Madison Wine Exchange

THE Clos Apalta!

2011-09-07T17:36:00.000-07:00

Today was one of those when a surprise supplier shows up with a powerhouse wine in their bag and just made my day. Brian and I were taking some orders online and over the phone for our amazing Silver Oak deal when one of our suppliers showed up with the US Rep for Casa Lapostolle and their infamous Clos Apalta 2008. The Clos Apalta was the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wine ranked at #1 back with its 2005 vintage, and since then has been somewhat of a ghost, selling out in the matter of minutes every time thereafter it gets released.

However, before we could get right into THE wine of the day, we had a few other gems that Casa Lapostolle had to offer to try; their Cuvee Alexandre line. You have to date before the romance truly begins I guess. So, the first wine we jumped into was the 2008 Chardonnay which is a no malo-wine (malolactic fermentation is when lactic acid - milk - is added to a wine to calm down the harsh green apple fruits of the wine which leads to those wonderfully buttery aromas) from a single vineyard in the Casablanca Valley of Chile which was a nice surprise. It was well structured and balanced but does the world need another $20 buttery Chard? Probably not.

Then we moved onto the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Carmenere, both of which are actually from the Apalta Vineyard ( the vineyard responsible for the Clos Apalta). The Cabernet (a blend of 85% Cabernet and 15% Carmenere) was a funky, earthy surprise because the Carmenere really shined through, although the Carmenere truly struck me because I am generally not a Carmenere guy and this rocked! A Blend of 85% Carmenere and 15% Merlot, this was one of the most well balanced, silkiest tannined wines I have ever had! Just a true surprise.

Then we moved onto the main event; the Clos Apalta. Named Clos Apalta in honor of their Old World beginnings (Clos actually means, in French, a walled in single vineyard, and of course, Apalta is the name of the actual vineyard, hence Clos Apalta). This was AMAZING! A blend of 73% Carmenere, 17% Cabernet and 10% Merlot, it was rich and dense with opulent fruits with unbelievably juicy tannins that was completely organically produced. What! A! WINE!

After tasting it, we took our entire allocation and sold out in the matter of MINUTES! I wish we could get more (and believe me we will try), but it was a real treat to be one of the first people in the country to try this wine. I love this job!

An Unknown Rosé Wine That Will Blow You AWAY!

2011-07-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

I feel like I am constantly saying that I love Burgundy, but, well, I love Burgundy. And I love all things Burgundy. So, I was surprised to find out about a Rosé wine from two world-renowned Burgundy winemakers being made in the southern part of France. It turns out that in the late 1980's Jacques Seysses, founder of Domaine Dujac, and Aubert de Villaine, co-owner of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (and a good friend from Paris, Michel Macaux), started looking for a vineyard in the south of France and at the end of 1989, they came upon the Domaine du Logis-de-Nans, an existing estate in Provence, northeast of Marseille and due east of Aix-en-Provence and starting making an amazing set of wines outside of their norm of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. As Jacques explains it:

"I started thinking of buying a vineyard outside of Burgundy when vineyard prices soared in the mid-eighties, making it almost impossible to operate with a return on one's investment. I was interested in going to an area where the benchmark had yet to be set, and where I could experiment with other grape varietals."

The estate was renamed Domaine de Triennes, after the triennia, festivities in the honour of Bacchus that took place every 3 years in Roman times. The 'tri' part of the name now reflects the three original partners.

I was just so surprised that there was a wine from Jacques Seysses and Aubert de Villaine that I had never had or even heard of, so I bought myself a bottle from one of my suppliers and just finished it here as I write this. The only thing I can truly say is, well, WOW! What an amazing bottle of wine! It is mainly Cinsault with Merlot and Syrah made from 100% free-run juice (the best kind of Rosés are made this way) that is extremely light in color and unbelievably expressive on the nose. The bouquet is fresh, elegant and, you might say, seductive with aromas of ripe strawberries and even a bit of pepperiness from the syrah.

It is medium-bodied with a fairly lengthy finish inviting another sip or glass. If you haven’t, like I hadn’t, please make sure to try this wine because with its unbelievable pedigree of winemaking talent, its pleasant refreshing qualities and our extremely aggressive price point, it will be the Rosé wine that you will remember for the rest of your life. Enjoy and thank you Bacchus for allowing me to have this one!

A White Pinot Noir?

2011-06-04T07:16:00.000-07:00

It is strange to hear about a white Pinot Noir since Noir actually means dark, but low and behold, I am drinking a white Pinot Noir as I type this. In my years of legal drinking, I have encountered two white Pinot Noirs and both were extremely limited and therefore very expensive. The first one I ever came across was from Burgundy (of course), from Henri Gouges in Nuits-St-Georges. Gouges has a plot of land where his Pinot Noir naturally mutated into a white Pinot Noir (and not a Pinot Gris either) over the years and for some reason, it only happened right there. The other one was American Pinot Noir genius Tony Soter and his no skin contact Pinot Noir which I tried three years and have yet been able to find more again. It was brilliant; it had the earthiness of Pinot, the acidity, the roundness and even the balance, but none of the fruit and of course none of the color.

Since then, I have not been able to find a white Pinot Noir, until now. Not too long ago, Van Zil Visser from the South African importing company, Kunath & Visser, came by talking about a new house in his portfolio that was in the French section of South Africa that was trying to produce Champagne-esque wines. The sparklers that they make were decent enough (the rose sparkler was and is amazing, the brut though not so much) but they make two wines that are unique and amazing. One is the wine I am drinking now.

It turns out that over the years, Haute Cabriere found that in certain years, producing sparkling wines was proving to be difficult and they refused to waste their hard work, so still wines came into play. As we all know, Champagne is made of a blend of three grapes; Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. These three grapes are picked, fermented and aged separately then blend together to age and make the final product. And all of this is done WITHOUT skin contact (unless we are talking rose Champagne but that's another story).

Well, in South Africa, Haute Cabriere realized that only two of the three grapes from Champagne take well to soil and sadly Pinot Meunier doesn't work with the terrior. So, they palnted and alchemize Pinot Noir and Chardonnay into four great wines; a Brut sparkler, a rose sparkler, a Pinot Noir/Chardonnay rose blend and then a Pinot Noir/Chardonnay white wine blend. This is by far the most interesting (and affordable) white Pinot Noir I have ever had:

This wonderful Chardonnay/Pinot Noir blend is refined, with a firm acidity and an abundance of ripe fruit on the bouquet and palate. The aftertaste lingers long on the palate, a typical characteristic of Cabriere wines. A still version of a classic sparkling wine.

I would highly suggest making sure you you swing on by and try this South African (and many others for that matter) wine before all are sold out.

2005 Grand Cru Burgundy Dinner Recap

2011-06-02T10:37:00.001-07:00

Last night, the Madison Wine Exchange and our sister store, Valley Discount, got together 30 customers of ours in Milford at the Beach House Restaurant for a tasting of Vincent Girardin's 2005 Grand Cru reds and whites. This was the first in many series’ from our new private tasting series, Grand Cru Tastings. The night started out with some passed hors d'oeuvres of crostinis with prosciutto and crème fresh and deviled eggs with paprika and anchovies. I won’t lie, I missed out on the deviled eggs, but the crostinis were amazing! I think the wine helped, but we’ll get into that.

The idea behind the evening was to showcase the greatest vintage out of Burgundy nearly 5 years after its release to see what these Grand Cru wines are doing. Also, honestly, how often will we all be able to try these amazing wines? Here are the wines we poured for the evening:

2005 Vincent Girardin Corton-Charlemagne Quintessence Grand Cru – 92-95 Pts BH

2005 Vincent Girardin Corton Perrieres Grand Cru – 90-93 Pts BH

2005 Vincent Girardin Corton Bressandes Grand Cru – 89 Pts ST

2005 Vincent Girardin Clos Vougeot Grand Cru – 92-95 Pts ST

2005 Vincent Girardin Clos de la Roche Grand Cru – 91-93 Pts BH

2005 Vincent Girardin Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru – 91-94 Pts ST

2005 Vincent Girardin Bonnes Mares Grand Cru – 91-94 Pts BH

So the first wine we started with was Girardin’s 2005 Quintessence de Corton-Charlemagne and it was outstanding! Coming from the town of Aloxe-Corton, this is THE greatest Grand Cru coming from the town on the hill of the Corton. Rich and vibrant with mouth-watering acidity and the greatest mineral quality ever with delicious exotic fruits.

Then, as the Quintessence ran dry, we jumped right into the first red Grand Cru from the same area of Corton from the Les Perrieres vineyard; hence the name Corton-Perrieres. This first red, definitely the softest of the grouping, was the perfect jump-off wine for the start of the reds. There were soft, red cherried notes with a minerally backbone that layered through the wine with a soft, well-structured finish. Just the perfect sipping Grand Cru (I have never such a sentence, haha).

Almost the second we all done with our first red, the chef had announced that the food was heading on out and we all perked right on up. Instead of going through course by course, here is the menu with each wine that was pairing with it and the respective quick tasting notes:

Beef Cheek Ragu with poached duck egg and a red wine syrup

Paired with

2005 Vincent Girardin Corton Bressandes Grand Cru

(Loaded with blackberry notes and coffee/cocoa hints with the tiniest touch of mint piercing through. Great, plump fruit emerging the more it opened with a stellar finish.)

Spiced Duck Breast and pork belly lentils with a blackberry jus

Paired with

2005 Vincent Girardin Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

(My absolute favorite pairing of the evening! The dark, mocha flavors and plum notes were far and away the greatest with the lentils and spiced Duck. Wonderfully perfumed and racy, dark fruits with a suave persistence and silky tannins.)

Red Beet Salad topped with gorgonzola, walnuts and a red wine vinaigrette

Paired with

2005 Vincent Girardin Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

(Wonderfully powerful and supremely dusty with stellar balance! A perfect expression of what Morey-St-Denis Grand Cru can do, and perfect with the beets and gorgonzola. As it opened, more dark fruit characteristics started to emerge. I would to have loved to had more, but the glasses ran dry)

Herb Grilled Veal Heart, whitebean ragout, harcot vert, bordelaise sauce

Paired with

2005 Vincent Girardin Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru

(I have never had veal heart before, so this was extremely interesting and surprising good. Spices and red cherries were the first things jumping out here. Great, ripe acid and still a brazen, youthful quality. Dusty finish and smooth, supple tannins.)

Artisan French Cheeses, nuts, dried fruits, wild honey

To finish off the evening, we opened up the shining star of the group, the 2005 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru. This is by far one of my favorite wines, regardless of producer because the terrior here is perfect for my palate. We had everyone, our entire wine-soaked group, sip and enjoy before sending in our last, dessert course of cheeses, nuts and fruits. This proved immediately to be the winner of the night (and sold out after three sips were taken) and rightfully so. It was loaded with blue and black fruits with a huge violet characteristic and a supple, feminine end to the nose. The palate was big, dense and sappy with a power that is unrivaled anywhere except in Bonnes-Mares.

We all had so much fun and so much great wine that I can’t wait to do this again with our next series presented by Grand Cru Tastings, through the Madison Wine Exchange and Valley Discount Wine & Liquor. I know more of you will be there.

A Memorial Day Experiment

2011-05-30T16:20:00.000-07:00

Being that today is Memorial Day we celebrate what our fellow (and fallen) servicemen and servicewomen have done for us in this country in keeping us safe and most of do this by firing up the grill and enjoying beers, family, friends and burgers, steaks, hotdogs and whatever else one can think of. For my pre-Memorial Day festivities, dry-rub ribs were the focus, but being Memorial Day, the wife and I decided on burgers but with a spin. Plus, we decided to leave the beer out of the equation. I KNOW! CRAZY! But it had to be done.

Let me back track. Earlier in the week, two wonderfully dedicated and experimental customers came in and we started talking odd food creations and the topic came up of the long weekend's burger creations. One of my favorites is a powdered onion soup packet infused medium rare hamburger with avocado and sharp cheddar, but Deb (the customer in question here) had the greatest suggestion that actually had my mouth watering and I had just finished my lunch; Curry Lamb Burgers w/ Mango Cutney. I won't lie here, the recipe, she admitted, came from the NY Times, but in my book, the credit belongs to Deb and rightfully so.

The burger entailed ground Lamb meat ground with onions and jalapenos and then grilled for 3 minutes on each side with curry powder lightly doused on it. After they are a nicely browned, they are topped with a mango chutney and served on a bun. AMAZING! But the situation arose that we didn't have any beer left after Sunday's adventures, so wine became the only adult beverage that we could enjoy, however what to do? Normally, I would have said red wine, but the curry aspect, although minimal, doesn't blend (no pun intended) well, so white became the logical answer. White wine and burgers? I generally never pair white and meat, but desperate times and, surprisingly enough, IT WORKED! We opened a basic Long Island table wine (nothing too crazy but definitely obscure) and it was the best match I never thought of. The crisp, northern Italian white blend matched so well with the juicy, spicy, somewhat smokey aspect the burger gave off.

As I sit here with my last bite and last sip, I can't help but send a mental thank you to Deb and to the NY Times and the first person who ever thought of grilled lamb. This was the greatest experiment of the month and one everyone should venture to try. Maybe not the specific match here (although I would extremely recommend it) but one you never would have thought of.

As I raise my glass, with its last sip, I raise a toast to all of our servicepeople and say thank you for everything you have done, are doing and will do. And hopefully you can enjoy this wonderful match sooner than later. Thank you all again! Happy Memorial Day!!!

Rose + BBQ's = COUNT ME IN!

2011-05-18T17:21:00.000-07:00

With Memorial Day just a week away, my fiancée and I have been trying to finalize our plans as to where we would go and what to bring. The Spring and Summertime are perfect for grilling outside and having some great wine, and we are extremely excited to finally get out there! I was talking to my fellow wine director Ted about his plans, and he informed me that he was getting a case of the newest release of Vivanco Rose for the Holiday. I didn't waste a second and replied, I'M IN! I told him I would take care of all the food if he had this beauty of a rose. So, needless to say, I truly enjoy rose's. I am not ashamed to say it either. In my humble opinion, I think they are the most versatile wine, pairing with almost any type of food, and Perfect for the warm weather!

