NewsletterDecember, 2003
“It Can’t Really be Chrismastime Again, Can It?”Does it seem to you that Christmas has become something of a year-round event? Or is it that the holiday season—which seems to have just ended—is quite suddenly upon us once again? Not that we’re complaining, you understand. For us, the Yuletide not only brings closure to a long series of memorable wine tastings, seminars and dinners, but an opportunity to bring you our list of the most impressive wines we’ve tasted and purchased during 2003. This is our raison d’etre…and our gift to you this holiday season: an offering of the most interesting, exciting and downright delicious wines we’ve savored this year at our lowest prices. The supply of these wines is finite, however, so come in or call us to secure your share of the spoils. Happy holidays from all of us at Coaltrain! CHAMPAGNE/SPARKLING WINE/ SPUMANTEDelamotte Brut Champagne, Regularly $33.99/Sale $28.99: Produced by Salon, which is probably the most esteemed champagne house in the world. Fine and delicate, it serves as a great “palate cleanser” between courses in a lengthy meal, or for a special toast. Gaston Chiquet Brut “Tradition,” Regularly $39.99/Sale $29.99: Our house champagne. This is an artisan product, far different from the popular champagnes that are industrial products. And it surpasses those industrial products at almost half the price. It’s not a fat and flabby champagne, but a lively one with a fine mousse and minerally flavors. We drink it with oysters, caviar and most often with “huevos rancheros.” Bellavista “Cuvee Brut,” Franciacorta, Regularly $27.99/Sale $23.99: As far as Italian sparkling wines go (or, as they call them, “spumantes”) Bellavista, Ca del Bosco, Cavalleri and Ferrari are at the top of the mountain. Interestingly, most come from mountainous areas…Franciacorta and Trentino. This, of course, comes from the Franciacorta (“short France”) zone. Some of this stuff can get expensive, i.e., French prices. It is subtle, soft and seductive. Yes, the Isabella Rosellini of Italian bubbles. A. R. Lenoble Brut Reserve, Regularly $35.99/Sale $29.99: What a charming Champagne! With no doubt one of the finest values in the world of Champagne today. It offers a lovely, toasty nose, and its flavors are complex, with fresh pear, yeast and citrus. Perhaps what we like most is the mouthfeel, which could only be described as “liquid satin.” Our grade school descriptors cannot adequately convey the wonders of this wine. Mirabelle Brut, North Coast, Regularly $14.99/Sale $12.99: Made by the esteemed house of Schramsberg. This is classy stuff, with a little yeast in the nose and suave flavors. It’s a hard to beat this kind of value. RED/ROUGE/ROSSO/TINTOFRANCE, ITALY & SPAIN 2000 Chateau Latour-Martillac, Pessac-Leognan, Regularly $39.99/Sale $36.99: The most impressive wine from this highly regarded Graves estate in 20 years, the 2000 Latour-Martillac is redolent of blackberries, plums, licorice, vanilla, tobacco leaf and spice, that diverge in a memorable finish underpinned by velvety tannins. Well-crafted and fairly refined now, this lovely adolescent will improve with another five to seven years in the bottle—but who wants to wait? 2000 Rasteau “Le Grandes Vignes du Roy” Cotes-du-Rhone-Villages, Regularly $12.99/Sale $10.99: Rasteau is one of 16 villages allowed to put their name on a bottle of Cotes-du-Rhone. The village’s wines are the biggest and baddest of these “rasty” drinks. Try it with any grilled meat dish. 2001 Chateau de Pennautier, Cabardes, Regularly $7.99/Sale $6.99: Can any red wine this cheap be good? Well…sometimes. Actually, the French wine zone of Cabardes, near Carcassonne, is known for its extraordinary values. These people, probably crazed Cathar descendants, are renowned for their idiosyncratic view of life. Thus they blend cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah in their wines. Slightly outré, but it works joyously. 