The ‘Chicken-Wine’ is back and kickin’

The Wine Warehouse wine blog comes to you today from the center of Bordeaux after several days at Vinexpo. Vinexpo meets every two years in Bordeaux and is billed as the world’s largest wine and spirits fair. It takes one more than twenty minutes to walk the length of the main hall. In addition there are four rows in this main hall with two other halls for the overflow of producers. Do you think that this means that there is plenty of wine out there in the world? So far this year’s Vinexpo highlights include: a wicked storm with hail in downtown Bordeaux on Sunday night as most people were finishing dinner and trying to get back to their rooms at around 11PM, cooler weather than was experienced during the 115 degree days at Vinexpo 2003 and sadly the South African wineries not receiving their samples until after the third day of the show. The standard line at the South African stand was ‘my wines are the best South African wines that you’ve never tasted.’

The level of wine industry elite is quite high at Vinexpo. Jean-Pierre Perrin is a top producer from Chateauneuf du Pape and personally poured for me his Chateau de Beaucastel offerings as well as others from the Perrin family of wines. I commented to Jean-Pierre that their La Vieille Ferme wines have really taken off in our stores since they changed the label to include the Gallic rooster. Customers come into our stores and just simply ask for ‘the chicken wine.’ Jean-Pierre just smiled and said that this phenomenon exists in other countries as well. There may be a degree of intimidation in asking for and trying to pronounce ‘La Vieille Ferme’ but there is certainly no pressure in asking for ‘the chicken wine’ in one’s native tongue.

John-Pierre’s sons Pierre and Marc Olivier with Francois’ oldest son Thomas are the sixth generation of Perrin’s at Beaucastel and have the Perrin family of wines currently running at the top of their game. The Perrin family likes to think of themselves as THE Southern Rhone specialists. It is easy to see why they feel this way as they are proprietors of what many feel is the finest estate in the finest appellation in the southern Rhone, Chateauneuf du Pape with Chateau de Beaucastel. The Perrins are also continuing to purchase some of the finest properties in other top regions in the southern Rhone.

On to ‘the chicken wine.’ La Vieille Ferme literally translates to ‘the old farm’ however there is nothing ‘old’ or particularly traditional about these wines. The LVF label has moved from an abstract drawing of and old farm, to a Provencal theme and now to ‘the chicken.’ The package is modern with expressive labels, uses progressive screw cap closures that are built for speed and are filled with exuberant and flavorful wine in the bottle. We at The Wine Warehouse have the best prices in Florida on ‘the chicken wine.’ As you walk our shelves you will find that this is a recurring pattern when you look at our other selections as well.

The La Vielle Ferme Blanc is produced from grapes grown in Provence near the town where Peter Mayle wrote his book ‘A Year in Provence.’ LVF white is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Bourbelenc, Ugni Blanc and Roussanne that are grown at 1000 feet above sea level. LVF white wine displays hints of pear and green apple with a medium bodied texture. It is soft, balanced and a beautiful quaff.

La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Luberon Blanc 1.5L, Retail $13.99 Warehouse $9.99
La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Luberon Blanc 750ml, Retail $7.99 Warehouse $5.99

The La Vieille Ferme Rose is produced from grapes grown just east of the southern tip of the Cotes du Rhone. This Rose is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah. A vibrant strawberry hue shines as spicy strawberry and floral notes jump from the glass. Dry Roses are an emerging category as they are a fantastic bridge between red and white wines. This Rose shows relatively complex characters for its incredibly low price.

La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Ventoux Rose 750ml, Retail $7.99 Warehouse $5.99

Also from the Cotes du Ventoux, La Vieille Ferme Red is produced from Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Cinsault. A perennial ‘best red wine value on the planet,’ this Cotes du Ventoux sports a deep cherry red color with ripe and spicy red fruit characters. It continues to amaze me how the Perrin family is able to offer so much character every single year in this red wine for the small amount of money that they charge.

