Wine Education: Old Vine

Wine Tasting at all FOUR locations

Come taste a store favorite Old Vine this Saturday:2010 Cellar de Capcanes Mas Donis Barrica “Old Vines” $13.99 
92/100 The Wine Advocate

October 12 from 11am-4pm.

(each store will also have other wines out to taste)

A little more education: We are going to try to feature either a grape or a wine region each week at our stores. We will give you some background information on the grape or region and feature a wine that highlights what we are featuring. We will taste that wine on Saturday at all four of our locations. We will post it here in our blog and send it out in our emails - click here to sign up for our emails

On our blog, click on the  label "Education" and you can read all of the education articles (see the right column under the heading "labels".

Old Vine

Old Vine (French: vieilles vignes, German: alte Reben, Italian Vecchie Vigne) is a term commonly used on wine labels to indicate that a wine is the product of grape vines that are notably old. The practice of displaying it stems from the general belief that older vines, when properly handled, will give a better wine. However, in France, the U.S., and most countries, it has no legal or even generally agreed upon definition.

Grape vines can grow for over 120 years. After about 20 years vines start to produce smaller crops, and average yields decrease, leading to more concentrated, intense wines. Diseases such as "dead arm" can also afflict old vines, in some cases further concentrating the juice. "Old vines" might apply to an entire estate, or it might mean only a certain parcel planted before others. In the U.S., the most common use is on Zinfandel, because in California vineyards up to 125 years old are still bearing small amounts of prized Zinfandel fruit
Other Old Vines Wines in Stock:

2011 Seghesio Old Vine Zinfandel….$37.99
2009 St Francis Old Vine Zinfandel…$18.99
2006 Sori’ Paitin Vecchie Vigne Barbaresco…$66.99
2010 Domaine La Chapelle des Bois Fleurie Cuvee Vieille Vigne…$21.99
2011 Clos St Jean Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes…$42.99
2011 Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes…$99.99

Recipe of the Week: Warm Farro Salad with Smoked Salmon and Goat Cheese

Warm Farro Salad with Smoked Salmon and Goat Cheese
Thanks to the wonders of the internet I found this great recipe featuring some of my favorite ingredients. Healthy, easy and tasty, give it a try.


Ingredients:

• 1 cup farro grains   ***
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 4 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 8 oz smoked salmon, chopped    ***
• 3 tbsp goat cheese    ***
• 1 lemon
• 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil    ***
• 1 bunch parsley, chopped 
• Salt and pepper to taste    ***

*** In stock at The Wine and Cheese Place 

Directions:
Cook the farro in a pot of abundant boiling water according to the package directions (mine took 10 minutes). Combine the spinach, carrots, and smoked salmon in a large salad bowl. When the farro is ready, strain in a colander and place directly in the salad mixture while still steaming. Dress the salad with the lemon and olive oil and add salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine and plate immediately, then top each dish with goat cheese crumbles and parsley.

Serves 4

Great 95 point Rioja

In stock now!

click here to reserve - subject to confirmation

2009 Bodegas Muga Rioja Selección Especial Reserva....$34.99 net
Powerful yet harmonious, this rich red delivers black cherry, licorice, fresh herb, smoke and mineral flavors that mingle seamlessly over firm, well-integrated tannins, while balsamic-tinged acidity drives the flavors through the long, spicy finish. Drink now through 2025. 900 cases made.—T.M.

Rated 95/100 The Wine Spectator

70 % Tempranillo, 20 % Garnacha, 7 % Mazuelo and 3% Graciano.

Terraces of tertiary clay-calcareous soil. Fermentation with indigenous yeast in oak vats. Aged for 28 months in casks made from oak specially selected from our cooperage. Before bottling the wine is fined with fresh egg whites. Once bottled it will undergo a process of rounding off in the bottle for twelve months in our cellars.

Knob Creek Smoked Maple Bourbon

Knob Creek Smoked Maple Bourbon...$29.99 / 750ml

(50ml are in stock also)
“The new expression was created in honor of Knob Creek’s founder, Booker Noe, who believed in big flavors. He even ventured outside the rack house to smoke his own meats and craft his own maple syrup.

