UPCOMING EVENTS
Thursday, September 25
Not the Usual Suspects – A White Wine Tasting
Thursday, October 2
Rhône and Languedoc Reds Tasting
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Highlights from our Shelves – new wines and favorites that are back
Quinta de Curvos Vinho Verde 2024
is back on our shelf (and in the fridge!). This is minerally and complex rather than the slightly sweet, fizzy versions you may be more familiar with. It still works as a cold refreshing wine to beat the heat.
Masua Txakoli Blanco, Arabaco has returned after too long an absence. This is from a different D.O. (denominaciones de origen) than the more famous Ameztoi and has none of the fizziness. It does have a prickle on the palate and it is very minerally and precise. We bought all we could get.
5 cases in stock.
Dandelion Albariño is back! From Nanclares y Prieto, the last names of the proprietors, this Albariño is always a favorite and there is never enough of it. The vines are 25-45 years old and planted in sandy, granitic soil. There is always some electric zippiness to the wine and salinity, thanks to the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Tropical fruit is noticeable and the wine has terrific length. We have two cases coming and may be able to get a little more but don’t wait too long.
When we first tasted the 2022 vintage of Guillaume Gonnet’s Côtes-du-Rhône Le Reveur we were a bit disappointed. It was a little tight and ungiving, not the supple friendly style we expect from the producer. We made a note that it was a good wine but we wanted to give it more time. That was February. We tasted it again in August and it was gorgeous. The austerity was gone, the tannins nearly nonexistent and the price hadn’t changed! This is going to be perfect for tailgating, grilling with friends or your new favorite Tuesday night red. For now, supply is good and we will be making a large order before it disappears. If you entertain often you should buy this by the case!
Domaine de la Chapelle des Bois Fleurie ‘Vielle Vigne de la Cadole’ 2022 is a new arrival and a winery we had not worked with before. They’re not kidding about the old vines here, 80 years! This is like a distillation of granite in a glass. The wine is darker and more substantive than many Fleurie, due to the age of the vines, and it is full of granite minerality on the finish but it is not tannic. This is a serious wine!
| TASTING ANNOUNCEMENTS: NOT THE USUAL SUSPECTS – A White Wine Tasting Thursday, September 25 4:30pm-6:30pm $35 per person – reservation required The movie Casablanca has many classic, quotable lines, including “Round up the usual suspects.” Well, we’re not being that predictable for this tasting. We will avoid the varieties people ask for all the time (‘the usual suspects’) and focus on some that are overlooked or nearly unknown. No one is going to try to force you to give up your Sauvignon Blanc or Bourgogne Blanc (perish the thought!) but this will be a great opportunity to try some wines that you otherwise might never know about. You should be pleasantly surprised. As of the writing of this newsletter we only have three of these selections on our shelves so the great majority will be new to the shop, another reason to sign up. THE WINES WE WILL BE TASTING La Miraja Viognier ‘Alterego,’ Piedmont 2023 Bodegas Vatan Verdejo ‘Nisia’ Old Vines, Rueda 2022 I Pastini Verdeca ‘Faraone,’ Puglia Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet Les Gras Moutons 2023 Mary Taylor (Benjamin Ravier) Chignin Blanc, Savoie 2022 Nitida Semillon, Durbanville, Cape Town 2024 Peri Peri Grillo ‘Nini’, Sicily 2024 Guillaume Gonnet Le Reveur Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc 2024 Pormenor Reserva Branco, Douro 2021 Lionel Osmin Jurançon Sec ‘Clos de la Vierge’ 2023 You will have enough time to finish this tasting if you arrive by 6:00pm. Spots are limited. You may reserve your space through our website, by calling the store at 504-227-3888 or in person. Rhône and Languedoc Reds Tasting Thursday, October 2 4:30pm-6:30pm $42 per person – reservation required These are wines made for grilling and for slow cooked stews and sauces, for deep flavors, in other words. We drink them year round but they shine with dishes we crave in cooler weather. Rosemary, thyme, sage, lavender and fennel grow wild there and you can smell them in the air. The mere act of breathing can make you hungry. Join us for a focused yet wonderfully diverse array of red wines. THE WINES WE WILL BE TASTING Château de Ségriès Côtes-du-Rhône 2023 Saint-Damien Côrtes-du-Rhône ‘La Bouveau’ 2022 Baron Ermengaud Faugères 2019 Gros-Tollot LA 50/50 Côtes du Brian 2022 Domaine de Durban Beaumes-de-Venise Château de Rouanne Vinsobres 2021 Les Clos des Paulilles Collioure 2015 Les Vignes Oubliées, Terrasses du Larzac 2017 Domaine La Bouïssiere Gigondas 2021 Domaine de Châteaumar Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2023 You will have enough time to finish this tasting if you arrive by 6:00pm. Spots are limited. You may reserve your space through our website, by calling the store at 504-227-3888 or in person. |
| TENTATIVE UPCOMING TASTING DATE We are hoping to add an early October tasting to our schedule. A tasting of sparkling wines from California with Dan Person of Carboniste on October 7 is being discussed. New Orleans is on Dan’s travel schedule then, but he is in the middle of harvest and the next few weeks are a bit unpredictable. If you are a fan of Dan’s wines or don’t know them but enjoy sparkling wines and want an update if and when this date is confirmed, send us an email or inquire at the store, and we will keep you in the loop! |