To pick this up, go visit Simon at Larchmont Wine & Spirits in LA, or call him at (323) 856-8699 to arrange for shipping. Here’s what he has to say about this wine:

We’ve been supporting this noteworthy winery for some time (winemaker Bill Arbois also has his own eponymous label) via their excellent Merlot(honestly), so were really intrigued by their version of Lagrein*, which we tasted at an enormous trade-tasting in March. At the event the tedium of tasting yet another overpriced, gargantuan domestic red wine was somewhat relieved by the discovery of this well-priced and interesting little gem.

Sourced from a vineyard in the Central Coast, this homespun version of a popular grape from northeast Italy’s Alto Adige (or Sudtirol if you prefer) is deep red in color with purple hues, shows plenty of rose petals and violets on the nose, leading to a medium-to-full palate of rich, ripe cherry and blueberry fruit, along with hints of chocolate and vanilla. The silky mouth-feel is framed nicely with lively acidity, making this a little hedonistic and food-friendly at the same time. Match this with chicken mole, pungent cheeses, salumi, slow-roasted pork or red-sauced pastas.

*It’s pronounced “LA-GRINE”…

Simon has spotted a Spatburgunder for us this month, though we notice the winery has labeled the ‘07 vintage with the more US-friendly Pinot Noir variety instead of what you see in the image here.

Pick this up at Larchmont Village Wine & Cheese in Los Angeles, where it’s at a budget friendly $17.99. Call and ask for Simon at (323) 856-8699.

Oh, and here are Simon’s notes:

We think it’s time for a straightforward, simple and tasty wine to help you confront these complex times. Bid farewell to an era of excess and greed with this pure and elegant Pinot Noir from Germany.  Yes, Germany. The Freidrich Becker Estate is in the Pfalz region, just over the border from Alsace, and sits on chalk and limestone soils that are perfectly suited to Pinot Noir. A cool climate ensures a delicacy and vibrancy in the wine, and importantly for us, lower levels of alcohol -(this one clocks in at 12.5%.)

Dark ruby on the nose, this shows ample tart red cherry and raspberry on the nose with some pleasing earthiness. This is medium bodied and silky on the palate, with ripe juicy red fruits and hints of sweet spice, the finish braced by uplifting acidity.

This balanced Pinot Noir will pair well with seared Ahi, grilled Salmon with a maple glaze, beef stew or just a platter of your cheeses of choice. –SC

Simon of Larchmont Wine, Spirits & Cheese has this pick for November. It’s $14.99 and you can pick it up there. Call (323) 856-8699 to order. Simon says…

As the calendar races towards Thanksgiving (with a vengeance), it is again time to contemplate what to drink as the nights draw in, and what will match well with your groaning feast on the 27th. We featured a Beaujolais last year, which is a natural choice for turkey and other fowl, but this juicy and complex Cabernet Franc from Anjou (in the Loire valley in western France) deserves its place here.

The fruit is sourced from vineyards with an abundance of schist and quartz in the soils, giving the wine a pleasing streak of minerals that balances the wonderful ripe fruit. Raspberry, red plum, crushed violets and rose petals abound on the nose and the wine has a pleasing supple texture on the palate. It is pure and bright, revealing crushed red cherry and raspberry fruit and just the right amount of vibrant acidity.

A wonderful wine to match with all manner of fall-friendly foods; braised meats including game, goats milk cheeses, hearty stews and of course your bird of choice, be it Turkey, Goose or Duck.

Happy Thanksgiving! –SC

A quick break from Corkage Week for Simon @ Larchmont’s Wine of the Month…this one is only $11 and sounds delicious. As usual, pick this up in LA at Larchmont Wine & Spirits. This is not a widely available wine, and Vinquire doesn’t (yet) list any other retailers carrying the ‘08.

Simon says:

2008? Yes, indeed. This white treasure is from this year’s vintage, courtesy Argentina’s southern hemispherical positioning.

Torrontes, a grape probably brought to Argentina by Spanish settlers (it’s thought to be related to Malvasia), is a complex, intensely aromatic varietal that shines in the high altitude (3000ft) vineyards located in the rain-shadow of the Andes mountains.

The Spring-like nose is wonderfully distinctive and is dominated by aromas of fresh white peaches, rose petals, sweet Anjou pear, green apple, green melon and hints of jasmine. Despite all the aromatic fireworks going on in your nostrils, the palate has beautiful structure and acidity along with its abundant fruit. Well balanced, this wine displays a pleasant freshness with citrus notes and a long finish.

Best enjoyed in its youth either by itself, or as a great match with smoked meats, mild to medium-pungent cheeses, seafood and a great partner for spicy food as well.