Pairings for June 10 at Red Wagon Organic Farm:
Sparkling
NV Catherine and Pierre Breton, Vouvray Brut 'La Dilettante', Loire Valley, France $38
Catherine and Pierre Breton are a passionate and talented husband and wife team, farming 11 hectares of vines since 1982 just east of Bourgueil in the village of Restigné in the Loire Valley. The property was certified organic in 1991 and in 1994, Catherine and Pierre began converting the property to biodynamics. The Bretons farm vineyards on varied soil types, including gravel, limestone, clay, schist, and yellow tuffeau. Their wines are made primarily from Cabernet Franc (known in the Loire, curiously, as “Breton”) with small quantities of Chenin Blanc for their Vouvray. Though Pierre is the principal cellar master, Catherine makes a series of cuvées under the label “La Dilettante,” or the Dabbler.
‘La Dilettante’ sparkling Vouvray is crafted from 40 year old Chenin Blanc vines grown on clay and limestone soil. Made using the Traditional Method (the same method known as Methode Champenoise in Champagne whereby secondary fermentation takes place in the bottle), this non-vintage sparkling has lively, delicate bubbles and fresh notes of pear and apple with nutty undertones and a light touch of honeysuckle.
Rosé
2016 Il Poggione, 'Brancato’ Rosato, Tuscany, Italy $26
One of the original three Italian wine producers of Brunello di Montalcino, Tenuta Il Poggione was founded in the late 1800’s by Lavinio Franceschi, a man whose dedication, to the land, and the Sangiovese grape, is still admired today. One of Montalcino’s largest wineries, Tenuta Il Poggione covers an area of 600 hectares, 125 planted under vine, 70 planted to olive trees and the rest open space and woods.
‘Brancato’ Rosato (Rosé in Italian) is one of the newest wines from Il Poggione crafted from 100% Sangiovese. It is crisp and fresh on the palate with a pleasant roundness that pairs perfectly with fresh produce. A delicate floral and red berry bouquet brings you to a palate full of red cherry, citrus, raspberry, strawberry and spice.
White
2014 Domaine Pellé, Menetou-Salon 'Morogues', Loire Valley, France $34
Domaine Pellé is a fourth generation estate run by the talented and hard-working Paul-Henry Pellé. Founded in the 1950’s, Domaine Pellé is comprised of 40 hectares of vines situated almost exclusively in and around the village of Morogues in the appellation of Menetou-Salon. Menetou-Salon living in the shadows of the region’s most popular wine, Sancerre, was officially given AOC status in 1958 some 22 years after Sancerre. Today it comprises 600 hectares of vines, likewise planted to Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, making it only one-fifth the size of Sancerre. An underrated appellation making beautiful, expressive wines, Menetou-Salon and more specifically the wines from the village of Morogues (90% of the village is made up of the famous Kimmeridgian limestone soil) are delicious expressions of Sauvignon Blanc.
2014 Domaine Pellé, Menetou-Salon 'Morogues’ is made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc sourced from 7 different hillside vineyards where the majority of the fruit is fermented in tank and a small portion in wood. Aged for 11 months in a combination of 70% wood and 30% stainless steel tanks, this wine displays zesty citrus and mineral tones perfect for farm fresh greens.
2013 Ronco delle Betulle, Bianco 'Vanessa', Friuli, Italy $42
Founded in 1967 by the Adami family, Ronco delle Betulle is a leading wine producer in the Eastern hills of Friuli. The estate spans approximately 17 hectares in the DOCG Rosazzo very close to the Slovenian border.
A blend of at least 50% Pinot Bianco with the remainder made up of Friulano and Ribolla Gialla, this wine has a floral, fruity aroma highlighted by notes of bread crusts and aromatic herbs. Partial ageing in oak barrels for Pinot Bianco and Friulano gives this wine an elegant smooth texture. White nectarine, pear and citrus abound on the palate.