1997 Marchesi di Gresy Barbaresco, Camp Gros, Regularly $59.99/Sale $34.99: Yes, the sale price is correct…$25 dollars off the regular price. What’s wrong? Nothing. The winery simply went to a new distributor and we were able to buy this from the old distributor at a very reduced price. We jumped on it. This is a single vineyard barbaresco from one of the most respected winemakers in Italy’s Piedmont. If you want to see what the excitement is about with barbaresco (and barolo), try this. You get the dried rose, violets and cedar on the nose. On the tongue, there are bushels of cherries. It is for qualities such as this that the nebbiolo grape, from which barbaresco is made, is so prized. 1998 Privilegia Rosso Veronese, Regularly $29.99/Sale $24.99: Here’s an interesting creature. It’s made like a Valpolicella Ripassa (re-fermented on dry skins). It is made from corvina, a Valpolicella grape, and cabernet franc, an “outside” grape. The nose has dried fruits, cherries, herbs and perhaps a touch of volatile acidity that’s common with ripassas and amarones. The palate gives dried fruits. In essence, it comes off as a bargain- basement amarone. 2000 Pio Cesare Barbera d’Alba, Regularly $19.99/Sale 17.99: You have probably heard us call barbera “poor man’s barolo.” And such it is that a good barbera can bestow almost as much pleasure as barolo at less than half the price. This is a good one. It offers red fruits and some spice in a frame of soft vanilla. The acidity is firm, which makes it a candidate to drink with antipasti and many main courses, even meat. 1999 Finca Allende Rioja, Regularly $21.99/Sale $19.99: Though a relative newcomer to the rioja world, Allende’s appearance in Wine Spectator’s TOP 100 list for 2003 puts this entrancing red on the international wine map. A modern-style Spanish red that’s muscular but graceful, this beauty is bursting with enough fruit (plums, blueberries, cherries) spices (licorice, nutmeg) and lavish oak to mask its tannins and, at the same time, accompany grilled meats and full-flavored cheeses with elan. 1999 Muga Rioja Reserva, Regularly $19.99/Sale16.99: Not to denigrate the above Spanish red, but this is even better. Why? It’s not as feral, more refined. There are dusty cherry aspects that defy proper description. So, just buy a bottle. We have very few. Hopefully, some will remain when this newsletter is published. 1999 Teofilo Reyes, Ribera del Duero, Regularly $31.49/Sale $21.99: For years, Teofilo Reyes was the winemaker for Alejandro Fernandez at Pesquera. Senor Reyes made the name “Pesquera” world famous. Now his name is gaining renown outside Spain. For a Duero red, this is a tender wine with a perfumed nose. It would be a delight with lamb, maybe even duck, but not with “pollo.” The sale makes it a stunning value. CALIFORNIA & OREGON 2000 Mario Perelli-Minetti Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Regularly $17.99/Sale $14.99: You know, you don’t find many fifteen-buck Napa Valley cabernets that taste like the “real deal.” Actually, you don’t find many $15 Napa Valley cabernets, period. This gives you the hoped for dark fruit, soil and some soul. If you like these flavors, but don’t like the normally high cost, get this. 2000 Apoyo Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma, Regularly $13.99/Sale $11.99: Here’s another little surprise from California’s cabernet neighborhood. And, like the above “cab,” it is true to its provenance. So, being from Sonoma, it is gentle with boatloads of cherries and berries. But dare not call it “tutti frutti.” 2001 Cosentino “The Zin” Zinfandel, Lodi, Regularly $22.99/Sale $20.99: Mitch Cosentino has been creating big, expansively flavored wines for 20 years now, and if you think calling a wine “The Zin” is a little presumptuous, just wait until you taste it. With 75 percent of its fruit designated “old vine,” this complex beauty is a mélange of black cherry, jammy boysenberry, black pepper, leather, vanilla, smoky oak and spice. “The” wine for seared duck breast with a reduction made from “The Zin!” 2001 Moshin Vineyards Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Regularly $16.99/Sale $14.99: Light and aromatic, with bright aromas of raspberries, cherries, spice and delicate oak. Rick Moshin’s goal is to become the Rosenblum of pinot noir, with an emphasis on vineyard designation. Only 500 cases were produced, so don’t hesitate on this one! 2000 Amici