Simon’s Pick: June, 2007
2005 Saumur Champigny, Domaine des Roches Neuves, Thierry Germain
Wine-savant Simon has done it again. Read a bit of his witty prose about his June pick, a Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley, then go pick up a bottle at Larchmont Wine and Spirits in LA. Someday soon maybe we’ll get smart enough to stock the wine ourselves, so out-of-towners can order it from us.
What red to pour at your local cemetery screening, pool soiree or al-fresco chow-down?
Everybody is touting roses at the moment (with good reason of course, but we’ll get to one of those next month), so for now we thought we’d introduce you to a fabulous red wine from the Loire Valley in western France.This lovely wine is made from 100% Cabernet Franc, farmed organically in the small appellation of Saumur-Champigny on the south bank of the Loire river.
The special combination of clay, limestone, flint and alluvial soils in this appellation help to produce wines with power and elegance at the same time. When cropped at low levels, as Thierry Germain does, these vines produce Cabernet Franc of wonderful purity, length and precision.
This wine, aged only in tank for 7 months, shows marvelous fresh, ripe dark fruits (black plum, blueberry) on the nose, with an underlying layer of minerals and sweet herbs. It is medium-bodied on the palate, with great concentration and lively acidity…just what you need to match with all sorts of grilled summertime fare…charcuterie, pork loin with wild mushrooms, marinated flank steak, lamb sausages and pretty much any cheese you can throw at it. $19.99 –SC
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get your wine on
2007 Scholium Project Naucratis Verdelho
Abe Schoener strikes again, this time with a great Verdelho at a slightly lower price-point than the Gemella. This is 100% tank-fermented and a very dry, mineral-laden wine. This is one of the reasons why Schoener is earning status as a winemaker as a cult winemaker. It delivers. $28 for Scholium goodness.
2007 Skylark Cellars Alondra Chardonnay
I admit, I really don’t dig Chardonnay, so you don’t see many around these parts. I do, however, love this one. Not surpisingly, it’s unoaked. $18 of un-oaked, un-malo’ed goodness!
2007 La Fenetre “A Coté” Red Blend, Santa Barbara County from Timeless Palate Wines
This is astoundingly good for the money. It’s 60% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard, and 40% Merlot from the Bien Nacido Vineyard. The winemaker, Josh Klapper, is a mere 29 years old and one to watch. This is red, juicy and lush but not over the top. $18 and worth every penny.
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freshly pressed
Wine Store Design Continued: More Racks and Lights and Stuff:
Just a couple of images for the now…
Some of the single-depth racks, assembled (thanks again to Tim Krablin of Modern Cellar for the photo)…
And the interior of one of the lampshades, of which there will be 48, in three different shades of blue-ish purple. Keep in mind this is 36″ in diameter — as in three feet (the exterior is aluminum, non-powdercoated. I’ll let your imagination do the work).
Maybe one day I’ll post about the wines I’ve been tasting and stocking, and actually try to sell you something…which would possibly help me pay for all these neat things…ummmm, maybe next week…
Wine Store Design Continued: More Racks and Lights and Stuff
Wine Store Design Part 4: Wine Rack Construction
Wine Store Design Part 3: Urinal Defense Fund
wine jargon
Frizzante
From Wikipedia: Frizzante is an Italian wine term term for semi-sparkling wine (as opposed to Spumante, which is generally used for fully sparkling wines). Frizzante wines generally owe their bubbles to a partial secondary fermentation in tank. You might notice a light fizz or tingly sensation on the tongue with a Frizzante wine, compared to the more carbonated sensation that more fully sparkling wines yield.
Scorekage
Okay, so we made up this word yesterday after a great restaurant experience. We brought a bottle of wine with us, expecting to pay a corkage fee. But the restaurant either forgot to charge us the $15, or decided to be nice to us. We scored! Hence, “scorekage” has entered our lexicon. This can also refer to BYO friendly restaurants that don’t charge for corkage under any circumstances.
grapewise
I recently stopped by Venokado, a new-ish shop in LA. I bought a Lirac imported by Kermit Lynch, and it was yummers. Last night I had the pleasure of spending some time with one of its owners, Susan Brink.
Fabulous & Frugal!
Our friends launched a new site and domaine547 is a featured wine columnist in their premiere edition! Go check out Fabulous & Frugal for some fantastic lifestyle tips for living the good life during what, for most of us, is an economically challenging time. There’s much more than wine there, and we’re thrilled to be a small part of the start of what will surely be a successful venture. Congrats to Brandi & Steph for their achievement!
Go to Venokado please!
Fabulous & Frugal!
domaine547 In the Blogosphere! Imbibe Magazine Unfiltered