We’ve brought these passions together in one, super-premium, full flavored expression,” says a spokesperson for Jim Beam." - BourbonBlog.com

Longrow Red and 14yr Burgundy Cask

Two new ones have arrived from Longrow 

In stock at Forsyth and online

Longrow Limited Edition Red....$82.99

ABV: 52.1%Cask Type: Seven years in refill bourbon, four years in Cabernet Sauvignon hogsheads.
Cask Origin: Angoveʼs Long Row, Australia.
Colour: Red
Nose: A real treat. Sweet in the beginning; raspberry jam and hints of rose petal. As the nose develops it reveals a light peatiness, with cherries, red grapefruit and blood oranges.
Palate: Oh thereʼs the peat! Initially oaky and leathery with a little bit of tobacco and salt, the Cabernet Sauvignon influence appears later with some blackberries and cinnamon. A very chewy dram.
Finish: Long and peaty. Definitely coastal in style, there is a touch of mellow fruitiness here too.

Longrow 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch...$109.99

ABV: 56.1%

Cask Type:  11 year in refill Bourbon Cask, 3 years in fresh Burgundy Cask

Distilled February 1997

Bottled October 2011

7,800 bottles produced

In stock and online

High West American Prairie Reserve Whiskey...$33.99

High West Distillery is passionate about the American West’s culture, heritage, and natural beauty and wants to raise awareness of one of the most fantastic projects of our time: the American Prairie Reserve in northeastern Montana. We tip our hats to this amazing effort to assemble the largest wildlife reserve in the lower 48 states. When stepping onto the plains of American Prairie Reserve, it is not difficult to imagine the landscape as Lewis and Clark and Native Americans saw it, with thundering herds of bison, racing bands of pronghorn antelope and prairie dog towns dotting the horizon. When the Reserve is complete, it will be approximately 5,000 square miles, or roughly the size of Connecticut. On the front label: the stunning greater sage grouse is just one of the many beautiful species that call the American prairie home. Habitat destruction has led to steep declines in sage grouse populations across the West and the bird is now a candidate for Endangered Species Act protection. However, these beautiful birds still thrive on the Reserve. Visit in early spring to see male sage grouse vying for mates as they “dance” on the breeding ground, called a lek.

High West is dedicated to preserving and promoting the American West. The American Prairie Reserve is superb premium bourbon whiskey dedicated to one of the greatest land preservation projects of our time. The Reserve in Montana is a 5000 square mile land tract the size of Connecticut restored to what Lewis and Clark would have seen. Go to americanprairie.org to learn how to visit and support this worthy cause.

High West The Barreled Boulevardier

In stock now and online

This is their second barrel aged cocktail!

Aged in barrel for 120 days

High West The Barreled Boulevardier....$37.99

To create the The Barreled Boulevardier, we mix Bourbon with Vya® sweet vermouth and Gran Classico®, a bitter amaro from Switzerland. We marry the mixture in American oak Bourbon barrels where it rests until it reaches perfection. A complex and strong cocktail with a taste bud inspiring interplay between sweet and bitter. Very satisfying.
Pour over ice or stir on ice and strain into cocktail glass with orange or lemon garnish. It’s also pretty good served neat.

The Name:
Erskine Gwynne, the creator of the Boulevardier Cocktail, moved to Paris and began The Boulevardier, a monthly magazine patterned after The New Yorker, catering to the upper-class expatriate. Its contributors included such luminaries as Joyce, Hemingway, Thomas Wolfe, and Sinclair Lewis. Literally speaking, a Boulevardier was a wealthy and fashionable man who had knowledge of advanced cultural pursuits and frequented Parisian boulevards, New York City, and possibly Park Avenue (Park City!).

California Wet Hop Ales!

Limited releases as only 20 cases of each are coming to St. Louis

In stock now - click here to reserve

Ruhstaller HOP SAC First Leaf...$9.99 / 22oz
California Wet Hop Ale 2013
BARLEY | California Metcalf & Copeland Ron & Ann McGill – Klamath River Basin, CA
HOPS | California Cluster & Cascade Ruhstaller Farm & Yard – Dixon, CA
IBUs | 42
ABV | 6.0%

This one is special. There will never be another one like it.Bottled within is the first result of hundreds of hours of hard, backbreaking work by my family and friends, family members that consistently exceeded my expectations, friends, some new, some old, equally committed. Hand in hand together we tended to the little* hop yard that could.
In a season when the dust mites were a persistent threat, decimating some other local hop yards, and an unusually dry winter made planting our rhizomes precarious, this farm and yard at exit 69 off I-80 proved what the Sacramento Valley is made of . . . showing why, when quality, not yield, was the measure of a successful hop yard, we were the largest hop growing region in the world!  From our hands into yours. Enjoy!



