Spotlight

THIS WEEK’S NEW ARRIVALS

Spring is finally upon us here in Richmond, and we’re geared up with a slew of new arrivals and new vintages of old favorites. For reasons of brevity, most of our new arrivals never make it into our monthly newsletter. Here’s a peak at a few new wines that we’ve received over the past week or so that we’re excited about.
-2006 Tres Barcos (Toro, Spain): Although the region of Toro has only been officially recognized as a Spanish D.O. since 1987, the region has a long history of viticulture, stretching back to the 1st Century B.C. when the Roman Empire stretched all the way into the northwest of Spain. Toro produces some fantastic wines from the tempranillo grape (locally known as tinto del toro, very big and structured, often in need of several years of cellaring to reach their full potential. We were thrilled to find this delicious and well-made Toro at a very reasonable price that’s ready to drink right away. $12.95
-2003 Chateau Camplazens “La Garrigue” (Coteaux du Languedoc, France): We’re happy to offer this delicious red from an area in the Languedoc called “La Clape” that’s known for some of the best wines in the region. An estate grown and bottled blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre, the 2003 “La Garrigue” is drinking beautifully right now, perfumed with aromas of red fruits and rosemary and thyme. $16.95
-2007 Tamar Ridge Estates “Devil’s Corner” Pinot Noir (Tasmania): A gorgeous, light-bodied Pinot Noir from the cool-climes of Tasmania. Juicy with a silky mouthfeel, the Devil’s Corner is a very good Pinot Noir that clocks in under $20. If this is any indication, we’re excited to see what’s to come from Tasmania. $18.95
-2007 Domaine de la Bergerie “La Cerisaie” Anjou Rouge (Loire Valley, France): We have had great success with Dom. de la Bergerie’s Anjou Blanc in recent months and thus we’re excited to bring you their red wine, “La Cerisaie.” Made from 100% Cabernet Franc, this is a fantastic wine for the springtime, light to medium-bodied, bursting with berry flavors. Put a slight chill on this and enjoy! $11.95
-2007 Eola Hills Pinot Gris (Oregon): A great little Pinot Gris from Oregon’s Eola Hills Winery, the 2007 vintage is a great match for salmon, roast chicken or a pork loin. $13.95
-2007 Domaine des Florets Gigondas Rouge (Rhone Valley, France): A different style of Gigondas than you might typically run across—all stainless steel fermentation and aging in cement vats, the Florets Gigondas sees no contact with wood. Fortunately, though, the wine still retains its typicity without sacrificing the purity of mineral and fruit flavors that you’d expect from Gigondas. Elegant and ready-to-go the minute you pull the cork, this is an outstanding bottling from a great vintage in the Rhone. $27.95
-2007 Dal Maso Tai Rosso (Veneto, Italy): We’ve been selling Dal Maso’s fantastic Soave-look-alike, the “Ca’ Fischele” for some time now, and we just received their red wine in time for the spring! This is on our short-list for warm-weather reds, dry, light-bodied and explosive with strawberry fruit. Delicious, emminently gulpable, and perfect for evenings on the back porch. $11.95
-2007 Travis Chardonnay (Monterey, California): Another blast-from-the-past, the Travis Chardonnay makes its return here at Emerson’s. An unfiltered, unoaked Chardonnay cuvee bottled for importer Dan Kravitz, the Travis Chardonnay is bright and loaded with fruit, with a solid backbone of acidity to hold it up. A very fresh style of Chardonnay for the spring. $16.95
-2007 Saint-Damien Cotes du Rhone Vieilles Vignes Rouge (Rhone Valley, France): It seems as if it’s nearly impossible to not make a knock-out Cotes du Rhone in 2007, and Saint-Damien’s Vieille Vignes bottling is a candidate for one of the best of the vintage that we’ve tasted so far. The wine has a very compelling and complex nose, funky, brambly and slightly earthy on the palette and has a great finish. It will need some time to fully come together, but we’re confident that it’s one of the best sub-$20 wines from the Rhone we’ve found recently. $15.95

April 07, 2009 11:00