Le Caveau Wine Tasting - Rhone Wines - Saturday, 09-03-11

1) 2010 Domaine du Vieux Chêne “Cuvée Friande” Rosé $11.99
100% Grenache, 13% alcohol
With a dark salmon color and nose of sharper cherry fruit, this wine offers up pure strawberry, cranberry and citrus on the palate balanced by perfect acidity making it almost weightless. This rosé begs for food like grilled whole Red Snapper or cheeses like Saint-Marcellin spread on a warm baguette.
In the heart of Provence, filled with heritage dating from Roman and medieval times, this organically farmed winery is located between Orange and Vaison‐la‐Romaine, not far from Châteauneuf du Pape. Certified by Ecocert, the grapes are organically grown.
Husband and wife wine team!

2) 2007 Domaine Puech Noble Coteaux de Languedoc Blanc $19.99
50% Grenache Blanc, 35% Rolle ( Vermentino) and 15% Viognier
(Puech = Pesh)
The aromas on this wine are of honeysuckle, acacia (flower, ingredient in Fresca), lemongrass and a hint of salinity. The palate is lovely, honey-rich, built with citric acidity on the back end to balance the richness. The mouth-feel is generous but not cloying, complex with hints of sherbet.
This wine is from an estate in Côteaux du Languedoc near Nîmes that was purchased and now run by Rene Rostaing, a renowned winemaker from Cote Rotie. Rostaing’s ethic in these wines is elegant, yet concentrated; expressive, but subtle; hedonistic, but cerebral.

3) 2008 Domaine Charvin “Le Poutet” Côtes du Rhône $19.99
85% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and 5% Carignan (aged in concrete tanks and unfiltered)
Bright ruby in color, this wine shows elegant cherry and strawberry fruit mixed with licorice, leather, and black pepper on the nose. The palate echoes juicy red fruit and Provençal herbs, all supported by lively acidity and fine tannins.
-Very good, the finish is more rounded and smooth than I was expecting.
Laurent Charvin’s wines are silky, velvety, and smooth. There are no harsh or dry tannins and they are always impeccably balanced, often drawing comparisons to the iconic Château Rayas. This little CDR blows away many Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines from the vintage.

4) 2009 Domaine Gramenon “Les Laurentides” Côtes du Rhône Villages $31.99
Old vine Grenache and Syrah (Demeter certified Biodynamic)
15% alcohol (but you can't feel the heat on the nose)
(Cotes du Rhone Villages = highest of the Cotes du Rhones)
Dark ruby red in color, this wine shows pure fruit with raspberry, notes of plum, underbrush and anise on the nose. On the supremely balanced palate there is ripe dark cherry, pomegranate and currant with graphite/crushed asphalt coming through on the finish. These wine are amazing in their purity, focus and balance.
Very Dry, and has surprising finish.
The wines from Gramenon are known for being rich and ripe, without being jammy. All of their wines are Grenache based, but some are blended based on the vineyard. They do not fine or filter, use only indigenous yeast, and sugar and acid are never added. The wines are always bottled in late spring before their first summer with minimal to no sulfur. They have achieved almost cult-like status in France and very little is exported to the US.

5) 2009 Eric Texier Côtes du Rhône – Brézème $29.99
100% Syrah (Demeter certified Biodynamic)
(Brezeme = bruh-zem)
Deep garnet in color, this wine shows smoky tar and game over huckleberry and blackcurrant fruit on the nose. It has great acidity and a fleshy mid-palate supported by round tannins (due to carbonic maceration - also done for Beaujolais) leading to a long finish. This classic example of cool-climate Syrah from the northern Rhône and is best after decanting.
Brezeme is a steep, limestone-rich terroir approximately 20 miles to the south of Hermitage. These vineyards on the eastern banks of the Rhone once rivaled in price and reputation this much more famous northern neighbor. Texier has brought this special region back to prominence almost single-handedly.

