Friday, July 29, 2011

Free Spanish and Portuguese Wine Tasting

What is the best way to end a long week? A great Spanish and Portuguese wine tasting of course, this Friday evening from 5-7pm.

We are going to start with a Verdejo white wine from Naia, a rosé from Marques de Caceres, 100% monastrell by Wrongo Dongo, and Alandra a red blend from Portugal.

Remember this event is free.

Don't forget to bring your own glass or you can purchase a glass from us for $10. Otherwise, we have plastic cups you can taste out of.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Bodegas Borsao

Ladies and Gentlemen, Bodegas Borsao is still on a hot streak of coming out with great wines at a decent price. Tres Picos is one of many great wines they have come out with. It has had a minimum of 91 points ratings by Robert Parker and Stephen Tanzer since 2003 vintage. Tres Picos is made to drink now but can be aged 8-10 years.

Bodegas Borsao Tres Picos 2009-

Aged half in a stainless steel and half in French barriques glass-staining ruby. An explosive, flamboyantly perfumed bouquet exudes scents of blackberry, cherry cola, violet, and cracked pepper, plus a hint of smokiness. Deeply pitched flavors, of dark fruit and candied flowers reminds me of syrah, but red fruit notes emerge with air, confirming that this is a garnacha, not a syrah. Intense, focused and impressively persistent on the finish, which echoes the sweet red and dark fruit notes and leaves a subtle smoky quality.

Rated 92 points by Robert Parker

Philippe's everyday price $15.99 - Vintage service price $14.00/each or $13.50 for 6 or more bottles

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Buy Now, Drink Later Spanish Wine

Today, we are featuring a Spanish Wine from the Ribera del Duero. This wine is made for the "drink now" and "drink later" crowds. So if you were thinking about starting a wine cellar this is a great opportunity you should not pass up.

2007 Bodegas Vizcarra JC

100% tempranillo. An expansive bouquet offers scents of blueberries, violet, and smoky minerals. Fresh dark berry flavors display impressive depth and are brightened by notes of fresh flowers and mace. Finishes with excellent clarity and assertive lingering flavors of blue fruit and cherry compote.

Rated 90 points by Stephen Tanzer. Drink now - till 2025

Philippe's Everyday price: $25.99- Vintage price: $23 or $22.50 if you purchase 6 bottles or more.

Please email christophe@philippeswinecellar.com with your order.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Discover an Appellation

This week, our next installment of our "Discover an Appellation with Philippe's" presents one of the most prestigious names in the wine world, Côte-Rôtie.

It is located in the northern part of the Côtes-du-Rhône region, on the right bank of the river, about 30 miles south of Lyon. The wine is made with mostly Syrah with up to 20% Viognier being allowed in the mix. It is one of France's oldest vineyards and was greatly developed by the Romans. The first accurate written documents concerning Ampuis and Côte-Rôtie go back to the 6th century. Côte-Rôtie became an A.O.C. - Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée - in 1940. Legend has it that in the 16th century, Marquis Maugiron had two daughters, one blonde and the other brunette. Each received a dowry of half his vineyard slopes, and so the Côte Blonde and Côte Brune were born.

An extreme act of nature, Côte-Rôtie is characterized first and foremost by its steep slopes - some may exceed 60% - with terrasses. More than 100 winemakers produce wines in the appellation which spreads over three communes, Saint-Cyr sur Rhône, Ampuis, and Tupin-Semons.

A wine built to age, it is generally wise to keep your Côte-Rôtie between 5 and 15 years before opening it.

For the gourmets, a bottle of Côte-Rôtie will be perfect with a leg of lamb with chanterelle mushrooms, filet mignon, or roasted pheasant with truffles.

Wines offered today:

2001 Patrick Jasmin Côte-Rôtie

7-8% of Viognier was added to the blend. Well-delineated with floral and raspberry/cherry fruit components, this medium-bodied wine is not a blockbuster but will win you over with its delicacy and finesse.

Reg Price: $39.99 - Discovery Price: $34.00

2004 Patrick Jasmin Côte-Rôtie

Balanced, but lighter-bodied. It displays cherry notes complemented with hints of tea, spice, and sandalwood.

Reg Price: $39.99 - Discovery Price: $34.00

2006 Georges Vernay Côte-Rôtie Blonde du Seigneur

Finely etched red and dark berry, floral, herbal, and mineral aromas, plus a slow-building anise quality. Tangy and focused, offering sweet raspberry and blueberry flavors and showing no obvious tannins. Finishes lush and creamy, but with a jolt of zesty minerals adding vivacity and cut. Extremely fresh and delicious right now.

Reg Price: $64.99 - Discovery Price: $58.00

2004 René Rostaing Côte-Rôtie

Spicy, energetic red fruit aromas are precise, and mineral-driven. Juicy, open-knit raspberry and cherry flavors are supported by delicate tannins. This very pure wine drinks quite well right now.

Reg Price: $79.99 - Discovery Price: $71.00

2006 René Rostaing Côte-Rôtie

Deep red with a bright rim. Spicy raspberry and red licorice aromas are complicated by smoky minerals and fresh flowers. Sweet red and dark berry flavors possess very good depth and definition, with subtle anise, mineral, and candied floral qualities building with air. The clean finish offers a brisk bite of cracked pepper, along with repeated dark berry notes. Very seductive wine, with no gaminess and wonderful energy.

Reg Price: $64.99 - Discovery Price: $58.00

2006 Saint Cosme Côte-Rôtie

Raspberry, cherry, violets, and minerals in the nose, plus an undercurrent of smoky minerals. The smokiness repeats on the palate, adding complexity to the sweet red and dark berry flavors. Cracked pepper and sweet floral pastille notes linger on the finish, which is admirably pure and persistent. According to Barruol, this contains lots of "Côte Brune fruit."

Reg Price: $79.99 - Discovery Price: $70.00

2007 Saint Cosme Côte-Rôtie

Sexy aromas of Asian spice, blackberry, graphite, and cracked pepper. Silky in texture, with medium-bodied dark berry and cherry flavors and a kick of black pepper. Turns spicier on the focused, persistent finish with very good lift and minerality.

Reg Price: $79.99 - Discovery Price: $70.00

2009 Saint Cosme Côte-Rôtie

The dense 2009 possesses great acid, with loads of tapenade, black raspberry, and smoky lard/bacon fat notes. Its outstanding texture, full-bodied mouthfeel, and terrific finish all suggest a wine that should drink well for 10-15 years.

Reg Price: $70.99 - Discovery Price: $63.00

2007 Tardieu-Laurent Côte-Rôtie

Shows lots of leafy tobacco and olive aromas, along with supple black cherry, incense and humus notes. The slightly edgy finish has a roasted hint.

Reg Price: $94.99 - Discovery Price: $85.00

Please email christophe@philippeswinecellar.com if you wish to purchase any wine featured in this latest "Discover an Appellation."

Monday, July 18, 2011

Wine of the Week


If you would like to order this wine, please call our shop at (337) 991-9794 .

Thursday, July 14, 2011

French Wine Tasting in honor of Bastille Day!

In honor of Bastille Day we will celebrate with a French wine tasting this

Friday evening 5-7pm. We will start with two Burgundies, a crisp and clean

Chardonnay and a soft and slightly earthy Pinot Noir from Domaine Faiveley.

Then we will continue with a great refreshing dry summer Rosé and

a full-bodied blend of Syrah, Mourvedre, and Grenache from Domaine de

Nizas out of the Languedoc region in the South of France.

And remember this event is FREE!

Just bring your own glass or you may purchase one from us for $10. Otherwise,

we will provide plastic cups for you.