You may have seen in the news the last few days there’s a movie coming out called, “Somm”, following a group of sommeliers as they go for their MS. From what we understand, Bo Barrett ends up playing a pretty big part in talking about Somms from the winemaker’s perspective. You can see the trailer below, including a little Bo cameo.
Our very own Philippe Newlin appears on WMUR in New Hampshire with Stuart Cameron of Hanover Street Chophouse, pairing Noval ports with a gourmet chocolate bark. A fitting end to wine week in New Hampshire!
A little video of Mounir Saouma on his walk from Gevrey over to Chambertin. On a cold morning in November 2011, Mounir discusses the difference between Clos de la Roche and Clos Saint Denis, topographically and geologically, and then how those factors affect the wines – as he states, in his cellars the Clos Saint Denis takes an entire year to go through alcoholic fermentation, making it a “difficult” wine.
This little walk we took explains his whole “operation” – in quotes because in the video you see his wife Rotem (pouring) and it is just the two of them. One to two barrels of wine from who he thinks are the most interesting growers in his favorite vineyards. Then….nothing…for a long time…his fermentations are typically the longest in Burgundy as is his maturation. He does little lees stirring, and only sulfurs once, a few months before bottling (his wines typically have ¼ the average sulfur levels in Burgundy, but they are protected because he prefers traditional, coarser pressings which leave more lees in the wine).
Quinta do Noval has launched a new website that’s just beautiful.
Most especially take a look at this film of the property that truly captures some of Noval’s spirit – remote, ancient, such a raw natural setting. Academy award for Christian Seely!
A great little video with shots of some of Tommasi’s Amarone vineyards and the Tommasi cellars.
A little video on our newest producer.
A look back at the 2011 harvest, and the sites, people, history and dedication that make these wines so special.
In the video below you can see a November visit to Guigal and tasting of their just-now released Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2006. In the video Philippe Guigal discusses the wine, and also describes it in context of its two surrounding vintages, 2005 and 2007. The wine is seductively pure and precise, with lovely, detailed fruits and spice while offering tremendous pleasure and beautiful concentration.
This French wine site’s videos are incredibly well done. Even if you don’t speak French, there are spectacular images here of the Disznoko vineyards and winery. And if you do speak French, Laszlo (both the winemaker and manager at the estate) gives wonderful insight into the history of the region, and what makes Disznoko – a single, contiguous site classified “Grand Cru” in 1772 – such a special estate.
A few highlights:
Click on the image below to go to the site and see the video.
A few weekends ago there was a big piece on disgorgement in the Financial Times’ “How to Spend It”. Bruno Paillard is described as “disgorgement kingpin” and, as you might imagine, has a few words to say – he’s extraordinarily passionate about the subject and feels consumers should know where their Champagnes are in their evolution. He also clearly believes that his high quality wines manage extended ageing beautifully.
Recently in Champagne, Bruno showed us a Brut that was disgorged 12 years previously, one that was disgorged 6 years previously, and our current disgorgement. A completely eye-opening tasting, his Brut is simply outstanding, capable of standing next to the more “serious” cuvees of many other producers.
The whole piece can be found here:
http://www.howtospendit.com/#!/articles/6027-feature-popping-the-question
While we were in Champagne we did some vineyard videos, and below you see a little video of Alice Paillard showing us a vineyard they just planted in Le Mesnil sur Oger. The farming the Paillards does is rigorous, based on working soils to encourage biodiversity, and protecting the vines from any herbicides (or pesticides). The Paillard’s vines very clearly stand out from neighboring vines because of more rigorous training and the fact they let grasses grow between all their rows at this time of year.