Sour Grapes? Not so much!
A few weeks ago I took a much needed weekend trip with some girlfriends. Boston was the destination and I was very excited. Not just because I would get to sleep in and get ready in the morning without someone tugging on my towel. I was excited that I would get to visit another eco-friendly wine store owned by a woman. The Wine Bottega in Boston is owned and run by Kerri Platt and the stores inventory is amazing. Lots of fun, esoteric imports, a few tasty domestics, and a handful of fun wine spirits and dessert wines. I saw a number of wines we carry, and few I’ve never seen. Most of the wines I hadn’t seen before came from wine importer Savio Soares. I had to purchase a few of these unknown labels to see if it was worth hunting down the importer. I purchased 6 wines and 3 of the ones belonged to Savio. The most interesting was a cool looking French red that had a black and white cat on the label which was very graphic, similar to a tattoo. I purchased an “ornage” colored wine from the Jura Region and made from the Poulsard grape. I decided after the first Sip… I had to find this importer of natural wines and quickly. When I got back to NC I added Savio Soares to my “To Do” list, knowing I would have no time to speak with them as I was preparing for an organic and biodynamic event in Chapel Hill that Saturday.
Terra Vita was the event and I was very excited about sharing a table with my favorite French Wine Importer, Thomas Meunier. Thomas was pouring 2007 Moreau Naudet, Petit Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2008 Henry Marionnet, “Premiere Vendange”, Touraine, France and 2008 Domaine Grosbois, “Gabare”, Chinon, Loire, France.
I was pouring 2009 Oko, Pinot Grigio, Italy, 2007 Millton, “Te Arai Vineyard”, Chenin Blanc, New Zealand, 2007 Baileyana, “Firepeak Vineyard”, Pinot Noir, Edna Valley, CA, 2009 Chimango, Tempranillo, Argentina and 2008 Cantine Ceci, “LaLuna”, Lambrusco, Italy.
Before leaving that morning I knocked my computer bag off the counter and my “To Do” file spilled on the floor. As I cleaned it up, I noticed my last listing…Savio Soares. I definitely had to find this importer. Anyway, setting up a table for a tasting event is usually very easy, but this one took a little more work. I had to fit 8 wines, 2 ice buckets, 2 store displays with information, tasting notes and discount cards with two people behind a 6 foot table. Boy, was it tight. When I was almost finished, I noticed the table next to me was staffed by some wine distributors I’d never meet. I might not know every wine rep in town, but I know the distributors names. Sour Grapes was the name of this distributor. Suddenly I noticed a label that he pulled out of his bag…The Tattooed Cat! Ohh, I gushed like a silly school girl with a crush. Who were these guys, when did Savio Soares selections arrive in town and how do I get them. Turns out they are from Ashville and have only been in business a few months. This was their first visit to the triangle. There names are Devon Price and Lyndon Smith and Savio Soares rep was there too, his name was Michael Nelson. Lyndon was so sweet, he held his young daughter the whole tasting. The little girl just smiled and was perfectly happy. As a working mom, who sometimes brings her girls to work, it was nice to see another working parent making the best of what life is like…complicated, but joyful. Devon is tall, very funny and also a daddy of a 2 year old girl. He showed me a video of his daughter saying I love you to him on his I phone. So sweet and he was very proud. My only regret was that everyone was going to get to taste these amazing wines and I wanted to be the first one in town to carry them. Well, you can’t always be selfish….I guess. A week later I tasted through Sour Grapes Portfolio. I didn’t buy the Tattooed Cat, yet, but I did buy some great value wines and our first Red Burgundy. Everything I sampled was amazing, Natural, Organic and Biodynamic wines that not only tasted great, but had a wonderful since of place. This visit helped me fill in some holes in the shop and all of you will have a chance to taste these amazing wines THIS SATURDAY, November 13th from 3 pm to 7pm.
