Vinofiles

December News Flash

Holiday Wine Tasting

Come ye one and all to the Holiday Wine Tasting, on Dec. 14, 2007. It’s a Friday night, from 5:30 to 8:30, downstairs at the Flat Street Pub. Tickets are on sale at the Co-op, payable by cash or check, only.  See myself or Hugh directly, or go to the Customer Service Desk if we are on walkabout. For 15.00 per person, you get to sample a world of wine, hear great music by Paradiso, nibble tasty delectables prepared by the wizards in our deli kitchen, whilst enjoying the company of your friends and neighbors, and other over twenty-one type folk. (Tickets are 20.00, at the pub, on the night thereof. We sold out last year, so don’t delay!) Many of the wines are brand new, being shown to you for the very first time. All wines will be “on sale” for special prices. Special case deals will be available, for this one night only. All wine orders will be filled within a few days, and can be picked up as usual at the co-op.

WineScout

The Wineguy hopes that you’ve noticed our new monthly flyer called the WineScout. Sure, it’s only one colorful page, but it’s jam-packed with lots of specials and ongoing deals. Sales begin on the first of each month, and since some items are in short supply, it pays to scope it out early. (Sorry, no rain checks.)

Instore Tastings

Don’t forget that we have an in-store tasting once a month in the Community room, always on a Friday, from 3-7. (Usually the last Friday of the month, give or take.) You’ll find next year’s schedule posted soon. The December 2007 tasting is on the 28th. We taste six wines, and in accordance with Vermont state law, only four (4) people are allowed in the room at one time. The tastings are free to any adult over twenty-one. So come on in, taste some local cheeses and try some new wines. 

Upcoming Tasting, and much More

Welcome to the Neighborhood

Until recently, there were about a half dozen major beer/wine distributors operating in Vermont. They may serve all or part of the state with various wines and beers. Some service a very small niche, others try to “do it all.” One micro-niche that fits right into our philosophy, and is as yet under-served, is the organic/sustainable/biodynamic part of the wine business. That is, until recently. Drum roll, please!

Now there’s a seventh wine distributor, Artisanal Cellars, headed by Rafael Flores and his brother Miguel. Although they carry some conventional wines, organic and biodynamic is their focus. Countries favored are Spain, Germany, Austria, Italy, and France.

The expected styles are represented, but each wine has a unique character that seems to step an inch or two outside the usual varietal box. A 2000 vintage Syrah, Serendipity, comes from Ch. Complazen.    It’s a great surprise, with solid Syrah character, for under $10. I put it on sale for a mere $8, but only till June 30. A “bigger” Syrah, more complex and bold is Domaine Barou,  a smooth red from the edge of the St. Joseph area in the northern Rhone. Only 14.99. The list goes on and on, and we hope to see even more wines added to it, especially the organics.
We look forward to our first delivery from the folks at Artisanal Cellars and wish them all the best.

And Still Another New Face in the Neighborhood (with all apologies to the Bard, the Beatles, and Ferlinghetti)

Mead is misunderstood. Say the word and what comes to mind? Kirk Douglas urging on his fellow Vikings to fermented-honey-induced mayhem? Or perhaps the Bard himself, all inky fingers, sitting in an English garden, waiting for the UPS guy to deliver some more mead, along with his latest galleys of “Too Mush Ado About Hugh Who?” Or a murky, motheaten image of Nixon, Nixon, bush-league president, mumbling to himself, staring up at a portrait of JFK, with a sweating tankard of mead in his oily, slipping grip. With friends like this, mead needs a little PR.

Enter the Honeybee! No, not a Bruce Lee flying kick-flick, but an alternative beverage that’s as much medicine as it is a controlled substance. Hippocrates said, quoting the literature provided by Jake Feldman, the Melissa Sparkling Mead/Honey Garden Meadmaster, “Your food shall be your medicine and your medicine shall be your food.” This tastes way better than Romilar CF, and if it can cure anything, like my spring and summer allergies, I’d consider an IV drip. But seriously, nothing quite tastes like mead.
    Made from fermented honey, which reveals the source in the aromas of the flowers that the bees have been visiting as they gathered the nectar, mead reminds me of the atmosphere in a greenhouse, about midsummer, when a million blossoms are competing for our attention, as well as that of the bees. Serve it cool, like a good Belgian ale, but not too cold. Only 10.99, in the cold beer case.

Wine Tasting on Friday, June 29, from 3-7 pm, in the Community room.

More fun and frolic, within reason, of course, will be on tap as you partake in the upcoming in-store wine-tasting. As always, the State of Vermont allows only four legal age adults in the room at one time to taste any or all of six wines chosen for excellent taste and value. Looking forward to serving you, Hugh and I will be dressed as our favorite styles of grape, or perhaps as a corkscrew, or maybe a Pinot Noir glass...

New Wines for Old

The inflow of new wine continues. Be sure to try these:
But first! We're almost sold out of Bieler Rose. Two cases left. And La Croix Rose, with the sophomoric label, is down to two cases. And, boo-hoo, only five cases of Secret de Campane, at 8.99/bottle.

