Please join us this Saturday, July 31st, at Weygandt Wines, from 1PM until 4PM, for a tasting and discussion with Peter Weygandt. In addition, all of the wines poured will be on sale between 15-30% off! The Lineup:

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.

With our pallets of wines that arrived at the shop this week, we received quite a few new vintages from some of our old friends (like Denis Alary pictured above). . .

We’re featuring six of these wines this week at the shop, with special pricing. And join us this Saturday, July 17th, at Weygandt Wines from 1PM until 4PM as we host a tasting where you can try them all before you buy! The Lineup:

Domaine Alary La Grange Daniel Blanc 2009, Regular Price $14.99, Sale Price $11.99 – Rhone, France – 100% Roussanne – 14% abv – Sustainable - 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.

Domaine Albert Mann Auxerrois Vieilles Vignes 2009, Regular Price $19.99, Sale Price $15.99 – Alsace, France – 100% Auxerrois – 13% abv – Biodynamic - Pale color. Fresh, pure nose offers peach and flowers. Juicy, fresh and moderately dense, in a rather sweet style for Auxerrois at nine grams of residual sugar. Turns a bit dry and peppery on the end.

Gerard & Pierre Morin Sancerre Chene Marchand 2008, Regular Price $28.99, Sale Price, $22.99 – Loire, France – 100% Sauvignon Blanc – 13% abv – Sustainable - A gorgeous nose and subtly oily, lush, yet ultra-bright palate are dominated by hedge flowers, fresh orange, lime, and grapefruit. Chalk, iodine, and salt seem to cling indelibly even as this sensationally concentrated and supremely elegant Sancerre invigorates and refreshes. Here is that perfect paradox one encounters with Sauvignon: its most sublime manifestations are farthest from typicity, and those seeking gooseberry, passion fruit, or cassis will be disappointed by what they find here.

Domaine Servin Chablis Vieilles Vignes Selection Massale, Regular Price $25.99, Sale Price $19.99 – Burgundy, France – 100% Chardonnay – 12.5% abv – Sustainable - (50% tank and 50% older barrels) Bright yellow. Less fruity than the Pargues on the nose, showing a menthol element. Dense, ripe and minerally, with excellent lemony cut and serious acidity. Finishes with noteworthy persistence, and the structure to age. These 2008s have 4.7 to 4.8 grams per liter of acidity, according to Francois Servin. Rate 89 points, The International Wine Cellar

Chateau de La Bonneliere Chinon Rive Gauche 2009, Regular Price $14.99, Sale Price $11.99 – Loire, France – 100% Cabernet Franc – 12.5% abv – Organic - Brimming with tart but ripe cherry and blackberry tinged with baking spices and toasted nuts. Succulent and sappy on the palate, it finishes with bright black fruits and pungent spice and pepper. This would make an excellent, highly affordable introduction to Loire Cabernet Franc as well as a versatile tablemate over the next 12-18 months.

Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy Sancerre Rouge Terre de Maimbray 2008, Regular Price $28.99, Sale Price $22.99 – Loire, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 12.5% abv – Organic - This juicy offering boasts bitter-edged, black pepper-, salt- and cinnamon-tinged mulberry and cassis on an elegant palate and strikingly long finish. The effect of older barrels seems to detract marginally from the purity of fruit, and I would in any case plan to enjoy this over the next 12-18 months.

On Saturday, May 15, 2010, from 1PM – 4PM, Weygandt Wines welcomes you to a tasting of the wines of Bandol.

