by Russ Anderson on July 10, 2017
Sancerre is one of the best known wines of France mainly because it is the ubiquitous white wine of the Parisian bistro. This is for good reason. First, the region is close to Paris and secondly the wines are deliciously refreshing in the summer time. Bright, crisp, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc grown in the limestone soil of Sancerre is a perfect fit for hot summer days and the fresh seafood and garden salads of summer.
The wines of Hippolyte Reverdy offer such a classic representation of both the region and the grape, they are often used for wine education and sommelier exams. In the store, it is frequently used by customers for delicious drinking.
Hints of ocean spray saline and crushed seashell notes meld with ripe citrus and hints of citrus blossom on the nose. The palate is brimming with lime, hints of tree fresh red grapefruit, wildflowers and a refreshing minerality. But, the wine also has a rich and broad texture with a softer mid-palate adding to its great drinkability. For many, it will be a surprise how much this already delicious wine can age. So, open it in advance, decant it and even drink it throughout the week to see the wine develop, grow and expand in flavor and nuance.
Already, I am thinking of goat cheese salads and lightly prepared seafood on casual evenings at home. At $26 a bottle, it is a classic you can easily add to the cellar.
by Russ Anderson on June 10, 2017
Those who know the store, know we love Burgundy wines. This wine is a great lesson in Burgundy for those just beginning to explore the enticing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines from this region. In fact, it is a mini case study of Burgundy in a single bottle. Volnay and Gevrey-Chambertin are two great regions in Burgundy. Pierre Boillot, a top producer in Burgundy, is one of the few that is able to balance the wines of both the Cotes de Beaune and the Cotes de Nuits regions.
The lesson this bottle holds is the balance of these two regions. The lush fruit and structure from Gevrey Chambertin follows the floral, soft touch of Volnay on the entry. It is a surprising bottle that shows both aspects of Burgundy in a single bottle. Delightfully enticing, it is rich and deep after 30-45 minutes in the glass. It truly shows the levels of finesse and depth that Pinot Noir has here. Its pedigree insures that it will easily age for 5 to 8 years too. It $36 a bottle, but a value Burgundy at that. There are 2 cases available.
From one of France’s newer wine regions, Pic St Loup, comes this delicious bottle of wine from the South of France. This wine is further proof there are great values to be found in the Languedoc and some of its newer AOC wine regions. Pic St Loup was recognized in 2007.
There is a nice density, depth and brooding nature to this wine. It has the richness of Grenache (65%) with a little smokiness and just a little peppery-ness from Syrah(25%) and . It drinks with a fullness of dark fruit compotes and a hint of smoke that has me thinking of just about anything from the grill. It also develops nicely in the glass over 30 minutes where the red fruit from the Grenache begins to express itself a little more. A delightful bottle, perfect of summer and another example of just how good biodynamic and organic wines can be. For fans of Bordeaux and Bandol, this is a wine to try. Rich and expressive now, it will drink well for the next 3 or 4 years.
At the price of $17, I grabbed the few remaining cases the distributor had. It is currently open in the store to try and the first case is already sold, more should be arriving on Friday.
