Today we’re lazy. Especially after a weekend of opening a few too many bottles (don’t worry, there were lots of friends with us to enjoy them). So, here’s a round-up of WWDTW (see blog post title) and our abbreviated notes with teenage-IM/SMS-style ratings (see key below for translations): Read more…
Okay, so we know we said we’d have notes on the Selene Sauv Blanc and the Amavi Cab among others, but we were so excited to pop the cork on a recent release from one of our favorite producers that we’re going to do things out of order.
You can get lots of good information on Francois Chidaine, an organic and biodynamic winemaker based in the Loire Valley of France, from the Louis/Dressner website (on the West Coast, Beaune Imports handles the wines, just in case you care!). Chidaine works with the white varieties of the Loire, which means he primarily produces Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc, though his focus is much more on the former than the latter. From what we’ve tasted, almost all of Chidaine’s wines seem to have at least a smidgen of residual sugar, but for the bone dry ‘07 Touraine Sauv Blanc that we’re sold currently out of but eagerly awaiting a new shipment of (it’s a bargain at under $12 a bottle).
The Vouvray “Les Argiles” fits within this pattern, and the 2006 is a lovely, highly approachable and drinkable Chenin with tropical overtones, a small amount of residual sugar, and just a hint of acidity (really, almost unnoticeable). Our tendency of late has been to gravitate to the more highly acidic wines, and this is not that. But this mild acidity didn’t at all hamper our enjoyment of the wine.
The ‘06 “Les Argiles” isn’t flabby or without structure, but rather viscous, smooth, and un-tingly in only a good way. This wine complemented the Greek salad and white bean hummus we served it alongside, and was lovely on its own as well. As the wine warmed slightly over the evening, the flavors only got more pronounced, with white donut peaches taking over and aromas of Jasmine really coming to the forefront. White donut peaches? A bit specific, but that’s what popped into our head as we sipped. Forgive our lapse into pretension, please.
We haven’t carried a Chidaine Vouvray before, focusing more on the Montlouis wines that he’s perhaps best known for — and the bargain Touraine. In fact, we picked this up from a competitor…but we’ll definitely consider the ‘06 “Les Argiles” for our inventory, as it represents very good value at about $24 a bottle. It also appears to be the only of Chidaine’s wines available from the distributor in half bottles, for those of you interested in that kind of thing. We can’t find any retailers who carry the 375s, but if you want to special order them, they should be available. Just ask your friendly LWS clerk (or us) and I’m sure they’d be happy to source them on your behalf.
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.
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!
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.
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…
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.
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!