DOMAINE LA BASTIDE BLANCHE
In the early ’70s Michel and Louis Bronzo (the latter on the board of the INAO) acquired the property of the Bastide Blanche, with an eye to producing from appellation Bandol wines the equal of more famous appellations like Chateauneuf. Their painstaking efforts were rewarded in 1993 when vintage conditions created the benchmark year to put Bandol in general and Bastide-Blanche, in particular, on the map of top producers in France. They have various cuvees, depending on the vintage, but always about 75% Mourvedre as a minimum, up to 100% Mourvedre for the Cuvee Fontanieu from a parcel of that name near the Mediterranean. Also, common each year to their success are their very low yields, never more than 34 or 35 hl/ha, and simply impeccable cellar conditions and attention. This shows in the pure, well-delineated fruit, that has become a hallmark of Bastide-Blanche. They also make a delightful Rosé, from predominantly Mourvedre, with Grenache and Cinsault. And also produce another rosé from a separate property, Chateau des Baumelles. The Lineup:

Domaine La Bastide Blanche Bandol Blanc 2008, Regularly $26.99, On Sale $22.94/bottle – Provence, France – 45% Clairette, 35% Ugni Blanc, 15% Bourboulenc, 5% Sauvignon Blanc – 13% abv – Organic – A fruity style, with focused flavors of peach, Golden Delicious apple and pear. Medium-bodied, with a zesty, spice-filled finish that features touches of cream. Drink now. 25 cases imported. – Rated 88 Points, Wine Spectator

Chateau des Baumelles Bandol Rosé 2009, Regularly $22.99, On Sale $19.54/bottle – Provence, France – 36% Cinsault, 34% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre – 13.5% abv – Organic

Domaine La Bastide Blanche Bandol Rosé 2009, Regularly $22.99, On Sale $19.54/bottle – Provence, France – 70% Mourvedre, 22% Cinsault, 8% Grenache – 13.5% abv – Organic

Domaine La Bastide Blanche Bandol 2006, Regularly $22.99, On Sale $19.54/bottle – Provence, France – 74% Mourvedre, 22% Grenache, 3% Syrah, 1% Carignan – 14.5% abv – Organic - 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. – Rated 92 Points, Wine Spectator

Domaine La Bastide Blanche Bandol Cuvee Estagnol 2006, Regularly $29.99, On Sale $25.49/bottle – Provence, France – 94% Mourvedre, 6% Grenache – 14% abv – Organic - Plush and rich, with dense flavors of dark cherry, fig, licorice and dark chocolate. The powerful finish lingers with notes of mocha, smoke and roast beef. Needs time. Best from 2010 through 2014. 150 cases imported. – Rated 92 Points, Wine Spectator

Domaine La Bastide Blanche Bandol Cuvee Fontanieu 2005, Regularly $29.99, On Sale $25.49/bottle – Provence, France – 94% Mourvèdre, 6% Grenache – 13.5% abv – Organic - Powerful and complex nose spices, liquorice and chive mix with fruit notes of prunes and blackberries. The mouth is powerful, dense, developing finally spice notes. This wine will accompany well grilled or roasted meats and wild game.

Above Wines On Sale Through Saturday, May 15, 2010 or until supplies last.

As the title indicates, we will be hosting an Organic Wine Tasting on Wednesday, April 7, from 6:30 pm til 8 pm. (This does mean that we will close our doors at 6:30 pm to the public. We will resume our normal hours of operation the next day.) If you would like to attend and have not registered for the event, please do so HERE. At $15/head, this is a bit of break from our normal way of doing things–giving you things for free–but we think that the cost of this event is justified. In addition to the wines which will be described further down, we’ll have food from Dino, cheese from Firefly Farms, as well as a raffle for prizes ranging from a $50 gift certificate to Founding Farmers Restaurant to an organic gift basket from Herban Lifestyle. And, more importantly, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to The DC Farm to School Network. So, all in all, good food, good drink and a good cause. Win, win, win. The Lineup (all featured wines are on sale for 20% off):

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

What to taste, what to taste? Here at the shop, we often hear the question, “How do you decide which wines to use for your tastings?” And like many questions , there are many right answers (unless you’re a mathematician). Some of the wines we choose are new to the shop, so we want to try them out ourselves. Some have been requested by our regulars (yes, we do listen). Some have been collecting dust because we have been neglectful. And others just seem right at the time. Whatever the reason, we try and open new wines every week, and this week is no exception. The Lineup:

