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<channel>
	<title>Inspiring Thirst</title>
	<atom:link href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://blog.kermitlynch.com</link>
	<description>An inside look at wines of Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant.</description>
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		<title>If You&#8217;re Going To Sam Francisco&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2010/03/17/if-youre-going-to-sam-francisco/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2010/03/17/if-youre-going-to-sam-francisco/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:06:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Clark Z. Terry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Sam Imel]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.kermitlynch.com/?p=1729</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Today&#8217;s guest blogger is Sam Imel, the latest addition to the KLWM retail staff&#8230;
In 2006 I worked the wine harvest in St. Emilion, France.  While living in Napa years prior, I became friends with a French girl named Claire who interned at a local winery.  It turned out that her family owned a château in [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>Today&#8217;s guest blogger is Sam Imel, the latest addition to the KLWM retail staff&#8230;</em></p>
<p>In 2006 I worked the wine harvest in St. Emilion, France.  While living in Napa years prior, I became friends with a French girl named Claire who interned at a local winery.  It turned out that her family owned a château in Bordeaux, and each year she would invite me to take part in harvest. As a student, it was impossible for me to fathom taking off the first month of a fall semester to pick grapes.  Once graduated and free, I was off to experience all that goes in to making a bottle of wine.</p>
<p><a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Sams-Blog-1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1731" title="Sam's-Blog-1" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Sams-Blog-1.jpg" alt="Sam's-Blog-1" width="500" height="182" /></a></p>
<p><strong> </strong>Initially it seemed just right.  Claire’s mother, Madame Fourcade, oh-so elegant and graceful, met me at the Libourne train station and delivered me to Chateau Côte de Baleau.  Waiting until the rest of the harvest workers arrived, I walked around the property in awe of its beauty.  Before I knew it, a caravan of five cars came tearing down the gravel driveway, music blasting.  They had arrived and I was intimidated.  Fifteen young men recently graduated from high school in Bordeaux piled out of the cars with an air as if they owned the place.  Madame Fourcade introduced us as we figured each other out.  We passed the evening drinking young wine and cheap scotch.  Deep into the first night, I decided to retire “early” to the old stone barracks where harvest workers have slumbered for centuries.  In a musty space above the cellar and tractors, I timidly searched out a rickety metal cot in the corner to rest my bones.  An hour before sunrise, I was awoken to an army of drunken kids thrashing around the room fighting over beds.</p>
<p>It wasn’t long before they noticed the curious American asleep in the corner.  The leader of the pack, Stanislaus, was the first to instigate: “Saaaaam, what <em>are</em> you doing <em>here</em> Saaaaam?” With a pillow folded over my head and under a blanket I pretended to sleep.  “Why are you here Saaaaam?” he resonated.  Laughter roared and all chipped in to make me very uncomfortable.  Stanislaus belligerently sung repeatedly, “If you are going to Sammm Franciscooo …” It drove me nuts; I couldn’t give into their tactics.  I lay awake hidden until sunrise thinking, “Sam, what are you doing here?”</p>
<p>It soon made sense.  They tested me and I passed.  Over the next couple of days I was one of them and we were comrades.  We engaged in picking grapes, sorting, and working in the cellars at the family’s three Châteaux: <strong><a href="http://www.lesgrandesmurailles.fr/english/homepage.html" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.lesgrandesmurailles.fr/english/homepage.html?referer=');">Chateau Côte de Baleau, Château Les Grandes Murailles, and Le Clos Saint Martin</a></strong>. Covered in mud from a day’s wet work we would start a soccer match before showering and helping prepare a massive family meal.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Chateau-Grandes-Murailles.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1730" title="Chateau-Grandes-Murailles" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Chateau-Grandes-Murailles.jpg" alt="Chateau-Grandes-Murailles" width="400" height="264" /></a></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Château Les Grandes Murailles</em></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">All that goes into a bottle of wine proved far beyond what I had anticipated.  It seemed so simple: when the fruit is ripe, pick, press, and ferment it into wine.  All of that is very true, but once harvest was complete I had another thought as I scanned over wine bottles on display at a wine bar in Bordeaux.  For every wine, from all vintages, there is much more involved beyond the year’s weather and the <em>vigneron’s</em> technique.  Though seldom heard, and as infrequently experienced, there are countless stories about the people behind the vintage of each wine label.</p>
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		<title>A Corky Bastille Day</title>
		<link>http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2010/03/10/a-corky-bastille-day/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2010/03/10/a-corky-bastille-day/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:35:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Clark Z. Terry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Mark Congero]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.kermitlynch.com/?p=1698</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Today&#8217;s guest blogger is Mark Congero. Check out his last two appearances on the blog, here and here.
This is by far my favorite wine story, not only because it is about my daughter Isabella but it is also quite funny. It takes place at Chez Panisse on Bastille Day 2008.
