White

 

Mas de Libian 2013 Cave Vinum—“Wine is a beauty spot on the cheek of intelligence," said Persian poet Omar Khayyam.  The wines of this estate certainly live up to that quote, which is featured prominently on their website just below a photo of winemaker Hélene Thibon.  The family has owned the estate since since 1670, though it was originally used for hunting.  They have been organic for some time, and as of the 2005 vintage, are Demeter certified biodynamic.  The grapes are harvested by hand, and after a strict sorting, they undergo fermentation in large vats, with 20% being fermented in large new oak barrels.  The blend here is 45% Viognier, 20% Clairette, and 35% Roussane.  The wine opens with great aromatics of peach and apple.  On the palate, look for a richer, fuller texture and more expansive flavors of ripe peach, baked apple, and pear.  $28.98

 

Venica & Venica 2013 Sauvignon Blanc 'Ronco del Cero’—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. 'Ronco del Cero' is the name of the hill that the estate first grew Sauvignon on.  Grapes from seven different vineyards are picked by hand, fermented for a month, and then macerated for a day at cool temperatures before pressing to preserve the complex aromatics.  This is a very fruit forward and aromatic take on Sauvignon.  Like the reds of the region, Friuli seems to capture the best of Sauvignon without taking on the extremely high acidity and aromatics that can be off putting to some.  Look for grapefruit, passionfruit, honey suckle, herbs, and a touch of anise in the finish.  The wines of the region are great food wines, and pair well with a wide variety of dishes. $38.98

 

Marcel Deiss 2012 Riesling—Domaine Marcel DEISS is located in Bergheim, a small village nestling in the heart of the wine region of Alsace, equidistant from the northern and southern boundaries of the region. Current winemaker Jean-Michel DEISS was born into a long-established family of wine growers, living at BERGHEIM since 1744. Managed today by Jean-Michel DEISS, the domaine consists of 26 hectares (52 acres) of hillside vineyards spread over 9 communes and approximately 20 kilometers. The extreme variation in conditions of production at the domaine have led Jean-Michel DEISS to seek to express in each wine the three factors that make a wine complete : the grape variety, the vintage and the terroir. Riesling is one of the great white wine grapes and the world, and finds a great expression in Alsace.  Taught and lithe like a figure skater, find aromatics of peach, lemon, and white flowers.  On the palate look for Meyer Lemon, white peach, and tropical fruits.  Minerality is big here, with the wine having a fatness and richness on the palate. $53.98

 

Red

 

Vincent Paris 2013 Crozes-Hermitage—Vincent Paris, whose first vintage was 1997, is as shy as his wines are bold. In his early 30's, he has retro sideburns, but not much else in the Cornas appellation's new star is "retro". Vincent's uncle is Robert Michel, one of Cornas' finest growers. He made his two first wines with his uncle then, seeking autonomy, rented facilities for the vinification of his most recent wines. He is in the process of building his own winemaking facilities with a courtyard that holds his apricot plantation. Vincent Paris, co-president of the appellation of Cornas with Jacques Lemencier, owns 6 hectares of vineyards and produces about 2,500cs per year of which 1,600cs are Cornas. He inherited most of his own vines from his grandfather (some of which are 90 years old) and has also rented some vines from his uncle.  The Crozes-Hermitage is a new wine from the 2013 vintage on, with the vines being leased. Northern Rhone Syrah is such a great food wine.  Look for red fruits, earth, pepper, and a meaty character on the nose.  A medium weight on the palate, find a continuation of red fruit, violets, olives, and pepper.  Some drying tannin exhibits on the finish along with a healthy dose of acidity. $23.98

 

Troisgros et Serol 2012 Cote Roannaise "Les Blondins”—The Troisgros name is synonymous with haute cuisine in France. Every year since 1978, the famed chef met with friend Robert Serol and they made a wine together just for the restaurant. In 1992, Pierre Troisgros and Robert Sérol decided to extend this initiative by planting a vineyard together. The location that was chosen is ideal for vine growing : a steep hillside of 1.9 hectares with full southern exposure. For Gamay grapes, this is nothing less than a little paradise in the middle of the Côte Roannaise. Since the beginning, all the grapes from the hill have been vinified in a single cuvée of red AOC Côte Roannaise: Les Blondins. A bright ruby in the glass, find aromatics of cherry, raspberry, earth, and mineral.  With a medium weight on the palate and a touch more of the mineral coming through, this is a great example of a sippable food wine.  This will certainly let the food be the star of the show, and serve to refresh the palate throughout the meal. Les Blondins is nothing less than a history of friendship connecting a winemaker and a great chef. It also embodies the pleasure to create and share a wine that is in the image of its terroir. It’s a Côte Roannaise to be shared between good friends, with a fruity and drinkable nature. $44.98

 

Calabretta 2004 Nerello Mascalese—It's not often that we get a new release of an older wine. From the island of Sicily and the grape Nerello Mascalese, this is one of the more interesting and offbeat wines we've gotten in recent times. The estate is practicing organic, and some of the grapes vines are over 100 years old and on their original, ungrafted roots. What this gets us in the end is a wine of distinctive class, breed, and elegance. A little earthy funkiness will appear upon opening, but blow off to reveal a high toned red fruit, earth, and mineral nose. A very intense but medium body arrives on the palate with a play between earth, acid, and morello cherries. It is the aromatics and intensity of this wine that make it such a great food pairing. $51.98

The deadline for purchasing wine for the McCauley Family

Farm Dinner is

8 PM on Wednesday, June 17.