Tement Sauvignon Blanc Grassnitzberg 2007, $39.99/btl – Styria, Austria – 100% Sauvignon Blanc – 13% abv – Fermented in tank and matured in larger barrels, Tement’s 2007 Sauvignon Blanc Grassnitzberg is cooling and minty in personality yet with a glossy texture and lovely cling. Another year in bottle may bring more complexity, but this very proportional and refreshing Sauvignon should be worth following for 2-3 years. – WA 87 points

Chateau Mourgues du Gres Vin de Pays du Gard Blanc Terre d’Argence 2007, $15.99/btl – Rhone, France – 50% Viognier, 50% Roussanne – A blend of equal parts Viognier and Roussanne, a small percentage fermented in new wood, the very good 2007 Terre d’Argence blanc is surprisingly restrained compared to the Galets Dores. It offers abundant amounts of white currant, honeysuckle, and apricot notes in a medium-bodied, dry, refreshing style. – WA 87 points

Chateau Pont de Brion Graves Rouge 2005, $20.99/btl – Bordeaux, France – 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot – 12% abv – Classic Left Bank Bordeaux from a classic vintage. Dark fruit and cedar with a long, balanced finish.

Clos Marie Coteaux du Languedoc L’Olivette Pic Saint Loup 2008, $26.99/btl – Languedoc, France – Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault – 13.5% abv – Displaying aromas not only of ripe black fruits but of spiced apple cider such as one would more expect in a white wine, and a soothingly-textured and fruit-forward palate, this also hints at the sort of saline, iodine, and stony mineral dimensions that help make Clos Marie’s wines so fascinating as a group.

Thanks to Firefly Farms and everyone who made it into the shop over the weekend to taste the sublime combination of their creamy, elegant goat’s milk cheeses with our Loire Valley Sauvignon Blancs. This coming week is a bit light on the activities front, but as always, we’ll pour at least six different bottles at our bar. The Lineup:

L’Abbaye du Petit Quincy Bourgogne Tonnerre 2006, $19.99/btl – Burgundy, France – 100% Chardonnay – 12.5% abv

Domaine La Bastide Blanche Bandol Blanc 2008, $26.99/btl – Provence, France – 45% Clairette, 35% Ugni Blanc, 15% Bourboulenc, 5% Sauvignon Blanc – 13% abv – A fruity style, with focused flavors of peach, Golden Delicious apple and pear. Medium-bodied, with a zesty, spice-filled finish that features touches of cream. Drink now. 25 cases imported. – WS 88 points

Domaine de Fontenille Cotes du Luberon 2007, $14.99/btl – Rhone, France – 70% Grenache, 30% Syrah – 14% abv – Grippy for a Lubéron, with dark currant, roasted chestnut, maduro tobacco and roasted olive notes that pump through the muscular, slightly rugged finish. Drink now through 2010. 1,500 cases imported. – WS 89 points

This has been a consistent winner from importer Peter Weygandt since he first brought the Domaine du Fontenille to the attention of American wine consumers in the early nineties. A blend of 70% Grenache (50- to 60-year-old vines) and 30% Syrah, yields are kept modest, and the wine is aged in concrete tanks for over a year prior to being bottled without filtration. A super-aromatic example of the vintage, the 2007 exhibits loads of pepper, earth, black cherry, and dusty, loamy soil notes. The wine’s fruit, earthiness, and spiciness are all classic characteristics of Provence. Seriously endowed and medium to full-bodied with excellent purity and depth, this Cotes du Luberon should drink well for 2-3 years. – WA 88 points

Domaine de Poulvarel Costieres de Nimes Rouge 2007, $17.99/btl – Rhone, France – 50% Grenache, 50% Syrah – 14% abv – The two red wines include an equal part blend of Grenache and Syrah, the 2007 Costieres de Nimes, a richly textured effort that tastes more like a northern Rhone with the Syrah component dominating both the aromatics and flavors. Blackberry, licorice, and tar notes along with terrific fruit and medium to full body are found in this 2007. Its style is not terribly dissimilar from a St.-Joseph. Drink it over the next 4-5 years. – WA 89 points