The newest release from Vivanco is 80% tempranillo and 20% Garnacha, a light and bright rose with lots of red raspberry, hints of strawberries and a true summer wine. It's acidity and balance of flavors compliments well with almost any grilled meat or seafood.

Last summer I was fortunate enough to travel through Rioja on a wine excursion, and the families there grilled EVERYTHING! A perfectly grilled lamp chop with this rose is like a dream come true...

Everyone enjoy your Memorial day, and I STRONGLY suggest stopping by and trying this ever-so-perfect Barbecue Rose!

Argentinean Bordeaux-esque Bliss

2011-04-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

After a long day before Easter craze, I was hankering for a great bottle of wine that I could sip on with my burger and the latest Bodegas Caro Amancaya release seemed like the best idea. Bodegas Caro is the paternship between Bodegas Nicholas CAtena and Baron Phillippe ROthschild (get it; CARO) that started in the late 1990's with its firs vintage in 2000. As demand for this small production wine became more, well, demanding, the winemaking (and marketing) geniuses at Rothschild decided to make a secondary wine called Amancaya, named after a local flower in the Mendoza region of Argentina (the flower is depicted on the label above), which is a blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.

I had recently tried the 2009 Amancaya and knew it needed a place in the store but haven't let it grace my glasses at home, so after the craze died down and the Easter weekend got into full swing, I knew my burger I was picking up NEEDED this wine. AND boy was I right! Although it could have used some decanting, this wine was extremely balanced and wonderfully dark fruited. Stephen Tanzer from the International Wine Cellar had this to say:

Full ruby-red. Complex, Medoc-like nose combines redcurrant, nutty oak, leather, tobacco leaf and fresh herbs. Supple and suave, with a restrained sweetness and a fine-grained texture. The broad tannins reach the teeth. Showing a bit less energy and nuance than the 2008 at the same stage, but this is pliant and well-made wine.

-89 Points Stephen Tanzer

I couldn't have agreed more with him on the flavor and texture, however my score would have hit the 90 Point realm without even thinking twice. I know that more is making its way home with me to my cellar and I truly suggest that everyone try one for themselves as well. It will be the greatest decision you have ever made in the wine world! Thank you Catena & Rothschild!

I Am Drinking Some F-Ing Merlot!

2011-04-18T18:05:00.000-07:00

After closing up on Saturday night, I sat at home with my wife on one of the month's rainiest April showers days watching tv and sipping on some wine. While we were surfing (perfect term to reflect the torrents outside as well) through the channels, we came across the most famous wine movie of all time; Sideways. Since I am a Pinot Noir man, I love all that this movie did for that grape, however, as a child of Bacchus, I have been deeply saddened by the death that Merlot faced.

I guess a bit of background is needed here. In the movie Sideways, the protagonist, Miles, is a self defined wine nut with a kryptonite-esque aversion to Merlot and refuses to touch a single glass of it. Miles true passion in life was Pinot Noir. Then, while on this bachelor party gone awry in Napa, he meets a woman named Maya who shares his passion for the world's most finicky grape and love ensues. (There is a great scene where Maya explains her love for Pinot Noir that will make your inner Burgundian emerge no matter what your preference for Bacchus' blood would be)

Well, after the movie came out, the Merlot grape died (because of Miles' famed line, "I'm not drinking any f-ing Merlot!") and probably rightfully so. Most Merlot that was being grown in the Napa Valley was flabby, unexciting wine that was expensive for no certain reason. Napa then went through a renaissance with Merlot and small, attention driven lots of Merlot started to pop up and the grape slowly came back. BUT SLOWLY!

SO, as we watched, I immediately decided that since we were headed off in the morning to meet my wife's newest baby boy cousin, I would bring a bottle of Merlot and see what the crowds had to say. Granted, the parents were probably more excited to see something besides a formula bottle in front of them but I was still curious. I also grabbed a curveball wine; a Washington State wine - the 2007 Waterbrook Merlot Reserve. Waterbrook has over the last few years, reached a 90+ point score from Wine Spectator and this 2007 reached the famed Top 100 Wine List of 2010 and I just had to see how it would stand up to the Miles' statement.

When we arrived, the entire family embraced, and almost immediately, the question arose of what had I brought for the masses to drink? I love Sunday get togethers for this reason in particular, outside of the family "hey how are you's". The second I pulled the bottles out of my bag, almost immediately, my uncle-in-law stated the famed "I'm not drinking any f-ing Merlot!" and we all had a great laugh. I almost expected this because I never bring Merlot and EVERYONE has seen Sideways (and Bottle Shocked, another great wine movie) in this family.

The greatest part of the afternoon occurred after the first cork was popped; the new mother tried it and smile that only Bacchus could draw on a human face occurred. Now she has been without this great grape juice for nearly 10 months, so Tisdale might have worked, but I know that wine spoke for itself. The wine itself was dark, dense and extremely rich with tar, charcoal and mint notes laced over blackberry fruits. There was even a molasses kick at the end mixed with the subtly layered oak. A truly masterful effort that surprised everyone (except the new addition to the family of course) and is completely worth its coveted spot on the WS Top 100 list.

If further evidence was needed, I brought 6 bottles and the 8 of us polished them off in the matter of hours! Don't miss out on this wine as I know it will not always be around.

Emilio Moro and Ribera Del Duero...WOW!

2011-04-09T10:30:00.000-07:00

I finally have a brief moment to talk about this phenomonal wine I tasted the other day from Spain. When I saw my supplier walk through the door with a wine labelled Emilio Moro, I bolted to the wine counter and grabbed a glass. Now when it comes to Spain there are three major regions, Rioja, Priorat, and Ribera del Duero. I absolutely love wines from Ribera del Duero, and Emilio Moro is a Legend in that area for making big, robust structured wines that age for decades. This 2007 offering blew me away! It offered aromas of cedar, leather and black cherry. Full bodied and rich on the palate, layers of flavor unravelled to a powerful finish. If you like big Napa Cab's and haven't tried a Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero, I highly reccomend coming down to the store and grabbing a bottle! Well, now that I was finally able to tell about this great Ribera I tasted, it' back to the floor to taste some declassified C.D.P.(Chateaunuef du Pape)!

A Plethora Of Cheese & Wine

2011-04-06T19:31:00.000-07:00

Tonight I headed down to R.J. Julia's Booksellers in downtown Madison for a book signing with Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough, authors of the new book, GOAT: Meat, Milk, Cheese. My goal was to show some wines and learn about some weird cheeses made solely from goat milk. I was extremely excited because I love all things goat cheese but I truly didn't realize how much was actually out there.

When I arrived (late too because the store was extremely busy and I just couldn't get out - a new Chateauneuf-du-Pape for under $14 arrived and we were slammed) the event had already started, so I, as quietly as possible, I opened up my four wines and stood back to soak up what these two gentlemen had to talk about. It turns out that this is their 37th book! AND its the first of 3 coming out this year!

After a quick breakdown of how cheese is made, they brought out 4 cheeses from across the country that were all (wait for it!!!) made from goat cheese. One of the four cheeses is a true decadent masterpiece that should be tried at least once by everyone because its amazing; Cypress Grove's Truffle Tremor. This is an aged goat cheese infused with Black Italian Truffles and it just amazing. Named after the infused characters of the cheese (truffles) and the constant earthquakes that affect California (tremors); hence Truffle Tremors. This paired with our Viberti Dolcetto d'Alba 2007 was absolutely perfect. The richness of the Dolcetto, with its sweet tannins and succulent fruits were the perfect match with the intense earthy nature that was this cheese.

Another cheese that truly struck me was called the Humboldt Fog (the fog that attacks the northern California coastline area) and was delicious. Aged for 2 months, it actually had ash in it! According to the Cypress Grove website "Each handcrafted wheel features a ribbon of edible vegetable ash along its center and a coating of ash under its exterior to give it a distinctive, cake-like appearance." It was actually so cake-esque that when Mark went to cut it for all involved in this, he had no choice but to cut wedding cake style pieces. This was one of the strangest cheeses and most interesting I have ever had and can't wait to jump into more when I head home. This paired with the Altosur Sauvignon Blanc was a mathc made in heaven. The acidity in the Sauvignon Blanc was calmed down by the creamy, intensity that the cheese had and those minerally notes from the wine were intensified with the addition of the vegetable ash!

Below is a breakdown of the wines served and the cheeses that they paired with:

2009 Altosur Sauvignon Blanc - Paired with Humboldt Fog

2009 Albet I Noya Xarel-Lo - Paired with Goat Camembert

2007 Viberti Dolcetto d’Alba - Paired with Truffle Tremor

2006 J. Kirkwood Merlot Napa - Paired with Midnight Moon

This was such a fun event and their book is great, so make sure you head out and buy this book, then swing on by for these wines and see how they stand up to the cheeses. It is completely worth it. Trust me and ENJOY!

A Blind Tasting Event

2011-03-14T15:13:00.001-07:00

The other night, I made the staff stay after work and proceed through one of our many blind tastings, and it went to a whole other level. What normally is a 4 bottle, blind tasting lasting no longer than 10 minutes turned into a 2 hour 30 bottle blind tasting! We had planned on finding some new wines that not even we knew about and the bottles and bags kept coming up until we were left with this in front of us:

Needless to say, it was an absolutely fun way to spend an evening after a long day of work with some results that will extremely amazing for everyone. Keep an eye out there for our latest wine additions as they are going to be the greatest values that the Shoreline has ever seen.

Rechilling? To do or not to do...

2011-02-26T16:35:00.000-08:00

If any "heat" is allowed to affect the beer after fermentation it is a negative. It should be cold before filtration ("cold-filtered" is nothing new), and kept cold afterwards. It would be safe to say that's not a real-world possibility though, so OK. Heat acts as an energy source that allows aging to happen faster - oxidation and so forth, which is a negative, but the old "warm-cold" thing goes back to days before proper filtration when the beer might not have been as cold as necessary. In general, if it is warmed, rechilling it is the best thing you can do. And then keep it cold.

Short simple and to the point, lets drink.

CHILL HAZE

NO CHILL HAZE

The Forgotten Bottle

2011-02-24T17:58:00.000-08:00

A very interesting thing happened to me today that truly shocked me. On Tuesday afternoon, a supplier of mine came by with a wonderful bottle from the world famous Piedmont producer Roberto Voerzio; his 2006 Dolcetto d'Alba Priavino single vineyard.

But who is Roberto Voerzio you may ask? If there a demi-god in Barolo today, or should we say La Morra, it is Roberto Voerzio. His path to success has been based on what are considered to be the lowest yields of fruit in the Barolo zone. Production is very limited and the winery makes less than 4000 cases per vintage, which equals less than one bottle per vine! Some of his wines he only bottles into magnums (double bottles) because he thinks that they are wasted in 750mls. He is actually getting ready to release a 10 year old Riserva Barolo in two years that he made next to nothing of and it is supposed to be phenomenal. You’ve got to love eccentric winemakers.

This Dolcetto opened exceptionally tight and needed to breathe, so I had her leave the bottle and planned to come back to it later on. Then in the hustle and bustle that is work, I forgot that this bottle was even around. Today as we were receiving in some new products, I found this Voerzio bottle and decided to take it home to see if there was anything left to it.

This is a COMPLETELY different bottle than two days ago! I generally am not a huge fan of Dolcettos without food around (they are so dry and tannic, that only food really comes that down) however this truly surprised me. The color here had not faded in the slightest and the nose just exploded with flavor! Two days ago it was a big and powerful wine endowed with masses of dark varietal fruit and an equally imposing tannic might. Now that intensity had calmed down and that power changed over to the silkiest of complexities that I just love. One of my absolute favorite parts of this wine is that was completely unfiltered, so my last glass looked like someone had poured sand into my glass with the wine.

I love when the world surprises me, especially in the form of wine. Definitely keep an eye out for this treat as I know we will be getting in soon.

A Fun Burgundy Story

2011-02-15T15:35:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, we had the fortunate opportunity to meet with the new winemaker of Domaine Leflaive, Eric Remy, and try his 2008 white Burgundies from his Puligny-Montrachet vineyards. One of the biggest wines that he had was his 2008 Chevlaier-Montrachet Grand Cru which is an unbelievable bottle of wine. It was delicious with ripe peach, apricot and pear flavors with a lower acidity than expected but there were notes of honey, spice and chocolate that balanced everything out. However while standing there chatting wine with one of the greatest winemakers in Burgundy, I was asked a question by a colleague about Burgundy and felt compelled to relay that information here.

The question was, "why all of the hyphenated names in Burgundy?" Well, that is easy; in the time of Napoleon's rule of France, his favorite wine was the Grand Cru (one of the best vineyard sites) of Chambertin from the town of Gevrey. Since he professed it as one of the greatest wines ever, everyone was trying to get their hands on Chambertin and completely overlooked the basic village wines. Imagine ordering a cable package for your tv and only ordering HBO, for example, and not getting the basic NBC, ABC, etc. I know that this is not the greatest simile but you get where I am going. The government was then petitioned by local farmers that were losing out on selling their everyday wines and all towns in the Cote d'Or region of Burgundy were allowed to attach the name of their best vineyard site to the nam

e of the town. Therefore, the town of Gevrey became known as Gevrey-Chambertin, hopefully to confuse consumers into purchasing Napoleon's favorite wine at everyday prices.

One of the more confusing hyphenated areas is that of the two towns of Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet. The towns of Puligny and Chassagne both share the Grand Cru vineyard Montrachet, so both used it in the addition to their names. Confusing right? Puligny's tend to have more limestone and mineral flavors while Chassagne's tend to be softer and less minerally.

