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INSIDER'S PICK: 2013 LILIAN et SOPHIE BAUCHET GAMAY 'SUR LA ROOT'

1/28/2016

This is a wine that may push the comfort level of some wine drinkers out there, as it is made in an uncompromising style that not every person may like. The Natural Wine movement stems from the organic/bio-dynamic farming and viticultural movements over the last few decades, taking that ideal into the winemaking itself with the goal of manipulating the finished product as little as possible. Use of native yeasts for fermentation, little fining or filtration, and as little SO2 added during bottling have become some of the hallmarks for these sort of wines that are being made all over the world, with Beaujolais and the Loire being particularly active. Bauchet is a big part of the movement in Beaujolais, taking the example from winemakers of the 70s and 80s like Jules Chauvet and Marcel Lapierre that resisted the commercial style of farming that is highly present even today, where less than 10% of the vineyards in Beaujolais are farmed without heavy chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
From the first pour in the glass, the wine is noticeably not typical as it shows a distinctive opaque haziness from the lack of filtration. The first whiff is equally unique, full of high toned cherry, cranberry and raspberry fruit and a very 'natural' mustiness, like standing in the vineyard after a rain shower. The dirt, the vines themselves, the undergrowth are all present at first, then subside into the background as the red fruits open up and take the forefront. On the palate the texture is on the fuller side for a Beaujolais thanks to the unfiltered mouthfeel, while the fruit stays on the savory and high toned side, loaded with more cranberry and earthy vineyard flavors. The bright acidity on the finish may make or break some people, deliciously nervy and hinting at natural ciders and gamy meats or too tart and lacking in red fruits. Undeniably well made and distinct to be sure, but the level of deliciousness and enjoyment will be up to you.

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INSIDER'S PICK: 2013 VIETTI BARBERA d'ASTI 'TRE VIGNE' $19.99

1/21/2016

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Since everyone will be hunkering down this weekend watching the snow pile up, chances are very good most people will be cooking up lots of comfort foods to feed on after shoveling the walk, cross country skiing, or fort making. Lots of stews, roasts, and hearty pasta dishes will be on the table, meals that are cooked slow and eaten quickly to refuel the body. Your favorite red wine is always a fine choice (especially when you can't leave the house for three more days anyway), but one of the best go-to wines has been from personal experience a quality Barbera from the Piedmont. Almost anything savory and rich works well, handles braised or saucy textures, and drinks hearty without feeling thick or heavy on the palate, which would kill off its food-friendliness. Vietti is one of the great names in the Piedmont, and this bottling from older vines in the under-appreciated Asti region is routinely among the best values you can find for this quality.
Lots of dried cherry and red fruit aromas that hint at earth and anise in the background that always keep a sense of tartness to the nose, even with some time open. The palate feels full at first and shows some of the dried red fruits at first, getting drier and earthier the longer they are on the palate and finishes with lots of savory energy. With time the red fruits linger longer and get more flesh, but the palate is always about the lively earthy flavors. People that may want a bit more juiciness might not enjoy this as much on its own, but this is ideal for the dinner table, elevating the savory elements in the food which will in turn bring out more of the fruit from the wine.

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INSIDER'S PICK: 2010 Ch. ROLAND LA GARDE BLAYE-COTES DE BORDEAUX $18.99

1/14/2016

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With the weather getting back to the more classic temperatures of Winter, it seems like a good time to break out a 'classic' red wine to enjoy. The region of Blaye sits on the Right Bank side of Bordeaux where Merlot dominates the majority of wines, but in a more substantial and flavorful way than most American Merlots have devolved into. Blaye has also greatly improved in quality overall in recent years, filling the price point vacuum that formed as the more famous wines from Pomerol and St Emilion have skyrocketed. While it is almost impossible to find a solid wine from those regions under $20 in even the best of circumstances, Blaye is thriving in this price range, and in quality vintages like 2010 there are plenty of great possibilities to be found.
Deep, dark ruby color in the glass with only the slightest of color change around the edge of the glass to show any signs of age, the nose is full of dark dusty red fruits and that antique earthiness you find in comfortable old leather chairs. A bit of swirling and time brings out more of the red fruits, but never moves to the sweeter side of the spectrum. On the palate the texture is rich and polished, packed with dark currant and more earthy fruit, still full of tannins that create a long dry finish, but not rough enough to get in the way of the deep flavor while the wine is still in your mouth. A great wine to serve with hearty cold weather meals like pot roast, while those that like a bit more age on their Bordeaux will find a lot of value in hiding some bottles for another 3-5 years to polish the tannins down even further.

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2012 GLENELLY CABERNET SAUVIGNON STELLENBOSCH 'THE GLASS COLLECTION' $16.99

1/7/2016

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To start off the new year we have to take the time to remind ourselves to get out of any ruts or forces of habit we may have built up over the holidays. When someone comes in looking for 'A Chardonnay' or 'A Cabernet Sauvignon', we tend to look first in the areas of the store where there is a higher population of those wines like California or France, etc., and don't think as much about some of the really good examples we have from lesser represented areas. Now is a good time to refocus on some of these overlooked gems.
This estate was purchased in 2003 by the same family that owns the 2nd Growth Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande in Bordeaux, and the Bordeaux influence is immediately evident on the nose with the aromas of cool dark fruits, currant and bitter chocolate. Very little oak shows through here, giving the regional character full attention, very savory and earthy. The palate is rich and shows some tannin hints of the South African meaty tone that seems to show through on most reds, but the polished texture is surprisingly Old World with lots of cassis and more persistent dark cocoa notes through the finish. A great traditional style Cab Sauv that has a lot of potential in the cellar and at the dinner table.

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INSIDER'S PICK: 2013 LILIAN et SOPHIE BAUCHET GAMAY 'SUR LA ROOT'

INSIDER'S PICK: 2013 VIETTI BARBERA d'ASTI 'TRE VIGNE' $19.99

INSIDER'S PICK: 2010 Ch. ROLAND LA GARDE BLAYE-COTES DE BORDEAUX $18.99

2012 GLENELLY CABERNET SAUVIGNON STELLENBOSCH 'THE GLASS COLLECTION' $16.99

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