Pairings for June 11 at Munson Farm:

Beer

 

Brasserie Dupont "Vieille Provision" Saison, Belgium—This historic ale is one of the oldest farmhouse breweries in Belgium.  Created from the harvest’s leftover grain, this beer is strong enough to age in the bottle until the following season.  Floral and elegant with a hint of bready richness, the Dupont makes a wonderful introduction to the evening’s meal. 750mL. $13.98

 

Rosé

 

Domaine Saint Aix 2014 'AIX' Rosé—We all buy wines by the look of the label. I am more than happy to admit that I do so, and have heard the same from many customers. This has been one of our best selling rosés three years running now! The label certainly helps it stand out on the shelf, with clean and modern graphic design, but this is one of those bottles whose contents also deliver. Upon opening, look for very pretty aromatics of strawberry, lilac, and lavender. The palate is refreshing and juicy, with a good amount of weight but a fair amount of acidity to balance. Find a touch of minerality and some ripe red cherry on the palate. This is a great summer thirst quencher that pairs well with food or nothing at all, and a great example of what Provençal rosés are all about. $23.98

 

White

 

Morgadio 2013 Albariño—This wine hails from Rias Baixas in northwestern Spain, just north of Portugal. Here the landscape is lush and influenced by the sea. Albariño is one of the native white wine grapes, and it always produces wines that are both the grape and the place. Look for a bright golden color in the glass, with wild aromatics of stone fruits, pear, and honeysuckle. In the mouth find peach, green apple, and luscious ripe melon with a medium weight and plenty of texture.  $29.98

 

Venica & Venica 2014 Pinot Grigio 'Jesera’—Located in Fruili, Italy, this estate has been family-owned since 1930. The vineyards are a patchwork in the surrounding hills, surrounded by forest and co-planted amidst fruit trees to create a organic, integrated, and sustainable take on agriculture. 'Jesera' translates to 'little lake', and is the name of the vineyard where the grapes are grown. The grapes are lightly macerated, which accounts for the copper color seen in this wine, a good shade or two darker than many Pinot Grigios. This wine has a fair amount of richness on the palate, with pear, apricot, and acacia flowers. Like many wines grown in cooler vineyard sites, acidity helps to bring the finish home. $35.98

 

Ingrid Groiss 2013 Grüner Veltliner, Weinviertel, 'In der Schablau’—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 lay, 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. In the glass, look for a bright golden color. Find elements of yellow fruit, apple, pomegranate, mineral, and white flowers in the aroma and a savory character on the palate. With a full body, lively structure, and that all-important acidity, this is a very food friendly wine that can pair well with meat or vegetables, including some of those hard to pair with such as cruciferous vegetables, asparagus, and artichokes. $46.98

 

Red

 

Mas de Libian 2013 Khazan—The return of Khayyam! Named in honour of the 11th century Persian poet, drinker and mathematician (Omar Khayyam), this comes entirely from 4.5 hectares of a single biodynamically-farmed terroir. The blend is based on Grenache, with some 15% Syrah as well as Mourvèdre (15%) entering the picture for the first time. It's from a terroir littered with rolled 'galet' stones and the vines are cropped at two tonnes to the acre. This wine bats well above the Côtes du Rhône average, in fact it smashes the average for a six (to mix metaphors). It is a wine dripping with black cherry, liquorice, bay leaf, white pepper and anise. It's as dense as it is aromatic and when tasted from barrel was looking superbly balanced. 30% of the fruit was aged in foudre, on lees, bringing texture to the fresh-picked bright fruit, which has been brilliantly preserved by early bottling. We've got a feeling that a certain 11th century 'wine connoisseur' would have purchaced this by the amphora. $24.98

 

Descendientes de Palacios 2012 "Petalos" Bierzo—The Palacios family is famous throughout Rioja and Priorat for their full throttle reds.  This more unusual bottling comes from Bierzo, in the far Northwest and is from the indigenous mencia grape. The Petalos is not unlike a Cabernet Franc, with black cherry and plum fruit, flowers and hint of fresh herbs.  The estate is biodynamic and everything must be done by hand in these steep stony vineyards. $37.98

 

RPM 2013 Gamay Noir—RPM was conceived in 2010 and is a collaboration between Nathan Roberts, and Duncan Arnot Meyers of Arnot-Roberts and Rajat Parr of Michael Mina and Sandhi Wines. The goal of RPM is to produce world class Gamay Noir from the granitic soils of California’s Sierra Foothills. With the help of Steve Edmunds, RPM has been able to secure fruit from the two plantings of Gamay Noir that exist in California, both farmed by Ron Mansfield. The first release was the 2011 vintage. Gamay is the grape of Beaujolais and also found in insolated pockets in the Northern Rhone.  In fact, it is one of the Rhone examples that has really stood out as an interesting and unique wine in my head.  Look for a dark ruby color in the glass, with lots of red fruit in aromatics and on the palate. Baked cherry, cranberry, raspberry, and touch of spice all come out to play in the lively palate.  Just a touch of tannin provides a finish to the wine. I could see fans of California Pinots or Cru Beaujolais being a fan of this wine! $44.98