Both towns produce exceptional wines, but Domaine Leflaive only has property in Puligny, so that is where our focus was. While chatting about the differences of the towns and vineyard sites, a fun story was brought up about the names of the vineyards in the town of Puligny-Montrachet. If you look at the map above, in the upper left hand corner below the Legend box, you will three distinct sites; Chevalier-Montrachet, Batard-Montrachet and Les Pucelles. The legend goes that centuries ago, the Chevalier (lord) of Montrachet (hence Chevlaier-Montrachet as a Grand Cru vineyard name) had an affair with his mistress in the vineyard of Les Pucelles and they produced a child from that interaction. When the mistress gave birth, she had the child in the vineyard next to the site of the affair and that Grand Cru vineyard was renamed Batard-Montrachet (the bastard of Montrachet).

So next time you hear about or try a Grand Cru wine from Puligny-Montrachet, this is a story that should be brought up because it is always a fun time, especially if you glass is full. That always helps.

A Great Brunello di Montalcino

2011-02-06T16:47:00.000-08:00

I am mixed with tons of emotion today because its the Super Bowl and I'm excited, however its the Super Bowl and that means no more football. Now I have nothing to get me through until my Mets (that's right, I'm a Mets fan and damn proud of it) start up with Spring training. So tonight my wife and are going out with a bang. We have the traditional things here (chips, wings and beers of course) to get us through the game, but we also have another treat; 2005 Frescobaldi CastelGiocondo Brunello di Montalcino. Being a wine geek, everything we tend to do has a wine "twist" to it.

This Brunello is something I have been looking at while at my desk all week and have been dying to open it up, and we just finished it. I think though we should get some things out of the way first before I get into this amazing wine. Brunello di Montalcino is one of the biggest wines to come out of Italy, and one of the biggest wines in the world, and is made from a clone of the famous Sangiovese grape. Brunello (which literally translates to "nice dark one" in the local dialect) is the name that was given to this Sangiovese clone (Sangiovese Rosso) in the famous Montalcino region of Italy. Therefore the name Brunello di Montalcino reads as the "nice dark one from the Montalcino region."

With that said, we just finished this 2005 Brunello from the infamous Frescobaldi estate's CastelGiocondo and are thoroughly impressed. We decanted this MONSTER for over an hour and it still wasn't enough! Rich and opulent with some of the darkest berries in a wine I have had in some time. Surprisingly, though, this was a wine that was very clean and crisp. Imagine a hardened criminal helping an elderly woman cross the street...Big yet gentle.

My last glass (which I just finished as I started typing this post) was the best of this bottle as the intense tannins that were still prevalent, even after decanting, with the first glass were extremely well balanced and less aggressive. Plus there were beautiful floral notes that started to emerge on the nose and then some subtle cinnamon flavors appeared on the palate taking this gem to new dimensions and solidifying Brunellos as the king of Tuscany and the best expression of Sangiovese.

The 2005 Brunello di Montalcino is a pretty offering laced with fresh flowers, plums, dark berries and spices, all of which emerge gracefully from its mid-weight frame. Clean, minerally notes inform the long, delicate finish. This is a terrific effort from Castelgiocondo, especially considering production is a whopping 230,000 bottles. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020.

-91 Points Robert Parker

Now that we have moved onto beer (a great one from New Zealand called Steinlager - think Stella Artois), I want to let everyone know that this week, this wine will be featured at the BEST PRICE ever for Brunello di Montalcino so keep an eye out. Raise your glass to the last football game of the year since my Jets (yes I am a Jets fan as well) are out, I hope your team wins. And if not, I hope your party is amazing and the drinks keeps flowing. Happy Super Bowl!

Breaking The Mold

2011-02-05T16:55:00.000-08:00

For the past 500 years bittering hops have been to Scotland's brewing tradition, what water is to beer; nothing short of a necessity. Then two young kids the age of 24 thought they would let a Brew Dog off the leash, and run ramped through the classical methods of Scottish brewing. This introduction of a flagrant snapping of established practices, along with phenomenal beer, shot them to the top and landed them directly in the public's eye, and here's why:

330ml Tactical Nuclear Penguin 32% - $74.99

330ml Sink The Bismarck 41% - $98.98

330ml The End of History 55% - $780

A Throw Back To 2010

2011-02-02T14:32:00.000-08:00

I am so excited because more of one of our favorite 2007 California Cabernet Sauvignons jsut became available again. That's right, Edna Valley's 2007 Paso Robles Cabernet is back! Back in the early 1970s, the Niven family planted a wonderful little vineyard in the Paso Robles area of California called Paragon. From this small parcel of land, the Nivens grew their small production of personal table wines to somewhat larger production wines for commercial usage, and thus Edna Valley Vineyards was born. Luckily, their growing seasons is one of the longest, and coolest (being just 5 miles from the Pacific Ocean) in California allowing the grapes to mature in a slow and steady pattern to achieve maximum ripeness. Through the Nivens persistence, along with a few other main stays in Paso Robles, the Edna Valley as a whole was granted it's own AVA (American Viticultural Area) in May of 1982 and has continued to grow in quality over the years. I love a hero’s story!

The pinnacle of their quality has come in the 2007 vintage with their stellar Cabernet Sauvignon yet they have done something that they have never done in the past; they dropped the price! A great Cab at the cheapest price any of us have ever seen for it. Keep an eye out there for our February ad in the local papers and the New Haven Register for this unbelievable price.

Benjamin Romeo Rioja Bliss

2010-10-19T17:25:00.000-07:00

Spain is an area that very few have had the opportunity to jump into with great determination and dedication over the years. And those that have, have benefited from a king’s ransom worth of wine and enjoyment. One of the few Spanish treats around is Benjamin Romeo out of the Rioja district. Romeo is an enthusiastic and fanatical winemaker that only plays with one grape; Tempranillo. In no way does he, or has he ever, strayed away from this illustrious grape. It is what he knows and wha the world expects him to make. In the New World, you will never find a successful winemaker staying with but one grape. No, they will expand to other varietals and then work outside of their comfort zone. Not Romeo. It’s all Tempranillo or bust. In the area of Rioja (in Northern Spain), Romeo makes but a mere 3 wines; Predicador (a 3.5 hectare vineyard site), Contador (the flagship wine of the estate) and the La Cueva del Contador (the baby brother of the Contador.

Today I was fortunate enough to try the 2006 La Cueva del Contador, which is on extremely limited supply. This wine was recently awarded 94+ Points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and seemed like a true homerun. Well, drum roll please……IT WAS!!! Wow.

The purple-colored 2006 La Cueva del Contador was aged for 12 months in new French oak and bottled without fining or filtration. It gives up an outstanding perfume of pain grille, pencil lead, damp earth, incense, and black cherry. Opulent on the palate, it is dense, rich, and full-flavored with enough ripe tannin to evolve for 4-6 years. Drink this lengthy effort from 2014 to 2031.

~94+ Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

This wine is tight, unfortunately, but after going back to my glass from 2pm (it’s 8:30pm now), it has started to open up ever so slightly. It is extremely dense and opulent with tons of black fruits and floral notes on the nose with those wonderful gamey hints emerging out. The palate is an explosion of flavors! Black cherries, plums, licorice and the greatest layers of earth and graphite dominate while those gamey aromas start to wave up on the tail end of the palate. Backed with it's 94+ Points from Robert Parker, this limited production wine truly is a masterpiece for only the truly invested wine lover. While they are around, I would highly suggest a bottle of 6 pack for the cellar as these types of treasures don’t arise everyday.

A Glimpse of 2009 Bordeaux

2010-09-04T06:29:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, a small selection of retailers from around the state were invited to a barrel sample tasting of 2009 Petit Chateaux from Bordeaux over in Fairfield at The Brasserie, a wonderful new French restaurant down there. The 2009 vintage is being heralded as THE vintage of a lifetime (yes, again). I just love the press is giving this vintage:

"The finest vintage I have tasted in 32 years of covering Bordeaux!!!" - Robert M. Parker Jr.

"In France's most famous wine region, Bordeaux, some people are touting the 2009 vintage as the mother of great modern vintages." - James Suckling, Wine Spectator

But with all of this hype, and the prices I have been seeing for the classified growth futures which seem to be getting out of control, I was happy to have the opportunity to see if this vintage was all it is cracked up to be. Now the wines we set to try were only Petit Chateaux, meaning that they are not classified growths and that these bottlings are only the babies of the vintage. This means that these will be bottled early and meant for earlier, rather than later consumption.

The entire tasting lasted a mere two hours or so with something to the tune of 25 or so wines being tried from all corners of Bordeaux. I have to admit that I was damned impressed. The previous Vintage of a Lifetime (2005) was one that when tried in barrel, exhibited wonderful structure and character that proved to only enhance when the finished products finally landed here in the states. With that said, these Petit Chateaux barrel samples were showing in the same capacity; bright, well structured fruit, silky tannins (barrel sample tannins never seem to be over the top) and lovely complexity.

What truly surprised was which side of the river I preferred more. As most know, Bordeaux is basically split in two by the Gironde River, and the two land masses on either side are referred to as the Right Bank and Left Bank. The Left Bank is where Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominate grape whereas the Right Bank is where Merlot is dominate. With that said, I had expected to be severely blown away by the Left Bank wines (this is where Lafite-Rothschild, Mouton-Rothschild, Haut-Brion and the like reside) but much to my surprise, I was blown away by the Right Bank wines! Although both sides were well defined and delectable, the Merlot based wines really showed some amazing definition and dimension, more so than I ever expected.

Below are a few of the wines that stood out and will be here in the store NEXT MONTH!

2009 Chateau La Borne Bordeaux

- 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot

87 Pts Wine Exchange Team - A deep purple color. Slightly jammier blackberry fruits but with a nice balance of herbs on the nose. The palate was much more complex than expected with toasted coffee notes, almonds, black fruits and soft, silky tannins.

2009 Chateau Le Petit Courret Bordeaux - 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
88 Pts Wine Exchange Team - Wonderfully deep ruby color. Restrained nose with juicy red black cherry fruits and subtle cocoa notes. Rich red and black cherry fruits and softer tannins than expected and a slight spice towards the finish

2009 Chateau Lieumenant Bordeaux Superieur - 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon
88 Pts Wine Exchange Team - A nose of black berries, licorice, tobacco and nutty notes. Wonderfully unfiltered and murky (being a barrel sample) with big spicy notes and rich, robust fruits however not overly oppulent. Lingering finish.

2009 La Roche-Pressac Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux - 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot
88 Pts Wine Exchange Team - Ruby red color. Chocloate covered strawberries with coffee bean aromas and red fruits. Bigger red fruits with leather and spicy hints on hte finish with relativelysoft tannins. Nice complexity.

2009 Chateau Sainte Barbe Bordeaux - 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc
87-89 Pts Robert Parker - Another sleeper of the vintage, this well-made, low level Bordeaux offers delicious black currant fruit notes intermixed with notions of loamy soil and spice box. Its dark ruby/purple color is followed by a medium to full-bodied wine with a velvety texture. Enjoy it over the next 3-4 years.

2009 Chateau Maillard Graves - 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot
89 Pts Wine Exchange Team - Dark rich color with huge cracked black pepper notes with layered earthy characterisitcs towards the end. Needs a lot of time to breathe. Red fruits and currants with Herb de Provence hints and a well balanced finish.

2009 Chateau Haut Beyzac Haut-Medoc - 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot
90 Pts Wine Exchange Team - Deep ruby red color. Red cherried nose with raspberries and licorice kicks. Slightly candied fruits coming through as well. Soft and supple but extremely minerally with huge red fruits dominating throughout. Will be great in 5 years!

2009 Chateau La Rose Cantegrit Moulis en Medoc - 80% cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot
91 Pts Wine Exchange Team - Chocolate covered candied strawberries are all throughout the nose with very unique aromas for this appellation. Complex fruits and currants with coffee and anise hints. A truly wonderful treat.

2009 Chateau Guillon Nardou Montagne Saint-Emilion - 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot
90 Pts Wine Exchange Team - Dark ruby color. Hugely earthy and red pepper spiced nose with licorice and black berries. Soft, velvety and fruity with a full-bodied, candied finish.

2009 Chateau Puisseguin La Rigodrie Puisseguin Saint-Emilion - 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot
89 Pts Wine Exchange Team - An intense garnet red color. Rich red fruits with jammy blackberries on the nose with violets and subtle floral hints as it opens. The palate is lively with black fruits and plums with well integrated tannins and a smooth silky finish.

2009 Clos Albertus Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion - 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
89 Pts Wine Exchange Team - Wonderful scarlet color. Sexy and huge black fruits on the nose with jammy raspberry fruits emerging out. The palate is a lovely mix of plums, blackberries and raspberries with touches of white chocolate and herbs on the finish.

2009 Chateau Nardian Saint-Emilion - 100% Merlot
90 Pts Wine Exchange Team - Deep garnet color. Toasted black and red berries with cedar box touches of the nose. The palate is a mix of darker berries, anise, toasted coconuts with a wonderfully long finish.

2009 Chateau Saint Valery Saint-Emilion Grand Cru - 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
91 Pts Wine Exchange Team - Deep garnet color. Rich limestone hints with blackberry and herb notes. The palate is round and well-constructed with white pepper hints and thyme notes. The finish just lingers on and on.

2009 Chateau Bois de Laborde Lalande de Pomerol - 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
91 Pts Wine Exchange Team - Dark, opulent color. Cherries and blackberries with earthy notes on the nose. The palate dominated with cooked blackberry fruits and a wonderful minerality. Then the finish is smooth and slightly spicy.

2009 Chateau Moulin Delille Saint-Estephe - 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot 90 Pts Wine Exchange Team - Sexy garnet color. Dark chocolate and chocolate covered cherries are all over this nose. The palte is slightly aggressive with tannins initially then balances out. Blue berries and chocolate push through on the finish.

2009 Chateau Tayac Margaux - 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot
92 Pts Wine Exchange Team - Deep, deep garnet color. Earthy and smoky nose with rich ripe red fruits coming out. The palate is silky and smooth with those wonderful red berries throughout and well integrated tannins with a long lovely finish.