Domaine de L’Ancienne Mercerie Faugeres les Petites Mains 2007, $27.99/btl - Languedoc, France – 30% Carignan, 30% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre – 15% abv – The 2007 Faugeres Les Petites Mains – a blend of Grenache, Carignan, Syrah, and slightly less Mourvedre – displays heady black fruit ripeness with overtones of smoke and fruit distillate. On the palate, plush, sweet, dense, yet exuberantly fresh black raspberry, boysenberry, and cassis are tinged with cardamom, clove, tonka bean, and rosemary. There is at most the slightest trace of heat and drying from its 15% alcohol, but this is delightful, rich red and an excellent value ready to enjoy today, yet probably worth following for at least 4-6 years. – WA 90 points

Yann Chave Crozes Hermitage 2007, $27.99/btl – Rhone, France – 100% Syrah – 13% abv – Bright and open, with tasty black cherry, currant and aged tobacco notes. Fresh finish. Drink now. 5,000 cases made. – WS 88 points

That’s right folks, Sancerre and goat cheese. Well, we actually expanded the wine selection a bit further out to include most of the Loire Valley, but there will be Sancerre and there will be goat cheese.

FireFly Farms formed when a small group of friends decided to join forces and enter the world of domestic goat cheese making. Since its inception in 2002, FireFly Farms artisan goat’s milk cheeses have received 28 individual national and international awards for excellence.

FireFly Farms is dedicated to the art of cheese making. FireFly Farms artisanal goat cheeses are made according to time-honored tradition – they are produced and ripened with handmade care. We take special care to ensure the purity, quality, and clean flavor of our milk. Our aged cheeses are ripened in a specially constructed aging room – we shun short cuts and artificial techniques aimed at increasing yield or shelf life at the expense of taste and quality.

At FireFly Farms, we believe in the interdependence of people with one another and with our environment, and we are committed to caring for the land and protecting biodiversity for today’s communities and future generations. – Firefly Farms

The lineup of wines is as follows:

Caves Plouzeau Chinon Bonneliere Les Devants Touraine  Sauvignon Blanc 2008, $15.99/btl – Loire, France – 100% Sauvignon Blanc – 12.5% abv – From chalky, flinty soils along the Cher, Marc Plouzeau has crafted a 2008 Touraine Sauvignon redolent of white peach and passion fruit; lean and quite dense; but finishing with refreshing juiciness, a saline tang, and hints of cherry pit and pistachio. Enjoy it over the next 6-9 months. – WA 87 points

Domaine Villalin Quincy Silex 2007, $19.99/btl – Loire, France – 100% Sauvignon Blanc – 12.5% abv – As proprietors Jean-Jacques Smith and his wife Maryline tell it, they are the only growers in their appellation to harvest entirely by hand, and the parcel in which their 2007 Quincy Cuvee Silex originates was already planted a dozen centuries ago. Certainly on the strength of this wine Domaine Villalin can be added to the short list of those that make Quincy worth of the attention of value-hunters and Sauvignon-hounds, and their label’s depiction of donkey and dudelsack (which Smith raises and plays, respectively) is unforgettable. Flowers and crushed stone in the nose mingle with gooseberry, white currant, and lime on a sappy, refreshing, and strikingly saline palate. Hints of toasted almond, caraway, and nettle add to the whiplash and salt wash of a finish in this impressive even though not terribly ripe Sauvignon, which will prove highly invigorating and versatile over the coming year. – WA 89 points

Domaine Serge Dagueneau et Filles Pouilly-Fume Les Pentes 2007, $26.99/btl – Loire, France – 100% Sauvignon Blanc – 12.5% abv – Soft, with floral and lemon curd notes and a gentle finish that verges on blowsy. Drink now. 500 cases imported.

