Blockbuster Saturday Specials and Tasting Tensley, Leflaive, Chave, and More

Blockbuster Saturday full of Specials and Wines available for tasting. You may not be able to see a day like this again as we are full of great wines that we not only have special pricing on just for today but all the wines in our newsletter today will be available for tasting from 2-6pm with Sal Fulfari from Bacchus Imports. (Some wines are limited and will be available to be tasted accordingly)

Check Out our Lineup of Specials for Today

Tensley Syrah that goes up against Saxum, Sine Qua Non, Pax, etc.

This is a perennial 95+ point Syrah that you can put up against Saxum, Sine Qua Non, Colgin, Pax, etc. The best part is that this wine is half to a third of the cost of those wines. 

This is what Robert Parker said of Tensley "Joey Tensley, one of Santa Barbara’s budding superstars, produces a sensational portfolio of wines. The Syrahs continue to go from strength to strength, and some are realistically priced for the high quality."

We have a Special Offer on the newly released Tensley Syrah Colson Canyon 2010. Our Special Price is $34.95 which is an extremely great value for this wine and one of the Best Prices Anywhere. This has outscored almost all of the Top Syrahs the last 10 years. I would highly recommend getting this wine now before Tensley explodes to where the other great Syrah Producers price their wines.

Tensley

Tensley Wines is a family owned and operated winery focusing on vineyard designated Syrah within Santa Barbara County.

Established in 1998, the first release of Tensley totaled just 100 cases. In 2006, the production reached 3,300 cases and included seven single-vineyard Syrahs, the most in Santa Barbara County.

Though we've grown in size, the philosophy has never changed - source the best fruit possible and let the vineyard speak for itself.

Colson Canyon Vineyard's original 8-acre planting of Clone 7 is the backbone of the Tensley Wines program. The Colson Canyon Syrah vineyard is a 20-acre parcel planted on red volcanic soil, set on a rugged 120-acre parcel high up in the Santa Maria foothills. Tensley was the first to discover the tremendous potential of the spot and was able to lock up a grape contract for the best and oldest block before other growers started clamoring for the grapes. These grapes were picked over a period of six days for maximum complexity.

Colson Canyon is the only one of Tensley's wines to see any new oak. It is aged in 20% new, 20% one-year-old, and 60% neutral French oak barrels to add a bit of sweet vanilla and coffee to the finish. The 2010 growing season was long and cool allowing the grapes to develop wonderful complexity and concentration. The 2010 Colson once again delivers its signature flavors with a lively mix of ripe, vivid blueberry, wild berry and huckleberry flavors that are intense, full-bodied, focused and direct, ending with a subtle dash of berry fruit and fine-grained tannins.  This wine offers wonderful complexity, elegance and finesse.  Drink this wine now or age it for up to 15 years.

All Old World Bois de Boursan CDP for $36.95

This is a tremendous wine as it is hard to find an Old World Chateauneuf Du Pape of this quality and value. Jean-Paul Versino at Bois de Boursan is one of the few growers who stick to absolutely traditional methods and his wines stand out for their wonderfully classical and typical Chateauneuf aromas.  This is Chateauneuf as it used to be, always, not the overly-produced, modern, sweet and easy style. Bois de Boursan wines are fabulously aromatic, with tremendous texture and energy; perhaps the most soulful wines in the world. We have a Special Offer on Domaine Bois de Boursan Chateauneuf Du Pape 2008 for $36.95. 

Wine Spectator: “Jean-Paul Versino makes some of the Appellation’s most peppery, garrigue-filled reds.  Nothing seems to change at Bois de Boursan including the well-preserved Jean-Paul Versino himself.  Always one of the most distinctive wines in the Appellation.”;  Robert Parker: “Jean-Paul Versino has produced a bevy of beautiful wines” Rhone Report: “Very traditional, these wines are not to be missed.  There’s nothing modern about them and tasting the Felix at the end of the day was like a breath of fresh air”

Bright ruby. High-pitched aromas of cherry, Asian spices and dried rose, with complementary notes of anise and blood orange. Smells like a pinot noir. Juicy and light on its feet, with good lift to the flavors of cherry, raspberry and spice cake. Seamless and open-knit and showing a subtle, perfumed aftertaste.

