Jim came back from Argentina last month and declared, "Tannat is the new black." By this I believe he meant to say, "If people only knew how delicious the wines made from the Tannat grape were, they'd drink them all the time."
These obscure numbers from Uruguay, Argentina and little towns in France have been the object of fear and awe at the shop for years: "No, you don't want to drink that," we would counsel. "That wine's not for you." But phrases like these will drive one mad with curiousity - so we are now officially exploring and drinking Tannat wines on purpose!
This one's from a Spanish winemaking family who relocated to Uruguay a century ago. Wild and earthy, mysterious and affordable, Tannat is good fun! Please stop in and try a drop Monday afternoon. DA.
1 - Babcock Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hills 2005 $22
One of California's brightest stars in the field of winemaking is Bryan Babcock. Not only was Bryan selected by the Los Angeles Times as one of the "Ten Best Winemakers of the Year", he was also named by this influential daily as "Most Courageous Winemaker of the Year" for his daring style. Since 1984 Bryan has been producing wines of exceptional quality from his family owned winery located on the far western edge of the Santa Ynez Valley in northern Santa Barbara County.
2 -Crios Rose of Malbec 2007 $12
A beautiful, deep, vibrant rosé color. Has a surprising amount of glycerin and body for a rosé wine, and beautiful aromas of fresh, ripe wild strawberries. Produced using the traditional "saignee" method of bleeding off lightly colored juice during the fermentation, in this case of old-vine Malbec.
On the palate, the flavors of strawberries and cherries come rushing in, accompanied by some spice notes and a clean, dry finish. This is the wine to serve with warm-weather meals when there is a mix of traditional white & red wine foods.
Keep one in the fridge at all times and you’ll always have a delicious wine to enjoy with light snacks and cheeses.
3 - Fattoria dei Barbi Morellino di Scansano 2005 $18
The Colombini family has had properties in Montalcino since 1352 and has owned the Fattoria dei Barbi since 1790. The vineyards cover an area of 100 hectares, approximately 35% of the whole estate.
This 100% Sangiovese red wine comes from the southern part of Tuscany. It is a full-bodied wine, with a good tannic structure balanced by a lively freshness. The making of Morellino goes back centuries but today its approach is very modern and pleasurable. Has a brilliant and intense ruby red colour with an ample and persistent bouquet of plum and red berry tones. The taste is full and pleasant with velvety tannis and a long finish.
Currently considered the face of Chilean wine, not simply for it's mind bending quality, but also for it's distinctive use of Carmenere.
Carmenere, as you may remember from our previous e-mails, is the lost grape of Bordeaux, that is now grown almost exclusively in Chile. By using over 80% Carmenere, Clos Apalta has broken with the tradition of making Bordeaux style wines in Chile, and instead made a wine that is distinctly Chilean and could have come from no where else.
In the process they have defined the wine of an entire country. The wine is described by the winery as " Deep Ruby with Purple Shadows and an Intense Purity of Fruit" Yum !
G R E A T - S U M M E R
C O L L E C T I O N S
#1 La Dolce Vita Inama Soave Foscarino
Costozza Veneto Rosso
Vitanza Rosso di Montalcino
Fratelli Alessandria Barbera d'Alba
$108
CHEESE: Pairs well with Cacio de Roma, and Taleggio Caravaggio
#2 Que Aproveche! Martinsancho Verdejo
Juan Gil Monastrell
Sierra Cantabria Rioja Gran Reserva
Baron De Ley Finca Monasterio Rioja
$121
CHEESE: Pairs well with Manchego, Valdeon and Mahon
CHEESE: Pairs well with Morbier, Fourme d' Ambert and Saint Andre
#4 Terra Del Sol Crios Torrontes
Clos de los Siete
Luigi Bosca D.O.C. Malbec
Manso de Velasco
$95
Pairs well with: Cured Meats
#5 Off The Beaten Path M. Hofer Gruner Veltliner
Clos des Briords Muscadet Sevre & Maine
Castro Ventosa Mencia
Vale do Bomfim Douro Reserva
Domaine Monpertuis Cuvee Counoise
Puzelat KO " In Cot We Trust"
$92
This is a perfect sampling of wine for those looking to step outside the box
#6 For The Collector Beaux Freres Pinot Noir
Paolo Bea Sagrantino di Montefalco
Dalmau Rioja
Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf-Du-Paoe
$420
Extremely limited supply of these wines, Other wines of this caliber always available.
