June Wine Tastings at Le Caveau

June Wine Tastings at Le Caveau

Quintarelli Rosso a del Merlo 8 Vintage Vertical Tasting, Saturday June 30th, 2012 5p-8p 

On Saturday June 30th from 5- 8pm we welcomed Matt Rosenberg of Avant Partir for a vertical tasting of Quintarelli Rosso Cà del Merlo with charcuterie from The Spotted Trotter. 
Cà del Merlo is a single vineyard Valpolicella named after a plot of land where a large Merlo (bird) sat perched on a tree overlooking the hillside. It differs from the Valpolicella in that the grapes come from one specific site and thus the terroir and its influence on the wine are unique. It also tends to display more Ripasso chateristics on the nose and palate than the regular Valpolicella. 


Varietals in this wine:  Corvina, Rondinella, Malinara, Croatina, Negrar, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Perla, and Nebbiolo.



We will taste through the following vintages.
1986 Giuseppe Quintarelli Cà del Merlo
1987 Giuseppe Quintarelli Cà del Merlo
1992 Giuseppe Quintarelli Cà del Merlo
1994 Giuseppe Quintarelli Cà del Merlo
1998 Giuseppe Quintarelli Cà del Merlo
1999 Giuseppe Quintarelli Cà del Merlo
2000 Giuseppe Quintarelli Cà del Merlo
2002 Giuseppe Quintarelli Cà del Merlo

Crazy wine rack

Check out this 1000 lbs wine rack:

http://www.clearbrafilms.com/wine-rack-transformer/




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Route de Vins Tasting Friday June 15th, 2012

Route de Vins Tasting Friday June 15th, 2012 6p-8p at Le Caveau Fine Wines
"Friday, June 15th from 6- 8 pm we welcomed Frederick Corriher of Route Des Vins Imports and two of his producers from the Southern Rhone Valley of France, Gérald Lafont and Bertrand Gonnet. Route des Vins Imports are brandnew to the state and their focus is small production, family run estates from France."  Bertrand's family domaine is Domaine Font de Michelle.
 
1) 2010 Trois Amis Sauvignon Blanc - 13% alcohol - $14.99
“I think this Sauvignon Blanc might be the wine that best embodies our philosophy. It’s not as austere or serious as Sancerre and not as zingy as some of the better-made New Zealand Sauvignons, but, man, is it good and fun to drink. I love the combination of its citrus-like acidity and broad palate of exotic fruit flavors. This combo makes it what I call an ‘all-purpose wine’. It’s terrific as an aperitif, but yet it pairs marvelously with raw oysters or ceviche.One thing is for sure: folks usually need to open a second bottle after quickly downing the first.” - Frederick Corriher of RDV  Trois Amis means Three Friends.  On the label you see 3 silhouettes, the first is Guilliame (Bertrand's cousin), the second is Frederick Corriher, and the third is Bertrand Gonnet.  100% Sauvignon Blanc 

2) 2009 Trois Amis Gigondas - 14.5% alcohol - $34.99
“This Gigondas is made from vines situated on two types of soil (one with mostly limestone, one with more rolled riverbed stones) just underneath the village.  It's aged in concrete tanks to capture the purity of the Grenache and to protect its freshness.  The Grenache in this wine is super-ripe, rich, kirsh-like.  It's a big wine, for sure, but the tannins are fine and elegant.  It's a wine that will stand up to the fattier cuts of meat, but it's elegant enough to pair well with a midweek meal like a simple roast chicken from the supermarket." - Frederick Corriher of RDV  Gigondas (Zjee-gohn-dez) is a little town west of the Rhone.  95% Grenache, 5% Syrah (for freshness).  Bertrand helped make this wine with his cousin.

