6 for $120-Something – February 17th, 2012

February 17, 2012 by Craig Perman | Leave a comment

Hello and Happy Friday!

For those of you that haven’t had a chance to check out the newly designed website, it is time you did!  Those that check it frequently will see the new weekly offerings in The Wine Wire section.  My goal is to offer even more outstanding and diverse selections each week.

In other news, I’ve updated my Calendar of Events with a new collaborative dinner with Vera, one of Chicago’s most talked about new restaurants.  People around the world are rediscovering Sherry, and its diverse styles.  Vera, De Maison Selections and Perman Wine Selections hope to share the “Sherry Revolution” with you.  There is a group of small producers called “Almacenistas” who supply the major Sherry houses with stocks of older wines for blending—  this is very similar to the concept of grower Champagne houses.  Vera and De Maison Selections have paired several of these Almacenistas Sherry’s with a delicious array of food.  Reserve your spot today by contacting Vera directly. Hope to see you there on Monday, March 5th!

I’m excited to announce the release of the newest “6 for $120-Something” Sampler!  I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus with this sampler, but I return with what I think is the best group of wines I’ve ever offered!  The concept is simple, in the course of my tastings each month, I put together a mix of what I think are the best wines I’ve tasted in that $20-ish dollar range.  It is true that I used to simply call this the “Six for $120,” but in the interest of me having more flexibility, I’ve decided to not be so exact.  All of these wines are available by the bottle as well as the case, but the idea here is to give you a selection of wines that you will want to have stocked in your wine rack at home!  So email me to order your sampler, and pick it up at your convenience.  They are in stock and ready to go!

Finally, a quick scheduling note.  I will be closed this coming Tuesday, February 21st so that I can attend the Tre Bicchieri Italian Wine Tasting followed by the sold-out Franco Massolino Barolo Dinner at Piccolo Sogno.  I will of course, report back my findings!

Have a great weekend,

Craig

==========

2009 MCKINLAY PINOT NOIR, WILLAMETTE VALLEY
Back in the day, I lived in Oregon, working a retail job in Portland.  It was there that I became well aware of the multifaceted Pinot Noir grape.  The concept of terroir certainly exists in Oregon, yet producer mindset and style is as equally important to understand when shopping for a bottle.

For my personal palate, I have always had a great deal of respect for the wines of McKinlay Vineyards.  Matt Kinne is known locally for producing elegantly-styled Pinot Noir, some say almost “Burgundian.”  While I tend to shy away from that label, it is important to note that Matt’s wines have great finesse, and almost always have the lowest alcohol levels out of producers in the region.

The 2009 McKinlay Pinot Noir is a really pretty, ethereal style.  Matt uses his experience from his days at famed Sonoma County producer Hanzell as well as his 20+ years of experience in Oregon, to craft wines based on fruit from the Chehalem Mountain AVA.  He only uses native yeasts, a minimal amount of new oak, and bottles unfined and unfiltered.

This is a fantastic value, and really suitable to lots of food at the dinner table such as simple roasted chicken.

$20.00 BTL. / $240.00 CASE

 

2010 SERGIO MOTTURA GRECHETTO “POGGIO DELLA COSTA”
There are many reasons why I think that Italy is presently making the greatest white wines in the world, and one of them is this amazing wine from Sergio Mottura of Lazio.

Located in the hills near Civitella d’Agliano, the estates history goes back to 1933.  The 1960’s became a time of experimentation, researching the best methods for farming. Those results can be tasted today.

The vineyards are composed largely of volcanic soil, and planted there are a variety of grapes, of which the Mottura family is most proud of their Grechetto.  That local variety shines bright in “Poggio della Costa,” a wine made entirely of Grechetto from the single vineyard of that name.  Extremely low yields, strict selection of the best grapes, and an emphasis on retention of fruit and soil characteristic all should be, and are, lauded.

This is a tank fermented wine that is aged on its lees till the end of March.  The aromas and flavors are so clear and so bright that this is truly a wine you can’t stop drinking.  Flowers, mineral, citrus peel, they all explode from the glass.

The man himself, Sergio Mottura is in town this coming week, to present this wine at the Tre Bicchiere show.  This exceptional value was awarded this high honor by the Italian publication, Gambero Rosso, for the third year in a row.  Bravo!

$20.00 BTL. / $240.00 BTL.