Red, Napa Valley, Regularly $49.99/Sale $45.99: A classic, Bordeaux-style red, composed of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc. Seductive notes of cedar and earth mingle with layers of blackberry, plum and sweet vanilla that gently coat the palate. Soft, well-integrated tannins and a lingering finish add the final touches to this limited-production wine. We are big Amici fans; the quality surpasses the price in every wine they make, and they’re really nice guys, too! 2001 Ridge “Three Valleys,” Sonoma, Regularly $18.99/Sale $16.99: Three Valleys is a Ridge proprietary name referring to Sonoma’s Dry Creek, Alexander and Russian River Valleys, which provide the zinfandel, petite sirah, carignane, mourvedre and grenache that go into its blend. As he has since 1969, winemaker Paul Draper is at it again—creating a rich, mouth-filling assemblage of raspberry fruit, toasted vanilla, earth and spice at a remarkably reasonable price. 2001 Charles Creek Merlot “Miradero,” Napa Valley, Regularly $22.99/Sale $19.99: “Miradero,” a proprietary name which translates from the Spanish as “view from on high,” aptly describes where this superb merlot belongs in relation to many in its price range. A blend of Sonoma and Napa fruit, the wine is chockfull of blueberries and black cherries, with savory undertones of toast, tobacco leaf, chocolate and spice. Winner of a gold medal and Best Merlot of California award at the 2003 California State Fair, it’s a Coaltrain staff favorite. 2001 Stephen Vincent Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Regularly $10.99/Sale $9.99: Stephen Vincent has spent all too much time in the California wine trade…30 years or more. But that long “sentence” has given him “wine smarts.” He knows how to find some of the best wines at the best prices. And this is one. It’s all dark fruit with some cassis and a touch of herb and pepper. Pretty good deal at 10 bucks. 1999 Broadley “Claudia’s Choice” Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Regularly $39.99/Sale $35.99: The Broadleys were in the Oregon contingent of winemakers that participated in our 2002 Wine Festival. Each of the six winemakers brought a pinot noir to dinner one night during the Festival, and this wine was voted the best wine that night. It is rich, smooth and complex, with dark berry fruit flavors that never end. Bravo! 2000 Reynolds Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Regularly $46.99/Sale $42.99: This family-owned winery is located in the Stags Leap district. Estate bottled, the wine boasts a broad spectrum of complex flavors, including cherry, cassis, blackcurrant and tobacco leaf. It is expressive and complex, with velvety tannins, and drinks well now, even through it will age beautifully. We are very impressed with this wine! 2001 Folie a Deux “Ménage a Trois” Red, Regularly $10.99/Sale $9.99: With a name like this, how could it not be the quintessential party wine? Made by Scott Harvey, who produces a plethora of superb zinfandels, this medium-bodied blend of zinfandel (69%), cabernet sauvignon (26%) and merlot (5%)—redolent of black raspberries, with traces of pepper, vanilla and cinnamon-like spice—is a real crowd pleaser. 2000 Regusci Merlot, Stags Leap, Napa Valley, Regularly $43.99/Sale $41.99: Simply stated, this merlot from a little-known winery in the storied Stags Leap District along Napa’s Silverado Trail will astonish you. Rich, expansive aromas of black cherry, vanilla, pepper and earth mingle with hints of coffee and chocolate in the mouth, assaulting the senses with both their concentration and clarity. We can’t recall a more satisfying experience with California merlot. CHILE & ARGENTINA 2001 Bodegas Trapiche “Broquel” Malbec, Argentina, Regularly $12.99/Sale $10.99: Aromas of dark fruit, strawberry and hints of wet cedar slip into mellow blackberry and rich dark chocolate. The deep aromas and warm taste will bring a smile to your face as you ask for another glass! The balanced tannins make this a perfect wine for drinking alone or in combination with Christmas dinner. 