We had two really fun wine-tasting both on the 4th and the 5th of July, 2008. On Friday the 4th from 1-4 PM we had Claire Rambeau of LABOURE-ROI here tasting two burgundies, one red and one white. The 2006 " St. Armand " Macon-Villages unoaked Chardonnay, ON SALE for $23.49 is really nicely developed and showing beautifully now especially when you let it ope and warm up some, a bit like a red, it shows more flavor and taste than many. It was such a fine year that many of the flavors are developing nicely still - so open and expansive that it can be tasted a long while after you swallow. It's better even with food, almost any summer, hot-weather meal whether grilled or not, cold or warm - a treat. The red " St. Armand " Beaujolais-Villages old-vines " Vieilles Vignes 2006, ON SALE for $10.99 is really nice slightly-chilled. That's a fine Gamay and I like the way it has developed. Medium-to-light-bodied and very pleasant toasty cherry flavors with bits of spice as accent. It's a perfect 4th of July wine.
You can see our one lady customer smiling and clutching a six pack of Portland , Maine's " new " organic micro brewery ( they make three beers, a pale ale, a nut brown ale and another, too ). All three were poured in the back by our new friend and beer rep Tim Adams that has become a friend and customer, too. The brewery was started in 2006. The innovator was making beer in his home prior to that. Tim's lovely girlfriend showed up, too and was part of the 4th festivities before we closed here at 4 P.M. to start our own at our own homes. THanks Tim and Claire - it was fun. Claire, you really worked hard, you got everyone to taste and you really threw yourself into it to get everyone excited and enjoy themselves while you spoke passionately, excitedly and imparted warmth and knowledge all at the same time.
Why were we tasting French wines on the 4th? Simple, the only person volunteering to taste was Claire from Paris, France. She celebrates the 14th of July ( Bastille Day ) and had no problem coming to taste her wines here. We sold some, too. They are really well-made examples of these wines at great prices now considering how weak the dollar is now.
Samuel the French chef of Lavandou restaurant came to the store and I introduced him to Claire. He's wearing the hat in the picture.
We also had Morgan Hartman and her sister Molly come to taste here on Saturday July 5th from 3-6:30 P.M. It was great to have Morgan back. She works for VINE CONNECTIONS importers of fine Argentinean wines and Japanese sakes. She's an old friend. She's sold us excellent Aussie wines in the past : WEST CAPE HOWE, PICARDY, GIBSON, LONGVIEW, TALAJANICH, HUGH HAMILTON, and more. This is not even her territory or her account and yet because of our friendship is willing to come taste here when she comes to visit her sister Molly. Now that's what I call service, thanks Morgan. I did not expect Molly to be here but she was an added bonus. And then later our favorite neighborhood bartender of recent past Kryshna showed up here. He's an old friend of Morgan's. He gets the store email and must have read that she would be here. So for part of the tasting people had Morgan, Molly, Kryshna and me pouring them wines! Not bad, huh?!?
We had lots of our favorites come through this Saturday afternoon, like Chris the fabulous bartender at DINO. Hi Chris. I took lots and lots of pictures quickly! Jane, a wine-educator and friend of Morgan's is also pictured with us in the group and through the glass by herself. You can see I'm having a blast taking all these photos and yet we managed to sell lots of the wine as well. Life should be fun as well as serious and productive. It was both this past Saturday. Hope it shows in the carefree, quick snapshots of everyone. Morgan's wearing the beautiful gray dress. You can see where the sun was not permitted to go on Molly's shoulders. Nice.
A mother and her daughter after tasting walk back to check out more of our wine selections from Argentina before making a final choice of what to buy.
We poured four wines, two reds and two whites, all dry from Argentina. The two vineyards we chose are MAPEMA and SUSANNA BALBO. From Susanna Balbo we tasted the Crios 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon( $16.49 ) and the " La Posta " Pizzella Family vineyard Malbec, $18.99. They both could have been slightly more chilled to give them back their vitality and energy in this heat. I like them both, thought they were both well-framed wines and in balance and best with food. I still prefer many of the Cabernets to many of the Malbec for their restraint.
With MAPEMA we tasted the 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, $14.49 which had a bit more stuffing/layering. I liked it. I would have preferred to have enjoyed this inside and not outside because it is more rich and flavorful. I really liked the 2005 red Tempranillo, $16.49 and would have liked it a bit more chilled. It was too hot, a bit lethargic, it was languishing a bit and it would have been so much more entertaining slightly chilled twenty minutes or so. That's the one I would have taken home with me.
Here are some of the artsy photos I'm really enjoying taking/experimenting with these days. Some work better than others. I want to capture the serendipitous nature of things, movement, unguarded smiles, relaxed behavior, spontaneous joy and expressions of emotion pure, simple and profound. Enjoy and cheers to one and all. TONY
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