 

2009 QUINTA DE LA ROSA “LA ROSA” DOURO RED
This is becoming a regular thing around these parts – the inclusion of a Portuguese table wine on my newsletter.  That’s because there are some ridiculously good values coming out of the country today, and in particular the Douro region, which is also famous for Port.

Quinta de la Rosa is a family owned winery located in the prime growing region of Cima Corgo, just one kilometer from Pinhão.  The vineyards are located right along the Douro River, situated on South and Southwest facing terraced hillsides.  The region is known for its schist soil that can also be found in other growing regions around the world such as Priorat and the Roussillon.

“La Rosa” is a fantastic value from the winery composed of 40% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Franca and 30% Tinta Roriz.  The beauty of Portuguese reds is their complexity due to blending, and the way these local grapes display their terroir.  This wine is fermented in stainless steel vats and aged for a year in Allier French oak barrels.

It is a readily approachable style, with a softer extraction of tannins than some other wines from this producer.  Wonderfully aromatic and flavorful with dark fruits, distinctive mineral notes, and a little spice to boot.  Great for winter dishes, particularly braised short ribs.  Don’t miss this!

$21.00 BTL. / $126.00 SIX-PACK CASE

 

2007 WARWICK ESTATE “THE THREE CAPE LADIES” RED
Warwick Estate is a historic family owned property in the Simonsberg district of the Stellenbosch region in South Africa.  While the estate dates back to the late 1700’s, the first commercial release from the winery was in 1984.  Ever since it has become one of the most famous producers in the country.

“Three Cape Ladies” is a blend of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Pinotage, 27% Syrah and 4% Merlot.  It was aged for 32 months in French oak, 40% of which was new.

This is a lot of wine for the money.  Complex aromas of plum, cherry, cigar box and spice lead into ripe but balanced red and black fruits, licorice notes and hints of chocolate on the long finish.  The tannins on the wine are well-framed by its fruit and overall balance.

The winery suggests pairing this alongside oxtail stew or peppered venison, and hey, who am I to argue!?

South Africa gets a lot of flack, as some of the red wines from this country can be challenging.  But those are the bad examples, and this, a great example that should show you that this country can make world-class wines, and at a terrific price!

$19.00 BTL. / $228.00 CASE

 

2010 AMIZADE GODELLO
Hey fans of Spanish white wine, I’ve got a deal for you that you must not miss!

Godello is one of the most exciting emerging grape varietals of Northwest Spain.  Found in regions like Valdeorras and in this case the appellation of Monterrei, it is a grape that offers thirst-quenching and aromatic wines that go down the hatch easier than water!

This wine is being offered at such a ridiculously low price that you should be loading up on this by the case.  Amizade is made by one of Spain’s greatest winemakers, Gerardo Mendez.  He owns and operates Do Ferreiro, an Albariño producer located in Sanxenxo, in the Val do Salnés subzone of Galicia.

He was asked by his importer to collaborate on this venture in the D.O. of Monterrei, located just on the border of Spain and Portugal.  Gerardo secured fruit from a friend who had been selling off his grapes.  Sourced from a single vineyard in a cool valley in the heart of the appellation, the soil is predominantly sand and slate.

The idea of this wine was to present a really refreshing, varietal and regional specific wine.  Like all of his wines, Gerardo ferments the grapes in stainless steel tanks and only uses indigenous yeasts.  The wine spent six months on its lees.

Did I mention how refreshing this is?  Bright lemon and orange citrus notes can be found on the nose and palate.  A little bit of mineral and herb notes make this really complex.  There is almost no better wine pairing than this with very simply prepared shellfish.  Get this while it lasts!

$15.00 BTL. / $180.00 CASE

 

2009 ADA NADA BARBERA D’ALBA “D’ PIERIN”
North of Treiso in the hamlet of Rombone lies the Ada Nada estate.  With just under 10 hectares of vines, this is a very small family owned and operated producer.

Last week I tasted two offerings from this producer that really impressed me.  These included a single vineyard Barbaresco and this impressive Barbera d’Alba.  The tasting got me to thinking about what wines tasted like in this region 50 years ago.

I can tell you this – Barbera has completely been transformed.  The climate has certainly changed in Piedmont, yielding riper than ever grapes.  Couple that with producers that are looking for more phenolic ripeness in their Barbera and you have completely different material to work with.  Ada Nada ferments this Barbera in stainless steel, something that wasn’t around then.  They also break up the cap during the fermentation and control the temperature.  The wine is racked into smaller oak casks where it is aged for a year.

