September 2016 Monthly newsletter

September Tasting Events

          Wednesday, September 14th, 5:30 - 7:30pm
          A KERMIT LYNCH TASTING WITH David O’Neill
        Discounts will be OFFERED on ALL KL wines during the tasting!
For over 40 years Kermit Lynch has imported French & Italian wines that are a true reflection of place.

              Wednesday, Sept. 21st, 5:30 -7:30pm
                          Wines of Italy with
                  Massimo Bistocchi  
          VINEA:Distributors of fine Italian wines.

  WINE TASTING EVERY SATURDAY “Whatever we feel like opening” 2:00pm-7:00pm

SEPTEMBER “SHORT SIPS” CLASS – A SENSE OF PLACE: CALIFORNIA CABERNET.

We’ll taste Cabernet Sauvignon from selected California AVA’s and learn how place influences wine.

A one hour educational program, limited to eight people and held in our fine wine room. Because the demand has been so great we are doing the class twice in September – FRIDAY & SATURDAY, Sept. 16th & 17th from 5:30 to 6:30pm –– There is a $10 (due to the wines selected) per person class fee and availability is on a first come first serve basis but you can e-mail us & reserve spaces at any time. 

AN OFFER ON: 2013 DOM. CALENDAL, AOC PLAN DE DIEU, COTES DU RHONE VILLAGES

Located between Rasteau and Vacqueyras, a few kilometers from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Plan de Dieu (awarded AOC status in 2005) is an alluvial terrace with chalky gravel. The blend must contain a minimum of 20% Mourvedre and Syrah, which adds power and spice.
2013 Domaine Calendal, AOC Plan de Dieu, Cotes du Rhone Villages - “Coming from ridiculously low yields of 14 hectoliters per hectare (this is 1/3 the normal production), Philippe Cambie’s 2013 Cotes du Rhone Villages Plan de Dieu is a smashing success in the vintage. Loaded with notes of black raspberry, blackberry, caramelized cherries, spice and crushed violets, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness and depth, fantastic purity of fruit and a terrific finish that has both integrated acidity and fine tannin. Purity, finesse and elegance are the buzzwords here, and this is a beauty that will drink nicely for 4-5 years, possibly longer.” (WA #216) Regular price: $31.99 NOW $22.99/btl. (While supplies last /No further discounts.)

The Last Saturday Wine School

Something NEW!  The last Saturday of the month will turn from a “whatever we feel like drinking” tasting event to a mini wine school tasting. We’ll pick a topic, theme, etc. and taste with a purpose! The wines we taste will be offered as a package with a discount. This is very informal with no scheduled start or finish time. Each session will be about 10 minutes! Come anytime between 2 and 5 pm on Saturday, 9/24.
THEME: Sparkling Wine Styles – Traditional Method, Tank Method, Transfer Method, Ancestral Method.

2010 FINCA SOBREÑO Selección Especial, DO Toro Spain

  In the 90’s a group of Rioja winemakers became convinced that top class wines could be made from the local Tempranillo clone known as Tinta de Toro. The combination of Rioja know-how, modern technology, strict attention to detail and fine old-vines plantings has made Toro a go to DO for value. This wine is 100% Tinta de Toro from selected old-vines.
2010 Finca Sobreño Selección Especial, DO Toro, Spain – “Glass-staining ruby. Sexy aromas of dark berries and spicy oak. Sweet, penetrating boysenberry and blueberry flavors are complemented by notes of cola and vanilla. Tangy and precise for its size, this Toro finishes with excellent persistence and lingering smokiness.” (Vinous 9/13)    Regular Price $34.99 ON sale: $22.99 (While supplies last /No further discounts.)

NEW ARRIVALS

1995 López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva, Rioja, Spain – “1995 was an excellent and early harvest, the grapes achieved full ripeness and were harvested under the sun during two weeks starting October 9. The wine, which exceptionally achieved 13% alcohol, is the usual blend, 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo (Cariñena). Like all their wines, it fermented with indigenous yeasts in old oak vats and as a Gran Reserva it matured in old American oak barrels for ten years! Yes, it was bottled in November 2006 and launched in 2015, a full 20 years after the harvest. This light-colored, ethereal 1995 is the essence of Viña Tondonia. It has developed aromas and complexity gained with the time in bottle, of incense, leather, cured meat, cherries in liqueur, cold bonfire and spices. The palate is super-tasty, with fully-resolved tannins and very good acidity. The texture is super-fine, sophisticated and ethereal with gob-smacking balance. Intense, powerful and elegant, too. Hard to believe, but this red feels too young and while approachable, I’d wait a couple of years or more because it will be much better. The profile follows the style of the great classics of the 1950s and 60s. Bottles like this are the ones that created the López de Heredia myth. This could be lighter than the 1994, but in the long run I believe the 1995 will be the better bottle. 24,687 bottles produced.” (WA218) $99.99
2013 Ramey Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard, Carneros, Napa Valley, CA.- “The 2013 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard is one of the richest, most powerful Chardonnays in the range. Here it is the wine’s phenolic and sense of vertical structure that stand out most. Even with all of its obvious richness and heft, the Hyde preserves remarkable freshness. Dried herbs, orange peel and buttery notes add nuance on the large-scaled, ample finish.” – (AG/Vinous 2/16)
2015 Arianna Occhipinti SP 68, Terre Siciliane, Sicily, Italy – “The Arianna Occhipinti 2015 SP 68 represents a blend of Nero d’Avola and Frappato. Like Il Frappato, I am similarly impressed by this wine. It shows a solid approach and good foundations that put it into a class of its own among natural wines. Wild berry and cassis aromas are presented but you also get subtle tones of anise seed and dark cola. Dusty and elegant mineral notes also appear. In its essence, this wine is very elegant and feminine.” (WA 226) $74.99
2014 Domaine aux Moines AOP Savennieres-Roche Aux Moines, France – From Monique & Tessa Laroche (a mother/daughter winemaking team). A beautiful dry Chenin Blanc that you should try, at least, once. Dense and aromatic with smoky fruits and licorice; rich, elegant with integrated acidity. All the density of White Burgundy and all the steeliness of Sancerre. $34.99

MONTHLY SPECIALS