Ch. Pesquie Rose--12.99
Ch. Valcombe Rose--14.99
Dom. la Manarine Rose--14.99
Vilosell Red (Spain) 15.99
Ch. Luxeuil Red Boreaux--7.99--save $3.00
Organic Natura Chardonnay--10.99
Organic Natura Carmenere--10.99
Organic Ch. Complazens, ‘La Garrigue’--12.99
Dom. la Garrigue, ‘Cuvee Romaine’--10.99
Newhaven Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand) --9.99--save 2.00
Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc (Australia)--14.99
Cape Mentelle Chardonnay (Australia-Margaret River)--Tastes like a baby Meursault, at a quarter of the price. 24.99

Sorry I took so long

Mirrors on the Ceiling, (and Thunderbird on Ice), plus Even More New Wines

If you’ve ever attended an airport-sized trade show, you understand the phenomenon of being lonely in a crowd.The roughly 43,000 attendees at the Anaheim/ExpoWest/Natural Foods Show were packed in cheek-by-smile, taking the pulse of the industry. If you met someone you knew, (Remember, Brattleboro is a mere 13,000 souls), all the better. Fortunately, I had arranged to meet one of my favorite people in the wineworld, Katrina Frey, who had convinced me to make the trek westward. She informed me that a huge, all-organic beer and wine tasting was to occur, and that an impressive number of producers would be showing their wares. Many names on the producer list were unknown to me, so chances were good that these new and emerging wineries were seeking representation in New England. It sounded like a dream come true.

Alex, our stalwart manager, stamped my passport, and off I went, with Meg McCarthy, veteran of many wine-scavenging hunts, hard by my side. You’ve already heard too much about my San Francisco blues, so let’s talk about the part of the trip that really worked, namely the tasting in Anaheim. The crowd filled a huge ballroom, and libations were being served California style, straight out of old cowboy boots. (Organic leather, naturally.) Here’s a short list of some of the folks we met, making organic wine and beer: Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing, Organic Vintners, (huge collection of wines, some of which we are carrying already), The Organic Wine Works, (John Shumacher at the helm), SBS Imports, Frey Vineyards, (Katrina’s Gram was from Brattleboro!), the Stellar Winery of South Africa, La Rocca Vineyards, Peak Organics (Great beer!), Casa Barranca Wines, Butte Creek Brewing, Sogno Winery, Barra Wines of Mendocino, HoneyRun Meads, and Girasole Vineyards, to name a few. Judging by the roar of the crowd, I’d say the event was a success, and I’d love to go back. Dale, Katrina’s dad, was helping pour their wines, and even though he’s at least ninety-seven, he only seems to be getting younger. It must be the organic wine.

Because the wheels of bureauracracy spin slowly, we have seen only a few entries from the new folks, but I have patience, and before long the organic wine and beer offerings will be even more replete. Actually, we have four new wines from Organic Wine Works; Surfin’Syrah, Cote Zero, StoneCold Cabernet, and Viperous Viognier. All in the recently re-located organic section, facing the deli. Keep your eyes peeled for more gems, including some Fair Trade wines.

In other related news...Way back last year, the coop introduced a line of wines from the Morgan Winery, based in Salinas, California. Their Rhone-style red Cote-du-Crows made a big splash, soon to be followed by their Twelve Clones Pinot Noir, Franscioni Vineyard Pinot Gris, Metallico Un-oaked Chardonnay, Highlands Chardonnay, SunPower Sauvignon Blanc, and the recently added Lee Family Farm Verdelho and Rose. All incredible wines, and at great prices. To find out how they do it, Meg and I disguised ourselves as honeybees, and hung around outside the winery, humming “Red, Red Wine,” by Neil Diamond, really loud, whilst wearing signs that read, “Will Work for Pollen.”

Suddenly, Morgan’s national sales and marketing manager, the suave and dashing Brad Martin, pulled into his private parking space in a brand new, tangerine-metalflake Bentley. (This guy is smooth.) Brad saw us, and because he’s allergic to bees, reacted faster than a super-hero, and hosed us down with some chardonnay juice with a really bad case of stuck fermentation. My antennae wilted, Meg’s wings were blown away, and my stinger was history. Brad immediately saw through our pitiful ruse, and took us to Gonzalez, to his favorite Mexican restaurant, for some squid tacos to cheer us up. We had such a great time. Then we went out to the Double L vineyard, to meet some real bees, and get buzzed with enthusiasm for their organic vineyard program, and even taste some new wines back in Salinas. It was a truly special day, and all the folks at Morgan are doing a fantastic job.

After waving goodbye to the Morgan family, we headed up the road, way up the road, to the top of a plateau near The Pinnacles National Monument, home to Chalone Winery. We were tired, and needed a wing massage. The masseuse had the night off, so we sat on the guest house deck, and watched the sunset. Eventually the stars came out, and shone down on our little piece of high chaparral heaven. We couldn’t see or hear any evidence of civilization from our perch. As we ate the last of our picnic-style dinner, a single microscopic fleck of interstellar spacedust scraped briefly against the troposphere, an incandescent wink that semaphored hello and goodbye to the fireflies huddled together for warmth in the oak tree over our head. It wasn’t Vermont, but it was close enough.

