If you like fresh and light red wines, then this is the wine for you.  The Raisins Gaulois from importer Kermit Lynch comes from the Gamay grape grown in Beaujolais, France.  There has been much hype about the 2009 vintage in France, especially from Bordeaux, and Beaujolais is one of the first regions to release their 2009 vintage.  Beaujolais is a region at the bottom of Burgundy that usually produces wines light and fresh in style.  This is not the Beaujolais Nouveau that you might see around Thanksgiving time.  This is fresh, good juice from an incredible producer, Marcel Lapierre.  He makes wines in the natural wine tradition which means less manipulation in the winery and soft culture methods.

Showing of fresh berries and light spring flowers, the 2009 Raisins Gaulois is refreshing.  A light ruby in color and tasting of fresh cherries and raspberries.  This wine has extremely low tannins, so it does not leave a dry taste in your mouth.  Instead, the finish is refreshing with a simple amount of mouthwatering acidity.  This light wine that probably won’t stain your teeth would pair nicely with light dishes, a raspberry vinaigrette, or drinks fine on its own.  Give it a try with a little chill on the bottle.

$11.99 bottle or $129.50 a case

We also have Lapierre’s 2007 Beaujolais from Morgon, one of the Crus (areas in Beaujolais) that you should get to know.

The perfect time of year for white Burgundy – and the Verget is so good that not only did Tuta break his quill on its behalf, but I just had to write a little something about it in my column. Read on for Tuta’s review and be sure to hit the link at the bottom of the page to read the column in the Burlington Free Press for some additional praise. -  Jason

We have lined up two white Burgundies on the counter, both from Mâcon.  One of us knew which glass was which — the other tried the two wines blind.  One is a Macon-Villages at $12.50; the other is Macon-Charnay “Le Clos Saint-Pierre” at $22.50.  Both are made by the  respected producer Verget.

Mâcon lies at the southern end of Burgundy.   It has long been known for producing reliable Chardonnay — perhaps more lyric than epic in its ambition.  The region’s most famous offering is Pouilly Fuissé.  These are serviceable table wines which exist to complement food, especially shellfish.

Both the Village and the Macon-Charnay are on the crisp end of the Chardonnay spectrum.  Side by side, the Village tasted more watery than the denser Charnay.  They were clearly cousins.  The Charnay is more assertive.  It has a pleasing taste of pine and tart pear mixed with a little soft butter.

Considered together, both wines show us a way towards the ur-taste of Chardonnay.  Things are clearer as the wine warms past the serving point.  What is the taste exactly?  Tasted warm, there is a faintly oily feel in the mouth — rich in the way that shrimp and salmon feel rich.  The taste is not lemon or grapefruit,  but acidic in the mineral-laden way that some water or earth is acidic.  Both wines show us the direction of Chardonnay past sweetness towards a taste which has qualities of fermentation and weight.  But — ne t’inquiète pas –these two excellent Macônnaise wines are easy to drink without further scrutiny or any more talk.

Verget Macon Village $12.50

Verget Macon Charnay $22.50

Tuta

Click Here To Read: Retro Burgundy – The Burlington Free Press

Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc… so many choices! In this class we’ll show you why each grape is unique, and why each one can make a great wine. You’ll learn where to look for good examples of each grape variety.  Most importantly, take this class and you’ll leave dialed in to what you like, what you don’t like, and why.

Space is limited and these classes do sell out! Call Dedalus for tickets today.

When: Sunday, May 23rd from 2:00 – 3:00

Where: The 1/2 Lounge, Church Street, Burlington

Cost: $15/Person

Call: (802) 865-2368 for tickets

All of our classes, feature an informative talk and guided tasting lead by the area’s best wine educators. You’ll leave each class with a clever little packet that’ll keep the information at your fingertips.

You’ll be able to show off your wine skills at dinner parties, restaurants and wine shops – and we think you should.

Space is limited, and our classes are very popular. Make sure you sign up today!

Sunday, June 27th

Firehouse Center for the Visual Arts

4:30 – 6:00

$30 tickets available at the wine shop by calling (802) 865-2368.

$30/Person

All of our classes are held at the beautiful Firehouse Gallery for the Visual Arts on Church Street in Burlington from 4:30 – 6:00.

Each class features a guided tasting lead by our wine educator, David Garaventa. You’ll receive a packet of information about the wines and the content covered in the class.

Space is limited, call for reservations!

802-865-2368

We like to push the boundaries around here. So this winter season we’re going to give you our top 5 hip & stylish white wines.

Wine and fashion have a lot in common.  They’re both trend-driven; when something becomes stylish, something else falls out of favor.  Trends are very seasonal. In the fashion industry that usually means heavy knits and dark colors in the winter and breezy, lightweight materials with bright colors in the warm months.  Wine also follows these seasonal ups and downs.  We tend to sip crisp, light-bodied whites when the thermostat rises.  In the cold winter months we generally reach for robust and hearty reds.  Of course we realize it isn’t as cut and dry as all that, so here’s our list (of wines – we’re leaving fashion to the professionals)

This is our line-up, our own super models of the wine runway.