I stopped by the restaurant with [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>Today&#8217;s guest blogger is Mark Congero. Check out his last two appearances on the blog,<strong> <a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2009/08/18/spaghetti-with-basil-pesto-heirloom-tomatoes/">here</a> </strong>and <strong><a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2009/12/10/winter-produce/">here</a></strong>.</em></p>
<p>This is by far my favorite wine story, not only because it is about my daughter Isabella but it is also quite funny. It takes place at Chez Panisse on Bastille Day 2008.</p>
<p>I stopped by the restaurant with Isabella to say to hello to some friends and have a glass of rosé. It was a beautiful, warm Berkeley afternoon and I ordered a glass of Fontsainte’s Gris de Gris Rosé and some olives. One of the bartenders jokingly asked if Isabella wanted a taste, she was one and half at the time. I told him that Isabella is actually quite fond of rosé or <em>vino rosado</em> as she calls it.  The bartender did not believe me so I told him to watch closely. I let Isa hold my glass (which I had not yet tasted), she swirled, sniffed and took a tiny sip. Instead of the big smile I usually get, she made a funny face and said “no Daddy.” The bartender laughed and said something like “I told you so.”</p>
<p>After a few minutes of banter with a friend I went take a drink of my wine and it was CORKED! My two year old picked out a corked bottle of rosé and I could not have been a prouder Papa. I of course let the bartender know that my daughter had picked out the corked wine (and he did not) and that she and I would love a glass from a fresh bottle. She gladly took sip and gave me the big grin that I am used to seeing. Needless to say everyone was very impressed with Isa’s tasting skills and the story is now legend. I’m sure this will grow into one of those stories that she will be sick of hearing as she grows older but Dad will never grow tired of telling it.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Cheers!<a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Isa-Rose-2.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1697  aligncenter" title="Isa-Rose-2" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Isa-Rose-2.jpg" alt="Isa-Rose-2" width="300" height="533" /></a></em></p>
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		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Degustazione in Piemonte</title>
		<link>http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2010/03/04/degustazione-in-piemonte/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2010/03/04/degustazione-in-piemonte/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:22:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Clark Z. Terry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Italy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michael Butler]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.kermitlynch.com/?p=1672</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Our guest blogger today is 20+ year Kermit Lynch salesman, Michael Butler&#8230;
I visited the Piedmont region of Italy a little while back and it was one of the most enjoyable trips of my wine life. I drove there from Beaune after tasting at a number of our Burgundy producers, which was also great, but another [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>Our guest blogger today is 20+ year Kermit Lynch salesman, Michael Butler&#8230;</em></p>
<p>I visited the Piedmont region of Italy a little while back and it was one of the most enjoyable trips of my wine life. I drove there from Beaune after tasting at a number of our Burgundy producers, which was also great, but another story. As soon as I entered Italy, I stopped at a rest area for a snack and was amazed at how good the <em>autostrada</em> panini was — it just got better from there.</p>
<div id="attachment_1675" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 403px"><img class="size-full wp-image-1675" title="La Nebbia 2" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/La-Nebbia-2.jpg" alt="La Nebbia 2" width="393" height="294" /><p class="wp-caption-text">View from from Castello di Sinio.</p></div>
<p>My base of operations was a comfy, classy hotel called the Castello di Sinio, in the southern end of Barolo. It is owned by a couple of Berkeley area expats who used to be clients at the shop. Not only are they the perfect hosts, but also the hotel is extremely comfy and in a great location for visiting the surrounding vineyards. Looking out from my bedroom window in the early morning I had a great view of the old town shrouded in <em>la nebbia</em>, the Italian word for the fog, which helps allow the Nebbiolo grapes to ripen gracefully.</p>
<p>The first night in town I drove to Ristorante Le Torri in Castglione Falletto and had a fabulous meal of classic regional dishes. I drank a lovely Barbera made in the traditional style (no new oak and not overripe) from a vineyard less than a mile away from the restaurant.</p>
<div id="attachment_1674" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 371px"><img class="size-full wp-image-1674 " title="La Nebbia 1" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/La-Nebbia-1.jpg" alt="La Nebbia 1" width="361" height="271" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The vineyards of Lazzairasco and Santa Caterina.</p></div>
<p>The next day started with a long walk in the hills through vineyards and hazelnut orchards, then off to see Guido Porro in Serralunga D’Alba for a tasting of his classic Piedmontese wines. Guido’s tasting room overlooks their <em>Lazzairasco</em> and <em>Santa Caterina </em>vineyards, which are perfectly situated to make delicious Dolcetto, Barbera, and Barolo. The estate is also an <em>agriturismo</em>, so if you plan ahead you can rent a room on the farm—nicer people you couldn’t meet and delicious wine!</p>
<p>But for me, I had to jump in the Alfa and race off to the hill town of Barbaresco and taste with Silvio Giamello, an excellent producer of organically grown Nebbiolos.</p>
<p>Sometimes finding these small wineries is easier said than done. In this case I missed the turn-off and ended up in the center of town. I guess I looked like a lost tourist (go figure), after about 2 seconds of looking around someone came up to the car and asked me in English (how did he know?) if he could help me. I said I was looking for Silvio Giamello, he said, “Oh, he is a friend of mine, follow me.” Two minutes later I arrived at Silvio’s. We tasted his excellent Langhe Nebbiolo and a retrospective of Barbaresco going back to the 1996 vintage, Yum!</p>
<p>I ended the day in Silvio’s dinning room that overlooks the surrounding vineyards. We sipped some of his older wines with salumi and cheese from local artisan producers.<em> </em>Sometimes my job is not so bad.<em><br />
</em></p>
<div id="attachment_1677" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 509px"><a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Silvio-Giamello-2.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1677" title="Silvio Giamello 2" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Silvio-Giamello-2.jpg" alt="Silvio Giamello 2" width="499" height="374" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Silvio Giamello</p></div>
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		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
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		<title>March Newsletter Now Online</title>
		<link>http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2010/03/02/march-newsletter-now-online/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2010/03/02/march-newsletter-now-online/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:59:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Clark Z. Terry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Monthly Newsletter]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.kermitlynch.com/?p=1645</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The March newsletter is now available. Download the pdf here.

