Under the Radar

unheralded wines of great value

Saturday, May 25th, 2pm

The wine business is built on notoriety with producers desperately seek reviews, ratings and name recognition. New upstarts struggle to gain a reputation while the old guard rests on their laurels. But then there are other winemakers who either by lack of resources or personality go about making their wine with little fanfare. This Saturday we’ll be pouring some very tasty examples of these little known wines that go largely unnoticed in the press. Come discover them for yourself.

Cavas del l’Emporda, Blanc Pescador, Vino de Aguja $9
Macabeo 50-60%, Parellada 20-25%, Xarel-lo 20-25%. 
A non-cava Spanish white from Catalonia in northern Spain. It is lower alcohol at 11.5% and slightly frizzante like Portugal’s Vinho Verde. The “white fish” has good crisp lemon-lime flavors and a lively refreshing finish.

2010 LaRochette Bourgogne Blanc $11
A Chardonnay from the Macon from Olivier LaRochette a winemaker from a long Burgundian lineage. The Bourgogne Blanc is unoaked and has notes of apple blossoms, white peach, lime zest and a mellony fullness with more fruit than mineral.

2010 Sainte Elisabeth, Costières de Nîmes $9
Grenache
Located in the village of Garons, in the centre of Costieres-de-Nimes vineyards, Chateau Sainte-Elisabeth is an independent family run estate focusing on the quality of the fruits for producing their wines Predominantly Grenache, this southern French red has a jammy quality with rich aromas of red and black fruits, spice, and mineral. –12.5% by volume

2010 Le Jas des Papes, Châteauneuf du Pape, le Secret du Jas $28
70% Syrah, 30% Grenache
A 5th generation small estate which makes this reverse blend from your typical CNdP. Their website features pictures of a very clean but plain looking winery more concerned with function rather than charm. The Secret is from 80 year old vines and ages for 12 months in new barriques. It has pleasing aromas of red berries, cherries and blackcurrant and a generous and robust structure.

2005 Château Marsau, Côtes de Francs $18
Merlot
An exception to the rule, Château Marsau gets regular reviews from the press. It is a big workhorse of a Bordeaux with a full rich body, dark ripe fruit and spicy tannins. There is not much of the 2005 vintage (a great year for Bordeaux) left around so it is great to have this one at hand. The wine is coming into its own and drinking well.

 

Sunday Sippers
All Day
11 to 5

Starting May 26th we will be kicking off our Sunday Sippers Series. An
excuse to stop by and taste some new and interesting wines. Each Sunday we will
have both a red and a white open. This Sunday we’ll be pouring:

2011 Moser Grüner Veltliner $10

2010 Tikves, Vranec $10

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