We will be sampling: Zum Martin Sepp Weinviertel, Gruener Veltliner
Domaine St. Felix VDP D'Oc Blanc (60% Vermentino 40%Sauv. Blanc)
Domaine Valensac VDP D'OC Chardonnay
Zum Martin Sepp Weinviertel Zweigult
Remi Jeanniard Bourgogne Pinot Noir
Schloss Muhlenhof Dornfelder Trocken
Domaine De Boissan Côtes du Rhone Cuvée Prince D'Orange(50%Grenache 40% Syrah 10%, Mourvedre)
Three of these wines are liter bottles and every one of them will be great at your thanksgiving dinner. We will be sampling some light appetizers all day as well. See you all Saturday.
The wine world is very small. Once you meet someone, you have to be careful. You will meet them again. They might be selling to you today, but tomorrow you will be schlepping wine to them. Now I’m not going to say I’ve always been an angel, I sell wine for goodness sake. I do try to remember that my actions can come back and bite me where I don’t taste wine. Wednesday, August 26th Sara Marston with Juice Wine Purveyors planned on stopping by with another winery representative. The wine is Lioco and I already had plans of bringing in 3 cases of their old Vine Carignan blend. This is why Sara wanted me to meet the owner.
In walks a tall, nicely coiffed man with a backpack instead of a briefcase. Can we say California; all that was missing was a “Hey Dude”. We gave each other the secret California handshake (please, as if) and I realized I had met him before. Licklider, who forgets that last name? Matt Licklider knew me in my former wine life in San Francisco. He represented North Berkeley Imports and I worked for San Francisco Wine Trading Co. Matt, always had great wines, mostly French and the store I worked for sold a lot of Kermit Lynch wines. I can image it was tough for Matt. He was never going to get a large amount of his wines in that store. North Berkeley Imports and Kermit Lynch were big competitors. Both focused on Boutique French producers and both of them had warehouses and sold retail in Berkeley. Matt was great, but I knew it was a bit like banging your head against the wall. Now, don’t get me wrong, Matt sold plenty of wine and is very knowledgeable. He wasn’t sitting around waiting for SFWTC to buy everything from him. Apparently he had bigger dreams, a winery being one of them. LIOCO was founded by Matt Licklider and Kevin O'Connor (former wine director at Michelin Two-Star Spago-Beverly Hills). For years the two discussed whether California could produce a true "wine of origin”. After gathering opinions on the subject from some of the world's great wine producers, they arrived at one conclusion: California can achieve a wine of origin, provided certain protocols are adhered to--both in the vineyard and in the cellar. Both men searched for vineyard sites with tougher soil, older vines, higher altitude, and extreme temperatures. Each vineyard is cared for in the least intrusive way possible. Some of the sites are farmed organically, but all the wines are made naturally. This means no cultured yeasts, only wild. No added enzyme, malo-latic fermentation happens naturally, un-filtered, un-fined and no wood chips added to these wines.…
The wines have a voice. Distinct and flavorful, living somewhere on the fringe. These are not over extracted, jammy or over manipulated wines. If they were in a blind tasting, you might think they were Alsatian, anywhere but California. The Chardonnays are alive with earthy, mineral aromas and other atypical aromatics. I would even recommend decanting. I loved all of them, but selected a few.
2009 Lioco, Chardonnay, Sonoma County: I have to say, Chardonnay is not my go to white. I like to cook very untraditional meals and enjoy pairing them with the perfect wine. California Chardonnay is not normally a good choice. To much alcohol, oak, malo and tropical notes for me. I will no longer be able to over look this popular grape. The 2009 Lioco Sonoma Chardonnay made me pause. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and just sighed. I almost got down on one knee to thank Mother Nature for such a gift. Crushed quartz, lemon curd and pear skins swirl around the glass. They kissed me on the check and whispered “surprise” in my ear. As my Sip…passed my lips it gracefully presented a lemon verbena herb, salt, talc and soft smoky earth character that I was not accustomed. This character was appealing, almost seductive. I was enamored. The finish is like an old soul. All knowing and mature with a lively spirit. I would definitely serve this wine at my house. Green papaya salad, crab cakes and fig pizza are great pairings. $20.99-the wine is due in mid September.