2002 Casa Julia Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Regularly $11.99/Sale $9.99: Aromas of ripe plum and cranberry entice the nose while flavors of cassis and rich, red fruit greet the palate. Produced by two-time winemaker of the year, Pablo Morande, and labeled a Best Buy from Wine Enthusiast! AUSTRALIA 2002 Pikes Shiraz, Clare Valley, Australia, Regularly $21.99/Sale $18.99: A terrific Australian Premium Wine Collection offering, Pikes makes the most of its cracked white pepper, eucalyptus, raspberry, tarragon character, delivering a juicy, spicy, Clare Valley Shiraz that cries out for game, barbecue and sausages. What wine would make a better “fireside” companion at the end of the day? 1999 Haan Shiraz Prestige, Regularly $39.99/Sale $24.99: Aussie stuff, and fine stuff it is. Here Shiraz, Australia’s hallmark grape, is uncompromisingly suave—a smooth operator if you will. Sure, you have the expected spice, smoke and oak. But it’s all so graceful, that you might never suspect it is Australian. 2000 Green Vineyards Organic Shiraz, Regularly $33.99/Sale $29.99: Hand crafted by Sergio Carlei and matured in French oak for two years, the Green Vineyards Shiraz fully embodies the vigor of the earth. With an organic and vinous character, this shiraz exudes rich blackberry, Girl Scout cookie and earthy charcoal flavors. Full and complex, it will weather the years well. The favorite from our recent Australian tasting! GERMANY, ALSACE & FRANCE 2002 Schloss Wallhausen Riesling Kabinett, Nahe, Regularly $15.49/Sale $13.99: This stellar riesling from a great vintage combines elegance and “lift” with a depth of fruit (apple-pear-peach-lime) and complexity (slate-nutmeg-honey-almond) that may take you an afternoon to plumb. The feel is glossy yet light—a vibrant interplay of fruits and stones that’ll have you polishing off one bottle and looking for another. 2002 Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese, Mosel, Regularly $16.49/Sale $14.99: A superb spatlese that’s pure, juicy and harmonious, with rich nuances of apple, nectarine, lemon verbena, jasmine and minerals lurking beneath its firm acid structure. There is a concentration here, a density that coats the mouth while retaining a clarity that makes the wine seems almost ethereal. Fruit, earth, stones, snap, length—the elements of textbook Mosel are present in abundance! 2001 Von Schubert Maximin Grunhaus Riesling, Regularly $15.99/Sale $13.99: The Von Schubert family owns this entire appellation. They are certainly among the top dozen winemakers in Germany. This aromatic wonder abounds with Granny Smith apple essences in the nose and on the tongue. It’s racy and refreshing…and virtually impossible to stop drinking, especially at this time of year. 2002 Stoeffler Gewurztraminer, Regularly $17.99/Sale $16.49: Stoeffler is a meticulous, small maker of Alsatian wines. He owns 20 acres of vineyards around the village of Barr. Here, he gives us an agreeable “gewurz.” Not only does it provide the spice and unctuousness associated with the grape, but it offers a spike of acidity at the end that allows it to finish clean as a whistle. Try it with butternut squash or pumpkin soup. We promise rapture to follow. 2002 Marc Kreydenweiss Kritt Pinot Blanc “Les Charmes,” Alsace, Regularly $15.99/Sale $13.99: A substantial pinot blanc, bursting with melons and eastern fruits. Forget about thin pinot blanc…this is a mouthful! 2001 Louis Latour Pouilly-Vinzelles en Paradis, Regularly $12.99/Sale $10.99: Subtle aromas of poached pears, honey and apple pie waft from the glass of this excellent chardonnay that hails from the Maconnais appellation of Vinzelles. Similarly expressive flavors lend a supple mouth-feel, along with impressive depth of fruit and a sultry finish. A superior wine to many from neighboring Pouilly-Fuisse—and at a much more appealing price! 