THURSDAY NIGHT TASTING, MAY 4, 2017
WHAT A TOTALLY BEAUTIFUL DAY!!!! Perfect weather for a crisp glass of white wine or a jovial few glasses of French bubbles... and whaddya know, that's exactly what we're servin' up tonight, 6:30-8:30 pm, at our weekly tasting! We're welcoming our delightful and knowledgeable friend Robin from IPO Selections who'll pour these three beauties, all imported by Kermit Lynch might I add, alongside cheese from Eastern District and bread from She Wolf!
La Viarte Ribolla Gialla Friuli Colli Orientali 2014
La Viarte was founded as a labor of love in 1973 by husband and wife winemakers Giusseppe and Carla Ceschin. It's truly a family affair, as their son Giulio and his wife Federica have seized the reigns and expanded the vineyard land, and added 17 hectares of forest to maintain the areas ecological balance. Their Ribolla Gialla hails from 30+ year old vines sustainably grown in ancient sandstone soil. The grapes are lovingly hand-harvested and fermented and matured in stainless steel, maintaining purity and freshness. This textured white, indigenous to the region, boasts layers of vibrant flavors- white flowers, wet rock, and subtle citrus- and would pair brilliantly with fatty fish or creamy cheese. $23
Grand Vin Mousseaux Petit Royal Lambert de Seyssel
The small appellation of Seysell has produced wines of note since the 11th century, and after the advent of sparkling wine production there in the 19th century, was a favorite of the fashionable set and royals like Queen Victoria who would visit nearby spa towns in the beautiful Alpine Savoie region. Historically the best sparkling Seysell on the market, the Royal label shut down production in 2007 after an irresponsible Burgundian negociant ran it into the ground. A few years later, locals Gérard and Catherine Lambert joined forces with Olivier Varichon, the great-grandson of the founders, and purchased the winery, aiming to return the once-great label to its former glory. And boy have they done a bang-up job. I wasn't around to drink bubbles with Queen Victoria but I suspect she would be quite satisfied with this elegant, delicious sparkling! Petit Royal is made from 70% Molette and 30% Altesse made in the methode traditional style, endowing it with wonderful chalkiness, minerality, softness and finesse. $20
Catherine et Pierre Breton La Dilettante Vouvray Brut, Loire
Word on the street is that Catherine and Pierre Breton are kind of party animals, bon vivants if you will, and this vivacious wine is definitely a reflection of their delightful joie de vivre. This crisp, delicate, energizing méthode traditionelle sparkling is made from 100% Chenin Blanc, a passion of Catherine, farmed meticulously, tirelessly, organically, and biodynamically, with all the appropriate certifications to prove it. Their dedication in the vineyards affords them to be a bit more laissez faire in the winery, and their wines are totally natural. Let's not confuse natural with funky, though- this is a clean, precise bubbly perfectly fit for imbibing at any celebration large or small. $25