The Vigna d’Pierin Barbera clearly shows the exciting transformation of the grape from everyday table grape to a more “serious” age-worthy wine.  I can tell you from my tasting that it goes down easily now, showing bright red and blue fruits, and just the right hint of tannin.  Enjoy it with roasted meats, or for further complexity lay it down for a few years.  Only 6,000 bottles produced, and I might try and drink them all myself!

$24.00 BTL. / $288.00 CASE

Posted in 6 for $120-Something, Newsletter, Store Updates

The Wine Wire – February 16th, 2012

February 16, 2012 by Craig Perman | Leave a comment

I am such a Champagne junkie!  3 new Champagnes came in today, all in magnum format.

  • 2006 Mandois Champagne Blanc de Blancs, Premier Cru – Hey you négociant-phobes.  Cut it out.  Just because you buy grapes doesn’t make you boring or mean that you make bad Champagne.  Henri Mandois is a really good “négoce,” based in the village of Pierry.  Their vintage Blanc de Blancs comes from estate owned vineyards in the villages of Pierry, Chouilly and Vertus.  This is really good juice, and because it is direct imported into Chicago, it is a steal.  1.5 ml bottles for only $89.99 per magnum.  Remember this is vintage stuff folks! S-T-E-A-L
  • 2006 José Dhondt Champagne Blanc de Blancs “Mes Vieilles Vignes,” Grand Cru – Never heard of José Dhondt?  Not surprising given that he is a 5 ha estate, with production averaging 50,000 bottles a year.  Based in the village of Oger in the Côte des Blancs he is obviously a Chardonnay specialist.  Here is his top cuvée from old-vines mainly in the Grand Cru village of Oger.  So intensely citric, it just oozes deliciousness! Magnums are great to age, and you can purchase one for $131.99 per magnum.
  • NV Camille Savès Champagne “Carte Blanche” – This is “Bad Ass” Bouzy!  Bouzy is Pinot Noir country, and Camille Savès rocks it out with Pinot Noir.  The “Carte Blanche” comes from Bouzy, as well as other villages in the Montagne de Reims.  It is 3/4 Pinot Noir and 1/4 Chardonnay.  Red fruit galore!  $131.99 per magnum.
Posted in The Wine Wire

The Wine Wire – February 15th, 2012

February 15, 2012 by Craig Perman | Leave a comment

Hey fans of the Jura – not to tease you but…

  • 2010 Houillon/Overnoy Arbois Pupillin (Chardonnay) – The single most allocated wine that I receive each year is that of Pierre Overnoy’s estate in the Jura.  There is never enough to go around, but after going out to a couple of regulars I have these two selections left.  Want to try a prime example of the fresh style of Chardonnay from the legend?  It is $48.99 and I only have one bottle left.
  • 2005 Houillon/Overnoy Arbois Pupillin (Savagnin) – A truly intoxicating wine!  Savagnin aged for years in wooden barrels, with slow evaporation, a layer of yest forms giving it unique aromas and flavors.  Sous voile is the name for this style of wine, and the terroir of Jura combined with this process makes it such a unique and complex white wine.  Yes, I only have one bottle of this left too – sorry! It is $54.99.
Posted in The Wine Wire

The Wine Wire – February 10th, 2012

February 10, 2012 by Craig Perman | Leave a comment

Check out the Friday Feature section – just got in the 2006′s from Cappellano – a legend in Piedmont!

But also don’t miss…

  • 2009 Château Fontanès Coteaux du Languedoc – One of my absolute favorite wines in the store right now.  This incredible value comes from a young, emerging winemaker named Cyriaque Rozier.  A really good chunk of Syrah in this delicious wine.  It’s a Kermit wine so you know I’m not messing around!  A steal at $14.99 btl.
  • 2007 Domaine Mathieu Châteauneuf-du-Pape – Prices in this famed Southern Rhône region have started to get out of control.  Always refreshing to see a great value like this wine from venerable estate Domaine Mathieu.  Direct imported into Chicago by a small distributor, this offers up classic kirsch and pepper spice notes.  This snow makes me crave a good Rhône red.  Yes, you are reading the price right, $32.99 btl.
Posted in The Wine Wire

The Wine Wire – February 9th, 2012

February 9, 2012 by Craig Perman | Leave a comment

Hey Cali fans, check out the new releases from Orin Swift.

