White

 

Ingrid Groiss 2013 Gemischter-Satz—Passionate, emotional, and determined are three words that Ingrid chooses to describe herself when it comes to wine making. While going to school and pursuing other interests, she realized where her heart truly lie, and decided to carry on the family tradition of making fine wine. While not certified organic or biodynamic, she finds great importance in sustainable cultivation and preserving the natural environment through conscious land use. Gemischter-Satz translates to "mixed set", and is a designation used in Austria to indicate a field blend of many different grape varietals. Here we see 17 different grapes(Chardonnay, Müller Thurgau, Welschriesling, Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Grauburgunder, Pinot Blanc, Malvasier, Neuburger, Zierfandler, Rotgipfler, Sämling, Roter Veltliner, Grauer Vöslauer, Hietl Rote, Weiße Vöslauer, and Silberweiße) whose vines average 50 years of age, producing a deep and complex wine. On the nose look for complex, ripe aromas of quince, yellow plum, citrus, tree fruit, and mineral. Find the same pure and lively fruit on the palate with a touch of apricot and a long and bright finish. $31.98

 

Jolie-Laide 2014 Trousseau Gris—Jolie-Laide literally translates to ‘pretty ugly’ but is more a euphemism to refer to something with unconventional beauty. Winemaker Scott Schultz of Jolie-Laide Wines is one of the small craft winemakers in California working hard to express the beauty of what many consider ‘unconventional grapes’. Scott hails from Chicago and moved to Napa in 2007. Having worked in restaurants for a while, he’s been on most sides of the service-life from working the restaurant floor to sweating in the kitchen. When he moved to Napa, it was to head up the wine program at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon. After years of restaurant work, Scott decided to get more into the winemaking side of things. He volunteered to work a harvest and loved it! He worked at Realm for a few years as cellar master and currently works with Pax Mahle at Wine Gap Wines. He shares winemaking space with Wind Gap, Ryme Cellars, and formerly Arnot-Roberts; all like-minded winemakers searching for beauty in the unconventional. Scott is sourcing grapes from unique vineyard sites all organically or sustainably-farmed. His goal is to highlight these unique sites, producing wines in lighter and fresher styles that are made with very minimal intervention. His wines, and thus the labels, change slightly each year, “like album covers,” as Scott says. Trousseau Gris is a rare variety that had once thrived in California viticulture. It has since been pushed to near extinction, save a few old vines like the near 40 year old planting at Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard. An amazing sight, the Trousseau Gris clusters ripen to a rainbow of all shades pink and purple that is uniquely all its own. The grapes are foot treaded and left on the skins whole cluster for about a week. Usually we would call this a cold soak, but this pushes beyond, just teasing into fermentation. Extending the time on the skins further to maximize extraction while still in its aqueous state. Then pressed, fermented and aged in neutral puncheon and barrel for 6 months. The skins lend a visual touch of their peachy color but more importantly texture, phenolics and aromatic complexity. A veritable high wire act, light and pretty, wildly floral yet savory with a visceral depth. It may not fit into a conventional category, making it seem a bit unfamiliar at first but continues to surprise and delight. A heady blend of pomelo, summer melon, stone fruit, mustard flower, tea and sweet earth all weave with finessed length and elegant palate presence. $42.98

 

Terčič 2011 Matijaz Ribolla Gialla—The Terčič winery is located in San Floriano del Collio, on the border with Slovenia, in the easternmost area of northern Italy.  With a commitment to biodynamic agriculture, this estate is another leader in the region in growing both indigenous grapes and some international varieties.  After an overnight maceration, the juice is moved into stainless steel and fermented at cooler temperatures to preserve the perfumy aromatics of the grape.  Look for a deep golden color, with ripe peach, lemon custard, and yellow cherries on the nose and in the rich, weighty palate.  Underneath it all lurks the signature Ribolla acidity, making this an excellent food wine. $51.98

 

 

Red

 

Regis Bouvier 2014 Bourgogne Rouge—Régis Bouvier in Marsannay achieves a rare hat trick in Burgundy, the mastering of all three colors–red, white and rosé, through reasonable yields and high quality terroirs. Bouvier makes the best Burgundian rosé that we have ever tasted, his whites are delicious, with their own particular character completely unlike other Chardonnays from Burgundy, and his reds are his crowning achievement, managing to be wild and exciting while refined and elegant at the same time. On the nose find soft aromas of tart cherry, raspberry, and a touch of earthiness and minerality.  These continue to the light to medium bodied palate, where this wine offers the great charm of Burgundy at a relatively modest price. $28.98

 

F. X. Barc 2010 Bourgueil 'Les Collis’—François Xavier Barc used to be the winemaker at the prestigious Domaine Charles Joguet. In 2010, he had the opportunity to start out on his own and was able to use contacts he'd made to source the finest fruits from many single vineyard parcels throughout the central Loire valley. He currently produces wines from appellations including Saint-Nicholas de Bourgueil and Montlouis-sur-Loire. The grapes for this wine are sourced from a single vineyard and are grown on clay and gravel soil. This 100% Cabernet Franc is spicy, with red fruit, blackberry, and a lush, velvety tannin finish. $33.98

 

Occhipinti 2014 SP68 Rosso—Arianna Occhipinti is one of the leaders of the natural wine making movement. Vineyards are cultivated organically, fermentation occurs only with indigenous yeasts, long periods of skin contact are used, and only minimal doses of sulfur are added along the way. What this makes for in the end is a fun, individualistic, interesting, and most of all delicious bottle of wine! Made from the Frappato and Nero d'Avola grapes, this wine sees a very similar treatment to her higher end bottlings. The main difference is that the vines are a bit younger, the maceration period shorter (30 vs. 50 days), and aging occurs in stainless steel rather than large oak barrels. On the nose look for fine and soft fruit- ripe cherry and raspberry, wet stone, and red flowers. The palate continues with red fruit and a floral character. A light texture and high acidity make this a great food wine. Like many of my favorites, this wine speaks of both a place and bears the mark of the maker: it is distinctively both Sicily and Occhipinti. $43.98

 

 

Andy Rose of the Boulder Wine Merchant has chosen wines to accompany our menu. There is more than one wine available for each course to allow you to choose the wine or wines that best suit your taste and budget. These wines are available for purchase from the Boulder Wine Merchant, and will be delivered to you at the table. Wine purchases are limited to one bottle per guest in the party. A small delivery and handling fee has been added to the retail price of the bottle. 

 

For insurance reasons, guests may not bring their own alcoholic beverages to a farm dinner.