Purveyor of Fine Wines

A New Orleans-based purveyor of fine and boutique wines.

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Look at this little number!  Souped-up and stylishly made, inside and out! 100% Gamay from Touraine, brand new to the Purveyor of Fine Wines’ line up.  Put the top down on it and see that is silky smooth and hugs all the turns on your palate! Beautiful acidity, ample fruit and just enough backbone to make you say “ooh la la”!  Francophiles, start your engines!

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Haaaa!!! It’s Wednesday, the perfect day for some bubbles!!  How about some Champagne Barnaut Blanc de Noirs Brut?  Don’t mind if we do!

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Congratulations to the newly opened Kenton’s Restaurant!  Kenton’s is the latest project from Sean Josephs and Mani Dawes.  The name is a tribute to Simon Kenton, founder of the town of Maysville, Kentucky, a port city from which whiskey was first shipped down the Mississippi River. Not coincidentally, they have a very enviable collection of whiskey and their wine list is nothing to sneeze at!  Book a seat, if you can find one!  

Kenton’s (5757 Magazine St., 504-891-1177)

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The holidays are fast approaching and we’ve got BOLLINGER!  Do you?  See some of your favorite retailers to pick up a bottle or two and make any occasion a special one!  

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Stop by the Wine Seller, 5000 Prytania St., for a FREE wine tasting from 5-7! Take advantage of this sales tax free shopping weekend to plump up your wine collection!!!

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Is that a blush on our cheeks or just the fact that the air on these hot New Orleans summer days are hitting temperatures above 98degrees?  Well, being fashion conscious, to match the rosy hue sweeping everyone’s sweaty faces these dog days, we’ve chosen to highlight a rose of a different kind. Ayala’s Brut Rosé Majeur is a blend of Chardonnay (51%), Pinot Noir (40%) and Pinot Meunier (9%). The very high proportion of Chardonnay and the ageing process result in a Champagne with remarkable finesse and elegance. Ayala currently owns 35 acres in Champagne. Thanks to its privileged location in the heart of the Grand Crus of Montagne de Reims and their link to Bollinger, they also have unique access to top quality grapes. Everything from grape reception to vinification, aging, riddling and disgorgement is done at the Ayala cellars. Brut Rosé Majeur is fermented in stainless steel, with a focus on freshness and precision. It spends 2.5 years on the lees and rests in the cellar for at least 3 months after disgorgement. Serve chilled, fan that linen and pop that pinky out!  It might be sweltering out, but good taste can weather anything!

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It is Tuesday and the weather report predicts 90 degree temperatures all week.  Only solution? Get your tush to Bachannal (http://www.bacchanalwine.com/ [phone]. ) in the Bywater where you can be shaded from the swelter, free to enjoy MORE WINE!

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Huge shout out to Compere Lapin and Primitivo!! Thank you guys for adding another home-run to the roster of great New Orleans lunch spots (both incidentally also have drop-jaw dinner too)!!! Look for Purveyor of Fine Wines’ products at both locations!

“Compere Lapin (535 Tchoupitoulas St., 504-599-2119; www.comperelapin.com), the highly anticipated restaurant from Top Chef runner-up Nina Compton, opened June 2. The menu will showcase Compton's background in Italian and French cuisine as well as Caribbean flavors and dishes inspired by her upbringing in St. Lucia.“ ~Gambit

“Adolfo Garcia has talked about his love of the grill before, and now he's put his money where his mouth is with his brand new Primitivo (1800 Ortetha Castle Haley, [phone]) restaurant on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard in Central City.

The massive fire pit is the focus of Primitivo, and the rest of the space follows the natural-meets-functional aesthetic. Warm wood meets cool blue tones, neutral gray tables, with pops of design that seem to hearken from another time. A time when good food was prepared simply and eaten with relish. Jars of preserved food reminds the visitor of the elemental style Garcia and his team - Jared Ralls, Ron Copeland and Nick Martin - are focused on.”~Eater

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Goldeneye '12 Pinot Noir has been given 92points by the Wine Spectator!  If that sort of things rings your customers' bells, shout it loud and shout it proud!  Coming from a niche retail background, I never gravitated towards the well-trumpeted Duckhorns of the world, but upon tasting these wines after coming to Purveyor's, my tune has changed. Duckhorn is Duckhorn because it is consistently delicious and always over-delivers! Goldeneye Pinot Noir is a one of the crown jewels in the Duckhorn Family.  "Quintessential Anderson Valley aromas of savory herbs, pinesap and wild berries soar from the glass. On the palate, a plush, dense mouthfeel supports lush flavors of raspberry and blackberry, as well as hints of licorice and red apple skin. Oak-derived notes of clove, brown sugar and vanilla pave the way to a supple finish hinting at sweet leather and loamy earth".  I couldn't agree with winemaker Michael Fay more!  All I want to do with this wine is savor, savor, savor....also, eat duck! Maybe that is just the power of the suggestion or the fact that duck is scrumptious, plain and simple, I'm not sure. What I am sure of is that no matter the time of year, Goldeneye is an excellent quaff!!!

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Mmm, Billecart-Salmon Vintage 2004 bubbles!