Ruhstaller HOP SAC Kuchinski Hop Ranch...$9.99 / 22oz
California Wet Hop Ale 2013
BARLEY | California Metcalf & Copeland Ron & Ann McGill – Klamath River Basin, CA
HOPS | California Cluster & Cascade Marty, Claudia & Max Kuchinski – Lake County, CA
IBUs | 42
ABV | 6.0%Captain Frank Ruhstaller, California’s Premier Pioneer Brewer, crafted his first Ruhstaller in 1881 in Sacramento… because the finest ingredients available grew here.
132 years later Ruhstaller remains committed to his legacy.  This 2013 vintage of Hop Sac is made with fresh hops grown at Marty, Claudia & Max Kuchinski’s 25 acre Hop Ranch in Lake County, California

Ruhstaller Gilt Edge California Golden Lager

In stock and online

Ruhstaller Gilt Edge California Golden Lager...$5.99
BARLEY | California Metcalf & Copeland
HOPS | California Cluster & Cascade
IBUs | 42
ABV | 4.8%Sacramento’s beer is and has always been a Lager. Since 1881, Captain Frank Ruhstaller has set the standard for a California Grown Lager by partnering with local hop and barley growers to make the “Best Beer Brewed : The Gilt Edge Lager”
Refreshing, Flavorful & Reflective of the sunshine that makes the Sacramento Valley America’s Farm to Fork Capital. Captain Ruhstaller’s legacy continues in this 100% California Grown Golden Lager.

Lock Stock & Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey 13 Year Old

New and limited!

Reserve it online now

Lock Stock & Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey 13 Year Old...$104.99

101.3 proof -- 50.56% ABV
Limited Release!

AFTER AGING 13 YEARS in new charred American oak barrels, this is a master distiller's 'robust cut' of 100% rye whiskey from doubled pot stills, standing at 101.3 proof. The quality of the farm-sourced rye grain, artisanal distillation process, and the depth and robust character of a rye aged for 13 years result in an inherently rare and limited offering — a real whiskeyman's whiskey.

"This remarkable expression has been patiently aged for 13 years in new charred American Oak Barrels.  Utilizing 100% Rye Grain.  This LIMITED RELEASE is an extraordinarily rich and uncommon Straight Rye Whiskey with flavor notes that will entice the palate with complex, unified notes, resembling salted caramel, toffee winter spice and tobacco.  Distilled in copper pot stills, and featuring a masterful distillers robust cut, Lock, Stock and Barrel provides a positively full bodied character.  This is an honest resolut:  "Whiskeyman's Whiskey"

Our whiskey is Lock Stock & Barrel 13 Year Straight Rye Whiskey.

Back in 2007-8, after our founder, Robert Cooper, launched St-Germain, he had a recurring nightmare that he would be forever known as the guy who made the flower liqueur. He pursued his longtime passion for rye whiskey, what he (and many others) consider the original American spirit. This search culminated in a grand discovery of old rye whiskey stocks in the Great White North - rye whiskey in new charred American Oak at Alberta Distilleries (ADL) that is now 13 years old. While he secured these barrels well in advance of anyone else to pursue ADL, we knew that we would be rewarded for tasting regularly through the aging process and tipping the barrels at the optimal time. These really are the honey barrels, the best expression of this hearty northern rye.