3) 2009 D’Arbousset Lirac Rouge - 14.5% alcohol - $28.99
“This old-vine Grenache cuvee is a real sleeper of the vintage, but it is very limited in availability. The wine is bursting with fruit, has a dark ruby/purple color and loads of complexity with its notes of incense,Christmas fruitcake, lavender, licorice and black cherry marmalade notes. It is a beauty to drink over the next 3-4 years.” 91 Points: The Wine Advocate #191 98% Grenache, 2% Syrah, Lirac is a town on the other side of the Rhone, west of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.  Gerald is the vigneron (or winemaker) for this wine.
 
4) 2009 Domaine Durieu Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe - 15% alcohol - $49.99
A very traditional, yet pretty style, the 2009 Domaine Durieu Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a completely cemented aged blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, and 5% Cinsault. Showing fresh, perfumed, and straight-up Provencal aromas of spice-laced red fruits, green peppercorn, wild herbs, and a touch funky leather and earth, this medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced Châteauneuf-du-Pape has a seamless, elegant texture, sweet fruit, and a focused, classy finish that’s loaded with sweet, fine-grained tannin. A good mix of traditional style style aromatically, and polish and texture on the palate, this beauty should drink well for 8-10 years. 91 points: The Rhone Report, September 2011 Gerald consults at Domaine Durieu.  
 
5) 2009 Domaine Durieu Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe ‘Lucile Avril’ - 15% alcohol - $59.99
The estate’s luxury cuvee, the deep ruby/plum-colored 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Lucile Avril is composed of 85% Grenache and the rest mostly Mourvedre (6%) with a touch of Syrah (4%), all aged in cement. Impressively rich and much in character with not only the vintage but its less expensive sibling, the traditional cuvee, it is a concentrated, powerful, opulent, sexy wine boasting a
huge perfume of black currants, caramelized herbs, sweet kirsch, saddle leather and spice box. This voluptuously textured, multidimensional offering displays fabulous fruit extract and a rich, long, pure finish that goes on and on. Drink this beauty now and over the next 10-12 years.Lovers of these wines need to pay more attention as prices have remained reasonable. 93 Points: The Wine Advocate
#197 " Gerald consults at Domaine Durieu. 

TWITs try Arizona Wines @ Le Caveau 06/07/2012

TWITs tried Arizona Wines @ Le Caveau 06/07/2012 - 6pm

Our gracious host Eric Brown, owner of Le Caveau Fine Wines, hosted a TWITs event on Thursday June 7th at 6pm.
The documentary Blood Into Wine was shown during the tasting.
We sampled Arizona wines from Arizona Stronghold, tasting notes are photographed below.

Special thanks to Demetrius from Prime Wine and Spirits for providing the amazing wines we sampled.  Several bottles were purchased, and we are secretly hoping Eric decides to carry the wines in his shop.

Integrity Wine Tasting @ Le Caveau 5/24/12

Happy Anniversary Le Caveau !!!  We are so glad to have you in our neighborhood!











This was the last of Le Caveau's 1 year Anniversary Events:
We met Certified Sommelier and owner of Integrity Wines, Doug Strickland while tasting some unique, natural wines from their portfolio:

