Beer

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Blackberry Farm Brett Fruit Blend $21

 

Blackberry Farm is known for its top quality experiences and this beer is consistent with that effort.  Nestled in the hills of the Smokey Mountain Range outside of Knoxville, Tennessee, it was Sam Beall’s dream to produce world-class Farmhouse Ales from local and natural ingredients.  Sadly, the hospitality world tragically lost Sam in February 2016, but his legacy and spirit continues on with his many projects. This beer is testimony to his pursuit of excellence.  

 

A golden farmhouse ale fermented with brettanomyces and aged in French oak red wine barrels. The addition of pineapple and mango during fermentation lend pleasant notes of bright citrus fruit that complement the slightly tart, earthy, and complex flavors of the base beer. (750mL)

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Sparkling

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NV Patrick Bottex ‘La Cueille’ Bugey-Cerdon Méthode Ancestrale $42

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Bugey is one of the best-kept secrets in France.  It is the geographical crossroads of the Savoie, Jura, Burgundy, and the Rhône.  The region and winemaking go back to Roman times, but it was only in 2009 when the appellation was first awarded AOC status.  Cerdon is one of three crus within the appellation of Bugey and is the only one whose entire production is sparkling wine.  La Cueille is one of seven villages surrounding the medieval town of Ponsin.  Patrick and Catherine Bottex have been working five hectares of land here since 1991 and only produce a few hundred cases of wine.  The Bottex blend is generally 90% Gamay, with 10% Poulsard.  It is made using Méthode Ancestrale, a rare technique that predates Méthode Champenoise.  The wine goes through primary fermentation and is then bottled before all of the residual sugar is converted to alcohol.  There is no dosage and the resulting wine is refreshing, bright, sparkling, and pink, with a touch of sweetness balanced by acidity depending on the vintage.

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White

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2015 Ca' del Baio, Langhe Riesling, Piedmont, Italy $32

 

For four generations Ca’ del Baio has been a family affair, as is the tradition in the Langhe. Nurtured and passed down from father to son, the vineyards surrounding the Grasso family farmhouse have been added to over time through marriage and acquisitions. Today it is Giulio and Luciana who, together with their daughters Paola, Valentina and Federica, handle all the various areas of the business with passion and expertise, from the growing and vinification of the grapes, to hospitality and wine sales. For the Grasso family, simplicity, a sense of sacrifice and the deep attachment they have to their land are prerequisites for guaranteeing wines of quality. Today the Ca’ del Baio estate is comprised of 25 hectares of vineyards in the villages of Barbaresco and Treiso, both of which are in the Barbaresco winegrowing area. All estate-grown, their wines are made from a range of highly valued varieties, some typical of the area while others are more international: the whites include Moscato, Chardonnay and Riesling, and the reds Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto.

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Produced for the first time in Ca’ del Baio’s history (vineyards were planted in 2009), the Langhe Riesling is grown on the coolest and breeziest slopes.  Dry, minerally and with lots of acidity on the palate, this wine is a delicious expression of Riesling in Italy.  Pineapple, mango and white spring flowers accented by a hint of honey and beeswax on the nose bring you to a palate that is nervy and fresh with ripe pear, white pepper, clove and a delicate honey note.  A wine not to be missed!

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2016 Luigi Baudana, 'Dragon' Langhe Bianco, Piemonte, Italy $32

 

Luigi Baudana is the last scion of one of the oldest wine families of Serralunga d’Alba. His winery has been a secret for a bunch of fortunate wine lovers for over thirty years, producing a limited amount of Barolo and other wines. In 2003, Luigi and wife Fiorina started to look for a future for their estate. Through long-time family friends of Aldo Vajra they found his son, Giuseppe Vajra. The enthusiasm, energy and will to preserve the past history and prolong the future of this beautiful little jewel was what Luigi was searching for. Giuseppe considers himself il guardiano (the guardian) of this century-long running winery, and started operations with the 2008 vintage in the Baudana cellar. Farming is sustainable and takes advantage of organic and biodynamic practices; no chemical manipulation occurs to the wines.