We wanted a real whiskeyman's whiskey - 100% rye grain, distilled in copper pot stills, with a master distiller's robust cut. Standing at 101.3 proof, Lock Stock & Barrel features complex but unified notes, resembling salted caramel, toffee, winter spice, and tobacco. We can't wait for you to try it, and I sincerely hope you enjoy it as much as we do." - Joen with Cooper's Spirits

From Straight Bourbon

4 Hands now in 4 pack - 12 oz bottles!

In stock and online

Fresh batches

4 Hands Brewing Cast Iron Oatmeal Brown...$8.99 / 4pk
This is one monster of a Brown Ale! We use an obnoxious amount of chocolate malt and roasted barley to give this beer a cask iron backbone. Our oatmeal brown pours a dark mahogany with aromas of dark chocolate and coffee.
4 Hands Brewing Divided Sky Rye IPA...$8.99 / 4pk

"This beer brings together tow of our favorite ingredients; hops and rye - serious hops up front provide a pungent, floral, and citrus character. We use centennial, Columbus, and Cascades in this hop lovers dream. The rye provides a slightly spicy flavor and a full mouth-feel. Divided Sky pours straw in color with notes of tangerine, grapefruit, and pine. Drink fresh!" - 4 Hands Brewing Co.

Fresh batch bottled October 8

4 Hands Brewing Single Speed Session...$8.99 / 4pk
Our American blonde ale is brewed with elderflower, red wheat, and three different varieties of hops. Elderflower adds a soft floral element that accentuates the red wheat. Single speed pours straw in color with floral undertones.

Fresh batch bottled October 3
4 Hands Brewing Reprise Centennial Red....$8.99/ 4pk
The centennial hop is the centerpiece of our American Red Ale. Reprise pushes the limits of a single hop with an amazing bouquet and stunning bitterness all the way through. The citrus character provides an experience you will want to repeat. Reprise is crimson in color with aromas of citrus fruit and biscuit malt.

Southern Tier Compass - new release

In stock now and online

Rated 95/100 RateBeer

Southern Tier Compass....$6.49 / 22oz

Bottle Conditioned Sparkling Ale w/ Rose Hips

ABV: 9.0%

We rely on age-old tools in the brewery despite being surrounded by high technology. As a sort of compass, we use the six pointed brewer’s star to help navigate uncharted brews. The cardinal points of water, malt, grain, yeast, hops and a brewer make the baseline. From there anything goes. Sometimes the journey is as important as the destination.

You’ll notice a slight bitterness in Compass derived from our use of rose hips accentuated by high effervescence. Drink it cold from a fluted or tulip glass. And by all means, avoid sea serpents.

More info:
FERMENTATION: Ale yeast, two types of hops, three types of malts
COLOR: Light straw
EFFERVESCENCE: Generous carbonation
NOSE: Bright citrus, floral notes from the rose hips, slighted black pepper
FLAVOR: Crisp biscuit notes overlaid with fresh tropical citrus and a softer, less aggressive bitterness
BITTERNESS: Very highDECANT: Pour into a glass, this beer contains yeast.

Game of Thrones - Limited

Ommegang Game of Thrones Take the Black Stout...$7.99 / 25oz

Back in stock at Forsyth.

Online now  - click here to order

Evan Williams Single Barrel TWCP Vol II

In stock at all locations and online

order our bourbon online

TWCP / Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage Bourbon...$24.99 / 750ml

86.6 proof

Personally Selected by The Wine and Cheese Place

Put in oak in October 6, 2003

Bottled August, 23, 2013

Only 156 bottles produced

It's no secret that Evan Williams set up his distillery on the banks of the Ohio River back in 1783. Since then, the basic process of making Bourbon hasn't really changed much. Today, it is our Master Distillers, Parker and Craig Beam, that oversee the entire distillation and production process every step of the way. Their family has been in the Bourbon-making business for generations, handing down their knowledge and tools of the trade, including a secret family yeast strain, along the way. This knowledge, combined with the traditional process once employed by Evan Williams, gives you the rich, smooth taste of Evan Williams Bourbon.

Parker and Craig Beam, Master Distillers

When it comes to secrets, well, Parker Beam has a few well-kept family secrets for sure. After all, his family has been crafting Bourbon for a very long time. They know the business of making bourbon. And, to become the first family of Bourbon, you can bet that there have been many secret recipes, a few family traditions and much know-how passed down from generation to generation.

Parker's legacy began by working under the watchful eye of his father, Earl. Day in and day out, Earl showed Parker the ropes and gave him a thorough education in the craft of making Bourbon. Earl passed down to Parker the secret family yeast strain—that is still in use today—and helped him learn the critical steps to preparing the jug yeast. That Beam yeast is the magical ingredient that gives the Evan Williams Bourbon you know today a unique kinship to the Bourbon made by Parker's father and grandfather.

