An old favorite… super fresh new vintage… and a killer deal. What more could you ask for? Oh… it's in stock now!

What is particularly compelling about this wine is how different it is from the standard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Sure, it has all the characteristic aromas of gooseberry, lemons and limes, and vibrant acidity. But it has a level of richness and intensity that I have rarely found in a Kiwi SB. The secret is in the extremely low yields they crop – with less fruit per vine, the grapes are extremely concentrated in flavor and abundantly ripe.So, in addition to the vibrant citrus character you expect, you are presented with rich tropical fruit flavors like papaya, passion fruit and banana. The use of completely neutral oak barrels allows for a smidge of oxygen exposure – further creating a lush, creamy impression.

In all, this juicy wine packs quite a surprising punch, with vibrant acidity, minerality and a peppery spice adding depth and complexity to all of the afforementioned fruit. Could there be a more perfect wine for the warm days coming up?

“Located on the outskirts of Ribero del Duero, just past Vega Sicilia in the steep hamlet of Sardon del Duero, Quinta Sardonia is a biodynamic project from Pingus' Peter Sisseck and Jerome Bougnaud producing a wine with a unique blend of international varieties alongside the native Tinto Fino (Tempranillo). Peter made Pingus famous by using only the native Tinto Fino and only old vines from within the classic and historic boundaries of Ribera del Duero. Here, Peter wanted to make a world-class red wine that paid homage to the Bordeaux varieties he loves, but inside a vineyard he would create and plant literally from the ground up. This jewel-box of a vineyard is like his Bonsai garden; it is so meticulously tended, the results speak for themselves.” Importer note

Since you don’t have a glass in front of you, I suspect the wine will have a hard time speaking for itself… that’s my job, then!

51% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo), 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 5% Syrah, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec. 18 months in French oak – 50% new and 50% one year old.

I had the pleasure of tasting this at a recent event. I bought everything available on the spot! Tempranillo has such an amazing affinity for marrying with other grapes, be it the more traditional Grenache or Graciano of Rioja, or the classic Bordeaux varieties seen here. The Tempranillo shines, but in a supporting role to the more forward flavors of the Cabernet et al. A unique wine, some are hailing this as the next “cult” wine of Spain. Considering Sisseck’s PIngus sells for over $600 a bottle, this wine is also a remarkable steal.

I tasted four times – once immediately after opening. Then again after 45 minutes in a decanter, and twice after that. Certainly, a little air brought out depth and complexity in the wine, and it only improved throughout the 3 hour event. Translation: Plan on decanting for an hour or more to drink now, or set this down for a few years. Either or… I won’t tell you not to drink now, because after an hour of air, this baby was singing to me! I can’t tell you what it was singing, as I don’t speak Spanish, but it was seductive as heck!

Smoky aromas of black fruits and herbs give way to a monstrously lush, dense explosion of fruit, all backed up by firm tannins and a lingering hint of earth and spice. Fire up the grill and get some dry-aged steaks for this baby!

“The 2009 Quinta Sardonia, tasted from a barrel sample, is purple/black in color with an enticing bouquet of smoke, game, lightly roasted herbs, blackberry, and blueberry. Supple, ripe, and sweetly-fruited, this lengthy offering should reach its peak 2016 and drink well through 2029. “ WA

Gushed The Wine Advocate’s Italian guru Antonio Galloni, which doesn’t surprise me one bit.  We have carried this wine continuously at least since I started here over six years ago, and I’ve just sampled this new vintage and can only full-throated echo the endorsement!

Oh, and how about we keep it under $30?  This will arrive Wednesday next week, please reply to order:

Produttori di Barbaresco 2008 – $29.99 net – 91+ pts Wine Advocate – review below

I actually wrote “OMG” first thing in my notes…so what is this wine that has reduced your Italian wine maven’s locution to the level of his near nine year-old daughter?

100% Nebbiolo sourced from some of the region’s top vineyards, this delivers top Barolo/Barbaresco quality, for a fraction of the price of most, and made in a style that will age effortlessly, but also deliver prime drinking right now with a bit of decanting.

For me, Piedmont wines are all about the heady aromatics, and this gem showcases all of the best – roses, violets, sandalwood, fresh black cherries and raspberries, plus a little of that savory tarry earthiness, enough to deliver classic character but less than its more tannic brethren from neighboring Barolo.