  • 2010 Orin Swift Cellars “Palermo” Cabernet Sauvignon – A big, inky Cabernet Sauvignon from purchased hillside Napa fruit.  A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc.  Did I mention big?  This ways in at 15.5% alcohol.  Good value at $32.99 btl.
  • 2009 Orin Swift Cellars “Mercury Head” Cabernet Sauvignon – One of the flagship wines of Orin Swift, and certainly their best Cabernet from select lots.  Primarily coming from the Morisoli and Taplin Vineyards, this is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon with 5% Merlot.  A pretty big monster that can be let out of the cage now, but will age over a decade.  $75.99 btl.
Posted in The Wine Wire

The Wine Wire – February 8th, 2012

February 8, 2012 by Craig Perman | Leave a comment

I had a terrific Tempranillo tasting tonight at the store.  The idea was to show how multifaceted the grape is, and how it changes based on terroir and producer style.  Here is a recap on what was tasted.

  • 2010 Garciarevelo “Tres Olmos” Verdejo – As a warm up while people arrived I poured this excellent Verdejo from the Rueda region in Spain.  140 year-old pre-phyloxxera vines, true story.  How is this only $13.99 a bottle?  A fantastic, crisp white wine value!
  • 2008 Viña Sastre Ribera del Duero Crianza – Love is a word I often use when it comes to the wines of Jesus Sastre.  This winery has mad street cred in Spain and a couple of their top wines always compete with Vega Sicilia and other famed wines for the best wines of the region status.  The Crianza is wickedly good.  This is aged in all French oak.  $31.99 btl.
  • 2006 Condado de Haza Ribera del Duero – You can’t talk about Ribera del Duero without mentioning Alejandro Fernández, founder of Tinto Pesquera and Condado de Haza.  Cool to try this alongside the Sastre as this is raised entirely in American oak.  Showed a little more “confit” of fruit next to the Sastre, and showed how American oak is very different than French.  $29.99 btl.
  • 2010 Telmo Rodríguez “Dehesa Gago” Toro – These wines were a shock to the tasters this evening.  Amazing to see how ripe Tempranillo can get, although I had to admit that Telmo does a great job in managing the ripeness of is wines.  This had that intense “still in tank wine-y-ness.”  A food wine for sure.  A good value at $15.99 btl.
  • 2006 Telmo Rodríguez “Gago” Toro – Fun to show two wines from the same producer next to each other.  Gago comes from four different vineyards and does see some oak aging, although it certainly isn’t whacked like a lot of Toro I’ve tasted (ie Numanthia).  Super intense ripeness on this wine too, but this had some more savory elements and is a lot of wine for $31.99 btl.
  • 2002 López de Heredia Rioja Reservia “Bosconia” – One of my favorites of the night for sure.  Tradition is a word not taken lightly at this winery that dates back to 1877.  I know this isn’t from a hyped vintage, but this was one of my favorite vintages for this wine in many years.  Elegant to the max.  $32.99 btl.
  • 2004 Conde de Hervías Rioja – One of the wines of the night for most people.  Interesting to taste this alongside the Heredia, both from Rioja Alta.  Definitely a different wine altogether though.  Over 80 year-old vines, incredible depth of complexity and really built for the long haul.  This is a flat out steal at $61.99.  Collectors of fine Spanish wine, this should be in your cellar.
  • 1999 La Granja Remelluri Rioja Gran Reserva – I thought this was the wine of the night personally.  So incredibly elegant and complex with layers of mushroom, mineral, pencil shavings, and cherry.  A very long wine, from one of the best properties in all of Rioja, Remelluri.  $76.99 a bottle.  The equivalent of Grand Cru Rioja.
  • 2003 Ostatu “Gloria de Ostatu” Rioja – This was the consensus wine of the night.  All you wine nerds looking at the ’03 and saying “hot vintage,” this wine teaches all of us that a judgement on a young wine is incomplete without monitoring it over the course of its evolution.  A truly impressive wine from Rioja Alavesa.  I remember tasting this when it was young and being concerned about the amount of oak, but the fruit has outlasted that oak, and this wine is just starting to sing.  If this were Bordeaux this wine would sell for 5 times the price.  $79.99 per bottle.
Posted in The Wine Wire

The Wine Wire – February 7th, 2012

February 7, 2012 by Craig Perman | Leave a comment

Not a huge tasting day today, but some things that really stood out.