Probably the most important skill Parker perfected is the rare ability to experience every nuance of his Bourbon-to recognize the flavors that set his Bourbon apart. To see when the color is right or when his whiskey needs a little more time. The bottom line: to recognize when the contents of a barrel are worthy of the Evan Williams name and tradition.

Nowadays, Parker is joined by his son Craig, who works alongside his father in much the same way as Parker did years before with his father, Earl. Craig, now acting as the seventh generation of Master Distillers, continues the family's legacy of Bourbon- making. And you can bet that everything Parker learned from his father is being passed along to Craig. 

92 points from Robert Parker and only $14

In stock and online

2010 Capcanes Mas Donis Barrica...$13.99 

Produced from 85% Garnacha (70-year-old vines) and 15% Syrah (30-year-old vines) aged nine months in new and older American and French oak, it is another under-the-radar wine that dramatically over-delivers. A custom cuvee made for Eric Solomon, it exhibits notes of rose petals, raspberry jam, crushed rocks, spring flowers and kirsch. Stunningly rich and medium to full-bodied, with wonderful vibrancy, precision and minerality, this beauty could easily pass for a grand cru Burgundy – it’s that complex and interesting. I am blown away by what’s in the bottle, but you be the judge. It should drink well for 5-6 years.

When I was covering all the Spanish wines, this was one of my great value picks in the early days, and I am thrilled to see there are now 8,000 cases of this “baby Priorat” from nearby Montsant available in the American market.

Rated 92/100 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

Four Roses 125th Anniversary

SOLD OUT

Four Roses Limited Edtion 125th Anniversary

Limited Edition Bourbon Celebrates 125th Anniversary
Four Roses Distillery announces the second 2013 limited edition bourbon to mark the brand’s year-long celebration of its 125 years in distilling. The first was a single barrel bourbon released in the spring and the second will be the 2013 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon, to be released this fall.

Four Roses Master Distiller Jim Rutledge personally chose three of Four Roses’ ten unique bourbon recipes to create the new barrel strength, small batch bourbon. The recipes, each with different flavor characteristics, include an 18-year-old selection of Four Roses’ recipe coded OBSV (featuring delicate fruit, spicy and creamy characteristics), a 13-year-old OBSK (rich in spiciness, full body), and a 13-year-old OESK (spicy, full body). The bourbon exhibits aromas of creamy vanilla, light oak and cherry cordial, with hints of nutmeg and cocoa. The palate offers flavors of raspberries and apricots, encompassing a long, luxurious vanilla bean and cherry finish.

This anniversary bottling offers a taste straight from the barrel when the bourbon is uncut and non-chill filtered. Approximately 8,000 bottles of the Four Roses 2013 Limited Edition 125th Anniversary Small Batch Bourbon are planned for distribution in September to U.S. markets.

“I’m always coming across some really amazing bourbons during the selection process,” said Rutledge. “And for this special release, I was presented with quite the challenge to make a selection worthy of toasting our 125th year. I’m thrilled to say this bourbon does just that.”

Last year’s Limited Edition Small Batch release was named by Whisky Advocate magazine as American Whiskey of the Year.

Boulevard Reboot White IPA

Very limited release - we got very little

In stock and online

Bouleavard Smokestack Series Reboot White I.P.A....$8.49 / 750ml
This re-release of our 2011 Collaborations Series No. 2 White IPA brings back the unique marriage of a classic Belgian wittier to an American IPA. We enjoyed the experience so much the first time around that we happily pressed Control+C (Command+C for Mac), and Reboot was born. Version 2.0 has upgraded its spicy aroma, with hints of bubblegum and clove. Bold flavors will launch upon uncorking, as sage and lemongrass balance the tangy, zesty wheat malt profile. Rather than merely blending a wittier with an IPA, Reboot harmonizes distinctly fruity Belgian yeast overtones with big, fruity American hop notes by creating an herbal bridge between these two somewhat contradictory flavors. The beer's complexity os supported by a spritzy effervescence, finishing dry, with lingering hop notes.

Great Rhone....