Chalone vineyard from the guest house deck

In the morning, we had an appointment with Michaelson Waller, who showed us the ropes around Chalone. We tasted some wines from barrel, which I always enjoy. There’s something indefinable about barrel sampling, in that the wines always taste extra fresh, with nothing else mediating the experience. Chardonnays sing, cabernets coo, pinots purr, and merlots aren’t mum. Then it was off to the tasting room for all the new stuff, which you’ll find on the shelf at the coop. Chalone, now owned by a company called Diageo, is also proud of their chardonnays from the Edna Valley Vineyard. We didn’t have time to stop there on our way north, but maybe next time.

PS. if you’re in Salinas, there’s a great wine section in the Star Market, around the corner from the Carl Jr.’s. Found an interesting Zinfandel called “Poizin”, with a red skull and crossbones painted on the label. Avast!

I’m a little sore from chainsaw work, so the Herman Melville in me has to take a break. But first, a brief listing of new arrivals. But even before that, we must announce the “Bye-Bye Barn”. This is our brand new spot for closeouts, and small lot wines. The prices are low, quality high, and they’ll go fast! So, check it out, and enjoy the bargains. To wit: Save $4 on Rocking Horse Zinfandel (regularly $14), with scratched labels. See the rest for yourself, next to the Spanish wines, under the “barn” sign designed and drawn by my dog, Pearl.
New Arrivals

Reds
Dominio de Tares--(Bierzo, Spain)--9.99 In the Bye-Bye Barn, while it lasts.
Oops! Carmenere/Cabernet Franc--(Chile)--9.99
Bieler Rose-(Provence)--9.99
Toscolo Chianti--(Tuscany)--10.99
Razor’s Edge Shiraz--(Australia)--10.99
Grande Cassagne Rose--(France)--11.99 New rose, quite elegant
Lee Family Farm Rose--(Monterey California)--12.99 You might mistake it for French.
DiPaolo Aglianico--(Campania, Italy)--14.99 Not as earthy as some, smooth and dry.
Babich Pinot Noir--(New Zealand)--14.99
Ladakis Greek Red--17.99 A big, bold, smoothie, with a huge spice nose.
Petalos--(Bierzo, Spain)--19.99 A Mencia monster! Huge flavor and aromas to die for. Rated 90 pts.
Coppola ‘Director’s Cut’ Zinfandel--(Alexander Valley, California)--19.99 Hot new zin.
Yard Dog Red--(Australia)--9.99 Shiraz and more, and lots of Petit Verdot. Excellent value!

Whites
Grande Moulin Chardonnay--(France)--7.99 An affordable white to quaff all summer! In the Bye-Bye Barn.
Peche Imperiale Bubbly--(France)--11.99 A wonderful aperitif, excellent with Huevos Rancheros
Lee Family Farm Verdelho-(Alta Mesa, California)--12.99 Snappy, crisp, and smooth, Sauvignon style
Babich Sauvignon Blanc--(New Zealand)--14.99
Coppola ‘Director’s Cut’ Chardonnay--(Russian River, California)--19.99 For serious fans of the grape.
Indaba Chenin Blanc--(South Africa)--8.99
Biso White 1.5 liter--(Italy)--9.99
Yard Dog White--(Australia)--9.99 A dry blend so smooth...

And soon, soon...A Sauternes for under $20, a German Eiswein for under $20, and new vintages of the fantastic Ole! Imports wines, such as Ipsum, Portal, Ludovicus, Zestos Especial, and their new M series, of Monastrell wines. It’s looking pretty great out here! Bag some briquettes and get cookin’!

Weeks pass...I absolutely have to post this! Please don’t miss the splits of French white wine, a Sauvignon Blanc, and a fabulous Chablis. Also, a fantastic closeout on a $25 white Burgundy for 9.99. PS Ipsum is back, 2006 vintage, and we still have the awesome low price of 7.99, save 2.00. Summer’s here! Ride a bike. Paddle a canoe. Entertain your friends. Write a poem. Enjoy being you.

Where I Left My Appetite (In San Francisco)

One of the most pleasant things I know is to travel to a city you’ve grown fond of, and sample new and glorious food, from restaurants great and humble. Vying for least pleasant is being ill, far away from home. The kind of extreme illness where, like all dogs and other intelligent creatures, you seek a dark, quiet, private environment to face the inevitable: The spectre of two days set aside at the end of a business trip, when the hedonism was really supposed to begin, ruined. I called it bronchitis with a little Jim Morrison free-style thrashing of limbs and lungs. Because I was raised Catholic, I have to tell you a slightly redemptive story about the worst part.

