This was a great tasting for us with owners and wine-makers Christian Lauverjat ( Domaine CHRISTIAN LAUVERJAT, Sancerre, Loire Valley ) and Jean-Remy of CHARLES ORBAN ) Troissy, champagne, France ). I believe that it was each of their third visits to Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits : and so we were all already like family and old friends. The last visit of Christian's was with his wife when they both stood in our store here at this same spot at our tasting table and poured their two Sancerre whites as well as their Sancerre rose. I don't think then that we had Christian's red to pour?
Jean-Remy we met much more recently : in this year 2010 I believe? Lisa Giufre brought him by once and then later Laurent Givry brought him. Is this correct? I believe so.
For this tasting here in our store with Joel et Cendrine Duffau ( CHATEAU LES ARROMANS and CH. LAMOTHE DU BARRY ) and Bernard Bouvier of Domaine RENE BOUVIER burgundies ) both in the back we poured the two champagnes of Jean-Remy : the dry NV brut ( $47 a bottle ) and the dry rose NV brut ( On Special for $50 a bottle ).
They both showed beautifully and I liked them both. Funny, each time that I taste them side-by-side I always have a preference. First it was the regular NV brut, then it was the dry rose and I believe that this time it was also the dry NV brut? It depends upon my mood and the weather at the time. It's always this way : it's just how it works if you want to be really honest with yourself.
To sum it up I simply think that it tasted best on this Saturday afternoon ( 3-7 PM ) here in Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits ( 3423 Connecticut Avenue N.W. Washington D.C. 20008 Tel:202-363-4265 sales@clevelandparkwine.com www.clevelandparkwine.com ) on April 24th, 2010 all by itself. It did not need anything else. It was creamy and smooth and bright and lively and without edge or any attack or any resistance. It surrendered beautifully to both my tongue, senses and palate. What more could I ask for?
With Christian Lauverjat his dry white Sancerre ( $21.49 ) shown beautifully like it always does and made it so appealing right on the spot with or without food. However, saying this I would like to say that Cheryl the manager of our Firehook Bakery on our block was nice enough to bring us over a full basket cut with many of the breads that they sell there ). Thanks Cheryl : it was a big hit.
Christian's dry rose was lovely and I could easily imagine having it with a nice salmon steak dish hot or cold. I do believe that it needs food to completely shine at this stage of the game and of it's development.
The dry Pinot Noir red Sancerre was the " hit " of the moment for me as with it's elegance and subtlety and overall presence and harmony - completeness on my palate I just had to exclaim : wow! More than once I told Christian how much I liked it. He was thrilled, pleased and relieved and kept saying that it had been a real struggle to get Laurent Givry to buy it and sell it here in the Washington D.C. metropolitan market. This one is a " sleeper " and it sold really well on this April Saturday afternoon here in Cleveland Park, Washington D.C. neighborhood.
When we went to order more from Lisa Giufre of it the next few days she was already sold-out. Drat!That's our loss and one for our customers. We will just have to buy more when the next shipment arrives. So stay-tuned for more news on this lovely, charming and pleasing dry Sancerre Pinot Noir red ...
This is Jean-Remy pictured above in the dark red burgundy coat. Christian in the picture below is on the young lady's right and in a blue Oxford shirt. The young lady is a regular customer of ours and I asked her to pose with these two dashing Frenchmen that did not seem to mind at all judging from their expressions, especially in some of the other pictures where they are smiling broadly. Remember that they have just got off planes coming from Europe where the planes were delayed because of the eruption of the volcano in Iceland?
Thanks Christian et Jean-Remy. Revenez nous voir encore. Vous-etes vous deux toujours bienvenues ici a notre magasin du vin en Cleveland Park, Washington D.C. Cheers et a la prochaine mes amis, TONY
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