Gerard et Pierre Morin Sancerre Vieilles Vignes 2007, $24.99/btl – Loire, France – 100% Sauvignon Blanc – 13% abv – Bracing, with flint and chive flower notes that stay taut through the slightly lean finish. Good length. Drink now. 400 cases imported. – WS 87 points

Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy Sancerre Les Coutes 2008, $22.99/btl – Loire, France – 100% Sauvignon Blanc – 13% abv – On the strength of their 2008 Sancerre Les Coutes Nicolas Reverdy’s widow Sophie and son Pascal are not letting family tragedy or challenging weather interfere with rendering exceptional examples of their appellation. Grapefruit, lime, mint, sage, wood smoke, and crushed stone in the nose lead to a palate of exuberant brightness, delicacy (at 12.6% – natural – alcohol), yet oily richness, and boasting a depth of chalk, salt, iodine, and shellfish-like nuances that simply has to be tasted to be believed. If you don’t want to be left with a mouthful of mineral flavors you can’t wash out, then stay clear of this wine (and leave it for the rest of us)! Like other recent Reverdy bottlings done for the United States, this was neither cold-stabilized nor filtered. You can count on its being worth following for at least the next 3-4 years. – WA 92 points

Domaine Edmond Vatan Sancerre Clos la Neore 2008, $65.99/btl – Loire, France – 100% Sauvignon Blanc – 13.5% abv – RMP [Robert M. Parker, Jr.] wanted to add that this summer he has drunk a full case of the 2005 Sancerre Clos la Neore, which he consistently rated between 92 and 94. The wine represents pure liquid minerals! – David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate

And the lineup of Firefly Farms Goat’s Milk Cheeses:

Allegheny Chevre – Allegheny Chevre is our fresh, un-ripened goat’s milk cheese. It is a traditional chevre, crumbly in texture with a clean and tangy flavor. It’s a versatile ingredient in everyday cooking or finer cuisines. Crumbled on a salad, spread on sandwich, used in pasta dishes, or blended with spices for use as a spread, it is a perfect creamy addition to your meal.

Aging Notes
Allegheny Chevre is not aged. It generally takes us 3-4 days to make and package this fresh chevre and it is not uncommon to have it in the market within a week’s time. This is FireFly Farms most popular cheese, largely because there are so many uses for it in the kitchen. Like all cheese, it is best brought to room temperature before serving or using in a recipe.

Serving, Wrapping and Cooking
Allegheny Chevre is FireFly Farms most popular cheese, largely because there are so many uses for it in the kitchen. Like all cheese, it is best brought to room temperature before serving or using in a recipe.

We use the Allegheny Chevre as a healthier substitute for cream cheese, or used as a goat’s milk alternative for cheeses like ricotta. We’ve used it cooked in cheesecakes and lasagna, or crumbled on salads, pizzas, and crostini. Hint: If using in heated applications like pizza, add the crumbled chevre when the pizza is removed from the oven, not before. The heat of the oven will liquify this delicate fresh cheese; the heat of your cooling pizza will make it perfectly creamy. Plain or seasoned, it can spread on sandwiches, bagels or breads.

Once you have removed the originally wrapping of your Allegheny Chevre log, you can re-wrap in fresh plastic or put in a plastic containter or even a butter dish. Our chevres can be frozed beautifully. We have done freezer tests on whole and half logs of Allegheny Chevre for up to 4-weeks. Once removed from the freezer, allow the chevre to thaw for 24-hours in the refrigerator. Thawing faster on the counter is not recommended as it will cause water loss in the cheese and change its texture.

Ingredients
Pasteurized goat milk
Bacterials starter cultures (gluten-free)
Vegetable rennet
Salt

Bûche Noire – Bûche Noire is French for “black log.” It is a sophisticated, aged chevre log, first coated in vegetable ash and then aged for several weeks to develop a white-bloomed rind. The result is delicious. A rapidly maturing flavor and texture certain to please the most discerning of palates. The ashed rind is completely edible at any stage of the cheese’s ripening. In fact, the cheese’s fullest flavor is concentrated in its rind.

