I couldn't come up with a catchy title for this week's tasting, but this is one I have wanted to do for a long time. Our premium wine club makes up a small percentage of our overall wine club and, while it is more expensive, I think it is still a great value. Given its bigger budget we really get to go after some really cool, more limited production wines that can compare to wines costing much more. I hope you will join us today to taste these three gems, written about before but now available to taste. A killer line up!

 

Atalier A Cruz das Animus Albarino - Rias Baixas

$27.99     Club Price $23.79

Forget everything you think you know about Albarino. That's what I did as soon as I tasted this wine, because this is some other level stuff. No surprise, because every wine I have tasted that Perez has had a similar effect on me. Here is some background on this remarkable wine.

"The 'A Cruz das Ánimas' from Atalier by Raúl Pérez is an example of the ecstatic heights that old-vine Albariño can reach when treated with the respect, care, and patience it deserves. It is also is something that is becoming vanishingly rare in the world of wine today. Sites like these represent an ever more endangered piece of the cultural patrimony of Galicia. When we speak of the poignancy of visiting a site like this, it's not simply about un-grafted vines. Apart from the vines themselves, it's the tradition of passing jealously guarded parcels of land from generation to generation that is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain in the new global economy. A wine like this provides us with an opportunity to partake of this legacy and play a part in keeping what's left of it alive. -MT

 

 

Stefano Amerighi Cortona Syrah Tuscany, Italy

$37.99     Club Price $32.29

  From the David Bowler Web site

" Stefano Amerighi, the young and dynamic owner of this eponymous estate, has a beautiful cru called Poggiobello di Farneta. The site was chosen and planted to Syrah in 2002 after an in-depth geological investigation identified eight hectares of land well-suited to the grape. It was the ideal exposure; southeast facing, and the ideal soil; a mix of clay, silt, chalk and a thriving base of microorganisms. Stefano planted the vines to a high density of 7000 plants per hectare and adhered to biodynamic principles in the vineyard. In the winery, the a portion of the Syrah grapes are partially de-stemmed, while some are left whole and still others are lightly foot pressed. Fermentation occurs spontaneously in small concrete vats and without the use of pumps, sulphur or temperature control. The wine is then allowed to clarify naturally in a combination of wood and cement tanks, where they are kept for 14 months before bottling. The resulting wine is sensational, with signature notes of black olive, cassis and minerals on the nose and an elegant mouthfeel. This is a game-changer for the zone. -MT

 

Domaine de la Butte Bourgueil 'Pied de la Butte 2018 - Loire Valley, France

$31.99     Club Price $27.19

Jacky Blot, a famous producer of white wines from Montlouis, purchased this domaine in 2012 and quickly proved he was as adept at making great red wines as his is white wines. This is the first vintage we have had of this wine and, in doing research on previous vintages I get the feeling that this wine provides even more value for money than previous vintages.

2018 is being talked up as a great vintage in the Loire and if this is an example of what we have to look forward to, well, let's just say I am excited. The color of this wine is amazing, purple and opaque, it looks more like syrah. The aromas are of blackberry and spice, a bit of forest floor, with no sign of the peppery, herby quality so typical of Bourgeuil. In the mouth the richness of flavor is surprising, yet there is no heaviness and if there is tannin, right now it is buried under all the lush fruit. So do you drink it now or age it. Both I say (though I doubt it will be around long). This is a remarkable wine for $30. While I did drink this with a steak recently, this wine made me think of autumnal meals, braised meats, stews, duck (big in the Loire Valley) or vegetable dishes like ratatouille.

Technical details? Certified Organic, clay and silex. soil over pure limestone, grapes are de-stemmed and only indigenous yeasts are used. It is unfined and unfiltered and is fermented and aged in a mix of cement and older barrels. -MT

Order any the the wines in this newsletter here!

 

Thanks as always for reading. We hope to see you soon.

Michael, Donna, Meghan, Mariela and Ted.