6) 2003 Furlanski Tokaj - Gredic - Movia, Slovenian wine, since 1820, BRDA (?)
Gredic is the name of the Cuvee. strong apple-juice-icky smell. Very dark gold color, thick, reminds me of apple cider or a syrup in texture.
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Le Caveau's notes:
http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=a4892f0fefd670909f4fb91b8&id=488999f431&e=85ee7ef654

Spanish Wines - August 31st - Ms Abbie

Spanish Wines - August 31st, 2011 - Ms Abbie
"Salud!" Lets toast to the end of summer with Spanish Wines. If attending, please bring 1 bottle of Spanish wine, it can be white, red, sparkling, etc, but try to ensure the bottle is of a single varietal (or grape) and not a blend.
Wikipedia: Spanish Wines - the country has an abundance of native grape varieties, with over 400 varieties planted throughout Spain (though 80% of the country's wine production is from 20 grapes, including: Tempranillo, Albarino, Garnacha, Palomino, Airen, Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-lo, Carinena, and Monastrell.)
Pairings: tba

Tasting Notes:
Welcome wine (prior to the tasting): 2001 Anciano Tempranillo Gran Reserva Valdepenas DOC - $7.99 at CostCo 13% alcohol
Tasting Notes were compiled from ALL members, we also used a "fun" tasting sheet this time, that had humorous options on it, so read and enjoy!

1) 2009 Unis Old Vine Macabeo Viura Calatayud DOC - $10.99 at Hop City 13.5% alcohol
White Wine - some subtle legs, goldish straw color, translucent, lightly oaky, some pear on the nose,
comment: "smells like an office cubical" and "alcohol" not as crisp as some white wines, pineapple, granny smith apple on palate
Color: Looks like wine
Clarity: can shine light through it
Nose: Simple but inoffensive
Body: both skinny and flabby
Flavor: Oenophilic Ick
Finish: Premature gustation
Impression: Very light up front, no distinct flavors, bitter shallow, unbalanced, thin
--
Color: Looks like wine
Clarity: satisfyingly translucent
Nose: simple but inoffensive
Body: Lean and sinewy
Flavor: excessively sweet
Finish: Premature gustation
Impression: Meh - would pay nine bucks
Tasting Companions: Freaks!
Food Pairing: Orts!

2) 2009 Martin Codax Albarino, Rias Biaxas DOC - $10.99 CostCo - 12.5% alcohol
White Wine - lemongrass color, clearer, more clear than the first wine. "smells like a perm", "funky fresh", peach , "fermented veggies" or "cigar box" on the nose. "oaky cabbage or sauerkraut", light, refreshing, off dry, apples and young strawberry (not ripe) on the palate
Color: faded and jaded
Clarity: can shine light through it
Nose: Medley of vinegar
Body: Both skinny and flabby
Flavor: excessively sweet
Finish: Premature gustation
smells like perm, funky, ends suddenly
--
Color: faded and jaded
clarity: murky as a polluted lake
Nose: medley of vinegar
Body: Both skinny and flabby
Flavor: amply acidic
finish: Premature gustation
Impression: not my thing, maybe too old.

3) 2009 Montebuena Rioja (blend) Cosecha Burgo Viejo - $10.99 at Total Wine - 13.5% alcohol - 90 pts, purpley-red color, berries, chocolate, raisin on the nose, chocolate, cherries, hint of peat on the palate,
tart, lingering finish. deep raisins
Label: true piece of art
color: brilliantly hued
Clarity: murky as a polluted lake
Nose: simple but inoffensive
Body: height-weight proportionate
Flavor: Amply acidic
Impression: Tasty, would drink again.