From Legendary Jean Louis Chave Another Winner 

We have a Special Offer for you from the Legendary Jean Louis Chave. Chave's Mon Coeur Cotes Du Rhone has received at least a rating 90 points the last 5 vintages. 2009 is another exceptional vintage for the Northern Rhone with Wine Spectator giving it 93-96 points and Robert Parker backing that up with a 93 point rating. So you can expect this wine to receive at least 90 points. We have a terrific price of $17.95. This is an absolute steal for this wine!

Jean-Louis Chave
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave is a family owned winery, passed from father to son since 1481. Currently, the Domaine is under the direction of Jean-Louis, although his father, Gerard, is still around – keeping a watchful eye. The wines of the Chave family are generally recognized as among the best, if not the very best, of the Rhone valley.

Chave also owns vines in 9 of the 18 vineyards that cover the Hermitage hillside. Keenly aware of the different dynamics fruit from different parcels can have, Jean-Louis pays close attention to the terroir-influences when selecting fruit for this, his top cuvee. He uses little to no oak on his wines, believing that the innate character of the fruit is what makes a truly great wine. In this vein, he intervenes with filtering or fining minimally, if at all.

While famous wine regions like Chateauneuf du Pape, Vacqueyras and Gigondas are fun to say, almost 75% of wine production in the Southern Rhone is labeled Cotes du Rhone, an expansive sets of vineyards to the south. Extremely reasonable in price, the region is best known for smaller producers making sensational wines. Different from their Nothern Rhone cousins of Hermitage and Cote Rotie, the vineyards in Cotes du Rhone are part of the sunny, herb scented, lavender strewn, olive growing Mediterranean. Brutally hot days are contrasted with the cold mistral winds blowing from the Alps down the Rhone Valley. These winds concentrate the sugar and acid in the grapes while cooling down the vines and protecting against humidity and mold. The end results are generally full bodied wines full of power and finesse.

To ensure quality, Jean-Louis works with growers who share his devotion to quality, practice organic farming and the preservation of terroir in the finished wines. For Mon Coeur, as with all of his negociant wines, the grapes are taken to the Domaine for aging and finishing so that Jean-Louis has control over the final product.

His goal for the top level Mon Coeur, his Cotes du Rhone blend, is single-minded: produce a wine that is authentic and represents the best of the appellation and the grape. The Cote du Rhone ‘Mon Coeur’ is a blend of Syrah and Grenache and shows notes of spice and black pepper along with fresh dark fruits. This is a delicious wine that represents very good value for the appellation.

We also Specials Today on these Great Wines.

Ernie Els Big Easy 2010
This wine, made by cellar master Louis Strydom, is Ernie Els' vision to produce an exceptional wine, reflecting their respective commitment to quality. Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from the Helderberg region within the Stellenbosch appellation. Grenache was picked from rare, 40 year-old Grenache vines from Piekenierskloof on the West Coast. Mouvèdre and Viognier were delivered from neighbouring Stellenbosch vineyards. The diversity of the various sites shows beautiful balance on the palate. 

The Big Easy 2010 is richer, fuller and more bombastic than previous vintages. An alluring kaleidoscope of black fruits, Christmas cake, liquorice and cinnamon tempt your nose, leading to a dense and full-bodied palate. Abound with spice from the dominant Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon adds punchy tannins and a robust structure. Floral and savory notes from Mourvedre, Cinsaut and Vigonier all contribute to the exotic rhythm of the Big Easy. Finally rounded-off by the gentle, sweet-fruited finish from a dash of comforting Grenache. Delicious now, it will swing easy for another 5 years.

60% Shiraz, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Mourvèdre, 6% Grenache, 5% Cinsaut, 3% Viognier

2009 Domaine du Closel "La Jalousie" Savennieres
Proprietor Michèle de Jessey's great-great-grandfather was the Chamberlain and Chief Memorialist to the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. She inherited the estate in 1961 when her aunt, Madame du Closel, the former proprietor/winemaker, searched for a successor throughout her extensive family. Madame de Jessey was chosen for her love and respect for the wine, vineyards and traditions of Savennières: a love that is evident in her wines. She went on to become much respected for her technical expertise and served as the first woman in France to be President of an Appellation Contrôlée. The estate consists of 12 hectares of Chenin Blanc vines. The soil is shallow sandy topsoil on a deep bed of schist and volcanic rock. The vines are rigorously pruned to produce 4 to 6 buds on two canes. This keeps the yields low, from 20 to 40 hl/ha in any given vintage. The microclimate is defined by the protecting hillsides, and the best hilltop vineyards are exposed to high winds that keep the grapes cool and free of rot. The grapes are picked by hand under selection, or tri, and the vinification is slow under controlled temperatures. Savennières la Jalousie (formerly les Coulées, or Cuvée Classique, i.e. dry) is a classic Savennières from a stainless-steel cuvée of young and older vines from their steepest soils of pure schist. Intense!