I was almost nervous to taste the rest of the line-up. I knew it would be inspiring. Each wine was amazing and distinct. This is the kind of day every wine a store owner longs for. I love being reminded of why I’m open. The final wine in the line up was the red I had already committed. I tasted the 2008 Lioco “Indica” Old Vine Carignan at a warehouse show about 2 weeks ago and I was looking forward to selling it this fall. The fact it was mostly Carignan made me taste it, the back story made me fall in love and the finish told me to commit to it. The vines are old, we are talking grandparents old and for California wine country it’s ancient. The keeper of the vines is Alvin Tollini. His grandfather planted these vines after returning from WWII. It was his way of healing. On his death bed he left the vines to his grandson and made him promise not to rip them out. This is a commitment: Alvin could make much more if he planted Cabernet. Almost four times as much. These vines are cared for out of respect and love. You can taste it. The wine was made for a meal. Cassis, graphite, olive and earth are the aromas that made me feel warm and happy, like a comfort meal after a long day. Cozy on the palate too, black plums, baking spices and violets wrapped around my tongue. This wine will soothe what ails ya. Like a good friend with welcoming arms. I would thank this wine for its kindness with a big dish of mole chicken, pulled pork, or a gourmet cheese and heirloom tomato sandwich. A loaf of La Farm bead would make this wine happy too. $19.50-the wine arrives Sept 2nd.
I want to thank Matt Licklider and Lioco for proving, California can make wine that has true terroir. In today’s wine market, I taste way to many average wines that have no distinct characteristics. Often times they taste homogenized. I search for interesting wines everyday and today I feel satisfied. After all my excitement had faded, paying bills and doing those all important daily tasks will do that, Amie Fields with Vintners Select Wine Company stopped by with a visiting importer, Christophe Chapillon with Christophe Chapillon Selections is visiting from Spain. Sip... was not on their planned route that day, but when Amie realized one of the wineries they where tasting was organic, I got the call. The lucky bottling was Langa by Terra Nova Wines. Bodegas Langa from the Calatayud region of central Spain is the sole family owned cellar in the entire region. The entire family is involved in all aspects of winery management; however Juan Jose Langa is the head winemaker. The bodegas privileged location, protected by the Vicor Mountains, makes it the most outstanding and technologically advanced of all cellars under the Calatayud C.R.D.O. which was only recognized in 1990. (Though it is thought that wine has been produced in this region for at least 500 years). The family's wine philosophy has led them to select new varietals to supplement Calatayud's traditional grapes. They have proved that Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Petit Verdot can deliver superior, unique wines second to none in the Calatayud D.O. And they've achieved this while adhering strictly to organic standards throughout the Langa vineyards. The family believes there is no place for chemical fertilizers, insecticides and weed killers in their winery. What prevails is balance. Using chemical products wipe out the flora, fauna and the microbiology which will come in the natural wine yeasts that will make the wine ferment.
I tasted 3 of their wines, but only selected 2 of them for the store. The 2006 Bodegas Langa, Garnacha is a wonderful value. A beautiful cherry red color that looks bright and smells amazing. Ripe, spring cherries, raspberry and cinnamon tickle your nose. If I could I’d pour this wine on my yogurt in the morning. On the palate it is generous, harmonious and sumptuous, filled with more red fruits and a chewy finish. A great deal at $9.75. The wine arrives, Friday Sept 3rd.
We also selected their 2006 Bodegas Langa Petit Verdot. First of all, it’s almost impossible to find Petit Verdot bottled solo and if you do, it usually cost over $20.00. This bottling is 95% Petit Verdot with 5% Tannat. I’ve been looking for a Petit Verdot for the store, but never thought I’d find one from Spain. The wine is rustic with a slight sophistication. The color is dark purple with intense aromas. Blackberry, violets, earthy spice, green bean and oregano. The wine is bold with more blackberry and blueberry notes followed by spicy wood and molasses tones. This is a big red with round tannins. $12.75. Arrives, Friday Sept 3rd.
Cheers, to a great tasting day!