"If readers have not yet discovered this exceptional small estate run by proprietor Georges Perrot, it’s time they do so." -- Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate



2010 Domaine la Colliere Cotes du Rhone...$13.99
A sleeper of the vintage, the 2010 Cotes du Rhone, which includes Grenache and Syrah in the blend, possesses surprisingly full body as well as concentrated, sweet blackberry and kirsch notes intermixed with hints of spring flowers, pepper and earth. Fruity, hedonistic, complex and opulent, it can be enjoyed over the next 3-4 years. 
Rated 88-90 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

Amazing wines back in stock!

2011 Chateau Saint-Roch Cotes du Roussillon Villages Kerbuccio...$15.99
The backside of this region is Corbieres, but this opaque purple-colored 2011 Kerbuccio would blow away just about any Corbieres. A wine of great intensity, it offers up copious floral, blackberry and blueberry fruit intermixed with hints of charcoal, scorched earth and wet rocks. Dense and full-bodied with tremendous richness and supple tannins, this beauty should drink well for 5-7 years, possibly longer. 

Rated 95/100 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

2012 Chateau Saint-Roch Cotes du Roussillon Chimeres...$13.99
"A joint venture between Jean-Marc Lafage and Importer Eric Solomon, the 2011 Château Saint-Roch Côtes du Roussillon Villages Chimères comes from 100-105 year old vines and is a mix of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 10% Carignan that spent 8 to 12 months in a combination of 500-Liter barrels and concrete vats. A deep, fleshy, and rich effort, it has copious black fruits, melted licorice, distilled herbs, and chocolate like aromas and flavors that flow to a full-bodied, impressively pure 2011 that has layers of fruit, solid mid-palate depth, and a chewy, rich finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. Turning more elegant and red fruit driven with air, this knockout effort is already approachable and delicious. Enjoy bottles over the coming 4-6 years, possibly longer."

Rated 92/100 Jeb Dunnuck, now of The Wine Advocate

2012 Chateau Saint-Roch Cotes du Roussillon Vieilles Vignes Blanc
Composed of 80% Grenache Blanc and 20% Marsanne, the 2012 Vieilles Vignes Blanc comes from 50-year-old vines planted in limestone and clay soils. A delightful bouquet of caramelized honeyed grapefruit, white currants and other assorted citrus jumps from the glass of this crisp, dry, medium-bodied white. With surprising length and power, it reminded me of a restrained, more laid-back top white Hermitage — at a fraction of the price. Consume it over the next several years. 
Rated 89/100 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

Loring Santa Lucia Highlands

In stock and online

2012 Loring Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands....$33.99

The entry level 2012 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands is a great example and offers up fantastic purity, loads of black and blue fruits, crushed flowers and even background meatiness to go with a seamless, voluptuous, yet also focused mouthfeel. It’s impressive and should represent a smoking value. Drink 2014-2020. 

Rated 91-93/100 Wine Advocate

Cherry Pie Pinot from Hundred Acre....

New vintage in stock and online

 

2011 Cherry Pie Pinot Noir Stanly Ranch...$47.99

From Jayson Woodbridge who makes the cult wine Hundred Acre
Very Limited
2011 was a tricky harvest, cool, damp weather led to mold and rot with Pinot Noir all over the region. We spent an inordinate amount of resources going through the vineyard blocks each day to carefully remove any damaged clusters before mold could spread. The work paid off. Sun and dry air came in October and our result is incredible depth and richness. We carefully chose the blocks to ferment in micro-lots to isolate the individual flavors and aromas. This wine was mainly fermented in 500 liter French oak puncheons with hand punch downs. A portion was aged in stainless and the balance (majority) was aged in the same puncheons the wine was fermented in that very year. The wine was never racked or filtered, and rested on gross lees the entire aging period.

