Higher gas prices got you down?
May 17, 2007
Higher gasoline prices got you
down? Did you know that it takes five standard 750 ml. bottles of wine to
make a gallon? Fill up your
little puny tank in Europe, for your little puny car, and your are paying
70 Euros, or about $95. So it's going on all over the world, not
just here. Feel better? Probably NOT! It's all about
choices. Drinking less, but drinking better? Really? So stop
buying those ultra expensive cult Cabernet Sauvignons and Grand Cru
Bordeaux that you think you MUST have.....but are too afraid to open.
What was that rationale again? The Wine Spectator or Robert Parker
gave it 95 to 100 points. How many gallons were produced, I mean
cases? OH! You'd like to flip it and resell it to an oil
baron, so he can show off to his refinery friends. Emperors no
clothes marketing is what I like to call it! Don't get caught up in
it. Time to extricate from those winerys' direct mailing lists
that hold you hostage. Yes, I know you were on the waiting list for
years....Remove the shackles and rejoice at your new freedom! There
are plenty of choices and many alternatives to fine wine drinking that
do not need to drain your wallet like a broken oil pan.
Explore! Find enlightenment! You can travel the world with
wine, and you don't even need to fill the
tank.
Here are some new updates to
help! btw - don't miss
the question at the bottom of this e-mail
- La
Spinetta wines by Giorgio Rivetti. All six wines sold out
at the tasting bar last Saturday. One of our very best tastings depleted
over 15 cases of stock on hand. Don't despair! Everything
has been restocked. Highly recommend these wines as a sampler if you are
going to Italy in the near future, or stock up if you are already a
convert. Discount deal is still on through
the month of May.
- 2005
Grand Veneur "Les Champauvins" - Cotes-du-Rhone Village - $17.95
($15.95/$14.75)
First pallet of 56 cases is sold out. Order
now to reserve at same discounts on next delivery scheduled for May
31st. - NOT your "ordinary" Cotes-du-Rhone, but more liken to a great value
in Chateauneuf-du-Pape!
- 2005 Mantra Zinfandel
Reserve - Alexander Valley, Sonoma - $27.50
($25.95/$24.50)
You love it again! Great consistency!
Limited production released the first of April, but we are restocking
weekly.
- 2003 Familia Cassone Obra Prima
Reserva Malbec - Mendoza, Argentina - SOLD
OUT
Just a few of the new
wines gracing our racks!
2005 Chateau de Jau "Le Jaja"
Rosé - Vin de Pays
DOC, Southwest France - $8.50 ($7.48)
- Quaff back this Syrah/Grenache refresher!
88 WS
2005 Audelssa Chardonnay - Sonoma
- $24.95 ($21.96)
- First time release is very impressive at this
price!
***2004 Vina Alicia Malbec
- Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina - $44.95 NET
- Miniscule amount made and less
imported! American importer likes to call it the Leonetti of
Mendoza! Closed for holiday when we visited the area in January, but had
an opportunity to sample at local tasting bar. Very high level of
quality competes with Achaval-Ferrer, Cobos,
and Catena Alta.
***2005 Mas de Daumas Gassac
Rouge - Herault, Languedoc, France - $38.95 NET
- Owner Aime Guibert's Cabernet based wine has been
called "the Lafite of the Languedoc" and compared to Latour by
others. Guibert is a traditionalist, and now well known for his
leading role as a stalwart against globlization in the wine documentary
Mondovino. If you have not seen this movie (what
are you doing?), PLEASE RENT at Netflicks or Blockbuster. The
vineyards are set in an unexplained red glacial soil that contribute to a unique
terroir. A great vintage (here as well as Bordeaux), this wine is a unique
blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 4% Pinot Noir, and
3% Syrah that was aged in oak for 18 months. Drink early for intense
and robust fruitiness, or allow the wine to develop complexity and
depth with long term cellaring.
***2003 and 2004 Domaine de Trévallon (3
Valleys) - Vin de Pays des Boûches du Rhône, St.-Etienne-du-Gres (Les
Baux), Provence, France - $38.95 and $39.95 NET respectively.
Considered the forerunner in the
revival of wine production in Provence. Biodynamic. A beautifully
sculpted 50/50 blend of low yield Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Whole
cluster fermentation. Cuvaison of 3 weeks. Aged in large foudres for
two years. Bottled unfiltered. The wines begin to show their charm after
five years in the bottle and will then age gracefully for 15-25 years depending
on the vintage, rivaling the finest from the northern Rhône or
Bordeaux. Oh, not included in the local AOC (Les Baux de Provence)
because of elevated Cabernet Sauvignon levels!!
2003 vintage is excellent as the
northern exposure protected the vines from the stifling
summer heat. The result is a wine with rich, forward (for Trévallon) berry fruit with
notes of tobacco, chocolate and earth. Great length and ripe, supple
tannins round it out. This is a rare vintage where you may drink it young
or age it forever.
2004 shows a return to a more classic vintage for Trévallon's red.
Clean, delineated structure resulting from perfectly ripe stems provides ample
ripe tannin levels to back up the intense fruit. This is a wine for the
ages that will reward cellaring at least 7-10 years. Notes of tobacco,
cigar box and bright cherry fruit in the nose followed by a wine with great
depth, length and complexity.
Robert Parker writes in
his The Wine of the Rhone Valley and Provence, "One of the
greatest discoveries in my life has been the wine made at Domaine de
Trévallon".
2006 Les Baux de Provence Extra Virgin
Oil - 500 ml. - $41.95 (Very limited!)
The oils of Les Baux de Provence are among
the most prized in the world. Intense, fruity and very smooth, they are
the backbone of classic provençale cooking. Only for a finishing touch of drizzle!
ORDER ANY OF THE WINES
REFERENCED IN THIS NEWSLETTER BY REPLY. ALL ORDERS WILL
BE VERIFIED IN THE ORDER RECEIVED AND CONFIRMED WITH YOUR INVOICE FOR
REVIEW AND REFERENCE!
QUESTION OF THE
MONTH!
Your wine cellar is located in an
old bomb shelter. The sirens go off....and so do the missles. How
long can you survive on your wine "rations"? What bottle will you
save for the finale? Who would you most like to share it
with......?
Permission granted to protect
your id, but print your response. HOPE TO HEAR FROM
YOU!
Passionately yours about fine
wine!
View the Archives |