CT's Oldest Bottle Of Wine

2010-09-03T14:51:00.000-07:00

It is rare that a bottle of wine comes around that will WOW everyone that sees, and here in the store we just acquired the oldest bottle the state of CT has ever seen. A 1937 Sauternes! Throguh a rare state of circumstances, a lone bottle of Chateau Gillette Creme de Tete from 1937 was able to grace our doorways here and I jumped all over it.

It is the only bottle in the store that has no radioactive materials in it whatsoever. If you are wondering what I mean by that, think about what happened at the end of the WWII with the two nuclear bombs that went off. With the world's wind currents, the radioactive fallout material spread itself over the course of the world and since then, every wine made in the world has a small, minute amount of radioactive material in it. However, this gem has not even a touch.

Over the years, this immaculate bottle has changed from its youthfully bright yellowish gold to a brandy-esque brown and the sugar deposits have gathered together and formed on the bottom in a small pile of the what is most likely the best sugar ever. The one downside to this bottom, if you want to call it that, is the label is torn a bit. But outside of that, she is a alive and well and ready for that amazing evening when the cork gets pulled and the oldest wine in the state breathes once again.

A Treat Of Wine

2010-08-14T15:10:00.000-07:00

Last night, a supplier came by and dropped off a bottle of an amazingly unique wine; Gerard Bertrand Tautavel Grand Terroir 2007. Being a French wine geek, I was surprised to find an appellation from France that I was unaware of so my attention was immediately piqued. I finnaly had the opportunity to open it today and all I can say is WOW!

In the Southern part of the Roussillon region of France lies the small and relatively unknown Tautavel appellation. Within this appellation, one of the greatest forgotten grapes exists; Carignan. Carignan is a grape that deserves a place a the table with some of the greats like Cabernet and Pinot Noir, but only in the best of conditions. And when I say that, I mean that Carignan is only amazing when it the vine has some serious age on it. The older the vines, the better the Carignan but the reverse is true as well, so when the vines are younger, they produce a wine that is rough to the palate.

What Bertrand has done here is just amazing. He has taken Syrah, Grenache and old vine Carignan and blended the three together in a stellar southern treat that is sure to blow your mind. Plus, it recently was awarded 91 Points from Wine Spectator (Very pure-tasting and powerful, with unctuous flavors of dark plum, mincemeat, raspberry ganache and black olive. There's lots of dark chocolate and espresso notes on the muscular finish. Drink now through 2015). Not too shabby for a $15 bottle. Get prepared to see it shortly in our weekly emails.

A Rosé By Any Other Name

2010-08-02T16:09:00.000-07:00

I just opened one of the greatest new Rosé wines that has become available to me here in the store. Jean Raffault Chinon Rosé 2009 is the wine I am talking about here. Chinon, a lovely town in the Loire Valley of France is the birthplace for one of my favorite grapes: Cabernet Franc. Generally, Cabernet Franc on it's own is a terrible wine and finding a great one is a true journey. You must have that Lewis & Clarke gene for adventure for Cabernet Franc. Most New World versions of Cab Franc are high alcohol, top heavy messes with sandpaper style finishes.

However, in the Loire Valley, Cabernet Franc has been put through the ringer, so hte bad ones never get made and only the best of the best get bottled. Chinon is one of the few towns where this grape shines and this has never been more true than with Jean Rauffault's 2009 (amazing vintage) Chinon Rosé. This wine is a beautiful salmon pink with the most alluring nose of strawberries, cherries and rose petals. The palate is lively and zippy with stellar minerality and a nice lengthy finish. It really is an amazing treat for those Cab Franc seekers out there. And she received an 89 Point score from Mr. Stephen Tanzer of the International Wine Cellar:

Light, bright pink. Spicy citrus and red berry aromas are complicated by notes of white pepper, minerals and rose. Dry and precise, offering tangy blood orange and cherry flavors and a dusting of chalky minerals. Very grown-up in style, finishing with very good cut and clarity.

For that perfect summertime rosé, look no further as it is here and only $13.99 ($11.89/case). May the journey be for you what is has been for me; a pleasure.

What Is A Meritage?

2010-07-26T06:14:00.000-07:00

We constantly see bottles labeled Meritage located near our Cabernet Sauvignons and Merlots but there always seems to be some uncertainty about what it actually means and how to pronounce it. I think it's time we put these questions to a rest and start fully enjoying our juice, shall we?

A Meritage is actually a blend of Bordeaux grapes made in a new world setting (ie: Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Washington State, etc). After California beat out the best of the French in that famous tasting back in 1976, the vinters in the Napa area were getting continually frustrated with the BATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms - the governing branch of the wine world which states that to call a wine a certain varietal, it must contain at least 75% of that varietal). And since they couldn't use the name Bordeaux as the name Bordeaux is legally protected by France's designation of origin (A.O.C. or as seen in Italy and Spain, D.O.C.), these vitners decided to find a proprietary name that would mean the same thing. Therefore, they held a contest in the late 1980's, and with over 6,000 submissions, they knew they were onto something. After a strict selection process, they came up with the winner; Meritage - a combination of merit and heritage, with the one who coined the phrase awarded two bottles of the first ten vintages of every wine licensed to use the brand. By 1999, there were 22 wineries apart of the newly formed Meritage Association and happily using the term. Then, 10 years later, that number had grown to well over 250 wineries just in Napa Valley with more jumping on board every year.

But what exactly constitutes a wine to be called a Meritage? Well it boils down to what grapes are used. To be called a Meritage, a wine must contain all five Bordeaux grapes; Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. The wine must be either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot dominant with lesser portions of the remaining three. Now if we are talking a white Meritage, which is generally less known, we are talking a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, the grapes that make up all white Bordeaux wines.

Now the last, and probably the most debated, is the pronunciation of the word Meritage. Most people will make this word sound extra French-ed up when, as stated by the Meritage Association, should rhyme more along the line of "heritage". I know, it's hard not so say it in the Frenchy way, even for me, but at least we can all agree that its damn good juice that we enjoy.

Sterling Vitners Meritage 08 - ON SALE $10.99

Fresh, bright, fruity-forward wines express the true varietal character of California's Central coast. This rich full-bodied blend shows concentrated berry and plum flavors with a beautifully expressive finish.

Hahn Meritage Central Coast 07 - $16.99 ($14.44/case)

On the palate, the wine starts with various red fruits that transition towards blueberry and plum at the back end. There is an ethereal wisp of thyme that runs alongside the delicate spice of French oak. Moderate tannins develop just into what becomes a fairly lengthy finish.

Topel Meritage 03 - $23.99 ($20.39/case)

90 Pts Wine Exchange Team - One of the better wines bearing the distinction “Meritage “, this wine boasts an inky purple color along with aromas of black cassis, plums and blackberry fruit intermixed with notions of creamy vanilla and spice. The palate is full bodied with explosive character, a firm tannin structure and a polished finish.

The World's Oldest Bottles of Champagne. And Fit For A King!

2010-07-22T16:06:00.001-07:00

Over the last week or so, some of the coolest news about older Champagne has come to light in a truly unique way. This is very reminiscent of a treasure hunting movie. Cue Nicholas Cage and the third National Treasure movie. It seems that recently, a team of divers off the Finland coast were out for a normal day and discovered one of the greatest historical finds that a wine lover and/or history buff could ask for...30 bottles of 1780's Veuve Clicquot!

I know you are probably thinking to yourself, "200+ year old Champagne, it's got to be terrible!" Well, I guess not. The conditions of this sunken ship were perfect for storing Champagne; dark, cool, no exposure whatsoever to light and the moisture helped keep it all together. I wonder if a future underwater cellar is in the works for some folks? It seems, and this hasn't been confirmed yet, that these bottles were some of the many gifts aboard a ship from King Louis XVI (the Sun King) of France to the Russian Imperial Court that never made it to Russia. If this small piece of info does turn out ot be true, the remaining 29 bottles (they had to drink one!) will go for millions at auction. Right now these bottles are estimated at a mere (haha) $69,000 a bottle! Oh to be a diver on that boat that day. For info on this amazing find, check out the AP news story here (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/07/19/world/main6692093.shtml) and go home and pop a bottle of Veuve...I know I will be.

Rioja 101

2010-07-19T07:58:00.001-07:00

Recently, a lot of questions have been shot my way regarding the different styles of Rioja while in the store, so I have decided to try and clear some things up. First, where is exactly is Rioja? La Rioja is located in the northern part of Spain just south of the French border and has become one of the forerunners of Spanish wine production. The soil here is actually a wonderful red hue and therefore lead the originators of the wine in this region to call it Rioja, which means red. The region also qualifies as a D.O.C. (Denominacion de Origen Calificada) which means that the Spanish government allows all wines produced here under the set standard laws of winemaking to call themselves Rioja. Think about Champagne as an example; wines produced outside of the actual Champagne region aren't allowed to call themselves Champagne because they aren't in the classified region and aren't following the laws set forth by the government of that region. That is why you generally pay more for true Champagne than you do for imposters from elsewhere.

Now the Rioja region is subdivided into three zones:Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja and Rioja Alavesa with many of the wines we see are traditionally blending fruit from all three regions. There are technically four grapes that make up the wonderful reds but the main two that seem to dominate are Tempranillo and Granacha (or Grenache). The other grapes that are involved in small amounts are Graciano and Mazuelo however a typical Rioja blend will consist of approximately 60% Tempranillo and up to 20% Garnacha, with much smaller proportions of Mazuelo and Graciano.

Here is where things tend to get a little confusing. Rioja wines are classified in 4 separate way: Rioja, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva. So what do all of these labels on a wine label actually mean? Here we go:

Rioja - the youngest of all labels, spending less than a year in an oak aging barrel

Crianza - aged for at least two years, at least one of which was in oak.

Reserva - aged for at least three years, of which at least one year is in oak. Not necessarily produced ever year.

Gran Reserva - aged at least two years in oak and three years in bottle and not necessarily produced every year.

It is always fun to experiment with these styles of wine as it is extremely interesting how as you move up in aging, the more developed and more Burgundian-esque (aka funky and multi-demensional). Truly an amazing region that always deserves a place at a dinner table of tapas setup. Below are some great examples of a wine from each classification of Rioja that is readily available in the store:

Montebuena Rioja 06 - $11.99 ($10.19/case)

Dark red. Spicy red berries and cherry on the nose, with hints of cracked pepper and dried rose. Crisp and dry on the palate, with spicy redcurrant and cherry flavors, light tannins and a fresh, energetic finish. An excellent value, and surprisingly elegant for this price point.

Cerro Anon Crianza 05 - 15.99 ($13.59/case)

This firm red offers hard candy cherry and vanilla flavors, then turns a bit dry on the finish. Assertive, but lean and a bit rustic.

Lan Rioja Reserva 04 - $19.99 ($16.99/case)

90 Pts Wine Spectator - A silky texture carries expressive flavors of black plum, violet, licorice and smoke in this focused, balanced red. Has good intensity yet remains vibrant and accessible.

Faustino Gran Reserva 96 - $33.99 ($28.89/case)

Inviting nose of dusty plum, cherry, brown spice, cedar and earth, this is "Rioja meets old Burgundy" with the delicate elements that only develop with bottle age. Mostly Tempranillo with some Graziano and Mazuelo, the tannins are resolved but the wine still has a freshness form the acidity.

2005 Bordeaux Tasting

2010-07-19T06:04:00.000-07:00

As promised, I wanted to give a run down of our recent 2005 Bordeaux private tasting that we held up in our tasting room on the second floor with the incomparable Serge Dore. Serge, a French Canadian, has found himself over the years, making his way back to France and consulting and importing some of the greatest boutique chateaux around. Now, due to circumstances beyond his control, Serge found himself here in CT for only ONE extra day and since we love Serge and his wines, we snatched him up right away.

Given the scarcity of the 2005 vintage nowadays, we had no choice but to keep our tasting intimate and small. It turned out that we had a sold out crowd of 30 people who in turn had one of the greatest nights ever. Serge, a true oenophile, had one of the most unique ideas for our tasting, one that I had never intentionally done before, which was to end the tasting with the white wine! I thought it sounded kind of crazy but, I have to admit, it worked. You would think that the palate would be fatigued from all of the red wines, but the white truly awoke the senses and revived the tongue with its bright crispness and minerally notes.

Also, Serge was extremely adamant that we should stay away from the wonderfully diverse and impressive cheese spread that Fromage Cheese in Old Saybrook (www.fromagefinefoods.com/) provided us with because it would change our perception of the wines. What did he mean, you may be asking yourself. Well, this is a debate that those within the wine world have shot back and forth for decades. There is a movement out there that cheese blocks the tongue from processing certain flavors and therefore you miss out on the wine. If you think of the tongue as a sponge, as cheese is added to the mix, the "sponge" starts to soak up the cheese in its pores and blocks other flavors from entering. I personally am of the school of thought that wine and cheese have a very special place together on a table and compliment one another perfectly. But I am open to everyone's ideas so we ran with it and did our wine tasting sans cheese.

Once Serge started fully pouring and talking, we all ended up having a blast. That man can really talk to a room full of wine drinkers (I love that!). Below is the order in which we went with the wines, their reviews and the pricing. We have sold out of almost everything but there are a few stragglers of the Haut-Medoc around and the 09 Bordeaux Blanc isreadily available and a great indicator of exactly how amazing 2009 really is. Thank you all for attending and enjoy your gems in 20+ years.

1. Chateau Belle-Vue Haut-Medoc 05 - $36.99 ($31.44/case)
89 Pts Robert Parker - A terrific over-achiever located just outside the Margaux appellation, Belle-Vue is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 15% Petit Verdot, and 3% Carmenère that achieved over 13% natural alcohol. Big, spicy aromas of cedar, sweet currants, oak and forest floor emerge from this dense ruby/purple-tinged effort. Medium-bodied, elegant, nuanced, deep, chewy, and moderately tannic.

