Wednesday, July 1, 2009

2007 Chateauneuf du Pape

The pope says, "Throughout the southern Rhone, 2007 is the greatest vintage I have tasted in my 30 years working in that region...As for Chateauneuf du Pape...It is the greatest vintage of my lifetime for this reason, and I don't say that lightly." Roberto Parker....

Although every year seems to bring another "vintage of the century", I must say that I'm pretty excited about what's coming out in '07 Chateauneuf. Although prices are higher than an average everyday bottle of wine, Chateauneuf never seems to disappoint.

What's available now: 2007 Vieux Donjon
The review: 94-96 Points "The three component parts of the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape, Syrah from the estate’s holdings in Pialons, old vine Grenache from sandy terroirs, and Mourvedre, are all brilliant, hence the estimated rating of (94-96). The wine reveals a dense purple color along with a gorgeous bouquet of camphor, licorice, graphite, sweet red and black fruits, smoked meats, and a hint of charcoal. Full-bodied and pure with plenty of Provencal garrigue and meaty characters, this superb, chewy red should turn out to be their finest effort since the 1998 and 1990. It is a classic, traditionally made Chateauneuf du Pape to drink between 2013-2026." Wine Advocate

Price $65/bottle

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

For All The Hippie Freaks!!!

This one's for all you tofu eating, hemp wearing, patchouli smelling, granola chewing, crunchy, mud diving Widespread Panic, listening hippie freaks!!!

Sustainable earth friendly farming techniques have long been an important topic in the wine making business. The whole idea behind organic wine making is that wine made without chemical fertilizers, insecticides, or other chemicals is not only better for the environment, but also better for the wine drinker. This topic is one that has gradually been building momentum in the past few years. I'm not sure if I can be persuaded. Forget bright fruit notes, I love a little DDT in the nose of my wines.

In all seriousness, there are a ton of amazing organic wines out there. Most recently, I stumbled across a lovely little wine from a small Maryland wholesaler. The 2006 Earth 2.0 from Navarra, Spain is a fantastic buy. Made from 100% Tempranillo, this wine is great for anyone looking for an easy drinking, medium bodied red. At $10.99/bottle, this proves once again that Spain is the best region for value reds.


P.S. I'm starting a new organic movement called "Save The Planet While Getting Buzzed." T-shirts will be available shortly.

Scotch Tasting

On Wednesday, November 12th, we're inviting all of our customers for a Compass Box Scotch tasting at The Still from 6-8pm. The evening will begin with appetizers, and then will proceed with a Scotch education which will include tasting the Compass Box portfolio. The guy giving the presentation will perform a magic show/circus act while schooling you on all of the finer nuances of Scotch drinking. (Ok that last part was a lie, but that would be pretty cool if it were true.)
The price is $20 if you reserve your spot before November 9th, and $30 if you end up crashing the party. Call us if you would like to reserve a spot. 410-321-6500