La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Ventoux Rouge 1.5L, Retail $13.99 Warehouse $9.99
La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Ventoux Rouge 750ml, Retail $7.99 Warehouse $5.99

The Perrin Cotes du Rhone Blanc is a fresh and a delightfully complex white wine. It is produced from Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne. This CDR Blanc is produced in stainless steel to highlight the primary fruit aromas and flavors of these varieties. On the palate this CDR offers a medium bodied and slightly oily texture and would be a great choice for those of you who lean towards un-oaked Chardonnay as the CDR’s texture and purity are the same. Unlike a Chardonnay, this wine will not have a tropical character but offers aromas and flavors of pear, lemon and a hint of flowers. Bottled in stelvin for freshness.

Perrin Cotes du Rhone Blanc 750ml, Retail $10.99 Warehouse $7.99

Perrin Cotes du Rhone Rouge is a sturdy red value that is produced strictly from vineyards that the Perrin family either own or from vineyards where they control the grape growing. This CDR is produced from traditional Grenache Noir that offers raspberry and pepper notes with nearly half the blend being fleshed out with Syrah and Mourvedre for added intensity and a spicy leather and meaty character. Bottled in stelvin for freshness.

Perrin Cotes du Rhone Rouge 750ml, Retail $10.99 Warehouse $7.99

Patchouli alert! We have a spicy and expressive Cotes du Rhone red wine produced from organically grown grapes. The Perrin’s call this wine ‘Nature’ as this is the way that they feel nature intended plants to grow. The Perrin’s farm all of their estate wines without chemical herbicides and pesticides. This Cotes du Rhone is produced from predominantly Grenache Noir. It has a spicy and peppery raspberry character with an inherent meatiness in its core. You can experience all of this for less than nine bucks. Whoa dude!

Perrin 'Nature' Cotes du Rhone Rouge 750ml, Retail $11.99 Warehouse $8.99

Vacqueyras is one of the appellations in the southern Rhone that is allowed to put its town’s name on the label. The Perrin’s Vacqueyras vineyard is a special one as it is blessed with vines that average fifty years of age of 75% Grenache Noir and 25% Syrah. These old vines tend to produce less quantity for grapes that have more intensity and complexity. It is virtually unheard of for a Vacqueyras to receive a 91 point score in a review, but the Perrin 2005 ‘Les Christins’ did just that in The Wine Spectator magazine. This wine is extremely limited due to its small production.

Perrin ‘Les Christins’ Vacqueyras 2005, Retail $21.99 Warehouse $18.99

The proprietors from Chateau de Beaucastel certainly know a thing or two about producing Chateaneuf du Pape. The Perrin “Les Sinards’ CDP is produced from younger vines at Beaucastel as well as being sourced from a neighboring vineyard just west of the estate. Vinified in the same manner as Beaucastel, Perrin CDP is produced predominantly from the traditional Grenache Noir grape with Syrah and Mourvedre combining to give it a deep and rich red color, with aromas ranging from lavender to kirsch and pepper, on the palate meaty, raspberry and pepper notes ring through.

Perrin ‘Les Sinards’ Chateauneuf du Pape 2004, Retail $29.99 Warehouse $24.99

The Perrin family is extremely friendly, enormous talented and are hard not to like. You’ll see the same character in the wines that they produce.

I know that it seems a bit silly to be blogging from Bordeaux and not include some wines from Bordeaux. Don’t worry, Bordeaux wines will be coming shortly to a blog near you.

A bientot,

Monsier Bloggy

Now that the dollar is about as strong as a ‘third world’ currency, are there any values to be found in Europe?

Chance meetings can be rather fortuitous. Last April I attended Cape Wine 2006 in South Africa. It just so happens that the lady who I was sitting next to was once one of the most important and feared wine buyers on the planet. Lindsay was the former wine buyer for the Tesco stores based in the UK. Tesco’s wine purchases are so large that it can make or break a winery’s year or existence if Tesco decides to come off of promoting the product or horror of all horrors, to have one’s wine de-listed. When I introduced myself to Lindsay as a retailer, she replied that she was once a ‘predator’ too. She has since moved on to another role in the jungle of the world of wine, as a gatekeeper (supplier.)

