POOR MAN’S BAROLO

$14.95 BTL./$80.00 6-PACK

The wine estate stands on the slopes of the San Biagio hill in La Morra, one of the eleven villages forming the area where Barolo wine is produced.  The farm stretches out over 18 hectares (45 acres), and has belonged to the Roggero family for generations. Surrounded by splendid vineyards, it enjoys a spectacular panorama opening out onto the Langhe, a range of hills packed with history and castles. Old documents preserved in the village archives show that San Biagio hill was known of as far back as the Middle Ages. Indeed, the term Sancte Blaxius appears in a 1477 entry in the local land registry, when a Benedictine monastery (San Biagio Priory, 1050 AD) used to grow vines here. All the estate vineyards are part of the Great Vineyards of Barolo within the Commune of La Morra.

        
All of their vineyards are Barolo vineyards with this Nebbiolo being produced from 100% Pria Cru which is one of the greatest vineyards in Piedmont.  The wines are made as they
have been for generations.  Hand harvested, low yields, vines from 50+ years of age, this is the REAL DEAL! 

A crazy deal that started in La Morra, then to Austin, Texas & finally to our store in the Hawthorne, we lay claim to the only 56 cases of the 2004 La Morra Nebbiolo Langhe from San Biagio. 

      
THE WINE:  The 2004 vintage was off the charts.  It was what the critics call a ‘Classic’ vintage in that the wines produced are textbook…they are what one seeks from Piedmont wines.  Parker & The Wine Spectator both rated the vintage a 96 out of 100!  An enveloping, seamless wine, it perfectly captures the sepia-toned nuances of the Pria vineyard. Smoke, tar, licorice, plums, prunes and chocolate emerge from this powerful, weighty Nebbiolo. Balsamic overtones develop in the glass, adding further complexity and elegance as this sweet, perfumed wine continues to open.  It is another gorgeous offering from San Biagio.

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05 KAKHETIAN ROYAL RED

GET SOME BBQ RELIGION!

$7.95 btl. / $72.00 cs.

25% OFF BY THE CASE!

The Theology of BBQ: Schisms, Isms and the McRibb Heresy

We have a friend who once got in big trouble with his grandma after writing an article explaining how, since the hunting & spit-roasting of various creatures predates religion,  BBQ is ultimately more important in human history.  What he missed is that BBQ IS a religion in some areas and has at least three major sects:  the Orthodox Friars of Fruitwood Smoke Slow Cooking, the Sainted Sisters of the Sauce is Boss and the somewhat hard to find Vicars of the Vinaigrette Marinade (an Eastern offshoot of the famously violent Dry Rub Rebellion of 1893).  The defining of BBQ can start an argument (or even a fistfight) because (just like traditional wine styles) THESE THINGS MATTER:  it is a culture, patrimony and heritage of someone you are talking about and that does not come in a bottle from the supermarket.  But, by being a Big Tent house of the Q, we here at PWM are willing to arbitrate if you bring enough samples for lunch and we have also searched the globe to find the perfect wine to fit your BBQ so you (and your Sweet Red Sauce loving Brother in Law) can find an ecumenical summer.

Which of course brings us (finally) to our BBQ red du jour: the 2005 Kakhetian Royal, a
profound red from formerly Soviet Georgia.  The land that Vegetarians fear most.  If it moved we grill it!!!  This is big stuff!  Not for the meek sort of thing!  This is for adherents to the Credo Affumato of the holy Conclave of Smoke and Violets, Reformed:  deeeep dark blackberry, ripe cherry fruit with notes of smoke, rose petals, earth and, yes, violets on the nose.  This is a REAL BBQ red that will remind more of a GREAT Zinfandel!!  This use to cost twice this price but our distributor lost his way & we were there for the reward.  WANT TO BE ENLIGHTENED??!!  How does $6 a bottle by the case grab ya! 