Awards and Honors
World Cheese Awards – 2006 Silver Medalist
American Dairy Goat Association Cheese Competition – 2006 Third Place
American Cheese Society, Cheese Judging – 2006 Third Place

Aging Notes
Weeks 1-3
Bûche Noire is considered a soft-ripened chevre. It develops its white-bloomed rind within a week’s time in our aging room. We wrap the young Bûche Noires at 2-3 weeks old to ensure that they have the maximum shelf life possible. At this stage, Bûche Noires are firm to the touch and have a clean, uncomplicated taste that is tangy like the Allehgheny Chevre. These young Bûche Noires can be used in cooking, but only with very gentle heat. We love putting a slice of Bûche Noire on the top of a bowl of warm soup.

Weeks 4-8
Because this cheese is a small-format, ripened, higher-moisture chevre, it moves directly from childhood into adulthood with very little “adolescence” to speak of. The ripening work of the white mold happens quickly, particularly at room temperature and the body of the cheese becomes creamy (to the point of finger-licking runny-ness). It’s flavor develops equally fast during this period, developing the earthy spiciness that identifies Bûche Noire. Not for the feint of heart, this delicate star is worth the extra care it requires and has developed a commited following among FireFly afficionados.

Serving, Wrapping and Cooking
Bûche Noire is a lovely addition to your meals. Its character is best suited for appetizer or cheese board, but it can be used mindfully in cooking. We love to spread a ripened Bûche Noire on a day-old crusty baguette and top it with a little sauteed mushroom tapendade. This, served with a nice Pinot Noir, is often dinner.

Once you have removed its original wrapping, DO NOT re-wrap in plastic wrap. This delicate star will suffocate and die a horrible soupy mess. Re-wrap in parchment or wax paper, or store a partially consumed Bûche Noire in a plastic container or on a dessert plate that’s covered in plastic wrap. Both methods allow for a bit of air around the cheese and continued breathing.

Ingredients
Pasteurized goat milk
Vegetable rennet
Bacterials starter cultures (gluten-free)
Vegetable ash
Salt
Enzymes

Merry Goat Round – Merry Goat Round is a surface-ripened goat’s milk round. It is our homage to brie or camembert and shares the same surface ripening mold as these traditional cheeses. It ripens from its rind inwards, growing progressively softer and creamier. The rind is completely edible at any stage of the cheese’s ripening. In fact, the cheese’s fullest flavor is concentrated in its rind.

Awards and Honors
World Cheese Awards – 2008 Silver Medalist, 2007 Bronze Medalist, 2004 Silver Medalist
American Dairy Goat Association Cheese Competition – 2007 Third Place, 2006 First Place
American Cheese Society, Cheese Judging – 2002 Third Place

Aging Notes
Weeks 1-3
Merry Goat Round is considered a soft-ripened cheese. It develops its white-bloomed rind within a week’s time in our aging room. We wrap the young Merry Goat Rounds at 2-3 weeks old to ensure that they have the maximum shelf life possible. At this stage, Merry Goat Round’s are firm to the touch and have a clean, uncomplicated taste that is slightly sharp. These young Merry Goat Rounds can be used in cooking, and will melt nicely.

Weeks 4-6
We think of this period as “adolescence” for Merry Goat Round. The rind is beginning to do its work, and when the cheese is cut you can see the ripening cheese body just below the rind. At room temperature, this ripened portion of the cheese body will be soft (and in the Spring quite creamy). The taste of the cheese is developing rapidly during this period; and the clean sharpness of the young cheese becomes increasingly complex and mushroomy.

Weeks 7-12
During this period, the “adult” Merry Goat Round reaches its fullest and most complex flavor profile. The rind has now ripened the cheese body ¼ to ½ inch toward its center. The cheese will feel soft to the touch, particularly at room temperature. Secondary molds and other “imperfections” may appear on the surface. The white-bloomed rind of youth begins to deepen to lovely orange hues. When unwrapped at this age, the captured ammonia (an exhalation by-product of the rind as it ripens the cheese body) may need to dissipate – allowing these older Merry Goat Rounds the time to “breathe” as they warm before serving is time well spent.

