Champagne
by Jim "Bubblehead" Duane
CHAMPAGNE FOCUS - NOTABLE NEW DISCOVERIES

One of the big pluses of summer is the pleasure of outdoor dining. Of course, there are many types of wine that work well out on the patio. However, for us nothing quite matches the magic of well-crafted rosé Champagne. A case in point is this stunning discovery from Daniel Etienne. The Etienne family has been tilling the soil above the tiny Premier Cru hamlet of Cumieres for many generations. Cumieres is situated on the Marne River a few miles northeast of Epernay. Its gentle slopes, which are overlooked by the Bois de St.-Marc and the ridge of Hautvillers to the north, enjoy a beneficial southern and southeasterly exposure. Today Daniel and Brigitte farm some 18 acres of vines practicing “culture raisonnée”-using chemical treatments only as last resort. Their brut rosé is a blend of estate grown fruit from the 2007 and 2006 harvests. It was bottled in early 2008 and was disgorged in August 2012 with a light dosage of six grams per liter. This pale salmon bubbly commences with pleasing scents of summer berries joined with hints of rose petals and watermelon. While predominately composed of Pinot Noir, the Chardonnay component (25%) keeps this rosé light-footed and lively as it proffers zingy cherry and cranberry flavors modulated by creamy autolytic notes and haunting mineral tones. A charmer from start to finish that is definitely priced right.

$39.98 750ml [376331]

We introduced Bernard Tornay’s nifty multi-vintage Carte d’Or Champagne last fall. That Champagne made a great introduction the luxuriant Tornay style and was an excellent value at just thirty-six dollars. Remarkably for a few more dollars more, we are now able to offer Tornay’s stellar 2002 Millesime which is considerably grander, more profound Champagne. It’s a 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Grand Cru villages of Bouzy and Ambonnay. Initially fermented in stainless steel with full malolatic, this cuvée was bottled in early 2003 and was patiently aged sur lattes for eight years in the family’s cellar. The result is sumptuous Champagne whose brassy-yellow hue works nicely as a backdrop to show off its fine strands of gentle bubbles. The well-developed bouquet displays nuances that run the gamut from baked apples and white chocolate to brioche and brown spices. Its broad, silky palate presents ripe golden apple, Bartlett pear and sage honey flavors juxtaposed over a taut undercarriage of chalk-flecked acidity. Here, then, is a full-framed, but well-poised Champagne that offers a wealth to ponder and savor and one that gets our vote for the best Champagne value from the esteemed 2002 vintage. Drink now and over the next several years.

$39.98 750ml [376237]

La Vie En Rosé
Dry French Rosés

The sunrises and sunsets begin to take on brilliant hues of carnation, salmon and faded magenta as the days grow in length, chests expanding, inhaling the fresh airs of spring. Soon it will be summer with verandas full of casual snackers and easy talk, parties and obscure references to attempted musical ribaldries of yore. Handlebar that moustache like it's 1899, O dandies of the much-worn vest. Or what's-his-name, you know, the surf cat all in Hang Ten (vintage '74, no less) and fake Italian sunglasses. What are these, so good! So what if she dresses '80s? She carries it, doll. The cheese and melon merge like surf and turf on its free-range cracker home.

This is pink wine country-- not unserious, candied white Zin (to whom we owe a debt of gratitude in California for the preservation of all those aging Zinfandel vines), but dry French rosés.

These are wines that offer a lot for so little-- tropical fruit flavors that meld with minerality and overflowing sea salt, acidity and rounded palates filled with red fruits and spring fruits, apricot pits and peach skin as unconstrained florals and meshed fruit flesh filets flourish on the nose. Limons and Tiger Lilys and berries, oh my! These quench the thirst and cool the aether, pair with all types of foods or fly solo brilliantly. We know that you, dear reader, have enjoyed these wines throughout the last few years as we keep selling more and more of them. So, once again, good friends, we present the latest bounty of delicious, dry French rosés, vintage 2012.

70% Cinsault, 15% Grenache, 15% Syrah
A definite staff favorite, the nose on La Domitienne is loaded with tropical notions: green melon, papaya, plantain and a pithy, fruit skin note; very rounded and attractive. The palate is viscous and lush, fat but balanced with proper acidity. Tropical fruits dominate with green melon and watermelon in the foreground, a touch of grapefruit citrus in the back. Hints of sea salt, smoke and minerality lend a bit of depth as the finish lingers pleasantly. It’s really no wonder that we’ve done so well with dry French rosés the last few years and La Domitienne is proof: the wine is outstanding, reasonably priced and perfect for the season. If the morning shows a bit of fog this will still brighten the day (hey! Breakfast wine!)...

$9.95 750ml [333398]

70% Grenache ; 30% Syrah
Juliette is a delicious and crisp rosé wine that has an initial fruit-forward taste of raspberries and berries that give the wine an attractive open feel. Juliette is refreshing and elegant, bone dry rosé wine, with layers of lively fruit and a bright, smooth finish – just the way a true rosé wine from Southern France should be.

$10.95 750ml [333980]

25% Grenache Noir (50+ yr old), 25% Grenache Gris (50+ yr-old), 25% Syrah (some old vines.), 25% Cinsault (young vines).

16,000 bottles produced. All direct-press. The deeper aromas and fruit tell us we are not in Provence anymore, but the wine shows more freshness than previous vintages, despite more Syrah in the blend. Finishes nicely.