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09 BOUCHARD & FILS CHARDONNAY

$9.95 BTL./$102.00 CASE

Bouchard Aîné & Fils, founded in 1750 in Beaune, the historical heart of Burgundy, has earned acclaim for its expertise in crafting Burgundy’s treasured Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Its cellars in the Hôtel du Conseiller du Roy, a classic 18th-century maison,
reveal the history of the winery and of Burgundy – the birthplace of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. For over two centuries, Bouchard and Ainé has pursued perfection in quality, authenticity in style and prestige in name.  They have taken their knowledge to the south of France where they have quietly (almost all of the first three vintages were
sold in France) been producing both Chardonnay & Pinot Noir from vineyards they purchased in the 1960s.  The Bouchard Pinot Noir is lush, rich, full with pretty black plum, black raspberry, a hint of earth & spice and a nice smooth finish.  The Bouchard Chardonnay will remind many of a top flight Pouilly-Fuisse with beautiful ripe fruit flavours, nice acidity & underlying oak that gives the wine a
beautiful roundness in the end.  THESE ARE AMAZINGLY GREAT VALUES!!

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SAN SEBASTIAN CALLING!

$9.95 BTL.

The Baque town of San Sebastian rivals any in Europe for beauty, food & wine.  The
white wines never see oak, are amazingly crisp & amazingly refreshing.  In America, Txakoli’s are always expensive…until we made this deal!  THIS SHOULD BE AT ARM LENGTH ALL SUMMER LONG!  Bodega Oxinbaltza’s 2010 Txakoli is made from 60%
Hondarribi Zuri, 20% Mune Mahatsa, and 20% Txori Mahatsa fermented in stainless steel. Light straw-colored, it offers up an enticing nose of mineral, sea salt, baking spices, citrus, and floral notes. Crisp, concentrated, and vibrant, it
will pair beautifully with raw bar, spicy Asian cuisine, sushi (hell yeah!) or just for sippin.  THIS WINE ROCKS!!

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½ BOTTLES!

$1.95 BTL./$23.40 12-PACK

     How cool is this!  We sold over 500 cases of the NV Cristalino Cava over the holiday season & to show their appreciation they gave us 112 cases of their NV Cava Rose’ which we can sell for $1.95 per bottle!!  Crazy Huh?

Beautiful scents of raspberry and cherry on the nose with fresh, clean strawberry and cherry flavors in the mouth and a consistent bead. The finish is clean and crisp and invites another sip.

Cristalino Brut Rose Cava is an excellent match for fried appetizers such as calamari or light desserts such as creme brulee. It is also excellent on its own or with fresh fruit.

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BONE DRY ITALIAN WHITE!

$9.95 BTL./$102.00 CS.

     As anyone who has ever visited knows, the Marche is an enchanted place full of hillside towns, delicious wines, black truffles, sunny afternoons and general agrarian bliss. This is what attracted Franco Beretta, a shipbuilder from Naples, and his bride Noemia, a beautiful and charming Brasileira (who was a top model for Christian Dior for fifteen years, and now brings that sense of elegance to the world of wine) to claim their little corner of paradise and found a vineyard, winery and agriturismo. We were hipped to them when one of our favorite customers (grazie, Michael!) kept coming back from summering near the estate and raving about them and their wines. So, we talked one of our importers into bringing some in for us!   

     This 2010 Verdicchio is a beautiful, elegant wine that stands head and shoulders above most of the whites from the Marche. Rich and generous on the palate, the Raphael Verdicchio impresses for its textured expression of fruit, well-articulated bouquet and long finish. Fragrant peaches, mint, minerals and very light honeyed tones resonate on the close. This is simply a first-class effort from Raphael that you will not want to miss. Best of all, it is a fabulous value.

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FRENCH ALPS GAMAY ROSE’

$9.95 BTL./$102.00 CASE

Les Rocailles is a true earthly paradise nestled in the French Alps, and the source of Pierre Boniface’s wonderful Rose’ from the Savoie.  One hundred percent Gamay from vines upwards of 25 years producing a Rose’ that is very light salmon in color & with a bouquet and flavors that run toward red raspberry and strawberry.  Crisp, very clean and refreshing with lively acidity so it can take anything you dare throw at it!  AND, YES IT IS BONE DRY!!

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