French Wine

I have been getting a lot of grief lately about my lack of or dwinddling inventory of French wine.  With the current release of the 2005 vintage, said by those in the know to be the “Vintage of the Century”, I will be dabbling back into the market to bring you some quality/value French wine.

Now saying this and doing are two in-deedly separate things.  First, the Euro/Dollar currency problem has increased the price of imported wine dramatically.   Second, being the “Vintage of a Century”, which you will never hear me say, the prices have increased exorbitantly do to supply and demand.  Or perceived supply and demand since most Bordeaux houses don’t release production numbers.

Just for quick reference Chateau Petrus Pomerol always the extreme in pricing will exceed $5000.00 dollars a bottle this year.  That is not a typo.

The thing about the 2005 vintage is that the wine is being marketed as more California style, brighter fruit and higher alcohol.  Taste perceived to be more American.  Here is a snippet of an article written by a European Wine Importer distributed amongst his European distributors.

“The 2005 Bordeaux vintage is probably the best vintage ever, according to many Bordelais and people in the international wine trade. We agree, 2005 is an excellent year, but whether it will be better than other high quality vintages like 1982, 2000, is not yet known. The 2005 wines are high in alcohol and  tannins. Some Merlots reached alcohol levels of more than 15%! Some wines still have residual sugars, which, combined with the power and concentration of the fruit, makes these wines soft and round “powerwines”. Delicious, but sometimes boring. Ideal for the American market. California-type Bordeaux wines (like many wines of the 2003 vintage).”

I really like how he loves the wine, but lets sell it to the Americans!!!!!!!

With that off my chest, I will be bringing in some Bordeaux’s during May and we will give them a good drinking.  Perhaps us Americans will enjoy them.

Info On Surh Luctel Dinner May 5th at Bazin’s

Surh Luchtel wines are the result of collaboration between two long time friends Don Surh and Gary Luchtel. First as housemates in college in the Oakland hills in the late 70’s, they became friends over many a bottle and discovered that their wine interests were more than casual.

They have been making wine together since 1992 with grapes obtained from various vineyards of Napa, Sonoma, Monterey and Mendocino counties. Over the years they have made Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah, Malbec, Sangiovese and Chardonnay. The 1999 vintage was their first commercial year in which they made 1100 total cases of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a Bordeaux blend called Mosaique, and a Napa Valley Zinfandel. Currently they make approximately 3000 cases a year.

Surh-Luchtel Cellars

2006 Syrah, Page Nord Vineyard
(Napa Valley)

Syrah from the Page Nord Vineyard is said to have a signature flavor of ripe blackberries, which is one reason partners and former college wine drinking buddies and roommates Don Surh and Gary Luchtel sought it out. The vineyard is within the Oak Knoll District, half way between Napa and Yountville at the southern end of the valley. Their hybrid philosophy aims at merging rich, ripe fruit with expression of origin — not an easy task.

Brilliant with a panoply of vivid, deeply saturated colors ranging from crimson to magenta, violet to ruby, the wine is very viscous. On the nose, wild, almost Pinot Noir-like notes of sarsaparilla, rootbeer, and cherry cola come into play right alongside ripe blueberry, earth, mushroom, mulch pile, forest floor, mocha, and toast. This decadent fruit and earth bomb is full-bodied and structured, not loosey-goosey like so many of its brethren. Oak tannins reign in bright, juicy bursts of sweet, ripe fruit, and stand out on their own on the finish.

Surh-Luchtel Cellars

2006 Pinot Noir, Garys’ Vineyard
(Santa Lucia Highlands)

Neighbors and friends since boyhood, Gary Frascioni and Gary Pisoni partnered together in 1997 on what has become one of America’s most famous Pinot Noir Vineyards, Garys’. Today both men’s sons are active in overseeing the 50 acre vineyard located in Monterey’s crown jewel for Pinot Noir, the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation (Syrah is also establishing itself as a new benchmark here). About twenty wineries purchase fruit here, including Kosta Browne, Testarossa, Miner Family, and Morgan. Having the vineyard designation guarantees a fast sell-through at all tiers. The Garys’ designates I managed to squeeze out of these wineries and Pisoni’s senior and junior for Aqua went as fast as I listed them. Aside from rave reviews leading to instant notoriety, the wines have a completely unique personality. They are sleek and deeply, darkly fruited, often with smoky, tarry overtones, and manage, depending on handling, to retain vibrant underlying natural acidity.

Surh-Luchtel Cellars

2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Stagecoach Vineyard
(Napa Valley)

Bright, lightly saturated ruby with vibrant pink tones and viscous, this wine has inviting aromas of spice, cedar, cherry, raspberry, cranberry, guava, lilac, earth, tarragon, and spearmint. On the palate the wine is medium-bodied, elegant, unctuous, and sleek with a prickly acidity that smoothes out on the long, fruity finish.

