Last week we told you about some wines imitating the Northern Rhone style by adding a touch of Viognier . . .

This week we're offering an incredible value from the Southern Rhone's most prestigious area, Chateauneuf du Pape (check out the fat old grenache vines and stoney soil of Chateauneuf above!). Plus, some great deals on New World interpretations of the slightly spicy, elegant and rich style. Our quantities are limited, so don't delay!

2003 Domaine de la Charbonniere "Cuvee Mourre de Perdrix" SALE $25 (was $30)

Kermit Lynch, one of our wine world inspirations, has tasted a lot of Chateauneuf du Pape (which is the most prestigious of the Southern Rhone appellations). We grow envious reading his dispatches from his cottage near Bandol on the trevails of deciding what he should pull from his vast cellar to go with the fresh vegetables from his garden. Or when he has to taste back vintages of these amazing wines with the winemakers. It's a tough life for old Kermit.

So when he says something like, "2003 produced the best Chateauneufs I have ever tasted from Charbonniere," we tend to believe him.

 

The best Chateauneuf from Charbonniere for a mere $25? Believe us, this is a steal.

 

Huge, velvety and loaded with characteristic Chateauneuf flavors: cherry, blueberry, resiny pine notes, herbs de Provence, and a touch of pepper. It screams "autumn." If you've never had a Chateauneuf du Pape, here's the perfect chance. It's drinking beautifully now, but should be going strong for another 9 years or so.    

 

Why is C-d-P so unique and rocking? Well, the rocks for one: the "soil" is comprised of large stones called "galets" (see the picture at the top of this email) which stress the vines (stressed vines make more concentrated wines!) and also reflect sunlight back onto the vine. The typical grapes grown here are Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault & Mourvedre (though 13 varietals are legally permitted).

The Sincerest Form of Flattery . . .

is imitation. But unlike those who simply "mimick," these New World wines take Chateauneuf du Pape as their inspiration, but work their own style into the outfit. Kym Teusner, left, stands next to gnarly old bush vine Grenache in the Ebenezer district of Barossa, Australia. Yes, those crazy clumps produce grapes for making awesome wines.

2006 Teusner "Joshua"  SALE $20 (was $25)

 

The first vintage of this wine (2002) was only 175 cases. Winemakers (and brothers-in-law) Kym Teusner and Michael Page found an amazing backwoods vineyard of really old Grenache which was scheduled to be torn up because it wasn't producing enough fruit to sell to the "big guys." They gathered their resources, and luckily the small amount of grapes they could afford kept the vineyard from being dug up. They add some Shiraz and Mataro (aka Mourvedre) to round the blend out.

 

A fresh and lively fruit-driven wine produced sans oak.  The nose is rich with fresh summer berries and sweet spice amidst earthy forest floor aromas.  The medium-bodied palate reflects the nose with peppery spicy berry fruits and a long complex earthy finish.  Tannins are gently supportive without intruding. An extremely elegant offering from a country that's become perhaps too consumed with bluntly powerful wines.

 

2003 Foxen "Cuvee Jean Marie" SALE $15 (was $20)

 

"If you don't know Foxen, then you don't know Dick . . . or Bill." So goes the winery's slogan, which gives you some insight into the laid-back, slightly off-kilter attitude of co-owners Bill Wathen and Dick Doré. The wines, however, are totally serious: extremely elegant, yet powerful. Especially this one, their Rhone-style blend. We usually find wine's "open life" to be about 3 days . . . but this one was going strong 5 days later! And it got better each day. This goes to show what a long life in the cellar it has the potential for. If you'd rather not wait, we recommend decanting it (no fancy glass decanter required by the way: a regular old pitcher works too!). You'll find huge strains of red and black berry fruit amidst bacon and crisp woodsiness. The finesse is there amidst all the brawn. Barbeque or lamb would be a great pairing. 

Round the Globe Super Rhone Pack

Ready for super saver deal of the year? Here it is:

1 Teusner "Joshua" +

1 Domaine de la Charbonniere "Cuvee Mourre de Perdrix +

1 Foxen "Cuvee Jean Marie"

=

1 $50 Rhone Super Pack

If you bought these three wines, normally,it would be $75 plus tax.

This offer ends Wednesday October 31st unless we run out before then. This is an excellent chance to try these different interpretations of Southern Rhone blends. Have some friends come over, chip in and have a private tasting. Or be truly indulgent and keep them all to yourself!

  

More Amazing Specials

 

2004 Tour de la Roque

SALE $11 (was $15)

 

Château La Roque is one of the spearheads of Pic Saint Loup, the notorious and highly popular Coteaux du Languedoc Cru. Close to the Mediterranean coast and only 20 km from Montpellier, Château La Roque stretches on 80 hectares all in one block, of which 32 hectares are planted in vines. On clay and limestone scree, the south / south-east facing terraced vineyard forms an amphitheatre made of several distinct "clos" encircled by garrigue. The reds are produced from syrah, mourvedre and grenache.

 

This is makes us lust for southern France. Dark cherries, blackberry, a bit of tar, garrigue (wild provencial herbs), and lilac. This wine's medium-full body really is warming and comforting on these seemingly out of place fall days. Would be a magical pairing with lamb and roasted veggies but could easily get along with almost any "autumnal" cuisine. A red with character and complexity for $11. Why aren't there more of these?

 

2005 Fortitude Semillon SALE $9 (was $18)  

 

In recent years many California growers have ripped up quite a few "old vine" plantings to replace them with Pinot Noir, even if the region isn't quite right for the grape. Before the Pinot craze it was Merlot that was replacing everything. Many growers go along with whatever is in demand because it is the only way to survive. 

 

Fortitude is a project developed by the winemaking team at Etude, celebrating the hard work of independent family grape growers who focus on small blocks of what Etude Founder Tony Soter, winemaker Jon Priest, and viticulturist Franci Ashton call "endangered" varietals.

 

This bottle contains 100% Semillon from 25-year old vines grown in the Luvisi family vineyard near Calistoga in Napa Valley. Opening with aromas of honeysuckle, bee's wax, melon and golden delicious apple, this crisp, vibrant wine offers citrus and floral flavors in a refreshing, palate- awakening style, yet is more austere than most. Only 260 cases were produced, making this a very limited offer.

 

Reminder

To all those who signed up for the Champagne tasting on Tuesday Oct. 30th. It is from 5-7pm at Marché and you are welcome to come anytime during those hours. Robin Riddell from Michael Skurnik Wines will be there to answer any questions you might have about the wines. Please let us know if you cannot attend so we can make those spaces available to others. Thanks, see you there!