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Pairings for July 29 at McCauley Family Farm:

Sparkling

Domaine Thevenet et Fils, Blanc de Blancs Vin Mousseux de Qualite Brut, Burgundy, France $39

 

A family run winery, Domaine Thevenet et Fils is centered in the village of Pierreclos at the heart of the Macconais.  Jean Claude Thevenet inherited the family domaine, a mere 3 hectares, in 1971 and grew it to its current 30 hectare holdings.  Importer Neil Rosenthal has worked with the family since 1982 and has seen consistently impressive quality and purity throughout the years.  In 2008, Jean Claude passed away, unfortunately at the early age of 54, but his wife and three sons continue to uphold his legacy.

 

Often many consumers think of sparkling wine from France as only coming from Champagne, however, there are many delicious well-crafted sparkling wines from other well respected appellations in France.  Domaine Thevenet’s Blanc de Blancs is 100% Chardonnay crafted from 20 year old vine harvested from parcels in the village of Serrieres on the border with Pierreclos. The vineyards are west facing and planted to sandy soils.

 

A delicious, expressive, dry Chardonnay, the Blanc de Blancs possesses an attractive honeyed note for added richness but overall is a gorgeously fresh, sparkling Chardonnay presented in a light-bodied, delicate format.

Rosé

2016 Domaine de Reuilly, Pinot Gris Rose Reuilly, Loire Valley, France $33

 

To quote importer Kermit Lynch, “When tasting the wines of Denis Jamain, it’s clear the appellation of Reuilly, in the eastern Loire, is experiencing a renaissance, moving far beyond its former status as the ‘poor man’s Sancerre.’” An appellation ravaged by phylloxera in the late 19th century, it took a strong faith from growers like Camille Rousseau (Denis’s maternal grandfather) in order to rejuvenate Reuilly, thus keeping viticulture and winemaking alive in the region. Rousseau planted his first vines in 1935 in addition to farming a large oak forest on the outskirts of town, passions carried on by his grandson. Today, Denis farms seventeen hectares in Reuilly, eleven planted to Sauvignon Blanc, four planted to Pinot Noir, and the remaining two planted to Pinot Gris for his unique rose.

Certified Organic as of 2011, the vines are planted on highly coveted Kimmeridgian limestone soil (part of the geological chain that connects the Loire Valley to Chablis in Burgundy and valued for its high marine and shell fossil content dating back 150 million years ago), clay and gravel. Soil and farming techniques translate into the wine in a brilliant representation of terroir. In aging his Pinot Noir, Denis further embodies the aforementioned terroir through use of oak from his grandfather’s forest.

The 2016 Rose of Pinot Gris is a beautiful light, rosy pink, with a bouquet of tangerine, orange blossom, lemon, and pear with a distinct salinity and soft flinty note.  On the palate the wine is crisp with high mineral tones and a gentle finish. At the forefront is a medley of lime zest, citrus leaves, orange rind, grapefruit and white peach.

White

2016 Ingrid Groiss, Gemischter Satz, Austria $34

 

Ingrid Groiss is a young, vivacious female winemaker, living in the Weinviertel, the oldest wine-growing district in Austria. Her relationship with the Weinviertel runs deep, as her parents and grandmother owned vineyards for many years, making wine for their local country wine tavern, traditionally known as a Heuriger. It took Ingrid some time before returning to her roots and taking on the life of a winemaker, whereby she had to blaze her own trail within the family business. Wines of expressive terroir have come to symbolize Ingrid’s craft technique, and deservedly, a dedicated following has ensued. The indigenous vineyard hare, gracing her labels, is symbolic of her dedication to harmony with nature and her connection to this delightful creature that flourishes in her gardens.

The Dorflagen Gemischter Satz is a wine crafted from a single vineyard of 50 year old grapes vines planted to 17 different grape varietals ranging from well-known varieties, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gruner Veltliner, Pinot Blanc etc. to lesser-known, ancient varieties.  The combination of these 17 varietals creates an elegant, characterful and complex wine displaying a multi-layered bouquet of quince, yellow plum, peaches, citrus, and fresh herbs.  Similar fruit purity travels to the palate with a touch of apricot and generous mineral tones.

2016 Massican, 'Annia' White Blend, Napa Valley, California $56

 

Founded in 2009 by owner and winemaker Dan Petroski, Massican is an entirely white-wine-focused brand sourcing fruit from iconic Napa Valley vineyards and well as some fruit from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma.  Although Massican relies on fruit from California’s North Coast, the inspiration for the brand rests in the fresh, aromatic whites of north-eastern Italy.

 

Attracted to magazines from an early age, Petroski worked for Sports Illustrated and Time Magazines, and from there went on to business school.  Upon graduation, Petroski took a trip to Italy with a classmate and then returned a couple years later to make wine.  It was this year spent making wine in Italy that Petroski fell in love with the high-acid whites of the country. In addition, Since 2006 Petroski has also served as the winemaker for Larkmead Vineyards, one of north Napa Valley’s heritage wineries.

 

Massican’s core blend, ‘Annia’, recalls the classic white wine blends of Friuli, bringing together the Italian grapes of that region, 60% Ribolla Gialla and 31% Tocai Friulano, with 9% Chardonnay. Almond blossom and citrus blossom aromatics with a light note of salted lemon pull you to the palate which is delicate and lacy in its flavour presentation displaying a savoury evergreen note and persistent mineral length. The creamy wax mouthfeel with a tactile oak-tannin spice and texture is also accompanied by lovely stone fruits of baked apple and pear skin.