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Monday, July 26th 2010:
Most Monday’s I don’t taste. I usually stay home and chase the girls around the house. We make organic cupcakes, homemade play dough and we do a lot of laundry. This Monday was unique. Allison with Empire Distributing mentioned that her company had recently started selling a small French Importers wines and that some of them were Organic or Biodynamic. I figured it would be worth a taste or two. I dropped the girls off at PB&J’s and headed to Carrboro to meet Thomas Meunier, with Authentique Vin. The tasting was at the Open Eye Café, a Coffee Shop co-owned by Thomas Meunier’s wife Elizabeth. Thomas has only been importing for 6 months, but he has managed to find some lovely and interesting wines from both well-known and obscure areas. I must say, I was not interested in carrying any wines from Empire Distributing at first. I always saw them as one of the larger distributors in town and I really wanted to support the smaller independent distributors in the area. Empire is on alarger scale, but Allison has done a great job in showing me that Empire also has a few small unique importers like Authentique Vin. It has given me a new impression of them. I like that I still get to buy unusual, small brands, even if they are warehoused by a large distributor.
Thomas Meunier, is a tall slender man with a warm smile, a charming French accent, and a sparkle in his eye; especially when he mentions his wife (they are newlyweds), and his wines. It is nice to see passion in people.
The first wine we tasted was a 2008 Domaine de la Louvetrie, “Le Feif du Breil”, Muscadet Sevre et Maine. Muscadet, made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape. It tends to be very mineraly with some salty notes. Typical, but not always interesting. The “Le Feif du Breil” Muscadet was different. I don’t know if it was the warm air or that it was my first taste of the day, but this perfectly chilled white was the most satisfy Sip… I have had in a few days. Yes, there was a lively minerality to the wine, but there were fruity aromas I was not expecting. A contemporary style Muscadet, with aromas of crushed stones, thyme, soft floral and sea salt. This Certified Organic 2008 has plenty of character, acidity, and substance. A lovely, fresh white with great definition. It makes me want to grill up some oysters and fry up some Pomme Frites.
Next we tried two wonderful Burgundies from Domaine Moreau-Naudet. A 2007 Petite Chablis and 2007 Chablis, both 100% Chardonnay and both aged without oak. The Moreau-Naudet family has been farming in Chablis since the 17th century and it shows. Stephane Moreau is gifted winemaker who believes that greatness only comes from tireless work in the fields and in the cellar. There are no clones here — all Moreau's plants are old-vine Chardonnay; original, beautiful vines that pull minerals and vibrancy straight from the region's noble soils.
He still works in a 15th-century cave in the middle of the town of Chablis. Most of his contemporaries have left and moved out of the city, but Stephane is happy with his older surroundings. He has still managed to add some current technology, like a thermoregulated steel vat. The cave is also immaculate, and it needs to be, since the winery practices organic farming and uses natural yeasts. Stephane Moreau still hand-harvests all of his vines. 90% of Chablis producers harvest with machines, so this adds to his uniqueness. He is also one of only three Chablis domains to use sorting tables.
The 2007 Domaine Moreau-Naudet Petit Chablis is a perfect introduction to this unique area. These grapes are grown on a stony hillside facing the Chablis AOC. Made from 100% Chardonnay sourced from a six-acre parcel. This un-oaked white is young and vibrant and aged in stainless steal vats for 11 months. Lively and fresh, with notes of gooseberries and pear. The finish picks up more mineral notes, like granite and flint. The finish is long and clean. $22.50
2007 Domaine Moreau-Naudet, Chablis is produced from 20-year old vines that have been farmed organically for 15 years. With gentle flinty and stony minerals, a very tempting Chablis showing notes of citrus and Asian pears. A rich mouth feel with subtle notes of white pepper and soft lemon peel flavors. A gorgeous wine with a long and fine balance. $28.50
I didn’t get to taste the two 1er cru Chablis Stephane Moreau produce, but plan to hold a Domaine Moreau-Naudet Chablis tasting for our customers in the near future, and we can open them then. The 2007 Domaine Moreau-Naudet, 1er cru “Forets” is made from 45-year old vines grown in Kimmeridgian soil. This wine is aged partially in French oak barrel and stainless tanks. The 2007 Domaine Moreau-Naudet Chablis, 1er cru “Vaillons,” is from a small four-acre block locates on a stony hillside. Historically, both of these 1er cru vineyards produce amazing wines, and I’m sure that Stephane Moreau’s will not disappoint.
