Newsletter
May 15, 2017 – June 14, 2017
La Vie en Rosé
2016 Vin de France (Le Poussin Rosé)
Sale Price $8.99 – $91.70 case of twelve
Of Corse
2016 Corse (Domaine Petroni)
Sale Price $13.99 – $142.70 case of twelve
De Nîmes
2016 Costières de Nîmes ‘Galets Rosés’ (Château Mourgues du Grès)
Sale Price $11.99 – $122.30 case of twelve
Côtes de Gascogne
2016 Côtes de Gascogne (Domaine de Millet)
Sale Price $7.99 – $81.50 case of twelve
Gamay
2016 Coteaux d’Ancenis (Église Saint Pierre)
Sale Price $7.99 – $81.50 case of twelve
Frénésie
2016 Coteaux du Giennois (Domaine de Villegeai)
Sale Price $12.99 – $132.50 case of twelve
Franc en Rosé
2016 Bourgueil (Lamé Delisle Boucard)
Sale Price $11.99 – $122.30 case of twelve
Gris Bodacious
2016 Coteaux du Vendômois ‘Gris Bodin’ (Domaine Patrice Colin)
Sale Price $13.99 – $142.70 case of twelve
Pays d’Hérault
2016 Pays d’Hérault ‘Guilhem’ (Moulin de Gassac)
Sale Price $9.99 – $101.90 case of twelve
Bandol
2016 Bandol (Dupuy de Lôme)
Sale Price $19.99 – $203.90 case of twelve
Red Bandol is all about the Mourvèdre grape variety, which gives an intense pine and pepper flavor along with strong tannins. Bandol Rosé is similarly intense in character, but in chillable form. Dupuy de Lôme is both formidable and graceful. Get out your Bouillabaisse chops and go to town.
Listed prices are honored through June 14th, 2017. We will not honor mistyped prices. Vol. 41, No. 6
Cru Beaujolais like these Morgons are absolutely insane values. While the wine world has fixated on Pinot Noir and Burgundy, growers in Còte de Brouilly, Fleurie, and Morgon have improved their wines immensely but are still undermined pricewise by producers of industrial-scale basic flatland Beaujolais. This, the eighth generation of the Desvignes family, grows only Gamay and produces only Morgon. The Voéte Saint-Vincent is a blend of different parcels that yields a generous yet structured Morgon. Right out of the bottle the 2014 is a beautiful expression of a mineral-infused, charmingly fruity red.
On the more serious side is their very old vine, single vineyard Javernières. This delves deep with a primal earthy aroma, beautiful tannins, and a gripping, persistent dry finish. Roast a chicken for the Voéte Saint-Vincent. Roast a leg of lamb for the Javernières.
Named by the Romans the Valley of Gold, Valdeorras lies along the easternmost edge of Galicia in northwest Spain. The high elevation of its lush green hills experiences some of Spain’s lowest average temperatures, while the granite and slate in the soil slowly release heat absorbed during the day throughout the cool nights. This stabilizes and lengthens ripening in native grapes like Mencia, resulting in the crisp aromatic wines that characterize the region.A Portela’s Mencia is made from organically grown vines that are up to 40 years old. Herbs and flowers fill the nose while spicy berries and earthy minerals fill the mouth. It’s a classic with the Galician octopus dish pulpo a feira. Not planning on octopus tonight? A charcuterie board or a wild mushroom risotto will also be a lovely match with this fresh, medium-bodied red.
Unless you have a seafood allergy, this summer you’re inevitably going to require a wine like this, because the Etna Bianco from Terre Nere is amazing with fish. The combination of volcanic soil and the mix of Carricante, Catarratto, Grecanico, and Minnella varietals yields beautiful floral aromas along with salty, minerally flavors. This wine graced and blessed our last rendition of linguine with clam sauce, but it will be equally good with a grilled swordfish.
For the 2012 Bordeaux vintage, we look to the wines of the Right Bank where Merlot dominates. Torrential rains late in the fall forced most châteaux to prematurely pick their Cabernet Sauvignon. As a result, the earlier ripening Merlot became the star of the vintage. And it shines in the Yon Saint-Martin. Mostly Merlot (70%) with Cabernet Franc, this Saint-Émilion is rich with dark berries, plums, and graphite. A cooling minerality and tannins silkened by age bring an elegance to this concentrated wine. Just the thing to drink with a steak and a spicy chimichurri.
The Rufina zone located to the northeast of Florence is the equal to Chianti Classico in all but volume. Selvapiana has long been our favorite Rufina producer, but now we are happy to add the organic producer Frascole to our selection. Their 2014 is a robust Sangiovese with equally weighted fruit, tannin, and crispness. This is a perfect match with spicy pasta dishes and grilled fare.
It is said that Valtellina wines are easier to find in Switzerland than in Milan, the capital of Lombardy. Apparently the Swiss love the Nebbiolo-based wines from Valtellina so much that they own several wineries, bottling and consuming much of the wine over the nearby border. The terroir is alpine, as the vines in Valtellina cling to the steep hillsides on the northern side of the Adda River Valley. This unlikely viticulture area produces delicately etched, elegant, and minerally reds. The 2015 Rosso ‘Téi’ from Sandro Fay has a gorgeously transparent garnet color, pristine berry fruit, and a lengthy, subtly tannic finish. Try this with a roasted salmon along with asparagus
That there are three Iberian whites in this month’s newsletter indicates that our appreciation of Verdejo, Viura, and Alabariño continues to increase. Muga’s Blanco is not new, but the 2015 is one of the brightest and freshest versions in years, which is no small accomplishment considering that they always barrel ferment this wine. The Viura grape provides fine apricot fruit and body while Malvasia adds perfume to the aromas and zestiness to the finish. A great white wine for cod and haddock.
This unique blue cheese is made with 100% goat’s milk, and the result is a soft and creamy blue with a lightly ashen rind and a pleasantly tangy and piquant flavor. Made by one of our favorite producers, Ferme de Jouvence (“Farm of Rejuvenation”), located just outside of Paris, and one of the last true French farmstead cheesemakers that exports to the United States.
Lancashire is a classic British cheese, and Graham Kirkham’s version epitomizes the style. The Kirkham family has been farming and making cheese near Goosnargh, Lancashire for three generations, and theirs is the last raw-milk farmhouse Lancashire in the world. The result of their high-quality milk and long and slow cheesemaking process is a bright and flavorful cheese with a crumbly, open texture that is intensely complex, yet light on the palate.
2015 Rueda ‘Verdeo’ (Torres) 