Lindsay now sells to Tesco and her company is very successful in the UK and Europe selling wine to the big retailers. Their specialty is sourcing wines from quality producers, making certain that the packaging is attractive and that the product over-delivers for the money. Last May I met Lindsay at her company’s booth at the London Wine Trade Fair and tasted through a range of samples. An Italian producer that was poured for me had many wines that stood out as incredible value for money. This value Italian exists is in spite of the dollar being nearly at an all time low versus the Euro. The winery is called Ravelli and you will see five of the wines at a Wine Warehouse store near you. Just check out the list below to see the incredible value that they represent.

Pinot Grigio is a real crowd pleaser. It is consistently ranked as one of the top selling categories of wine here in the US. Why is Pinot Grigio so popular? I like to think of Pinot Grigio from Italy as being the ‘club soda’ of wine. When Pinot Grigio is fresh and well made it is vibrant with very subtle flavors and has a lift on the palate. Pinot Grigio is a non-cerebral quaff that is unpretentious, fun and can be quite refreshing when chilled on a warm Florida day. The 2006 Ravelli Pinot Grigio offers all of these qualities and is bottled with a stelvin closure for added freshness.

Ravelli Pinot Grigio 2006, Retail $9.99 Warehouse $6.99

Garganega is not a grape that one often associates with a popular wine style. When one says that Garganega is the grape variety that makes Soave it makes the picture much clearer. This is my favorite wine of the ‘Ravelli 5.’ It has a surprising amount of subtle pear and cream notes with incredible freshness to boot. This is a beautiful wine that is also bottled in with a stelvin closure for freshness.

Ravelli Soave 2006, Retail $9.99 Warehouse $6.99

Ravelli Montepulciano is produced from a mountainous region in central Italy with a significant coastline on the Adriatic sea. The Abbruzi coast enjoys the benefits of summer heat and solar radiation from the sea. The Montepulciano grape was once prized as a blending wine in the north of Italy, particularly in Toscana, Veneto, and Piemonte. This Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is produced in a young, quaffing style that is robust, fruity and best consumed in its youth. Ravelli Montepulciano has a detectable and attractive sweaty saddle character with dark fruits and a refreshing spicy character. Also bottled in stelvin for freshness. All this for under a ‘sixer.’

Ravelli Montepulciano D’Abruzzo 2006, Retail $8.99 Warehouse $5.99

The Chianti zone is first identified in documents of the second half of the 13th century which named the high hills between Baliaccia and Monte Luco the Chianti mountains. Chianti is now regaining its once high popularity because at all levels, the quality has never been better. Chianti is the birthplace of the Sangiovese grape which gas has unique black cherry characters that are enveloped with a refreshing acidity. This is why Chianti has always matched particularly well with tomato based sauces and thanks to Anthony Hopkins it has been discovered to work well with fava beans.

Ravelli Chianti 2005, Retail $9.99 Warehouse $6.99


The Ravelli Chianti Riserva is also produced predominantly from the Sangiovese grape. This Riserva wine spends two years in oak barrels, softening the character of the grape while adding tertiary aromas and flavors of ripe cherries and plums. Quite a steal at under ten bucks. This is priced less than many ordinary Chiantis.

Ravelli Chianti Riserva 2004, Retail $14.99 Warehouse $9.99

Cin Cin…………….

Twenty years after the year of the sun; perfection in Pinot Noir?

I can recall driving through Burgundy on our delayed honeymoon in 1985. We were married in March but decided that the month of September would be more interesting to tour the Mosel, Burgundy and Champagne. Our plans were to get to wine country as the grapes were almost ripe and producers would have time to talk with us. Wrong! 1985 was a warm year and picking was beginning two weeks ahead of schedule. It was nearly 90 degrees. Grapes were ripening so fast that it was stretching the cellar capacity of many small growers in Burgundy. They had to get the grapes in before they desiccated. Grapes were not the only thing desiccating in 1985; young Americans without air conditioning on their honeymoons were desiccating in their cramped rooms with psychedelic wallpaper patterns and toilets down the hall.

