Friday Sips
FRIDAY SIPS
A Holiday Chateauneuf Party
Today December 23 from 1:30 - 6:30
A Holiday Chateauneuf Party
Today December 23 from 1:30 - 6:30
Three delicious, older Chateauneufs from Galet des Papes! We'll pour them until they sell out....and if they do, we'll just open something else!
2005 GALET DES PAPES
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 'VIEILLES VIGNES'
$44.99 BTL.
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 'VIEILLES VIGNES'
$44.99 BTL.
Here at the Cellar Door, Galet des Papes has somewhat become an anti-hero. Jean-Luc Mayard eschews the celebrity winemaker role, doesn't cater to critics, and for him a vacation may be a night out in Avignon; this is a man who simply loves his vines. We have been selling his wines since the 1996 vintage and there have been many superb bottles that have come through our doors, some, like the 2000 Vieilles Vignes below, have garnered mythical status around here.
Old vine magic here, this comes from 60-100+ year old vines and is sculpted, stacked and just hinting at tinges of secondary aromas coming through at age 11. Beautiful combination of rhubarb, violet, rosemary, lavender and peppercorn builds from the glass. Penetrates very deeply and offers up its intense old-vine core and personality. Fabulously textured with ample backbone that's enhanced even more with aspects of ardent strawberry, hot-rock and smoky-spicy qualities. Natural freshness and packed with licorice and red tones on the long, luxurious finish that slowly builds. This really comes on as it unfolds in the glass. If you want to drink now, do decant…No problem to age on through to its 20th birthday and probably beyond. Galet wines are chameleons with cuisine - grilled lamb (Tradition) or duck (Vieilles Vignes) in particular.
Old vine magic here, this comes from 60-100+ year old vines and is sculpted, stacked and just hinting at tinges of secondary aromas coming through at age 11. Beautiful combination of rhubarb, violet, rosemary, lavender and peppercorn builds from the glass. Penetrates very deeply and offers up its intense old-vine core and personality. Fabulously textured with ample backbone that's enhanced even more with aspects of ardent strawberry, hot-rock and smoky-spicy qualities. Natural freshness and packed with licorice and red tones on the long, luxurious finish that slowly builds. This really comes on as it unfolds in the glass. If you want to drink now, do decant…No problem to age on through to its 20th birthday and probably beyond. Galet wines are chameleons with cuisine - grilled lamb (Tradition) or duck (Vieilles Vignes) in particular.
2005 GALET DES PAPES
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 'TRADITION'
$39.99 BTL.
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 'TRADITION'
$39.99 BTL.
This wine should never be referred as the Vieilles Vignes little brother because there are vintages where it is the equal of the VV and some years where it will actually surpass it in quality. The main reason and difference that it is called Cuvee Tradition is the classic use of 80% Grenache instead of 60%. The vines here are also 50+ and the wine is a very different but equally delicious version that fans of mature wines will adore. 2005 is quite a renowned vintage and is certainly one of structure. We sold the 2005 Vieilles Vignes a few years back and after recently trying one, it is still quite young. This is due to all of the Mourvedre in the blend.
In contrast, the 2005 Cuvee Tradition is symphonic. Very powerful, traditional aromas of perfumed strawberry, grenadine and sandalwood scents. Seemingly jacked with aromatic lavender and rosemary along with North African spices and white pepper, this wine has depth, personality and certainly the backbone that is indicative of the 2005 vintage. As it airs, it continues to open, unfold and expand, especially on the finish that is now showing tertiary aspects of spice, hot rock and succulent fruit. Galet wines are chameleons when it comes to food. The Cuvee Tradition drinks beautifully now and will continue onward for another 6-8 more years. Enjoy with grilled or braised lamb, rib eye, a sausage/lentil casserole or finish with a dense cheese.
In contrast, the 2005 Cuvee Tradition is symphonic. Very powerful, traditional aromas of perfumed strawberry, grenadine and sandalwood scents. Seemingly jacked with aromatic lavender and rosemary along with North African spices and white pepper, this wine has depth, personality and certainly the backbone that is indicative of the 2005 vintage. As it airs, it continues to open, unfold and expand, especially on the finish that is now showing tertiary aspects of spice, hot rock and succulent fruit. Galet wines are chameleons when it comes to food. The Cuvee Tradition drinks beautifully now and will continue onward for another 6-8 more years. Enjoy with grilled or braised lamb, rib eye, a sausage/lentil casserole or finish with a dense cheese.
2000 GALET DES PAPES
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 'TRADITION'
$49.99 BTL.
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 'TRADITION'
$49.99 BTL.
2000 was quite a warm vintage in an area where warmth and sunshine are the norm. 16 years old now, this wine is humming and drinking very well. In comparison to 2001, 2004 and 2005, the 2000 is more about spice, game, provencal herbs, smoke, rhubarb and licorice and is quite broad with its aromatic and flavor profile. Very smoothed out and resolved there is fine freshness that holds this mature example together very nicely. Savory and peppery as all get out on the lux finish that extends, snaps back and seemingly goes for about an hour. As mentioned, this wine is showing in fine form now and will continue to be delicious for at least another 5 years. Why wait though, enjoy a true-to-form, well-aged Chateauneuf experience tonight with just about any lamb dish. Will also work with game or slow roasted duck.
2015 FEUILLARDE
MACON-CHARNAY
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE
MACON-CHARNAY
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE
Currently, the Macon region in Southern Burgundy is home to some of the most exciting White Burgundy values. Forget about the large Beaune-based bull-merde negociants who mostly buy juice from these regions; instead focus on the micro, small growers who actually reside there, farm their own sites and deliver handcrafted wines that express site over signature.
Located west of the small city of Macon, Charnay is one of the smaller, named villages of the Maconnais. The beauty of this unoaked wine is the South-Southwest exposure on the hillside with excellent clay-dominated with tinges of chalk soils. Crystalline, bright and wafting scents of pure apple-lemon fruit with just a touch of exotic floral aspects followed by a rush of minerality. Round upon entry then fanning out throughout the palate and finishing up with bursting, crisp mineral that persists on very well indeed. This delightful White Burgundy is a perfect match for seafood such as steamed mussels jacked with Pernod or cod in a sauce but there is also sufficient stuffing and depth here for it to pair well with the holiday turkey.
Located west of the small city of Macon, Charnay is one of the smaller, named villages of the Maconnais. The beauty of this unoaked wine is the South-Southwest exposure on the hillside with excellent clay-dominated with tinges of chalk soils. Crystalline, bright and wafting scents of pure apple-lemon fruit with just a touch of exotic floral aspects followed by a rush of minerality. Round upon entry then fanning out throughout the palate and finishing up with bursting, crisp mineral that persists on very well indeed. This delightful White Burgundy is a perfect match for seafood such as steamed mussels jacked with Pernod or cod in a sauce but there is also sufficient stuffing and depth here for it to pair well with the holiday turkey.