#7 Cognac Collection J.Normandin-Mercier
Jean Fillioux Tres Vieux
Tesseron X.O. lot no. 53 (1953)
$287
#8 Bourbon Collection Old Weller Antique
Michter's Small Batch
Blanton's Single Barrel
$121
#9 Scotch Collection Springbank Single Malt 15 year
Lagavulin Single Malt 16 year
Ardbeg 1990 Single Malt
$285
#10 Vodka Collection Ciroc, French, from grapes
Cold River, Maine, from potatoes
Boru, Ireland, from grain
$100
#11 Calvados Collection Pommeau de Normandie
Coeur de lion Selection
R. Giard Calvados du Pays d'Auge
$120
Domaine Chanson Clos Des Mouches 1er cru
$90
#08689107452
2002
Louis Latour Volnay En Chevret 1er Cru
$45
# 02686112389
for those of you who missed the last "Vintage of the Century" just a few short years ago.
Burgundy
2005 White Crafted from 100% Chardonnay, the white wines of Burgundy are often imitated but seldom matched. From the northern vineyards of Chablis through to the Cote Chalonnaise, the white wines of Burgundy are among the grandest and most charming whites in all the world. From a simple village wine to a rare and glorious Grand Cru, these wines offer remarkable quality, grace and longevity
Domaine Ferret " Les Sceles" Pouilly-Fuisse
$35
#l 1052
The central part of the Côte de Beaune comprises an area predestined to produce great white wines, and Puligny-Montrachet is certainly one of its most glorious examples. The clay and chalky soil, which is very stony, has good drainage and warms through easily.
Although the wines are very pleasant when young, they can usually be kept for a long time, 6 to 8 years in a normal vintage, up to 15 years for a great vintage. Due to the refinement of their bouquet and the elegance of their flavours, these great white wines are unquestionably destined to accompany haute cuisine : shellfish cooked in a light wine sauce (court-bouillon) or any delicate fish (such as Dover sole) prepared grilled or poached. The wine should be served no colder than 13°C (57°F).
$55
# 01208635301
Joseph Drouhin Chassagne-Montrachet
Joseph Drouhin Chassagne-Montrachet
hardonnay was the favourite grape of Charlemagne. He granted land and Roman cellars in Burgundy to the monks with the stipulation that they expand plantings of this marvellous vine. During the Renaissance, the Dukes of Burgundy claimed these vineyards and cellars for themselves, the best of which are to-day part of the vast Drouhin family estate.
The grapes are picked by hand in small crates, then carefully brought to Joseph Drouhin winery in Beaune. After a slow and gentle pressing, the juice ferments in 228 litre oak barrels.
Chassagne-Montrachet has a lovely gold green colour. The nose is elegant, with pear, vanilla and apple as the dominant flavours. The wine is well balanced and round with a nice fruity finish. Very long and complex, this is a superb example of a great Chardonnay from Burgundy.
$54
# 01208635101
Joseph Drouhin Chablis-Vaudesir Grand Cru
$86
# 2422547
Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay 2005
$60 #08175380182
From Winemaker Tom Rinaldi - Formerly of Duckhorn Vineyards
Hewitt Estate Cabernet 2003 - $75
Hewitt Estate Cabernet 2003 - $75
"What makes this wine special is that I get to select the rows I want from this spectacular vineyard," says winemaker Tom Rinaldi. "We select only the best fruit from the vineyard to go into the Hewitt bottling."
01813855502
WINE SPECTATOR - 93 - POINTS
Condrieu "La doriane" 2005 $85
"Concentrated, with focused almond, acacia, mango and dried pineapple flavors. Nice cut to the finish, with lingering anise notes that really open up in the glass. Only - 1500 cases made" - J.M. Wine Spectator
Brilliant clear pale golden color, aromas of white flowers, apricot, peaches. Intensely powerful and elegant . Freshness, round, rich and full-bodied. Great finesse and freshness. A pleasant light acidity is well balanced with round fleshy fruitiness
This is real magic in a bottle - A store favorite - And perfect for Valentine's Day.
The Chateau de Beaucastel
White “Vieilles Vignes” - 2003 - $155
Listen here to Marc Perrin talk about this wine:
Karen McNeil author of The Wine Bible says this:
"If ever there was a wine that you'd like to smell for eternity, this is it. The wine is so good it defies description".
The Perrin family who own the Chateau drink this with another southern Rhone masterpiece:
Perfectly scrambled eggs cooked with the local black truffles.