Serving, Wrapping and Cooking
Merry Goat Round is a lovely addition to your meals. It can be served alone as an appetizer, cut for a cheese board, served with crackers and a savory tapenade, or used in finer cuisines. Younger cheeses are definitely better for cooking, as they will withstand the heat of melting better; more mature cheeses shine as “solo-acts” on cheese boards, or served with complimentary stand out ingredients: a beautifully ripened pear, cured olives, sautéed mushrooms, or seasoned pecans.

Once you have removed its original wrapping, take care not to re-wrap too tightly in plastic wrap. This will suffocate the cheese. We store a partially consumed Merry Goat Round in a plastic container or a dessert plate covered in plastic wrap. Both methods allow for a bit of air around the cheese and continued breathing.

Ingredients
Pasteurized goat milk
Vegetable rennet
Bacterials starter cultures (gluten-free)
Salt
Enzymes

Mountain Top Bleu – Mountain Top Bleu is a surface-ripened blue and white mold pyramid. It ripens from its rind inwards, growing progressively softer and creamier. The rind is completely edible at any stage of the cheese’s ripening. In fact, the cheese’s fullest flavor is concentrated in its rind.

Awards and Honors
World Cheese Awards- 2008 Bronze Medalist, 2006 Silver Medalist, 2004 Bronze Medalist
American Dairy Goat Association Cheese Competition – 2009 Second Place, 2007 First Place, 2006 Third Place
American Cheese Society, Cheese Judging – 2006 Second Place, 2005 Third Place Finisher, 2004 Third Place, 2002 First Place
Saveur Magazine, 2005 Editor’s Pick – 50 Favorite American Cheeses

Aging Notes
Weeks 1-3
MountainTop Bleu is considered a soft-ripened cheese. We work hard to balance the white and blue molds to produce a cheese that has the luscious creaminess of a world-class soft-ripened cheeses plus the delicate piquancy of a blue mold cheese. This balancing act changes with the temperature of the seasons and the composition of the milk — as an artisan cheese, you’ll note that sometimes MountainTop’s are more blue; sometimes less. But they will always have that same subtle and distinctive taste.

It develops its white and blue-bloomed rind within a week’s time in our aging room. We wrap the young MountainTop Bleus at 2-3 weeks old to ensure that they have the maximum shelf life possible. At this stage, MountainTop Bleus are firm to the touch. The blue piquancy tends to be more pronouced at this stage — before the white mold has a chance to ripen and soften the cheese body. These young MountainTop Bleus can be used in cooking, and will melt nicely.

Weeks 4-6
We think of this period as “adolescence” for MountainTop Bleus. The rind beginning to do its work and when the cheese is cut, you can see the ripening cheese body just below the rind. At room temperature, this ripened portion of the cheese body will be soft (and in the Spring quite creamy). The taste of the cheese is developing rapidly during this period; and the clean sharpness of the young cheese becomes increasingly complex as white and bluie molds do their work in tandem.

Weeks 7-12
During this period, the “adult” MountainTop Bleu reaches its fullest and most complex flavor profile. The rind has now ripened the cheese body ½ inch or more toward its center. The cheese will feel soft to the touch, particularly at room temperature. Secondary molds and other “imperfections” may appear on the surface. The white and blue-bloomed rind of youth begins to deepen to lovely darker hues. When unwrapped at this age, the captured ammonia (an exhalation by-product of the rind as it ripens the cheese body) may need to dissipate – allowing these older MountainTop Bleus the time to “breathe” as they warm before serving is time well spent.

Serving, Wrapping and Cooking
MountainTop Bleu is a lovely addition to your meals. It can be served alone as an appetizer, cut for a cheese board, served with crackers and a savory tapenade, or used in finer cuisines. Younger cheeses are definitely better for cooking, as they will withstand the heat of melting better; more mature cheeses shine as “solo-acts” on cheese boards, or served with complimentary stand out ingredients: stewed figs, Spanish or Portugese membrillo, or cured olives.

Once you have removed its original wrapping, take care not to re-wrap too tightly in plastic wrap. This will suffocate the cheese. We store a partially consumed MountainTop Bleu in a plastic container or a dessert plate covered in plastic wrap. Both methods allow for a bit of air around the cheese and continued breathing.

