Fall 2020 Shipment
2018 Arnaud Lambert Chenin Blanc, Cuvee Viticole
2018 Arnaud Lambert Cabernet Franc, Cuvee Viticole
FIELD NOTES
White: The grape is Chenin Blanc, mainly from Brézé, a limestone hill outside of Saumur. This is textural but fresh and salty with lots of energy due to Arnaud’s least amount of intervention to date
Red: For those who like fruit, 2018 was the vintage for Loire Valley Cabernet Franc. For those who prefer the more herbal components of Cab Franc, I’d give this one a few years.
RECOMMENDED DRINK WINDOW:
White: drink now 2022 – 2033+
Red: drink now – 2035+
SEASONAL PAIRING:
White: beets and root vegetables, lighter fowl…
Red: duck casserole, herb-roasted game and grilled greens
2018 Domaine Ganevat Blanc Agite Cuvee Viticole
2019 Envinate Migan “Tio Luis” Cuvee Viticole
FIELD NOTES
Envinate: One of the first zero sulfur red wines from the Canary Islands. Tío Luis is a parcel of old-vine Listan Negro, a grape that electrifies with liquid pepper and smoky herb energy.
Ganevat: A blend of Jura’s two white grapes: Chardonnay and Savagnin. This saw a few weeks of skin contact which adds texture and exotic fruits and florals to what would otherwise be a citrus and sea salt laser beam.
RECOMMENDED DRINK WINDOW:
Envinate: Drink now – 2036+
Ganevat: Drink now – 2034+ (***If you pop a cork today, I would finish the bottle within that day. Otherwise, hold for a few years and will be even better)
SEASONAL PAIRING:
Envinate: Anything with spicy, vinegar-based sauces...these island reds can really sing with fatty, pink-fleshed grilled fish (salmon, trout, char) or small salty fish (sardines, mackerel, anchovies)
Ganevat: Skin contact is a vegetarian’s dream. This should handle all the fall and winter veggies admirably along with lighter game dishes like fowl and pork
2019 Martin Muthenthaler Riesling Viesslinger Ried Bruck, Selektion Viticole
2019 Tatomer Riesling, Selektion Viticole
FIELD NOTES
Tatomer: Welcome to the tropical side of California Riesling. Peach and guava will give way to citrus in a year or two. No sulfur added at bottling and zero filtration lends this bottling a freedom and playfulness beyond past Tatomer offerings.
Muthenthaler: Like Tatomer, this is the freest Riesling Martin has made to date with reduced sulfur and no filtration. It’s pretty to smell and delicious to drink now. And it has a long life to look forward to.
RECOMMENDED DRINK WINDOW:
Tatomer: Drink now but best best from 2022 – 2038+
Muthenthaler: Drink now – 2038+
SEASONAL PAIRING:
Riesling: Thai, ramen or pho for the win…
2019 Domaine Giachino Cuvee Viticole
2018 Domaine Prieure St. Christophe Cuvee Viticole
FIELD NOTES
Giachino: the first of two alpine reds from the Savoie’s famed grape: Mondeuse. This is the lighter Beaujolais-y side of Mondeuse in a bright, fresh 2019. Zero sulfur from start to finish on the pepper-laden palate.
Prieuré Saint Christophe: Another no sulfur cuvee that aged for 18 months in barrel. This is accessible Mondeuse today but will improve with time in bottle, not unlike a Northern Rhone Syrah. Pepper and herb notes will increase over the years once the baby fat of the ripe 2018 vintage is shed.
RECOMMENDED DRINK WINDOW:
Giachino: drink now – 2035+
Prieuré Saint Christophe: drink 2022 – 2048+
SEASONAL PAIRING:
Mondeuse: Herb-roasted game, potatoes with alpine cheese melted over top, roasted veggies. Awesome with Syrian / Lebanese / Israeli flavors...
2017 Anne & JF Ganevat Kopin! Cuvee Viticole
2018 Martin Muthenthaler Gruner Veltliner Spitzer Graben Extended Elevage, Selektion Viticole
FIELD NOTES
Muthenthaler: All the spicy, smoky, lentil-y signatures of Austria’s mother white: Grüner Veltliner. A harmonious textured version that saw 20 months in tank on its lees.
Ganevat: If you like a smoky, matchstick nose and almost effervescent palate you’ll be seduced immediately by this briny, vibrant white wine. Another blend of Jura Chardonnay & Savagnin assembled with Riesling from Alsace. It’s THE most wild and playful wine of the shipment and will age comfortably for the next few decades.
RECOMMENDED DRINK WINDOW:
Muthenthaler: Drink now – 2032+
Ganevat: Drink now – 2048+
SEASONAL PAIRING:
Muthenthaler: heirloom tomatoes, lentils, fresh greens...also beautiful with seafood like Nordic shrimp, smoked oysters and scallops...
Ganevat: lighter fowl and fish cooked over fire
Floreal IV ‘Cuvee Viticole’ Cider
Fable Farm Fluxion V Cider ‘Cuvee Viticole’
FIELD NOTES
Floreal: 1 of 2 apple ciders; this one from Oregon near the base of Mt Hood. Ultra-complex and exotic. Showing well at first pour. Salty, smoky, effervescent with a gorgeous freshness. Very wine-like! Floral notes, tea and jasmine will abound with age.
Fable: Ultra clean and fresh Vermont cider. Even racier than the Floreal on the palate, with slightly less sparkling character and the harmony of older cider in the blend (2015-2019). This will age effortlessly and continue to gain complexity.
RECOMMENDED DRINK WINDOW:
Floreal: Drink now – 2040+
Fable: Drink now – 2040+
SEASONAL PAIRING:
Cider: the ultimate friend of almost anything edible. Enjoy as an aperitif in place of Champagne. Particularly at home with traditional Thanksgiving fare.