After what seemed like weeks, (in fact three hours), moaning pitifully in the pre-industrial darkness of fever and catarrh, Meg convinced me I could walk two blocks to a restaurant, and ENJOY A MEAL. First mistake.Next mistake, scallops. (I know, I know, but Meg is allergic, and I almost never have them because she’s allergic, because whenever we eat out we have to SHARE, usually fine with me, but that night I wasn’t feeling that kind of generosity, so, [(Karma? who knows?)], I got the scallops, and they were yummy. The rest of the meal is a very sweaty blur, so I’ll spare you that, and move on to where I suddenly had that crystal-clear certainty you get from either a high fever, or too many espressos.  Said certainty being that outdoors would be a better place to pass out than in a crowded restaurant.
Outside, I defied gravity with every fiber of my Brontean being. The sidewalk was tilting, so I adjusted my sickly angle of repose. I curled my spine, cat-like, and backed up, hugging the corner of a brick wall, pressing hard, feeling the spaces between courses. My vision kept closing down to a single black dot. We all know what comes next, if one isn’t prepared. I was, and kept dropping my head between my legs, avoiding hyperventilation. That’s when a pair of ratty sneakers entered my field of vision, followed by a question. “You OK? You don’t look so good.”

I gingerly angled my head to take in the woman who was staring at me with her one good eye.  “You homeless? You don’t look like a bum.” I advised her to maintain a professional distance, as her sneakers were, shall we say, easy targets. “Can you spare a dollar? I need an eye operation. Can you spare any money?” Indeed, one of her eyes appeared to look the way I imagined I appeared to all the SanFranciscans who continually strode past at astonishing speeds. “No, sorry, I might throw up. Please...” No doubt used to this sort of rejection, she lit a cigarette, and appered to contemplate her next move. She exhaled a puff of smoke at me, and readjusted the angle  on her “bad” eye, causing it to flop precisely into position, and shoved off, up the street, to find another mark. A minute later, Meg appeared at my side. “The vultures were circling, Meg. They wanted my eyes.” She gave me a (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) quite understanding look, and helped me, in true Stevie Winwood fashion, (Oh, and I’m wasted, and I can’t find my way home.)

Who knows. To wrap up, I was in a malaria-like fugue for several weeks after, and can’t wait to have some scallops, with a nice Sancerre. But first, let’s play a round of “I spy, with my little eye...”

Now for the good news. My time in California was well spent, at the Natural Foods Expo West, and later at several wineries. With the aid of some Vermont distributors, many new organic wines will end up on the co-op shelves. I'll be blogging at you about these fine folks and their wines, soon.

Tastings Galore

The Co-op's second in-store wine tasting will take place this Friday, April 27, between 3 and 7 in the pm, in the Community Room. We will feature six new wines and some delectable cheeses from our stellar cheese department. The state of Vermont, unfortunately, has put a few speed bumps in your way. A maximum of four (4) customers may be in the room at one time. This may slow the process down a bit, but please be patient. There will be a sign-up sheet to "reserve" your place in line, if you happen to come at a particularly busy moment.

The Co-op will continue to sponsor one tasting per month, as allowed by Vermont liquor regulations. We will showcase new wines and we would appreciate your suggestions and feedback. Watch this blog for dates of upcoming tastings.

A large-scale pre-Memorial Day wine tasting will happen on Friday, May 18, 5:30-8pm, downstairs at the Flat Street Pub. The entrance fee is still a modest $15 and tickets will be available for sale in the wine department. As always, special full-case and mixed case deals will be available. You are encouraged to "share a case" with friends. Food to tantalize your tastebuds will be served, provided by the Co-op under the masterful tutelage of Carol Grumbine-Hall.

We look forward to seeing you on Friday, April 27, and Friday May 18.

The Co-op's second in-store wine tasting will take place this Friday, April 27, between 3 and 7 in the pm, in the Community Room. We will feature six new wines and some delectable cheeses from our stellar cheese department. The state of Vermont, unfortunately, has put a few speed bumps in your way. A maximum of four (4) customers may be in the room at one time. This may slow the process down a bit, but please be patient. There will be a sign-up sheet to "reserve" your place in line, if you happen to come at a particularly busy moment.

The Co-op will continue to sponsor one tasting per month, as allowed by Vermont liquor regulations. We will showcase new wines and we would appreciate your suggestions and feedback. Watch this blog for dates of upcoming tastings.

A large-scale pre-Memorial Day wine tasting will happen on Friday, May 18, 5:30-8pm, downstairs at the Flat Street Pub. The entrance fee is still a modest $15 and tickets will be available for sale in the wine department. As always, special full-case and mixed case deals will be available. You are encouraged to "share a case" with friends. Food to tantalize your tastebuds will be served, provided by the Co-op under the masterful tutelage of Carol Grumbine-Hall.

We look forward to seeing you on Friday, April 27, and Friday May 18.

April Shower of New Stuff

The Spring Wine Round-up
Despite a near constant state of illness since late February, we’ve somehow managed to keep the good stuff coming. New offerings range from Australia to Greece, and points between. My guilty conscience demands that I give you an exhaustive cataloguing, with detailed notes on each wine, but I am so far behind... So, we’ll give you the complete list, an occasional highlight, and I’ll try to get caught up. Ready to dig in?