  • 2009 McKinlay Vineyards Pinot Noir – Awesome to see Matt Kinne’s wines in the Chicago.  This is a really delicious ’09 Pinot, and a truly outstanding value.  12.5% alcohol folks!  Could drink this one all day.  $19.99 btl.
  • 2008 McKinlay Vineyards Pinot Noir “Special Selection” – Wow!  This was really something.  I always hesitate to call anything “Burgundian-inspired,” but this wine would certainly appeal to “old world” drinkers.  Built for the long haul, although not unapproachable.  My notes – “Intensity, elegance, breed.”  Oregon Pinot fans – don’t miss this.  $41.99 btl.
  • 2010 Jean-Paul Droin Chablis – there may be more “fashionable” Chablis out there, but this is an incredibly delicious AC Chablis.  So refreshing and delicious!  A steal at $22.99 btl.
  • Monkey Shoulder Whiskey – This town is going to be inundated with Monkey Shoulder.  You heard it here first!  Three Speyside distilleries come together, age their Whiskey in Bourbon barrel, and blend 27 casks.  This stuff is huge appeal to a wide range of Whiskey fans.  So not only is this really tasty, this is $28.99 per bottle, yes you read that right!
Posted in The Wine Wire

The Wine Wire – An Introduction

February 6, 2012 by Craig Perman | Leave a comment

What is The Wine Wire?

The Wine Wire is a new tool for me to provide you with all the breaking news and information that is happening in the wine world, in a quick and efficient manner.  Think of it like a newswire for wine.

A day in the life of Craig involves lots of emails and conversations about wine that is either on its way or has just landed in one of the many distributors warehouses.  Over the first four years of my business I would offer some of those selections via a long winded newsletter.  Don’t get me wrong, I love writing my newsletter, but it takes a serious amount of time to produce.

The Wine Wire is a way for me to cut to the chase and post more offers for wines so that you don’t miss anything.  Don’t worry, I’m still cutting through the average and bad wines to bring you the best of the best.

Please keep in mind that many of the wines I am writing about are not in the store at the time of writing.  If you are interested in purchasing a wine please order through me via email.

Occasionally distributors won’t let me split cases or may charge a stiff “tax” for doing so.  I will notate if certain wines are only available by the case or if the price will vary based on quantity purchase.  In most cases this won’t be something you will have to worry about.

I really hope you enjoy this added feature to the website and in the repertoire of how I sell wine!

I look forward to any feedback you may have.

Cheers,

Craig

 

Posted in The Wine Wire

6 for $60-Something – January 27th, 2012

January 27, 2012 by Craig Perman | Leave a comment

Hello and Happy Friday!

It’s the last Friday of the month and time to introduce the brand new “Six for $60-something” wine sampler!

Six wines, hand selected by me, that represent a range of styles – all hovering around the $10 price point. Each wine is available by the bottle or case, but as I often say, for maximum pleasure you should take the whole sampler.

The “Six for $60-something” is highly recommended to those learning about wines, trying to stock their wine rack with affordable and tasty adult beverages, or wanting to bring a gift to someone hosting a party.

So how does this work? To order simply e-mail me back and say “Hey Craig, hook me up.” To join the devoted legions of fans who receive them every month you can just say “and keep ‘em coming!” All of the wines are available by the bottle or case, but for total jubilation just do the whole sampler. Some people are challenged by some of the wines that I put in to my sampler. If Bergerac gives you the chills, Rhône varietals make you hyperventilate, or any other interesting reason why you can not drink one of the following wines, then I will substitute and try to get the sampler as close to $60 as possible.

A suggestion to those folks trying to learn from this as well as get a buzz – print out a copy of the newsletter to keep with your sampler. That way when you are in the mood for a bottle you have your own mini wine lesson on hand. So what are you waiting for? Order yours today!

The sampler is in stock and ready to be picked up any time in the coming month!
Thanks again for all your support!

Have a great weekend,
Craig

—

2009 CASA SILVA MERLOT RESERVA

Oh no you didn’t! Oh yes I did!

That’s right people, even those that live in the city can drink Merlot! Scorned by millions of wine consumers after it became “un-cool” to drink the varietal, it is worth going back for another look.

The facts about Merlot are simple. It is an early ripening varietal that typically offers a plushness of fruit and soft tannins. It, like most other grapes, is very terroir specific, adapting to places such as Saint-Émilion, Chile, Friuli, and the Napa Valley.

