May 2021 Newsletter

NO TASTINGS or CLASSES IN MAY.

We hope to resume limited tasting in July.

NO OPEN BOTTLE IN STORE TASTINGS or CLASSES IN MAY
The Store will be open and maintain normal hours and we offer curbside and delivery service. We seek a safe retail sales environment and see no way to facilitate an in-store tasting event that maintains safety for retail shoppers.
MAY = Spring in FULL BLOOM!
We hope, and this time we mean it, to post tastings of our monthly specials and more on our You Tube channel:
J. EmersonFineWine Richmond.

MAY SPECIAL OFFERS- From the Cellar.

The Chianti Classico Gran Selezione represents the pinnacle of the qualitative pyramid of the Chianti Classico DOCG and stands at around 8 to 10% of the entire denomination. Among other special requirements, it must be made from estate grown fruit, with a minimum of 30 months of aging.
San Felice Poggio Rosso Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2013, Tuscany, Italy- “Plum, cherry, leather, tobacco and graphite flavors align with sinewy tannins in this red. Remains bright and focused, with sweet fruit playing off the dusty tannins on the long aftertaste. Best from 2018 through 2028. 1,250 cases made.” (WS 9/17) Regular Price $59.99 On Sale in MAY: $36.99
Now Garnet in color, the Le Grand Rouge retains its lavender and black cherry fruit profile with milder tannins and nuances only maturity can provide. Different varietals and yet it drinks, a bit, like a fine, older Bordeaux.
Château Revelette 2005 Le Grand Rouge Red, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, France- The blend in Revelette’s top red is 45% Syrah, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Grenache, although it varies a bit from year to year. It’s riper, warmer and richer than the regular red, with plenty of savory spice notes, lavender and black cherry fruit. It’s long and richly tannic on the finish, but soft and rounded; a wine that you could drink now or hold up to 10 years” (WS 7/08) Regular Price $22.99 On Sale in MAY: $15.99

NEW ARRIVALS - Let’s go down to the cellar; I have a BEAUNE to pick with you!

Here are two delicious red Burgundies with some maturity!

Started in 1952 and located in Chorey les Beaune, they farm 19 hectares throughout the Cote d’Or.
2005 Domaine Maillard Pere et Fils Beaune Cote de Beaune, France  - A wonderful chance to try a delightful, mature Beaune from a great vintage that retains some youthful ripe fruit and has lost any oak attributes. It has developed nicely with tertiary savory notes and a good balance between the mid palete richness and the ripe tannins on the finish. $109.99
This classic Burgundy has lost its childish jamminess but retains a good amount of tension between the tertiary earth/ fruit notes and the tannins/acid. A complex wine that is best after a 1-2 hour decant.
2006 Albert Morot Beaune Les Aigrots Beaune Premier Cru, France - Poised between a rich, soft Pinot Noir and one with structure, this wine from a lesser-known premier cru is delicious. The fruits are restrained, but there is exuberance from the acidity, the fine tannins and the jammy finish. A wine that is evolving already, but will also age well.” (WE 10/09) Regular Price $59.99 On Sale in MAY: $49.99

NEW ARRIVALS

The last of our Drouhin-Laroze 04 cellar offerings. These wines,  for a tough vintage, have grown and developed well and represent an outstanding Burgundy bargain
Domaine Drouhin-Laroze 2004 Gevrey-Chambertin “Au Closeau” 1er Cru, Burgundy, France -  “Red Aromas of plum, redcurrant and intense earth are framed in a touch of wood spice and introduce rich, ripe, supple and textured barely medium weight flavors that offer a relatively open character yet the moderately persistent finish is quite firm and delivers good if not exceptional vibrancy. The Drouhin-Laroze wines continue to impress and given the superb range of wines here, this has become a very good and under rated source.” (BH 1/06) $69.99
Still drinking well, this is now our go to Cotes Du Rhone. Only 5 cases available.
2015 Domaine de la Solitude Cotes du Rhone, France – “A hidden gem in the vintage, the 2015 Côtes du Rhône is made from 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre that was brought up all in concrete tanks. It offers everything you could want from a Côtes du Rhône, with ample black raspberry, strawberry, garrigue and floral notes flowing to a medium-bodied, seamless, hard to resist style on the palate. Drink it over the coming 2-4 years” (WA 9/16) $14.99

STAFF PICKS

PETER -  Domaine Celine & Nicolas Hirsch 2019 Beaujolais Villages - Call it love at first sight, call it being a sucker for good packaging, it was a visual impression that first caught my eye with this wine while stopping by a wineshop while away on a mini vacation recently.  Lightly chilled in the mini-fridge of my hotel and served with takeout Turkish cuisine, it provided a great foil to a mixed plate of meat, pickles, olives and greens.  Domaine Hirsch is a modest husband-wife estate located in the cru area of northern Beaujolais, with biodynamic practices in place in nurturing 35 - 90 year old Gamay. The dry yet fruity wine comes in at a modest 12.5% alcohol and offers upfront raspberry and baking cherry notes underscored with candied tropical fruit notes along with floral impressions. Serve lightly chilled! $19.99 per bottle
TUCKER:  Les 13 Lunes, Roussette de Savoie AOP France -  Roussette is often considered the queen of Savoie, and 13 Lunes gives this Biodynamic cuvée the royal treatment: natural vinification then elevage for 10 months in a mix of tank, oak barrels, and acacia barrels.
A float, a drift, a flight, a wing   A cock, a quail, the promise of spring
And the riverbank talks of the Waters of March   It’s the promise of life, it’s the joy in your heart
$25.99
Waters of March, Tom Jobim 1977

ROSÉ – Two of our favorites have arrived.

2020 Peyrassol Cotes de Provence ‘Cuvee des Commandeurs’ Rose France – Young estate vines and some purchased fruit. Strawberries, gooseberries, ethereal and the essence of Provence. $22.99
2020 G.D. Vajra Rosabella Rosato Piedmont, Italy- from primarily organically-farmed, younger vine Nebbiolo, but also Dolcetto and Barbera, and fermenting that juice separately. Roses and cherries, hibiscus and rhubarb, smooth and crispy. $20.99

MONTHLY SPECIALS