2. Chateau Grand Tayac Margaux 05 - $44.99 ($38.24/case)
90 Pts Wine Exchange Team - Château Grand Tayac stands in the commune of Soussans in Southern Margaux. The Vineyard produces just 3000 cases and is made by Eric Boissenot, who made his name with properties such as Leoville Las Cases and Pichon Comtesse. No expense is spared to produce this wonderful fruity elegant wine, true to the appellation. Château Grand Tayac is purple/black in color with aromas of blackberry, mineral and tar...it’s silky and refined!

3. Chateau Courtin Pauillac 05 - $56.99 ($48.44/case)
91 Pts Wine Exchange Team - Deep, ruby, purple rim, opaque, this “baby Pauillac” has rich blackberry fruit with a touch of anise. Alcohol is present on the nose. This wine is dry, powerful with soft tannins allowing it to be surprisingly accessible for such a young wine. The finish is of medium length with essences of tar and blackberries. Elegant, rich and powerful, good with steak, monastery cheeses, white meat and lamb—gamey, not too spicy.

4. Chateau Teynac Saint Julien 04 - $50.99 ($43.34/case)
89 Pts Wine Exchange Team - A beautiful red with a velvety texture embodied with flavors of blackberry, licorice currant, coffee, and dark chocolate on the finish.

5. Chateau des Templiers Pomerol 05 - $63.99 ($54.39/case)
91 Pts Wine Exchange Team - Deep ruby and opaque. Aromas of ripe plums and black berry fruit and intense wood notes pervades this wine, with lots of tannin present, yet, still soft and round. Good with red and white meats, pork, sweetbreads and game birds.

6. Chateau Fonroque Saint-Emilion 05 - $49.99 ($42.49/case)
91 Pts Robert Parker - Proprietor Alain Moueix (a distant cousin to the Jean-Pierre Moueix family) has begun to bio-dynamically farm this well-known vineyard, seek lower yields, and institute a more serious winemaking philosophy than his predecessors. A blend of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc, the muscular 2005 reveals a terroir-based personality with loads of crushed rock, earth, and forest floor notes intermixed with cherry, incense, earth, and spice characteristics.

7. Chateau Tanesse Bordeaux Blanc 09 - $13.99 ($11.89/case)
91 Pts Wine Exchange Team - One of the first 2009 Bordeaux that we have seen and it shows why everyone is praising this vintage so highly. The nose is intensely fruits with layers of peaches, pineapples, and the greatest touch of pears. The acidity is extremely lively and the finish is something to marvel at. If the rest of 2009 looks this amazing, we are all in for a treat.

A 1999 Pauillac Gem!

2010-07-15T18:56:00.000-07:00

After our amazing 2005 Bordeaux event (that blog is coming, don't worry), I had an inkling for some more Bordeaux and started searching high and low for a great, older bottle. I had it in my mind that the older bottle I would find would be one of the more costly wines that haven't moved too well over the years and there's inventory still sitting around, collecting dust. Boy was I mistaken. Bacchus himself must have been on my side and dropped the greatest gem right on my lap...a 1999 Les Tourelles de Loungueville Pauillac!

This is one of favorite finds because it is the second label of the famed second growth Bordeaux house, Pichon de Loungueville. Second labels are always fun and exciting but they also never have the price tags that the main label tends to shoot for. Plus, as an added bonus, it is what critics call "an off vintage." I personally love "off vintages" because if you get a bottle by a great producer in an "off vintage," it is an amazing wine. Think about this; would you prefer a bottle from a bad producer in a great year or a bottle from a great producer in a bad year? I prefer the latter because I know they consistently make great wines as that is what they do.

This bottle right here has the proof in the pudding. Layered with luscious red and black berries on the nose with the greatest leather notes that continue to open with a backing of chocolate that just awakens the senses. The palate has wonderful baked red cherries and plums with that leather characterisitc really showing through. Plus it has my favorite quality in an old world wine...that "dirt in a glass" feature which immediately transport me back to the vineyards where these grapes were picked. I absolutely love that. For those other 11 of you out there, enjoy these bottles. For everyone else, I do apologize for you have missed a true beauty.

Austrian Sparkling Wine...Sekt

2010-06-19T10:49:00.000-07:00

A few moments ago, we opened up a bottle that was dropped off for us here of an Austrian sparkling wine, which they called Sekt (pronounced sect). I have been looking for one for a while now and came across this one by accident from my supplier. I had asked him for a Cabernet Franc sparkling wine which didn't go over well (it was rated by Rachel Ray as a great wine under $20 recently; it wasn't. I have been scared off of what Rachel may have in store for me on the wine front).

So, as a way to make up for his folly, my supplier dropped off a Sekt made from Gruner Veltliner (a wonderful Austrian grape that has always been a favorite of mine). The Sekt is made in the methode traditional, or the Champagne method, meaning that the bubbles occurred in the bottle instead of in a giant tank. This method creates tighter bubbles and less of a headache.

The nose is light with the most subtle of bready aromas with limes and grapefruit hints emerging out. The palate is light yet nicely complex with citrusy notes dominating this gem and the greatest of peppery hints coming out towards the end. This is an extremely well made wine and I can't wait until this $18.99 ($16.14/case) bottle makes it here on Wednesday. For those of you that tried it this weekend, I know you can't wait either. Have Father's Day to all the dads out there.

Sequoia Grove

2010-06-18T15:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Lars from Kobrand swung by with Michael Trujillo from Sequoia Grove Winery in Napa Valley (and the famed Karl Lawrence Cellars) to show us some of his amazing wines. Michael, a seasoned winemaker, is a man that I truly respect because he is all about the goal of quality and not press. That doesn't happen so much anymore, especially out in Napa.

So, the wines they brought were but only two; the only two available in the state of CT - a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon. First up was the Chardonnay. This Chard is a rare treat as it isn't a butter bomb and you aren't sucking on a 2x4 on the finish. This is more old world style in that it is allowing the grape to express itself fully without the added help of oak or butter. They actually stop the malolactic fermentation from occurring (malolactic fermentation is changing harsher green apple fruits into smooth buttery notes by adding lactic acid) and allow the bright, crisp fruits drive this gem home. Green apples and pears dominate with touches of peaches on the finish and the greatest stony quality throughout. A truly brilliant wine.

Then, Michael opened up his prized possession, his Rutherford Bench Cabernet Sauvignon. However before he opened it, he handed me this amazing map of Napa Valley that I have never seen before (see above). This by far the greatest map of Napa I have ever seen. Unfortunately, this was done by a local artist, so you won't find this from other regions or other wineries. Not yet at least.

Back to the Cab though. The second we opened this, we knew we were preparing for greatness, even if it was only 10am. The nose was unbelievable but tight. Blackberry notes and cocoa hints dominate as the secondary aromas slowly opened up with touches of cinnamon, oak and black pepper. The palate was wonderfully layered with touches of black fruits, plums and dark chocolate notes with the silkiest tannins around. With this said though, Michael did let us know that his 2007 was right around the corner, so we have decided to take step back and await the arrival of those gems as he has a real surprise in store for us when they get released. But I promised I wouldn't reveal that yet, so we all have to wait until September when he comes back with the juice.

Italian Wine 101 - Valpolicella DOC

2010-06-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

It has occurred to me recently that everyone loves Italian wine but there seems to be a lack of understanding when to comes what exacty the label means and what the juice is. So, I wanted to take a few moments and explain some attributes that make up the wines we all love so much. So let's demystify this area of the world and their amazing juice.

The area of Italy I want to focus on today is Valpolicella in the Verona region near Lake Garda. You may have seen Valpolicella wines in the store before and just passed right by them, but for those who drink Italian wine, I can guarantee you have had Valpolicella's main wine...Amarone della Valpolicella. But there are other wines besides Amarone that make this area so amazing. As a fun fact, Valpolicella is the second highest wine producing region in all of Italy, right behind Chianti. That's a lot of wine!

What makes up the wines of Valpolicella? Well there are three grapes that make these stellar wines; Corvina Veronese, Rondinella and Molinara. And in the Valpolicella region, there are five wines that you are guaranteed to run into on a regular basis in a fine wine store; Valpolicella, Valpolicella Classico, Valpolicella Superiore, Valpolicella Ripasso and Amarone della Valpolicella.
What is the difference between each of these wines and why are they different prices? Let's start small and work our way up. Valpolicella at it's basic level is a light, fragrant wine with grapes sourced from the vineyards all around the Valpolicella region. These tend to be the most economical of the group of Valpolicella wines. Then, Valpolicella Classico comes up and shies towards a touch more fruity and complex with these grapes hailing from the Classico region of Valpolicella. Just like in Chianti Classico! Then we move to Valpolicella Superiore and these grapes are sourced from Classico but are, by law, aged at least 1 year in oak with an alcohol level of at least 12%.

Now moving up in ranks, we arrive at Valpolicella Ripasso which is a form of Superiore but it is made with partially dried grapes that are left over from the winemaking trails of Amarone wine. This is by far the best value for Valpolicella wines around as Amarone's are expensive whereas Ripassos tend to be in the $20 range. Lastly we come to Amarone della Valpolicella which is made with the same blend of the tree grapes discussed earlier, but the Corvina grapes are laid out on straw mats after the harvest in the hot Sun so the extra water evaporates and the sugars intensify. This yields less juice but expalins the reason why Amarone is so expensive. Again, with Valpolicella Ripasso, using the same dried grapes technique but just less of it, is the best "bang for buck" when talking Verona wines.

Below are a few examples of some of the Valpolicellas we carry here in the store. I hope that this helps those of us out there looking to expand their knowledge. Keep your eyes open in the future for more Wine 101 posts.

Basic Level: Bolla Valpolicella 1.5L $11.99 - This sumptuous wine has flavors of berries, cherries and almonds, enhanced with subtle oak, vanilla and spice complexity from aging in new oak casks.

Classico Level: Corte Rugolin Valpolicella Classico '06 $15.99 ($13.59/case) - Has a minerally nose, with a hint of black cherry. Medium-bodied, with some good fruit on the finish.

Superiore Level: Allegrini Valpolicella Superiore '08 $15.99 ($13.59/case) - This Valpolicella is a gorgeous expression of classic Italian winemaking. It reveals cherry and herb notes along with a smooth, supple personality.

Ripasso Level: Valentia Cubi Ripasso '03 $19.99 ($16.99/case) - Ruby red wine with a strong fruity perfume enriched with tangy spice and a hint of vanilla. It has a lively crisp flavor, outlined by tannins that evoke precious oriental woods.

Amarone Level: Cesari Amarone della Valpolicella '05 $49.99 ($42.49/case) - Slightly sweet currant aromas and flavors, colored with nuts and vanilla. Medium- to full-bodied, with a clean, fruity palate and fine tannins.

With A Little Help From Our Friends...Cashmere

2010-06-07T08:18:00.000-07:00

Out of pure intrigue, I decided to bring a bottle of Cline's Cashmere blend home over the weekend and opened it up last night. First off, Cashmere is a blend that the folks at Cline in California have created with the an altuistic twist added to it. A portion of all of the profits from this wine go to help people with breast cancer through the Breast Cancer Network of Strength's Ride to Empower. I love this idea and any product, wine or otherwise, that helps people and gives back.

So, with this wine and idea in mind, I was truly excited to revisit this wine as it has been a while. This wine is a blend of Mouvedre, Grenache and Syrah, a true Rhone-style blend from the Central Coast area of California. The wine has a pretty Violet-red color. The nose is loaded with a sweet, creamy oakiness. On the palate, I'm immediately I'm immediately struck by the smoothness of this wine. This wine definitely lives up to its name...Cashmere. Filled to the brim with luscious plummy, red berry and blackberry flavors with vanilla oak and spice accents. An amazing wine with a promise to help rid the world of breast cancer.

An Austrian Pinot Noir?

2010-06-05T15:07:00.000-07:00

Not two days ago, a supplier of mine dropped off a bottle of a wine called St. Laurent from Austria for me to try. Well, I took it home that night and went to town. This wine, Johanneshof Reinisch St Laurent Grand Reserve '03, is a wine that if you saw it one day on a lonely shelf in some other store, you'd most likely pass right by as the intense Germanic-style of writing is extremely off-putting. Just ask my wife. She hated the label, but the juice WAS AMAZING!

Opening with a nice earthy note and some great funky hints and red cherries, this wine was one to stop you in your tracks. With the impressive aroma of cherries and berries the palate followed suit along with a fine balance of acidity and tannin. Wonderfully soft, harmonious and a long aftertaste. The best part is the price. It drinks at a $65 price but comes in at $25.99 a bottle ($22.09/mixed case). We took 5 cases this week and today, there are 9 bottles left. I am in the process of getting more, but for those that haven't tried yet, this may be a now or never situation. For those that have tried it, enjoy!

Spanish Sparklers

2010-05-25T12:56:00.000-07:00

Spain is one of the few European countries that is consistently producing affordable wine, although they do try to jump to the price levels of some French and Italian wines. One of the largest growing segments of Spanish wines is one of my favorites...Cava. Cava is nothing more than Spanish sparkling wine and has really caught the attention of those bubble fans out there. Just last week, two brand new Spanish sparklers came my way from Noche y Dia and I jumped all over them.

The first of the Cavas from Noche y Dia ($15.99 a bottle...$13.59 a bottle/case for both) is a none vintage bubbler made from three grapes most folks have never heard of...Macabeo (also known as Vuira in Rioja where it makes white Rioja wines), Xarel-lo and Parellada. The blend on this specific sparkler is 40% Macabeo, 40% Xarel-lo and 20% Parellada and drinking like a champ! It is succulently crisp with notes of Golden Delicious apples, honey and a Bibb lettuce hint. The palate is crystal clear with its layered fruits of lemon, apple and green banana, with a finish that just takes hold and runs.

