Gnarly Vines

Enjoy these versatile wines that pair beautifully with springtime, Easter meals – traditionally-made, hand-harvested from old, gnarly low-yielding vines, fermented with indigenous wild yeasts, minimal sulfur, unfiltered and made by responsible stewards of the earth – a great way to end Lent.Orthodox Easter is Sunday, April 19.

2007 Cascina degli Ulivi ‘Montemarino’ Bianco – Piedmont, Itay – $25.00

Golden straw color, pretty floral aromas, lavender, vanilla, caramel and butterscotch. Soft and rich, brazil nut flavors, touch briney and complex, floral, fascinating. Old-vine Cortese (some from over 100 year old vines and the rest around 40-50 years old) from a high hill in Gavi, aged 1 year in oak.

2007 Vittoria Bera and Figli ‘Arcese’ Bianco – Piedmont, Italy – $14

Light and fresh white blend of Arneis, Cortese and Favorita (Vermentino). It’s slightly perfumed but subtlety and has a frizzantino style…meaning it has a light amount of spritz.

2007 Domaine de la Pepiere ‘Cuvee Granit’ VdP – Loire Valley, France – $15.00

Loire Valley red table blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cot (Malbec) and Gamay.  Delicious earthy flavors with light currant and berry fruit.  Soft stony minerality, dusty tannins, fresh and elegant. Winemaker Marc Ollivier is pictured at left – talk about responsible stewards of the earth, this guy just reeks of environmentalism, doesn’t he?

2007 Le Clos du Tue-Boeuf ‘La Guerrerie’ – Touraine, Loire Valley, France – $22.50

Organic and bio dynamic blend of 60% Cot (Malbec) and 40% Gamay from winemaker Thierry Puzelat in the village of Touraine. Light, juicy red with very soft tannins and delicate rose and berry flavors. A hint of earth and herbs gives depth.

Le Beaujolais Nouveau est Arrive!

This tasting event was held on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008.

Every year on the third Thursday of November hundreds of thousands of French citizens stream out of work early (no later than 3pm as opposed to the usual 4ish:-) and head to a local bistro to drink copious amounts of Beaujoais Nouveau – the first red wine of the vintage released in the Northern Hemisphere. Glasses are filled and refilled to the brim directly from the cask never seeing the inside of a bottle.

By French Law, we’re not allowed to sell or open a bottle until noon tomorrow, so that’s when we’re starting at our tasting. By New York State Law, we’re not allowed to fill your glass to the brim:-( but come by anyway and help us welcome the 2008 vintage with a taste of two fun, fresh, festive and frivolous Beaujolais Nouveaux.

2008 Domaine de la Madone, Beaujolais Le Perreon Nouveau.
Released early and shipped by boat to reduce its carbon footprint! – $12.00

2008 Antonin Rodet Beaujolais Nouveau.
The 2007 was voted ‘best of tasting’ by the WSJ last year! – $16.00

2005 Domaine Piron & Lafont Chenas Quartz.
Plus a bonus Beaujolais Cru just for kicks! – $18.00