Champagne for Summer

by admin

Discover Something New

Join us for a very special tasting. We’re pouring 4 exceptional non-vintage Champagnes.  It’s been 6 months since we featured Champagne.  So, it’s time for a another visit.

Non-vintage Champagne is produced in a wide range of styles because of the location of the vineyards and the grapes that make up a particular cuvée.  The following four examples are very different, but they are all very good.  We’re pouring 2-5.  Read on for the Tasting Notes.

The Pours:

Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut: The blend here is 35% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier and 25% Chardonnay. The style here is a bit toasty due to aging and because they own very old vines.

Piper Heidsieck Brut: A blend of 55% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Meunier resulting in a medium-bodied Champagne. I have not always been a fan, but in the recent years they have stepped up their quality and now offer an outstanding non-vintage Champagne.

Henriot Brut Souverain: A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the exact percentage varies but it includes 20% reserve wine producing a richer, more lush style.

Bollinger Brut Special Cuvee: The blend here is quite unique as it features a large percentage of Pinot Noir 60%, along with 25% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier.  It is a Champagne that is rich and precise, pairs well with seafood and lighter meat dishes.

Come by on Saturday to taste and enjoy these terrific non-vintage champagnes. I would love to know your favorite selections from the group.

Ric

May 17, 2013 0 Comments

Rosé Tasting on Saturday

by admin

Rosé Arrival!

Rosé wines are perfect for our climate and cuisine. In the past week, seven different Rosé wines arrived just as the onset of our change in weather from spring to the beginning of summer.

This Saturday, we will be tasting four wines from 2-5pm. They are all dry, with subtle differences to use as an aperitif or to pair with a variety of dishes. We believe you will enjoy each one, probably find a favorite, but will likely want to purchase all of them.

Château Hélène Pénélope Rosé de Saignée Corbières 2011: This has a much darker color than any of our selections, so much so when I was presented a sample I was thinking this was not going to be a good selection, but I was very wrong.  They leave the skins in contact with the Syrah for two hours which gives this a darker Rosé color.  Fairly bold aromas and flavor that would pair well with pork shoulder with olive oil, garlic and herbes de Provence.  We were offered a special price given this is from 2011, but it is still very alive and delicious.  A real bargain here.

Château d’Oupia Minervois Rosé 2012: This is a terrific Rosé, and priced for enjoyment anytime you want. Produced from Syrah, Grenache and Cinsualt, this has a real personality of fruit, and a touch of Provencal herbs. It’s my favorite inexpensive Rosé.

Domaine Houchart Côtes de Provence Rosé 2011 : This Rosé is always “juicy”, meaning it has a lot more fruit and glycerin than the other wines here.  You easily pair this with some mildly spicy cuisine.  The blend here is typical, but has some Cabernet Sauvignon which likely boosts the flavor profile. It’s very enjoyable and very popular with our customers.

Charles Thomas Sainte Victoire Côtes de Provence Rosé 2012: Sainte-Victoire is a sub-appellation in the Côtes, where 80% of the wine is Rose.   This is our second vintage representing this wine and we are very pleased with the 2012. Produced from 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 20% Cinsault. This is an elegant example, with finesse and style. However, this is not to say that it’s a light bodied wine, as it has a lot of body and flavor.  Remarkably good, and very well priced.

I hope you can join us for the fun.

Ric

May 1, 2013 0 Comments

French Wine Tasting

April 25, 2013

Rose, White Bordeaux, and two Bordeaux Our all French-line up for Saturday’s tasting includes two new wines and two perennial favorites. Come taste and tell us your favorites. Our complimentary tasting is from 2-5 PM. The pours: see tasting notes farther below Commanderie de Peyrassol Rose 2012, Côtes de Provence: The 2012 vintage arrived last week. [...]

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Burgundy on Sat & Domaine Carneros on Tues

April 18, 2013

 -Taste, Learn & Enjoy: two complimentary events this week- It’s through the tasting process that we discover the wines we hope will delight you. That’s why we’re thoroughly committed to offering complimentary events to help you select wines based on your preferences.  We hope you can join us for these tastings. Saturday, April 20, Burgundy [...]

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Pouring Raymond Dupont-Fahn Wines

April 5, 2013

One of our most stunning wine discoveries last year were the wines of Raymond Dupont-Fahn. His home and domaine are located in the small village of Tailly, not far from his primary vineyards in Meursault.  He produces Bourgogne Aligoté, Auxey Duresses, Meursault, Puligny, and a stunning Bourgogne Blanc. Raymond’s style is not attempting to be another [...]

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Italian Wine Tasting Sat

March 27, 2013

Discover Something New Recently I attended a massive tasting of wines from the Louis/Dressner portfolio at Commander’s Palace.  What a great setting to taste great wine! While I tried to focus on the unique French wines they represent, I found the Italian wines to be equally fascinating. I believe you’ll be as excited as I [...]

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Spring is in the Air!

March 22, 2013

Pouring Exceptional White Burgundies from Domaine/Maison Champy It feels like spring! So, it’s time for white Burgundy. This Saturday, we’ll present four white Burgundy wines of interest – all from Domaine/Maison Champy, which was founded in 1720. They produce both Domaine wines as well as negociant labels. He’s an added reason to drop in: Special pricing [...]

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Spanish Wine Tasting Today

March 16, 2013

We’ve tasted many new and very interesting wines so far this year. We’ve also sought to improve our selection of wines from Spain, and have added more than ten new wines!  We’ll open four of the new selections, two whites and two reds, that we believe will be very popular. Join us for the complimentary [...]

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Cotes du Rhone Tasting

March 8, 2013

Featuring Six Regional Producers We believe one of the very best sources for really good, reasonably priced wines comes from the south of France, especially Côtes du Rhone. We carry over 15 different examples, most of which sell for $15 or less. This Saturday, we’re featuring six different producers to demonstrate the value and pleasure [...]

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Four Reds & A Winemaker

March 1, 2013

This will be interesting! As we’re expecting cool temperatures on Saturday, we’re featuring four reds. Come meet Neil Gernon of Neat Wines. He’ll be on hand to tell us about these wines, and the story behind the irreverently named Vending Machine Winery and the Double Shotgun wine he makes. This week’s pours:    Forlorn Hope, [...]

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