2008 was a classic vintage, a winemaker’s dream of a long growing season, allowing the grapes to slowly develop complex flavors along with ripe sugars, and in addition to gorgeous pure red and berry fruits, we see savory leather and anise flavors, and a remarkable acidity in such a big red, driven partly by the cool evenings and also the limestone-rich soils of the Langhe hills.

I can’t imagine we’ll be scoring another Piedmont red this good at this price, and I will be loading up on a half-case at least for myself…one for now, a few for the Fall and Winter, and a few more to let sit for 5-10 years…well, at least as long as I can bear to wait!

I met director Aldo Vaca, who worked with the legendary Angelo Gaja before leaving to head the Produttori, last year, and learned that several years ago they began the radical step for a co-operative of paying not by weight but by quality…every lot undergoes rigorous testing, and the growers are paid for delivering perfectly ripe and balanced grapes, not simply for weight.

This has transformed the wines, and here we see a perfect vintage result in the culmination of their efforts to craft the region’s best wines for a relative steal.

While they’ve introduced modern techniques to measure phenolic ripeness and other metrics to ensure they are getting incredible raw material, the winemaking itself remains classic – not a bit of new oak is used, and after a 24-day fermentation with skin contact, the wine sees 2 years in traditional large casks.

Ripe fruit, authentic earthiness, and elegant aromatics galore – in short, a glorious combination of sweet, savory, and spicy!

Aldo took a few of us out to dinner on our last night in Barbaresco, and we enjoyed Produttori wines with a range of cheeses, with tajarin – the local pasta specialty, a thin-cut egg noodle – in meat sauce, and also roasted lamb, and I’d be happy to have this with anything from mushroom risotto to roasted chicken to a hearty grilled steak.

“The Produttori’s 2008 Barbaresco is simply fabulous. A sweet bouquet melds into expressive fruit in a Barbaresco that is exceptionally polished and refined. The 2008 boasts striking sweetness and inner perfume to match its understated, elegant personality. Quite frankly, the 2008 is very hard to resist today, as the tannins are quite polished. Unusually sweet, silky and refined, the 2008 will take the better part of a decade to show the full breadth of its pedigree. At $37, it is one of the very finest values in ageworthy wine from anywhere in the world. This is a magnificent showing from the Produttori and a great introduction to the 2008 harvest at this historic house. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2038.

Produttori del Barbaresco, one of the world’s top cooperatives, has been making terrific wines for five decades… Congratulations to Aldo Vacca, longtime oenologist Gianni Testa and the entire team at Produttori del Barbaresco for this magnificent collection of 2008 Barbareschi.” Wine Advocate

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On the heels of our extremely successful offering of the Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier Shiraz/Viognier, it was brought to my attention that Michel Chapoutier has moved on from that joint venture and purchased vineyards and established a fully-owned project in the Australian Pyrenees – Domaine Tournon. Just now arriving in the states, these juicy gems offer the same perfect marriage of finesse and power at an incredible price!  We sampled this week and TOTALLY dug them.  I’m pretty sure you will too.

Domaine Tournon Matilda Shiraz 2010 – 91 pts Wine Advocate – Sale $12.49/ reg. $15.99 – Save 22%

Domaine Tournon Lady’s Lane Vineyard Shiraz 2009 – 95 pts Wine Advocate – Sale $47.99/ reg. $61.99 – Save 23% - “Focused, bright and chewy, with a lifted mouthful of blueberry, currant, wet rock and white pepper flavors that keep roiling through a long and expressive finish. Brims with flavor, but evolves into a lovely transparency on the finish. Not imported into the U.S. Drink now through 2020.” Well… it is imported now!
 

Inama Soave Classico 2011 – reg. $16.49 –no review, ’10 was 90 pts Int’l Wine Cellar

For half-a-case or more, it’s 24% off, or $12.49 net per bottle!

Super aromatic on the nose, with tons of apple blossom, almonds, ripe orchard fruits, and a hint of honey…Inama is a producer that is knocking it out of the park – the IWC review below notes how the wines just keeping it better.  And last month’s Wine Spectator Italian issue devoted an entire article to Stefano Inama, titled “Resurrecting Soave.”

This wine sees no oak, but is aged for 6 months in contact with its lees (dead yeast cells), a process which adds a gorgeous creamy texture to the mouthfeel, which is full of golden apple and pear fruit, with hints of savory herbs.