Highlights from this month&#8217;s newsletter&#8230;
STAFF SELECTIONS
Staff selections are always a big hit in our newsletters. This time, I’ve decided to take it a step further. We’d like to give you, our clientele, the opportunity to get to know us better. One of the most common requests [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The March newsletter is now available. <a href="http://kermitlynch.com/1003-March2010.pdf" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/kermitlynch.com/1003-March2010.pdf?referer=');"><strong>Download the pdf here.</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/orn3.gif"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-711" title="orn3" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/orn3.gif" alt="orn3" width="159" height="58" /></a></p>
<p>Highlights from this month&#8217;s newsletter&#8230;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>STAFF SELECTIONS</strong></p>
<p>Staff selections are always a big hit in our newsletters. This time, I’ve decided to take it a step further. We’d like to give you, our clientele, the opportunity to get to know us better. One of the most common requests I hear from clients throughout the year is for the opportunity to work regularly with a salesperson. Please take a look at the bios of the salespeople to see if there is someone who is right for you. Also, during the month, each staff member will be posting on here on our blog about their favorite wines and experiences drinking them.</p>
<p>After the job of finding great wines at great prices, there is nothing more important in our business than making the client feel as comfortable and confident as possible when making a purchase. Let’s face it—buying wine can seem a bit intimidating sometimes. As retail manager of KLWM, I want to make it easy for you to have a positive experience in the store. Feel free to introduce yourself and latch on to any one of us. Like they say in my favorite Bogart movie, “This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” —<em>Steve Waters</em></p>
<p><em><a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/orn.1.gif"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-991" title="orn.1" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/orn.1.gif" alt="orn.1" width="164" height="59" /></a><br />
</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>PRE-ARRIVAL OFFER<br />
GROS ’NORÉ IN MAGNUM</strong><br />
<em>by Kermit Lynch</em></p>
<p>From my house near Bandol, I can see Alain Pascal’s Domaine du Gros ’Noré across the valley. He has created a beautiful estate—he came up with the design himself, and with friends even laid the stones and tiles. Now his wines are putting the place on the map.</p>
<p>Gros ’Noré? Well, Alain’s father’s name was Honoré and he was a huge chunk of a man, so people called him Big ’Noré. Gros ’Noré.</p>
<p>Alain and I have become friends. Drinkin’ buddies. We might meet early and go to La Ciotat to await the fishing boats’ return and buy the catch still wriggling. Octopus is often available, slippin’ and a-slidin’. Also, Alain hunts and invites me for roast boar or various fowl cooked over vine cuttings.</p>
<p>Once, he loaned me his shotgun so I could take care of a pesky wabbit that was dining out in my vegetable garden with such appetite that there was nothing left for me. I took my well-fed organic victim to Alain, who skinned it and cooked it with lots of garlic and thyme. I uncorked a Cornas from Allemand, 1995. Zounds and gadzooks!</p>
<p>Another evening, this year before the harvest, Alain brought out a magnum of his 1999 Bandol rouge. For the two of us. I told him his eyes were bigger than my stomach, but he said no, no, he just likes wine better in magnums. He says they always taste better. And then it came out that he has a bunch of magnums he has never offered for sale.</p>
<p>And here they come. My advice? Go for it!<a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/GN-NVBandol-Red1.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1650" title="GN-NVBandol-Red" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/GN-NVBandol-Red1.jpg" alt="GN-NVBandol-Red" width="261" height="350" /></a></p>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">per bottle</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2007 Bandol <em>Rouge MAGNUM</em></td>
<td>$66.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2006 Bandol <em>Rouge MAGNUM</em></td>
<td>66.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2005 Bandol <em>Rouge MAGNUM</em></td>
<td>70.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2003 Bandol <em>Rouge MAGNUM</em></td>
<td>72.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2001 Bandol <em>Rouge MAGNUM</em></td>
<td>88.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2000 Bandol <em>Rouge MAGNUM</em></td>
<td>82.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1999 Bandol <em>Rouge MAGNUM</em></td>
<td>85.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<title>In Kermit&#8217;s Cellar</title>
		<link>http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2010/02/24/in-kermits-cellar/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2010/02/24/in-kermits-cellar/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Feb 2010 01:01:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Clark Z. Terry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Staff Tasting]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.kermitlynch.com/?p=1618</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The vast majority of older wines that I’ve tasted have come directly from Kermit’s cellar in Berkeley. He regularly brings down a bottle or two of something old during staff tastings, but every once in a while, the sales staff will head over to his house and have a dinner and tasting of older wines.
