CAVE DE SAUMUR
Lots of killer 2005s coming in from the Cave, one of my original suppliers. The Cabernet rose makes a triumphant return to its fans as well.
2005 SAUMUR BLANC RESERVE DES VIGNERONS - we have already sold hundreds of cases of this SUPERB vintage, which won the Liger d'Or at the Salon des Vins de Loire in 2006, quite a feat considering the quality level of the competing 2005s... In it's price range, it is quasi-perfect: floral, fruity, minerally, rich, long, etc.
2006 CABERNET DE SAUMUR (CAB. FRANC ROSE) - vivid, delightfully fruity rose with just a hint of RS.
2005 SAUMUR ROUGE RESERVE DES VIGNERONS - OK it got 90 in the WS, but there are plenty of other reasons for liking this wine. The color, deep and saturated - the rich, dark, plummy fruit - the elegant texture, explosive concentration, and exemplary finish to name a few of the highlights.
2005 SAUMUR-CHAMPIGNY "POYEUX" - 90WS "Smart Buy" like the 2003 but way better balance and structure.
DOMAINE MICHEL DAVID
I'd had my eye on this Muscadet producer for a while, but when I saw the awards for the 2005 Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie "Clos du Ferré" I knew I had to act fast - there was no way a guy like this wasn't going to have lots of importers knocking at his door. David probably has the best Muscadet available in the USA for anything approacing the money, and they are one of only a small handful that produce top-drawer Gros Plant. There are certainly cheaper examples out there, but here you have a chance to have the very best!
2005 GROS PLANT DU PAYS NANTAIS SUR LIE - When I was a student in Paris in the 90s, you'd find NV Gros Plant for only a couple of bucks a bottle, even in the epiceries arabes. That stuff was not for drinking, but worked well for steaming mussels and other "fruits de mer". Gros Plant Sur Lie on the other hand, in the hands of a competent grower can be an extremely unique and compelling wine. Briny, iodiny, it has more than hints of sea and stones.
2005 MUSCADET SEVRE ET MAINE SUR LIE "CLOS DU FERRE" - In 2006, gold medals at the Concours General Agricole de Paris and the Concours des Vignerons Independants de France. In 2007, a Liger d'Or at the Salon des Vins de Loire in Angers. Golds at 3 of the most important and prestigious competitions for this one wine should make everybody pay attention.
CLOS CHATEAU GAILLARD
I've known Vincent Girault since the early 1990s when I lived in France. We did some business when I was at Riservati, but not being in control of purchasing, the relationship was foolishly allowed to wither. We had stayed in contact over the years and I promised Vincent and myself that when the time was right we would do some business together. The 2005 vintage struck me as the rightest possible time to get started - what a line-up! All of the wines are certified biodynamic "DEMETER", which was merely kind of quaint back in the 90s but now is something that a lot of customers are looking for, not just the Birkenstock and granola crowd.
2005 TOURAINE SAUVIGNON BLANC "DEMETER" - If you need a cheaper one there's Oisly but if you want a really fine low-yield biodynamic example, look no further!
2005 TOURAINE-MESLAND BLANC "DEMETER" - Chenin Blanc with about 20% Chardonnay, this wine at **** was the highest-rated of all Loire wines in the Revue du Vin de France's "Numero Special - Foires aux Vins" last November.
2005 TOURAINE-MESLAND ROUGE "DEMETER" - 40% Cabernet Franc, 30% Gamay, 30% Côt (Malbec), a unique assemblage found only in Mesland. Plenty of color, gobs of fruit, and surprising structure combine in this nearly ideal summer red.
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