Inama’s vineyards are in the heart of the Soave Classico zone, with some of the grapes for this wine coming from their famed Monte Foscarin vineyard.  These hillside vineyards have less humidity and cooler nights than the vast amounts of Soave that is produced from the valleys, and allow for long, slow ripening.  The result is wonderfully complex juice, full of juicy fruits, spices, and a racy underlying acidity, reflecting the volcanic nature of the best Soave soil.

The founder’s son Stefano now runs this winery, and is considered a dynamic visionary of the regions, and only uses 100% old-vine Garganega grapes for his Soaves -  i.e. he doesn’t add any “filler” grapes like Trebbiano to boost production.  And he’s worked for years researching the right clones, the perfect expositions, and the proper balance of ancient techniques and modern technology to produce an improved and revamped take on Soave Classico.

I love his quote on winemaking philosophy: “Real wine is not improvised…It is more difficult to work in natural-ness and to make simple things than it is to make complicated ones.”

I take that to mean instead of blending in a touch of Chardonnay, or splashing some new oak on this wine, that he’s worked instead to promote old vines and low yields to coax the most of his indigenous varietal and special terroir.

The resulting juice is absolutely marvelous.  I found mine delightful on its own, but you could take a cue from the Veronese and Venetians and pair with some Shrimp Scampi or other seafood-and-pasta combination, especially if it featured some grilled scallops with black pepper, lemon juice, toasted pine nuts, and fresh parsley.

This wine arrives Thurday, please reply to order.

“Bright straw-green. Floral, high-pitched aromas of stone fruits and fresh herbs on the clean, enticing nose. Shows very good balance and energy to its flavors of lemon icing, green apple, pear and herbs. Richer on the palate than I expected, with lovely concentration and length; this is a very serious entry-level Soave and one of the best versions from Inama in years. Very well done.” IWC for 2010 vintage

And producer Jean-Louis Chave is one of the best in all of the world! Here we have two of my favorites – both benchmarks for the region, and the grape!

JL Chave St. Joseph 2010 – Sale $57.99 net – 93 pts Wine Advocate / 93 pts Int’l Wine Cellar – Dense and tense… yet lithe and elegant.. perhaps no other grape so vividly expresses this apparent contradiction as does Syrah. The aromas are positively breathtaking – spring flowers, blackberries and spice – and the initial sip is bright and lifting. With air, and with repeated tastes, the wine grows, gaining depth, complexity and weight with each passing moment. Wow!

“The stunning 2010 St.-Joseph ranks alongside the finest wines of the appellation, including Guigal’s l’Hospice and Chapoutier’s Les Granits. It boasts a dense purple color along with scents of kirsch, blackberries, crushed rocks, spring flowers and licorice. It needs 2-3 years of bottle age and should drink well for 15+ years thereafter.”WA

“Inky purple.  Musky blackberry and cherry aromas, with slow-building Indian spice and floral nuances.  Lively, sharply defined dark berry flavors are refreshingly bitter and show superb depth.  Gains strength and a powerful cola quality on the clinging, mineral-driven finish, which is broad, deep and sharply focused.” IWC

JL Chave Crozes Hermitage Silene 2010 – Sale $24.99 net – 92 pts Int’l Wine Cellar

With this offering from famed producer Jean Louis Chave, you are treated to one of the most seamless, elegant Crozes Hermitage I have come across in some time. The inspiration is clearly Burgundy… although some might argue that Burgundy takes its inspiration from the Rhone, having surreptitiously used Syrah from the region to bolster even its Grand Crus a few short decades ago!

Historical intrigue aside, there is more than a passing resemblance between this wine and those of the Cote de Nuits, except in the price tag, where a wine of this quality would expect to fetch $70+ from Burgundy. Bright acidity, tingling minerality, peppery spice, gentle, yet firm tannins… all aligning with the exotic aromas and juicy fruit to give you a pleasure for the sense now, and for a decade to come.

“Bright ruby.  Heady aromas of blueberry, olive and incense, with a bright mineral topnote.  Elegant, seamless and precise, offering tangy black and blue fruit flavors and a touch of peppery spices.  Finishes with good back-end lift, gentle tannins and lingering sweetness.” IWC

Arrives Wednesday.

I’ve got my own “Man-Crush,” and I’m not afraid to admit it’s on rockstar Barolo winemaker Luca Currado, the man behind Vietti’s meteoric rise to the top of the Italian wine world. We hosted Luca for a tasting here a while back, an event which gave rise to the now-popular phrase “Michael’s in a tizzy!”