4) 2004 Anzil Toro DOC Finca - $15.00 from www.winestillsoldout.com
dark garnet color, scents of toasted coconut, figs, would pair well with a cigar, pairs with chocolate, complex, interesting, love the finish FAVE so far, dry, dark, complex, yummy, long finish,
Color: looks like wine
clarity: can shine light through it
nose: impressively powerful
body: lean and sinewy
flavor: precariously balanced
finish: stamina to spare
impressions: delicious

5) 2009 El Pensador (The Thinker) Tempranillo Campo de Borja DOC - $11 or $12.99 at Kroger (regularly $14.99 without Kroger Plus card) - 13.5% alcohol
grapey scent, purply dark color (reminds me of a MollyDooker), lingering legs, dark fruit, raspberry, tastes of higher alcohol content, spice, plum, notes of strawberry and red cherry. more bitter.
color: looks like wine
clarity: satisfyingly translucent
nose: impressively powerful
flavor: amply acidic
body: both skinny and flabby
finish: premature gustation
impression: pretty good, maybe a little young

Food we enjoyed:

• 3 varieties of olives
• Manchego
• Goat Cheese & Crackers
• Soy Chorizo
• Chips and homemade Salsa
• Hummus
• Variety of Chocolate bites (some with toffee some without)
• Almonds
• Fresh Cherries
  

Le Caveau Tasting - 08/20/2011

Le Caveau Tasting - 08/20/2011

Cheeses served were "Delice de Bourgogne" - a sort of brie-textured cheese with a blue-cheese-like essence.
and herbed goat cheese.

1) 2009 Selbach-Oster Pinot Blanc Dry - $15.99
100% Pinot Blanc "Aromas of fresh yeast and apple that give way to a bracing acidity that creates a hint of effervescence. Deep citrus notes finish with a savory minerality. 2009 was a rare vintage in the Mosel for Johannes Selbach. His decision to bottle his Pinot Blanc as an estate wine bearing the Selbach-Oster label, generally reserved solely for their 1st tier Rieslings, expresses the quality of this selection." This is one of the oldest estates in the Mosel.

2) 2009 Feudi di San Gregorio - $23.99
100% Fiano di Avellino
(Fiano from the the hills of Avellino) "The color is a definitive golden yellow with green reflections. There are sharp sensations of the Mediterranean; fresh flowers such as chamomile, yellow peach and candied orange. On the palate there are notes of fresh-cut mango and hot stones that create freshness and minerality. This grape has a long history in the Campania region and is believed to have been the grape behind the ancient Roman wine Apianum."
Apianum has to do with bees. honey wine perhaps? There is also a red grape there, near Pompeii called Aglianico (pronounced eye-on-ih-koe).

3) 2010 Chateau Mourgues du Gres Rose Fleur d'Eglantine - $10.99
Mourvedre, Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan
(the Mourvedre gives it the gamey note on the nose)
"With an excellent aromatic length and depth, this vintage displays fresh, elegant and ethereal floral notes layered over aromas of pear and light red fruits, including raspberry and red currant. The soil of the Costieres-d-Nimes region (border on Rhone and Languedoc) is essentially composed of alluvium stones from the Alps. Here the sun shines all year long, ensuring that the grapes reach optimum maturity. "Sine Sole Nihil" (Nothing without Sunshine)"

4) 2007 Domaine Duseigneur Lirac Antares - $17.99 - rated 91pts by Robert Parker
60% Grenache 20% Syrah 20% Mourvedre
"A garnet-coloured robe is draped over spice, licorice, and black cherry fruit. With a long, lingering finish that presents hints of raisen, smoke, and garrigue. This biodynamically-farmed vineyard is located on the West bank of the Rhone Valley, near the picturesque village of Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres, and in view of the slopes of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. On old alluvial terraces the soil is made up of red clay and pebbles on top of a layer of sand. The vine grows through this seemingly uncultivatable soil, the farming of which requires great belief, patience, and tenacity."
Side Note: Garrigue is underbrush/herbs of Provence or lavendar/thyme.
I LOVE how this one smells. Delightful!

