovese – 14% abv – Organic - The Ciacci family has been growers in the area of Sant’Antimo for centuries. The estate dates back 800 years and once totaled 700 hectares (nearly 1700 acres) in size. It has been divided over the generations (there are several producers named Ciacci, now). Giovanna markets most of her production under another label, through another importer and the style there is fairly modern. But Giovanna is at heart a traditionalist and produces, under the name Giovanna Ciacci, a limited quantity of traditionally crafted wines. A perfect fit for us. The Rosso is younger vines, less ideally situated parcels of Brunello di Montalcino. The 2005 is beautifully balanced and long, and a value.

Chateau Castigno “Secret des Dieux” Saint-Chinian 2007, Regular Price $25.99, Sale price $19.99 – Languedoc, France – 50% Syrah, 30% Carignan, 25% Grenache, 5% Mourvedre – 13.5% abv – Organic - Secret des Dieux is grown on clay and limestone soils (mainly limestone for the Grenache). The average age of the vines here is 25 years (but for the Carignan the vines are 100 years old). Deeply saturated dark red color. The nose gives refined impressions of red fruit and garigue. The palate is rich and generous with well-integrated tannins.

Sale prices last through July 31st. No other offers may be applied.

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.

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

The Barthelme brothers, two giants in physical stature, benefit from the ideal micro-climate of Colmar, producing wines that are rich, onctuous, endowed with significant residual sugar but well integrated in concentration as is typical of Hengst and Furstentum. – Le Classement, 1999 Revue du Vin de France

The Barthelme brothers, winemaker Jacky and viticulturist Maurice, have now attained the recognition they deserve. Rated by The Wine Advocate, Robert Parker placed them in the top tier of Alsace producers and they have a One Star Rating in The Classement by Revue du Vin de France. From the Pinot Auxerrois, through all their expressive Grand Crus, to their rich, Selection Grains Noble, they portray their unique style consistently; beautiful delineation of flavors and precise textures, never heavy, clumsy or out of balance.

Please visit our Domaine Albert Mann producer page at the link above to view all Mann wines, prices and reviews. The Lineup:

Domaine Albert Mann Cremant d’Alsace Non Vintage,$23.99 $19.99/btl – Alsace, France – 60% Pinot Blanc, 40% Auxerrois – 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. – 88 point, The Wine Advocate

Domaine Albert Mann Pinot Blanc 2008,$17.99 $15.29/btl – Alsace, France – 60% Pinot Blanc, 40% Auxerrois – 12.5% abv – Biodynamic - Soft, fuzzy yellow fruit flavors with strong minerality. Suprisingly rich for a Pinot Blanc, it has a creaminess that belies this often lean varietal. (This has something to do with the blend of almost half Auxerrois.) Great as an aperitif or with hors d’oeuvres, but equally at home paired with fish and chicken or similarly light fare.

Domaine Albert Mann Pinot Gris Grand Cru Hengst 2007, $34.99 $29.74/btl – Alsace, France – 100% Pinot Gris – 13.5% abv – Biodynamic - Yellow golden colour with clear glints of beautiful intensity. The frank, pleasant nose, of beautiful intensity, shows a fruity dominance, fruit with white flesh and quince, very complex. The airing unveils pear and a slightly earthy character but shows a nice aromatic concentration. First contact is ample, mellow, and heady; there’s a beautiful freshness. It develops to a fine vivacity where flavors reveal quince fruit and smoke. The finish shows beautiful length and a frank vivacity. This wine goes very well with grilled veal chop and chanterelle mushroom.

Domaine Albert Mann Riesling Grand Cru Furstentum 2007, $44.99 $38.24/btl – Alsace, France – 100% Riesling – 12.5% abv – Biodynamic - A black licorice note wraps around ripe flavors of apple, yellow peach and pineapple in this rich white, which is just off-dry and juicy, with a honeyed, lightly smoky finish. Drink now through 2019. 160 cases made. – 91 points, Wine Spectator