The second of the Cavas is their Rosé however this uses none of the previously mentioned grapes. This is actually a grape that I can guarantee most have never heard of...Trepat. This grape is used solely for the production of Rosado Cava, or sparkling Rosé and is one for the record books. The nose opens with great strawberry fruits that are lively and intense while the palate follows suit but adds in more red fruits like cherries and finishes with a crisp acidity that makes this gem great for shellfish and lighter dishes. However, she would be great just as an apertif, as I had her today before my lunch.

They are both available now and are sure to be the new thing for the summertime. Enjoy!

"The Summer Seasonal" - What to Avoid & What to Enjoy

2010-05-17T17:06:00.000-07:00

She's the warmest of the four seasons and marked with long days and short nights, it is imperative to find that beer with an enduring finish, for those brief summer nights. So what our are choices? Do we follow trends, individualize, go with the same old or explore palatable new unknowns?

Considering no fresh batch of beer can be exact to the one before it, I believe it is time for that unfamiliar, not tried or tasted brew; because chasing last years favorites won't match the expectation you had hoped it would. Now for our options. Is the summer beer you desire brewed by Anchor, Brooklyn, Samuel Adams, Sierra Nevada, Harpoon, Kona, Blue Moon, Shipyard, Flying Dog, Otter Creek, Dundee, Wolavers, Magic Hat, Mendocino, Saranac or Blue Point? With a list of that length who knows? Besides, who has the time to try that many and figure it out? Simply put - I do.

It's real easy, once you break it down. The flavor profile for mostly all summer seasonals are refreshing, clean and concise. The standard to hit, is making a beer with a high drinkability that pairs well with fun and laughs, turning a hot humid night into a rejuvenated tropical drinking session.

A Riesling Renaissance

2010-05-17T16:53:00.000-07:00

Like almost every night, I was give two bottles to take home and try to see what I think for the store. Well, tonight I was extremely excited because one of my suppliers came by and dropped off TWO bottles of Riesling for me to try. Riesling, one of the 6 noble grapes (along with Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc) is probably the most overlooked grapes around. Most people assume that it is always a grape that makes sweet wine. Well, that is just not the case, always.

Tonight's two wines come in from Riesling's homeland of Germany, however, they hail from an area that has generally been overlooked as a Riesling, or any grape for that matter, producing area; the Rheingua. The first one comes in from J Baumer. The nose is full with light melon notes, a stoniness and a subtle petrol quality (surprisingly, this is a good thing when discussing Riesling). The palate has an unbelievably well structured and restrained acidity with bright fruit notes and a supple finish. There is a touch of residual sugar initially on the tongue however that sugary sweet kick is nowhere to be found on the finish.

The second also hails from the Rhiengua from a winery called Gruen (Green) as the winery is completely green, all the way down to the bottle itself. Here, there is also that residual sweet characteristic but the fruits are completely different. Granny Smith apples, limes and citrus notes fill the aromas of the glass. Also, the petrol notes here are a touch more pronounced. The palate is again a touch less sweet with a finish that is decadently crisp and minerally.

Both of these wines are amazing treats from an area that with 5 years will be THE area for Riesling. Plus, they will be available in the store as part of our Smart Buys Under $15 offerings, so swing on by and give them a shot before my paltry allocation is all gone.

Scotchy Scotch Scotch!

2010-05-14T09:21:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, Drew and Chris from Slocum and Sons came on by and bombarded Ray and I with more Single Malt Scotch and Bourbon then either of us have had in one sitting! When they first explained that they were coming by for a Scotch tasting, I was expecting 5 bottles MAX! Not 22 BOTTLES of Bourbon and Scotch. Needless to say, it was an extremely long afternoon and nothing of importance got done at all. However, due to Chris and Drew's expertise, we were able to pick up a few new Scotchs and Bourbons that have never been available before here in Madison.

As a side note, I personally learned something that I never knew about Scotch and Bourbon. If you are like me and like to dabble in the fair Scotch ever now and then, you might get a kick out htis as well. After you taste aspirit like Scotch or Bourbon, it is best to exhale deeply to allow the alcohol to blow off and the amazing flavors of the drink truly open. It was so interesting to see a drink that I love, Spingbank 18 Scotch, develop more than I am usually used to. The most amazing notes of honey, toast and almonds emerged on this gem, more so than I have ever noticed.

After 3 HOURS of tasting, we finally kicked Chris and Drew out, however, not without putting them to work. Chris, a local Scotch master, has agreed to come to the store on Wednesday June 30th for a Single Malt Scotch tasting. We will be going through the different regions of Scotland and why each is so different and sought after. Also, we will all get try this new trick I just learned and see what new flavors you yourself can start recognizing. I hope to see you all there.

05 Bordeaux Magnum Madness

2010-05-10T12:36:00.000-07:00

Baron Edmond de Rothschild, the main financial banker for Lafite-Rothschild, bought 2 properties in 1973 in the Medoc region. The main one, Chateau Malmaison, was the one that he gave to his wife Nadine and she has taken it to amazing heights year after year. With that said, this stellar wine from the incomparable 2005 vintage, made it into my hands the other day, in a magnum format, and I have just opened it.

Immediately, this wine is extremely tight. After decanting for a bit, jammy red berries, blueberries and toffee notes start to emerge out. An underlying of dust and earth are apparent, but ever so slightly. She pours the most beautiful of purple, plumy colors. Now, even though we are talking about an 05 here, once she opens, she is ready. The majority of Merlot in this gem (80%) makes this lady seductive and luscious. The palate is silky and slightly spicy with darker, plumy fruits and cherries. The finish is persistent, and long, however, when this wine finally opens in a few years, or decades, it'll be amazingly decadent.

15 six packs of magnums came into the store at one of the best prices I have ever seen. Per magnum, we are looking at $59.99 a bottle, however, if a full six-pack were to your fancy, the price would drop to $49.99 a bottle. A picturesque deal for a monumental wine. Enjoy.

A Swing And A Miss

2010-04-12T17:22:00.000-07:00

Last night I got home and finally opened a wine that my supplier had dropped off a few days ago and I just haven't gotten around to yet; a Tempranillo called Las Brias from the relatively unknown region of Toro in a subregion called Zamora. I was very excited to try this as I have never had any wine from this beautiful town of Zamora, right by the Portuguese border.

I had expected a lot from this wine as I love Toro wines, but this one didn't make the cut. There are nice berry notes but overtones of balsamic notes that just wouldn't give up. Although there are decent vanilla notes, this wine didn't have any sort of balance to it that warranted it making it into the store. I can still feel that heavier alcohol burn even 20 minutes after I let the bottle slowly die in my kitchen. Maybe next time.

Italy's Value Bombardment

2010-04-12T16:59:00.000-07:00

Last week, Colin from CDI came by with more wine than Ray and I have ever had in any one sitting from any one supplier. Colin, who had some recent surgery and therefore had been out of work for a while, hadn't been able to swing by for a spell. And, to make up for lost time, Colin brought enough wine to start a new winery. 20 wines!

The line up for this tasting was focused on Italian gems at value pricing. I couldn't for the life of me tell you what all of them were as halfway through things started to get a little hazy. Even with all of the spitting. However, what did transpire out of these wines were 7 treats that I am so excited about. They are all being featured in our new Italy's Smart Buys Under $15 Section near the wine tasting station.

Below are the seven wines that made it through this crazy bombardment of Italian wines:

Vicolo Pinot Noir - This is the only Pinot Noir I have ever had from Italy that wasn't garbage. Great red fruits, bramble notes and earthy tones really come out on this $9.99 bottle. Plus, most $10 Pinots taste exactly like what a $10 Pinot should taste like. Normally, you get what you pay for. But here you get tons more than you pay for.

La Corte Solyss Negroamaro - This Negroamaro from Pulgia that is made by the world famous Chris Ringland (former winemaker of Three Rivers Shiraz which has gotten four 100s and two 99s in nine vintages from Robert Parker) at a mere $13.99. A TRUE STEAL!

L'Oca Cuica Chianti Riserva - L'Oca Cuica is a small winery whose name literally means Drunken Goose. The geese come into this winery, eat the highly sugared grapes and stumble out of the winery since they are not used to sugar levels that are that high. And they have created a Chianti Riserva that is a mere $14.99! That is UNHEARD OF! Most Riservas START at $22.99, so this is a gem not to be missed.

L'Oca Cuica Drunken Goose - This baby Super Tuscan is a true hommage to the drunken geese, taking their inebriation as its name. This is a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Syrah is is by far the best value for Super Tuscans around. $9.99 a bottle!

Saladini Pilastri Rosso Piceno- It is not often you find a wine that makes you say, "wow, thats a great bottle...especially for the price." Well, Pilastri has done it not once, not twice but three times in a row for all of us here. This Rosso is blend of 70% Sangiovese and 30% Montepulciano, the wine is full bodied, round and generous with harmonious balance and soft tannins. Plus, it's only $10.99!

Saladini Pilastri Falerio - Hailing to us from the Marche region of Italy, this white blend is a true surprise. This white wine is a blend of Chardonnay, Fiano, Malvasia, Pecorino, Passerina and Trebbiano. Most of these grapes never leave Italy, so to see them for $8.99 a bottle and drinking just like they would in Italy is a true treat.

Saladini Pilastri Rosato - A blend of Sangiovese and Montepulciano in a rose form equals just an amazing barbeque. And this gem delivers some amazing surprises, especially since it's his 2nd vintage with a rose. Oh yeah, it comes in at $8.99 as well.

So, swing on by and see what Italy has to offer for under $15 a bottle.

Redhook 8-4-1 Expedition Ale

2010-04-12T16:56:00.000-07:00

The limited release for any single brewery comes around time and again, however, the allocation for these is extrmeley finite, alienating it from other year-round products; making its time on the shelf cherished and succinct.
Redhook has now put out their new Spring/Summer-Limited Release, appropriately calling it their 8-4-1 Expedition Ale ,this is surely fitting due to the creation of this Imperial Brown Ale. It was brought to life by eight brewers, laboring on four different teams. Composed of all their hard work and craftmanships barrels forward this one beer.
This beer rushes out of the bottle a dark red beast. Leaving in its track kicked up dust, and aromas of smooth smoked malts, secretive sugar notes as well as a correct scent of hops. At first taste, it is like a malt bomb, soon turning into strokes of brown sugar, toothsome honey then finishing up with a few barleywine style characteristic's that glaze the palate, deeming this knockout utterly flavorful. At 9.5% it is high octane accomplishing a superior drinkability.
So dont be late to join the expedition, your tastebuds deserve better. I understand the responsibility in having a pateint palate, but great beer is not made everyday.

-Resident Beer Authority

Argentina Strikes Gold Again!

2010-03-27T15:42:00.000-07:00

Vina Alicia. That is all I have to say to make my day perk up just another level. Earlier this week, my sales rep came by with an Argentinean wine that just blew my mind. He actually brought 5 of them, but three are the ones that struck a chord. The winemaker is Alberto Arizu, the former head winemaker for Luigi Bosca, and he has really outdone anything I have ever seen come from Bosca. VIna Alicia is actually named after his lovely wife, Alicia, and is sure to the best new Argentinean wine to hit the market.

The first wine we tried was his Paso Piedra Cabernet Sauvignon. In one word…HUGE. Rich in darker fruits with amazingly silky tannins and enormous nuances of toffee, spice, cocoa and even hints of licorice, this charmer truly surprised me. Argentinean Cabs can be fun and big, but balanced like this is a real rarity. The best part about this wine though is the price. Only $19.99!

The next two wines aren’t slated to land in the US for another month or so, but they were amazingly decadent. The first of the two was called the Moreno, which was a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. I am a true Cab Franc fanatic and it hit the ball out the park. Rich and tannic with a wonderful balance of acidity. However, the great part was again the price…$26.99 a bottle! These guys really know how to make a stellar wine at a steal of a price.

The wines in the middle of the afternoon that didn’t make the cut were the Malbec and the Syrah. They were well balanced, but due to the power and structure of the two previous wines, we couldn’t justify bringing them in. Not everyone can be a winner, but these guys surely tried.

The last wine was the pinnacle wine for these guys, and one that will not be here for at least another month. It is called Broto Negro (Black Stalk) and it is an old vine Malbec. This is truly a monstrous wine! I have never, in my entire life, had a Malbec of such power and intensity. Blackberries, plums and raisin notes dominate the palate with hints of vanilla and spices. The persistent nuances of this wine were mind boggling. It actually made me sit down! This is a wine, that if you HAVE to drink it now, it needs a long time in a decanter, however this rare gem would benefit from at least 7 years in a cellar. Now the unveiling ceremony…$74.99!

Try to stop on by and try the Cab this week and then take a look at the others when they arrive. It’s well worth it.

Sierra Nevada - "Fritz & Kens Ale"

2010-03-27T12:56:00.000-07:00

Lets start, by further announcing Sierra Nevada's 30th Anniverssary Ale. As a posteriori information, Fritz Maytag the renoun owner of the San Francisco's Anchor Brewing Company, kindly and willingly guest brewed this very special ale. In respect to black ales that fascinated Fritz and Ken in their early years, they both bring you this " Pioneers Stout" - hovering at 9.2% it is not to be considered standard.
After understanding the string's that were wooven together in the creation of this majestic beer, we can now indulge into the quality of this brew. Beginning from the pour, this beer is seated as an almost opaque brown to black, with an impressive mocha head leaving awesome lacing sticking to the glass. The nose looms ever so subtle, but not subdued; with richly roasted malts and easy chocolate. The taste being the most important, is where this master's brew hits home. Rising up out of the realm of your standard raw stouts, this one, emerges authoritarian. Powerful burnt flavors of caramel, chocolate and a malty sweetness are all highly balanced, as if walking on a tight rope. Light hop lingers on through to the finish, allowing this to live up to the great names of its brewers.
As limited as this beer is, it is a must try. To miss it would be leaving a big void in your beer tasting resume. If my words are not trusted, then rush in and try it yourself.