What does the 1985 vintage have to do with the current releasing vintage in Burgundy? The weather patterns of 1985 to 2005 were quite similar. The difference between the vintages are that now vignerons are getting accustomed to warm Septembers and are better prepared for the grapes at this early stage. This has some Burgundy producers feeling that this is the finest vintage in nearly forty years. The 2005 vintage is like many recent summers in Burgundy; warmer and drier than in the past. Although 2005 was dry, it was not too hot. Overall, the warmth and dryness led to perfect maturation in the finer vineyards. 2005 was a long growing season where September was perfect for Pinot Noir. The grapes had very clean and sturdy skins, which possessed ripe tannins that are intense and well balanced. It is a phenomenal vintage and one where any lover of classic Pinot Noir will want to get their hands on. The 05 reds will be in the WW stores early next week. 2005 Red Burgs are in limited availability and all selections may not be available at every WW location.


‘The 2005 vintage for red and white Burgundy has everything you could want: ripe fruit, fresh acidity, well-integrated tannins and great balance. Even at this young stage, many of the wines reveal gorgeous fruit flavors and terroir.’ Bruce Sanderson, ‘The Wine Spectator.’

We have been buying Aubert de Villaine’s white wines for years. De Villaine’s Bourgogne Aligote and Rully are perennial favorites at The Wine Warehouse. At a dinner nearly two years ago we asked about possibly receiving an allocation of De Villaine reds. Voila! Below you will find several ripe and delicious reds that have just arrived this week. Monsieur De Villaine knows a thing or two about classic Pinot Noir as his day job is as the proprietor of Domaine de la Romanee Conti.

A&P De Villaine Bourgogne Rouge La Digoine 05 (organic), Retail $34.99 Warehouse $29.99

A&P De Villaine Bourgogne Rouge La Fortune 05 (organic), Retail $29.99 Warehouse $24.99

A&P De Villaine Mercurey Rouge Les Montots 05, Retail $39.99 Warehouse $34.99

Domaine Amiot Bourgogne Pinot Noir is a ripe and silky wine with classic Pinot Noir character.

Domaine Amiot Bourgogne Pinot Noir 05, Retail $21.99 Warehouse $18.99

In France, wine domaines are often divided up amongst the descendants of the current proprietor as it is prescribed in the Napoleanic Code. Domaine Colin Deleger is now split between Bruno Colin and Phillipe Colin. Both are producing very flashy wines. Many people are unaware that Chassagne Montrachet is 50% planted to Pinot Noir. We often only see the Chardonnay version on most wine lists in America.

Bruno Colin Bourgogne Pinot Noir 05, Retail $21.99 Warehouse $18.99

Philippe Colin Chassagne-Montrachet Les Chênes Rouge 05, Retail $34.99 Warehouse $29.99

Philippe Colin Chassagne-Montrachet Les Chênes Rouge 05 375ml, Retail $18.99 Warehouse $14.99

Philippe Colin Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot Rouge 1er Cru 05, Retail $39.99 Warehouse $34.99

Philippe Colin Maranges Fussière Rouge 1er Cru 05, Retail $34.99 Warehouse $29.99

Philippe Colin Santenay Rouge 05, Retail $29.99 Warehouse $26.99

Philippe Colin Santenay Gravières Rouge 1er Cru 05, Retail $39.99 Warehouse $34.99

There will be more fabulous 2005’s on their way. Please stay tuned to a blog near you….

‘Crunchy’ is as ‘crunchy’ does.

At a recent tasting at our Palmetto store, a gentleman came up to me and mentioned that he would like for us to carry more ‘organic’ wines. My ‘crunchy’ light-bulb went off and I very excitedly took the man on a tour of the store. At the Wine Warehouse you will see the ladybug sign dangling off of the end of shelf tags where it indicates that the wine is grown by organic, biodynamic or sustainable methods. There is a literal infestation of ladybugs currently roaming the shelves from a myriad of countries at your local Wine Warehouse.

Slowly but surely we are becoming a nation where the way your product was produced has a significant meaning in the marketplace. Currently at Chez Blogmeister, if you walk in my kitchen you will find organically grown products such as olive oil, low-fat yogurt, low-fat milk, blueberries, nuts, chicken, tomatoes, with fair-trade coffee being consumed by a fiscally conservative guy wearing Birkenstocks. Organic isn’t just at Whole Foods anymore as Publix has its ‘Greenwise’ section and even Walmart has an organic section. Say no more! Nudge, nudge. Organic is here to stay. The emergence of post WW2 agrochemicals is going full-circle and to pre-WW2 methods; organic.

