| January NEWS We have added a number of new wines as well as some new releases of old favorites this month plus we have two tastings coming up (one this Thursday, the 26th!) that will offer a wide assortment of two very specific styles of wine. Read on for more… HOW OUR UPCOMING TASTINGS ARE BEING CONDUCTED The tastings below will take place between 4:30 and 6:30 and are ticketed events. You may show up any time between 4:30 and 6:15 and be able to taste through the wines. Most wines are in good supply but it is always possible that a wine or two may be sold out before the end of the tasting. Call 504-227-3888 or stop by the store to purchase your ticket. |
LANGHE NEBBIOLO TASTING Thursday, January 26th Tickets $30 2020 Angleo Negro 2021 Demarie 2017 Demarie 2018 Albino Rocca 2021 De Forville 2020 Pierro Benevelli 2020 Giulia Negri Pian delle Mole 2021 Guido Porro Camilu 2020 Guido Porro Camilu *(Note: there are only a few bottles available for sale but we could not resist a chance to taste an older vintage)  CÔTES-DU-RHÔNE Under $30 TASTING Tuesday, February 7th Tickets are $25 2021 Château Saint Nabor Blanc 2019 Chamfort 2020 Operation Dragoon 2019 Denuzière Les Sérines 2019 Marcoux 2019 Brotte Cairanne 2017 Roche Cairanne 2019 Guillaume Gonnet Lirac 2019 Château des Roches Vacqueyras  We are very excited to announce the arrival of a new vintage of Domaine Matrot’s Bourgogne Blanc. The 2020 is a bit more compact and shows more acidity than the more relaxed 2019 vintage but we are fans of acid and welcome the vibrant nature of the wine. The grapes come from “near the appellation of Meursault” and the vines are approximately 30 years old. There is a kiss of new oak but it does not cover up the fruit. The bottle is screwcapped so you never have to worry about a corked bottle and it provides easy access. We were told by our importer that there is no way we will see this price again, so stock up on this one. Our tiny allocations of Bérêche & Fils have arrived! Founded in 1847, the winery is now run by two brothers, Raphaël and Vincent – the fifth generation in the family to tend vines in Champagne. They are moving to biodynamic production but have not used any chemical herbicides since 2003. Their work in the vineyards is meticulous. Ten people work 9 hectares of vines. The Brut Réserve always has some pear aromas and flavors, different from the more citrus notes more commonly found in champagnes. The wines are precise and they emphasize the terroir rather than a house style. Sadly, our allocations are shrinking as these grower champagnes become better known. This will likely be the last year you will see them on the shelf as the smaller quantities we receive will be insufficient for regulars who want some every year.  Brut Réserve Non-Vintage – 18 bottles available 40+ year-old vines. 35% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Meunier and 30% Pinot Noir. 6g/L dosage. Two to three years on the lees. Campania Remensis Brut Rosé 2018 – 5 bottles available 40 year-old vines from less than one hectare of vines in Ormes. 60% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Meunier and 5% Coteaux Champenois Rouge (still wine for color). 3.5g/L dosage. Three years on the lees. Les Beaux Regards 2018 – 2 bottles available 50 year-old vines from less than half a hectare in Ludes. 100% Chardonnay. 3g/L dosage. Three years on the lees. Le Cran 2014 – 6 bottles available 45 year-old vines from about half a hectare Premier Cru vineyard in Ludes. 50/50 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. 3.5g/L dosage. Six years on the lees. Ambonnay 2016 – 2 bottles available 50 year-oold vines from less than half a hectare Grand Cru vineyard called Les Tourets. 100% Pinot Noir. 3g/L dosage. Approximately four years on the lees. Aÿ 2014 – 6 bottles available 40+ year-old vines from a little over a half hectare in Grand Cru plots called Brise Pot and Froid Terre. 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay. 4g/L dosage. Approximately five years on the lees.  BORDEAUX CELLAR SELECTIONS By no means is this all we have to share but we will wrap this up with two stellar Bordeaux Cellar Selections. These wines drink well now but will reward longer-term aging in a proper cellar. They should be absolutely dazzling in three to five years and could even make it ten to fifteen years from now if you can keep your hands off them. It is rare to find wines from an outstanding vintage at prices like these that will also reward cellaring. Château Lamothe-Bergeron, Haut-Médoc 2016 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Geoff’s recent notes: “Dense and a bit tough right now [sample from a supplier, not decanted] but it’s drinkable but should turn into a serious treasure if you leave it alone for a while.” The last of the vintage is being delivered to us Tuesday. We will have about 30 bottles available. Le Haut-Médoc de Branaire-Ducru 2016 This is not a misprint but please note that this is not from Branaire-Ducru’s Saint-Julien estate. The wine is made at the estate by the same winemaking team but the vineyard is just outside of the Saint-Julien appellation boundary. The Maroteaux family has owned Château Branaire-Ducru since 1988 and they, like many other owners, have purchased “lesser” plots and are making wine under a Médoc or Haut-Médoc appellation for a much more reasonable price than their flagship wine(s). This wine shows the style of the château and of Saint-Julien – more elegant than powerful. This is well balanced and still a bit tight but not tough. It is a mid-weight wine that shows clean, fresh fruits and moderate tannin. A Bordeaux for chicken and mushrooms. 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. We have 39 bottles available. |