$12.95 750ml [322388]

33% Syrah, 33% Grenache Noir and 33% Mourvèdre
Delicate pale salmon color. It exudes the warmth and aromas of the Provence region with spontaneous, crisp, fresh, balanced citrus flavors with a hint of berries and brioche. The Syrah and Grenache grapes endow the wine with an elegant, aromatic balance. An amazing Grenache/Syrah Rosé. Foods to pair with: tapenade, stuffed mushrooms, braised ham, lobster stew, grilled trout, grilled salmon, veal sauté.

$10.99 750ml [322699]

50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Cinsault.
Purchased in 1970 by the Durand and Valentin families, the Château was originally built in the 1500s, on the ruins of a 12th century fort. Records of winemaking date back to 1550! Lancyre is now viewed among the top estates of Pic Saint-Loup, which has justifiably garnered a reputation as the Languedoc’s best wine district. A big rosé! Raspberry and pear aromas on the nose, with distinctive spicy, minty garrigue notes. Big, bold and firm on the palate, ending with a long, clean finish. A rosé for year-round drinking! Excellent on its own, it is also a great food wine - pair with hearty salads, grilled vegetables, kebabs, stuffed tomatoes or charcuterie.

$15.95 750ml [311288]

40% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 30% Cinsault
Situated in Minervois, one of the oldest wine-producing areas in the Languedoc, Château du Donjon has been in the Panis family for 500 years. Jean Panis took the reins from his father, Guy, in 1996 and has taken the estate to new heights, with the historic 1998 vintage marking the beginning of a golden era that continues to this day. Pink to salmon color. Refreshing aromas include ripe strawberries, red cherries and red plums. Less spicy and herbal but with very pure intense red fruit flavors. Fully dry but ripe and soft, inviting and mouth-filling.

$12.95 750ml [311289]

36% Grenache, 21% Cinsault, 20% Syrah, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Carignan, 3% Ugni Blanc
Bargemone is among the foremost estates of the Coteaux d’Aix appellation of Provence. A benchmark producer of the delicious, dry rosé for which Provence is famous, the Commanderie was founded by Templar knights in the 13th century, and is home to a proud viticultural tradition and more than 160 acres of sustainably grown vineyards. Offers classic aromas of wild strawberries and red currants, with a light, floral character and a crisp, bone-dry palate. This begs for seafood but has enough stuffing to accompany pizza or ratatouille.

$14.99 750ml [311290]

The vineyards were planted in the 1950s and 1960s to the current varietals. The vines are trained using a system called Cordon de Royat, which helps maintain lower fruit production. Mas Carlot limits yields to around 45hl/ha, which is one-third below what the appellation allows. Nathalie likes to wait during harvest - picking late to obtain the maximum maturity for each grape varietal. This Rosé is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah all of which have been bled from tank. This is a gorgeous Rosé, loaded with wonderfully intermingled flavors of strawberries and graced by hints of spring flowers and spice. It’s lush on the palate, with a long, harmonious finish.

$9.99 750ml [318747]

This wine is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 20% Cinsault and is vinified completely in tank. The Grenache vines here are between 25 and 60+ years old and the Syrah and Cinsault are in their 30s. The yields for this wine are between 35 and 40 hectoliter per hectare. With vivid and pale color, it always shows extraordinary bright fruit and spice in the nose. Fat in the mouth, it is a well-balanced rosé with very precise aromas. A real pleasure! You may drink it by itself for your apéritif or to accompany summer meals, like grilled fish or meat.

$10.95 750ml [323125]

100% Cinsault
A delicious new rosé from Laurence Féraud of Domaine du Pegau, Pink Pegau was crafted at Château Pegau, a newly purchased estate of more than 100 acres located less than 4 miles from Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Pale pink/salmon in color, with peach, floral and red fruit aromas. Bone dry, with a crisp, mouth-watering acidity leading to a long, spicy, mineral finish.

$18.99 750ml [333951]

78% Cinsault, 12% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre
Definitely in the salmon-colored field, Breezette’s nose was loaded with all kinds of peach nuances which carried over to the palate. Peaches! Lovely, lovely peaches. Add to that a dollop of fruit cocktail syrup, light mineral touches and a dash of sea salt, all brightened by cleansing acidity, and you have a winner, indeed!

$14.95 750ml [323130]

Chateau Minuty M Provence Rosé is summer in a glass! The color is light copper, with a bouquet brimming of cantaloupe and carnations. This crisp, dry and delicate rosé is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Cinsault and 20% Tibouren (an obscure and nearly extinct grape). Chateau Minuty is located on the peninsula of St. Tropez. The grapes from this chateau gained the status of “Cru Classe” in 1955 and has since been one of Provence’s finest estates. The vineyards are traditionally cultivated (no herbicides or pesticides), and fermented in stainless steel, making this a truly traditional Provencal rosé. Enjoy this wine chilled to go with pasta tossed in olive oil, cheeses, seafood and vegetable courses… or grab a turkey sandwich on baguette and indulge!

$24.99 750ml [323128]

This delightfully crisp Provencal rosé is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Cinsault and 20% Carignan. This wine hails from the land of sunny climes and ocean breezes in Saint Tropez. The 2012 Cuvée de Golfe may be our favorite vintage yet from this producer. It exhibits aromas of white flowers, honeydew melon and white nectarine, and is quite refreshing on the palate. Perfect for afternoon sipping, Cuvée De Golfe is bright and delicious, and will match with lighter dishes. Don’t wait another Minuty to try it!

$12.99 750ml [323126]