Domaine Albert Mann Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Steingrubler 2007, $34.99 $29.74/btl – Alsace, France – 100% Gewurztraminer – 12.5% abv – Biodynamic – Yellow straw golden colour, of beautiful intensity with clear glints. The nose is frank and racyand it unveils dominant fruity aromas–citrus fruit, grapefruit, floral perfume, rose, laurel, litchi, spices. The airing intensifies the floral character, rose, revealing a fine smoky touch, flint, mineral. The nose shows a beautiful maturity of the grape in an exuberant and sensual style, very pleasant. The first contact is both rich and soft and the wine develops to a frank vivacity and the aromatic scale reveals the candied, exotic, floral note, litchi, as well as secondary perfumes. It finishes with a beautiful length and a fine, refreshing vivacity. The structure is rich, fleshy, tasty; the subjacent vivacity refreshes well the richness of the wine, beautiful aromatic purity. Reserve it for tasty, rich dishes, as a crab gratin with ginger and citrus fruit, soft cheeses with rind or simply drink it for itself with good friends.

Domaine Albert Mann Pinot Noir Clos de la Faille 2006, $46.99 $39.94/btl – Alsace, France – 60% Pinot Blanc, 40% Auxerrois – 12.5% abv – Biodynamic - Cherry red colour with purplish glints with a beautiful intensity; the disk is brilliant, limpid, transparent. Pleasant nose unveiling fine flavours of ripe fruit, red fruit, red currant, blackcurrant, cherry as well as a slight woody touch. The airing intensifies the fruity character, blackberries, fruit of the forest as well as a slight animal and spicy character, including cinnamon. The nose is remarkably deep and precise. It’s ample and fleshy and the alcohol is well balanced though a tense vivacity develops. The range of flavours is delicate with a dominance of red fruit, blackberry, blackcurrant,  blueberry, fruit of the forest and a delicately woody note. Tannins are soft, ripe and delicately astringent. The finish shows a beautiful medium length, extraction is perfect and the aromatic range pure. It’s a natural match with a lamb loin.

Sale Ends at Closing on Saturday, May 1, 2010.

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

Many believe that Riesling is the greatest of all white wine grapes. This Saturday we’ll explore the contrasts between four excellent examples of Riesling from two of Germany’s finest wine-growing estates, Heymann-Lowenstein and Georg Mosbacher.

Reinhard Lowenstein, whose family had, for generations been winegrowers, has become one of the most famous and iconoclast winemakers in Germany. His wines are so sought after that he sells nearly 60% of his production to private customers in Germany, and the rest are highly allocated around the world.

Readers unfamiliar with the influential and inspiring – though not uncontroversial – work of Reinhard Lowenstein in the ultra-steep, terraced, geologically diverse slopes of the Mosel just above its confluence with the Rhine are urged to consult my accounts in issues 163 and 167. Among Lowenstein’s much-discussed ideas – not that I personally treat this as less than obvious – is that Mosel, Saar, and Ruwer Rieslings are more expressive, better-balanced, and have better aging potential – while potentially, for all practical purposes, still tasting essentially dry – when their residual sugar is allowed to rest above legal Trockenheit. Lowenstein’s nobly sweet Rieslings frequently tend toward a creaminess and sense of lees and stuffing consistent with his dry wines, yet they incorporate at their best a sense of delicacy, refinement, and transparency to mineral sensations that seldom apply to any other grape than Riesling or at any significant distance from the Mosel The 2007 vintage Auslesen tend in fact to be quite obvious in their acidity, and are designated “gold capsule” to reflect their high quality, not because there are any corresponding “regular” Auslese bottlings. – David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate

Weingut Georg Mosbacher is considered to be “one of the best estates of the Palatinate region; it has made its way to the top by virtue of the distinctive quality of its wines and without the help of PR campaigns.” – Marco Polo Guide, The Best Wines of Germany

Georg Mosbacher Riesling Kabinett Pfalz Forster 2007, $22.99/btl – Pfalz, Germany – 100% Riesling – 13% abv – Inviting, with spice-tinged peach, persimmon, orange and white pepper aromas and flavors. This comes together nicely and stays firm and focused from start to finish. Drink now through 2020. 100 cases imported. – WS 90 points

The scarcely-sweet Mosbacher 2007 Forster Riesling Kabinett offers a peachy, slightly musky nose; a sappy, slightly rustic palate; and excellent thirst-quenching length. As such it is typical of Riesling from lesser sites in this famous, tiny village, whose top sites give arguably the most complex and mysterious wines in the Pfalz. I would plan on enjoying over the next 2-3 years, although there is certainly no need to hold it. – WA 87 points