These [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: left;">The vast majority of older wines that I’ve tasted have come directly from Kermit’s cellar in Berkeley. He regularly brings down a bottle or two of something old during staff tastings, but every once in a while, the sales staff will head over to his house and have a dinner and tasting of older wines.</p>
<p>These tastings tend to be epic in length and scope. Dozens of bottles are opened covering multiple decades, the rare and obscure, the classic and divine. The tasting portion of the evening is always followed by a hearty meal. This time around the main course was wild boar that a client gave to my colleague Steve Waters. <a href="http://www.figandmiel.com/" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.figandmiel.com/?referer=');"><strong>Melissa Fernandez</strong></a>, wife of another colleague, Mark Congero, braised the shoulder for 14 hours and slow roasted the leg for 5. Kermit usually digs into his stash of magnums for dinner wines as not much wine remains in the bottles after the initial tasting.</p>
<p>Choosing highlights from the tasting for this post was a difficult task. With so many exquisite wines, how can I honestly choose just a few? I’ve included the full list of wines tasted/drank at the bottom of the post.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>2001 Chablis “Butteaux” <em>1er Cru</em> • François Raveneau</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">We tasted through seven fine representatives of 2001 white Burgundy, each showing well now and some with potential to age further in the cellar. The ’01 Butteaux was raring to <a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/IMG_1983.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1624" title="IMG_1983" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/IMG_1983.jpg" alt="IMG_1983" width="256" height="384" /></a>go the moment the bottle was opened. Chablis experienced a little noble rot in ’01. The winemakers at the time said this imparted a champignon or mushroom/truffly characteristic. This element was seamlessly present along with the edge of richness so often found in aged Chablis. The most attractive aspect of this wine though was the richness and the racy mineral acidity. This dichotomy of flavors, seemingly opposite and opposed can be present at the same time and afford stunning complexity and character. If you own any 2001’s from Raveneau, I’d recommend enjoying a bottle soon. You can definitely continue to hold them for a number of more years but there’s a lot of pleasure to be had now.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>2001 Corton-Charlemagne <em>Grand Cru</em> • Coche-Dury</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong> </strong><a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/IMG_1986.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1625" title="IMG_1986" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/IMG_1986.jpg" alt="IMG_1986" width="220" height="330" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Bells rang and fireworks exploded as I put my nose into my precious glass of Corton-Charlemagne. There was much jockeying amongst the staff as to who was going to get a small sip of what remained in the bottle at the end of the tasting and for good reason. This wine was everything its name (vineyard and producer together) and reputation led me to believe it would be. I’ve had other Coche Corton-Charlemagnes – 1997 and 1996  – and the ’01 was without question on the same level as those wines. Deep dark grain, an edge of nuttyness, firm acidity, and that classic Corton-Charlemagne spiciness – almost like red hots – are the reasons white Burgundy fanatics turn into diehards when they taste this wine.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>1990 Vouvray Moelleux “Cuvée Chatherine” • Didier et Catherine Champalou</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/IMG_2028.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1627" title="IMG_2028" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/IMG_2028.jpg" alt="IMG_2028" width="288" height="192" /></a>Old dessert wines are always a treat to taste. The complexity can be astounding. The Champalou’s Moelleux was layered and thick (heck, you could almost chew it!) but what got me was the bright acidity. How can a wine that is so thick, rich, and sweet also have young, nervy acidity? The Champalous only make their Moelleux in the best years. I believe the next vintage we’ll receive is the 2007. Get a few bottles and forget about it for a long time. Down the line you’ll find a special moment to open it up and you will be duly rewarded.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>2005 St. Joseph <em>Vieilles Vignes</em> • Domaine Faury<br />
</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I was excited to see this wine on Kermit’s kitchen counter as I walked in. I have three of Faury’s ’05 Vieilles Vignes in my cellar and getting a chance to see how it is developing without cracking my own was lucky. This wine was stunning: deep peppery spice, young blackberry fruit, a hearty medium rare steak aroma (or maybe I just really wanted a steak to eat with it), and structure that let me know I made a great decision to put a few of these wines away. I won’t be opening mine for at least two or three more years. We have Faury’s 2007 Vieilles Vignes ($32) available now and I will be putting away what I can afford of them as well.<a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/IMG_1988.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1626 aligncenter" title="IMG_1988" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/IMG_1988.jpg" alt="IMG_1988" width="300" height="200" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>1980 Châteauneuf du Pâpe “La Crau” <em>Magnum</em> • Vieux Télégraphe</strong><a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/IMG_2033.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1628" title="IMG_2033" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/IMG_2033.jpg" alt="IMG_2033" width="246" height="369" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">This was a spectacular wine with which to end a grand evening – a worthy climax. We drank it with cheese after having magnums of 1988 Bandol “Miguoa” and 1988 Bandol “La Louffe” with the boar. Rustic elegance is the best way to sum up how the ’80 Vieux Télégraphe tasted. The terroir of the “La Crau” vineyard, the talent of the Brunier family at Vieux Télégraphe, and 30 years of graceful aging in Kermit’s cellar lend an elegance similar to that of older Burgundy, while retaining the wild, rustic, brooding side of Châteauneuf. I would have never imagined that ending a meal with a Châteauneuf could be thirst quenching and refreshing. This bottle hit the spot.</p>
<p><strong>Cellar Tasting 2/9/10 (in the order tasted)</strong><br />
2001 Chablis “Butteaux” <em>1er Cru</em> • François Raveneau<br />
2001 Meursault “Luchets” • Domaine Roulot<br />
2001 Meursault–Blagny “Genelotte” <em>1er Cru </em>• Domaine de Cherisey<br />
2001 Meursault “Genevrières” <em>1er Cru</em> • François Jobard<br />
2001 Chassagne-Montrachet “Les Vergers” <em>1er Cru</em> • Domaine Amiot<br />
2001 Puligny-Montrachet “Les Truffières” <em>1er Cru</em> • Colin-Déléger<br />
2001 Corton-Charlemagne <em>Grand Cru</em> • Coche-Dury<br />
2003 Savennières Sec • Château d’Epiré<br />
2002 Savennières Sec • Château d’Epiré<br />
1997 Savennières Sec “Cuvée Spéciale” • Château d’Epiré<br />
1986 Vouvray Moelleux “Clos du Petit Mont” • Allias<br />
1990 Vouvray Moelleux “Cuvée Chatherine” • Didier et Catherine Champalou<br />
1971 Vouvray Moelleux • Loyau<br />
2005 St. Joseph <em>VV</em> • Domaine Faury<br />
2004 St. Joseph <em>VV</em> • Domaine Faury<br />
1995 Côte Rôtie • Robert Jasmin<br />
1992 Cornas • Auguste Clape<br />
1991 Côte Rôtie • Gentaz<br />
1990 Cornas • Auguste Clape<br />
1988 St. Joseph • Raymond Trollat<br />
1988 Hermitage • JL Chave<br />
