2013 September Newsletter

SEPTEMBER TASTING EVENTS

SATURDAY, SEPT. 28th   3:00-6:00 pm at our store on Grove Ave.
Klaus Wittauer
Importer & owner
KWSELECTIONS
Austria’s finest wines
Anton Bauer from Donauland, Leo Hillinger from Burgenland, Martin Mittelbach from Wachau, and more.
  During the tasting discounts will be offered an all AustrianWines.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th     5:30pm to 7:30pm
Our Friday the 13th “LUCKY” Wine Tasting
Staff Favorites and Special Selections & discounts,
if you’re lucky.

SEPTEMBER SHORT SIPS CLASS

Natural Wines – A discussion about, and a tasting of, wines representing the natural wine “movement”.

A one hour educational program, limited to eight people and held in our fine wine room. There is a $5 per person class fee.  The class will be held twice in SEPTEMBER–FRIDAY & SATURDAY, SEPT. 20th and 21st,  5:30 to 6:30pm ––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.)

DONELAN FAMILY WINES

For years I worked in Manhattan and, as we were in related businesses (printing and paper), Joe Donelan and I crossed paths many times.  Joe always had a passion for wine and now he makes highly regarded handmade California wines from Rhone Grape varietals. European styled but California terroir driven.
2008 Donelan Family Wines Syrah Cuvee Keltie North Coast, California, USA – (100% Syrah with 75% whole clusters, and aged 26 months in French oak barrels, 20% of which are new) reveals Hermitage-like characteristics of ground pepper, roasted meats, damp earth, Christmas fruitcake, blackberries and incense. Rich and full-bodied with loads of tannin and a backward, brooding personality, this sensational wine is meant for true connoisseurs who are willing to give it some time in the cellar. It should evolve for 15 or more years.” (WA #193) $99.95
2009 Donelan Family Wines Syrah Cuvee Christine, Sonoma, North Coast, Cal.– “(40% whole clusters aged 14 months in French barrels; 14.4% alcohol) is named after Joe Donelan’s wife. Another French-styled offering, it reminds me of a high-class St.-Joseph. Attractive notes of black currants, bacon fat, Provencal herbs, licorice and smoke are found in this elegant, fleshy, rich wine. With good acidity, sweet tannin and burgeoning complexity, it should drink well for a decade or more.” (WA #193) $62.95

NEW BURGUNDY ARRIVALS

2011 Alain Roy Givry – One of our favorite, modestly priced Burgundies, it was recently dropped by our local distributor -  who leans more to the grocery store market-  but we found a way to work directly with the importer and we are pleased to again offer Alain Roy’s very affordable Pinot Noir.  The 2011 has aromas of ripe cherries, a touch of oak and good weight with a silky finish and smooth tannins. If you enjoyed the 2009 we think you will like this new vintage as well. $24.95
2010 Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair Moulin a Vent Vieilles Vignes Beaujolais, France -“The 2010 Moulin-a-Vent Vieilles Vignes, from 60 to 80 year-old vines, possesses lovely depth and fleshiness in its dark red fruit. Attractive spiced notes wrap around the radiant finish. This is a terrific showing. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2025.” (WA #199) $31.95  Never to early to think about a perfect Roast Turkey wine!

Below are a few new arrivals from the superb ’09 vintage (and we have other ‘09’s as well). This is the vintage for your cellar or tonight’s dinner table and, if you enjoy great Pinot Noir, now would be the right time to buy a mixed case of ’09 Burgundies as the vintage will shortly sell out.
2009 Maison Frédéric Magnien Nuits St. Georges Vieilles Vignes - “The expressive nose blends both upper and lower register elements as the red pinot fruit is quite high-toned and the earth and underbrush nuances are the opposite. The rich, fresh and broad-scaled flavors possess good middle palate concentration and a delicious, sappy and complex finish that is shaped by relatively fine but dense tannins. This is a quality villages.” (BH# 41) $56.95
2009 Maison Frédéric Magnien Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles VignesVillages- “This is very Gevrey on the nose if perhaps not quite as cool and restrained as might be considered classic. The mildly sauvage-inflected dark berry fruit aromas give way to detailed, pure and even racy middle weight flavors that possesses evident minerality on the naturally sweet yet quixotically austere finish. This is really quite good.” (BH #41) $55.95
2009 Vincent Girardin Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Les Serpentières –“A more exotic fruit profile, somewhere between boysenberry and pomegranate, graces this lush red. Supple and fresh, tightening up on the finish. Drink now through 2018. 223 cases imported.” (WS 11/15/12)  $43.95
2009 Chateau de Puligny Montrachet Nuits-Saint-Georges Clos des Grandes Vignes, Monopole 1er -“Much more aromatic lift on the nose than the village Pommard black raspberry, pepper and flowers. Then sweet, creamy and dense in the mouth, with a slightly chunky chocolatey ripeness but good flavor definition. This is made almost entirely from the best old vines in this holding, which yield very small berries. Finishes with sweet, broad tannins and excellent length.” IWC Jan/Feb 11 ($79.95)

NEW ARRIVALS

2007 Worthy Sophia’s Cuvee Napa, California – This wine was brought to our attention by a customer; we love the vintage and the bottle age; “An outstanding example of Napa Bordeaux varietals, it displays loads of white chocolate, creme de cassis, licorice, and a touch of subtle smoke in a medium to full-bodied style. Silky tannins, flesh, and plenty of concentration characterize this wine, which has no hard edges. It is a beauty to drink over the next 5-7 years.” (WA #186) $34.95
2011 Chateau Beaucastel Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhone, France – “The 2011 Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet red, a blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, and the rest Syrah, Counoise and other permitted varietals, is an overachiever in this vintage, exhibiting a dark ruby/purple color, loads of earthy, peppery, meaty kirsch and raspberry fruit, a hint of tobacco leaf, underbrush and plenty of spice.”(WA #203) $33.95

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

We want to remind our customers to use 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.

MONTHLY SPECIALS