2010 Domaine de la Pépière Classique Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie

When Marc Ollivier is on, these are the top wines of the AOC - wines that are not only delicious young, but that can also age 10, 20 or 30 years. Ollivier's Muscadet-sur-Lie is the authentic item — it has lees contact until the time of bottling, generally in late May. This extended contact gives it the crispness that makes Muscadet so refreshing, and the classic wine match for seafood.

Weekend Special Offer: Legendary Domaine Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc 2008 & 2009 $49.95

We a Special, Special Offer for you this Weekend. We have the Legendary Domaine Leflaive and their Bourgogne Blanc 2008 and 2009. This weekend only we have a Special Offer Price of $49.95 for either vintage. These are some of the Best Prices you will find anywhere! To get wines of this quality from Domaine Leflaive at this price is just a tremendous deal.

This legendary domain has consistently been among the two or three best in the village of Puligny-Montrachet. The domain dates its founding to 1920, when Joseph Leflaive began an exhaustive program of replanting and enhancing his family's hereditary vineyards. The estate is currently managed by Joseph's granddaughter, Anne-Claude Leflaive. The wines are impeccably steely and fresh, with deeply concentrated fruit and mineral flavors and excellent cellaring potential. The Bourgogne Blanc usually has anywhere from 100 to a few hundred cases imported depending on the vintage. That is not a lot wine but that is apart of what makes these wines so special. 

Take advantage of these Special Offers as they are for this Weekend Only. Offers End March 10, 2012. Get it now and save. We will not be able to honor special prices after the offer end.

Tomorrow make sure to look out for our One Day Specials and Tasting with Sal Fufari from Bacchus Importers from 2-5pm. 

The 95pt Syrah that was going to apart of the Weekend Specials came in with a new vintage. It is still a great wine and we will have it as apart of our specials and tasting lineup tomorrow.

Domaine Leflaive

There have been Leflaives in the region since 1580, but the first traces of Domaine Leflaive emerged when Claude Leflaive came to live in the domaine’s present buildings in 1717. At that time they had some 5 hectares of vines. The domaine itself was created by Joseph Leflaive, who came to Burgundy in 1905 after the failure of an unsuccessful business venture, and an adventurous life which included a period in Indochina, and being one of the engineers who built the first French submarine.

Over the next few years, with the price of vineyards at an historical low after the devastation caused by phylloxera, he was able to buy 25 hectares of vines and a number of buildings in Puligny. When Joseph died in 1953, the running of the domaine was taken on by his sons Joseph-Régis and Vincent.

Around 1990 it was time for the next generation to take the reins. Anne-Claude and her cousin Olivier Leflaive took over from Vincent (Anne-Claude’s father) and Joseph-Regis (Olivier’s father), and this arrangement continued for four years. However, Olivier was also running a negociant business, and in 1994 the shareholders (made up of some 30 family members) decided they wanted just one person running things and so the businesses were separated.

Under the guidance of Anne-Claude, the domaine converted entirely to biodynamic farming practices in the 1990s. Distinguishing Domaine Leflaive beyond the impeccable pedigree of its vineyard sites and biodynamic practices, are the skill and care of its winemaking. The combination of these efforts has produced remarkable results, further elevating the standard for one of the world’s greatest wines.

Special Offer: Delas Crozes Hermitage 91pt WA & WS $19.95

We have quite a Special Offer for you today as we have Delas Crozes Hermitage Les Launes 2009. This was given 91 points by both Wine Advocate (Feb 2011) and Wine Spectator. Robert Parker called this a "Sleeper of the Vintage" and a "Great Value".  Parker also added that this is the finest Delas Crozes-Hermitage Les Launes ever made. As an added bonus we are one of the first in the nation to have the 2010 Delas Crozes Hermitage Les Launes for you as well. This is an Extremely Limited Release. We will have special pricing for you on both vintages at $19.95.

Delas Freres

Delas Freres is a winery of tradition and renewal. The winery was founded in 1835 when Charles Audibert and Philippe Delas bought Maisons Junique, a 40-year-old winery which they renamed Audibert & Delas. The houses reputation spread quickly worldwide as the winery brought home numerous awards from international competitions, notably a gold medal at Sydney in 1879. 

