JANUARY 2010 NEWSLETTER

2010 - OUR 25th YEAR

Firstly, we want to thank all of our customers for making 2009 a very good year in spite of the economy. We hope our customers shop locally not because they want to support local businesses but because we offer good pricing, great wines well kept and attentive service. Secondly, as 2010 begins our 25th year we will be featuring specials throughout the coming months for our newsletter subscribers as a way to show our appreciation for supporting us all these years. Look for them in your e-mail inbox.

JANUARY VALUE WINES

Not necessarily the least expensive wines but rather those that deliver outstanding taste relative to price.

2007 Kermit Lynch Cotes du Rhone (Rhone Valley),- a delicious, natural tasting blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvedre—this vintage of this wine is outrageous! Here are Mr. Lynch’s comments: “Fruit aromas like plum and blackberry dominate, with suggestions of black pepper. It’s full-bodied, but perhaps not in the usual sense of the term: there is no hard, vulgar tannin, nor does its gut hang out over its belt buckle. Intense might be a more appropriate word than full bodied.” $15.95
2007 D’Arenberg “The Stump Jump” White Blend, -  (Riesling, Marsanne, Viognier,  Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay)“The whites start with the 2007 The Stump Jump White, a light to medium straw-colored wine. The nose offers up minerals, pit fruits and citrus leading to a crisp, refreshing, dry, fruit-filled mid-palate. It has surprising length for its humble price. Drink it over the next 12-18 months. The d’Arenberg portfolio is loaded with values. The winery works with over 140 growers to fashion their superb blends.” 87pts. (WA #178) $11.95

NEW ARRIVALS

2007 Jim Barry “Lodge Hill” Shiraz (Clare Valley, Australia), - “The 2007 The Lodge Hill Shiraz is a single vineyard cuvee which spent 14 months in seasoned American and French oak. It displays a nose of cedar, pepper, lavender, smoked meat, and blueberry. This leads to a full-bodied, plush, easy-going wine with plenty of flavor and length. It way over-delivers for its modest price.” 90+ pts (WA #186) $21.95
2008 Pazo de Senorans Albarino (Rias Baixas, Spain), - “The 2008 Albarino is sourced from the oldest vines in Rias Baixas, fermented in tank and aged on its lees with batonnage. Light gold-colored, it delivers an attractive nose of mineral, white peach, and lemon zest. Smooth textured on the palate, tropical flavors emerge along with lively acidity. This lengthy Albarino will drink well for another three years. Pazo de Senorans is usually a candidate for Albarino of the year made by anyone other than Raul Perez.” 90pts. (WA #183) $24.95
2007 The Seventy Five Wine Company “The Sum” Proprietary Red (Napa Valley, California) - “The real star, and a great bargain, is the 2007 The Sum – The Seventy-Five Wine Company. This is an absolute steal when it comes to high-class wine. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, and 10% Petite Sirah, there are 5,200 cases of this wine, which is truly outstanding and an amazing value. Sweet blue and black fruits, camphor, and spice box all jump from the glass of this dense, medium to full-bodied, juicy, supple wine, which is a hedonist’s dream come true. This is a beauty to drink over the next 4-5 years. Don’t dare pass it by!” 90pts. (WA #186) $21.95
2005 Ferrando “Ettichetta Bianca” Carema (Piemonte, Italy), “The 2005 Carema Etichetta Bianca is a beautiful, graceful red laced with sweet scents of tobacco, mountain herbs, spices and dried cherries. A mid-weight core of fruit is supported by firm yet well-integrated tannins and the finish retains plenty of freshness, both of which should allow the Etichetta Bianca to drink beautifully over the next decade, if not longer. Notes of herbs, smoke and autumn leaves resonate on the close. This is a wonderful effort from Ferrando. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2023.What a pleasure it is to taste these new releases from Ferrando, a reference-point producer of fine Nebbiolo based in the upper reaches of Piedmont.” 91pts. (WA #185) $41.95
2002 Trimbach “Cuvee Frederic Emile” Riesling (Alsace), -  “The superbly-concentrated 2002 Riesling Frederic Emile is now on the market – still a touch austere, but with strikingly refined complexity and sheer mineral mass. Broth-like carnal and chalky traits here put one in mind of Chablis. Here is a wine to strain through your teeth, and one possessed of vivacious, ripe acids, with lemon, grapefruit and faintly bitter black fruit notes over a foundation of chalk, leading to a long, juicy finish. Give this another year in your cellar and for it to be worth following for at least another decade thereafter. Drink 2009-2018” 92pts. (WA #175) $62.95
2007 Louis Carillon Puligny-Montrachet,- “A highly aromatic nose of green fruit, acacia blossom and citrus leads to racy, pure and vibrant middle weight flavors that possess a discreet touch of minerality and excellent length for a villages level wine. This delivers first-rate quality for its level and is recommended.” 89-91pts (Burghound 6/1/2009) $61.95

OUR NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

  1.) Remember that small production wines are not better – there are just fewer bottles.
  2.) Worry less about whether or not a Champagne is a grower-maker and more about whether the Champagne is good.
  3.) Drink more Amarone.
  4.) Use the descriptions in wine reviews for guidance and ignore the points.
  5.) Drink Gewürztraminer and try to enjoy it.
  6.) Make it our mission to convince people that a “big” wine is not necessarily a better wine.
  7.) Be more like Radar – play more, worry less and enjoy the moment.
  8.) Share the joy of German Riesling.
  9.) Drink more Virginia Cabernet Franc, Viognier and Chardonnay because they’re excellent wines!
10.) Try harder not to be pompous wine asses.

WHAT WE DRINK WHEN WE DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DRINK

We don’t like the idea of staff picks because it is our belief that we should strive to understand our customers’ tastes and deliver the wine that suits their palette not ours. However here are a few wines that are, like a ‘75 Volvo, safe, sturdy, reliable and ready to go:
2007 Domaine La Bastide, Syrah, France– clean dark fruit flavors with some meatiness but none of the “barnyardy aroma” nonsense. $9.95
2007 J. Palacios “Petalos” Bierzo, Spain– luscious fruit with herbal and cigar box notes & a smooth long velvety finish; from the Mencia grape, the best Spanish grape of all time! $23.95
2008 “Dr. L” Riesling, Germany – soft, welcoming and very food friendly; balanced with great acidity – perfect. $11.95
2007 Kali Hart Pinot Noir, Califonia– OK, it’s not very Burgundian and so what – great sweet fruit & soft tannins, California dreamin’ $23.95
2007 Vijra Langhe Rosso, Italy – Delicious, pure red fruit, moderate tannins goes with any Italian food, a great Piedmont value $13.95
2006 Clos Siguier, Cahors, France – Cahors, the home of real Malbec – sumptuous but a lighter style. $15.95

MONTHLY SPECIALS