2001 Michel Lafarge Meursault, Regularly $45.99/Sale $39.99: The Lafarges, along with Marquis d’Angerville and Domaine Pousse d’Or, make the greatest of the great Volnays. Whites? Well, we recall tasting an aligote with Fredy Lafarge some ten years back, and it was superb. This, too, is a most agreeable meursault. It seems that if you can make great reds you can make some pretty good whites. It’s kind of like Giacosa with his barolo and barbarescos… he makes the best arneis (white) in Piemonte, as well. 2002 Bichot “Domaine Long-Depaquit” Chablis, Regularly $16.99/Sale $14.99: Chablis is revered for its purist chardonnay flavors, and this baby delivers just that. It’s crisp and minerally, without being sharp. One glass invites another. NEW ZEALAND & AUSTRALIA 2002 Thornbury Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, Regularly $16.49/Sale $14.99: With fruit from vineyards in Marlborough’s Wairau and Awatere Valleys, this is a real standout among the many “fab” New Zealand sauvignons. Winemaker Steve Bird has crafted a wine that explodes from the glass with aromas of wildflowers, herbs, orange blossom and passion fruit. The palate smacks of passion fruit, as well, with hints of grapefruit and nectarine that roll into a zesty, satisfying finish. Mmmmmmmm. 2000 Felton Road Barrel-Fermented Chardonnay, Central Otago, New Zealand, Regularly $32.99/Sale $25.99: Simply the most satisfying chardonnay we’ve tasted from New Zealand. Normally, we are not enthusiastic about barrel-fermented chardonnay, but these “Kiwis” have got it right. By using lightly-toasted barrels, they preserve the purity of the grape’s flavors while adding texture and smoothness. It’s almost like drinking a key lime pie from a wine bottle. We have minute quantities of this because the Felton Road Winery crafts small amounts of wine that are esteemed in a multitude of nations. 2002 Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, Regularly $10.99/Sale $9.99: What a delight…bursting with the grapefruit-field grass-white pepper-gooseberry character you expect in good New Zealand sauvignon blanc—and with perfect lemony acid, too! “Mouthwatering” is the word that comes to mind when savoring this new star in the New Zealand wine firmament! 2002 Flinders Bay “Pericles” Sauvignon-Semillon, Australia, Regularly $15.49/Sale $13.99: A discovery from the Australian Premium Wine Collection, this sauvignon-semillon blend from the Margaret River region is a dry, racy white, with vibrant apple-melon-lime notes overlaying herbs, tropical fruit, earth—and just a touch of jalapeno! (Can you say “Mexican food?”) This Pericles is beautifully balanced and ready for your holiday entertaining. CALIFORNIA & WASHINGTON 2001 Talley Chardonnay, Arroyo Grande, Regularly $25.99/Sale $25.99: Elegance and finesse are the watchwords here, yet there is an abundance of intense, ripe, apple-like fruit overlaying complex elements of toasty French oak, minerals and melon that shine inthe finish. Barrel fementation and sur-lie aging make this one of California’s benchmark chardonnays—year-in, year-out. Wine Spectator agrees, placing Talley’s Chardonnay among its TOP 100 wines for 2003. 2002 Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen “Eroica” Riesling, Columbia Valley, Regularly $23.99/Sale $19.99: A collaboration between Ste. Michelle and Ernst Loosen—brilliant producers of Riesling in their respective countries—Eroica is named for Beethoven’s Third…and it is truly a symphony in a bottle. The pineapple, white peach and apricot fruit of Washington riesling marries beautifully with the mineral-floral notes and lively acidity typical of the variety in Germany to create a glorious tasting experience. In Wine Spectator’s TOP 100 for the fourth consecutive year. A must for the holidays! 2001 Wild Horse Chardonnay, Regularly $15.99/Sale $13.99: We always look for elegance rather than heft in California chardonnay, and Wild Horse makes the short list of “kindred spirits” in that regard. The winery’s current offering—barrel-fermented and aged sur-lie for complexity and creaminess—sports the apple-pear-citrus fruit-vanilla-toasted oak aromas and flavors ideal for roast chicken with rosemary. 2001 Iron Horse “T bar T” Viognier, Alexander Valley, Regularly $19.99/Sale $16.99: Best known for its superb sparkling wines, Iron Horse produces tiny amounts of elegant viognier from its mountainside vineyard in Alexander Valley. This release is bright and wildly aromatic, with nuances of peach, apricot, cantaloupe and tropical fruit in both nose and mouth. It’s perfectly balanced and great with curried Cornish game hen. 2001 MacMurray Ranch Pinot Gris, Russian River, Sonoma, Regularly $19.99/Sale $16.99: This is the kind of warm, easy-going wine that would have made the late Fred MacMurray—whose family owns the property—happy. Alsatian-like in some respects (in that it has a bit more richness and roundness than most pinot gris), the wine’s plush, fig- and honeydew melon-like fruit makes for an absolutely delicious drinking experience! 