If you are a fan of Dressner wines (as I am) check out the note that was sent out to those on Arrowine's email list:
Two Delicious "Illegal" Louis/Dressner Wines
French wine labels are all about geography; the most prominent name on the label is nearly always the place the wine comes from. But if you are a wine grower and wine maker, French laws require you to follow a certain "recipe" in order to use the name of your village. Furthermore, a tasting panel of producers from the area may have to declare that your wine is "typical" for the area. That poses a problem for some innovative winemakers. Their wines are NOT "typical", they're better! The tasting panel may not "get" the wine or, more likely, they simply don't want their own wines compared to those made by the innovative producer. So they simply deny the excellent wine the right to use the name of the area to try to put an end to comparisons.
That's exactly what happened with the two delicious wines in today's e-mail. They were just too good, too natural, and too unique to be labeled as what they were. Their "wine crime" was that they were "different"; they didn't taste like other wines of the area so they couldn't label their bottle the same as their neighbors.
Well I tasted these two captivating treats and decided that I had to share them with you. They're that good and that unique. As a bonus, you'll get to see just how silly wine laws can be!
I love wines like these and so do my friends at Louis/ Dressner Selections who don't give a darn what's on the label as long as the quality is in the bottle. Sure it takes a little time to explain wines like this, but it is well worth the effort. Try these and I know you'll agree.
To order, call us at 703.525.0990 with Visa or MasterCard information. Wines arrive tomorrow, Wednesday November 7th.
Clos du Tue-Boeuf "Rouillon"
Clos du Tue-Boeuf "Rouillon"
Reg. $19.99
"Mix Six" price: $17.99 each (just order any six bottles of these two wines for this price)
"Mix a case" price: $15.99 each (just order any 12 bottles of these two wines for this price)
How can winemakers that have been growing vines since the Middle Ages be so avant-garde? For centuries the Puzelatz family has been supplying wines to the French Aristocracy. From their 10- hectare estate in Tourraine, brothers Jean-Marie and Thierry Puzelatz (pictured at right) have been making wines as their father and grandfather have. But when the AOC of Cheverny was created in 1993 the blends they made, as well as the some of the varietals cultivated were suddenly outlawed. But they, Louis/Dressner and I don't care. When the wine police reject a wine, the Puzelatzs just sell it as "Vin de Table Francais."
This Le Tue-Boeuf Rouillon from Clos du Tue-Boeuf comes from a vineyard site planted in about half pinot noir and half gamay worked biodynamically. It is from the 2006 harvest (though they can't say so explicitly on the label, there is a tiny lot number ending in "06"). No sulfur prior to bottling. If necessary, they use carbon dioxide to protect the macerations.
Here's what it tastes like:
Deep garnet/purple color. The aromas are of macerated black cherries, kirsch, stones and underbrush. The palate is generous and smooth, filled with slightly spicy dark cherry, red plum, fruit that is a natural for roasted chicken or grilled salmon or even a plate of charcuterie. This is unique, unusual, atypical and very good.
To order, call us at 703.525.0990 with Visa or MasterCard information. Wines arrive tomorrow, Wednesday November 7th.
Poivre et Sel, Vin de Table
Poivre et Sel, Vin de Table
Reg. $19.99
"Mix Six" price: $17.99 each (just order any six bottles of these two wines for this price)
"Mix a case" price: $15.99 each (just order any 12 bottles of these two wines for this price)
Poivre et Sel ("Pepper and Salt") is a delightful blend of 50% gamay and 50% old vine pineau d'aunis. It is grown in the Loire valley in the Loir-et-Cher zone. You won't find any of this on the label, though, because the wine could only be labeled "Vin de table". It's just too unique to use the name of the zone. They weren't even allowed to use a vintage date (though the harvest year is cleverly indicated in the label graphics, it's from 2006).
The producer is Olivier Lemasson, a former sommelier, who is passionate about natural wines. He trained at Marcel Lapierre's winery in Morgon, Beaujolais, first by picking grapes four years in a row, then by working for a whole year both in the vineyards and in the cellar.
Gamay and pineau d'aunis work beautifully together; creating wines with bright fruit, dry savory flavors and memorable spice. But these blends are rare; pineau d'aunis has been largely supplanted in vineyards by grapes that are easier to grow. This wine is different than anything you're likely to have tried before, and it's delicious.
Here's what it tastes like:
Wonderful garnet ruby color. Aromas of rhubarb and red cherries with a slightly spicy nuance from the pineau d'aunis. The palate is round, spicy and perfectly balanced with red fruit flavors of raspberry and cherry and a charming, dry, spicy finish. Do I hear steak frites? Please decant this beauty before serving. It was bottled with minute amounts of sulfur. Olivier instead uses a little CO2 to preserve the freshness. This is a great "bistro" red, meaning it goes great with all kinds of meals especially those with some fat and protein.
To order, call us at 703.525.0990 with Visa or MasterCard information. Wines arrive tomorrow, Wednesday November 7th.
