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
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