Fall 2019 Shipment
2017 Arnaud Lambert Chenin Cuvee Viticole
2017 Combe Chenin, Cuvee Viticole
GRAPE: Chenin Blanc
TASTING NOTES
Arnaud Lambert: Clos David was a particularly great parcel to have in the warm 2017 vintage. Citrus and golden apple give way to chalky, salty, lip-smacking goodness. Textural without being fat. Bone dry and VERY serious.
Combe: Bone dry and crunchy, Combe has a similar fruit profile to Arnaud Lambert with more reduction in the wine, leading to smoky, matchstick nuances. Time to turn some heads…
RECOMMENDED DRINK WINDOW:
Arnaud Lambert: 2020 – 2035+
Combe: Now – 2033+
SEASONAL PAIRING:
Chenin Blanc is delicious with a wide range of foods, notably beets/root vegetables, soft cheese and seafood
2017/18 Muthenthaler Riesling Ried Bruck, Selektion Viticole
2018 Muthenthaler Gruner Veltliner Spitzer Graben, Selektion Viticole
GRAPE: Riesling, Gruner Veltliner
TASTING NOTES
Gruner: crisp, pure and dangerously easy to love. Citrus and peach notes are folded underneath spicy, savory, herbaceous joy. Remarkably fresh.
Riesling: pure stones on the nose and mouth. Light elderflower florals and spicy, salty nuance coalesce on a racy, linear palate. Both ’17 and ’18 vintages are warmer years that are held back by a cool region and stony granitic minerality.
RECOMMENDED DRINK WINDOW:
Gruner: now – 2026+
2017 Riesling: now – 2035+
2018 Riesling: now – 2036+
SEASONAL PAIRING:
Gruner: vegetables; greens, tomatoes, etc.
Riesling: schnitzel, choucroute garnie, Thai, etc.
2017 Arnaud Lambert Cab Franc, Cuvee Viticole
2017 Matthiasson Cab Franc, Cuvee Viticole
GRAPE: Cabernet Franc
TASTING NOTES
Matthiasson: dark fruits with subtle high-toned herbaceous notes, almost evergreen like. Red flowers and crunchy joy on the palate. Unfined/unfiltered. 20ppm of sulfur…
Lambert: truly earth dominated with tobacco and Saumur’s signature ashy/wintergreen notes. Violets abound (thanks to Montee des Roches), with more linear precision (another way of saying this needs time). Unfined/unfiltered. 10ppm of sulfur...
RECOMMENDED DRINK WINDOW:
Disclaimer: I’m personally much more a fan of aged Cab Franc, especially from the Loire as these wines seem better utilized with food early in life (Hence, the later ship date) and reveal their true magic 7-10 years out. That said, if you must pop a bottle on release the Matthiasson should be the more open of the two…
Matthiasson: now – 2037+
Lambert: 2022 – 2039+
SEASONAL PAIRING:
Matthiasson/Lambert: A little pork, veal, or fowl with a touch of spice should do the trick. It’s white asparagus season here in Saumur so perhaps some local veggies would marry nicely with the herb notes in the wine.
2017 Envinate Lousas ‘A Costa’, Cuvee Viticole
2017 Envinate Lousas ‘Penso’, Cuvee Viticole
GRAPES: Mencia
TASTING NOTES
Pensó: dark black and blue fruits yield to cracked black pepper and high toned stemmy nuances. This is lush but deep and fresh echoing some of the finer Northern Rhone Syrahs. It will benefit from extended aging.
A Costa: More red-fruited in nature and accessible, A Costa is generous and harmonious with bright red raspberry and fine herb essences. Drinks very much like a Jura red.
RECOMMENDED DRINK WINDOW:
Disclaimer: while these wines are accessible now, my palate would prefer to lay down Pensó for at least 3-5 years for optimal delicious factor. So, if pressed between which to open first, start with A Costa…
Pensó: 2021 – 2038+
A Costa: now – 2034+
SEASONAL PAIRING:
Mencía: There is none greater than a little grilled or seared Octopus. Do as the Gallegos do and drizzle with olive oil, salt and paprika…
2018 Domaine Giachino, Cuvee Viticole
2017 Prieure St. Christophe, Cuvee Viticole
GRAPES: Mondeuse
TASTING NOTES
Giachino: Dark fruit gives way to earthy, peppery nuances and crushing tannin (a hallmark of most Northern French reds in 2018). Pure energy in the mid palate, this is a monstrously serious Mondeuse that will need time to unwind and show its softer side.
Prieuré Saint Christophe: The 2017 as mentioned was juicy ripe vintage. We were able to tame some of the exuberance with larger format barrels that added freshness and showcased the intrinsic earthy elements of the wine. This is a mind-bending Mondeuse that finds a crazy level of ethereal harmony.
RECOMMENDED DRINK WINDOW
Giachino: Best 2025 – 2040+
Prieuré Saint Christophe: Best 2021 – 2045+
SEASONAL PAIRING
Giachino: More marbled proteins with the amount of tannin, risotto
Prieuré Saint Christophe: grilled and herb-roasted fowl
2018 Dutraive “Tous Ensemble” Cuvee Viticole
2018 Tatomer Riesling “Selektion Viticole”
GRAPES: Riesling (Tatomer) / Gamay (Dutraive)
TASTING NOTES
Tatomer: spicy/savory nuances hint at an Austrian style. This is citrusy, salty, minerals on a harmonious bone-dry palate. Hard to believe we’re in California.
Dutraive: 2018 echoes some of the ripeness and harmony of 2010. This is textbook Dutraive Fleurie, a vision of red-fruited elegance with crunchy, feral elements beautifully integrated. Ethereal with a capital E.
RECOMMENDED DRINK WINDOW
Tatomer: Best 2020 – 2035+
Dutraive: Best now – 2033+
SEASONAL PAIRING
Tatomer: So flexible but some of the faves: Thai food, briny shellfish, Ramen
Dutraive: grilled fish and roasted chicken