The last white I tasted was the 2007 Eric Morgat, “L’Enclos” Savennieres. Golden blond in color with fragrant aromas. Wow, this estate is planted with 40 different types of Chenin Blanc. The fact that Eric Morgot uses homeopathic sprays and cover crops, limits yields, hand selects at harvest, utilizes natural yeasts and even ferments in oak only adds to the resulting wine's beauty. $41.99
I went to this tasting looking for a few kinds of wine. Another rose was not one of them, but the 2009 Domaine Grosbois, “Cuisine de ma Mere” Chinon Rose, made me reconsider. A lovely bright pink wine made from Cabernet Franc grapes, it was fresh and just like the name suggests; it needs to be a staple in my kitchen. “Cuisine de ma Mere” translates to “Cook of my Mother”. I’m assuming his Mother was a great cook. The wine smells like a kitchen I would linger in, with aromas of sweet citrus and ripe cherries. The wine is juicy with bright acidity and a clean finish. I’m dreaming of fried beets with aioli. It would rock some ratatouille too. $14.99
The Groibois family used to grow apples, until the common market reduced the prices to below survival rates (except for semi-industrial orchards). This meant the family needed to return to family vineyards. Before embarking on this challenge, Nicolas Grosbois sent out to learn how wine was made all over the world. Fro 10 years he learned how to make wines in Chile, Australia, New Zealand and Oregon. He learned that “Each wine resembles the place it comes from and the man who made it!” He returned to his family vineyards in 2005 and started to work the soil, stop all chemical treatments and aimed for low yields. His resulting wines are expressive, round, with silky tannins and fresh fruit flavors. Not only does Nicolas Grosbois make a striking Rose, but he also produces three Cabernet Franc Cuvees, bottled from different parcels from different terroir.
The 2008 Domaine Grosbois, “Gabare” Chinon, is lacking one thing. That typical green vegetable smell a lot of Loire Cabernet Franc’s have. Instead the 2008 “Gabare” is dark purple with pencil shavings, earthy mineral and black fruit aromas. The palate picks up licorice, plum, and soft minerality. The tannins are medium bodied and dry. The texture lingered for some time. $20.99
The final wine in the tasting was my favorite. The 2008 Henry Marionnet, “Premiere Vendange," Touraine Rouge. This red wine, from an area mostly known for its white wines, is vibrant and juicy. It is made from ungrafted Gamay grapes, which many wine buffs know is a rarity. This red is also produced and bottled without sulfites. And they do something crazy… they print in on the label. The European Union does not have a labeling system for wines without added sulfites, so most wines from Europe that don’t have sulfites have to still be labeled as if they do. But, Henry (the Genius) Marionnet decided to explain what he does on the label. Perfect, now I don’t have to keep explaining it. This wine is simply beautiful: seamless, medium weight, with juicy fruit notes. Dried strawberries and ripe cherries with soft spice thoughout. This was the wine I choose to sip while finishing my notes. It touched my tongue and tickled my tummy with yummy goodness. $20.99
As I left with a smile on my face and Gamay on my tongue, I stopped for a cup of coffee. I ordered a regular coffee and 2 pistachio meringues. I usually have to add a lot of milk and sugar to my coffee. I hate bitter coffee, I prefer flavorful and rich. Today, my coffee was perfect; I only added a touch of raw sugar and a few drops of milk. Perfection! One Eye Café has some amazing coffee. Oh, and the Pistachio Meringues made me drool.
Cheers!
We will be tasting these wines on Friday, August 13th from 4pm to 9:30pm.
Every Tuesday I spend about 3 hours of my day tasting wine. I know to some this might sound like a great way to spend a Tuesday. It can be, if the day is filled with wonderful wines at perfect prices. Unfortunately, though, most of my day is spent spitting out wine that will never make it through the door of this building. And then there are some days, like today, that start off brilliantly and end oddly.
My morning began with a sit down educational wine tasting at Angus Barn restaurant. A little cheese, some crackers and I’m ready to taste. The event was scheduled to introduce a new portfolio of wines to some local buyers. Juice distributing, (one of the best, local boutique distributors) was showcasing the wines from Small Vineyards Imports. They are the little Italian importer that could. All of the wines come from very small, family-owned estates or wineries that practice organic and sustainable farming. There were twelve Italian wines in total to taste. Even though the first three whites were lovely, I was really looking for two Italian reds to fill in some holes on my shelves. And, happily, I fell in love with a couple of bottles that would go great in the store.
