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The most prestigious Loire wine in the world,
never released until 10 years after the vintage date. Produced only in excellent years and
then from grapes that are 20% harvested early for acidity and 80% vendange
tardive for body. These wines have
no botrytized grapes. We are the
first US importer in 12 years to earn the right to purchase Moulin
Touchais.
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We have a few cases of each of these that we
captured from a negociant that had bought them years ago & forgotten
about them. The 69 Plaisance was tasted in May 2000
& offered a very mature, fully integrated acidity with desiccated
peaches, almonds, and bitters.
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You will be impressed by the quality price
ratio of these wines. The Arnoux
brothers own 30 hectare in Vacqueyras and 3 hectare in Gigondas. The remainder of their wines are made
from grapes purchased on long term contracts and followed by their own
winemakers. They are never made
from purchased must or wine from
other producers. By keeping yields
low and hand harvesting their Lauris Cotes du Rhone, Vacqueyras, Gigondas,
and Chateauneuf by hand, they produce some of the best wines in the Rhone
Valley. None of their wines are
made by maceration carbonique.
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The red is fantastic, classic Bandol that is
95% Mouvedre, 5% Grenache & Syrah.
It is deep and rich, aged (as the law prescribes as mandatory) in
very large 35 hectoliter wood foudres that used to be Russian beer
fermentation vats for 18 months.
Super dark purple color, loads of glycerin- the nose of Bing
cherries, cassis, and plum fruit carries through the palate and to a very
long finish. Compare to Pradeaux or
Tempier for similar high quality at fraction of the price.
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Guy Saget is a large land owner with 5
domaines throughout the Loire Valley.
Their headquarters are in Pouilly where they have vineyards adjacent
to Daganeau and La Doucette. Right
now we have chosen a few wines from their vast portfolio. The Touraine
Sauvignon 3 Saisons is fragrant and rich with
loads of body and balanced acidity.
The great value of the Touraine has landed it on some of the best
house pour lists in Houston.
Although technically a negociant bottling, the grapes come from
Saget's Domaine Artois outside of Tours and is well crafted. The Montlouis ( a mirror image of Vouvray across the river also made from
Chenin) is from Saget's own property in the lieu dit Les Hauts Boulay. Off-dry and loaded with minerals, the
Montlouis is perfectly balanced and a great compliment to spicy food.
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One of the finest estates in Sancerre, a four
**** producer in Robert Parker.
Jean Max is devoted to the expression of terroir and vinifies each
of his lieu dits separately. He
owns parcels in Le Chen Marchand, Clos Derveau, & Grand Chemarin that
consist primarily of caillottes (limestone rocks). The vineyards in Venoize and Champtin
are higher in elevation and are kimmeridgian marl (tiny shells from the
Jurassic era). From these we choose
the best cuvee to offer each year.
His Sancerre Blanc ranks among the very best and the Menatou offers
similar terroir at a reasonable price.
The Menatou Salon comes from a 4 hectare plot in the commune of Morogues in the lieu dit of Le Petit Clos. It is 100% Sauvignon Blanc on 41B rootstock on a southeast facing slope of Kimmeridgian marl. The Sancerre rouge is 100% Pinot Noir and is very similar to Volnay or Santenay in terms of color and depth. A fantastic pinot noir value, as this wine offers loads of fruit comparable to village or better Burgundy at a much lower price. The terroir of the caillottes soil is present in the mid-palate complexity of the Sancerre Rouge. |
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As the Wine Spectator & Decanter have
mentioned over and over, Paul Blanck produces some of the very finest wines
in all of Alsace. This is a
prestigious and world renown estate.
As the owners of great parcels in four different Grand Crus and 3
other lieux dits in addition to unclassified Alsace totaling 45 hectare,
they have the terroir. What makes the
difference is their commitment to quality and on-site attention. This is another family domain that fits
our company profile like Arnoux, Saget, Roger, Coron, etc...
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Located in the heart of
Marca Trevigiana, due north of Venice, the historic estate of Venegazzu
produces some of the most famous red wines in northern Italy. Their fame derives from the production
of the Capo di Stato, a blend of Bordeaux varietals (Cab, Cab Franc, Merlot
& Malbec) that was mistaken by Charles De Gaulle as a great St. Emilion
at a state dinner. It has been
classified as one of the greatest wines in the world and recognized by its
unique label that carries no words.
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Produced from Prosecco grapes in a 20 year
old vineyard. Apple, peach, &
pineapple meet in the nose & mouth.
Very fresh, with a persistent mousse & clean finish. Nice Value. 83
Wine Spectator 6-15-00
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Beautiful & clean Cabernet that exhibits
real fruit because it is not aged in oak.
Nice balance, with a herbaceous note of tobacco that is soon
smothered by blackberries and pepper in the nose. Light wine with a soft finish and stylishly long.
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Bordeaux blend of Cab 60%, Cab Franc 25%,
Malbec 5% & Merlot 10%.
Aged in French oak for 24 months. Aromatic, with hints of cassis, cherry, & oak. An interesting wine, both soft and tannic, that is made from the young vines that would otherwise go into the Capo di Stato. |
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Vinho Verde is one of our most popular wines
because the Texas summers demand
wine just like it-- refreshing, low in alcohol, slightly petilant,
& very inexpensive. We have
tasted everything else on the market and pased on most of them. Santola and Messias are almost
identical, offering loads of tropical fruit on the nose and palate, good
balance, and an attractive price.
Because we have them bottled on demand right before shipping, they
are always fresh and ready to drink.
We think you'll find we offer the finest Vinho Verde available in
Texas.
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These wines represent the best value from
Spain that we have found. Produced
from Tempranillo (called Cencibel in Valdepenas) with a touch of Garnacha,
the wines from Los Llanos provide the flavor and depth of Rioja at a
fraction of the price. Because of
the hot weather on the plateau that separates DO Valdepenas from DO La
Mancha, yields from these vines are very low (25 hectoliters per hectare). Wine from Valdepenas matures earlier
than Rioja because the calcareous clay soil here produces wines with less
corresponding acidity. Therefore
the wines are aged less in barrel and are mature earlier while providing
similar pleasure in the mouth.
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The wines of Chateau Kefraya are famous
throughout the world and have earned the attention of Robert Parker, among
others. They are very well made and
serious wines fit for great wine shops and restaurants. Do not dismiss them as an odd
appellation as they constitute the finest wines from a region with a rich
wine history. The reds are full of
character, spicy blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cinsault, Carrignan,
& Grenache.
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