Reds
Wishing Tree Shiraz--10.99
Cuq Merlot--Organic--11.99
Nuevomondo Cabernet/Malbec--Organic--13.99
LeSec Rubis Cote d Rhone--14.99
Falset ‘Blue Label’ Montsant Blend--9.99
Moon Mt. Cabernet--15.99
Ch. de Bastet Cote d Rhone--Organic--15.99
Valori Montepulciano--15.99
LeSec Vacqueyras Red Rhone-21.99
Stignano (Tuscany)--39.99  Celebrate, or put it down for a few years.
Sant’Angelo (Montepulciano)--49.99 Ditto!
Leila Garnacha-Argentina--Organic--7.99
Ochoa Tempranillo/Garnacha--Organic--9.99
Our Daily Red--Organic--8.99 Our best selling organic red!
Secret de Campane--8.99--New! The perfect everyday red, only $77/case.
Enciro Monastrell/Merlot(Spain)--9.99--Tasty surprise at this price.
Postales Malbec--9.99
Puerta Malbec--9.99
Tinka-Tonka Malbec--9.99
Drince-Lotta Malbec--9.99
Razor’s Edge Shiraz--10.99
Hill of Content Grenache/Shiraz--13.99
Distinto Tempranillo/Syrah--9.99
Le Grand Cabernet/Syrah (France)--9.99
Boschetto Merlot (Italy)--9.99
Lidakis-Archanes (Greece)--15.99--Tastes like an older Rioja. Excellent!
Sincerity Merlot/Cabernet-Organic--15.99
Menage a Trois Zin/Merlot/Cabernet--Organic--12.99
Four Vines Zinfandel ‘The Maverick’--19.99--Rated 92 points by the Wine Spectator!
And two bottles of a hard to find Amarone, for $100.

Whites
Honora Chardonnay-14.99--Made in Vermont, from California grapes.
Newhaven Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)--11.99
Sincerity Chardonnay--Organic--15.99
Hugues Beaulieu Picpoul--9.99--Remember this? Crisp Sauvignon Blanc style.
Carmen Sauvignon Blanc (Chile)--9.99
Razor’s Edge Chardonnay (Australia)--10.99
LaPuerta Torrontes--9.99
Il Prosecco (in a cool bottle, with a bottle cap)--12.99
Crossings Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand) --14.99
Madfish Riesling (Australia)--14.99
Paul Metz Pinot Blanc-(Alsace)--14.99
Valori Trebbiano-15.99
Vendrell Cava Brut--Organic--17.99
Cortijo (Spain)--7.99
I count forty new wines, and two McGuffins. That means a lot of fun new stuff to try, and more to come. As always, your feedback, pro and con, is appreciated. Enjoy!

Brew News
A local distributor, g. Housen, has picked up two new beers from Rodenbach, one of the premier Belgian brewers. The Grand Cru almost tastes like...sorry...not my fault...wine. An acquired taste, yes, but amazingly satisfying, with that trademark sour/bitter edge that makes these beers stand out from the crowd. The other beer is a so-called Flemish, being a mixture of 75% new beer, and 25% oak aged beer. Tasted pretty good to me. We’re hoping to see more challenging ales and such coming down the pike from g. Housen, as the man-behind-the-scenes, Scott, has plans for world domination, via high quality beer. All hail, Scott!

The Dogfish boys from Maryland have released their seasonal Aprihop, in a 4-pack. Also, the same packaging approach has been taken by Vermont’s own Rock Art folks, releasing their, (can’t write this with a straight face) Magnumus ete Tomahawkus Extreme 8% alcohol, 80 IBU Ale, (ESB squared). Please ignore the “This ain’t for no Mama’s Boy or Daddy’s Girl” come-on. The real story is inside the bottle, smooth and solid.

Berkshire Brewing, who has a nice little pub on Flat St., has released their Maibock, and Otter Creek ditto with their Cuckoo Bock. From beer maven Ray McNeill, Reagin’s Stout, the tail end of the Imperial IPA, Imperial Stout, and the limited-edition 18% alcohol monster, Blunderbuss. You must have an up-to-date NRA membership card to purchase this fine brew, available only in unique, collectible, eight gallon black bottles, shaped like an authentic, Pirate’s aboard! shootin’ iron.

Fresh from the tanks of Magic Hat comes a stealth organic offering, Orlio. Stealth because the Hat appears nowhere on the package, and there’s no hint that is even brewed by elves or anything. Suffice to say that the Common Ale, and the IPA are worthy of a place on our shelves. Look for it next to the Wolaver’s.

Big Night, with Barolo (and Vermont Turkey), Plus, Plus, Plus, Yes! More New Wines!

