This Saturday we continue our tour of French Countryside, this time with Bobby Kacher. Bobby started importing wines from little known Southern French producers over 24 years ago. Today his portfolio is a benchmark of quality. Come sample a small selection of his selections.

2010 Domaine de Pouy, Ugni Blanc, Côtes du Gascogne $9
60% Ugni Blanc, 40% Colombard
Domaine de Pouy is located in the foothills of Pyrénées about two hours southwest of Bordeaux. The wines are made using skin contact and kept cold for four to six hours in order to extract the maximum aromatics and preserve bright fruit flavors. The 2010 Domaine de Pouy is bursting with tangy white grapefruit flavors, lime zest aromatics and a thrilling acid finish.

2009 Domaine des Hauts de Sanziers, Saumur Blanc $17
Chenin Blanc
Located south of Saumur, in the Loire, Hauts de Sanziers has belonged to the Tessier family for two centuries. The estate covers 85 hectares all worked organically. The Samur is a very full bodied Chenin with dry floral aromatics and good minerality.

2009 André Brunel, Côtes du Rhône $12
75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 15% Cinsault
Brunel is a noted Chateauneuf producer who pays great attention to his other Rhônes as well. The wine has a floral nose with notes of herbs and white pepper, the fruit is a luscious rich cherry.

2009 Sainte Eugenie Corbiers $12
40% old vine Carignan (65+ years old) with the rest being a blend of Grenache and Syrah (25-46 year old vines). The Eugenie is vinified for 9 month in barrels varietal by varietal, then blended placed in small casks for up to 15 months before bottling. The result is a marvelously complex and clean wine. The red fruits burst from the glass with mild hints of toast and spice that continue through the impeccably balanced finish.

2009  D’or et de Gueules Rouge, Les Cimels $15
Costières de Nimes
50% Syrah, 25% Carignan, 25% Grenache
D’Or (gold) et Gueules (red, in ancient French) is situated on the south/south-eastern slopes of the Costières de Nîmes. The soil is made up of cailloux –small stones or gravel like those in Chateau Neuf du Pape. The vineyards are organically farmed with limited yields. Les Cimels comes from the old Occitan language meaning fruit bouquet. Blended from Syrah, Carignan and Grenache at controlled yield levels, this wine has a deep purple color and offers notes of red fruit and sweet spice. It is supple and elegant.

Saturday afternoon we’re pouring a fine selection of wines from the diverse regions of the French countryside. We’ll have wines from the Loire, Burgundy, Bordeaux, and the Southwest regions of Gaillac and Jurançon. These wines not only represent geographic diversity, but they are each from small, independent growers who make distinct and interesting wines tucked away in the corners of the wine industry. The wines are delicious. Come try them.

2010 Christophe Thorigny, Vouvray Sec $14

Chenin Blanc

Christophe Thorigny farms 10.5 hectares in the village of Parcay-Meslay, in Vouvray. His family has owned vineyards in the village for four generations. Christophe farms according to the principle of “lutte raisonnée” or minimal intervention and keeps his yields low by severe pruning throughout the season.   It is a very complex and layered wine.

2009 Paul Garaudet, Bourgogne Blanc $17

Chardonnay

Paul Garaudet’s 10 hectares of vineyards sit in the heart of the Côte of Beaune, between Volnay and Meursault. Paul is the 4th generation to cultivate the family estate. His Bourgogne Blanc is crisp and clean with good supportive fruit. And it is an excellent value.

2010 Domaine Philémon, Gaillac Rouge, Croix d’Azal $10

Braucol

Domaine Philémon is located in the small village of Villeneuve-sur-Vere where the Vieules family has had a vineyard since 1804. Today they grow wheat, sunflowers and grapes in equal proportions. The wheat and sunflowers are grown organically and the vineyard is being certified
organic. The vines are traditional Gaillac grape varieties, with a good proportion of them being more than fifty years old. The Croix d’Azal is produced entirely from Braucol. It is a wonderful expression of this grape variety with all of its typical spiciness and woodsy floral aromas.

2004 Chateau Villars, Fronsac $20

70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

Chateau Villars has been owned by the Gaudrie family since the beginning of the 19th century. This hillside vineyard faces southwest with 35 years old vines. Harvesting is done in stages to allow each vineyard block to reach full maturity. After careful bunch selection the grapes are vinified in traditional cement vats and receive an extended maceration of up to 4 weeks.
Each vat is tasted throughout the month of November and a rigorous selection is made before the wine is put in barrels. The wine is aged in barrel, one third new for 10 to 14 months. It is a solid Bordeaux that is ready to drink at a great price.

2010 Camin Larredya , Jurançon, Costat Darrèr $20

Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng

Larredya is a small vineyard situated in the Chapelle de Rousse area of Jurançon. The majority of the vineyard, planted 40 years ago, is terraced on steep and curved slopes that form an amphitheater.  It is farmed organically. The Costat Darrèr is a blend of Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng with the exact proportions varying according to the vintage. The wine is fermented in barrel and rests there for eight months “sur lie” The wine is off dry but not quite dessert, just succulent, with enough spice and mineral to keep things interesting.

This Saturday we’ll be taking a trip to Piedmonte the region of North Eastern Italy where Barolo and Barbaresco sit like the King and Queen of Italian wine making. Nebbiolo is the grape and in Barolo comes from select vineyards, and must age for a minimum of two years in barrel and six months in bottle before release. It can take several more years to reach its peak and last for several decades after that. It is a classic wine, and we’ll be tasting the 2007 from Mirafiore which is just hitting its stride. We’ll also be pouring the other major grapes of the region. Cortese, Barbera and Dolcetto have their own charm and distinct personalities. Come taste the terroir.   

