Comfort wines are on the Spot at ten 01
April 28, 2010
Whether it’s the post IACP Convention blues or the schizophrenic weather that’s twice had me wearing flip-flops in a downpour, it seems like today is the perfect time to explore the vinous equivalent of a terry cloth robe and fuzzy slippers.
So the first thing besides rum that most Sommeliers find comforting is… a great question. For me I suppose it would be a wine that was simple, bright, and clean – but scrumptious like… Bugey du Cerdon. Cerdon is a small French commune that is known for its pink sparkling wine and its copper factory. It is thankfully not particularly well known in the US and therefore when you can find the wines they are still somewhat reasonably priced. This sparkling is only made using 100% Gamay or occasionally with a small amount of Poulsard.
Tonight’s example is being provided by Patrick Bottex not to be confused with…
Meet Patrick Botox tonight at ten 01
If the first wine in our flight was the equivalent of a Shirley Temple the second is a turn of the century Coca-Cola. Larry Turley and his team have been sourcing fruit from various vineyards in California in their pursuit of producing genuine American Port-wine. Cedarman vineyard is a dry farmed site at 2400’ elevation. According to Dean and Deluca the team “have complete control of the farming practices so they can maintain consistency from the vineyard to the bottle.” I don’t know that the vineyard shows through but the sweet fruit and high alcohol most certainly do – and this a wine of such fortitude that it could warm the constitution of a corpse – mind you it does taste like blackberry jam…
Lastly is a wine that passes through the country of comfort on its way to a land called pure seduction… naturally it’s French. Chateau Guiraud was founded in 1766 and has for every century since been setting a very high standard for Sauternes. They were recognized as a first growth in the imperial classification of 1855 and the quality has never wavered. The wine expresses both the pure varietal character of Semillon and Sauvignon blanc and the intensity and concentration that noble rot provides.
If Turley is melted chocolate nice to a roaring fire, then Sauternes is like drinking pure melted gold…
So that’s it for this week.
Two ounce pours of the Patrick Bottex Bugey-Cerdon and 2007 Turley Cedarman Zinfandel and a one ounce pour of Chateau Guiraud all for the exciting price of $14.00
Tonight from 5pm till close at ten 01
Cheers,
Jeff Groh
GM-Sommelier