Ingredients
Pasteurized goat milk
Vegetable rennet
Bacterials starter cultures (gluten-free)
Salt
Enzymes

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

We know, we know. We tend to oscillate a bit on our tasting policies, but with the upcoming holidays, we’ve gotten a bit anxious to try some new wines. That being said, we’ve changed the early week lineup. For the whites, we still are pouring Tement Temento Green 2008, George Reisling Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland Trocken 2007 and Bodegas Pedralonga Albariño 2007, but the reds have called in a few pinch hitters. The original tasting notes can be found in this post. As for the current red lineup, we’re still pouring the Jean-Michel Gerin Syrah Vin de Pays 2007, but the Chateau La Bastide Corbieres 2007 and Boeri Barbera d’Asti D.O.C. 2005 are on the DL (until we get more in on Monday). Taking their places are the following:

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.

We decided to take a European tour this week. Austria to Germany, then Italy and Spain, with a couple of stops in France to end our trip. We will be offering the case price discount on single bottles of any of the wines we are tasting. That’s 15% off any of the bottles listed below. The lineup and tasting notes are as follows:

Tement Temento Green 2008, Styria, Austria – Sauvignon Blanc and Welschriesling, 11.5% abv – Regular Price $15.99, This Week $13.59 – “This delightfully fresh and aromatic
blend of our principal grape varieties, Welschriesling and Sauvignon Blanc, beguiles one this year with its asparagus notes, underpinned by our typically Styrian acidity. An ideal foil for hors d’oeuvres and other light dishes, or simply whenever you feel like it. “

George Reisling Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland Trocken 2007, Rheingau, Germany – 100% Reisling, 13% abv – Regular Price $21.99, This Week $18.69 – A classic, dry reisling from the Rheingau. For those who have the notion that all reislings are sweet, this is a good opportunity to taste the dry side of this beautiful grape.

Bodegas Pedralonga Albariño 2007, Rias Baixas, Spain – 100% Albariño, 13% abv, unfiltered – Regular Price $27.99, This Week $23.79 – A very full-bodied nose with notes of grapefruit, apple and floral hints. Structured and robust on the palate. Prominent minerality with lactic hints and slight, fruity acidity.

Boeri Barbera d’Asti D.O.C. 2005, Asti, Italy – 100% Barbera, 14% abv – Regular Price $18.99, This Week $15.99 – Martinette is the geographic name of one of Boeri’s best vineyards. This wine is typical of Barbera, soft but full bodied, ready to drink young, and it continues to develop with a few years of aging. Its versatility allows it to accompany a complete meal very well: appetizers of meat, full flavored first courses, rich second courses, and both fresh and seasoned cheeses. Refined 8 months in barrique and 8 months in bottle.

Chateau La Bastide Corbieres 2007, Languedoc, France – 80% Syrah, 20% Grenache – Regular Price $12.99, This Week $10.99 – “Durand’s 2007 Corbieres (bottled as “Chateau La Bastide,” a title legally afforded only to wines of appellation controlee status!) is an 80-20 Syrah-Grenache blend, half of which is aged in previously used barrels. Bright and juicy, saline and meaty, and with even more energy and sappy persistence than the other 2007 vintage Durand wines, this adds dimensions of stony, iodine-like minerality to its black pepper-tinged raw beef and blackberries to arrive at a wine far more complex and classy – not to mention lighter on its feet – than all but a handful of other wines in its appellation – and look at the price! Enjoy this unbelievable value over the next 2-3 years.

“Guilhem Durant’s La Bastide wines have long represented an excellent collection of wines at almost embarrassingly modest prices, but in vintage 2007, he simply out did himself with amazing abundance of value.” – WA 90 points

Jean-Michel Gerin Syrah Vin de Pays 2007, Rhone, France – 100% Syrah, 13% abv – Regular Price, $21.99, This Week $18.69 – Made from 100% Syrah grapes grown on high slopes in mica schist soil, this wine is drinking young (3-5 years) with cherry flavors, pepper and flexible tannins. Aged in barrels for 8 months