The reduction of agrochemicals in grape farming can have many benefits. With chemical reduction on farms, winery workers are not subject to breathing these chemicals with the added benefit of no risk of any chemical residue making it into your wine. With less agrochemicals, the vine and the soil that it lives in is said to be healthier and more resistant to maladies. Depending on the vineyard site, it may be less expensive to farm without chemical treatments. Large wineries such as Gallo and Robert Mondavi have been moving some of their vineyards to organic farming in advance of impending health initiatives in California and with the thought of being able to benefit from the ability to be able to market an ‘organically grown’ product. Any reduction in potential liability for a corporation will be a benefit to both the corporation and its customers. Although I recently read somewhere that a labor group is now pushing synthetic weed-killers as they feel that too much bending over and pulling weeds can lead to sore backs and (get this) health issues. You see, there is a yin and a yang to every situation.

Healthy living is not just derived by the elimination of agrochemicals but by the sustainability of all of the things that we produce or consume during our day. I’m sure that you may have noticed various businesses including wineries looking to lessen their ‘carbon footprint’ on the planet. Select wineries are now employing solar panels for sustainable electricity, recycling winery wastewater, using less or no chemicals in the vineyard and are buying ‘carbon offsets’ to compensate for any shortfalls in their ‘carbon footprint’ on the planet. Is ‘crunchy’ important?

A recent survey reported by Decanter Magazine may refute the importance of a ‘healthy’ product to the average consumer.

According to Decanter Magazine, the majority of UK consumers do not care if their wine is organic or Fairtrade, and do not understand what biodynamic means. Market research firm Wine Intelligence asked 2000 regular wine drinkers for their views on wine that is produced with consideration to social, ethical and environmental issues.

Unlike organic and sustainably produced food – which respondents believe tastes better and merits a premium compared with non-organic food – wine has a perception problem: most respondents said they thought organically produced and Fairtrade wine would not taste good.

Remember…………….wine is food…………

Regardless of anyone’s skepticism as to the relative importance of green products to the consumer; we see many ‘green’ products selling at an increasing rate and ‘green’ habits beginning to be incorporated in our lives. Hybrid cars are currently all the rage; particularly at today’s current gasoline prices. I still dream of a local biodiesel station popping up in Jacksonville. I’d love to have my vehicle spewing the smell of French fries instead of petroleum. The quandary is whether my car might be a vegan and might prefer the more expensive soybean version of biodiesel as opposed to animal fat. Is ‘green’ here to stay? There are now departments for organic produce and nontoxic cleaning supplies at supermarkets, the Home Depot is selling energy-efficient light bulbs, paint that is low in pollutants and wood harvested according to the principles of sustainable forestry. Many cities are now recycling. Why not expect a ‘green’ choice to be available and promoted at your local wine store? Thus, the Wine Warehouse delivers you many ‘green’ choices in our stores.

Let’s get down to the ‘green’ wine basics:

Organic wine is produced from grapes grown in a vineyard that has been certified organic and processed according to the organic standards defined by the certifying agency of each country. This means that no chemical or artificial fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or other treatments were used on the grapevines. In addition, the level of sulfites is naturally less than 10 parts per million as none have been added during winemaking. Genetically engineered yeast and vines are prohibited. You’ll see it called ecológico and biolóogico on Spanish bottles, organique or biologique on French bottles and organico on Italian bottles. No sulfur means not very stable. There are a few ‘organic wines’ available but can be a roll of the dice as to whether they are free from oxygen and a chance re-fermentation in the bottle.

The more common ‘made with organic grapes’ wine has been made using certified organically grown grapes. Genetically engineered yeast and vines are prohibited, but other winemaking techniques such as fining and filtering may be employed. Wine labeled “Made with organic grapes” may contain added sulfites.