Williamette Valley Vineyards

2010-03-24T06:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Mandie from Willamette Valley Vineyards from Oregon was nice enough to come by the store and show us her wines. The first wine up to bat was their Pinot Gris. Pinot Gris, as you know, is the same as Pinot Grigio, however in Oregon, the soil allows this grape to have a creamy style on the palate. However, I had expected much more and was disappointed to see what it turned out to be. The next wine was a Chardonnay from 2005. Since the next vintage of 2008 was being released, they were flushing out their older vintages, so this one was a steal. But not the savings, at all! I won't be surprised to see people around the shoreline selling this wine at $10-$15 when our price would have been more reasonable for this wine (It would have been $5 a bottle if the juice was worth that).

Then we switched to the reds. The first red is the one carry, which is their Pinot Noir made by Whole Cluster Fermentation, like Beaujolais Nouveau. This allows for a lighter, more fruity style of Pinot and a great wine for those who are interested in getting involved in Pinot Noir but find a lot of the name brand examples too earthy. Just a fun wine. Next was their "Black Label" Pinot Noir (made by actually crushing the grapes), which just didn't swing home for me. It lacked the Pinot Noir fruit that I just love in my wine. And the reason for that was the year, 2007. A terrible year for Pinot Noir. Miranda actually most people refused to declare a vintage and blended their great 2006 with their crap 2007.

The last wine was their Riesling. Honestly, there was nothing interesting at all about this wine, so I am going to leave it there. Overall, unimpressed with Willamette Valley Vineyards this go around, however, we'll take a look at them next year when the new vintages arrive.

2010-03-23T12:06:00.000-07:00

Thomas Hooker - "Liberator" Doppelbock

This double bock pours a very dark brown, with a reddish hue in the light giving off nice amber highlights. The nose provides notes of dark roasted malts; backing this up is timid hints of dried fruits and muted chocolate. The taste expels parallels to the nose in reference to its richness and malts. The sweetness upfront is pleasant and not to loud. Many background complexities push forward starting mid-sip and continue through to the finish. Those flavors consist of dark fruits, caramel and toffee ending with an appropriate bite of smoke, woodiness and an earthy cherry. It is medium bodied with good carbonation. Simply, this sums up to be very drinkable, deep and complex, as to not be too assertive and overpowering.

Half The Size...Twice The Love

2010-03-13T07:20:00.000-08:00

Trying to select the right wines for the store can be a daunting task, however, it is treat that I know is one I shouldn't take for granted. Finding that great wine for a Saturday night celebration for someone is one of the greatest feelings we all have here at Madison Wine Exchange. However, what about those Tuesday nights when a bottle is too much but a glass is needed? That’s where this lovely treat came into play for us. Last night, after a long day of working, I headed home with a stellar half bottle (my wife is sick and I needed a little something with dinner). This nectar of the gods was a bottle of 2000 Sancerre from Chateau de Maimbray. I have never been a fan of aged Sancerre, however, when my supplier came by last week with this bottle, I fell in love with Sauvignon Blanc all over again!

Flash back 12 hours ago or so, I was sitting at home, a sick wife on the couch and a lovely garden salad with grilled chicken on top of it in front of me. With it being Friday evening, I felt the need for a great bottle of wine but I just couldn’t bear opening a full-sized bottle knowing full well that I couldn’t finish it without hurting today. When I opened this little trooper, I was immediately transplanted to the vineyards of the Loire Valley in France. For a 10 year old Sauvignon Blanc, this had me at hello. I was actually surprised this was a 10 year wine. I would have thought this was an 05, the fruit was brilliantly fresh and the acidity was so lively that I kind of glad my wife was sick so I didn’t have to share this time. Next time I will include her, but last night was all about me and my wine. This is why I got into wine in the first place.

Tasting with Chritian Tietje of Four Vines

2009-07-09T13:51:00.001-07:00

Wine is such a personal thing, intimate in every detail and unique to those that relish in those details. Often times, ones personality is often times like the wines they drink. In the case of Christian Tietje, Owner/Winemaker of Four Vines winery, this is most certainly the case!

Many of you were able to stop by our store Thursday night to meet Christian and taste through the Four Vines lineup. With a unique dress code and a boisterous yet charming personality, his prescense is almost always known. Indeed a character, Christian's wines follow suit in both package and style, delivering a lot of charisma in your glass. When tasted blind, his Naked Chardonnay from Santa Barbara could trick even the best of palates to believing it was Chablis. Redolent of pear, unripened red apple and notions of citrus peel, even granny smith, the palate was crisp, clean with mineral notions, ringing in grapefruit suggestions towards the finish. Astonishing for a mere $12. As for his reds, shop the Zinfandel rack for full-throttle reds bearing the Four Vines Moniker. Waiting are at least three brilliant renditions of the same grape, each bearing an appropriate title: The Maverick, The Biker and The Sophisticate. The Maverick is deep and full, layered with exotic dark fruit flavors with highlights of crushed red fruit. The Biker is full throttle, intense and racing with an almost jammy flavor profile. The Sophisticate is just that, rich with flavors like mullberry preserve, wild spice and smoke, yet superbly balanced and refined next to the other two. A dynamic trio that deliver the best of Zin in an interesting set, a steal at $22/bottle. Sure enough, his work doesn't stop there. Above the premium Zinfandels is the appropriately named Freak Show series. A Petite Sirah known as The Heretic, delivering opulent flavors, textures and a finish that sails on and on. The Anarchy Red was an interesting cuvee that left the palate dizzied with an array of flavors from its blend of the usual Rhone suspects, Syrah and Mouvedre mixed in with a very heavy hand of Zinfandel.

Although we would otherwise list these wines in greater detail with specific tasting notes for each, we were totally overwhelmed with the customer turn-out on what was a dreary, rainy day. Needless to say we were busy serving you glass of wine, we thought you'd appreciate that more, however, that didn't stop us from joining you and Christian in a glass or two...or three or four!

Thanks for giving Christian a very warm welcome to the Madison Wine Exchange...we hope to bring you more fun and exciting events as well as personalities from the vast world of wine.

Think Riesling

2009-06-17T14:07:00.000-07:00

With the entire shoreline waiting for the Summer months to show up, we've finally decided we can't wait for crisp white wines anymore! In a serious effort to mind over matter, we are conditioning ourselves to believe it's 75 degrees with a cool ocean breeze fluttering through our light attire. Thinking of fresh diced melon fruits, vegetable platters with cool dips and grilled shrimp for lunch! Whether it's time to hang loose with your signficant other or wanting to cut loose with a significant many, there is something to be said about the summer offerings on the backyard. Food is usually never short in supply, from sweet and spicy to smoked/grilled, there is a collage of flavors to be had. With such a limitless opportunity to stun the palate with solids, what is the ideal liquid to be had? For reds, try lighter to medium bodied reds that have been treated to very little or no oak at all. Too full of a red will leave the palate a little "stuffed" especially on a warm day (even though Summer is late, remember we're THINKING positive). Little or no oak helps ensure acidity in your red is still vibrant and alive, creating a mouthwatering sensation in your mouth...further pushing you to dive into all of your face stuffing options. With reds covered, what about white wines? Is Chardonnay okay? We mentioned acidity, so do we stick with Sauvignon Blanc as the quick and easy way out of this? How about Riesling? YES, RIESLING! Beautifully dry and crisp Riesling! HOW? Let us explain:

Riesling is one of the most complex of all white wine grapes, it and Chardonnay often vie for top spot among cork dorks (depends on which dork you're asking). There are many different renditions of Riesling as well as many areas of production, two of the most popular are Alsace France and of course, Germany. Most sweet Rieslings are produced in Germany under a strict harvesting practice that further defines each production's inherent characteristics. The scale goes as follows:

Kabinett - first clusters harvested, produce the least sweet wine
Spatlese - second wave of clusters harvested, extended hangtime = higher sugar levels and a sweeter wine
Auslese - left to hang as long as possible and produce very rich wines that tend to be among the sweetest German Rieslings

Now, there are more levels, but for German Riesling 101, this is as far as we'll take it for the purpose of this post. One of the most important steps in the wine making process for the Germans is to add "Sussreserve" to the finished wine, adding and emphasizing the sweetness. Sussreserve is unfermented grape juice that was saved immediately after the crush, stabilized to prevent fermentation. This very small addition to their finished wine will make all the difference in how their wine tastes and clearly defines each producers style.

Does this mean you can't get a dry German Riesling? Absolutely NOT, there are many dry styles of German Riesling and in fact, they are becoming more and more popular as many consumers are in search of anything but oaky Chardonnay. These dry Rieslings are simply the finished and fermented wine without the addition of Sussreserve to help sweeten the pot! Finally, one good tip to identify a dry Riesling from Germany, while shopping our selection, look for the alcohol by volume, the closer to 12%, the drier the wine.

Also on the dry side of Riesling, try Alsatian examples of Riesling. The French do not incorporate Sussreserve in their process and therefore it is much easier to find a dry style from Alsace without looking for any indicators that suggest so. A very interesting contributor to the complexity of Alsation wine is the complex soil composition of the very poor soils. From clay to gravel, the dried river beds that make this appellation have left it well endowed to produce rather complex wines.

So what to buy? Just this morning we tried five new wines that fit the style of Riesling we're explaining here. Of the five, two made the final cut for our selection and here is what we'll have in stock as of Friday this week:

Paul Blanck Riesling Classique 2007
NOSE: Classic petrol undertones, high notes of mineral and smoke, leading into lime peel and yet to ripen stone fruits.
PALATE: Crisp and racey, there is a good amount of mid-palate grip with a piercing lime peel finish.
SCORE: 89 pts, a great example of dry Riesling from Alsace...Blanck has always been a consistent producer.
PRICE: $17

Leitz Eins Zwei Dry "3" 2008
NOSE: More plump on the nose, waxy peach tones over graphite and mineral, suggestions of citrus peel.
PALATE: Nicely layered with the above flavors cascading rapidly over one another, going from medium weighted mid-palate to a lean crisp finish with a firm citrus overtone on the finish.
SCORE: 90 pts, this wine tastes like a slider baseball pitch throws...fun stuff
PRICE: $14

Get these goodies on your shopping list for this weekend!

Cheers,
The Wine Team @
MadWineX

Alexander Valley Vineyards

2009-06-04T11:23:00.001-07:00

The Alexander Valley Vineyards Winery has always been a winner in our stores over the years. Owned and operated by the Wetzel family, this beautiful 600 acre property is based in the famous Alexander Valley, located at the North cusp of Sonoma Valley. An appellation home to many greats (i.e. Jordan & Silver Oak), the climatical conditions are superb for growing very high quality grapes. One of the key influences to the regions success is the Diurnal Temperature Variation (Google is always an option for those thinking: "?"). There is no question that CA gets it's fair share of sunshine, but the that's only half the battle when it comes to growing great grapes. Allow me to explain:

1. The warm sunny days help the sugars develop in the grapes. The slower and more even the growing season, the more complex your sugars will be, translating to a complex wine with rich flavors.

2. The cool evenings help maintain/build acidities in the grapes, keeping balance in your wine. If there are no cools evenings, you'd end up with top heavy wines that are very clumsy and "dumb" tasting. With acidity, there is something to base your fruit on, without it, wine is just lop-sided.

So the difference in Temperature Diurnals for Alexander Valley is among the greatest in all of Sonoma, helping produce very unique flavors in the wines from that zone. Now, add to the mix a 600 acre property that's been in family hands well before land prices exploded in the Valley, and you've got a realisticly priced wine from a high quality zone. Consider the prices of Jordan and Silver Oak, as well as a few other "less than" legendary wines, i.e. Simi Alexander Valley Cab (SRP $25). Now think, that you can get Alexander Valley Vineyards Cab for $16 (after case discount), why wouldn't you look twice at this winery, heck you should be looking three times!

So why them on this POST? We've known Hank Wetzel for years now and most recently the Regional Sales Manager, Pennie Haase stopped by for a visit to re-cap some excellent wines they produce. As always, the wines drank very well:

Alexander Valley Vineyards New Gewurz 2008
NOSE: exotic notions of corriander, fennel and asian spice over nectarine, grapefruit peel and melons
PALATE: fresh and vibrant with layers of intense flavors, crisp and refreshing
SCORE: 87 pts - Pennie mentioned that someone once referred to this wine as a Patio Pounder, not a Summer Sipper...we couldn't agree more!
PRICE: $8.49

Alexander Valley Vineyards Chardonnay 2007
NOSE: creamy suggestions, diced apples, pouched pears, nuanced by cinamon with citrus overtones
PALATE: medium bodied, creamy/velvety mouthfeel all the while a leaner, greener prescense hovers over it all. The finish tightens up and little bit, leaving the mouth watering from the touch of acidity.
SCORE: 89 pts, fantastic wine that would go great with food off the BBQ, especially mustand&dill salmon skewers!
PRICE: $15

Alexander Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
NOSE: deep currant and cassis fruits, hints of sage, tobacco spice and a dusty notion intertwine
PALATE: supple fruit flavors are matched by mildly chewy tannins, a hint of cocoa power balances the approach. The finish is full and lengthy.
SCORE: 90 pts, classic Cabernet at an amazing price, a lesson many other producers from CA could stand to learn!
PRICE:$ $17

Also available is the Cyrus, a Bordeaux styled blend that is always limited in production. Vintages in the past have always presented a strong value, approx $60...Silver Oak and Jordan get a run for their money!

Rainy Night At MWE...Part Deux

2009-04-21T17:37:00.000-07:00

Jeff likes to say I'm the one always opening things but, truthfully the guy just wants to try everything!!! However, that 8.5abv Nocturnum got me feeling a little loose(hope the boss isn't reading this) so lets open that Fume Blanc that was left as a sample.

I gotta tell you it has been years since I've tried Ferrari Carano Fume Blanc and now I/we know why this is such a Shoreline favorite.

