Showing posts with label chenin blanc. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chenin blanc. Show all posts

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Evelyne de Pontbriand Tasting at Le Caveau

Wine Tasting with Winemaker Evelyne de Pontbriand of the legendary Domaine du Closel in Savennières.  

Domaine du Closel produces some of the worlds finest organic Chenin Blanc in the appellation of Savennières, the Grand Cru of the Loire Valley. The family has been has been producing wine at the Château des Vaults since 1495. We tasted through a selection of wines from the domaine including the Anjou red, the sparkling wine and the 2005 Clos du Papillon cellar selection which are available for the first time in Georgia! This is a rare opportunity to meet Evelyne who is one of the most delightful vigneronnes in the wine business!

NV Domaine du Closel 'Sauvage' Brut Non Dosé
2014 Domaine du Closel 'La Jalousie' Savennières
2005 Domaine du Closel 'Clos du Papillon' Savennières
2013 Domaine du Closel 'Clos du Papillon' Savennières
2012 Domaine du Closel 'Une Emotion' Rouge Anjou
2011 Domaine de L'Oubliée 'Tenue de Soirée' Bourgueil














Saturday, October 8, 2016

Spooky-good-to-be-true Bargain Bin Wines - Saturday October 8th, 2016


Spooky-good-to-be-true Bargain Bin Wines - Saturday October 8th, 2016

Happy HalloWine!  


When:  Saturday October 8th, 2016 - 2 pm - 5pm ET   

Theme:  Spooky-good-to-be-true Bargain Bin Wines

Where:  
Le Caveau Fine Wines
5256 Peachtree Rd. 
Suite 102
Atlanta, GA 30341
770-837-0710

Recipe:   Chilled Creamy Cucumber Soup - Deb said she didn't need to add water to it.
All cheese purchased at CostCo, Whole Foods, Kroger (on Hammond in Sandy Springs)


Cheese to Wine Scale:
(Affinage is French term describing the aging and maturity level of cheeses)
Soft Cheeses  <------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> Hard Cheeses
Fresh, High water, milky                                                  Affinage                                     Moisture evaporates - leaves
delicate,                                                                                                                                        behind the fat and protein (flavors) 
                                                                                                                                                       older more rich and savory

Delicate Wines  <-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> Bold Wines
Young wines have primary                                                                                                      Time spent in cask or bottle knit
notes: fresh, spirited, lively aromas                                                                                       together and acquire nuance.
bright flavors of fruits, flowers, citrus,                                                                                  Secondary notes of oak, toast, 
herbs and spice                                                                                                                           earth, oxidation, minerals, umami
                                                                                                                                                        more complex and savory


Tasting Notes:
1) 2014 La Grange Tiphaine 'Noveau-Nez' Petillant Montlouis-sur-Loire - $28
13% alcohol,
100% Chenin Blanc farmed organically (certified ECOCERT in 2008) practicing biodynamic.  Damien and Coralie Delecheneau are based in Touraine-Amboise but work many vineyards in Montlouis.  This petillant naturel is made in the typical, minimal-intervention manner. The grapes were picked at a potential alcohol of 13.8%, Still in fermentation, the wine is bottled with 14 g/l of residual sugar after which secondary fermentation happens naturally in the bottle.  In the glass it has a vibrant gold with a fine yet plentiful bead.  There is a nose of grilled peaches and rose petals, peppered with nuances of marzipan and a touch of baked apple, yet despite this, it feels fresh with bright and powdery edges.
Cheese Pairing:  Blue Castello St. Agur

2) 2015 Chateau Ducasse Blanc Bordeaux  - $17
12% alcohol,
60% Semillon, 35% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Muscadelle.
Made from 45+ year-old sustainably farmed vines planted within the Graves appellation of Bordeaux in limestone and clay soils, the wine is a blend of 60% Semillon, 35% Sauvignon Blanc, and 5% Muscadelle.  Aged entirely in stainless for 6 months before bottling, the wine displays fresh fruited, lively mineral character.  Fresh citrus, honeysuckle, and a bevy of tropical fruits, green mango, papaya, passion fruit, plantains.  The finish is long and oily lingering for some time.
Cheese Pairings:  Dubliner Aged Cheddar, Lancashire, Mahon, Derby, Brie