Let’s look at a few organically grown wines from some recent blogs:

(France) Farmed organically,Vieux Telegraphe is one of the best known estates of the Southern Rhône. Vieux Télégraphe has 45 hectares of red grapevines planted, with an average age of around 55 years. Blessed with one of the finest locations in CDP, the mesoclimate enables the Bruniers to be able to harvest as much as a week ahead of their neighbours. Vieux Télégraphe's blend is a typical one in CDP, with Grenache accounting for around two thirds of the cuvee, with the remainder being made up of Syrah and Mourvèdre in roughly equal proportions, with a tiny bit of Cinsault thrown in for good measure.

Pure and silky, with raspberry, cocoa, truffle and mineral notes that glide along the fresh acidity. The long, silky finish lets the fruit and minerality hang nicely, with garrigue in the background. Should blossom in the cellar. Best from 2008 through 2025. 94pts Wine Spectator

Domaine Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape 2004, Retail $51.99 Warehouse $44.99

(South Africa) Tulbagh Mountain Vineyard Syrah/Mourvedre 2004; 85% Syrah 15% Mourvedre. Produced from yields of a mere .8 tons per acre, hand picked grapes are cooled in their cold room, then they are crushed and destemmed into tank, and 5% whole bunches are added. The must is pigeaged once a day. After about 4 days, fermentation begins, and the wine is pigeaged two to three times a day. Fermentation generally lasts from 7 to 10 days. After fermentation, a couple of weeks skin contact is given, and the wine is then drained and pressed to barrel. The wine was racked once at blending (after a year in barrel), and bottled after 22 months in barrel.

Nice Syrah-driven notes of black cherry and mineral, with good smoke, game, tobacco, olive and mineral hints. The rich, smoky finish shows power and purity, with fine length. Drink now through 2008. 1,175 cases made. – 90 points Wine Spectator

Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards Syrah-Mourvedre 2004, Retail $29.99 Warehouse $24.99

(France) Guy Breton’s Vielles Vignes Morgon 2005 cuvee is produced from grapes grown on 80 year old vines. Only 1700 cases are produced on average per year. (My review before the review)The 2005 sports a pretty shade of a cross between raspberry and red roses. I cannot escape the feeling that this wine is a dead ringer for Pinot Noir. Silky cranberry with a touch of blue fruits emerge on the palate. Character continues to expand in the glass. This wine will drink well now, but should keep well for at least a decade.

Bright red. High-pitched aromas of wild strawberry, raspberry preserves and fresh flowers. Intense floral pastille notes accent ripe red berry flavors, with suave, silky tannins adding gentle support. This deepened with air, picking up a darker cherry tone but maintaining its bright, energetic personality. Here's another Cote de Beaune ringer. 91 points Steve Tanzer

Guy Breton Morgon VV 2005, Retail $25.99 Warehouse $19.99

(France) Marcel Lapierre Morgon 2005. Marcel Lapierre farms 22 acres of 40 year old vines in Granitic soil. Production averages around 3500 cases per year. (My review before the review) This is the flashiest of the ‘Gang’ showing a vibrant black-cherry color with a rich, meaty, raspberry nose. The palate shows the structure of a fine Pinot Noir with enticing aromatics of raspberry and blueberries. Serious stuff! Continues to gain aromatics and flavor in the glass.

Dark red with a bright rim. Lush, sexy aromas of raspberry, blackberry and Asian spices. Deep and rich on the palate, offering intense dark fruit flavors, a plush texture and gentle framing acidity. Very sexy stuff, finishing on a sweet black raspberry note, with outstanding depth and length. 92 points Steve Tanzer

Marcel Lapierre Morgon 2005, Retail $24.99 Warehouse $16.99

Some other organic producers to look for in the WW:

Domaine Kuentz-Bas
A&P de Villaine
Champagne Tarlant
Chateau Beaucastel
Perrin ‘Nature’

Biodynamic may be the most mysterious practice of all as Biodynamic wine is made from grapes grown according to the method based on the teachings of Austrian Rudolf Steiner. Soil is kept healthy and vital with the use of compost and manure produced on-site as well as planting in timing with the phases of the moon. Chemical and synthetic herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and genetically modified organisms are strictly prohibited in the winemaking process.