2010 Araldica, Gavi, la Luciana $15

Made from the Cortese grape, the la Luciana is a fresh, lively dry white with lemon and grapefruit citrus flavor and a lurking minerality. 

2009 Vietti, Barbera d’Asti, Tre Vigne $18

The Tre Vigne from Vietti is a showcase Barbera with classic ripe red cherry aromas with hints of mineral and vanilla, good integration of oak, good complexity, soft tannins and a finish of more red cherries.

2009 Pecchenino, Dolcetto di Dogliani, San Luigi $16

Pecchenino is a 3rd generation, family run estate winery that specializes in Dolcetto. The San Luigi showcases plump, dark, juicy fruit with an underlying structure and long finish.

2009 Damilano, Nebbiolo, Marghe $15

Not your typical entry level Nebbiolo, the Damilano ages for 16 months in small barrels (40% new, 60% second or third use French oak) The wine has aromas of blueberry, cherry and strawberry with hints of spice, cinnamon, vanilla and pepper. 

2007 Casa E di Mirafiore, Barolo $36

Barolo is the expression of everything Nebbiolo can be. The Mirafiore is from a great year and at a great price. “The 2007 Barolo is a sexy, radiant wine that captures the essence of the year. Soft and inviting through to the finish, the Barolo possesses tremendous class and balance. Succulent red cherries, licorice, rose petals and spices round out the supple finish. This is another overachieving wine. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022.” –Wine Advocate 92

Saturday, February 18^th

This Saturday we’ll be featuring three Washington wineries that kick out some good juice at a great price. They also have more in common that just good wine. Grape growers first, the Andrews family who own McKinley Springs grow over 20 varietals on their 2000 acre estate vineyard in the southern part of Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills. They sell their fruit to twenty five wineries, including Cor and Syncline. In 2002 they started making wine from their own fruit with the help of James Mantone of Syncline. Luke Bradford started Cor Cellars in 2006 after working for other wineries in both Italy and the Northwest, one of which was Syncline. Syncline, run by James and Poppy Mantone, specializes in Rhône varietals, some of which come from McKinley Springs. Come and see if you can taste all the connections.

2008 McKinley Springs Confluence White $10

56% Chenin Blanc, 44% Viognier

The Confluence is fermented and aged sur lie in stainless steel tanks, with a small portion of the Chenin Blanc aged in new oak to give it structure and a richer mouthfeel. The wine has aromas of ripe apricot, tangerine and floral notes. Its lemon lime citrus, orange zest and juicy ripe pineapple flavors lead to a long, smooth finish with the perfect touch of acidity.

2010 Cor Cellars, Riesling $16

The Riesling comes from Underwood Mountain Vineyards in the Columbia Gorge. Off dry, the wine bursts with lemon, peach and wildflower honey tea and has bright acidity, supple viscosity and a lingering, lip smacking minerality.

2007 McKinley Springs Syrah $15

The Syrah from McKinley Springs is co-fermented with 3.5% Viognier, a common practice in France’s Rhône Valley that adds bright fruit flavors. The wine is aged 17 months in 20% new oak (75% French and 25% American). Blackberry, licorice and black cherry aromas and tangy cranberry sauce, dusty earth, lavender flavors, and an expansive, lush texture.

2008 Cor Cellars Momentum $15

30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Petit Verdot, 21% Merlot, 21% Malbec

McKinley Springs & Alder Ridge Vineyards Horse Heaven Hills

Starting with of Cabernet Sauvignon, which is floral, regal and extensive, Merlot for silky texture, Petit Verdot for spice and then finally Malbec for its earthy and expressive personality, the Momentum is Cor’s dark and Verdot heavy Bordeaux style blend. The wine has notes of blackberry, black cherry, plum and cassis along with hints of dark chocolate, spice and violets.

2010 Syncline, Carignan/Grenache $25

64% Carignan, 36% Grenache from McKinley Springs Vineyard

Syncline describes the wine as “Wild and untamed, this wine contains substance and personality; certainly not prim and proper, but rarely are the best of times. Avant-garde meets tradition, in pioneering vineyards, two ancient varietals find a new home in the eastern Washington desert. Meaty, spicy aromas and bramble fruit flavors cavort with a refined texture and persistent finish.” The wine is as purple as the prose.

Half bottles for a Romantic Meal

Saturday, February 11th

2-4pm

You’re planning a special evening for two with a several courses and you want the wine to match, but opening three or four bottles sounds more like a drunken binge instead of a romantic interlude.   Don’t worry, this Saturday we’ll be featuring half bottles to match a gorgeous meal without ending up under the table. And of course we’ll have full bottles available if you want to stick with one thing.

Drappier Carte d’Or Brut $23half, $35 full

90% Pinot Noir, 10% Chardonnay

A perfect start or finish to the perfect meal. The Carte d’Or is rich and creamy and very sexy.

2009 Conundrum White, $9 half, $22 full

A sweetheart of a white from Caymus, the Conundrum has a smorgasbord of tropical fruit and spicy notes. Good with rich cheeses, swordfish, cream sauces and a little romance.

2007 Matanzas Creek Merlot $12 half, $22 full

A seductive Californian red, smooth, silky and supple. A good match for lamb, steak or pork chops, as well as a little snuggle.

2009 Lyeth Meritage $15 full bottle only

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot

A Sonoma Bordeaux blend, the Lyeth is rich with aromas of purple fruit with notes of leather, tobacco, and dark chocolate. It only comes in a full bottle you might have to get serious.

2007 Terrebrune Bandol Rouge $18 half, $35 full

85% Mouvedre, 10% Grenache, 5 % Cinsault

Organic.

If you bring out the beast, you need the wine to match. An intense earthy, mineral driven wine with rich elegant fruit. Pair it up with Cassoulet, sausage, or smoked meats. Let your animal run free.