1988 Cornas • Noel Verset<br />
1988 Bandol “Miguoa” <em>Magnum </em>• Domaine Tempier<br />
1988 Bandol “La Louffe” <em>Magnum </em> • Domaine Tempier<br />
1980 Châteauneuf du Pâpe “La Crau” <em>Magnum </em> • Vieux Télégraphe</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="400" height="300" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true&amp;lang=en-us&amp;page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fkermitlynch%2Fsets%2F72157623404220094%2Fshow%2F&amp;page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fkermitlynch%2Fsets%2F72157623404220094%2F&amp;set_id=72157623404220094&amp;jump_to=" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="src" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="300" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&amp;lang=en-us&amp;page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fkermitlynch%2Fsets%2F72157623404220094%2Fshow%2F&amp;page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fkermitlynch%2Fsets%2F72157623404220094%2F&amp;set_id=72157623404220094&amp;jump_to="></embed></object></p>
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		<title>Age Your Corsicans</title>
		<link>http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2010/02/18/age-your-corsicans/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2010/02/18/age-your-corsicans/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:52:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Clark Z. Terry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Corsica]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.kermitlynch.com/?p=1570</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We’ve been on quite a Corsican kick here at the shop, with a sampler in January and a new white and rosé producer from Cap Corse having just arrived. New vintages from longstanding Corsican domaines, Antoine Arena and Yves Leccia, are also available and there’s a lot to be excited about in these wines. The [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We’ve been on quite a Corsican kick here at the shop, with a sampler in January and a new white and rosé producer from Cap Corse having just arrived. New vintages from longstanding Corsican domaines, Antoine Arena and Yves Leccia, are also available and there’s a lot to be excited about in these wines. The true impetus for my excitement isn’t necessarily the arrival of these new Corsican reds, but a recent affirmation of the potential that the new reds from Arena and Leccia have. By “potential,” I don’t mean that Leccia and Arena’s wines could be good; they are already excellent. I mean that they have incredible potential for being true vins de garde, wines that will age gracefully for years to come. I didn’t come up with this idea simply from tasting these new vintages &#8211; Kermit brought in one of his bottles of 2001 Patrimonio Rouge from Leccia that knocked our socks off and left the entire staff thinking, “Why the heck don’t more people just buy these wines by the case and age it like Gigondas or Bandol?”</p>
<p>“Can Kermit do for Corsica what he did for Bandol?” was the question my colleague Sam asked me the other day. In the ‘70s, Kermit began to import wines from the<a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Antoine-dans-carri-res.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1574" title="Antoine-dans-carri-res" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Antoine-dans-carri-res.jpg" alt="Antoine-dans-carri-res" width="267" height="357" /></a> then obscure appellation of Bandol and turned them into must-have additions to the cellar of every serious old world connoisseur.  We’ve imported Corsican wines since the ‘80s, but it wasn’t until recently that we’ve developed a stable of brilliant winemakers who produce great wines that are loaded with class and of course a good dose of rustic Corsican character. Now is the time to start cellaring these Corsican reds. Prices are not as high as quality and they don’t taste like anywhere else’s wines. The prices are equal or less than those of their Rhône counterparts and they offer their own individual style and potential to age.</p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><em>Antoine Arena in his vineyards.</em></p>
<p>Our line-up of reds started with the 2008 Vin de Pays <em>Rouge</em> from Yves Leccia ($26). This is a prime example of a wine that can be enjoyed young, but would benefit greatly from just a few years in the cellar. The 2004 I cellared until last year was <a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/07-Leccia-Patrimonio-Rouge.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1573" title="07-Leccia-Patrimonio-Rouge" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/07-Leccia-Patrimonio-Rouge.jpg" alt="07-Leccia-Patrimonio-Rouge" width="273" height="342" /></a>exceptional and I wished I had held off for a few more years. The ’08 was juicy, with black tea aromas reminiscent of Bandol, and a smoky, resiny garrigue. The blend here is primarily Grenache, with 20% Niellucio, an endemic red grape variety. Leccia’s 2007 Patrimonio <em>Rouge</em> ($34) has almost the opposite blend at 90% Niellucio and 10% Grenache. The depth and structure of this wine is evident right off the nose. There’s a profound character to the dark, smoky fruit, but it’s not heavy or over the top. Leccia’s Patrimonio <em>Rouge</em> might be a “big” wine, but it retains a freshness and buoyancy on the palate that most wines of this size and intensity almost never possess.</p>
<p><a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/07-Arena-Morta-Maio.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1572" title="07-Arena-Morta-Maio" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/07-Arena-Morta-Maio.jpg" alt="07-Arena-Morta-Maio" width="316" height="210" /></a>The two reds following Leccia also hail from Patrimonio, but come from the life-loving, philosophically minded Antoine Arena, a stalwart practitioner of biodynamics whose wines are a favorite in the best Parisian wine bars. Arena’s two single vineyard reds, the “Carco” ($36) and “Morta Maio” ($36) epitomize his style. The beauty of Arena’s reds is often in their amazing, mouthwatering fruit – like eating ripe black cherries right off the tree. The 2007s also offer the added benefit of well-integrated tannins and bright acidity, giving them serious potential for aging, five to ten more years.</p>
<p>The final bottle of our Corsican red line-up was the 2001 Patrimonio<em> Rouge</em> from Leccia that Kermit pulled from his cellar. What sticks with me is the clarity of fruit on the palate. It was focused, concentrated, and young. The structure was still completely intact, giving it potential to age much longer. This bottle holds the proof that there is huge value in aging your Corsican reds. Join us on our mission to spread the good word about the wild gems of Corsica.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/01-Leccia-Patrimonio-Rouge.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1571 aligncenter" title="01-Leccia-Patrimonio-Rouge" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/01-Leccia-Patrimonio-Rouge.jpg" alt="01-Leccia-Patrimonio-Rouge" width="342" height="390" /></a></p>
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		<title>Kermit at Omnivore Books</title>
		<link>http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2010/02/13/kermit-at-omnivore-books/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2010/02/13/kermit-at-omnivore-books/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:28:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Clark Z. Terry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.kermitlynch.com/?p=1596</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Omnivore Books on Food, of San Francisco, will host Kermit on Saturday, February 20th for a reading from his two books, Adventures on the Wine Route and Inspiring Thirst, and a tasting of a few of his favorites from his Berkeley shop.