2001 Amici Chardonnay, Regularly $26.99/Sale $22.99: We tasted this chardonnay on our recent trip to Napa and loved it! The wine’s aged for 12 months in French oak, but the oak is so beautifully integrated that it doesn’t taste “oaky” at all. And it’s beautifully balanced, with lush pear and lemon flavors. Sadly, availability is limited…as only 250 cases were produced (so, snap up your share today). SANTA’S STOCKING STUFFERSHalf-bottles are ideal when you just want a glass (or two) of something “swell,” but really don’t want to spring for the whole enchilada. And at this time of year, they make especially welcome stuffers for that stocking on Christmas morn. So think “3-7-5” this month along with your “regular” purchases, and choose from among these tasty tidbits: 2001 Coppo “Moncalvina” Moscato d’Asti
375ml, Regularly $10.99/Sale $9.99 POST-PRANDIAL POWERHOUSESFew things are more satisfying as Christmas dinner is “wining” down than a glass of superb fortified wine—port, sherry or madeira—that has been reserved for just such an occasion. The 2000 vintage will prove to be an outstanding year for ports, and many of them could use ten to twenty years of bottle age before they attain their full potential. These are concentrated, powerful wines, with sufficient stuffing for the long haul, yet firm and fairly polished now, with the seductive flavors and enormous depth that encourage near-term consumption. A 20-Year-Old tawny port or distinguished solera sherry—such as those listed here—would be an exquisite alternative. 2000 Graham Vintage Port, $89.99: Medium sweet, lush and firm, with nuances of violets, allspice, pepper and crushed, black fruits in the lingering finish. A Wine Spectator TOP 100 wine for 2003 (98 points). 2000 Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port, $63.99: A classic—offering powerful aromas and flavors of blackberries, wild herbs, “forest floor” and morel mushrooms. A Wine Spectator Selection (96 points). 2000 Smith Woodhouse Vintage Port, $45.99: Among the more accessible 2000 ports, with elements of raspberry jam, raisins and cigar-box. A Wine Spectator TOP 100 wine for 2003 (95 points). Porto Barros 20-Year-Old Tawny Port, $45.99: A tremendous value in aged tawny port from a distinguished, family-owned port lodge, bursting with aromas and flavors of coffee, plums, caramel and roasted nuts. 96 points, Wine Spectator; 93, Wine Enthusiast. Emilio Lustau “East India Solera” Sherry, $19.99: An intensely sweet, solera-aged, cream-style sherry with expansive aromas and flavors of toffee, cocoa, raisins, walnuts and brown sugar, and a fine acid “grip” for structure. One of the world’s great dessert wine values. 90 points, Wine Advocate; 90, Wine Spectator. DESSERT/POSTRES1996 Tokaji Aszu, 6 Puttonyos, Hungary, Regularly $40.99/Sale $37.99: The Tsar’s favorite quaff…so important that he placed a garrison of Russian soldiers to ensure the flow from Hungary. One of the world’s finest dessert wines, the 6 Puttonyos is made only in the best vintages. 2001 Steven Rhodes Gewurztraminer, Colorado, Regularly $19.99/Sale $17.99: We poured this last year at our “Best of the Best” wine dinner along side a Zind Humbrecht Selection des Grains Nobles. Half of the attendees preferred this to the Zind Humbrecht. This was most significant because the Zind Humbrecht costs $195/bottle compared with $17.99 for the Rhodes! 