Georg Mosbacher Riesling Spätlese Trocken Pfalz Forster Musenhang 2007, $29.99/btl – Pfalz, Germany – 100 % Riesling – 10% abv – Ample in both flavor and texture. Rich and round, it’s permeated by nectarine, grapefruit and stone aromas and flavors that remain intense and long. Fine, dry, refreshing finish. Drink now through 2018. 10 cases imported. – WS 90 points

From a relatively cool, breezy, and little-known site above Pechstein and just below the forests that cap the Mittelhaardt, the Mosbacher 2007 Forster Musenhang Riesling Spatlese trocken is predictably cool in its emphasis on mint, sassafras, and under-ripe honeydew melon, with a juicy but restrained palate presence; moderate body; and decided imitations (or intimations) of wet stone in its satisfyingly long finish. I would feel free to plan on holding this for as long as 8-10 years. – WA 89 points

Georg Mosbacher Riesling Qualitätswein Trocken Pfalz Freundstück Forst GG 2007, $34.99/btl – Pfalz, Germany – 100% Riesling – 13% abv – This dry white is rich and fruity, making it seem a touch softer than it actually is. The acidity is deftly woven into the texture, showing more on the finish, which has a nice chalky feel. Drink now through 2019. 15 cases imported. – WS 91 points

From the least-known of Forst sites classified for bottling as Grosses Gewachs (abutting Kirchenstuck), the Mosbacher 2007 Forster Freundstuck Riesling Grosses Gewachs displays Gewurztraminer-like litchi, brown spices, and black pepper as well as a glossy, glycerin-rich texture and opulent richness, albeit at the price of slight, prickly alcohol- and/or botrytis-induced heat. A sappy, spicy, pungently peppery cling here leads one to overlook any minor flaws, and I would simply plan to monitor this in case if proves best drunk within 5-7 years rather than a decade.

I had not visited the well-regarded estate now run by Sabine Mosbacher and Jurgen Duringer for close to a decade, and was quite impressed with the quality at this address. They spoke openly about concerns in 2007 that botrytis might compromise dryness not to mention quality, two reasons why they chose to utilize cultured yeasts for some cuvees rather than letting as many as usual of their fermentations take-off spontaneously. Had a low level of botrytis not been tolerated in the Grosse Gewachse here, those bottlings would probably have been closer to the understated but intriguing personalities of the rest of this year’s Mosbacher collection, but as it is they are certainly imposingly rich. – WA 90 points

Heymann-Lowenstein Riesling Qualitätswein Mosel Von Blauem Schiefer 2006, $24.99/btl – Mosel, Germany – 100% Riesling – 13% abv – Light yet intense, with peach, pear, butter and mineral salt notes wrapped around a core of acidity. This is vivid and stays etched on the palate through the lingering finish. Drink now through 2016. 50 cases imported. – WS 91 points

Lowenstein’s 2007 Riesling Vom Blauen Schiefer is – as its name suggests – sourced from among the ancient terraces of Winningen and neighboring Kobern that are planted on blue Devonian slate. As usual, this displays more brightness and citrus – here lime and grapefruit – than Riesling from some of the other soils characteristic for this stretch of the Mosel. Suggestions of malt and nut oils lend richness and a saline, crustacean savor mingles with wet stone on the mineral side of the ledger, informing a long, both refreshing and intriguing finish. Enjoy this over the coming 5-7 years. – WA 89 points

Heymann-Lowenstein Riesling Qualitätswein Mosel Uhlen L Laubach 2006, $34.99/btl – Mosel, Germany – 100% Riesling – 12.5% abv – Focused, with a firm core of acidity and richness seeping in around the edges. Mint, apricot, spice and mineral flavors hold sway, staying balanced and long as this pushes to its conclusion. Chameleonlike, this changes and surprises. Drink now through 2022. – WS 94 points

The 2007 Winninger Uhlen Riesling Laubach (a.k.a. “L”) – grown on the same sort of soil as the Stolzenberg – features pineapple and kiwi suffused with crushed stone, almond extract, and the bitterness of fruit pits. Like the Blaufusser Lay, this unites creaminess and relative substantiality of alcoholic weight and extract with a sense of refinement and no heat or heaviness, although it fails to quite display the uncanny lift of that wine. The mineral sense here is more overtly of crushed stone rather than savory and saline, while the length in both fruit and mineral registers is formidable. It may well be worth following for a decade, and certainly for close to that long. – WA 91 points

Reinhard Lowenstein, whose family had, for generations been winegrowers, has become one of the most famous and iconoclast winemakers in Germany.  His wines are so sought after that he sells nearly 60% of his production to private customers in Germany, and the rest are highly allocated around the world.