5) 2007 Triennes St. Auguste Vin de Pays du Var - $17.99
Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot
"A dark, dense wine with purple hues, it shows spicy aromas combined with ripe fresh fruit. The palate is rich and full of life with plenty of structure. This is a wine that needs some air to truly open up and show at its best.
'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.' Jaques Seysses, founder of Domaine Dujac. He and Aubert de Villiane, co-owner of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, founded Triennes in 1989. The estate is named Domaine de Triennes, after the trienna, festivities in honour of Bacchus that took place every 3 years in Roman times."

Side note: Bacchus is the Roman name for Dionysus, the God of wine and intoxication. The frenzy he induces is called "bakkheia." His wine, music and ecstatic dance frees his followers from self-conscious fear and care, and subverts the oppressive restraints of the powerful. Those who partake in his mysteries are posessed and empowered by the god himself. his cult is also a "cult of the souls", his maenads feed the dead through blood-offerings, and he acts as a divine communicant between the living and the dead.
Some of you may remember the maenad from True Blood, Maryann Forrester.

Le Caveau Tasting - 07/03/2011

"NV Quattro Mani Franciacorta Brut DOCG
80% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Bianco, 10% Pinot Nero.
This dry sparkling wine shows aromas of freshly baked Italian brioche, preserved lemons and smoke. The palate strikes a nice balance between fruit, acidity and chalky minerality. This is a gorgeous stuff for the price!

The wine is made Methode Champenoise using sustainably farmed estate fruit with primary fermentation occurring in stainless steel tanks, followed by secondary fermentation in the bottle, then allowed the wine to rest for three years in the bottle before release. T . TTht he Quattro Mani Franciacorta is part of the “four hands” project started a few years ago by wine importers Domaine Select Wine Estates with the goal of creating great wines that reflected terroir but at the same time were affordable. The Franciacorta is the sparkling wine of the project and it is made by Mario Falcetti, a pioneer of Franciacorta who spent almost two decades at Conatdi Castaldi, one of the top wineries in all of Franciacorta.

2008 Mario Schiopetto Tocai Friulano Collio DOC
100% Tocai Friulano
The color is yellow-gold, with greenish tones. The nose shows intense floral notes with hints of pears and red apples. The full bodied palate is all about explosive tropical fruit with almonds and pears that are present on the dry finish, especially with a little bit of age.

Schiopetto is one of the oldest wine estates in the Collio area and the late Mario Schiopetto is credited with modernizing wine making in Friuli. This benchmark producer’s 75 acres of vineyards cover the fertile estate surrounding the former residence of the Bishop of Gorizia in Capriva del Friuli, and Podere dei Blumeri.

2010 Alain Brumont Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne Rosé
1/3 Tannat, 1/3 Syrah, 1/3 Merlot
This wine has a pale pink color. The nose shows bright raspberry and a savory, meaty note. On the palate, the wine is round and rich with a fresh finish.

Alain Brumont was elected “The best Wine Grower of the 80’s” in 1991 by the Gault Millau and received the Légion of Honor, the highest decoration in France in 1999.

2009 Clos du Tue-Boeuf Touraine "La Butte"
100% Gamay: No sulfur on vinification and less than 15mg SO2 before bottling
The nose shows musky cherries and white pepper. Bright red fruit and pepper are echoed on the palate with a nice spine of minerality and juicy acidity. This is a nice summer red with complexity that is perfect for that 4^th of July picnic or barbecue.

Owned by brothers, Jean-Marie and Thierry Puzelat, there are records about the lieu-dit “le Tue-Boeuf” and its excellent wines which were enjoyed by the local nobility and the kings of France in the Middle Ages. The name Puzelat is mentioned in 15th century documents about the area.

2008 Provenza Rosso Garda Classico DOC
40% Groppello, 20% Marzemino, 20% Sangiovese, 20% Barbera
The nose is all ripe black fruit, tobacco and spice with smoky plum and red fruit on the palate balanced by nice natural acidity.