1. 2010 Chateau Tour Des Gendres 'Cuvee des Conti' Bergerac Sec - $18.99 - 13% alcohol - 70% Semillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Muscadelle - The nose is pure and expressive with waxy white peach and pink grapefruit with cashews and a dash of ginger.  The wine has a fresh, herbaceous character on the palate with its acidity offering freshness within the full, rich texture.  The De Conti's have 52 hectares, all in Bergerac, all organically farmed since 1994, AGROCERT certified since 2005.  Yields are managed based on grape varieties, soil, vintages, the style and balance of the wines, and their agricultural plots.  Vinification techniques are customized to reflect the true vintage expression.  If you look up Bergerac in Hugh Johnson's Book The World Atlas of Wine (also affectionately referred to as "the huge johnson")- you will see that Luc De Conti is the only winemaker he mentions in that section.
2. NV Ampelidae Armance B - $18.99 - 12.66% alcohol - 80% Chardonnay, 20% Folle Blanc - Has a fine and nice bouquet, inspired of pastry and croissant.  Bubble's very delicate, light, and at the palate gives us nuances of white nougat, mature peach, and fresh almond.  The final taste prolongs with delicacy, purity, but unique freshness and body complicity (I think he meant "complexity.")  Armance B. takes its name from the first name of the winemaker, Frederic's grandmother who initiated the sparkling production in 1899.  She was born with the name Baillet (name of a big bucket where you put grapes), and married a Brochet, thus signing all her life with a B, without anymore precision except her tricky smile.  Frederic started winemaking at age 14, and another of his wonderful wines is the Marigny Neuf (a Pinot Noir also sold at Le Caveau for a very reasonable price). 
3. 2010 Chateau Tour Des Gendres Bergerac Rouge - $14.99 - 13% alcohol - 50% Merlot, 50% Malbec - the color, deep and steady, is garnet red with purple tints.  The nose is powerful with notes of cherry, blueberry, and soft spices.  The palate is aromatic and fresh.  Known since the 12th century as the winery of "Chateau de Bridoir", Chateau "Tour des Gendres" (literally Tower of the sons in law) is located on the site of an old Gallo-Roman villa. Owned and run for the past 3 generations by the "De Conti" family, Chateau Tour Des Gendres is the flagship of the Bergerac appellation.
4. 2009 La Reserve d'O Coteaux du Languedoc - $22.99 - 15% alcohol - 50% Grenache, 40$ Syrah, 10% Cinsault - The nose shows rich, ripe blackberries and chestnuts with lots of sweet but not jammy fruit.  On the palate it's supple with a nice mouth-filling structure, yet elegant at the same time.  After 10 years of searching for her own vineyards, Marie Chauffray, with her husband Frederic, found their unique property and have dedicated themselves to biodynamic viticulture.  The 10 hectare estate is certified organic from ECOCERT and biodynamic from Demeter.  The vineyard is situated 400m above sea level, is located on terraces of limestone pebbles, on very dry soils, and high winds with vine 30+ years of age. Being imported for the first time into the US, Maria won Silver Medal at Millesime Bio 2010 for La Reserve d'O.  Of interest is that her husband is a rock and roll guy.
5. 2010 Mathieu Barret 'La Banniere' Crozes-Hermitage- $27.99 - 13.5% alcohol - 100% Syrah - has bear on the label (due to the winemakers recently having a baby) - In the glass this is a very dark, medium-opaque purple. The nose is intense with scorched earth and blue fruit with animale notes.  In the mouth there is rich black fruits presented with nice acidity.  There are young, fine-grained mouth-filling tannins that provide structure for the wine.  The long mineral-driven finish is slightly juicy.  The wine is 100% destemmed and undergoes natural yeast fermentation in a concrete "egg" with a daily punching down of the cap and vinified without sulfur.  The wine spends 18 months in 400 liter barrels that are 10 years old.

A question asked at the tasting - What is the difference between Organic and Biodynamic winemaking?
Organic means no pesticides, no chemicals, no fertilizers, etc.
Biodynamic means all of these things, but ALSO looks at farming in a holistic way.  The belief is that we are all inter-related with the earth, and the terroir, some even farm on the lunar cycle, it is a purist view of making wine.  The farm is a cohesive, interconnected, living system.
Read more here

Vintage '59 Tasting @ Le Caveau 5/17/12

We met Susan Maschal of Ultimate Wine and Spirits as we tasted through some vins des terroirs from the Vintage '59 Portfolio.  Vintage '59 is named thus for the founder, Roy Cloud, who was born in 1959.  He has also just finished a book about wines called  To Burgundy and Back Again.