3) 2015 Domaine du Couron Rose Ardeche - $ 11
14% alcohol
100% Grenache
Jean_Luc and Marie-Lise Dorthe produce this dry rose exclusively from their 39-year old, sustainably farmed vines of Grenache.  The juice is rested on skins for precisely 8 1/2 hours to get this exact color and fresh-fruited aromas of strawberry, watermelon, and citrus.  With a rich, fresh-fruited palate and a slightly honeyed texture, it is easy to understand why this was handily our best-selling rose last summer, selling out in 3 weeks.
Cheese Pairings:  Oussau-Iraty, Azeitao, Tete des Moines, Gruyere, Cheshire

4) 2013 Bodega de Pinoso 'Flos de Pinoso' Alicante - $13
14% alcohol
100% Monastrell
Vinified from 100% organically farmed Monastrell entirely in stainless tanks, the 'Flos de Pinoso' boasts a remarkably perfumed, fresh-fruited nose.  Wild red and black berries along with dark spice, combine with integrated tannins and acidity on the palate.  Decidedly fresher and more toned than a lot of the chewy, dense Monastrell coming from this eastern Spanish region, the wine is an easy match with BBQ
Cheese Pairings:  Manchego

5) 2015 Domaine Duseigneur 'La Chapelle' Cotes du Rhone  - $14
14% alcohol
50/50% Grenache/Syrah Blend
composed of equal parts biodynamically farmed old-vine Grenache and Syrah, this delightful fruit-driven Rhone is easy to love.  The grapes are sourced from clay hills above the Rhone river, just across from Chateauneuf du Pape.  Fermented entirely in stainless, the wine has wonderful freshness. Founded in 1967, the domaine's principles of respecting soil and environment lead it to be among the first to embrace organic farming in the Rhone.
Cheese Pairings:  Dubliner Aged Cheddar, Cheshire, St. Nectaire, aged Gruyere, Manchego, Gouda

6) 2010 Quinta do Mondego 'Mondeco' Tinto Dao  - $11
13.5% alcohol
Blend of Tempranillo, Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro, Jaen & Baga
Made from hand-harvested Tinta Roriz (aka: Tempranillo), Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro, Jaen & Baga.  Fermentation in small stainless steel tanks, with 10% of the blend aged in French Oak casks for 12 months.  Intense, dark garnet color and elegant aromas of fresh dark fruits with a touch of mint and cigar box.  A full bodied palate of rich, ripe dark fruits is balanced with good acidity and firm tannins.  91 pts from wine enthusiast.
Cheese Pairings:  sharp cheddar, Azeitao, Mahon, Manchego

(not planned, but Marnie brought a bottle to share)
7) 2014 Cooper & Thief Cellarmasters Select Red Wine Blend  ~ $30
17% alcohol
Cooper & Thief is a dark and jammy red blend comprised of 38% Merlot, 37% Syrah, 11% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% other red varieties, and loaded with bourbon-inspired flavors and aromas. Aging for three months in ex-bourbon barrels gives way to soft velvety tannins, with a subtle heat. The combined result is a rich flavor with a long, lingering finish.
Reminded me of Orin Swift's The Prisoner but with more Port-like notes.
Cheese Pairings:  Blue cheese

Photos:











Monday, May 2, 2016

May "Pet-Nat Wines" - hosted by Ms. Lauren

May "Pet-Nat Wines" - hosted by Ms. Lauren

When: Monday May 23rd, 2016 - 7:00pm ET

Theme:  Pet-Nat is a nickname for Petillant Naturel (pet-tay-ahn Nat-tur-rell), or "Methode Ancestrale", a method of producing sparkling wine by bottling the wine during the the primary, alcoholic fermentation to capture the carbon dioxide that is naturally released. This differs from wines like Champagne that undergo a second, bubble-producing fermentation.

Documented by the monks of the Abbey Saint-Hillaire in 1531, Petillant naturel is considered to be the first sparkling wine pre-dating methode champenoise by nearly a century.