2013 Louis Bovard, Chasselas 'Cuvee Noe', Aigle, Switzerland $65
Domaine Louis Bovard is a 10th generation estate located in the town of Cully on the north bank of Lac Léman. The Rhône River, heading upstream and just past the border between France and Switzerland, widens and redirects itself in a great arc forming Lac Léman. The Cistercian monks, famous for being the first to recognize the potential of the terroir of Burgundy, were also the early pioneers of grape growing in this part of Switzerland known as the Lavaux. Proponents of the indigenous grape Chasselas, Domaine Bovard tends a conservatory of Chasselas vines in order to preserve the biodiversity of the Chasselas grape as well as better understand how different selections express themselves in the various terroirs they farm. In addition to Chasselas, the estate grows Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah. Farmed sustainably with some biodynamic practices, the steep vineyards are worked by hand and harvests are assisted by mechanical lifts that transport small crates of freshly harvested grapes to the top of the slope, a process very similar to what takes place in the Mosel region of Germany.
In the village of Aigle, Louis Bovard grows Chasselas on steep terraces with a southwestern exposure on gravelly limestone soils. Here the climate is cooler and more exposed than the more gentle sites in Lavaux resulting in a crisper and more linear version of Chasselas. It is fermented in foudre and aged 8-10 months before release. The wine has aromas of wet rock, citrus and subtle herbs that transfer to the palate as well as a light waxy, resinous character and a note of raw honey.
Red
2013 Riofavara, Nero D'Avola 'Spaccaforno', Eloro, Sicily $34
Located on the southern tip of the island of Sicily, the Riofavara estate is owned by the Padova family. The Padovas have tended vines in Sicily for almost a century, but it was not until 1993 that they began to bottle their own wine. A few years later, Massimo Padova took over the estate along with his sister Marianta, their cousin Antonella, and Massimo’s wife, Margherita. This energetic young team has worked tirelessly over the last dozen years to build a new winery and fine tune production techniques, resulting in wines with an impeccable expression of the terroir. Riofavara is located in the Noto Valley, just a few minutes down the road from the town that gave Nero d’Avola its name, and was the first producer to dignify this grape with the use of its own indigenous yeasts. The Estate is also certified organic.
‘Spaccaforno’ is crafted from 30 year old Nero D’Avola vines grown on limestone soil in the Eloro DOC. A deep ruby-colored wine with a gorgeous nose of ripe cherries, black plums, sweet spices and dried flowers, this wine has lush fruit, mineral driven acidity, great structure, and present but well-integrated tannins.
2014 Cantine del Notaio, Aglianico 'L'Atto', Basilicata, Italy $41
Cantine del Notaio is a Demeter certified Biodynamic estate located in the rugged volcanic hills of Mount Vulture in Basilicata, a region in southern Italy mostly comprised of forests and mountains. Owned by Gerardo Giuratabocchetti and his wife Marcella, Cantine del Notaio has been passed down through generations. Gerardo and Marcella share a particular passion, inspired by their family before them, for cultivating Aglianico.
The 2014 l’Atto Aglianico has a savory perfume of red and black forest berries, botanical herbs and sweet spices. On the palate there are notes of rich red cherry and spiced plum with a hint of cedar and quinine. It is robust and well structured with layered complexity and hearty tannins.
2012 Keep Wines, Syrah Kahn Vineyard, Napa Valley, California $59
Winemakers Jack Roberts (Matthiasson Wines Assistant Winemaker) and Johanna Jensen (formerly with Scholium Project and Broc Cellars) have come together to create wines influenced by the old world with less ripe fruit, minimal manipulation and great ageability. In the vigneron tradition, they do much of the work themselves from vineyard to bottling.
2012 Keep Syrah is from a single vineyard, Kahn Vineyard, farmed organically by Jack and Johanna. It is 50% whole cluster, fermented half in rolling neutral oak puncheons and half in open top fermenters then aged 18 months in neutral oak barrels. Pepper, clove, and violets lead the nose while dark fruits, meaty minerality and bright tannins carry through the palate.
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.