The 2007 vintage is ripe and full of fruit. On the nose, sour lemon, green apple, toasty oak and I must say I like the way Jeff thinks, ocean breeze....that's dead on. Of course, not the kind of ocean breeze one might get at low tide but the fresh cool breeze that leaves you smiling on your day off!

On the palate this wine has loads to offer....creamy vanilla, with hints Florida orange and vanilla, almost reminiscent of a creamsickle. Big flavors of ripe melon, and cantaloupe. White pepper, toasty oak, and pie crust. Subtle hints of grapefruit come and go, while a sharp acidity holds on for a crisp finish. B

90pts MWE $15.99

Rainy Night at MWE... Part One

2009-04-21T17:07:00.000-07:00

While in back re-stocking the beer cooler, Brian, to my surprise came up and asked,"what are we opening?" Being that everyday presents a new perspective on wine beer and spirits, we decided on something that was not entirely new to us, but that we thought might be different on this foggy night... Delirium Nocturnum.

Certainly an in-store favorite of ours and our customers, it is one that we never really took the time to think about and critique.

Creamy in texture, the color in the glass is almost diet cola colored with an outer rim of golden brown. On the nose, we found honey suckle, the citrus of a lemon rind, butterscotch, light chocolate and burnt toffee. Then we took a taste....

Roasted butterscotch and creamy caramel coat the palate with a soothing softness that fills the mouth. As I enjoyed this extraordinary Belgian brew, I thought... "is this really my job?... Yes, yes it is."
89pts MWE $9.99/4 pack

JZ

Calistoga Cellars...An old friend revisited!

2009-04-20T15:17:00.000-07:00

Today I was re-tasted on an old favorite, Calistoga Cellars Cabernet 2005, of course the vintage was currant but the wine was just as good as I remember it.

Here is the story, back when I ran our Waterbury location, I remember a point at which the Cabernet section started to become a little stale. Don't get me wrong we did a huge number in the way of Cabernet's $20 and up, but the turn over was so quick, myself along with our loyal customers would always be hungry for what's new, what's hot, what's different!?

In walks Calistoga Cellars Cabernet....I remember tasting this wine and falling in love with it immediately, but it was different. At the time everyone wanted kick you in the teeth, big rich, flamboyant fruit bombs. Wines that delivered all that dark jammy fruit that left you with a big smile on your face....A BIG PURPLE SMILE! How could we sell this wine to those same customers? And then I learned the difference...the wine was balanced. The comparison was to that of an orchestra, the balance was that every player, every piece of music, and every instrument had a time and place, coming together every so carefully to create a great piece of music. Calistoga Cabernet does exactly that....and I must say that after tasting the 2005, well the band plays on!!

Color: The heart of the glass is dark plum color with an almost purple/pink outer rim.

Nose: On the nose there are classic Napa Cab aromas of deep plum, dark cherry, and toasty oak. Sweet black cherry, tobacco, and a hint of smoke.

Palate: Again balance is the key here...smoke and leather end where dark fruits begin. Hints of sweet fruit almost confectionery arrive mid palate only to fade perfectly in time for the sweet but smooth flavor of new leather and spice, elegant and soft yet sturdy tannins bring it home. I really love this stuff. I would say that for every bottle of this wine you buy, buy TWO one for now and one for later. Just like a great piece of music, it's great to dust off those old tunes and revisit the balance of a great WINE! B

90 points $27.99 or mixed/solid case discount $23.79

What do Andrea Bocelli, Caposaldo Prosecco, and my 6 month old daughter have in common????

2009-03-12T20:09:00.000-07:00

Nothing really? But as I sit here listening to some of the most seductive sounds of one of Italy's most inspiring singers, enjoying time spent with family, I must say that this is one of the better, no best Prosecco's I have ever had!! Caposaldo Prosecco invites even the bargain shopper to an experience that offers hints of what could be an expensive bubbly!! Tiny bubbles, creamy texture, and tropical fruits are just the beginning. There is almost a buttery touch with crisp acidity that makes me think about Sunday brunch and how much I can't wait to try this wine with some sharp cheese's and cured meats. Capricola, or prosciutto (think I spelled that wrong) to be exact, maybe some moldy cheese's as well!!! This amazing value, combined with my six month old trying to get the glass away from me and again the graces of Bocelli's amazing sounds makes for a great night...12.99 I think...yeah... This stuff is great!!! B
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Another KNOCK OUT event at Studio 275!

2009-02-17T09:44:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday night as I begin to close up the shop from yet another long yet exciting week...so many wines so little time...when our Sommelier calls from our Ansonia store with a special request. He begins to tell me about the tasting he has planned for Sunday and asks if I will be able to give him a hand. Tastings at Studio 275 without a doubt are the best tastings I have ever had the pleasure of being a part of. I mean fabulous food, outstanding wine and a room filled with some of the best people you didn't know were already your good friends...it's what we like to call an "Experience!" I immediately cleared the calender day and was ready to go...No Problem!!

Another reason why this was an easy decision was because the Old Bridge Cellars line up was going to be present, you will learn really fast how much I love this stuff! This venue presented a fraction of the wines that we will be showing at our March 1st event here at the Wine Exchange. As the Studio 275 event proceeded to WOW the crowd, my level of excitement also began to rise...these wines are great, March 1st is going to be a landmark event for the Madison store...I thought to myself trying to keep the right amount of composure. So I offer you a taste of the "Experience" and implore you all not to miss this one....

First we start with the Shoofly Buzz Cut'07 white, as a offering at the door while folks find their friends and seats. Orchard fruits, and freshly pealed apple skin caress the glass and the palate. Pink grapefruit and pear flavors then excite the palate while citrus and sharp acidity set the perfect stage for the amazing array of fresh fruit and rare cheeses.

Next the presentation begins and the second white is poured D'Arenberg's Hermit Crab'07, a Viognier/Marsanne blend that gets one ready for springtime with aromas of fresh flowers and spring air meshed perfectly with tropical fruits and hints of passion fruit. The wine offers an almost lingering acidity that coats the palate and pairs perfectly with that last piece of cheese or fresh strawberry! But wait, here comes Chef with the most unbelievable sea scallop dish. Just when you thought cheese and fruit pair perfectly with these whites, try red curry sea scallops with mango and mint salsa. The veggies surround the plate with a hint lime zest that just has you thinking...I've got to learn how to make this!!

I could drink these wines all day but wait we are just getting started. Staying with D'arenberg we move on to the Stump Jump Red'06. A blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mouvedre and laying into your palate with lip smacking blueberry and red cherry fruit. This leaves time for the crowd to discuss what just happened, while preparing you for what's next.

How about Penley Estate Cabernet'06, with its rich, dark fruit character and dusty spice. Moving forward the aromas of blackberry, cassis, and ceder that carry you through the long balanced palate. Couple that together with......ready for this, char grilled Australian lamb, rosemary, garlic, olive oil, and lemon caramelized yams...OMG!!

As you sit in awh, wondering if this could get any better we throw, what I think is the show stopper...but you be the judge...D'arenberg Derelict Vineyard'05 Grenache!!! I personally can't wait for you guys to try this one!! Intense aromas of lavender, kirsch, mulberry and cranberry leading to a full throttle Grenache with layers of flavor, superb depth and concentration. 92pts Robert Parker. Parker nails this one dead on!!

Onward with Yabbies on green polenta langoustines. Tear the head right off these suckers and enjoy the juices that seem to be almost marinated in with, amazing herbs and spices. Enter Sexton Vineyard Pinot Noir'05 that goes by none other than Giant Steps. Close your eyes and vision the smells of a fresh baked cherry pie coming out of the oven just seconds before it burns. Remember the smell of golden brown pie crust, on the nose this Pinot offers that exact experience, the palate shows raspberries, cherry, and a touch of sweet fruit.
What??? Oh Yabbies are like prawns or shrimp with the heads and tails still attached when served. Delightful!!

Braised beef short ribs in shiraz buttermilk mashed potato is the next step in this expert pairing between our Sommelier and Chef. By this time you don't know really what to do or say, the wine has you smiling and joking with your surrounding neighbors and the food is leaving its footprint on mind and soul.

JOHN DUVAL WINES.....John has two wines at the table today, Plexus'06 and Eligo'05. Both of these wines are 90+++ points and if I had to describe them using only one word...exceptional! That being said I will leave you curious and excited and recommend that YOU HAVE TO TRY THESE WINES!(and can March 1st)

Last but certainly not least Innocent Bystander Moscato Rose'08 and a bowl of ginger ice cream, with toasted sweet coconut sprinkle. 1,2,10 down for the count!!!

After the event the three of us concluded back at the Ansonia store and agreed we could do this everyday! I mean who doesn't love a menu packed full of stunning selections in both food and wine, good friends and family!

The venue on March 1st is an "Experience" not unlike what I just described. Although the format is slightly different based on the 150 person showing, we will offer the same theme I spoke of above but 3 times the wine and food surrounding the event floor. Folks we haven't even scratched the surface. The Exchange Club of Madison will be benefiting from the event at both the door and after further thought, we have decided to offer up $10 per 12 bottle case sold to help combat their fight against child abuse! So take a pause for the cause a make sure you RSVP your spot today!!!

WANTED:Cabernet Sauvignon!

2009-02-16T12:19:00.000-08:00

I'm on a quest for Cabernet Sauvignon, not just any Cabernet Sauvignon but the $10 wine that drinks like a $20 bottle, the $20 wine that drinks like a $30 bottle and so on up! I know what your thinking ME TOO!! Well I have learned that this is sometimes easier said than done. I mean everyone is marketing "value wines" and as financial times get tough for us all that's exactly what we are looking for. But there must be a line, I mean we must have standards. Lately I've tasted a bunch off $10 bottles that just haven't had what it takes. Five minutes ago, however, I was re tasted on Joseph Carr 2006 Cabernet.($23.99)

Hailing from Napa County, the nose displays aromas such as mocha, and white chocolate intertwined with ripe currant and black cherry fruit. A slight touch of leather that seems to hint on an almost green characteristic, not unlike bell pepper. Then the toasty vanilla continues to impress with dark plum, black currant, and a velvety mouth fell that leaves its footprint on the finish. Cocoa and white chocolate meet up in an almost tug of war going back and forth never winning yet never losing. Dark and black cherry fruits add to this wines richness and an elegant finish stays on, as if it were timed! On the back of the label only one word...Share! I felt I had to do just that!!

Is French Wine with an American Label Still French Wine??

2009-02-09T13:52:00.000-08:00

Is French wine with an American label still French wine? This is the question?? French wine has, to the average consumer, always been a tough country to navigate. What's a good vintage, where in France is this from, Rhone, Burgundy, Bordeaux what? All these labels look the same, chateau, domain what kind of wine is this anyway? Is it dry...how dry, not fruity like Beaujolais Nouveau, no no not the same!! Before you know it you are overwhelmed and California Pinot Noir starts to make much more sense. Lets face it we could go on for countless hours compiling all of the questions that surround the "new to french wine" consumers and there answers and there would still be confusion! Combine that with a general distaste of French lifestyle, politics and whatever other hold ups that may surround the category....well what are the French to do??

Now we all can agree that these are small hold ups, and once the day comes, whether it be a friend, family member, or even your local wine merchant(wink wink), convinces you to try something of a gem from one of Frances many extraordinary appellations.....well lets just say you'll be hooked. Now you have opened up a world of wine, and history that has No end!!!

That being said what about these labels? So American in style? What about the French wine lover/expert that follows, the chateau, the wine maker, and of course in the way of anything 2005, to keep it current, the vintage!! These consumers know the category and what they are looking for. So....does a wine maker recruit new comers by slapping a "Americanized" label on the bottle or do they shoot themselves in the foot by scaring away the true French wine enthusiast? And by the way, maybe a little off the topic but where does the retailer market this wine?

Next....what's in the bottle? New world, old world or a world of its own? This week The Wine Team has had the opportunity to taste four very interesting wines which get us started on the answers to the question we pose above. First Chateau La Freynelle Bordeaux 2006. The red is 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and offers spice, chocolate and plums. Good structure and balance with a certain elegance one may not expect to find in a $13 wine. The white is 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Semillion, and 15% Muscadelle. The wine pours a sunny yellow showing off the medium body, a slight touch of sweet fruit, exotic citrus flavors and a snappy finish, also $13. This label leads one to think French but when placed on the rack, it stands out quite a bit. Oh yeah we voted new world wine making on this one and all in all a solid pair.

Then came the Lauret Miquel team. The red 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache, before we mention anything regarding the wine how about the words SOUTH OF FRANCE tattooed across
the front. Does this mean we are not in France anymore?? The wine has its share of red and black fruits, with soft cherry overtones, and a interesting dash of crushed black pepper on the finish. The white is 65% Chardonnay and 35% Viognier, also SOUTH OF FRANCE. The Chardonnay is unoaked and brings a certain lemon zest to the palate, but if you are looking for the floral blast we look for from a Viognier you will continue to wait! At $9.99 both of these wines are drinkable(for some) but the label puts them down for the count...a first round knock out!! And we put them in a world of their own category. So does French wine still taste French when dressed in American garb...I'm sure we will taste many more that keep this topic teetering on both sides of the fence!!

Madison Moble

2009-02-04T13:08:00.000-08:00

Now you can blog on the go!!

Ready...Set...GO!

2009-02-03T12:25:00.000-08:00

This is it...our window to the world on every wine we taste, good, bad or indifferent (maybe not every wine...some are just not worth writing about)! Every week, as our staff tastes through the many wines that are brought to our attention, our assessments, opinions and comments on a region, winery, style or vintage will be posted here for all to see.

At the Madison Wine Exchange, we want you to have a WINE EXPERIENCE. An experience that opens our doors for all to see what it is that we do. An experience that allows you to take part whether it be on our Saturday Tasting at our Wine Bar or an Event in our Tasting Room. An experience that opens corks and screwcaps that would otherwise have been allowed to be forgotten about. The world of wine is a large one, we are immersed in it and want to share with you it's greatness.

ALWAYS feel free to comment...