Biodynamics has become notorious for seemingly bizarre practices like filling cow horns with dung and burying them in vineyards and aligning certain chores with phases of the moon and stars. Some scientific studies have shown that biodynamics can be effective even if the underlying reasons for this are not yet understood. No matter what, the quality has to be good or biodynamics does not matter.

How about a biodynamic wine at less than 7 bucks with a 90 in Parker?

(Spain) Vinedos y Bodegas Pablo is a family-owned estate, founded in 1760, emphasizing the use of indigenous varietals and biodynamic farming. This is an impressive portfolio from top to bottom. For starters is the unoaked 2005 Menguante Garnacha produced from 80-year-old vines. Purple in color, it exhibits a fragrant nose of kirsch and blueberry. Medium-bodied, this wine is packed with ripe fruit and layers of flavor all the way through to the finish. This awesome value can be likened to a Cotes du Rhone on steroids. Kudos to the Pablo family! 90 points Wine Advocate.

Menguante Garnacha 2005, Retail $8.99 Warehouse $6.99

Some other Biodynamic producers to look for in the WW:

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht
Domaine Bott-Geyl
Champagne Bruno Michel
Champagne Franck Pascal
Champagne Francoise Bedel

Lutte Raisonee or ‘Sustainable’ is a French term loosely meaning “rational control” or “well thought-out fight” intended to protect both nature and the consumer from unnecessary crop treatments. Growing lutte raisonnée favors sustainable solutions for the eradication of pests and plant disease. Wines produced lutte raisonnée are not certified organic and can include synthetic treatments; however, they are kept to a minimum. In the New World, lutte raisonnée is called INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT and can be certified by L.I.V.E. (Low Input Viticulture & Enology), a program providing vineyards and wineries official recognition for sustainable agricultural practices modeled after international standards. LOW-SULFITE OR NO ADDED SULFITES refers to wines that have less than 10 parts sulfites per million. Sulfites are a natural product of fermentation and there are no truly “sulfite-free” wines. Certified organic wines are naturally low-sulfite as no added sulfites have been used in the production. Contrary to what many people think, white wines generally contain higher levels of sulfites than reds. Even though sulfur has been used in winemaking for centuries and is a natural product, is effective as a sterilant, an anti-oxidative and antimicrobial; in order to be an organic wine, there must be less than 10 ppm of total sulfur in the finished wine. Modern winemaking techniques have allowed wineries to limit their use of sulfur in winemaking.

Many of the wines from Villa Maria in New Zealand and Cono Sur in Chile are farmed using sustainable methods.

Some other sustainable producers to look for in the WW:

Domaine Francois Jobard
Domaine Guy Amiot
Domaine Lucien Boillot
Domaine Maume
Domaine Michel Colin
Domaine Robert Denogent
Champagne J. Lassalle
Chateau Ducasse
Graville-Lacoste
Roumieu-Lacoste

Please excuse the longer than usual blog. ‘Green’ farmed grapes are a subject that is very near and dear to our hearts at the Wine Warehouse. Be on the lookout for many new ‘green’ offerings in the near future.

Santé, Dude!

The recipe for a smokin’ Memorial Day: four for the ‘grillmeister’

Start your engines. This weekend is the official kick-off to grilling season. Many in our office have just finished their annual detox fast this week. Their fasts ended just in time as it would be a shame for them to miss the Memorial Day BBQ. Hope their systems will be back in form as this is not the weekend for brown rice and vegetable broth.

Memorial Day is worthy of a serious red wine or two. Let’s look at ‘four fab’ wines from four different countries that are ‘worthy.'

USA-California: From the home-front, Joey Tensley went to France as a young man to experience his first love; soccer. This trip to France launched Joey's interest in wine with his focus now shifting away from the stadium and into the cellar.

Tensley’s approach to making all of his wines is straightforward; he makes the best possible Syrah he can while letting the vineyard do the talking. Tensley doesn’t like new oak, he doesn’t like to fine or filter, and he doesn’t try to fit his wines into any specific profile.

The current line-up at Tensley includes 3 single vineyard Syrahs from Santa Barbara County vineyards – Colson Canyon, Purisima Mountain, and Thompson. The Colson Canyon vineyard was carved out of a hillside east of Santa Maria and it produces the most expressive wine in the line-up. The Colson Canyon is the only Tensley wine that sports any new oak (25%). Any fan of California Syrah will need to give this wine a try.