Owned by Celia Sack, Omnivore Books is a bookstore that focuses exclusively on food [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Omnivore Books on Food, of San Francisco, will host Kermit on Saturday, February 20th for a reading from his two books, <em>Adventures on the Wine Route</em> and <em>Inspiring Thirst</em>, and a tasting of a few of his favorites from his Berkeley shop.</p>
<p>Owned by Celia Sack, Omnivore Books is a bookstore that focuses exclusively on food and drink related books. This small Noe Valley shop carries rare antiquarian books from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries as well as new food and drink titles.</p>
<p>In her twenties, Celia began collecting while working as an antiquarian book cataloger at an auction house. She soon turned her focus to books on food. Her passion narrowed to Victorian era books on how to run your own food business (dairy, butcher, confectioner). She says, “the quaintness of these books attracted me – like how to make and display popular penny cakes ‘just so’ in order to attract customers – I was hooked.” Many of the books at Omnivore are not cookbooks, but books on food production, history, and philosophy.</p>
<p>Don’t miss this great chance to meet Kermit, taste his wines, and hear about his 37 year career importing French and Italian wines.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Saturday, February 20 • Wine Tasting with Kermit Lynch! • 5-6 p.m. • Free</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://omnivorebooks.com" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/omnivorebooks.com?referer=');"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1597" title="omnivore logo" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/omnivore-logo.png" alt="omnivore logo" width="346" height="444" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Omnivore Books on Food | 3885a Cesar Chavez Street | San Francisco, CA 94131</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://omnivorebooks.com" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/omnivorebooks.com?referer=');">omnivorebooks.com</a> | 415.282.4712 | Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 12-5</p>
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		<title>Tasting Recap 1/21/10: Corsica and the Southern Rhône</title>
		<link>http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2010/02/08/tasting-recap-12110-corsica-and-the-southern-rhone/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2010/02/08/tasting-recap-12110-corsica-and-the-southern-rhone/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:10:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Clark Z. Terry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Corsica]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rhône]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staff Tasting]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.kermitlynch.com/?p=1551</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last week’s staff tasting focused on recent arrivals from Corsica and the south of France. More often than not, Kermit likes to taste north to south, however this time we started in Corsica and moved north to the mainland. Our normal behavior is also to taste white before red, but I’ve heard of other people [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Last week’s staff tasting focused on recent arrivals from Corsica and the south of France. More often than not, Kermit likes to taste north to south, however this time we started in Corsica and moved north to the mainland. Our normal behavior is also to taste white before red, but I’ve heard of other people doing the opposite. Here are the highlights from the tasting.</p>
<p>Two Corsican whites started us off, both 100% Vermentino. The first was Yves Leccia’s 2008 Vin de Pays <em>Blanc</em> ($26).  Vermentino from Corsica has a beautiful way of seamlessly balancing a bit of weight on the palate with a crisp, refreshing acidity. In my mind, this combination makes Corsican whites excellent food wines. Leccia’s Blanc has plenty of perfume, and, on the palate, a dash of sea salt, lime zest, and Mediterranean herbs.</p>
<p>Antoine Arena’s Patrimonio <em>Blanc</em> “Haut de Carco” ($36) followed. Per the vineyard name, <a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/08-Arena-Whites.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1552 alignright" title="08-Arena-Whites" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/08-Arena-Whites.jpg" alt="08-Arena-Whites" width="424" height="262" /></a>this parcel is located above Arena’s Carco vineyard. To plant a vineyard above his current holding, Arena had to terrace a very steep hillside. Everyone in his village though he was crazy to do this, asserting that it would be impossible to grow grapes on such a steep <em>côte</em>. Something tells me his neighbors’ skepticism only egged him on to see through his project. Here is the first example of wine from his new “Haut de Carco” vineyard and you must check it out. White peaches, earthy garrigue, and oyster-shell saltiness offer a depth rarely found in a young vineyard. Need some sunshine during this rainy winter? Drink these two Corsican wines.</p>
<p>We tasted one white from mainland France, a first time import from longstanding red wine producer, Domaine du Joncier. We’ve imported their Lirac <em>Rouge</em> for years now and in 2007, we also liked the white. The Lirac <em>Blanc</em> ($22) is a big white, but it isn’t cloying or sweet &#8211; it is full and dry. Ginger and nutmeg spice complement aromas of mango and a touch of cooked pumpkin. It tastes like it smells, which works for me. We only have five cases, so expect it to go fast.</p>
<p>Two reds stuck with me most after the tasting, both from the southern Rhône. The 2008 Côtes du Rhône <em>Rouge</em> “Il Fait Soif” ($27) produced by Maxime-François Laurent stands perfectly in line with the wines of his mother, Aubrey Laurent of Domaine Gramenon. The “Il Fait Soif” is super quaffable, with lovely bright fruit, pepper, and a touch of smoky leather. The pepper, leather, and smokiness always make me think that there must be Syrah in this wine, but there isn’t – no, amazingly enough it is 100% Grenache. Kermit said we’ll see more unexpected aromatics from the 2008 southern Rhônes.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/12210-Line-Up.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1553 aligncenter" title="12210-Line-Up" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/12210-Line-Up.jpg" alt="12210-Line-Up" width="579" height="387" /></a><br />