With red volcanic soil and boulders, the 1200 acre Stagecoach Vineyard is Napa Valley’s largest contiguous mountain vineyard. Located at an elevation of 1500 to 1700 feet, it stretches from the western border of Atlas Peak to the southern edge of Pritchard Hill. More than 40 wineries purchase the fruit — intense, small berry, thick skinned grapes that produce dark, intense, and tannic wines, from the owners, the Krupp family.

Don Surh and Gary Luchtel crushed this blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc with high whole berry content, gave it a long cold soak – six days, and then fermented it for eleven days with temperatures reaching 86 degrees. After racking, aging for twenty one months in 80% new French oak. blending, and bottling without fining and filtration it is, as one might expect, deeply saturated in color – a vivid ruby with tinges of garnet towards the edge. Right out of the bottle it showed a note of SO2 that blew off with aeration, followed by notes of barnyard, earth, plum, cassis, tar, and smoke. Cherry and plum fruits bursts out on the palate. Fruit tannins are ripe and oak tannins are mellow. The wine has bright natural acidity and a big, flavorful finish.

Three Quick Things

1. Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Regularly $39.99 sale $28.99

Hall 2004 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has been blended entirely from their premier estate vineyards throughout Napa Valley. The wine delivers voluptuous notes of ripe blackberry and cassis with sweet aromas of nutmeg, vanilla and coffee. The palate displays supple, silky tannins with a lingering sweetness from its fruit-driven finish. A well integrated oak profile in the mid palate lends depth and complexity, allowing this wine to evolve further in the bottle over time.

2. This Sunday April 27th - 20% entire wine inventory.

3. May 5th Wine Dinner

Bazin’s on Church

and Church Street Cellars

FEATURING

Don Surh, Winemaker , Surh Luchtel Cellars

For a

Surh Luchtel Cellars Wine Dinner

Monday, May 5th, 2008

$125 per person excluding tax and tips (seating is limited)

6:30 Hor D’eourves 7:15 Dinner

Menu

Hor D’Oeuvres

Champagne



Maine Lobster Chowder

Leeks, Potato, Vanilla Essence

2006 Viognier Napa Valley

Olive Oil Poached Norwegian Salmon

Yellow Tomato Coulis, Wild Mushroom Risotto Cake

2006 Pinot Noir “Gary’s Vineyard”

Pomegranate Glazed Quail

Stuffed with Foie Gras, Balsamic – Red Wine Sauce

2006 Syrah “Page Nord”

Sliced Beef Tenderloin

Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes, Asparagus, Summer Truffles

2004 Cabernet Sauvignon “Stage Coach” Napa Valley

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Coconut Sorbet

2006 Lilly Pilly “Nobel Blend”

Chef Patrick Bazin

And Staff

Reservations Required

703-255-7212

Some Great Articles on Interstate Shipping

http://www.slate.com/id/2186957/

http://www.freethegrapes.org/

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/30/dining/30pour.html

Why would I want you to read  about buying wine from someone else?  Becuase the three tiered system that this state has limits the selection of wine I would like to carry.  Sure the laws that restrict you from buying out there on line might be a windfall for retailers, but most consumers would like to walk into a shop and have the best wines available, and direct from wineries is the way to do that.  So enjoy reading if you like.

The Prisoner’s maker - Orin Swift - New Cult Cab

Orin Swift Papillon Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2005 - $55.98

TASTES? We just sampled this exciting new wine and proclaim it to be a true thriller for tonight or anytime over the next 5 years. Rich and savory, this Cabernet blend (63% CS, 19% Merlot, 9% Cab Franc, 7% Petite Verdot, and 2% Malbec) glides lightly across your palate and features soft layers of dark cherry, ripe sweet plums, anise, toffee, cocoa, rich smoky oak and a hint of truffles on the luscious finish.

PAPILLON NAME ? Dave Phinney winemaker/owner for Orin Swift has always been fond of the movie in 1973 (starring Steve McQueen) and Dave’s daughter Angelina has always called butterflies “papillons” (French class).

LABEL ART? The label is a black and white photo of vineyard owner Vince Tofanelli’s hands with PAPILLON tatooed on his knuckles. The photo was taken by Greg Gorman, a VERY famous photographer. Greg has been a long time fan of Dave’s wines and wanted to work with him.

Come try Papillon this weekend on our Enomatics.

Silver Oak Napa 2003 On Enomatic

The new Silver Oak Napa Valley has arrived

119.98 a bottle

12 bottle case deal - $99.99 btl (by order)

Silver Oak 2003 Napa Valley is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. It was blended in early 2004 and transferred to 100% new American oak barrels for aging. Silver Oak blends prior to barreling to achieve a balance of the wine’s natural elements, such as fruit and tannin, before they are influenced by oak. The wine is then aged in barrel for approximately 25 months and another 20 months in bottle to harmonize its components before release.