The first was a 2007 Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore, from Giuseppe Lonardi. Only 1800 cases were produced, all hand-harvested. Wow – I was expecting to taste something pleasant, but this red was more than just “pleasant.” It stuck its hand out and drew me in for a big hug, gave me kisses on each cheek, and even slapped me on the ass. It was fresh, and I don’t mean like a dirty old man. It was fresh, like a new day or a just-picked apple. No dirty old raisin notes. It smelled like a dusky warm Indian summer. It has aromas of cranberries, smoke, chocolate and soft warm spicy wood. The juice coats your tongue like a velvet cloak. The finish is concentrated and sticks around. It pops back in periodically to tease you. It was unforgettable. I have 2 cases arriving Thursday, July 22nd.
The next wine in the line up was…. a Super Tuscan, with a slightly naughty side. Imagine Batman with a latex fetish. This 2007 Tuscan hero called “Nessun Dorma” is produced by Antonio Sanguineti. Only 2000 cases were produced, and it is still priced at $16.99. I didn’t expect to fall in love with this wine. I have a few Tuscan blends in the store, so it was not a top priority. I am very happy with them, but this wine brushed by shoulder and whispered in my ear: “I’m only here for the weekend.” I thought to myself, “Why not? It’s limited!” The first whiff made me gasp. Oh, how I love the smell of Sangiovese mixed with Syrah; it gives me goose bumps. My nose was filled with violets, moist earth, tart blackberries and briary twigs. It’s like a hike in the most beautiful forest. Then you take a second deep breath: truffles, spice, and something that reminds you of rum-soaked cherries. I could smell this all day. But I have to get back to work, so down the hatch. Wow, that was smack-your-mama good! Intense, lingering and seamless. Sangiovese, Merlot and Syrah – who would have thought they could be so magical together? Personally, I might have to hide a few of these for my personal collection. I have only 3 cases arriving Thursday, July 22nd.
The final wine of the tasting was the one white I was looking for: Moscato d’ Asti, a wine I can’t seem to keep in stock. Number one, it is sweet. Not your normal sweet-tea sweet either. It’s juicy and sweet like a ripe peach. Number two, it has low alcohol, around 5%. So it’s the perfect wine for the summer and for those that don’t want to pass out from the wine sweats after a day of golf, tennis or chasing the kids. The only problem is that most great Moscatos cost around $20.00 retail. But now? Let me introduce you to the Target of Moscato. Still classy, still varietally correct, but it is only $14.00 retail. Can I get a “Hot Darn” from the crowd? Tre Donne Moscato d’Asti is the perfect summer aperitif; it will make you and your friends so happy. You will giggle like school girls for hours. Light bubbles, lovely floral and white peach aromas, and a soft juicy finish. Now this was a productive morning.
Later that afternoon I had a few other wine representatives arrive. Their wines were fine – nothing bad, but nothing that made me pay attention. That was until Beth from Classic Wines showed up. I saw her pull up and she started pulling bottles from her truck. The labels had giant yellow sunflowers on them. “OHHH, OHH, OHH,” I said to myself, “Please be good.” I love sunflowers, and if the wine tastes good and looks great, I might have to buy something today. The winery is Girasole Vineyards (“girasole” means sunflower in Italian), a Certified Organic Winery in Mendocino. This means that the grapes are grown organically, with no added sulfites. We tasted Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and Muscat Canelli. All of them were pleasing, except the Zinfandel seemed to be a little reduced. Not a big deal, my three favorites were the 2008 Chardonnay, 2009 Muscat Canelli and the 2008 Sangiovese. The 2008 Pinot Noir was also outstanding and we will bring this in for the fall, but the other wines were line priced and I wanted to display them together. Each of the wines will retail for $12.99. A great price for organic wines that taste great. The 2008 Chardonnay is beautiful, a lovely pale blond color with Meyer Lemon, vanilla and Crème Brule aromas. The palate is lively with additional lemon-lime, nectarines and graham cracker notes. It has a smooth and creamy mouth feel, with a long balanced finish. The 2008 Sangiovese, is bold, very Italian and spicy. Think Danny DeVito on steroids: bright strawberry, cranberry and sandalwood aromas, followed by a round and subtle mouth feel. Nice tannins and a great spicy finish. This would make Mama proud. The 2009 Muscat Canelli will make all my sweet wine fans very happy. Its nose consisted of a potpourri of honeysuckle, apricot, mango, guava and lemon-drop. It makes your mouth salivate. The flavors continue to bounce around your mouth. Peach and apricot continue to linger on the finish. This muscat is a lovely wine to serve with spicy food, barbeque, light salads and dessert. Yummy!
