Newsletter
February 15, 2016 – March 14, 2016
De Nimes
2013 Costières de Nimes ‘Les Cimels’ (Château d’Or et de Gueules)
Sale Price $13.99 – $142.70 case of twelve
In the case of Les Cimels we have Grenache used to lend seasoning and depth to an earthy, spicy wine that is mostly Syrah. This producer in Nimes uses some fresh Carignan to give a jolt of fruit, along with the deep, dark Grenache to make an aromatic and hearty mix that will be an excellent match with a long-braised lamb shank with couscous.
Caladoc
2013 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse ‘La Brusquembille’ (Domaine Pique-Basse)
Sale Price $14.99 – $152.90 case of twelve
While no Grenache is found in this biodynamic blend of Syrah, Merlot, and Caladoc this wine from Domaine Pique-Basse is included thanks to the Caladoc, a recent variety created from the crossing of Grenache and Malbec. One can easily detect the Grenache lineage of this full-bodied blend in its ripe aromatics and deep color. With Syrah adding savory, smoky, and spicy elements, this is perfect for a skirt steak with tapenade.
Cairanne
2012 Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne (Domaine Roche)
Sale Price $17.99 – $183.50 case of twelve
Cairanne will no longer be just a Côtes du Rhône Villages. As of the 2014 vintage it will be a stand-alone appellation like Vacqueyras and Gigondas. And with this promotion prices will rise. The 2012 from Domaine Roche (70% Grenache and 30% Syrah) is a pleasingly peppery, food-friendly red that is ready to pair with a spicy pork loin and long-simmered gigante beans.
Vacqueyras
2011 Vacqueyras ‘Les 2 Monardes’ (Domaine de la Monardière)
Sale Price $23.99 – $244.70 case of twelve
Having graduated from a Côtes du Rhône Villages
designation itself back in 1990, Vacqueyras can welcome Cairanne into the club. ‘Les 2 Monardes,’ also composed of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, from vines that average 40 years of age, is wonderfully delicate for a Vacqueyras. Earthy and spicy, with violets, olives, and berries in the nose, this is a very pretty wine that will complement lamb cutlets (no surprise here) or even a seared duck breast.
Priorat
2013 Priorat ‘G’ (Buil & Giné)
Sale Price $19.99 – $203.90 case of twelve
Who’s Your Daddy?
2013 Châteauneuf-du-Pape ‘Réserve’ (Roger Sabon)
Sale Price $37.99 – $387.50 case of twelve
The most generous and complex of the Grenache growing areas is Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The 2013 Réserve from Roger Sabon uses some Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault, but the base is the powerfully rich Grenache grown in the red clay and stony soils of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This is a packed, powerful, yet smooth wine that will be a fine match with a rack of lamb and a gratin.
Listed prices are honored through March 14th, 2016. We will not honor mistyped prices. Vol. 40, No. 3
The Gambero Rosso 2014 edition of Italian Wines began its essay on the Montenidoli estate by writing that “This is not only a sensational San Gimignano estate but also a benchmark for the whole of Italy, thanks to its history, style, and deep-rooted, radical convictions which rise far above standardization.” Yes, it is a sensational estate, guided by the amazing Elisabetta Fagiuoli. In the winery a Greek statue of Achilles stands fierce to watch over the barrels. The vineyards, while located in the heart of Tuscany, feel like they are part of a large forest. Natural and organic seem normal here. The wines are land-rooted with only very subtle fruit flavor. And this all proves true with the 2014 ‘Tradizionale’ Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Sure it is made of grapes, but it tastes as much of the stony earth, the herbal fields, and the surrounding forest. A compelling dry white for fresh fish poached in a mixture of tomato, olive oil and herbs.
Chianti is not usually thought of as an age-
The 2009 of this was a big success. And while 2010 is also an excellent vintage, the two are very different. 2009 was a warm year and the Côtes de Saint Clair was packed with deep, dark, ripe fruit. The 2010 vintage has ripe fruit, but also a more firm tannic structure. Bordeaux winemakers call a vintage like 2010 ‘classique’ and wouldn’t mind if it happened every year. The 2010 Côtes de Saint Clair takes a bit of time to open up, but when it does it shows a more complex earthiness than the ripe and ready (and straightforwardly delicious) 2009. Try this at first with a bit of bread and cheese and proceed from there. For some this wine might need a year or two to show its true potential. Right now it’s a classic young Saint-Emilion.
American Farmhouse Ale ‘Transcendence’ (Enlightenment Ales)
Sale Price $15.99 – $163.10 case of twelve
Smaragd is the highest designation for Wachau wines that are harvested late and fermented totally dry. Rudi Pichler makes a bunch of Rieslings and Grüners, but only one phenomenal Weissburgunder The Kollmütz vineyard in Wösendorf has a southerly exposure and deep chalky soils that are perfect for Pinot Blanc. Yes, Pinot Blanc, and it’s amazing.
Bijou (French for “jewel”) is a small format French-style crottin made with pasteurized goat’s milk from family farms at Vermont Creamery. The curd coagulates overnight, drains into cheese cloth and is hand shaped into little crottins, then dried and ripened for one week. Geotrichum rind with sweet and yeasty flavors, the cheese gains some sharpness with age. Ideal on a toasted baguette and served with a heaping salad.
A soft-ripened cheese made with pasteurized sheep’s milk by Lorenzo Abellen in Murcia, Spain. The distinct log shape and bloomy white rind make it is easy to mistake for Caña de Cabra, Abellen’s goat’s milk variety. Aged 21 days, it ripens from the outside in, so the cheese closest to the rind will be gooey with a crumbly center. Creamy and buttery, it acquires tanginess with age. 
2015 Tupungato Malbec (Domaine Bousquet)
Red fruits and dusty cocoa are the primary flavors of this full-bodied Chilean Carmenère. It also features soft, ripe tannins, and subtle herb flavor. A great red for Wednesday’s meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
2014 Grechetto (Di Filippo)
2013 Alentejano Reserva (Terra Grande)