 

2013 Domaine Barou Condrieu, Rhone Valley, France $86

 

The concept of a self sustaining existence at Domaine Barou since its inception is of utmost importance, an ethos shared by McCauley Family Farm, making this wine an appropriate and exciting pairing for this evenings festivities. The Barou family farm was established in 1928 in a remote area of Drome in southeastern France. Their goal was to create a self-sustaining farm growing their own produce and raising animals. In later years they planted apricot and peach orchards, also beginning their pursuit of viticulture (the science, production, and study of grapes). In 1971, the farm was converted to organics and in 1997, third generation Emmanuel Barou, after studying viticulture and oenology in Orange and Avignon, shifted the family’s pursuits towards winemaking.

The domaine’s farming is exemplary, using their own compost, plowing as little as possible, and planting cover crops to maintain healthy well balanced soil. The one hectare vineyard in Condrieu is on a steep south facing granite slope with clay soil.

 

The wine is made entirely of Viognier showcasing aromatically complex and beautiful citrus and exotic fruits with spicy floral notes. The palate is perfectly balanced, lovely ripeness and gripping acidity. Unlike many Condrieu that have a dominating oak profile, this wine, elevage for 9 months, 30% new, whispers of its time spent in barrel. Instead lies a wine with honeyed perfume of peaches, tangerine, honeysuckle, jasmine and a velvety spice that lingers on the tongue.

Red

2015 Il Colle, Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy $39

 

The origins of Il Colle date no further than 1972, the true story of its inception remaining a bit of a mystery.  Founded by Alberto Carli with the help of the famous Tuscan Enologist Giulio Gambelli as his winemaker, Il Colle produced about 150-200 cases a year of Brunello di Montalcino and stored them in an underground cellar, never releasing them on the market. Apparently it wasn’t until Alberto was dying that he told his family about this secret wine they had been making for almost 20 years. His daughter Catarena took over the winery in 2001 and picked up where her father left off.   

 

One of the small jewels in Montalcino’s original growing area, Il Colle  was once a part of Conti Costanti’s Colle al Matrichese, a property that sits at a high altitude of 400-450 meters.  Yielding delicate wines, the fruit of these vineyards came to be blended with grapes from a more southern vineyard that the family purchased in 1998.

 

Often fondly referred to as a “baby Brunello”, Rosso di Montalcino is generally made from younger vines of the estate and aged in oak for a shorter period of time.  Il Colle Rosso di Montalcino is crafted from vines planted between 1970 and 1985 and aged for 2 years in Slovenian oak. A beautiful Sangiovese, this wine has aromas of fragrant blue flower, truffle, red berry and tilled earth. The vibrant palate doles out tart red cherry, orange peel, clove and a hint of game alongside racy acidity and polished tannins. A mineral note closes the finish. It has an enticing combination of earthiness and elegance.

 

2014 Domaine Jaeger-Defaix, Rully Clos du Chapitre 1er Cru, Burgundy, France $50

 

Domaine Jaeger-Defaix, located in southern Burgundy in the Cote Chalonnaise is the 4.5 hectare family estate of Hélène Jaeger-Defaix, wife of Didier Defaix (famous Chablis producer and winemaker at family estate Domaine Bernard Defaix). Brilliantly situated and organically farmed, most of the Jaeger-Defaix vineyards are classified as premier cru.  Hélène’s history in Burgundy runs deep as her great-grandfather, Henri Niepce, was instrumental in achieving and promoting Rully’s AOC status in the 1930’s.  2004 marked the first vintage under Hélène & Didier’s full control.

The 1 hectare monopole, Clos du Chapitre, surrounded by a stone wall behind the Defaix home in Rully, produces a charming, highly aromatic, textured wine.  100% Pinot Noir, the wine is aged in French oak barrels, 50% new, for 15 months.  The bouquet has very pleasant notes of orange zest, cherry, cranberry, tobacco leaf, light mushroom, roses and violets with a hint of dried leaves.  The palate is bright and delicately carries the earthy notes found on the nose.  

 

2014 A Tribute to Grace, Grenache Vie Caprice Vineyard, Santa Inez Valley, California $67

 

A Tribute to Grace Wine Company was started by a New Zealand born winemaker, Angela Osborne, in 2006 when she moved to California with a dream of making Grenache.  New Zealand’s climate, too cool to ripen the sun-loving grape, sent Angela on a search through Spain, southern France, southern Australia and eventually to California.  In 2007 she sourced her first Grenache fruit from the Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard nestled high above the Pacific Ocean and 33 miles inland.   All of the wines are single vineyard sourced to maintain authenticity and remain 100% Grenache.

The Vie Caprice Vineyard is planted in the Santa Inez Valley to the Alban Grenache Clone. This vineyard produces a wine of amazing depth and purity with notes of boysenberry, choke cherry, anise and fennel.  This is a beautiful, delicate, high-toned wine.

Catherine Walker 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.

The deadline for purchasing wine for the McCauley Family Farm Dinner is 8 PM on Friday, July 28.

© 2024 by Meadow Lark Farm Dinners.

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