Philippe Delas had two sons, Henri and Florentin. The latter married the daughter of Charles Audibert, further strengthening the bond between the two families. In 1924, the brothers succeeded to the founders and changed the name of the house to Delas Freres. 

After World War II, under Florentins son Jean and thanks to the widespread apreciation of French wines, the family house experienced rapid growth. Jean visited new export markets following the brilliant success of Philippe Delas and Charles Audibert. To ensure a regular supply of the highest quality grapes to satisfy the growing demand, he extended the family holdings by purchasing a vineyard at Châteauneuf du Pape and enlarging the Hermitage vineyards. 

When Jeans son Michel took control of Delas Freres in 1960, the winery had become one of the major houses in the Northern Rhone, where it owned and controlled vineyards in Hermitage, Cornas, Côte Rôtie, and Condrieu. 

Applying stringent marketing policies, Michel Delas sold only products of unfailing excellence. His qualitative intransigence and commercial dynamism did not come without a price, and the firm found it required an immediate injection of capital. Michel approached another famous name in the wine world, Champagne Deutz. In 1977, Andre Lallier-Deutz, great-great-grandson of William Deutz, merged the two companies. 

In 1981, the house moved to its current premises in Saint Jean de Muzols, a small village located two kilometers north of Tournon. The winery building, set amidst the vineyards of the St. Joseph appellation, covers more than 3000 square meters.

Today, the Delas wines are crafted by a panel of experts headed by winemaker Jacques Grange. Together, the team makes wines that have been heralded for their intensity of flavor and excellent 

value.

The village of Crozes-Hermitage lies just north of Hermitage proper. The appellation of Crozes-Hermitage is the largest in the northern Rhône valley, covering nearly 2,100 acres. The region consists of primarily Syrah grapes that are aromatic, rich and full-bodied. Delas has been buying grapes from family growers in this region for over 100 years. 

The grapes used for the Crozes-Hermitage "Les Launes" grow in a wide range of terroirs, from alluvial soil in flatland terrain to chalky soil covered with pebbly granite. At harvest, the grapes are handpicked at optimum ripeness and 100 percent de-stemmed. Fermentation takes place at controlled temperatures of 82 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit in open concrete tanks. 

The 2009 vintage offers a nice overview of the quality of wines of this trade, particularly in Crozes Hermitage, known for its wines of pleasure where elegance, roundness and fruit prevail. Wine, clear, boasts a lovely intense garnet color, with purple tints. The nose offers good intensity a pleasant bouquet with aromas of cassis, plum, violet and pepper. The mouth has a nice roundness from the attack, with a soft material, enhanced by soft tannins and for bringing a lot of charm to the whole . Well balanced, with aromas dominated by flavors of black fruit, violets and spice. wine, pleasant and elegant, ending with a final soft and fresh. Beautiful wine at the right price-pleasure ratio.

Delas Crozes-Hermitage Les Launes 2009

The wine has a deep garnet red color. It is fruity on the nose with strong aromas of cassis, plums and a touch of violets. The tannic structure is ample and well rounded, which assures good aging potential. It is recommended with game, grilled and rich foods.

Wine Spectator 91 Points: "Stylish, with lots of mocha, spice and black tea aromas backed by velvety-textured blackberry and raspberry fruit. The long, suave finish stretches out nicely, with the fruit and spice hanging on. Drink now through 2014."

 

Wine Advocate- Robert Parker 91 Points Feb 2011: "The red wines include the already bottled, fruity, rich 15,000-case cuvee of 2009 Crozes-Hermitage Les Launes. An amazing bargain, it is the finest wine they have yet produced under this moniker. Seductive notes of black cherries, cassis, licorice, tobacco leaf and pepper are followed by an opulent, consumer-friendly but authentic Northern Rhone to drink over the next 5-6 years."

 

Wine Advocate- Robert Parker 90 Points Dec 2011: "The finest Crozes-Hermitage Les Launes to date is the 2009. Its dense purple color is accompanied by sweet strawberry and black cherry fruit notes intermixed with hints of tobacco leaf, licorice and smoke (even though this cuvee is all tank-fermented and aged.). A sleeper of the vintage as well as a great value, it should drink well for a decade."

Bonus:

Delas Crozes Hermitage Les Launes 2010
Be one of the first in the nation to get the 2010 Vintage. Currently this is an Extremely Limited Release.