Now that most of our 2007 southern Rhône reds have arrived (some have come and gone) all the hype surrounding this astounding vintage has turned out to be true. If you missed out on your chance to purchase the 2007 Vieux Télégraphe, then we have an excellent substitution at a lower price. The second bottling from Vieux Télégraphe, the 2007 Télégramme <em>Rouge</em> (also from the La Crau vineyard) comes in at $38 a bottle and there is no better value in Châteauneuf these days. The classic Châteauneuf balance of power and elegance, a stony réglisse aroma, and firm structure make this bottling apt for a number of years in the cellar. Yes, a $38 Châteauneuf that can age – sounds like gold to me.</p>
<p>We break our rule of white before red when tasting dessert wines so we finished with Antoine Arena’s 2008 Muscat du Cap Corse ($39). If you dig Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, do not miss trying this one. Uber floral, deep earthiness, no bite from the alcohol and loaded with peach and pear fruit. Kermit said it best, “there must be someone to whom you would love to give something beautiful. Here ya go.”</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Muscat-Arena.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1554 aligncenter" title="Muscat-Arena" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Muscat-Arena.jpg" alt="Muscat-Arena" width="366" height="366" /></a></p>
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		<title>February Newsletter Now Online</title>
		<link>http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2010/02/02/february-newsletter-now-online/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2010/02/02/february-newsletter-now-online/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:28:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Clark Z. Terry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Monthly Newsletter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Month]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.kermitlynch.com/?p=1511</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The February newsletter is now available. Download the PDF here.

Highlights from this month&#8217;s newsletter&#8230;
ODDS AND ENDS SALE
STARTS FEBRUARY 1ST!
Yes, sometimes you wine connoisseurs don’t drink as fast as you should, and we ﬁnd ourselves looking at the new vintage coming in, and hmm, we’d better make some space—either that or move to a larger store, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The February newsletter is now available. <a href="http://kermitlynch.com/1002-February2010.pdf" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/kermitlynch.com/1002-February2010.pdf?referer=');"><strong>Download the PDF here.</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/orn.gif"><img class="size-full wp-image-1456 aligncenter" title="orn" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/orn.gif" alt="orn" width="123" height="43" /></a></p>
<p>Highlights from this month&#8217;s newsletter&#8230;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>ODDS AND ENDS SALE</strong><br />
STARTS FEBRUARY 1ST!</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Yes, sometimes you wine connoisseurs don’t drink as fast as you should, and we ﬁnd ourselves looking at the new vintage coming in, and hmm, we’d better make some space—either that or move to a larger store, which I am in no mood to do.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Here’s the important thing:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">GREAT WINES, GREAT PRICES</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">DISCOUNTS FROM 25% TO 50%</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Call 510-524-1524 to speak to a salesperson.<br />
Visit <a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/odds-and-ends-sale" target="_self"><strong>blog.kermitlynch.com/odds-and-ends-sale</strong></a><br />
OR DROP BY AND SEE FOR YOURSELF</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/july.orn-1.gif"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-635" title="july.orn-1" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/july.orn-1.gif" alt="july.orn-1" width="162" height="48" /></a><br />
PRE-ARRIVAL OFFER</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>DOMAINE ANTOINE JOBARD</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Vintage 2007 was made for Jobard — the wines are fresh, lively, balanced, Meursault stones and Meursault fruit galore, and you will enjoy them from the moment they arrive until you uncork your last bottle way off into the future. They are showy and built to last.</p>
<p>2007 Bourgogne Blanc <strong>$279.00</strong>/cs<br />
2007 Meursault “En La Barre” <strong>546.00</strong>/cs<br />
2007 Meursault “En La Barre” tenths<strong> 594.00</strong>/cs<br />
2007 Meursault “Les Tillets”<strong> 546.00</strong>/cs<br />
2007 Meursault-Blagny <strong>795.00</strong>/cs<br />
2007 Meursault-Poruzots <strong>816.00</strong>/cs<br />
2007 Meursault-Genevrières <strong>816.00</strong>/cs<br />
2007 Meursault-Charmes <strong>816.00</strong>/cs<br />
2007 Puligny-Montrachet “Le Trézin” <strong>546.00</strong>/cs<br />
2007 Puligny-Montrachet “Le Trézin” tenths <strong>594.00</strong>/cs</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Half-payment due with order; balance due upon arrival.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/orn1.gif"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-709" title="orn1" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/orn1.gif" alt="orn1" width="208" height="45" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">PRE-ARRIVAL OFFER</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>DOMAINE CHARLES JOGUET</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The Loire Valley produced a classic red vintage in 2007—racy, delicious wines with good acidity and structure for aging. I hope you’ll ﬁnd a little room in your cellar for these stunning Chinons.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">2007 CHINON “LES VARENNES DU GRAND CLOS”</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">This is the most supple and precocious of the three, although it has ample depth and structure and probably needs a few more years in bottle to fully come together.