Friday Sips
HAUT RIAN FRIDAY SIPS
Today, Friday July 15 from 1:30 - 6:30
Today, Friday July 15 from 1:30 - 6:30
They have finally landed and we'll have all of the new releases open. White, Red, Rose and Cuvee Prestige! And who knows, Michel may make an appearance ;-)
2013 HAUT RIAN
COTES-DE-BORDEAUX ROUGE
$10.99 BTL./$131.88 CASE
COTES-DE-BORDEAUX ROUGE
$10.99 BTL./$131.88 CASE
As we know, Michel Dietrich is prolific in White and Rose wine but he is equally adept with his superbly priced red wines. A spectacular value, this classic Bordeaux blend comes from various sites along the slopes of the Garonne River encompassing limestone, clay and gravelly soils. There is so much to love about this wine and with vintage 2013, there is even more! Michel produced no Cuvee Prestige in this vintage so all of the old vines and grand sites for his lux wine are all in this offering.
My tasting notes from the long weekend with Michel & Isabelle: ‘Vibrant raspberry scents accompanied by dusty mineral, cocoa, aromatic herbs and hints of violet. Very direct with a lovely core and density. Touches of coffee and peat arrive. Charming, excellent fruit, movement and picking up spices and tobacco tones on the sneaky finish. The wonders of having the declassified Prestige in this wine has allowed it to be very underrated. Even better than the delicious 2011 which also included declassified Prestige in the blend. Very versatile with food pairings. Drink over the next 3-4 years with chicken, rib-eye steak, grilled pork, andouillette sausage, even pizza.’
My tasting notes from the long weekend with Michel & Isabelle: ‘Vibrant raspberry scents accompanied by dusty mineral, cocoa, aromatic herbs and hints of violet. Very direct with a lovely core and density. Touches of coffee and peat arrive. Charming, excellent fruit, movement and picking up spices and tobacco tones on the sneaky finish. The wonders of having the declassified Prestige in this wine has allowed it to be very underrated. Even better than the delicious 2011 which also included declassified Prestige in the blend. Very versatile with food pairings. Drink over the next 3-4 years with chicken, rib-eye steak, grilled pork, andouillette sausage, even pizza.’
2012 HAUT RIAN
COTES-DE-BORDEAUX 'PRESTIGE'
$14.99 BTL./$179.88 CASE
COTES-DE-BORDEAUX 'PRESTIGE'
$14.99 BTL./$179.88 CASE
Having re-tasted the 2012 back in the first quarter when Michel was here, we were quite enamored with just how exquisitely it is showing right now and bought a last drop of eight more cases to hold us over until the 2014 arrives towards the holidays. 2012 is a vintage, especially on Bordeaux's Right Bank, that the French refer to as sous-estimé.
‘Very underrated. Sleek and cunning as a whippet with plush aromas of blackberry and red cherry that intertwined with Havanas and engaging earth tones. Brilliantly detailed, laden with proper Bordeaux precision and possessing lots of lingering aspects, Hints of Moroccan spices arrive and picks up limestone energy as it materializes towards the spicy, espresso-laden finish. Smooth and layered, copiously consume over the next 4-5 years with a filet of beef with a sauce, grilled duck, numerous cheeses and lamb shanks. Tell your friends just how good both of these reds are!’
‘Very underrated. Sleek and cunning as a whippet with plush aromas of blackberry and red cherry that intertwined with Havanas and engaging earth tones. Brilliantly detailed, laden with proper Bordeaux precision and possessing lots of lingering aspects, Hints of Moroccan spices arrive and picks up limestone energy as it materializes towards the spicy, espresso-laden finish. Smooth and layered, copiously consume over the next 4-5 years with a filet of beef with a sauce, grilled duck, numerous cheeses and lamb shanks. Tell your friends just how good both of these reds are!’
2015 HAUT RIAN
BORDEAUX BLANC
$9.99 BTL./$119.88 CASE
BORDEAUX BLANC
$9.99 BTL./$119.88 CASE
For 15+ years now The Cellar Door has championed this dry, lively white wine which we refer to as Cellar Door water because it not only goes down so easily but it is seemingly essential to life itself. We did a pre-arrival event here in March but I also visited Chateau Haut-Rian and tasted through the wines with Michel back in May and the following are my updated tasting notes:
'Absolute immense appeal right now with gorgeous fruit. Kiwi, clementine, lemon-lime, touch of spice and an underlay of mineral that certainly will come out even more as the wine evolves into the winter months. Semillon entry with roundness then cresting with the Sauvignon nervosity and vibrancy. Fruit, clarity and cut, especially on the finish that stretches out nicely. Yet another captivating Haut-Rian story from a dazzling Bordeaux vintage. As always, the perfect foil with oysters but it will go with finesseful fish dishes as well as being a great glass of white wine on a warm (or cold) day.’
'Absolute immense appeal right now with gorgeous fruit. Kiwi, clementine, lemon-lime, touch of spice and an underlay of mineral that certainly will come out even more as the wine evolves into the winter months. Semillon entry with roundness then cresting with the Sauvignon nervosity and vibrancy. Fruit, clarity and cut, especially on the finish that stretches out nicely. Yet another captivating Haut-Rian story from a dazzling Bordeaux vintage. As always, the perfect foil with oysters but it will go with finesseful fish dishes as well as being a great glass of white wine on a warm (or cold) day.’
2015 HAUT RIAN
BORDEAUX ROSE
$9.99 BTL./$119.88 CASE
BORDEAUX ROSE
$9.99 BTL./$119.88 CASE
Good luck finding Southern French Rose or most any other Rose at 10 bucks that tantalizes the senses as much as this!!! Tasting notes from my recent visit with Michel:
‘Very strawberry, quite powdery and aromatic. Good burst with licorice and lime tones. Like the white wine, this rose is a slaphappy SOB! Tangy and zippy yet with ample coverage on the palate. Saline, pepper and more hints of licorice come out on the magnetic and mouthwatering finish. What is not to love about this wine?!?!?! Have this dry pink wine with hors d’oeurves, crab, a plate of charcuterie or just on its own.’
‘Very strawberry, quite powdery and aromatic. Good burst with licorice and lime tones. Like the white wine, this rose is a slaphappy SOB! Tangy and zippy yet with ample coverage on the palate. Saline, pepper and more hints of licorice come out on the magnetic and mouthwatering finish. What is not to love about this wine?!?!?! Have this dry pink wine with hors d’oeurves, crab, a plate of charcuterie or just on its own.’