The Kate Moss – She is slight and a bit on the wild side.  If she were a wine you might say that she is racy and fresh, not unlike…

La Cala Vermentino 2007  $10.75/btl

This crisp little beauty is from the Sardinia region of Italy. Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.  Seafood and lemons are abundant in Sardinia making this wine a natural match for oysters on the half shell which are at their freshest and best in the cold winter months. (CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE)

The Heidi Klum – Her accent is sweet, her features are lovely, and she has fabulous curves.  If she were a wine you could say that she is exotic & lush, very much like…

Frederic Mallo Riesling 2002 $27.95/btl

The sensation you get from drinking a quality Riesling in the winter is like putting on a cashmere sweater; its luxe and smooth and leaves you with a happy glow.  This Alsatian version gives you complexity with its combination of sweet honeysuckle and zippy acidity.  It is a great wine to curl up with. (CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE)

The Cindy Crawford – She is the iconic all-American girl.  She can rock out in blue jeans and a tee shirt and look totally fabulous on any runway, anywhere.  Her wine profile would definitely be the cool classic, similar to…

Bethel Heights Pinot Gris 2008 $18.00/btl

With its fresh and vibrant flavors of citrus, apricot, and Asian pear; and it’s spicy notes and smooth finish, this white is very drinkable no matter the weather.  Also it happens to be a great food wine, so if you find yourself ready to dine on spicy Asian baked salmon or Curry chicken, this is the bottle to grab. (CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE)

The Christy Turlington – She exudes class and style from her big bright eyes and striking facial features.  She positively oozes sophisticated elegance, as does…

Lemenicier Cuvee de l’Elegance 2006  $23.95/btl

This white wine from the Saint-Peray appellation in the Rhone has the romance and elegance to be invited to dinner, (especially if dinner includes bacon-wrapped scallops.) It is also worth mentioning that when it’s cold outside and you are tucked away indoors with someone special, you don’t need a holiday to have a romantic evening. (CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE)

The Claudia Schiffer – She is a true blonde bomb-shell.  She sparkles and radiates beauty.  In the wine world she can be described as bright & lively, as could…

Michlits Gruner Veltliner 2007 $15.00/btl

This Gruner has something I love in a white wine; simple deliciousness.  It’s uncomplicated and just as crisp, lively, and refreshing as you could hope for; the wine drinkers equivalent to cracking open a cold beer.  When you are in the mood to relax, this wine will help you out.  I love to sip it as I cook.  Be careful though, because before you know it, you have an empty bottle and a half-cooked entrée.   (CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE)

Cairanne is a village in the Vaucluse region — just north of the Mediterranean coast.   It is a place of formidable independence.  During the middle ages, Cairanne was a walled enclave of the Knights Templar.  Petrarch, the 14th century poet who is strongly associated with the humanist origins of the Italian Renaissance, lived and worked nearby in Avignon.  During World War II, members of the resistance formed the Vaucluse Republic.   These are people who know their own minds.

From such a place, we get the southern Rhône wines of Cairanne, Gigondas, and some 20 other villages.  The better wines, including Domaine Catherine Le Gœuil,  are listed within the AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages.  Mme Le Gœuil is a leader in the movement for biodynamic wines from small producers.  Her wine is a lovely example of the art.

Tuta 12/13/09

Available at the shop for $16.75

We are not alone.  The Chianti district has grown from three isolated villages in 1716, Gaiole, Castellina and Radda.  Today it encompasses most of Tuscany.  Everyone is looking for something special in these wines:  high, bright Sangiovese taste, a firm tannic structure — no cheating with a soft, breathy mouth feel –and a little honest grit in the finish to remind us that this is, after all, an agricultural product.

Could I suggest an example?  Fattoria Selvapiana — don’t you love to say it? — Bucerchiale — now there’s a challenge — 2004 — ragazza, how did you grow up so fast?  This one is from Rufina, just east of Florence and a little out of fashion.  That helps with the price.

How does it taste?  Darker and richer than many Chiantis.  It has earned its Riserva label.  The taste comes from the briar end of the garden — blackberry preserve with a handful of herbs.  It’s a large wine — best with food — and never rough.  You will like it.

At Dedalus for $31.25

But we are here to consider its wine:  the Chinon cabernet franc.  Cab franc is one of the genetic forebears of cabernet sauvignon.  With merlot, petit verdot, cabernet sauvignon, and malbec, cabernet franc remains one of the principal blending wines for claret from Bordeaux, for Meritage (the California name for the same blend), and for red wines in Italy and throughout the New World.  What does cabernet franc bring to the party?  Lightness — sometimes described as finesse — and fragrance.  It is an Oscar Wilde figure among the more somber, dark-robed Bordeaux varietals.

In Bordeaux, cabernet franc is rarely allowed out by itself.  The famous wines of Château Cheval Blanc are an exception.  At about $650 a bottle for recent years, not ready to drink for a decade, Cheval Blanc offers an expensive introduction.  And it is not entirely made from cabernet franc. We have an alternative to suggest.

Charles Joguet Chinon Cuvée Terroir 2006 offers an easier way to learn the taste of pure cabernet franc.  The wine is a light red color.  On the spectrum of fruit, the taste falls in the neutral ground between dark fruit and light — free from the autocracy of “cherry” or “plum” or “cooked stone fruit.”   This wine has the appealing clarity and simplicity of a well-made table wine.  It is nimble, bright and offers a pleasing show of tannic structure.  In every respect, it is easy to like.

Dedalus will sell you the life of the party for $18.50.

Tuta 9/2/09

Thévenet “Vieilles Vignes” is a frankly beautiful and simple expression of the Morgon style.  The nose is soft and heavy with fruit, but fleeting.  Evanescent. You will want to be quick. The taste is smooth and plummy, and  it darkens towards the end.  There is almost no tannic bite.  There is sweetness without sugar.  The taste is clear, never candied, uninhibited and rich.

The gamay noir vines of M. Thëvent are very old and produce small quantities of fruit.  Gamay is more often known for riotous abundance.  The grape was once banned from Burgundy because it was thought to be too common.   But raised with the goal of intensity of flavor, gamay produces a wine of full, dark intensity and  great joy.

You will find “Vieilles Vignes”  at Dedalus for $34.25.

Tuta 8/5/09