This is no irrational obsession – Vietti’s are some of the most sought-after, critically-praised, and yet accessibly-priced wines on the planet. I’m proud to sell more Vietti juice than anyone else in North Carolina. And if that means he comes to visit us again, and those of you who haven’t met him will get the chance, well then all the better!

Our latest boat from Italy just landed with 14 cases of Luca’s 2010 Barbera d’Asti, and it’s a perfect combination of remarkable vintage, brilliant winemaking, ripe powerful fruit, bright acidity,,,and a killer deal!

Deep ruby purple in color, the core of this wine drips ripe, potent black cherry fruit, the hallmark of delicious Barbera, along with a remarkable acidity, almost mineral-driven, which balances the ripeness and concentration of the fruit.

A sexy smoky spice and rich, creamy vanilla note adds a hedonistic element to the wine, from aging 14 months in a mix of French and traditional Slavonian oak.  Lush and seamless, this is an Italian gem you can open for a New World wine lover and they’ll be happy as can be.

Yet for the Italophile, there’s plenty of the more classic lifted aromas of licorice and tar – some of the same heady stuff you’d find in Barolo, only here delivered in Barbera’s darker and juicier frame.  And the oak used is all neutral, so while it allows the wine to soften and pick up some spices, there’s nothing in the way of the gorgeous cherry and raspberry fruit.

Barbera ranks as one of the most food-friendly wines in the Italian arsenal, with enough bold fruit to hold up to robust fare like barbequed spare ribs, the bright acidity to match with tomato-based dishes, and the soft, mild tannins and juicy mouthfeel which make it ideal for springtime sipping on its own or with antipasti.

Once again, our pal Luca has knocked it out of the park, and shown his amazing commitment to quality at all price levels, putting the same care and effort into this as he does his $100+ single-vineyard Barolos.  And you can drink a lot more of these, and a lot sooner too!
 

Note: We do not have a wine license to legally allow you to open a bottle of wine in the store.  You can, however, purchase a card to use the Wine Station and enjoy TASTES of wine with your food! Just so everyone is clear – including my landlord and insurance company – TASTES of wine. Not glasses or bottles. Sorry folks.

I'm very excited about this event!  Dani and Austin from Boxcarr Farms are wonderful people and incredibly talented! Check out their website for more information:  http://z-indexproductions.com/testSpace/boxcarr/

The rough draft menu and wines featured in the wine tasting are as follows.  I took the liberty of outlining which wines I think will pair best with each menu option.

Note: 15% off Wines featured in the tasting.

Frito Misto: (tempura fried veg) asparagus, sweet potatoes, peas, mushrooms, onions, loco sauce
Brunn Gruner Veltliner 1Liter 2012 – $14.99

Fresh Pasta Ravioli: sweet potato, shaved lonza, pea shoots, herb beurre blanc
Ca' Lojera Lugana 2012 – $21.49

Korean BBQ Pork Belly Slider with pickles and slaw
Altanza Lealtanza Rioja Crianza 2009 – $19.99

Spring Onion and Pea Tart: arugula salad, lemon dressing
St. Lucie MiP Cotes de Provence Rose 2012 – $20.99 OR Boissan Gigondas VV 2010 – $30.49

Lemon Cake: lemon curd, strawberries, lavender whipped cream
La Ardilla Moscato 2012 – $13.49

93 pts Wine Advocate

Must… focus… there’s a lot to this story… and only so much space to tell it!

OK… here’s a winery I have been following for some time. Why? Look at the third word in the winery name… yes, that Chapoutier. The very same Michel Chapoutier that Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate has opined is “one of the best winemakers in the world.” He’s made a whopping 22 wines rated a perfect 100 points by the Wine Advocate!

So when this project from Australia was announced, I took notice. (I’m not stupid…)

Of course, the irrepressible Chapoutier hasn’t taken a standard approach to Australia. Famed for his Syrah wines from the cool Northern Rhone region of France, Chapoutier drove straight through the more famous, and hot, vineyards of Barossa and McLaren Vale and into the cool Pyrenees Hills in western Central Victoria. Here he found the Malakoff Vineyard, which offered a perfect exposure to the sun, essential for achieving ripeness in this region. Now, as the vines near 15 years in age, the true potential of the site is being revealed… so, let’s get on to the wine, shall we?