1995 Colle de Re, Albana di Romagna “Passito,” Regularly $21.99/Sale $19.99 (500ml): This wine “rains” vanilla and honey. It’s not as sweet as most of the Australian “stickies.”Try it with chestnut honey roasted pears, or anything with a mascarpone mousse. Which reminds us…this comes from the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. Maison Surrenne Petite Champagne Cognac, Regularly $33.99/Sale $29.99: When America’s best brandy producer, Germain-Robin, decided to import Cognac, it settled on the best—Maison Surrenne. The ten-year-old Petite Champagne from Surrenne’s Jarnac distillery exhibits an elegance, smoothness and balance—on both nose and palate—that is rare; its delicacy and grace absolutely clobbers many of the more well-known cognacs—and at an unbelievable price! THE TREASURE CHESTThese are the fine, the rare and the costly. They are for your connoisseur friends who are, hopefully, very good friends. This is but a small sampling. We have many more. 2000 Val Llach, Priorato, $68.99: One of the highest rated Priorat reds in years. Actually, it’s a relative bargain, since many of its peers sell for well over $100. 1998 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Riserva, Santo Stefano, $199.99: From Italy’s Piedmontese master, this may be the finest barbaresco we’ve ever encountered. 1997 Penfolds Grange, $169.99: One of the world’s classic and most sought after reds, and one of the most superlative renditions of the syrah grape. 94 points, Wine Advocate. 2000 Giacomo Bologna “Ai Suma,” Barbera d’Asti, $75.99: Like the Penfolds Grange, this Bologna Barbera is among the great renditions of the varietal. 2001 Beaux Freres Pinot Noir, Willamette, Oregon, $69.99: Boy, we’re on a roll here, as this is numbered among the finest renditions of Oregon Pinot Noir. 1997 Vega Sicilia “Valbuena,” $119.99: The “little brother” of Vega Sicilia’s revered Unico Reserva will show you why there is such reverence for this Spanish producer. 1999 Baron de la Cherrier, Le Montrachet, $179.99: The ideal against which the world’s Chardonnays are compared, at (believe it or not) an unusually attractive price. 1998 Shafer “Hillside Select” Cabernet Sauvignon, $149.99: Robert Parker called this profound red “a candidate for wine of the vintage,” awarding it 94 points, and writing that it “is better each time I taste it.” 1999 Shafer “Hillside Select” Cabernet Sauvignon, $149.99: Parker used adjectives like tremendous, remarkable and classic to describe the ’99 Hillside, rating it 95+. 2000 Caymus “Special Selection” Cabernet Sauvignon, $139.99: Richly flavored, intricate and beautifully crafted describe this sought-after cab, which earned 92 points from Wine Spectator. 1998 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon, $99.99: A “gorgeous…impressive” cabernet from a legendary producer that was “one of the vintage’s few stars,” according to Robert Parker, who gave it a rating of 93. 1999 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon, $114.99: Rated 95 by the Advocate and 94 by the Spectator, this is a “keeper” from a great vintage, with anticipated maturity between 10 and 20 years. 1996 Heitz “Martha’s Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon, $158.99: Year-in, year-out, California’s most distinctive cabernet, redolent of complex currant, cedar, chocolate and mint essences. Garnered 93 points from Wine Spectator. Tasting CalendarDecember 12, 7 pm Best of the Best Wine Dinner at La Petite MaisonYet another event whose lifespan predates our memory banks. We do recall that this is our annual wine dinner where we pour the best wines of the thousands tasted over the course of the year. These are the brightest and purest stars of "winedom's" dark and corrupted universe. We quiver in respect and awe at utterance of these wines' names. Our hearts beat in anticipation of the moment we will taste them again which is largely why we have this dinner (to sustain our gustatory needs). So, at this very moment, we are picking and matching these starred wines with La Petite Maison's stellar cuisine. There will be five or so courses. The plan is to have it all scoped in by Friday, December 12. On that evening, the dinner will take-off at 7 p.m. We'd like you to come and share our "g'astronomical" observations. The fee per diner is $100 (plus tax and service). Please call us soon to reserve your seats (475-9700). Seating is severely limited to ensure inter-galactic harmony and peace in the dining room too. |
Printer Friendly Version
COALTRAIN
Wine & Spirits
330 W. Uintah
Colorado Springs, CO 80905
719-475-9700