If you never saw the great food/wine/music/Italo-fest film, Big Night, starring Stanley Tucci and Tony Shaloub, rent it, please. The prospect of creating an alpha-omega meal for Louis Prima’s band at a New Jersey restaurant, circa 1955, sets the stage for a night of dancing, reveling, and intrigue. It has inspired many a meal in my house, and last night might be the finest. Some neighbors were at a party a few months ago, when I suggested a series of theme dinners to help fight cabin fever. I volunteered to do the first, and hopefully set the bar high enough to make it either a truly noble failure, or a chewy success.

Rather than get too classically bound with homemade pasta, and piles of paper thin veal cutlets you can read through, I took it a little sideways, and made a dish centered around good old homegrown Halifax turkey. Quarter inch thick breasts, cooked in olive oil, garlic, one very hot red pepper, and salt, for two minutes. Remove turkey, garlic, and red pepper, and warm up strips of tomatoes, olives, and capers in the turkey pan. A dash of Magneau, (new at the Co-op, off-dry, tastes like an expensive Graves, only 10.99), and four minutes later, reunite with the turkey, garnish with big, fat basil leaves, and enjoy.

Antipasti was a mixture of roasted red bell peppers, (hot from the oven, skins removed), onions, sundried tomatoes, anchovies, and red wine vinegar, all on toasted bread drizzled with garlic-infused olive oil. Some fresh mozzarella, and black olives on the side. Soup was ribolita; mostly carrots, celery, squash, a couple cubes of last summer's peso, and a slow cook on the wood stove. We finished with a salad of oranges and fennel, dressed simply with olive oil and lemon.

As for the wines: I discovered Livio Felluga Pinot grigio at a local restaurant. It’s nice and minerally, smooth as silk, and a real crowd pleaser. (At 24.99, it ought to be.) A long awaited and anticipated magnum of 1997 Barolo from Renato Ratti was opened the day before, when I discovered the cork had leaked. Fortunately the wine was in great shape, probably due to it’s acidity.  The primary tastes of deep, dark raspberries and a sensuous baker’s chocolate finish will not be soon forgotten. The crowd whizzed through the Ratti, and we finished with a 1999 Langhe-Nebbiolo from Paolo Scavino. What fun! I was up until midnight washing glasses, but it was all worth it to see the happy faces around the table. Can’t wait to see what we have at the next dinner.

Avalanche of New Wines Buries Brattleboro Wineman! Dramatic Rescue by Canadian Mounties! Details Follow!

Sometimes it feels like years are passing, and no new wines are coming through the door. Do you think I don’t notice the disappointment, the long faces? Wearily they proffer articles ripped from Consumer Reports, the Wall Street Journal, or BillyBob’s BackCountry WineWorld. “Can’t you get these wines? Nooooooo!? Ohhhhhh, why!?”  The sobbing gets a little embarrassing, and I hate the whining, but, honestly,  I feel your pain. All of it. And here’s hoping the following compendium of treasures will act like some wondrously allopathic/homeopathic/jeanredpathic/crystal pendulum/referendum/non-addendum/manfred mann-dum/applaud-en-um/laudanum, and make the sun shine, followed by three feet of powder, after which a diamond blue sky, dotted with little white puffy clouds will appear over Vermont, with temps in the mid-twenties.

Rather than drown you in details and a lengthy menu advisement, with further words of wisdom from my dog Pearl, world’s smartest Black Labrador, I’ll simply say these are culled from a huge bunch, and these are all excellent values, and your cabin fever should come down a few degrees.

• 2002 Rocking Horse Zinfandel-(Napa/Sonoma)13.99-best Zin, chewy and earthy
• 2005 Irony Pinot Noir-$14.99-Smooth Monterey fruit
• 2004 Armador Carmenere-(Chile)-11.99-Spicy and smooth
• 2003 Cuvee les Tendrelles(Gigondas)-29.99-Monster fruit and depth. Celebrate!
• Petite Crau (Cote du Rhone)-9.99-Modest, but not shy
• Vida Organica-(Argentina)Torrontes, and Malbec-Back in Stock!-7.99
• 2005 Wattle Creek Sauvignon Blanc - (Mendocino)-15.99-Big, juicy, lemon/mango dry
• Santa Julia-(Argentina) Organic Cabernet and Chardonnay-7.99
• 2005 O’Reilly’s Chardonnay (Oregon)-14.99-Back in stock! Always a winner.
• 2003 REI Cannonau (Grenache from Italy)-16.99-Bold, dry, garrigue and spice
• 2005 Cuq Merlot/ Bonarda (Argentina) -11.99-Soft and easy, great blend
• 2003 Masi Campofiorin/Ripasso (Veneto)-16.99-Corvina is the major grape, serious wine at  a nice price
• 2005 Montecillo White (Rioja)-7.99-100% Viura, elegant and sassy, like Ipsum, only possibly better
• 2006 Yellowtail Pinot Grigio - (Australia)-7.99-Love this wine! Get over your YT prejudice, if you have one
• 2003 Healdsburg Merlot - (California)-9.99-Real Merlot at a great price
• 2002 Giuppa Nebbiolo-(Piedmonte)-Ask for the price. I didn’t write it in my notes, but it’s a great bargain
• 2003 Louis Bernard Lirac (France)-11.99-Faboulous deal on a Rhone red that sings!
• 2004 d’Aupilhac Mourvedre (Languedoc)-19.99-Smooth blend, and roast beef-ready
• 2005 Masi Masianco (Veneto) 14.99-Sauvignon Blanc-styled white. Delicious!
• 2004 Masi Modello (Veneto)-11.99- Tastes like a baby Amarone in-training
• 2003 Masi Brolio di Campofiorin-(Veneto) 29.99-This will fool you. Sumptous, dense, espresso.