1. 2010 Domaine Branger Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Le Fils des Gras Moutons - $17.99 - 12% alcohol - 100% Melon de Bourgogne - Domaine Claude Branger was founded by his grandfather, who developed the wine domaine during the First World War.  Today his son Sebastien works beside him.  They farm 61 acres in two parishes in the heart of the Muscadet Sevre et Maine appellation.  Le Fils des Gras Moutons (the son of the fat sheep) is the domaine's base wine, which comes from 26 acres of vines in Branger's earlier maturing plots.  The soil runs from 10 to 16 inches deep and the granite bedrock is metamorphic gneiss full of mica and quartz.  Notes of chamomile and white peach flowers up front, followed by racy lemon zest, verbena, and fleur de sel notes through the finish.  Long and Pure.  Would pair well with oysters or light seafood.  Viscous finish, has salinity, and organic to boot!
2. 2010 Domaine de San de Guilhem Vin de Pays de Gascogne - $13.99 - 11.5% alcohol - 40% Columbard, 30% Gros Manseg, 30% Ugni Blanc (OO-nee-Blah-nk)- The 50-hectare Domaine de San de Guilhem (Gee-yum) is in the eastern portion of Bas-Armagnac (southwest France), a region of sloping green hills, and oceanic climate, and sandy soils.  Alain Lalanne's father (and his grandfather and great-grandfather) only made wine to distill into Armagnac (aka: Cognac), but his retirement in 1970 coincided with a progressive and lasting decline in the global market for Armagnac (cognac).  Consequently, Alain and the other growers in the region faced the need to sell the region's white wine as wine rather than as spirits.  Vin de Pays de Gascogne:  is a zesty and lively white wine with a nose of white fruits and a clean, crisp finish.  Would pair well with salad, seafood (without sauce). 
3. NV Charles Bove Sparkling Rosé - $21.99 - 70% Cabernet Franc, 30% Gamay - The Charles Bove company was founded in the 19th century in Montrichard (Mahn-trey-shard), in the Loire Valley.  Its base of operations is an enormous rock quarry.  The company specializes in sparkling wines, but also has an extensive portfolio of still wines.  The domaine buys juice after tasting vintages at each property.  The wines are then vinified, blended, and bottles at the domaine.  Sparkling Rose:  a methode traditionelle sparkling made from 70% Cabernet Franc (fine aromatics and acidity), 30% Gamay.  The wine rests on its lees in Bove's chalk caves for 18 months before being disgorged.  This is fresh, dry, with hints of rose petals and hibiscus.  Only 5 cases in Georgia.  This wine will be served at The Watershed's new location on Peachtree (near the original Cafe Intermezzo).
4. 2009 Mas Conscience Cuvée 'La Petite Prise' Coteaux du Languedoc - $24.99 - 13.5% alcohol - 50% Grenache, 50% Syrah - Genevieve and Laurent Vidal founded Mas Conscience in 2003, on the outskirts of Saint-Jean-de-Fos.  They came from the appellation of Pic-Saint-Loup, where they had started a domaine the preceding decade.  The village of Saint-Jean-de-Fos had a special place in their hearts because both had spent their childhood years there.  So when a friend offered them his vineyard parcels, the Vidals sold their domaine and bought their friend's vines, and built a cellar to make and bottle their own wines.  Cuvee La Petite Prise is made from equal parts Grenache and Syrah, both from young vines growing on the old Herault riverbed.  BONUS STORY:  You will notice a donkey and a ceramic vessel depicted on the bottle label.  Mas Conscience means Collective Conscience.  The story goes that there were 2 Benedictine Abbeys nearby, and this town was known for its ceramics.  Each year they had to decide, based on their conscience, whether to send a vessel of olive oil, or wine, or both to the Abbeys.
5. 2008 Domaine de la Chevalerie Bourgueil 'Les Galichets' - $28.99 - 13% alcohol - 100% Cabernet Franc - Since 1640 this domaine has been in the Caslot family.  Today it is aided by the son and daughter team of Emmanuel and Stephanie.  These dynamic siblings have been instrumental in upgrading the winery equipment and converting the domaine to organic farming.  Galichets:  a 25-acre vineyard heading down the terrace toward the river that is planted on stony, sandy clay.  Galichets was first planted in 1934, and today the vines average 40 years of age.  This vineyard tends to make the domaine's fruitiest wine.  Full of energy, with uplifting aromatics.  One of the more fragrant and floral - Cab Franc's I've ever tried.  has notes of black olive and a mushroomy-bell-pepper .

