Newsletter
November 15, 2015 – December 6, 2015
Aglianico, Vulture
2012 Aglianico del Vulture ‘Gricos’ (Grifalco)
Sale Price $9.99 – $101.90 case of twelve
Bianco, Pinot
2014 Alto Adige Pinot Bianco (Colterenzio)
Sale Price $11.99 – $122.30 case of twelve
Riesling, Feinherb
2014 Piesporter Riesling Feinherb (Später-Veit)
Sale Price $11.99 per Liter – $122.30 case of twelve
In German wine nomenclature Feinherb is a synonym for
Halbtrocken. This Später-Veit Riesling Feinherb is decidedly richer and drier than one might expect in an $11.99 Liter bottle. This will make a lot of holiday diners happy.
Riesling, Auslese
2011 Niersteiner Hipping Riesling Auslese (Schneider)
Sale Price $9.99 per 375ml – $101.90 case of twelve
We suggest three options for this delicious half bottle of Riesling Auslese: Serve it as an aperitif with nuts and cheese. Or serve it with dessert (think pumpkin). Or serve it with spicy curry, as Eric Asimov of the New York Times suggests: “Intrepid palates may try an Auslese Riesling, perhaps the most thrilling wine in the world that almost nobody drinks.”
Cabernet, Paso Robles
2013 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon (Broadside)
Sale Price $13.99 – $142.70 case of twelve
Maremma, Toscana
2014 Maremma Rosso (Montauto)
Sale Price $10.99 – $112.10 case of twelve
When we see a red Tuscan wine, we immediately think Sangiovese, but Montauto’s Maremma is primarily composed of Ciliegiolo (80%), with Sangiovese in a supporting role. Interestingly, DNA testing has revealed that Ciliegiolo is a parent of Sangiovese. This cherry-fruited, fresh red is perfect for bean dishes and tomato sauces.
Nero, Pinot
2014 Pinot Nero (Colterenzio)
Sale Price $14.99 – $152.90 case of twelve
Gavi, Cortese
2014 Gavi del Comune di Gavi ‘è’ (Ca de Meo)
Sale Price $14.99 – $152.90 case of twelve
Nebbiolo, Langhe
2014 Langhe Nebbiolo (Guidobono)
Sale Price $10.99 – $112.10 case of twelve
Malbec, Syrah
2014 Malbec-Syrah (Tilia)
Sale Price $8.99 – $91.70 case of twelve
Rhone, Vieilles Vignes
2013 Côtes du Rhône ‘Vieilles Vignes’ (Domaine Roger Perrin)
Sale Price $13.99 – $142.70 case of twelve
Listed prices are honored through December 6th, 2015. We will not honor mistyped prices. Vol. 39, No. 12
Chinon has long been
one of our favorite French red wines. Its reputation was greatly enhanced when winemakers like Bernard Baudry learned to manage the occasionally rustic tannins of Cabernet Franc. The 2012 ‘Domaine’ bottling is a blend of grapes from sandy soils and hillside clay. The sandy parcels give fruit and aroma, while the clay gives depth and structure. We adore the versatility of Chinon and recommend it with both fowl and fish.
If some disaster occurred in all of the Chardonnay vineyards of Burgundy, we would beg that Chablis be spared. Chablis’ brisk, minerally northern expression of Chardonnay grown in a clay and limestone
pudding of prehistoric oyster shells has proven to be impossible to replicate. A village Chablis like last month’s from Brocard is a flinty, light dry white that excels with a simple fish dish. A Premier Cru like this La Forest from Dauvissat-Camus is more broad on the palate and adds some fruit and flowers onto its minerally spine. This complex
Chablis drinks well now and has at least five more years of significant ageworthiness.
Our terrific trip through the Savoie reached the ‘sommet’ with the 2014 Domaine de l’Idylle Cru Arbin made from the red Mondeuse grown in an alpine vineyard that faces full south. This may be a light red, but it is packed with aromas of violets and black pepper followed by red fruits like currants and strawberries. The winery suggests that it can be drunk young with the big cheeses of the Savoie or, when aged a little, with the abundant game found in the region. We think that it will match well with any Fall feast.
The biodynamic estate of Wimmer-Czerny is located on the north bank of the Danube in the village of Fels am Wagram. While we have only tried a few Roter Veltliners, this one really impressed. This red-skinned grape is an ancient Austrian white variety that despite its name is unrelated to Grüner Veltliner. This 2014 is a large, powerful, peppery, spicy wine that retains fine balance and crisp dryness at only 12% alcohol. Try this with a rich salmon dish or a spicy swordfish.
Fèlsina is about as reliable as Chianti Classico gets. Year after year the Berardenga bottling pleases with its cedary bouquet and deep cherry fruit. The 2012 was aged for a year in medium-sized oak barrels to round off the tannins and fix the lovely garnet color. This will be ideal with a rosemary pork roast along with garlic and white beans.
2013 is being lauded as one of the best vintages ever in Northern California. La Follette’s Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir confirms this with its rich, weighted fruit and succulent balance. This will be a fine wine to have on the table at Thanksgiving.
To our great surprise, we were able to buy more of the 2010 Médoc Cailloux de By at an even lower price. Thank you strong dollar. This is drinking beautifully. The color is dark, and the wine still has glorious tannins, but the palate is opening up to reveal subtle plum fruit and earthy spice. A red Bordeaux like this makes us yearn for steak frites.
As amazing as the 2010 of this was, the 2011 may be even better. And with the current dollar-euro exchange rate it’s less expensive. The Cantina del Pino style shines with its sharply-focused Nebbiolo fruit and ripe, melting tannins. Its aromas of pristine red fruits and herbs are alone worth the price of admission. The body is silky smooth, with hints of mocha, licorice, and irises. While accessible with decanting now, this beauty will improve over the next decade.
We have long advocated for aged Tawny Ports and traditional Late Bottled Vintage Ports because the maturing has essentially been done for you in the cellars of Oporto – in the case of Tawny in cask, and in the case of LBV in both cask and bottle. When the wholesaler let us know that the great 2001 LBV from Smith-Woodhouse was about to run out we bought enough to get through the holidays. At nearly fifteen years old, it is a smooth, mature Porto that rivals vintage Port that requires nearly twice as much maturing.
Named after arid brush country dominated by rosemary in La Mancha, El Romeral is a manchego-style unpasteurized sheep’s milk cheese with a rosemary-encrusted rind. It’s so aromatic and festive, we always come back to it at this time of year.
We love this bloomy-rind three-milk truffle cheese from Caseificio dell’Alta Langa in Bosia, Italy. If you are familiar with Rochetta and La Tur, you know how well they do three milks! The cheese is mild in flavor with a creamy texture; the truffles complement without overpowering the mixed milk flavors. 
Firehook Crackers $6.99 per 7oz box
From Champlain Valley Creamery in Middlebury, Vermont comes this soft-ripened organic triple creme cheese with a bloomy white rind made from cultured whole milk and cream. Hand ladled and aged about 10 days, the cheese has a rich and creamy interior with an earthy rind and hints of mushroom. The four-ounce pieces are perfect for cheese platters or to bring to a dinner party.
2014 Pinot Noir (Guenoc)
2013 Bordeaux Rouge (Château Bonsol)
This deep, dark Spanish red is perfect for long braised meals and/or bean dishes. There are not many reds as concentrated as this at this price.
2015 Chenin Blanc ‘Petit’ (Ken Forrester)