Articles about Pet-Nat
What is Pet-Nat Wine ?  An Ancient Winemaking Style on the Rise
Pet-Nat, Champagne's Hip Younger Sister
Pet-Nat, Champagne's Cool Kid Sister is the Bubbly You Want to Party With
Pet-Nat, the Alcoholic Soda of My Dreams

Bring:  Bring a bottle of Pet-Nat wine within the specified price range (Up to $20/bottle for Singles, between $20 - $40/bottle for Couples)


Tasting Notes:

Welcome Wine) 2014 Pet'Sec Les Capriades ~ $28 @ Hintons Savvy Cellars
11% alcohol, made from a majority of Chenin Blanc with a small percentage of Cabernet Franc
green, light grassy nose, almost like urine but in a good way, effervescent pinot grigio-like, filtered, light, not too sweet.

1) 2015 Vitae Springs Vineyard "Minimus" Petillant Natural, Williamette Valley $25.99 @ Le Caveau
12.3% alcohol, 100% Muller Thargau
cidery, cider & wine, dry as a bone, bitters, cloudy, bubbles quickly dissipate, "miller lite left too warm at the poolside", it's gone dull, needs to be ice cold, with mint sprig

2) 2013 Dirty & Rowdy Pet-Nat Pinot Blanc, El Dorado County in Santa Rosa, CA $42.99 @ Le Caveau
11.2% alcohol, 100% Pinot Blanc
sweeter nose, more golden, asian pear kombucha, good pool wine, easy drinking, not a lot of finish, great for summer, serve cold, clear gold color, peachy keen, could be dangerous.

3)  NV Quentin Bourse Le Sot de l'Ange (The Idiot Angel) Azay-le-Rideau La Couture $22.99 @ Le Caveau
biodynamic, 11% alcohol, 100% Grolleau (vines planted in 1954)
I'm a pink owl, lambic, pickle juice, tomato, vinegar, "it's very fruit forward, specifically tomato", fun times, orange/rose color, peachy hue, tart, pickle juice, sweet tart, refreshing, it has character, you're 3rd bottle, watered down kool-aid with pop rocks

4) NV Patrick Bottex "La Cueille" (The Pick) Bugey-Cerdon $15 from WineLibrary.com
8% alcohol, 90% Gamay, 10% Poulsard
"a million degrees different", foamy, it has good head, a ton more sugar, deep, a fruit basket, too sweet, melon, lots of peaches, watermelon, jolly rancher, "does this come in lite?", get diabetes afterwards, better as a slushy or champagne popsicle, this is a "gas station wine", melted sorbet

5) 2014  Francis Coppola"Sofia" Blanc de Blanc, Monterey County ~ $16 @ Briarcliff Kroger
12% alcohol, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat blend.
foamy gold, clearer, light, harsh, sweet-ish, one-dimensional, bitters on it, mild, starter wine only, if I was out of beer, the "shake-weight" wine.

6) 2014 Pet'Sec Les Capriades ~ $32 @ Brookhaven Wines
11% alcohol, made from a majority of Chenin Blanc with a small percentage of Cabernet Franc
butterscotch, oaky, caramel, I Like It!, tart, vinegar nose, I'm on an emotional roller coaster, mostly downhill, it's morphed, sour, flawed

7) 2014 Eric Texier Rouletabulle Petillant Naturel $24.99 @ Le Caveau
9% alcohol, 100% old vine Chasselas
foamy, effervescent, dry wine, pairs with the avocado/coconut ice cream so well!

8) 2015 Castello Banfi Rose Regale ~ $19 @ Publix
7% alcohol, 100% Brachetto
ruby red, super sweet, strangely also sour, holy moly, pickled strawberries, "a bit of bananar in it", would pair w/chocolate well.



Tuesday, August 26, 2014

TWITs Takeover Southbound - Thursday Sept. 4th, 2014

TWITs Takeover Southbound - hosted by Southbound restaurant in Chamblee

Date:  Thursday, September 4th, 2014 7:30 pm ET

Bring:  TWITs attendees should bring $20/person to cover the cost of the wines.  The Southbound Menu will also be available if you would like to purchase any food.

