Pairings for July 9 at Munson Farm:
Beer
Brasserie Dupont Foret Saison $14.98
Brewed by Brasserie Dupont (one of the oldest breweries in Belgium), the Foret Saison was the first 100% certified organic beer to be produced in Belgium. The beer is crafted with organically cultivated hops and barley as well as filtered artisan well water, providing the beer with a distinct and unique mineral quality.
A light bodied, refreshingly smooth beer with a bold malt flavor, Foret Saison has distinct aromas of bread, clove and pepper, finishing with a dry herbal note and complex fresh citrus flavor.
Rosé
2015 Domaine d’Aupilhac ‘Lou Maset’ Rose, Languedoc, France $25.98
Located in the village of Montpeyroux in the Languedoc region of southern France, the eighteen hectare, Domaine d’Aupilhac has been farmed by the Fadats family since the nineteenth century with the vineyards dating even further back in time to the Romans. In 1989, Sylvain Fadat took over the estate and the process of converting the property to organics whereby he is fully credited with the wines we are fortunate enough to enjoy today.
Aupilhac is very a special parcel of land, sitting at a high altitude of 1,200 feet above sea level with southwest sun exposure, nestled below the ruins of the village’s chateau. The ‘Lou Maset’ Rose is comprised of Grenache, Cinsault, Mouvedre and Carignan, 8-15 year old vines, grown on limestone, clay, and blue marl with fossil deposits.
The rose is crafted using the saignée method, a technique capable of producing some of the longest lasting rose wines. Actually a by-product of red winemaking, 10% of the juice during red wine fermentation is bled off and the leftover bled wine or “Saignée” (Saigner meaning “to bleed” in French) is then fermented into rose. Wines made from this method are typically much darker than maceration method wines and more savory.
The 2015 ‘Lou Maset’ is a medium bodied, fleshy, generously textured rose overflowing with aromas of current and spice with strawberries, raspberries and savory herbaceous notes on the palate.
White
2013 Francois Cazin, Cour-Cheverny Blanc, Loire Valley, France $25.98
One of the most recently promoted appellations within the Loire Valley (1993), Cour-Cheverny produces wines exclusively made from the rare and ancient varietal Romorantin. The only place in the world where Romorantin is grown, Cour-Cheverny AOC covers a mere 48 hectares located southeast of Blois and southwest of Orleans. Naturally high in acidity and often reflecting the minerally soil in which it is grown, the Romorantin vines used to make this wine are 40 years old with one 80 year old parcel, grown on siliceous clay and limestone. Following fermentation in concrete tanks, the wine is aged on the lees for 4 months in barrel and then aged 12 more months in concrete tanks.
Slightly reminiscent of Loire Chenin Blanc and Burgundian Chardonnay, this wine offers delicate dried floral aromas, tinged with hints of hazelnuts and apricots, scents of green apple, a touch of wet wool, lime peel, wet stones and beeswax. The palate has a textured creaminess with notes of peach and apricot and finishes with a firm and crisp minerality and appley acidity.
2015 Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko, Santorini, Greece $38.98
Paris Sigalas began Domaine Sigalas out of his home in 1991. Widely considered to be the top producer in Santorini, Sigalas masterfully crafts wines that are bewitching in their expression of terroir and minerality. Furthermore, Sigalas is a pioneer in organic viticulture and universally praised for his skill with Assyrtiko, a white varietal indigenous to Santorini.
The island of Santorini has one of the most unique terroirs in the world formed in part by one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in human history. Around 1600 BC, a massive volcanic eruption took place on the island creating a tidal wave of magma claiming the lives of millions around the Mediterranean crescent. Thought to be the most powerful volcanic event in the last 10,000 years, the eruption is estimated to have been fifty thousand times as powerful as the Hiroshima bomb. As a result, the soil of Santorini, known as aspa, is comprised of pumice stone, volcanic ash, lava rocks, and sand. The high content of sand found in the soil makes Santorini one of the rare winemaking areas in the world not attacked by phylloxera allowing the vines to retain their original rootstock. Strong winds and persistent sun are another characteristic of the terroir of Santorini and in order to protect the grapes, vines are trained in low basket shapes called “ampelies” locally forming a unique pruning system.
Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko is straw blond in color with light shades of green and a delicate nose bursting with citrus fruit and white blossoms. Excellent depth of flavor and acidity, the wine is fresh and light with high mineral tones characteristic of grape and place.
2013 Nigl, Grüner Veltliner ‘Rehberger Zwetl’, Kremstal, Austria $49.98
While the Nigl family has been farming in Kremstal, Austria for over 200 years, Martin Nigl is a first generation winemaker. Nigl convinced his family in 1985 to keep the fruit from their twenty-five hectare vineyard rather than sell to a local co-op.
As importer Therry Thiese writes, “Weingut Nigl, tucked deep in the Krems Valley on the edge of the Senftenberg Mountain, often evokes feelings that one has traveled back to medieval times; the wines Martin Nigl creates are as ethereal as the vine lands that they come from.” Soil layered with gneiss and the cooling influence of the forested mountains surrounding the valley, create wines of amazing depth and spiciness.
Martin practices sustainable farming, never using herbicides or insecticides, and plants cover crops of herbs and legumes to naturally maintain soil vitality. In addition, he does not de-stem the grapes before pressing, uses only native yeast during fermentation, and never fines before bottling. As a result, his wines have beautiful texture and a lingering finish.
With classic aromas of yellow apple, citrus zest, white pepper, and snap pea, this wine is the perfect complement to spring greenery. On the palate, this wine offers notes of herb pesto, spicy arugula, sprouts, honeydew melon, green pear, and white peach.
Red
2014 Azienda Agricola Le Ragnaie, Toscana Rosso, Tuscany, Italy $32.98
Nestled a top the hills of Tuscany alongside the historical village of Montalcino (one of the oldest winemaking zones in the area), Azienda Agricola Le Ragnaie is located in the midst of the famous Brunello wine region. A rich history, Le Ragnaie dates back to the 1700’s when early settlers were using the land to hunt and plant crops. Spread across 17 hectares, the vines of the Le Ragnaie estate are amongst the highest in Montalcino with some reaching above the DOCG mandated 1,960 feet above sea level. Vineyards are farmed organically, grapes handpicked, de-stemmed, fermented and then aged in large Slovenian oak cask.
The Toscana Rosso is crafted of 100% Sangiovese, vines averaging 29 years old, aged 8 months in neutral Slovenian oak cask. The wine has beautiful bright notes of red cherry, red current, light potpourri and clove. A charming, aromatic and high-toned wine, the Toscana Rosso will pair perfectly with fresh cuisine.
2014 Bellus, Scopello Frappato, Sicily $36.98
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.
2013 Domaine Jaeger-Defaix, Rully Clos du Chapitre Premier Cru, Burgundy France $46.98
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.
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.