That’s all for now. Hope you find a few winners. As always, you’re welcome to comment on the blog. (If only I had six extra arms, I could blog all day.) Cheers!

By the way, what is up with Kate and Sawyer?

Winter Wonderland

After an extended vacation, the Vinofiles hath returned!  We bring news of fresh wines, and special deals on some items already in-house. The Wine & Beer department’s own Hugh Keelan will soon be adding a few words, having attended this latest tasting. I’m sure he’ll have a provocative slant on things, especially since I caught him red-handed scrawling some scurrilous grafitti, reading “ Death to Ri...” We can only imagine what he was thinking.

Since we don’t have any snow to speak of, we are throwing a little white sale, hoping to stimulate production. First up is the white companion to our old friend Cortijo Tempranillo. It’s a 100% Viura, nicely dry Sauvignon Blanc-styled offering. The Cortijo is similar to Ipsum, perhaps a bit less lemony, and sells for a paltry $5.99. That’s right, only six petrodollars, and you save $3.00 off the regular price. There’s a new vintage a’coming in May, so our distributor wants the last of it to go away, and pronto. We are only happy to oblige, so help them out, please. There is no “super special” case price, as the discounted price is already quite low. So, throw a party, and maybe it’ll snow.

Staying in the Sauvignon Blanc vein, we’re proud to offer up the ever-steady and reliable Ch. Ducasse White Bordeaux, for a solid $3.00 off, a mere $9.99. This price hasn’t been seen for at least two years, and we bought twenty cases, with more available, I am told. This is a classic dry Bordeaux, with a touch of Semillon thrown in for structure and a hint of sweetness on the finish. Down in Bordeaux, they’d be shucking oysters, spearing scallops, maybe even ropin’n ridin’ a passel of mussels, all to be washed down with this terriffic white. Or, it could accompany a nice, hot, steaming dish of maple syrup-on-snow. All right, I’ve worn out my welcome. A bientot to you too.

From Trentadue of Sonoma County we have a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Carignane. Called Old Patch Red, it’s definitely not your average fruit bomb, but a more measured response to the question, “Just why are we fighting in California?” Confused? Don’t be. For $13.99, just try this succulent red with a Portabella and smoked gruyere melt and you’ll see why a surge in your belly is worth two in the Bush.

If it’s more white you’re craving, we have a new, off-dry blend from Hedges, whom you may recall, make a hearty Cabernet based Washington State blend we picked up a month or so ago. Called CMS, just like the red, only the grapes are Chardonnay, Marsanne, and Sauvignon Blanc. The Marsanne, a Rhone grape often paired with Viognier and Rousanne, takes over the nose and the up-front flavor. In a minute or two it backs off, allowing the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc to gently clamor for your attention. Nicely balanced, especially with a spicy tomato soup, or a platter of sushi, with a ton of spicy ginger and wasabi. Only $11.99.

Picture this: Trucked east, at great speed, comes several tons of Chardonnay grapes, to be made into wine at Halifax, Vt., (or perhaps in Wilmington, still not sure.) Honora is the name, and Peter Systo is the winemaster. The flavor reminds me of Monterey, or maybe the Sonoma Coast. It’s light, has some oak, and will grace any table you set, for only $14.99. We look forward to seeing more from these folks, and to tasting what Halifax has in store.

Those of you with long memories may recall a Sangiovese called Monastero. The 2003 is once again on our shelves, and tastes crisp and mellow. The perfect everyday red, at $9.99.

On the subject of beer, Ray McNeill garnered some very favorable write-ups in the latest issue of BeerDictator. Three fine beer critics allowed some extremely generous praise for his Ruby Amber Ale. We’ll print some quotes in the next blog, as well as some WOW (words of wisdom) from our own Hugh Keelan. Until then, drink responsibly, and say a prayer for the spirit of Barbaro.