The 2003 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a complex and concentrated wine that deftly balances intensity and finesse. The wine has a dark garnet color with a deep purple edge, and displays aromas of blackberry jam, dark chocolate, rose petal, black pepper and cedar. In the mouth, the attack is quite rich, expressing notes of brown sugar and nutmeg, and the flavors proceed seamlessly to a long finish of fruit and ripe tannins.

8 seats left for Fidelitas Wine Dinner - March 10th at Bazin’s On Church call 703-255-7212 for Fidelitas Wine Dinner reservations.

Church Street Cellars is expanding seating. From 16 to 30. New seats arrive today March 5th now I am waiting on tables. Menu will expand soon. Still working with the town for outdoor seating, wouldn’t that be nice for this coming spring.

Fidelitas Wine Dinner March 10th

Bazin’s on Church

and Church Street Cellars

FEATURING

Charlie Hoppes, Winemaker, Fidelitas Winery

For a

Fidelitas Winery Wine Dinner

Monday, March 10th, 2008

$125 per person excluding tax and tips (seating is limited)

6:45 Hor D’ourves 7:15 Dinner

Menu

Hor D’ourves

Sparkling Wine

uuuu

Lemon  Marinated Shrimp

Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Basil, Vanilla Vinaigrette

2005 Fidelitas M-100 Columbia Valley

Seared Maine Scallops

Bing Cherry Marmalade. Wild Mushroom Ragout

2004 “Fidelitas Merlot Columbia Valley

Mustard Herb Roasted Double - Thick Lamb Chops

Maytag Blue Cheese, Potato Puree, Redwine - Rosemary Reduction

2003 Fidelitas Optu Meritage

Braised Tender Veal

Creamy Orzo Risotto, Roasted Root Vegetables, Natural Juices

2004 Fidelitas Cabernet Sauvignon Champaux Vineyard

Apple Galette

Creme Fraiche Ice Cream

Royal Tokaji 5 Puttonyos

Chef Patrick Bazin

And Staff

Reservations required

703-255-7212

Tuesday’s Half Price Enomatic Night / Duckhorn Pinot

All Tuesdays: Come in and try any of the 32 wines by the ounce, half glass or glass and get 50% off your enomatic tab.

Also I am taking a pre-order for 2005 Golden Eye Pinot Noir, I will have pricing for these wines by Wednesday and an actual shipping date.

Upcoming Release:

As the 2005 Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir goes through the final stages of bottle-aging, our anticipation and excitement grows. For the second time, we’ll release a vineyard designated bottling from the Confluence Vineyard and, for the first-time, a vineyard-designated wine from our Gowan Creek Vineyard. The 2006 Migration Anderson Valley Pinot Noir will also be available. We are very much looking forward to sharing these wines with you!

Alto de Casablanca Duo Wines Pre-Order Huge Deal

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY 

I have these wines on my enomatic this weekend and will take preorders for next wednesday delivery.

Duo Cabernet Sauvignon/ Merlot blend  2004

Bold, smooth and enticing, this red wine from the famed Maipo Valley is a rewarding accompaniment to any meal or occasion. Together with their winemaker Rafael Tirado, father and son Agustin Huneeus formed partnerships with two trusted growers in the Maipo Valley to use the latest viticultural practices to provide the highest quality Merlot and Cabernet for duo’s red blend.

The Wine Enthusiast - This is a new entry from Chile, which blends three-quarters Cab with Merlot to fine results. There’s a veneer of toasty oak on the solid nose, which features black cherry at the base. The fruit is bright and berry-driven, while chocolate and refreshing acids work the finish. A step up from the so-called “value blend.” Score: 88

Usual price 17.89, deal 9.99 a bottle, 8.99 on ful case. 

Duo Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Pale to medium straw in color, this is one very good glass of white wine, with its rich, musky pinecone, grapefruit and gooseberry flavors and aromas.  It has the kind of zippy acidity that one expects from Sauvignon, being medium to medium full bodied and fairly long on the finish.  A solid match for the usual fish and fowl suspects, including chicken and seafood prepared in any number of ways, this is also a great back deck summer sipper.

Wine Spectator - Plump, with grapefruit, lemon and chive flavors followed by a flinty note on the finish. 87 pts

Usual price 17.89, deal 9.99 a bottle, 8.99 on ful case.

Mix and match either Duo for case price.

Montes Vineyard

(Click on box to play)

Montes Alpha M 2004 94 pts $74.98
Montes Folly Syrah 2004 93 pts  $43.98
Purple Angel Carmenere 90 pts  $43.98

Montes Apelta Vineyard Syrah #30 top 100 92 pts  $22.98