Simon’s Pick: July, 2007
2006 Chateau de Pampelonne, Cotes de Provence Rosé
Larchmont Village Wine, Spirits and Cheese’s Simon has tipped us off once again to a great wine. You can find it in Los Angeles at…ummm, Larchmont Wine (323-856-8699) for $14.99. For other purveyors near and far, check out Winesearcher (while domaine547 has an array of dry rosés, 16 in fact, this particular wine is not in our inventory).
As the demand for dry rosés shows no sign of abating, producers both domestic and alien are scrambling to release all manner of pink wines to satisfy this demand. This is without doubt a very good thing. We say the more the merrier in the new rosé wave; More choice, more divergent styles, more opportunities to banish those sickly sweet memories of Mateus Rosé, Lancers and any old White Zinfandel.
Dry rosé has long been regarded with suspicion by some customers, usually because of the wine’s very pinkness…how could it possibly be dry and refreshing if it looks like that?
We return to the traditional heart of rosé production this month and have selected a lovely example from Provence that precisely defines all that is good about dry pink wine.
This estate on the Saint Tropez peninsula has long been a favorite of ours, and the 2006 excels again. A blend of 75% Cinsault and 25% Grenache, this shows a pretty transparent salmon pink color, is elegantly scented with peach, hawthorn and wild strawberries and has a satiny texture on the palate, with plenty of ripe fruit nicely balanced with refreshing acidity.The ultimate food-friendly wine, rose will pair with just about anything, so take this to the Bowl, the Greek, a poolside chat, a boat ride, sit-down din-dins, a Hollywood Forever blanket supper, your weekly après-tennis melt-down or the next UFC pay-per-view. If bouillabaisse is being served, even better…–S.C.
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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