I’ve made it my mission this year to re-introduce the varietal to you, and so lets start with a really fantastic value from one of my favorite producers in Chile, Casa Silva. Located in the Colchagua Valley, the Silva family began to estate bottle their wines in 1997. Like many wineries in Chile the origins of the family are from Bordeaux, at it is no coincidence that varietals like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carménère found their way here.

Quality across the board is really impressive at Casa Silva, yet their Reserva line offers truly amazing bargains. The 2009 Merlot is going to make you think twice about the varietal, as it offers up notes of bright strawberry, cocoa, and herbs. It is texturally very silky, but avoids overt fruitiness, and finishes with great balance and length. The softness of Merlot is what makes it such a great food wine, and you can drink this with spiced chicken thighs or a beef stew.

$10.50 BTL. / $126.00 CASE

 

 

2008 FINCA TORREMILANOS “MONTE CASTRILLO” RIBERA DEL DUEROIt is almost unheard of to find a quality wine from the Ribera del Duero region in Spain at the under $15 price point!

The region is home to Spain’s most famous grape varietal, Tempranillo, which is locally called Tinto Fino. The most famous winery in the region is Vega Sicilia, which dates back to 1864, but the explosion of wineries didn’t start happening till the early ’90s.

Today, there is a wide range of producers and quite a bit of diversity in respect to its terroirs and styles of winemaking.

Finca Torremilanos is owned by the Peñalba López family who expanded this old estate to its current 200-hectare size. With such a large scale of land holdings, it is impressive that the quality is high throughout the large portfolio of wines. “Monte Castrillo” is an “everyday” type of red, a blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Most of the juice undergoes malolactic fermentation in tank, with a small percentage in oak. The wine is aged for 7 months in oak before bottling.

This has nicely balanced notes of cherries, oak spice, and savory herbs. It is a very easy drinking wine on its own, but is also nicely paired with grilled red meats. A terrific value.

$10.50 BTL. / $126.00 CASE

 

2007 DOMAINE L’ANCIENNE CURE BERGERAC “JOUR DE FRUIT”

Ahhhh Bergerac – any region that is primarily known for wine and tobacco is good by me!

Bergerac is both a region and a town located in Southwest France, famous for Cyrano de Bergerac. Truth be told, he never really lived in Bergerac. But the city and region still embraces him, and why the heck not when you have easy access to a pack of smokes and a good bottle of wine?

Getting back to business, there are some really good wines coming out of the Bergerac appellation today. With a strong local tradition of cooperatives, the Roche family previously sold to the local co-op, but with the new generation comes new hope and the idea to estate bottle and raise the level of quality even further.

“Jour de Fruit” is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. In an effort to raise the awareness that all Merlot doesn’t taste the same, I bring you this very charming, and very rustic wine. What is a rustic wine you may ask? It is a wine that doesn’t smell like a lollipop. It is going to take you out of your comfort zone, and expand your horizons. Basically it is going to change your life!

Aromatically speaking this wine is wild! It smells like coffee grounds, mineral, and yes – tobacco leaf! On the palate it has the softness that is typical to Merlot, with baked fruit, spice and a really nice, lingering finish. Certainly not a cocktail wine, rather a good wine to pair with paté and cheese. This benefits from a little air in a decanter.

$11.50 BTL. / $138.00 CASE

 

2009 CHÂTEAU DE SÉGRIÈS CÔTES DU RHÔNE ROUGE

If someone ever gives you an average bottle of Côtes du Rhône from a bad producer, simply just shake your head at them! Let me tell you, I’m no genius for finding good bottles of red from the Côtes du Rhône appellation in the South of France. There are many, many good producers.

Château de Ségriès is a rising star in the appellation of Lirac, which sits across the river from Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This estate was purchased in 1994 by Henri de Lanzac, who spent much time and effort resurrecting the estate into a quality producer. With almost 45 hectares of land spread out in different villages, this is considered a medium-sized producer in the region.

His 2009 Côtes du Rhône is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Cinsault and 10% Carignan. It is fermented in temperature-controlled vats and aged primarily in tank.     Last month I offered another Côtes du Rhône from Domaine Brusset on my sampler, but I think you will notice that this month’s is a completely different animal. This has a little more elegance to it, and the inclusion of 30% Syrah lends to a more pronounced white pepper spice.