Please be aware that this is The Wine Advocate’s review for the 2004 Tensley. By the time the 2005 review is out this wine will be long gone. Have a little faith. We’ve tried it. The 2005 is killer! Small production Syrah…BBQ anyone? The stunning, 800-case 2004 Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard is the only cuvee to receive a 20-30% new French oak treatment. The Colson Canyon offers an inky/blue/purple color as well as aromas of graphite, blackberries, blueberries, and acacia flowers. Full-bodied, unctuously textured, rich, pure, and dense, this superb Syrah should drink well for a decade or more. 93pts Wine Advocate

Tensley ‘Colson Canyon’ Syrah 2005, Retail $39.99 Warehouse $29.99

Australia: From Padthway, Parson’s Flat is a blend of 70% Shiraz and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon from the same team that runs Henry’s Drive. The wine is aged in 100% American oak, of which 80% is new. The vines average 12 years of age and are harvested at perfect ripeness. This is just one of many Grateful Palate Selections that makes one stand up and take notice.

It is an in-your-face, exuberant, flamboyant Aussie red boasting loads of espresso roast, toasty oak, blackberries, cassis, and licorice. Full-bodied, opulent, and voluptuous, with oodles of glycerin and depth, this hussy requires drinking during its first 7-8 years of life, although it may last even longer. 93pts Wine Advocate

Parson’s Flat Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Retail $44.99 Warehouse $34.99

Spain: Ribera del Duero can often seem like a Rioja on steroids. Ribera del Duero is home of famous wineries such as Vega Sicilia and Pesquera. There is a new guard coming into Ribera on these winery's coattails and are making a splash in the pool of highly sought after wines. Mariano Garcia who was the former winemaker of Vega Sicilia, and Javier Zaccagnini, former President of the governing body of the Ribera del Duero AOC met and decided to give birth to Aalto in 1998. The first wine from the estate was from the 1999 vintage.

The Aalto property has vines in three different sub-zones of Ribera del Duero with a total of 32 hectares (1ha=2.48 acres) scattered between Valladolid and Burgos. The parcels are planted to old clones of Tinto Fino. Aalto continues to buy exceptional parcels of old Tinto Fino, most recently a 10 hectare plot in Quemada of 60+ year old vines of exceptional quality. Some people believe that Tinto Fino is not far removed from Tempranillo, however many experts based in Ribera del Duero believe that there are significant differences between Tempranillo and Tinto Fino, particularly when you find old-vine Tinto Fino with over 50 years of age on it. As stated in my last blog, Spain is and continues to be ‘en fuego.’ Old vine Tinto Fino can make some serious wine.

The 2003 Aalto is a purple-colored wine offering a stylish nose of smoke, toast, graphite, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. On the palate it is medium to full-bodied, ripe, but slightly compact and the finish is firm. 92pts Wine Advocate

Aalto’Aalto’ Ribera del Duero 2003, Retail $54.99 Warehouse $39.99

France: Farmed organically,Vieux Telegraphe is one of the best known estates of the Southern Rhône. Vieux Télégraphe has 45 hectares of red grapevines planted, with an average age of around 55 years. Blessed with one of the finest locations in CDP, the mesoclimate enables the Bruniers to be able to harvest as much as a week ahead of their neighbours. Vieux Télégraphe's blend is a typical one in CDP, with Grenache accounting for around two thirds of the cuvee, with the remainder being made up of Syrah and Mourvèdre in roughly equal proportions, with a tiny bit of Cinsault thrown in for good measure.

Pure and silky, with raspberry, cocoa, truffle and mineral notes that glide along the fresh acidity. The long, silky finish lets the fruit and minerality hang nicely, with garrigue in the background. Should blossom in the cellar. Best from 2008 through 2025. 94pts Wine Spectator

Domaine Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape 2004, Retail $51.99 Warehouse $44.99

I send out a personal salute to all troops both past and present. We’ll be toasting them with a formidable red this weekend. Hope you have a nice Memorial Day. Cheers!