Weingut Georg Mosbacher is considered to be “one of the best estates of the Palatinate region; it has made its way to the top by virtue of the distinctive quality of its wines and without the help of PR campaigns.” – Marco Polo Guide, The Best Wines of Germany

Heymann-Lowenstein Riesling Qualitätswein Mosel Uhlen L Laubach 2006, $34.99/btl – Mosel, Germany – 100% Riesling – 12.5% abv – Focused, with a firm core of acidity and richness seeping in around the edges. Mint, apricot, spice and mineral flavors hold sway, staying balanced and long as this pushes to its conclusion. Chameleonlike, this changes and surprises. Drink now through 2022. – WS 94 points

Heymann-Lowenstein Riesling Qualitätswein Mosel Von Blauem Schiefer 2006, $24.99/btl – Mosel, Germany – 100% Riesling – 13% abv – Light yet intense, with peach, pear, butter and mineral salt notes wrapped around a core of acidity. This is vivid and stays etched on the palate through the lingering finish. Drink now through 2016. 50 cases imported. – WS 91 points

Georg Mosbacher Riesling Kabinett Pfalz Forster 2007, $22.99/btl – Pfalz, Germany – 100% Riesling – 13% abv – Inviting, with spice-tinged peach, persimmon, orange and white pepper aromas and flavors. This comes together nicely and stays firm and focused from start to finish. Drink now through 2020. 100 cases imported. – WS 90 points

Georg Mosbacher Riesling Spätlese Trocken Pfalz Forster Musenhang 2007, $29.99/btl – Pfalz, Germany – 100 % Riesling – 10% abv – Ample in both flavor and texture. Rich and round, it’s permeated by nectarine, grapefruit and stone aromas and flavors that remain intense and long. Fine, dry, refreshing finish. Drink now through 2018. 10 cases imported. – WS 90 points

As for this week, we have another special event scheduled for Saturday (details to come), so this week’s lineup applies to Monday thru Friday, and as always, 4-7 pm:

Chateau Mourgues du Gres Costieres de Nimes Les Galtes Dores 2008, $14.99/btl – Rhone, France – 30% Grenache Blanc, 30% Roussanne, 30% Vermentino, 7% Marsanne,3% Clairette – 13% abv – The elegant white wine offering, the 2008 Les Galets Dores (nearly equal parts Grenache, Roussanne, Rolle, and tiny amounts of Marsanne and Clairette), offers notes of honeyed grapefruit and buttery citrus along with fresh acidity, medium body, plenty of flavor, and a dry, crisp finish. It should be drunk over the next year. – WA 88 points

Weingut Heymann-Lowenstein Riesling Schieferterrassen 2006, $19.99/btl – Mosel, Germany – 100% Riesling – There’s appealing flavors of peach, spice and slate, yet this seems a little slack, lacking the core of acidity to give all the components verve and snap. Drink now through 2012. 50 cases imported. – WS 88 points

Memo Sangiovese 2008, $10.99/btl – Tuscany, Italy – 100% Sangiovese – 13% abv – Strong ruby red color in the glass, with an intense and persistent nose. This fruity Tuscan wine has notes of cherries, prunes and vanilla. Medium bodied, slightly tannic, balanced and ready to drink. Cheap and cheerful!