Lake Garda is characterized by compact clay layers or soil and is the result of erosion dating back to the two last two ice ages, which created the large moraine basin shaping the landscape around the southern shores of the lake. Thanks to the beneficial contribution of the temperate lake climate, this land is the ideal location to cultivate indigenous varieties. "

ABBIE & MATT's additional notes:
-Quattro Mani means "Four Hands"
-Tocai Friulano for Wine #2 is the varietal in Italy. They may not be able to keep that word on the label though. Hungary has a style of dessert wine-making called "Tokaji" which is pronounced the same, and they are very attached to this word, thus they do not like it when others use it. the method is to pile grapes on top of each other, and the weight of the grape is the "press", this Hungarian Dessert wine can easily run about $100/bottle and historically was only served to the dying rich on their deathbed. Now you can have some if you can afford to buy any.
-The "La Butte" Gamay wine was just stupendous! Layers of flavor, and then a dry finish. I had to buy a bottle right then and there. This isn't your Thanksgiving Gamay, this is one to enjoy year round!
-The Rosso was also fantastic. Matthew can't wait to have a cigar while enjoying a glass of this masculine red wine.

Le Caveau - Wine Tasting - 06/04/2011

Le Caveau - Wine Tasting - 06/04/2011

1) 2009 Domaine de Menard Colombard-Sauvignon Cotes de Gascogne Blanc - $11.99
(logo has seashell, because their vineyards are on top of a famous marine geological site and they occasionally find fossils between the rows of vines). Southwest France.
50% Colombard, 50% Sauvignon Blanc
...What is Colombard? I had to ask that also. It is an early fruiting white wine grape.
There is a French drink, similar to Cognac called Armengac - and Colombard grapes are used for this. Anyway, back to this delicious wine...
Tasting Notes from Le Caveau
"The nose on this wine is very aromatic, showing the exotic fruit and pineapple of the Colombard along with the aromas of grapefruit, passion fruit, and herbs delivered by Sauvignon Blanc along with crisp acidity. This is a great summertime aperitif and also really sings when paired with roast chicken or fish/shellfish.

2) 2010 Domaine du Vieux Chene "Cuvee des Seigneurs" Cote du Rhone Villages Blac - $16.99
1/3 Marsanne, 1/3 Roussane, 1/3 Viognier (Ecocert Certified Organic)
100% organic, husband/wife team, even use mule-drawn plow, very traditional wine-making.
Tasting Notes from Le Caveau
"This wine has a pale straw color, with greenish tint and a nose of red dates, acacia, flower and honey. It has very nice weight and gorgeous texture. A white designed to be the perfect foil for Provencal spices and sauces. Owners Beatrice and Jean-Claude Bouche harvest by hand and use native yeasts to produce wines of great harmony and elegance."
We thought it had very nice legs for a white - sexy. Very light, perfect for summer.

3) 2010 Chateau d'Esclans "Whispering Angel" Cotes de Provence Rose - $18.99
Grenache 73%, Rolle 4% (same as Vermentino), Cinsault 9%, Syrah 8.5%, and Mourvedre 5.5%
Tasting Notes from Le Caveau
"This Rose has a light pink color with savory notes on the nose followed by tart orange/tangerine and red fruits on the bone dry palate. This wine is perfect for a picnic, trip to the beach or backyard barbecues. Winemaker Sacha Lichine (son of Alexis Lichine who ran the fourth growth Chateau Prieure-Lichine in Margaux from 1951-1989) is at the helm of this gorgeous property in Provence. "
They use pressed and free run juice. Stainless steel fermenting to keep wine cooler.

4) 2007 Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay - Saratoga Cuvee - $23.99
Santa Cruz Mountains 13.8% alcohol. one of the oldest estates, smoky nose, toast on barrels, rich texture, sticks to the tongue, declassified fruit (normally in estate wine), also has nice legs for a white.

