Hey All,
It’s that time of month again: time for a new deal from the DC Wine Buyers Collective!
As much as I love whites and rosés, the turning of the weather—and its concomitant change in foods and moods—has made me crave fuller, more substantial reds. Hence, this newest deal features SEVEN outstanding reds, all from France and two, in particular, from the French collectivité territoriale of Corsica.
I have tried all these reds except for the two Corsicans, and they are amazing values. My number one recommendation would be the delightful 2008 Le Pigeoulet en Provence Rouge, which has to be one of my all-time favorite wines, a wine that is as comforting as a warm woolen blanket (that also gets you drunk).
This deal closes at 11:59 pm on Monday, October 18. Please note that I will be having these wines delivered to my place because it’s so much more convenient for me; there’s a $10 combined delivery fee/tip that I will divide up per bottle. For instance, the last deal consisted of 46 bottles: $10 divided by 46 means a charge of 22 cents per bottle!
This deal is being fulfilled by MacArthur Beverages in Georgetown. The wine should arrive within a few days after Monday, October 18.
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THE STRAIGHT-UP FRENCH RED WINES
2007 Kermit Lynch Côtes du Rhône | $11.98 after tax
I’ve described this as a “joyful wine” and it truly is. It’s simple, meant for quaffing in large quantities with friends. I love to cook with this wine and, what’s more, cook while drinking this wine. It’s a light-bodied wine with pronounced acidity (and low tannins). Cranberry, with a bit of pepper.
2008 Clos la Coutale Cahors Malbec | $14.16 after tax
Malbec is so hot right now. People associate it with Argentina and the New World, but in fact this grape came from France, where it was one of the six major red varietals of Bordeaux. Pure Malbec is relatively rare in France with the exceptions of the Loire Valley (where it is known as cot) and Cahors, where it makes the famous “Black Wines of Cahors.” This is an elegant, dark wine, with dark fruits and spice, some lean leather. Add one to your order and have a comparative wine tasting with Argentinean Malbecs!
2008 Le Pigeoulet en Provence Rouge | $15.26 after tax
Dangerously delicious, this is a wine you’ll want to drink with dinner but will drink before the table is set. Deep, plush, well-integrated fruit and tannin. This is one of my all-time favorite wines and a perfect accompaniment to stews, braised meats, or snuggling under the covers.
2005 Domaine du Gros’ Noré Bandol Rouge | $27.25 after tax
Bandol is Mourvèdre, and Gros’ Noré is Bandol. Searching the web, I found this description of the wine that sums it up perfectly: “In the glass, the color is royal purple with cardinal red at its edges. The bouquet is deceptive. It does not prepare you for how good the wine is going to taste. The attack, as a consequence, leaves you defenseless. You don’t drink this wine as much as you surrender to its beauty. The finish is like the view of the ocean from a mountaintop. Its only flaw is that it doesn’t last forever. This is a wine that makes you appreciate the air you breathe and the food you eat. It is not so much a miracle as it is a statement about how rewarding the simple life can be.” Perfect date or gift wine.
2007 Domaine de la Roquète Châteauneuf-du-Pape | $38.15 after tax
Ah, Domaine de la Roquète. Everything about this wine screams classy, from the minimalistic label to the extra-heavy bottle. Two years ago I purchased a case of this wine from Trader Joe’s where it was on sale for $18 per bottle (this is a reason why you should keep your eyes open!). But alas, now this wine is usually priced above $40. Luckily, we’re able to get this wine at a great price. BUY THIS WINE. I wrote this when I had the 2003 vintage: “The Domaine La Roquète is a substantial, substantial wine. It doesn’t mess around. Prune, licorice, spice in the mouth. The mouthfeel is smooth and dense. It fills the whole mouth, it ‘builds a fort,’ as my roommate said. ’It’s like oak, like a wood frame,’ he continued. We pondered this observation for a while. Yes! It’s like a crate of plums–the crate made from really old wood, the kind that’s white and weathered with age–if the whole crate (plums, crate, and all) had been crushed and made into wine.”
THE CORSICAN FRENCH RED WINES
2008 Domaine Yves Leccia Vin de Pays Patrimonio Rouge | $22.89 after tax
I’ve never had Corsican wines, but according to Kermit Lynch this wine is “juicy, with black tea aromas reminiscent of Bandol, and a smoky, resiny garrigue.” Just think of cold, stony hills upon which a lone weathered shepherd keeps watch over a flock of weathered sheep.
2007 Domaine Arena Patrimonio “Carco” Rouge | $37.06 after tax
From Kermit Lynch’s mailer: “a wild Corsican stallion from the great Nielluccio grape. It is both polished and rustic, like a Tuscan Sangiovese with a rebellious Corsican heart and soul.” I’m not necessarily sure what that means, but I think that a date would be able to appreciate drinking a wild Corsican stallion wine.
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TO PURCHASE: https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AodSYzMBprcgdHVUanhEeFFUaGtvY29IOTRwYnJacHc&hl=en
OUR FACEBOOK GROUP: DC Wine Buyers Collective
Please let me know if you have any questions!