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Kermit Lynch Tasting with Ryan Mullins @ Le Caveau 5/12/12

Kermit Lynch Wine Tasting with Ryan Mullins
We met Certified Sommelier, Ryan Mullins of Quality Wine and Spirits (Distributer) as we tasted through some gems from the Kermit Lynch Portfolio.

1. NV Achad-Vincent Brut Clairette de Die AOC - $24.99 - 11.5% alcohol, 100% Clairette - Fresh, clean-cut pear, and green apple notes backed by a tangy, refreshing finish.  The most well-known of Clairette de Die's producers today is the tiny Domaine Achard-Vincent.  Jean-Pierre Achard, and his son, Thomas, descend from five generations of growers.  The domaine has farmed organically since Thomas's grandparents were directing it, although it is now officially certified as both organic (since 1982) and biodynamic (since 2007).
2. 2010 Éric Chevalier Fié Gris Blanc Vin de Pays du Val de Loire - $26.99 - 12% alcohol, 100% Fie Gris - Wildflowers, tarragon, white peaches make an appearance on the aromatic nose, with hints of kaffir lime and sea salt.  Flavors on the mouth suggest citrus with more saline notes, hints of white fruits and lot of chiseled, chalky precision.  Fie Gris (also known as Sauvignon Rose or Sauvignon Gris) vines were discovered in Touraine and elsewhere in the southern Loire and are believed to be the ancestors - the pre-Phylloxera ancestors - of Sauvignon Blanc.  Fie Gris is a specialty of Eric Chevalier, who took over the family domaine, Domaine de l'Aujardiere in 2006 from his father.
3. 2010 Domaine Ostertag Pinot Noir Vin d’Alsace - $31.99 - 12% alcohol - 100% Pinot Noir - This wine displays good full red color with black cherry, raspberry, and cinnamon on the nose.  The palate is ripe and juicy, with high-pitched flavors of red fruits and spices finishing with a light dusting of tannins.  Alsatian Pinot Noir is very rare and it is a specialty of the domaine as Andre Ostertag, who trained in Burgundy with Dominique Lafon of Mersault while at enology school in Beaune, understands the grape varietal very well.
4. 2009 Terres d'Avignon 'Réserve des Armoiries' Côtes du Rhône AOC- $15.99 - 13.5% alcohol - 47% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 11% Cinsault, 7% Carignan - This wine displays intense red color with a nose of raspberry, spice, and a touch of smoke.  The same most appealing fresh impressions carry onto the palate.  Not a huge wine by any means but nicely ripe with supple tannins and great mouthfeel.  Since 1929, this cooperative winery has been bringing local vignerons together from the outlying areas of Avignon in the Southern Rhone to produce delicious wines that epitomize the region's complex terroir.  Kermit Lynch works closely with the winemaker, Jean-Francios Pasturel to develop the blend.
5. 2010 Éric Chevalier Cabernet Franc Vin de Pays du Val de Loire - $17.99 - 100% Cabernet Franc - A nice bright color and a lovely perfume to the nose; it has a smoky character, but lifting this up there is also a fine layer of floral Cabernet Franc fruit over the top.  On the palate there is dark fruit character, firmly styled, with moderate weight and a fine structure underneath.  Eric Chevalier is a rising star of the Nantais of the Loire Valley.  The Nantais is a maritime climate, and the vineyards are not far from the Atlantic Ocean.  Consequently, there is an interesting variety of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks, as this area was once the ocean floor.

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