Domaine La Bastide Syrah Les Genets Vieilles Vignes 2007, $12.99/btl – Languedoc, France – 100% Syrah – Medium-bodied, with dense red fruit flavors and tobacco leaf notes. There’s pepper and graphite on the finish. Drink now through 2012. 2,000 cases imported. – WS 86 points

Domaine de Ferrand Cotes du Rhone La Ferrande 2006, $21.99/btl – Rhone, France – 100% Syrah – 14% abv – As remarkable as 2007 is, there are 2006s that should not be forgotten. Domaine Ferrand (an excellent producer of Chateauneuf du Pape) has turned out a 100% Syrah cuvee, the 2006 Cotes du Rhone La Ferrand. Its opaque ruby/purple hue is followed by aromas of pepper, blackberries, licorice, incense, and earth. Dense and rich with surprising complexity and character for a southern Syrah, it should drink nicely for 2-3 years. – WA 90 points

Domaine la Berangeraie Les Caminoles Cahors Malbec 2007, $14.99/btl – Sudouest, France – 100% Malbec – 13% abv – In 1971 Andre Berenger came to Cahors from Provence with his wife Sylvie, who is originally from Champagne, and planted their vineyard near Grezels, on the red clay/iron stone soil known as Grezes. Their two children, Maurin and Juline not only joined them in the family business but so too have their respective spouses. Thus the three couples all work together and do everything in this twelve hectare domaine themselves – the pruning, the treatments of the all-organic vines and the harvesting all by hand (a disappearing practice in Cahors where harvesting is now done almost exclusively by machine). This is a lighter bodied Malbec from where the grape was originally grown. Malbec lovers should try this as a nice alternative to their standard powerhouses from Argentina.

Domaine Les Grand Bois Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Les Trois Soeurs, Rhône, France – 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 20% Carignan, 14.5% abv – “The 2007 Cotes du Rhone Trois Soeurs is a blend of 65% Grenache and the rest Syrah and Carignan, one-third of which is aged in older barrels for four months, and two-thirds in tank. It hit 14.5% natural alcohol. A big, full-bodied style reveals delicious black currant and black cherry fruit along with hints of licorice, pepper, and spice box. This opulent Cotes du Rhone should drink nicely for 3-4 years.” – WA 90 points

Domaine Plouzeau Chinon Rouge Rive Gauche 2008, Loire, France – 100% Cabernet Franc, 12.5% abv – The nose has a stony minerality with some barnyard must, which quickly dissappears on the palate, when bright cherry notes end with a delicate softness. A family Domaine situated on the “rive gauche” of Chinon and around Ligré and la Roche-Clermault since 1846. Marc Plouzeau took over the estate in 1988 and in 1999 began the conversion to “agriculture biologique” and the vineyards are now all certified as such by ECOCERT. Low yields, predominantly hand- harvested at ideal physiological ripeness, and vinification directed towards emphasizing fruit and not extracting tannins. At our request, our shipments were bottled without filtration.

Daniel Bouland Morgon Vieilles Vignes 2008, Beaujolais, France – 100% Gamay, 13% abv – “The Bouland 2008 Morgon Vieilles Vignes exhibits a focus and grip rare in Beaujolais from this or for that matter any vintage. Concentrated, brightly fresh blackberry and blueberry tinged with salt, chalk, and citrus oil, and underlain by deep, smoky roast meatiness characterize this wine of palpable extract. While seamlessly, richly ripe and 13% in natural alcohol, it nevertheless comes off as lithe and lively, with a peony-like floral perfume wafting all the way through to a gloriously persistent, lip-smacking, soul-satisfying finish. Expect this cuvee (lightly fined but unfiltered, incidentally, an approach he first took at the behest of importer Peter Weygandt) to be worth following for close to a decade, perhaps even longer. This year, not just one wine but an entire family of Daniel Bouland’s as yet still little-known wines is coming to the U.S., and they should not be missed!” – WA 93 points

Domaine Vial-Magneres Tradition 4 Year Banyuls, Roussillon, France – 65% Grenache Noir, 15% Grenache Gris, 11% Grenache Blanc, 3% Syrah and 6% old-vine Carignan, 16.5% abv – This is a terrific fortified wine for those who are looking for an affordable port. With many of the same characteristics of a good tawny port, come in and try this Banyuls as a fun alternative for a digestif. A family property for three generations, the estate consists of 10 hectares of vines spread out in small parcels across the best plots of the appellation, the terraced vineyards are cultivated entirely by hand. All of their vines are grown along the coastline. The soils are made up of metamorphosed Cambrian rocks composed essentially of decaying chloric and sericitic schist. The vines are 40 to 50 years old on average; they amount to 60,000 plants, of which between 1,000 and 1,200 are renewed annually.