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Billecart-Salmon Vintage 2004; tall dark and handsome! The packaging, that is...The Billecart family has been living in Mareuil-sur-Ay since the 16th century. When Nicolas Francois Billecart married Elisabeth Salmon in the early 1800s the two families' long held vineyards were married as well. In 1818 Nicolas founded the house of Billecart-Salmon which now stands as the oldest continuously family owned and operated house in Champagne. It is currently managed by the seventh generation, brothers Francois and Antoine Roland-Billecart. The cellars are in the hands of renowned "chef de cave" Francois Domi.  The 2004 is comprised of 70% Pinot Noir issued of Grand Crus of Montagne de Reims & 30% Chardonnay issued of Grand Crus of Côte des Blancs.  Man, is this wine stunning! It pours a beautiful golden yellow in the glass with just the slightest hint of green to the hue...rich and biscuity, with faint notes of hay and lemon marmalade, the bubbles dance across the palate while mouth-watering acidity bring you right back to the glass of another sip.  It may become an addiction, luckily with only a case and 2bts in inventory, it's a habit anyone can afford to pick up

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Joseph Voillot Pommard Les Pezerolles- SOLID GOLD coast, baby! Ohhh, geek out, Les Pezerolles c'est chic. "An exceptionally fresh nose of red raspberry, kirsch, wet stone and iron-inflected earth gives way to intense, precise and highly energetic medium-bodied flavors that exude a fine minerality. There is a saline character to the firm and mouth coating finish that displays seamless balance and a lovely sense of harmony. In a word, this is terrific."  Well alright, Mr. Allen Meadows of Burghoud! Personally, I just love the finesse of Voillot's wines.  They're all high-toned in the prettiest, most feminine way possible but are no shrinking violets!  "Fifth generation winemaking, Voillot's managing director Jean Pierre Charlot is a legend in his own time!  It is immediately evident when tasting through the domaine's range that these are true vins de terroir (this is a grower who doesn't like big oak or big extraction; this man likes fruit and soil). Each wine at every level reflects its origin. It is in Voillot's cellar that the differences between the highly perfumed Fremiets, the earthy, dense, age-worthy Champans, and the elegant yet firmly structured Caillerets become crystal clear. Similarly, the differences among his Pommards are clearly delineated. Michel Bettane and Thierry Desseauve, in their 2004 Classification of the Best Wines of France, write of Charlot's non-interventionist methods: ‘For many years, Jean Pierre Charlot has vinified some of the finest and most balanced wines of Volnay and Pommard...aging reveals with a high degree of accuracy the type of the year and soil.’ Anyone who wants to grasp the essence of Volnay and Pommard needs to look no further than Domaine Joseph Voillot." -Vintage 59, Importer

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Charles Bove Sparkling Rose!! There's a reason the wine in the picture is half gone--it is f@#$ng delicious!!!  A méthode traditionelle sparkling made from 70% Cabernet Franc and 30% Gamay from Touraine like this is unstoppably drinkable!  Pretty notes of wild strawberry and ripe peach sparkle in pink and apricot hues while a bubbly foam so fine tickles that jaded little tongue of ours and we remember to take a moment, exhale and enjoy wine for the fun of it.  The Bove Sparkling Rose reminds us that at the end of the day, wine is about having fun and something that is both complex and nuanced can also be deeply gratifying and easy!

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Are you throwin' me Latitude?! Champagne Larmandier-Bernier is one of the true stars of the Côte des Blancs. Both the Larmandier and Bernier families have had a long history in the Champagne region, dating back to the French revolution, but it was not until the marriage of Philippe Larmandier and Elisabeth Bernier in 1971 that Champagne Larmandier-Bernier was established. The small house today is directed by Pierre and Sophie Larmandier, who own just under fifteen hectares in some of the finest villages on the Côte des Blancs: Cramant, Chouilly, Oger and Avize (all Grand Crus), as well as in the fine premier cru village of Vertus. Previously, this cuvée was called "Tradition", a name that was chosen in the 1970's by Pierre's parents. The new name Latitude was selected since the wine is composed exclusively of Chardonnays originating from the same latitude: the south of Vertus, where Pinot noir was historically planted. This is a generous terroir resulting in a round, rich, charming style, which still retains the characteristic pureness of the estate's Champagnes. Pierre believes the wine possesses "pinot-like" characteristics such as red fruit flavors and breadth on the palate -- despite it being 100% Chardonnay -- which he attributes to this unique terroir. Find out what all the fuss is about!

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Vino Lauria 2013 Frappato Frappato, ooh, that's fun to say!  It is even more fun to drink! This smooth-as-silk Sicilian wine hails from the town of Alcamo, just 30 miles west of Palermo.  It is entirely stainless steel and the ebullient expression of the grape is undeniable!  Fuschia and garnet reflect in the glass and ripe notes of raspberry practically leap from it.  This wine isn't all sizzle and no steak though, brooding quintessentially old world flavors can be found within and let me tell ya, this one, finesse for days. As the weather begins to chill away from the oppressive heat of summer, this attractive little number seems like a more and more fitting choice for daily consumption!  Organically farmed and harvested, and a BTG that belies its quality! Enjoy!

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Albert Bichot Santenay Charmes Are you calling me a BICHE? Heck yeah!  In French, “biche” means deer; and my dear, this wine is just darling! In Burgundy, at the extreme south of the Cote de Beaune, the 392 hectares of the Santenay appellation takes foot on the first slopes of the Mont-de-Sene. A historically-rich region of full of traditions, the first settlers here go back to the prehistoric era and the Santenay Castle - also known as the Chateau Philippe le Hardi echoes the former attachment of this terroir to the Dukes of Burgundy. The name of this appellation originates from the Romans when the commune was reputed for its thermal baths and its natural spring. The "Les Charmes" vines are located on the most south-easterly extremity of the commune, near the hamlet called Santenay-le-Haut. The hillside is orientated south-southeast partly on hard mid-Jurassic limestone and partly on clay and lower-Jurassic marly limestone.  Beyond the vital statistics, this wine is beautiful, deep ruby red color. Delicately smoky and fresh, the nose also reveals a hint of balsamic followed by notes of red fruit such as raspberry. Harmonious and tasty, this well-structured and balanced wine finishes with subtle fruitiness.