Theme:  Transition into Autumn

Tasting Notes:

1) 2012 Domaine Mosse 'Magic of Ju Ju' Chenin Blanc
13.5% alcohol
Acidic, hint of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, fruity notes of pear and apple. Hints of live yoghurt. Resembles a Jura wine.  natural wine

2) 2010 Bodegas Gerardo Mendez Albariño Do Ferreiro Rias Biaxis, Galicia Spain
13% alcohol 
Citrus nose, honeydew melon, parm chz, sour cherry, Goes Great w spicy chicken, pickle, Good viscosity,  Matt says Chardonnay from burgundy Sancerre?
Melissa guessed Albariño 

3) 2012 Negretta La Roc Fronton "La Falle Noire d'Ambat" , France near Cahors
13% alcohol 
Funky nose, Maybe a tannat or cab Sauv, stinky oregon pinot? Better on palate than nose, Thick on the mouth, some acidity, spice, Opens up, heat on the nose, Grenache? Syrah? Mourvèdre, Dark syrupy, dirty, earthy, Priorat? From the boot? Cab franc blend, tannat, Hermitage, Sangiovese, Barbera ?

4) 2001 Tempranillo, R Lopez De Heredia, Vina Tondonia Reserva, Rioja Spain 
13%alcohol
Thanksgiving, cinnamon, nutmeg, a sweet potato, nice balance, skins of sweet potato, old cabinet, cigar box,
Roasted just out of the oven, a lot of butter, Italian Nebbiolo, dryer than it smells, fruity, dark, love the nose,
Cherries, leather, fruit forward, heat on the nose, it's got grip on the tongue, dill, black olives,  Sangiovese, Italian, Tempranillo, cab?
















Monday, June 10, 2013

July 18, 2013 - Le Caveau Blind Tasting of Natural Wines - hosted by MrLes & Ms Melissa

July 18, 2013 - Le Caveau - Blind Tasting of Natural Wines - hosted by Mr Les & Ms Melissa

Theme:  Natural wines - We tasted these wines blind.
Clues we were given:  They could be from anywhere.  They will not be weird wines, but unadulterated.   This tasting will be really interesting, especially, blind because it will challenge what many think about certain varietal characteristics based on wines that have been 'doctored'. 

Eric, of Le Caveau, has been reading a lot about the subject as of late, and gave us a presentation about natural wines during the tasting.  We discussed how additives are allowed in the wines (98 known additives allowed in US wines, 77 in EU, 89 in Australia, and 69 in New Zealand).  We also saw photos side-by-side of vineyards maintained with organic fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and fungides, versus regular vineyard maintenance.  We learned about Biodynamic viticulture, and one of the more interesting methods they use involving a cow horn filled with fermented manure. Yeast is also something to consider.  Some vintners use native yeasts and/or natural yeasts versus commercial yeasts.  Read more about Natural Wines here.








1) 2011 Agnes et Rene Mosse "Magic of JuJu" $24.99
100% Chenin Blanc, 13.5% alcohol
TWITs tasting notes:  light nose, golden color (honey all over), almost invisible legs, faint pickles smell, very light and herbacious palate, melon flavors, more floral nose as it opens up, palate of almond butter and/or Butterfinger Candy

2) 2010 Eric Texier L'indigene Sulfureux "Eluney" $ 21.99
100% Grenache, 12.5% alcohol
TWITs tasting notes: pepper, cherries, woody, tar, some smoke, dark candy sweet, fresh manure, peat, burnt ash, petroleum, light wet grass, smokier nose as it breathes, 
palate is a softer wine, peppery, nice finish, creamy, herb, berries, nuts, 
Val guessed a Syrah, Abbie thought it reminded her of a Sant'Elena Tato (Cab/Merlot blend).

3) 2011 Louis Claude Desvignes Morgon Cote du Py
100% Gamay, 13% alcohol
TWITs tasting notes:  grape jello, jammy, cumquat, small yeast, thin legs, cotton candy, butterscotch
softer palate, cantaloupe, viscous, lighter with a lingering finish, licorice, smells like halloween

4) 2009 Domaine Derain St. Aubin "Le Ban" - $23.99
100% Pinot Noir, 14% alcohol
TWITs tasting notes: perm solution, ammonia, 
palate is berry, soft, like a light pinot noir

5) 2009 Campi Nuovi Montecucco - $39.99
100% Sangiovese
TWITs tasting notes:  fruity nose, oaky, clove, funky, lovely nose of pine,
softer berry finish, like Christmas, cinnamon, nutmeg, very warm, dry
Guesses:  Marilyn says Bordeaux, Abbie says Cab Franc, Val says New World.