December 13, 2008

BORDEAUX TASTING - mostly 2005s

This was the final '05 Bordeaux of the year for Winex (they usually do 3-4 on the current vintage). This tasting featured a really nice lineup of moderately-priced Bordeaux that included several very nice wines under $40, and all apparently imported by Liquid Link. As an aside, Liquid Link is my go-to for Bordeaux. If I'm perusing a selection and don't know the wine, I can literally take it for granted that the wine will please me.

Several wines tasted represent excellent pricing, notably the Chambrun and Clos René- both under $40 and excellent values. I should also mention the Domaine de Valmengaux and Margalaine as relative bargains as well. Tasting notes and write up are here, with favorites listed below.

2005 Château d'Issan - Margaux Grand Cru. $84.99
2005 Château Calon Segur - Saint Estephe Grand Cru. $99.99.
2005 Château Haut Batailley - Pauillac Grand Cru. $49.99.
2005 Château Monbousquet - Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. $71.99.
2005 Château de Farguess - Sauternes Grand Cru. $25.99.
2005 Les Angelots de Gracia - Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. $64.99.
2005 Ch. Les Carmes Haut-Brion - Pessac-Léognan. $65.99.
2005 Château de Chambrun - Lalande-de-Pomerol. $31.99
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2005 Clos René - Pomerol. $35.99.
2005 Clos Margalaine - Margaux. $34.99.
2005 Clos du Marquis - Saint Julien. $56.99.
2005 Domaine de Valmengaux - Bordeaux. $22.99.
2005 Ch. Larrivet Haut-Brion Blanc - Pessac-Léognan. $39.99.
2005 Château le Conseiller - Bordeaux Supérieur. $26.99.
2005 Château Puygueraud - Côtes de Francs. $22.99.
2005 Château Joanin Becot - Côtes de Castillon. $30.99.
2005 Clos le Lunelles - Côtes de Castillon. $49.99.
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2003 Château Brown - Pessac-Léognan. $21.99.
2005 Le Tours Seguy - Côtes de Bourg. $11.99.
2005 Château Caronne Ste. Gemme - Haut-Médoc. $21.99.
2005 Château Sociando Mallet - Haut-Médoc. $52.99.

December 5, 2008

GRAPE RADIO INTERVIEW - Terry Theise, of Terry Theise Imports

As grower Champagnes appear with increasing frequency in the marketplace, we thought it was time to pop the hood (or cork) and take a closer look at them. The name “grower Champagne” is generally given to the sparkling wines of Champagne that are not produced by the larger houses, négoçiants or coopératives. The more complete definition, however, denotes those wines which are grown, vinted, and bottled by a small grower. These small growers, or récoltant-manipulants, are able to purchase only 5% of their own grapes for this purpose, so their production is a relative drop in the bucket of the total volume of Champagne that is produced. And yet, it is quite telling that they are gaining a increasing reputation for both their quality and their affordability.

Join us at GrapeRadio as we talk with Terry Theise, who has a number of these grower Champagnes in the portfolio of his Terry Theise Estate Selections. We’ll learn about the contribution of these small growers - what they bring to the Champagne region in general and how their product differs from the larger houses.