As the afternoon wore on and a few more reps came and left, I thought I was finished. Then my newest rep, Teresa with Carolina Booty Distributing, showed up close to 5pm. Teresa’s company specializes in small North Carolina wineries. I know … some of you are wondering why I’m tasting North Carolina wines. It might not be Napa, but North Carolina has some nice wineries, and if we don’t support our local growers, who will? A few of them are trying to grow organic grapes and some of them are sustainable. Now, not all the wines I tasted were winners, but a few of them were. Owl’s Eye Winery makes a very nice 2007 Gewurztraminer with 2% residual sugar. Their blackberry wine was pleasing, very dry, and it would go well with some grilled lamb or pork. I know how much North Carolinians love their PIG. The wine we bought was a 2009 Owl’s Eye Niagara White. It is made from Concord grapes and guess what… It tastes like a dry Concord grape. It is pleasant with a familiar grape taste and touch of sweetness. It would be lovely on a summer day. Oh and yes, the PIG will harmonize well with it. Plus it’s only $11.99. I’ll bring their Gewürztraminer in for the fall. It would make a tasty addition to any turkey dinner, especially if you poured some of it over the bird before roasting. That would be yummy gravy to sop up. We then moved on to the red wines, the first of which I won’t refer to by name but it had a deer on the label. I have to say, it smelled like one too. No fooling, it smelled like wet, sweaty, animal hair, coated in kerosene. You would think I would have dumped it then, but I thought I could use a little hair on my chest and tossed it back. Ok, I never thought I would say this, but I have licked a deer. It tasted just like it smelled, yucky with a big Y and a quiver. Never again! Again I should have learned from my misgivings, but I’m a professional and I can take it. The next wine was from Divine Llama. Their 2008 Cabernet Franc was not the most perfect example of the grape, but it was made well and I look forward to tasting other wines from them. The moral of this adventure is, I need to do a North Carolina tasting to promote the local folk and you need to keep an open mind. Even if it you have to lick a few deer.
Thursday, June 17th:
As an Eco-Friendly store, it can often be difficult to find a value priced wine. Something you can just sit out during a party and not worry about. It can be difficult, but not impossible. Today I tasted some wonderful value wines with Brad Beavers with Country Vintner. Agriverde, “Piane di Maggio” Trebbiano d’Abruzzo and Montepulciano d’Abrusso from Italy. Agriverde is a large organic co-op, (can I get a high five from my tree huggers), in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Founded in 1830, the winery went GREEN two centuries and has expanded to become an organic farming business, now run by Giannicola Di Carlo. Agriverde’s mission is to produce superior wines preserving what they inherited from Nature, in order to hand it down to future generations. They have respect for Nature and Man, and they state this is why the property is all organic farming and biodynamic.
The winery was designed and built using biotechnical and bioarchitecture principles in order to be in perfect harmony with the land. All the rooms have been built with eco-friendly materials, electrical installations have been screened against magnetic fields, flooring and passages have been assembled with natural glues, everything has been done accordingly to the philosophy of AGRIVERDE. Living in perfect harmony with the landscape, the shapes of the winery building conjure up the Sky, the Earth and the Sea, because that is where AGRIVERDE is located; cradled in the gentle rolling hills, between the Adriatic Sea and Mount Majella.