Flat Street Pub Wine Tasting Is Smashing Success

When the cold north wind’s ablowin’, and the mercury drops to an inhuman three-dog-night chiller of forty degrees fahrenheit, there’s only one thing you can do: Get together with all your friends and neighbors down at the local pub, and have a wine tasting. You heard me right. Forget the barn raising. Nix to the quilting bee. Time for a fine pinot noir, paired with a cracker laden with foie gras, or some runny, stinky cheese that could double as radiator fixer. Or a brash but beautiful Bandol, paired with a pickled pig’s knuckle. Mmmm! Them’s good eatin! And the music, provided by the talented local trio known as Paradiso, playing guitar, violin, and clarinet, to various tunes with a South American inspiration. All in all, a great time was had by all in all. Participants were able to take advantage of special one-night deals on wine, offered at very smiley prices. We’re hoping to host another tasting in the spring, perhaps with an Italian theme, or maybe a festival of fiddleheads and fine wine. Either way, watch the newsletter, or keep a weather-eye out for posters in the wine department. Or watch this blog for continuing contrarian commentary and news of the imminent. Pray for snow, if you must, and please say a hearty thank-you to the fine folks at G. Housen of Vermont (and New Hampshire, too) , for helping put on this lollapalooza of a tasting. Thanks to all who came to enjoy the evening and support the Co-op. A special hurrah to Carol-Grumbine Hall for the delicious fare, Co-op cheeses, and gorgeous decorations. Lastly, a big thanks to the fine staff at Flat Street for their professional demeanor and hard work. Together, you all made it a night to remember.

Sure, It’s Cold, but We’re Hot

November lingered like the sweet scent of wisteria after an autumn rainstorm, hanging on the breeze, before the last storm blew it all away. We had our hot days, (relative to the season), and even our own hot nights, until the metal-grey blasts of December kicked down our door, showed us the badge, and said, “Parties’ over, pal.” And so we piled up more firewood, or called the oil company, lit up the crockpot to make a gallon of chili, and admitted that winter was here, and what kept you? Long dark days need a special kind of perspective, to keep it real, and keep us smiling. You visit friends, enjoy the Tamworth piggy and lamb they graciously set out, and dust off the wines you have set aside for “the right moment.” Maybe your wines aren’t dusty, but I bet they’re good. Especially if they come from the current crop of new arrivals, such as...

There’s a story, told in many languages and cultures, about this foxy fellow, the shapeshifter, the trickster, who sometimes is known as Reynard, or Rounard, or whatever fits. This agile, furry friend pops up, stealing hearts and minds, in a kind of thievish ballet, and leaves behind, in his/her wake, a bottle of wine in exchange for the fat hen he/she’s plumped off with. A tasty legend, but here’s the down-to-earth skinny. The wine is named Renard 2003 Syrah, and it hails from California, by way of Sonoma. Not your average red-tailed rogue, but smooth, with big teeth that get smaller with a little airtime. We enjoyed it with a scrambled egg/onion/garlic/sausage combo, and it was delightful. This red is no overblown, too-plump-to-stand-up confection. The wine is lean, but not sere, or arid, like some too-dry French Syrahs. Look for it on Friday, the 8th. It’s $16.99, save $2.00, and well worth the one-to-two-hour wait for it to open up and give you a high-five.

Next up, a Pinot Noir from Napa, and it’s a pleasure to be adding it to our shelves. You’re probably familiar with Aquinas Cabernet, a ‘Best Buy’ if there ever was one. Now we have a sumptuous red that makes a pretty big splash for $9.99, save $4.00. The 2005 Aquinas Pinot Noir is slow to open, but once it does, you find a silky, strawberry/raspberry/herbal bouquet that is quite beguiling. Napa doesn’t seem to be the ideal environment for the noble Pinot grape, but those wizards at Aquinas manage to find the rabbit every time. Show me a better California Pinot for $9.99, and I’ll buy it; but until then...Arriving Friday, the 8th.

For the most part part, I’m usually a chardonnay-avoider, unless someone cries out, “I’m special!” or “Don’t be so elitist!” or “ Care for some $200 dollar Montrachet?” Our next entry won’t set you back too far, and is a very well made wine that someone bought too much of and needs to now make it go away. Good for us, because the 2003 Echelon Chardonnay is just what the chardonnay doctor ordered. Light on the oak, bright fruit, with a twist of crisp lemon and a mildly nutty finish. I am buying twenty cases, and when it’s gone. it’s gone. Trouble is, the price is not yet settled! I’m hoping to let it go for $5.99. Hopefully, I won’t have to print a retraction. Look for it on Friday, the 8th.

Lastly, also arriving on Friday, the 8th, is a wonderful blend from Hedges Vineyards, called CSM. (No relation to the TV show.) If you’ve ever been graced with the powerhouse ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet blend, at $24.99, no shrinking violet, then you will see the pedigree, only writ a bit smaller. It’s Cabernet, Merlot, and a smidgen of Syrah. The nose is flowery and quite pretty, with a base of cocoa/mocha. It’s soft, but not flabby, and would grace a plate of fries and a Portabello “burger” quite nicely. If you’re a closet Merlot fan, (Curse you! Paul Giamatti!), then hold your head high. This one’s for you. $11.99, save  $1.

Don’t forget!

The wine tasting at the Flat St. Pub, downstairs, on Friday the 15th, from  5:30-8:00, looms ever closer. Great wine, really great food, and convivial company, not to mention doorprizes, await you for $15 per person. Get your tickets QUICK! at the Co-op wine department, or at the Customer Service Desk if I am not in the building. Cash or checks, only. Tickets are $20 at the door, on the night of the tasting. See you there.