Wine Club Selections
Wines that are Just Treats…No Tricks | October 2024
SPARKLING:
CHÂTEAU PIERRE-BISE Crémant de Loire 2021 * Loire Valley, FR
Pierre Papin bought Château Pierre-Bise in 1959 at the age of fifty. In 1974, his son Claude took on the original nine hectares in Pays de la Loire and gradually expanded the estate. He began working with Samabiol (the first leading supplier of organic products at the time) and developed an understanding of the concept of trophobiosis, whereby the health of plants depends on their nutritional balance. Today, they follow the example of Masanobu Fukuoka, a Japanese researcher who practiced his concept of ‘do-nothing’ farming - striving as much as possible to leave nature its role of shaping and giving life to the landscape.
For this Crémant, the starter culture used for primary fermentation comes exclusively from Savennières grapes known for producing mineral elegance without any bitterness. After a slow fermentation, the wine is then aged slightly on fine lees before being filtered and bottled for secondary fermentation.
Grape - 100% Chenin Blanc
Flavors - Fruity and refreshing with notes of pear, green apple, and a hint of honeysuckle. Lovely persistence of the bubbles, with a clean and crisp mouthfeel.
Serving - Crémant pairs well with…everything! However, crab, lobster, shellfish, and custard desserts would be especially exquisite.
Album Pairing - TINA TURNER ‘Private Dancer’ - 1984 * The lady, The Legs (insured by LLoyd’s of London), the legend! This is the album that cemented her solo career and is filled with such energy, elegance & pop. What better soundtrack is there to enjoy with these beautifully refined bubbles?
Orange #1:
DRINK THIS WINE Orange 2023 * McMinnville, OR
Molly Baz (food writer, cook, and recipe developer) has teamed up with the folks over at The Marigny to create a fun, tropical, and very delicious orange wine. This wine couldn’t be named better! It’s tart. It’s tannic. It’s a little grassy. But oh so clean and not overly funky.
All varietals were fermented for 9-21 days on the skins. Post fermentation, the wine is primarily transferred back to stainless steel, with 10% of the juice transitioning to a selection of neutral French oak barrels. Heavy on the tropical fruits, with a back bone of citrus, this year's blend has a ton of tannin and some real structure to keep you grounded.
Grape - 15% Pinot Gris, 75% Riesling, 10% Sauvignon Blanc
Flavors - Ripe mango, pineapple, and citrus.
Serving - Grilled corn and fish tacos anyone? Or if you want to lean into fall try fried chicken, roasted meats, and crispy potatoes.
Album Pairing - The Cars ‘The Cars’ - 1978 * Effortlessly catchy, hook-filled rock you want to listen to. From ‘Stacy’s Mom’ to ‘Just What I Needed’ this album is filled with momentum, served with a side of cheap thrills. It’s music that’s as playful as the wine. Enjoy both with a dose of humor and glee. Dance around your living room, why don’t ya?
Orange #2 (National Orange Wine Day and Pumpkin Patches… it’s orange season!):
Nibiru 'Grundstein’ Grüner Veltliner 2022 * Kamptal, AT
This wine is the perfect introduction to the impeccable wines of Julia & Josef. Julia is a Bavarian native who found her way to Austrian wine while working in fine dining in Vienna. Josef went to oenological school after growing up in the vines of his family's third-generation winery. The young couple is only on their third vintage but already showing impressive maturity, producing high-quality wines that reflect the unique terroir of the Kamptal region. Sourced from two prestigious terraced vineyards, both around 25-30 years old, this wine is hand harvested, made exclusively from whole clusters, and fermented in stainless steel with native yeasts. 50% are fermented with the skins for 5 days. After a brief aging period on the fine lees, the juice is bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Grape - 100% Grüner Veltliner
Flavors - Green apple and a touch of citrus zest. Linear and mineral, dry and crisp. Very refreshing with a touch of texture, and a distinct saline finish.
Serving - Great with Asian cuisines - like sushi and Thai curries. Also try pairing it with a creamy goat cheese.
Album Pairing - Daft Punk ‘Random Access Memories’ - 2013 * A wine this fun requires an equally fun album, and Daft Punk gives us just the right fit. Layered elements of disco, progressive rock & pop will keep your foot tapping and your soul smiling as you sip on this lively and perfectly balanced orange wine. Let unencumbered bliss ensue!
RED:
CHÂTEAU TRONQUOY-LALANDE Saint Estèphe 2012 * Saint Estèphe, FR
Château Tronquoy-Lalande, situated in the heart of the appellation, is one of the oldest Saint-Estèphe wines. It takes its name from François Tronquoy, the estate’s first owner, and the place-name La Lande - meaning the heath - on which the Château’s historic vineyard is planted. The Merlot grape flourishes in the soil of the Tronquoy-Lalande terroir. 52% of the vineyard is planted with Merlot, a feature which distinguishes Tronquoy-Lalande from its neighbours, where Cabernet Sauvignon predominates. The four grape varieties included in the Tronquoy-Lalande blend provides roundness here, density there, and aromas or persistence everywhere else. After blending, the wine is aged for a year in French oak barrels.
Grapes - 57% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Flavors - Melted tannins, spicy aromas, and these scents of tobacco, resin, blackcurrant, and licorice constitute the aromatic identity of Château Tronquoy-Lalande, giving the wine a very marked personality.
Serving - Lamb roast with garlic and rosemary or Beef Bourguignon. Throw on a cozy sweater and lean into the chilly weather. Don’t be afraid to pair it with hard cheeses, dark chocolate and desserts.
Album Pairing - Cocteau Twins ‘heaven or las vegas’ - 1990 * Some say Elizabeth Fraser’s voice is that of an angel. And with a chill in the air, she can warm you with her soft purring vocals. This album is beautiful: soft and overwhelming at the same time. enjoy this dense and round red with a dense and dreamy soundtrack. put a roast in the oven, pour yourself a glass, and revel in the dreamy buzz of this pop fantasia.
REMINDERS
To celebrate our valued club members we offer 15% off all food ordered on pick-up Tuesdays.
If you can not pick up on the pick up dates please contact mckay@barmiriam.com and we will hold your allotment offsite and can arrange for a future pick up.
Email mckay@barmiriam.com to buy more single bottles or a case with special club pricing.
Queen Anne Bottle Shop is open Tuesday-Saturday from 3:00pm — 8:00pm.
Wine pairs best with friends. Tell your friends.