5) 2009 Domaine Joel Rochette Regnie Cru Beaujolais - $17.99
100% Gamay
Tasting Notes from Le Caveau
"This wine has concentrated bright red fruits on the palate with palpable minerality which lifts the fruit and keeps it from veering into heaviness. It finishes long on a really attractive mildly tart cherry-skin note. This Regnie comes from 50-yr old vines on stony-sandy soils on granite bedrock."
Delicious!

I need one of these!

Envoyage Taschen Weekender Bag - holds Wine Bottle in the bottom!

http://www.highsnobette.com/news/2011/06/07/envoyage-taschen-weekender/

Le Caveau - new Wine Store in Town!

Le Caveau Fine Wine just opened in Chamblee, GA !
Press Release | Le Caveau Facebook | Le Caveau Twitter

We went to their Grand Opening on Saturday May 28th. They had a wonderful wine tasting and pairings of artisanal cheeses from Thomasville, GA based Sweet Grass Dairy Farms, and a tasty selection of meats from Pine Street Market. Owners Carrie and Eric Brown are super friendly (not snobby), and also Dan Crawford who works there is great! We love Le Caveau!

Tasting Notes:
1) 2009 San Felice Perolla Vermentino $11.99
Vermentino (85%), Sauvignon Blanc (15%) - straw yellow in appearance, the wine shows refreshing hints of grapefruit, spring blossoms, and fresh-mown hay on the nose while the crisp palate shows green melon and lemon cream.
Pairs with the Thomas Tomme cheese.
LOVED this one, perfect summertime wine!

2) 2010 Chateau La Tour de Berand Rose (Costieres De Nimes) - $13.99
Rhone Valley. Mourvedre, Carignan, Syrah, and Grenache
It has a soft pink color with excellent aromatic length and depth, it displays fresh, elegant, floral notes overlying aromas of pear and red fruits (raspberry and red currant).
Matt likes the finish (tart berry), flavorful and amazing.
Pairs with the Fresh Chevre (Goat Cheese).

3) 2008 Olivier Laflaive Bourgogne Blanc "Les Setilles" (Chardonnay) - $18.99
A blend of vineyards in the villages of Puligny-Montrachet (60%) and Meursault (40%)
This wine has a very fresh and intensely floral nose with hints of lemon-lime and earth, both of which can also be found on the palate. These rich and round flavors are not only intense and delicious but also deliver better than average complexity.
Scent of Smoky-Hay. 8 months in oak barrels. Very yummy Chardonnay and I am not usually a Chardonnay fan!
Importer is Fredrick Wildman & Sons Ltd.
Pair with Gow-da cheese (part cow part goat).

4) 2008 Freja Cellars Estate Pinot Noir - $18.99
Freja was the Scandanavian goddess of Fertility and growth.
Winemaker is Willy (Greek guy) who spent a lot of time in Burgundy, etc.
The vineyard is located on a south facing slope of the Chelhalem Mountains (800 ft elevation) in the North Williamette Valley and consists of Wadensville (Vahnds-ville) Clone (75%) and Pommard Clone (25%)
It has classic burgundy color and shows red fruit, violets, and earth aromas. the palate echoes these notes with tart red cherry, raspberry, and spice with lively acidity and moderate tannins. This wine was featured at the Masters Golf Tournament.
(Clone means it's a clone of Pinot Noir). Some other clones are Dijon 117 and Dijon 115 - from France, Cotes De Nuit.
Pairs with the Fresh Chevre.

5) Lot #2009 Plan Pegau Selectionne par Laurence Feraud - (Costieres De Nimes) - $19.99
(Female winemaker in France - which is fairly rare to find)
65% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Carignan, the balance is a kitchen sink blend of Mourvedre, Merlot, Alicante Bouche, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
With Medium garnet color this wine is showing garrigue (lavender, sage, rosemary, wild thyme) pepper, spice, and game aromas. It is a mid-weight wine with loads of luscious cherry fruit and gorgeous texture.
Pairs with the buttery tasting cheese (similar to a camembert)