February Newsletter: Cuvée Spéciale Rosé! The Lost Grapes of Corsica, 2012 Vieux Télégraphe PA

The February newsletter is now available.
Click here to download the pdf.

Highlights from this month’s newsletter…

SOUTHERN RHÔNE RED SAMPLER

by Clark Z. Terry

The variety of red wine produced in the southern Rhône is a story of slopes and stones, with one common denominator—Grenache. The Rhône Valley is so wide it takes nearly an hour in the car to traverse. You’ll notice when driving across that there are many hills and plateaus located in the valley—great vineyards aren’t only planted on the sides, but nearly everywhere. The stones? You can hardly take a step in a vineyard without finding stones littering the soil or the galets roulés—large, rounded riverbed stones made famous by Châteauneuf but also found in Lirac and elsewhere. It’s a challenge to walk, let alone work, in the midst of these vines. But the vines no doubt work harder than anyone, and the vineyards are planted predominantly to Grenache with a handful of other grapes, like Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, and Carignan.

The proof, as we like to say, is in the bottle. The various combinations of slopes, stones, and grapes create nearly unlimited diversity. Unlimited is a lot of wine, so we’ve selected just six to present to you this month. They hail from the various corners of the southern Rhône, all represent different appellations, and some are to drink now (Beaumes-de-Venise, Mégaphone, Il Fait Soif) and some to drink in a few years (Lirac, Côtes du Vivarais). If you stash one away for a number of years, let it be Les Pallières, from Gigondas.

per bottle

2012 Beaumes-de-Venise • Domaine de Durban

$18.00

2012 Ventoux Rouge “Mégaphone” • Brunier

22.00

2011 Lirac “Le Classique” • Domaine du Joncier

24.00

2011 Côtes du Rhône “Il Fait Soif” • Maxime Laurent

27.00

2010 Côtes du Vivarais • Domaine Gallety

32.00

2010 Gigondas “Terrasse du Diable” • Les Pallières

49.00

Normally $172.00

(a 25% discount)

Special Sampler Price $129

VALUES FROM ITALY

by Dixon Brooke

2009 PAESAN • GUIDO PORRO

Nebbiolo and Barbera, the two very different yet wonderfully complementary grapes of the Langhe, combine forces here. Playful Barbera fruit and mouthwatering acidity support the spicy, floral tones and structure of the Nebbiolo to give you an ultra-traditional piemontese table wine from Serralunga d’Alba.

$24.00 per bottle $259.20 per case

2011 BANDINELLO • VILLA DI GEGGIANO

Now it is Sangiovese’s turn to impress in this always friendly, easygoing wine from the Chianti Classico zone. Smooth, fruit-driven, with plenty of Tuscan charm, this is fun to drink.

$20.00 per bottle $216.00 per case

2010 CÔTE ROTIE “LES ROSES”

BLENDED BY KERMIT LYNCH

by Clark Z. Terry

The magic of great Côte Rôtie does not come from its reputation for being a big, bombastic wine. In fact, what you’re looking for is a balance of the wild, meaty, earthy characteristics, with the graceful aromas of—like the name of this particular wine—roses. Do not be fooled. Syrah with restraint gives the most depth, complexity, and aging potential.

We are now in our third vintage of Les Roses, sourced this year from the lieux-dits Buffin, Brosse-Champin, and Fongeant. For those of you who have cellared a few, you’re in for a treat, as the 2008, though still young, is evolving beautifully. Add the 2010 to your collection—a true classic such as this is a rarity these days.

$70.00 per bottle $756.00 per case

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