Wine Club Selections
Wines to Feast With | November 2024
SPARKLING:
LIÉBART-RÉGNIER ‘Les Sols Bruns’ Brut * Champagne, France
One of only a handful of producers in Champagne who grow their own grapes on estate vineyards, Liébart-Régnier proudly wears the prestigious “Grower Champagne” title. While the winery itself was founded in 1960 by Lucien Liébart and Georgette Régnier, their two families have been working the land for 7 generations. “Country people, through and through”, the current generation - Laurent & Valérie, along with their daughters, Alexandra & Marion - proudly make the family estate’s champagnes today. With a strong belief that they are simply borrowing the land from future generations, they feel a duty to respect and protect it. Putting this philosophy into practice, they achieved level 3 HVE (French High Environmental Value) certification in 2015. This is official recognition of the winegrowers’ environmental efforts in three areas: their biodiversity footprint, carbon footprint and water footprint.
Grape - 60% Pinot Meunier, 20% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay
Flavors - A subtle nose led by apricot and yellow peach alongside delicate aromas of brioche make for a rich and enticing full-bodied champagne with a zesty mid-palate and crisp finish.
Serving - It’s Champagne! Just drink and be happy! This is the perfect aperitif bubbly to enjoy with charcuterie and cheese to kick off your Thanksgiving feast.
Album Pairing - JOHN COLTRANE & JOHNNY HARTMAN ‘Self-titled’ - 1963 * Perfect classic bubbles with sultry and smooth jazz is a match made in heaven. Turn the volume up, turn the lights down, and just indulge in all your senses.
WHITE:
A. CHRISTMANN Riesling 2021 * Pfalz, Germany
One of the top estates of the Pfalz, and for good reason, Weingut Christmann takes no short cuts: hand harvesting, strict yield control and ideal vineyard sites. After more than 19 years of organic and biodynamic farming, Christmann’s soil is full of life, with ever deepening roots and vines that bear only as many grapes as those roots can feed. The resulting wines are just flat out perfection!
Grape - 100% Riesling
Flavors - A charming reductive note upfront, reminiscent of white raspberry, quickly dissipates to reveal orange zest and white cherry. The finish is long and expressive with vibrant acidity and great minerality.
Serving - Prosciutto wrapped scallops, anyone? This is an ideal wine to pair with thinly shaved salty ham, seafood, roast vegetables, or even your spicier Asian-inspired fare.
Album Pairing - THE DOOBIE BROTHERS ‘The Captain and Me” - 1973 * If Christmann’s biodynamic soil is full of life, so is The Doobie Brothers unencumbered groove. This is an album that will keep your toes tapping while this riesling dances all over your palate!
RED #1:
GARAGE WINE CO. País ‘215 BC Ferment’ 2021 * Maule, Chile
– A winery was making País in Portezuelo in 1548. (documented)
– Cabernet Sauvignon - a cross of Cabernet Franc & Sauvignon Blanc - is documented from the year 1763 (near Bordeaux)
– The difference : 1763 – 1548 = 215 thus : 215 yrs “Before Cabernet”
Look at these sweet nerds! They have an obsessive focus on Old-Vine Revival and regenerative agriculture, resulting in beautiful wines that demand to be tasted. Their “Single Ferment Series” features wines from more than one parcel or vineyard that are co-fermented. While all of the fruit does not enter the tank at the same time, they simply stack on top of the fermenting tank when the next batch is ripe. One single ferment. One single wine.
Grape - 100% País
Flavors -This wine is perfumed, floral, clean and expressive. Lovely cranberry and currant flavors give way to a balanced and refined tannic structure. Simply brilliant!
Serving - Focused, fruity, crafted for food and for drinking young. Can you say leftover Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches with all the fixin’s?
Album Pairing - STAN GETZ feat. JOAO GILBERTO ‘The Best of Two Worlds’ - 1976 * The title of this album alone says it all. If South American plantings of ‘Old-Vine Revivals’ doesn’t scream for Brazilian-Inspired Jazz, then nothing makes sense in an already deeply confusing world. Getz & Gilberto exude such expressive elegance in their music that screams for Chilean País to bring you to a perfect moment of serenity.
RED #2:
LEAH JØRGENSEN Cabernet Franc 2022 * Southern OR
Coming from a long line of farmers, and with a winemaking lineage that traces back to 1700’s Campania, Leah Jørgensen followed her early love of Loire varieties to become Oregon’s premier Cabernet Franc producer - which she calls the ultimate Cinderella grape. In Oregon’s sea of Pinot Noir producers, her expertise with the Cabernet Franc grape stands tall and shines bright. All of the vineyards Leah works with are certified sustainable via L.I.V.E. (Low Impact Viticulture + Enology) and are certified Salmon Safe.
Grapes - 100% Cabernet Franc
Flavors - The aromatics of this wine are bright, with scintillating notes of ripe cherry, violets, vanilla, bourbon, and cherry tobacco. The palate is smooth with loads of ripe cherry, boysenberry, lingonberry jam leading to a finish of crushed herbs and smoky black tea.
Serving - Are you sensing a holiday theme yet? This wine is perfect for the main course of your holiday feast. Bold and structured, Leah’s Cabernet Franc wine works well with game (venison, goose, boar), lamb, and prime rib.
Album Pairing - ALABAMA SHAKES ‘Sound & Color’ - 2015 * The soulful Cabernet Francs of Leah Jørgensen immediately call to mind the modern, soulful, rhythm & blues styling of Alabama Shakes. This album is an inspiring example of purity of vision and honest soul pouring out of the speakers, while this beautiful pure vino pours out into your glass. Sip, smile, repeat.
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.