 

The 2016 Luigi Baudana ‘Dragon’ is a blend of varieties, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Nascetta and a tiny amount of Riesling. Luigi Baudana planted Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc in the coolest of his Cerretta blocks in the mid 1980s initially to see which one grew best and decided to keep both.

 

This wine is quite dry and perfect to savour with food, but intriguing and refreshing enough to drink before, or even after, a meal. Dry perfumes of stone, flowers and summery grass move to a slightly savoury taste on the palate. The touches of Riesling and Nascetta add to an extra hint of elegance, giving it a long refreshing finish.
 

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 Cure Organic 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.

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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.

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Red

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2014 Bellus, Scopello Frappato, Sicily $37

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Bellus Wines, founded by Jordan Salcito (then sommelier at Eleven Madison Park; now Beverage Director at Momofuku) is a socially and environmentally conscious wine company that makes organically grown, terroir driven wines in collaboration with partner wineries around the globe.

 

Often featured at the Boulder Wine Merchant, Jordan’s wines are of superb quality and outstanding value.

 

The 2014 Scopello (a name that references rock formations off the coast) is made from 100% Frappato grapes grown organically in Vittoria, in southern Sicily. In addition to being a delicious representation of Frappato, a percentage of Scopello proceeds are donated to Nomogaia, an NGO that pushes multi-national corporations to respect human rights.

 

Bellus Frappato is a complex, mineral driven, bright red wine whose palate is rife with cherry, fresh strawberry, dried rose petals, fresh herbs and limestone.

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2016 Domaine des Roches Neuves, Saumur Champigny, Loire Valley, France $45

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Owned by Thierry Germain, Domaine des Roches Neuves, is a benchmark producer in the tiny winemaking region of Saumur-Champigny.  Situated on the left bank of the Loire, between Angers and Tours, Saumur is a historic city dominated by one of the most famous castles in France.  The castle, like many of the great Chateaux of the Loire Valley, is built with the same tuffeau limestone that underlies the great vineyards of the region.

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Trained originally in Bordeaux, Thierry has brought his knowledge and familiarity with Cabernet Franc to what is arguably some of the most suitable terroir in the world for this delicious grape. The special combination of clay, limestone, flint, and alluvial soils in Saumur Champigny helps to produce wines with power, elegance and purity.  Vineyards are farmed 100% biodynamically and the wine is produced from 4 to 70 year old vines.  The wine is 100% destemmed, fermentation occurs using indigenous yeasts and it is aged in stainless steel and wood tanks on its lees with no sulphur additions for 3 to 4 months.

 

A little juicier than the previous vintage but with present, balanced tannins and acidity, this delicious red has notes of strawberry, plum, sweet pepper, black cherry and touch of dried oregano and gravelly minerality.  

 

2014 Lafarge-Vial, Fleurie Clos Vernay, Beaujolais, France $82

 

Lafarge, biodynamics, Gamay, granite – for some a match made in heaven.  As if managing the Lafarge family’s iconic domaine in Volnay wasn’t enough, Frédéric and Chantal Lafarge decided in spring 2014 to embark on a new adventure a little further south. Still Burgundy but a new sector, a new grape variety and the inspiring Beaujolais Cru terroirs that come with it. What’s perhaps most beautiful about the new project is that the couple really wanted to invest in something together that would be entirely their own creation. This equal partnership is reflected in the inclusion of both of their names for the domaine’s title and on the label (Vial is Chantal’s maiden name).

 

The couple kicked off their venture by purchasing 2.25 hectares and winemaking facility in 2014. For this first vintage, they produced three cuvées – Chiroubles, Fleurie Bel Air and Fleurie Clos Vernay. In true Lafarge fashion, each one reflects its individual and specific vineyard origin. Frédéric and Chantal immediately began working all acquired vineyards biodynamically, with the same intention and detailed observation as for their Côte d’Or vineyards.

 

This is the Gamay grape at the peak of its powers; incredibly sensual and aromatic, yet deep and rich and lusciously textured. An intensely perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red berries, cherry pit, potpourri and spicecake conveying a smoky mineral topnote. Concentrated yet lithe, the notes on the nose continue to the palate.