All the grapes are harvested by hand to ensure that only the best bunches are picked. They prefer hi-tech in the wine cellars to ensure they have complete control over all production phases. Quality is the overriding philosophy for each and every bottle.
2008, Trebbiano d’Abruzzo: This white is ready to hitch a ride to the coast. It’s ready to get its groove on at a beach party. Intense and delicate, with white flower and orange zest aromas. Medium bodied and dry with a very good acidity, it leaves a pleasant citrus note on the back of the palate. A wonderful white to serve with shellfish, grilled white fish, salads and great conversation with someone you love. Certified Organic and Biodynamic. 1.5 Liter bottles $14.99 and 750’s $8.99
2008, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo: This 100% Montepulcino reaches out grabs you buy the collar and screams, “Just try not to drink me today”. It is a value wine with an attitude. Ripe, black cherry and plum flavors, dry but supple finish. A great choice, for Italian food, grilled chicken, burgers and vegetarian cuisine. The best part is this fun red is available in bothe traditional 750 ml bottles and Magnums. Certified Organic and Biodynamic. 1.5 Liter bottles $16.99 and 750’s $8.99
Tuesday, June 8th:
I love wine, great wine is always better and if the package matches the product, that’s an added  bonus. Today, my rep for Tryon Distributing stopped by with a great wine with an awesome package. The 2009 Lapierre, Raisin Gaulois, is a 100% gamey wine, farmed biodynamically by Marcel Lapierre. Yummy with spicy black cherry and subtle dusty earth aromas. Medium bodied with juicy but not over-extracted flavors. The finish lingers with more cherry and nutty earth notes. This wine can recline outside on a hot day and then come inside to relax with family. Since the vineyards are just outside of Beaujolais, they can't use the Beaujolais appellation, it's just listed as Vin De France.
Marcel Lapierre is a gifted winemaker and viticulturist. His estate is located in the northern hills of Beaujolais in the pastoral village of Villié-Morgon. This is one of the ten cru villages permitted to print its name on the bottle, and also considered home of one of the best wines in Beaujolais. Lapierre is also the founding father of a group of groundbreaking and sometimes controversial winemakers known in the US as the Gang of Four.
This group strives to make wines as naturally as possible, in the vineyard and in the winery. Lapierre’s vines average 45 years of age, and his grapes are always picked at the latest possible moment in order to obtain the ripest possible fruit. No pesticides or chemicals are used in the vineyards and no sulfur or yeast is added during fermentation. The resulting wines are pure and fruity, not overly alcoholic, and always a pleasure to drink.
This wine is one of the reasons I opened an eco-friendly wine store. I want to prove to people that there are not just good, but great natural wines available.
2009 Lapierre, Raisin Gaulois, Vin de France will be in stock by June 17th. $13.50
What do others have to say about Lapierre.
“Nobody’s wines taste like Marcel Lapierre’s. He is the source of a whole new school of winemaking, turning the hands of time back to wine the way Mother Nature envisioned it. Tasting it can change the way you taste wine.”
- Kermit Lynch (French wine importer and author)
“Lapierre says ‘Every vigneron wants to work like this in his heart of hearts. But you have to be brave and it can be expensive. Modern enologists are against the whole thing because it is risky, but for me it’s the most natural way of doing things.’”- Saveur Magazine
 Amie Fields, with Vintners Select Wine Company stopped by around 4ish today. Also with a number of other wines, she brought a lovely bottle of 2008 Pavi, Pinot Grigio. Cerified organic and 100% Pinot Grigio. Whole cluster Pressed, 100% Tank Fermented, Aged Surlie for three months, no Malolactic Fermentation. This is a grown up white, with a little attitude and a lot of presence. Pinot Grigio might be an Italian variety, but this bottle is a Valley Girls through and through. The 2008 Pavi, Pinot Grigio is weighty on the palate, with a robust feel. Plenty of varietal character, resulting in a perfect balance of acidity and citrus flavors. Aromas of orange blossom, lemon, pear and pineapple flavors. Balanced and refreshing a perfect pairing with cheeses, light summer pastas, spicy Asian dishes or seafood. I think I might have sushi tonight.
2008 Pavi, Pinot Grigio will be in-stock by June 17th. $18.99
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