September 2010 newsletter

OUR SEPTEMBER TASTINGS

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 11th 3:00pm to 6:00pm
NICK STACEY from Vinaceous 
Presenting his wines from South and Western Australia
Special pricing will be available for all wines tasted during the event.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 17th FROM 4:00 to 7:00 pm
Join us as we welcome
Steve (Vincent) Situm of Stephen Vincent cellars
Special pricing will be available for all wines tasted during the event.

NEW ARRIVALS

NV Jacques Selosse Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru “Initiale” Champagne
From Wine Advocate #180 – “Readers will need to drop all preconceived notions about what Champagne is in order to fully experience the wines of Anselme and Corinne Selosse, as these are Champagnes like no other.  For the last six years Selosse has been absent from the US market and his wines virtually impossible to obtain, but thankfully that is starting to change. Selosse represents the most poetic voice behind the idea that Champagne is first and foremost a wine before it is anything else.  The Selosse Champagnes possess extraordinary aromatics and a very fine mousse that is the result of density and richness in the fruit. With a few minutes in the glass, the bubbles will completely disappear from most of the wines. These Champagnes are best enjoyed with food, and should be served in generous white wine glasses rather than the customary flutes, which will allow for the full range of the wines’ aromas and flavors to emerge. Simply put, these are among the most monumental, profound wines being made anywhere, but like a great novel, painting or symphony, the greatest enjoyment and purest pleasure awaits those who engage the wines fully.”  $146.95 (Limited availability)

Domaine A. et P. De Villaine
Aubert de Villaine, co- owner of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti settled in the Côte Chalonnaise region immediately south of the Côte d’Or there after his marriage to Pamela Fairbanks in 1971; the two had met in New York. He felt it was necessary to be independent of DRC and wanted to be a vigneron and thus was born Domaine A. Et P. De Villaine.  The Domaine makes small quantities of Chardonnay, Aligote and Pinot Noir, all hand harvested and naturally vinted just like their cousins at Romanee-Conti. Only three to five hundred cases of each wine usually get exported to the US and presently we offer his two white Bourgogne offerings.
2008 “Les Clous” Bourgogne, Cote Chalonnaise – a vin de garde, a wine meant to be aged. It has vibrant minerality now and it is actually quite beautifully balanced with a certain roundness in the mid palate and stone fruit aromas but this wine will continue developing for 5 to 7 years. $31.95
2008 “Les Saint-Jacques” Rully, Cote Chalonnaise -  a village level wine from a single vineyard this is a Chardonnay with finesse and subtlety of aroma that will continue to develop for 5 to seven years. $35.95

Uccelliera Brunellos
2005 Az Agr Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino , Tuscany, Italy- “… one of the unqualified successes of the vintage. Dark, vibrant fruit melds into graphite, spices, menthol and minerals as this mid-weight, elegant Brunello opens up in the glass. Deceptively medium in body, the 2005 Brunello packs quite a punch, with tons of super-ripe fruit that caresses the palate and balances the tannins beautifully through to the close. The warm radiance of Castelnuovo comes through in spades. This is another brilliant Brunello that benefits from the inclusion of fruit that usually goes into the Riserva. Drink: 2012-2022. (WA # 188) $64.95
2004 Az Agr Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino Riserva , Tuscany, Italy – “…a deep sensual wine imbued with generous layers of ripe dark fruit that emerge from its medium to full-bodied frame. This gorgeous, expressive Brunello turns richer and weightier in the glass as the fruit begins to emerge, finally building to a harmonious crescendo of intense flavor. There is more than enough fruit here to support extended cellaring. This is a magnificent effort from Andrea Cortonesi. Drink: 2012-2024.” (WA# 188) $119.95

Outstanding Gran Reserva Rioja from Marques de Murietta
1978 Marques de Murietta Gran Reserva Especial Castillo Ygay Rioja, Spain –“There are just 1250 cases of the exceptional 1978 Gran Reserva Especial Castillo Ygay. Only in the greatest vintages (1917, 1925, 1934, 1942, 1952, 1959, 1964, 1968, 1970, and this 1978) is a portion of the wine held back for extended cask aging. The wine is a blend of 75% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha, 12% Mazuelo, and 3% Graciano aged for 216 months in American oak barriques. The wine was bottled in 1998. Medium ruby-colored, it has a super-expressive bouquet of cedar, leather, Asian spices, mineral, and assorted red and black fruits with the kind of complexity that only extended aging can provide. Remarkably youthful on the palate, the wine shows little sign of age. Ripe, elegant, concentrated, and full-flavored, this beautifully balanced wine can be enjoyed now and should continue to drink well for at least another 12-15 years. Indeed, having recently shared a bottled of the 1952 Castillo Ygay, it seems likely that this 1978 will also have a 50 year lifespan.” (WA # 176)  $199.95

SEPTEMBER “SHORT SIPS” CLASS

A FREE one hour educational program, limited to eight people and held in our fine wine room. SATURDAY, September 25th,  5:30 to 6:30pm – The World’s great Wines – A tour of the Fine Wine Room – Join Matt Adkins, Emersons wine buyer and manger, for a discussion of what makes these wines so very special. The tasting will include two selections from our fine wine room. Availability is on a first come first serve basis but you can call and reserve spaces at anytime.  (A great idea for your group as a prelude to dinner.) If you are a newsletter e-mail subscriber you’ll get more information delivered to your electronic mailbox.

MORE WINE = LESS CHOICE

The new Kroger in Short Pump boasts over 3000 Wines – certainly a cornucopia of choice. A recent visit found this: the number of Barolo offerings: 0, Barberesco: 0, village level Red Burgundy: 0, red and white Bordeaux: approx. 15, Rhone: approx 5.  The number of factory made Chardonnays, Pinot Grigios, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz [including a California “Shiraz” (what ?)] with kangaroos, bears, footprints, roosters and cute names involving the word “cake” – 2980. Now that’s choice.

USE YOUR 6 BOTTLE WINE BAGS FROM OTHER STORES AND SAVE 10% (on six bottles)

We want to remind our customers to use those over-produced and environmentally un-friendly reusable wine bags that other stores continue to push on you. Remember they are made from oil and you must use each of those bags 9 times before it equals one paper bag (18 times for plastic).

MONTHLY SPECIALS