A great wine for winter foods such as a mushroom and herb-laden chicken fricassée.

$11.50 BTL. / $138.00 CASE

 

2010 DOMAINE DE PELLEHAUT “HARMONIE DE GASCOGNE”

The Côtes de Gascogne is my go to place for a “Sauvignon Blanc-ish” style white wines at bargain prices. The appellation is located in Southwest France, and is home to one of my favorite spirits in the world, Armagnac. Distilled primarily from the grape Ugni Blanc, the same grape has become important today for white wine production.

This rural, agricultural land is home to the Domaine de Pellehaut, a property that covers 520 hectares of land— 180 hectares of those are vineyards, with the rest going to cereal crops and cattle. This working farm that dates back to the 18th century offers a variety of soil types, which allows for various varietals to be farmed.

Their inexpensive white “Harmonie de Gascogne” is a blend of Ugin Blanc, Colombard, Gros Manseng, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Folle Blanche. It is a fresh and very aromatic white wine with notes at passion fruit, citrus, and green pepper.

This is such an easy drinking white that it is an ideal wine to drink as you cook, and is a fun pairing with a seafood ceviche.

$9.00 BTL. / $108.00 CASE

 

2009 “LES HÉRÉTIQUES” VIN DE PAYS DE L’HÉRAULT”

This terrific value should be the mascot of the Western Languedoc region in the South of France. With a rich and at times disturbing history, Minervois is home to some of the Languedoc’s most delicious wines. This wine is made by Château d’Oupia, and is an hommage to the massacre that happened in Minerve in 1208. At that time the members of the Cathari religious order were hunted down and killed during the Crusades led by the Roman Catholic Church, who called them “heretics.”

The late Andre Iché dedicated this bottling to that massacre, and even though it is 900 years later, those times are still remembered in the region today. Aside from the history lesson, I have for a long time used this in my arsenal of incredible under $10 bottles. This is not incredible in the sense that it will be the best wine you’ve ever tasted, rather, it is a wine that transports the drinker to that region, sitting at a local café, eating a hearty bowl of Cassoulet.

It is a blend composed primarily of old-vine Carignan with a splash of Syrah. The wine fermented half in the traditional method and half using carbonic maceration. This gives it a brightness of fruit that you want when eating heartier stews and meats. So if you can’t travel to this region any time soon, this bottle and some regional cooking will take you there.

$9.50 BTL. / $114.00 CASE

Posted in 6 for $60-Something

Perman Wine Selections Friday Feature – January 13th, 2012

January 13, 2012 by Craig Perman | Leave a comment

Hello and Happy Friday,

It officially feels like winter in Chicago, and that has many of us looking to hunker down with a good bottle of red and a delicious home-cooked meal. With that thought in mind, I bring you this great value red from Portuguese producer, Quinta do Infantado. It’s Perman-tasted and Perman-approved!

On another note, this past Wednesday I released my calendar of events for January through March. There are some great tastings at the store on the list and even a special winemaker dinner. If you didn’t get that email you can check out the events listing on the website by clicking here.

Hope you have a great weekend,

Craig

—–

Friday Feature

2008 QUINTA DO INFANTADO DOURO VINHO TINTO
Portugal has always produced still wines, but never at the quality level that is going on today. Port houses from the Douro region have gained notoriety for their dry red and white wines, and rightfully so.

Today’s friday feature focuses on what I think is a great value red wine from the Douro region and famous Port house, Quinta do Infantado. This is not one of the large scale Port producers, rather a family estate headed by João Roseira. There is a nice write up of the history of Quinta do Infantado if you click here.

I am a big fan of the recently released 2008 Vinho Tinto. Like most Douro red wines it is a blend of local grapes, and Infantado is unique in crushing and fermenting in traditional lagares, large barrels that are meant for foot treading of the grapes. Infantado uses local rather than laboratory-made yeasts, and ages this wine in a combination of tank and oak barrels.

What I like about this wine is that it smells and tastes authentic in the every way. It has the mineral component that you would expect from those soils. Its spice driven, savory, with a little tongue-coating tannin. There is a little fruit behind this, but it never smells or tastes candied. It is just a delicious bottle of wine, at a very nice price point that is perfect for winter foods like roasts and beef stews.

$24.99 BTL. / $299.88 CASE

Posted in Friday Feature, Friday Features/Newsletters, Newsletter