Three major factors separate this from the pack. First, the cool climate combined with maximum sun exposure allows for a long, slow growing season. In the wine, this translates to a wallop of explosive aromas, ripe, yet balanced and elegant fruit, higher acidity and modest alcohol. In short, the wine is BALANCED. Secondly, 5% Viognier is co-fermented with the Shiraz, following the practice from Cote Rotie in his native Rhone. The Viognier adds an extra dimension of exotic aromas and flavors, yet is perfectly melded into the wine. Finally, Chapoutier uses zero oak on this wine. “WHAT? No oak in an Australian Shiraz? Blasphemy!” Hey, there… take it easy. Trust me, you won’t miss it. Rather, you’ll be so taken with the dark, seductive blackberry fruit that the question has to be asked, “Why does everyone else in Australia smother their beautiful fruit with so much oak?”

The wine explodes from the glass with exotic aromas of violets, apricots, and black cherries, all a reflection of the cool climate. Then comes the flavor blast – blackberries, cherries, blueberries… tangy minerality… black pepper and smoky anise… the flavors keep turning and churning in a maelstrom of seduction. The long, supple finish wraps it all together, leaving you begging for just…one… more… sip…

Finally, as if you need more convincing, look at the rating. Of the thousands of Australian Shiraz that have been reviewed by Wine Advocate, there have only been three others to merit 93+ pts and sell for under $17. And the last one of those was five years ago!

Truly, this wine is special. It doesn’t taste like Northern Rhone, but it doesn’t quite taste like Australian Shiraz either. I feel like I have seen the future… and I love what I see! Whether you are a fan of traditional Aussie Shiraz or a fan of Northern Rhone, or simply a fan of red wine, this is a bottle not to be missed!

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95 pts Wine Advocate / 93 pts Rhone Report

A Loire Valley native who began his import business here in Carrboro, Thomas Meunier bases his portfolio on a few simple but very important propositions: “finding true winegrowers that make no concessions, with distinctive personalities that are reflected in their wine. Authentic people that make authentic wine in a sustainable way which reveals the identity of a soil, a grape and a climate- the notion of Terroir.”

We’ve admired, sold and consumed his wines for a couple of years now, enjoying our local source for some killer French values. With Domaine Galevan, Thomas is ready for the limelight… lucky we were on board from the beginning!

Of the 323 Chateauneuf du Papes from 2010 reviewed by the Wine Advocate, this Domaine Galevan is one of only two that scored 95 points or higher and retail for under $40 and the only one available in North Carolina!

Sweet… for Thomas and the winery… bad news for us, as our little secret is out!

We had this on tap for a recent private tasting, and it wowed the crowd with its upfront perfume and intense flavors. This was singing from the moment I pulled the cork, but with a quick decant and 30 minutes of time, it was putting on an operatic performance! Layer upon layer of fruit, earth and spice, building to an intense, yet elegant finish! Bravo!

“A microscopic estate owned by Coralie Goumarre, Domaine Galevan was established, remarkably, in 1780, but the first estate-bottled wine did not emerge until 1968. I was blown away by these four red wine cuvees, and both of the 2010s have jumped dramatically in score since I tasted them from barrel last year. Coralie Goumarre has consistently made some of the better Cotes du Rhones over recent vintages. Both her 2011s represent sleepers of the vintage.

The 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape is one of the finest traditional cuvees I have tasted as well as a sleeper of the vintage. Made from 90% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre from 55-year-old vines, it exhibits a dense ruby/purple color as well as a stunning perfume of creme de cassis, kirsch, incense, licorice and a vague notion of beef blood and roasted Provencal herbs. All of the fruit comes from vines planted in the northern end of the appellation. This exquisite, full-throttle Chateauneuf du Pape should drink well for 15 or more years. It is a major star of the vintage, and probably is reasonably priced as well.” WA

“Wow, seriously impressive and a gorgeous Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the 2010 Domaine Galévan Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre that comes from 50+ year-old vines. Hedonistically styled, with decadent aromas of creamy raspberry, sweet spice cake, licorice, and sappy underbrush and floral characteristics, this hits the palate with a full-bodied, rich texture, notable concentration, and brilliant length on the finish. This is upfront and fruit driven, yet has top-notch complexity, fantastic purity, and good backend structure. While a beauty now, it should continue to shine for 10-12 years, if not longer.”  RR

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