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>$348.00</strong> per case</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">2007 CHINON “CLOS DU CHÊNE VERT”</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Here is a gorgeous Chêne Vert to follow over many years. It strikes a perfect balance between concentration and ﬁnesse. What a dramatic, complicated personality!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>$498.00</strong> per case</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">2007 CHINON “CLOS DE LA DIOTERIE”</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I tasted, or experienced, this wine, and you should, too. But then it is to be forgotten for at least ﬁve or six years, then enjoyed for many more. Dense, thickly woven Cabernet Franc from gravelly white limestone, it is impressively tannic, intense, and beautifully ﬂavored.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>$516.00</strong> per case<br />
<em><br />
Half-payment due with order; balance due upon arrival.</em></p>
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		<title>A Visit from Tour du Bon</title>
		<link>http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2010/01/21/a-visit-from-tour-du-bon/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.kermitlynch.com/2010/01/21/a-visit-from-tour-du-bon/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:05:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Clark Z. Terry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Bandol]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Domaine de la Tour du Bon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tour du Bon]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.kermitlynch.com/?p=1491</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[During the summer we received a surprise visit from one of our French winemakers, Agnès Henry from Domaine de la Tour du Bon in Bandol. Agnès came in right as the shop opened and introduced herself. I chatted with her a while and showed her where her wines are located in the shop. This was [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>During the summer we received a surprise visit from one of our French winemakers, Agnès Henry from Domaine de la Tour du Bon in Bandol. Agnès came in right as the shop opened and introduced herself. I chatted with her a while and showed her where her wines are located in the shop. This was in July, when Kermit had publicized her rosé in the monthly newsletter. My colleague Michael was with a customer at the time and directed him to Agnès’ rosé. She then explained to the customer that she knows our three other Bandol producers quite well and recommended that he try something from each of them. She said, “Try them all, not to find the best one, but to understand the differences in <em>terroir</em> of each wine.” She then expounded about the differences between each of the various Bandol reds we carry. Terrebrune she described as disciplined, Gros ‘Noré has power, and Tempier, well, it’s simply excellent. She <a href="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Agnes-from-Tour-du-Bon.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1494 alignright" title="Agnes from Tour du Bon" src="http://blog.kermitlynch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Agnes-from-Tour-du-Bon.jpg" alt="Agnes from Tour du Bon" width="400" height="267" /></a>described her own wine as having power like Gros ‘Noré but with an elegant, feminine touch. After divulging that Reynald Delille of Domaine de Terrebrune is a Tae Kwon Do master and raises champion show dogs, she left to continue her family vacation in California.</p>
<p>Agnès so succinctly and humbly summed up one of our core values here at KLWM. Why do we carry four producers from Bandol, three from Chinon, three from Sancerre, and four from Morgon? Each producer makes wine from a place that might be similar to that of their neighbors, but their vineyards, specific location, traditions, and history have influenced their wines, creating a unique style.</p>
<p>Check it out for yourself. Here’s a list of appellations that we carry which have at least two representative bottles in stock. Try for yourself the comparison Agnès recommends.</p>
<p>We sincerely hope to see Agnès here again soon and hope you’ve tried one of her Bandol reds, whites, or rosés.</p>
<p><strong>Bandol</strong><br />
2006 Bandol <em>Rouge</em> • Domaine de la Tour du Bon         $32.00<br />
2007 Bandol <em>Rouge</em> • Domaine Tempier            40.00<br />
2006 Bandol <em>Rouge</em> • Domaine du Gros ‘Noré        36.00<br />
2005 Bandol <em>Rouge</em> • Domaine de Terrebrune        30.00<br />
2008 Bandol <em>Blanc</em> • Domaine de la Tour du Bon        29.00<br />
2007 Bandol <em>Blanc</em> • Domaine du Gros ‘Noré        32.00</p>
<p><strong>Chinon</strong><br />
2006 Chinon “Les Varennes du Grand Clos” • Charles Joguet        28.00<br />
2006 Chinon “St. Louans” • Catherine et Pierre Breton    32.00<br />
2006 Chinon “La Croix Boissée” • Bernard Baudry        29.00</p>
<p><strong>Bourgueil</strong><br />
2007 Bourgueil “Cuvée Beauvais” • Chanteleuserie        $16.95<br />
2007 Bourgueil “Clos Sénéchal” • Catherine Pierre Breton        32.00</p>
<p><strong>Sancerre</strong><br />
2007 Sancerre VV • Grandes Perrières    $27.00<br />
2008 Sancerre • Daniel Chotard        24.00<br />
2008 Sancerre • Hippolyte Reverdy        24.00</p>
<p><strong>Vouvray</strong><br />
2008 Vouvray Sec • Catherine et Didier Champalou       $18.95<br />
2008 Vouvray Sec • Catherine et Pierre Breton            17.95<br />
NV Vouvray Pétillant Brut • Catherine et Didier Champalou    19.95<br />
NV Vouvray Pétillant Brut • Catherine et Pierre Breton        19.95</p>
<p><strong>Chablis</strong><br />
2007 Chablis • Olivier Savary        $24.00<br />
2007 Chablis • Roland Lavantureux        22.00</p>
<p><strong>Côte de Brouilly</strong><br />
2007 Côte de Brouilly • Château Thivin    $22.00<br />
2008 Côte de Brouilly • Nicole Chanrion    19.95</p>
<p><strong>Morgon</strong><br />
2008 Morgon “Corcelette” • Jean Foillard    $34.00<br />
2008 Morgon “Côte du Py” • Jean Foillard     34.00<br />
2008 Morgon VV • Jean-Paul Thenevet    29.00<br />
2007 Morgon VV • Guy Breton        28.00<br />
2007 Morgon “Cuvée Marcel Lapierre” • Marcel Lapierre    42.00</p>
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