Jonata - Screaming Eagle's Sister Winery

In stock and online

2009 Jonata Todos Proprietary Red...$46.99

Screaming Eagle's sister winery
Readers who want to explore the Jonata wines without investing in the top bottlings will want to check out the 2009 Todos, which is strikingly beautiful. It shows marvelous intensity, great depth and tons of intensity from start to finish. Layers of dark red and black fruit and flowers flow effortlessly from this flashy, totally dazzling wine. Today, the 2009 boasts huge fruit and an equally compelling personality. Although priced well below some of the other wines in this lineup, it is not clear to me the Todos is far off the mark of those wines at all. Todos is a bit of a kitchen sink blend composed of 63% Syrah, 12% Sangiovese, 11% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon and dollops of Grenache, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.
Rated 93/100 The Wine Advocate

94 and 95 point Talley Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs

In stock and online

2011 Talley Chardonnay Rosemary...$42.99

Even more impressive and getting a big “Wow!” in my notes, the mineral-tinged 2011 Chardonnay Rosemary’s Vineyard dishes out thrilling aromas and flavors of citrus blossom, toasted bread, white flowers and hints of poached apples. Silky, elegant and finesse-driven, it builds on the palate and has awesome depth and richness. Count me as a fan. This beauty can be consumed anytime over the coming decade. Drink now-2023.
Rated 95/100 The Wine Advocate


2011 Talley Chardonnay Rincon...$37.99
A brilliant Chardonnay, the 2011 Chardonnay Rincon Vineyard is perfumed, complex and layered, with mint, citrus blossom and edgy minerality all emerging from the glass. Medium-bodied and seamless, with a rich, full mid-palate, perfect balance and building richness, it stays elegant and shows nothing but class. Enjoy it over the coming decade. Drink now-2023.
Rated 94/100 The Wine Advocate


2011 Talley Rosemary’s Pinot Noir...$62.99
The most complete and impressive in the lineup, the smoking good 2011 Pinot Noir Rosemary’s Vineyard, which spent 18 months on lees in 30% new French oak, offers up gorgeous raspberry, raspberry, vanilla, underbrush, assorted wild flowers and edgy minerality to go with a medium-bodied, elegant and thrillingly textured and seamless palate. Deep, layered and savory, with perfect balance and a classic, age-worthy feel, it should be given a handful of years in the cellar and enjoyed over the following decade or more. Drink 2015-2026.
Rated 95/100 The Wine Advocate
Rated 94/100 Antonio Galloni, Vinious Media

2011 Talley Rincon Pinot Noir...$53.99
Showing the darker, more masculine side to the variety, the 2011 Pinot Noir Rincon Vineyard dishes out deep, mineral-laced aromas and flavors of black raspberry, licorice, vanilla and tinges of leather. Pure, rich and textured, with ripe tannin and a fantastic sense of tension and verve, it will have 12-15 years of ultimate longevity. Drink 2015-2026.
Rated 94/100 Wine Advocate
Rated 93/100 Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

Suze Gentiane Liqueur

We are proud to introduce to St. Louis....
Just started coming to the U.S. in 2012.   Currently only available at The Wine and Cheese, we are always looking for new products and sought this one out and special ordered it.   This spirit is on fire in Europe a few customers have told us.
They also produce a less potent Suze, but we were able to get the "original" formula at 20%
ABV.  Back in 2009 they brought it back -  "This year celebrates the 120th anniversary of Suze and unique history. On this occasion, Suze Suze launches Taste of Yesteryear, a recipe inspired by the original recipe Suze giving it its characteristic taste and unique personality." - Suze Website


In stock  and online 

Suze Gentiane Liqueur...$29.99 / liter
The unique taste of Suze comes from its original recipe and its traditional development.Comprising 50% of fresh roots of wild gentians, the aromatic base Suze is a subtle mixture of infusion and spirit of gentian, obtained by maceration and distillation. The spirit reveals spicy and fruity notes of gentian, enhanced with extracts of herbs, where Suze keeps secret since its inception.Its aromatic richness is the result of a subtle balance between the fresh gentian and many aromatic plant extracts. 


Suze was created in 1889 by the Parisian distiller Fernand Moureaux, and for more than a century it has been produced with the strictest respect for tradition. Fresh wild yellow gentian is carefully selected and harvested by hand from the mountains of Auvergne, prior to maceration and distillation in Suze. Suze quickly grew in popularity and was captured in Picasso’s 1912 “Verre et bouteille de Suze.” In 1922, Suze initiated the first of many successful advertising campaigns and today, Suze is the fifth leading liqueur in France. Suze Saveur d’Autrefois is modelled after the original 1885 recipe for Suze with intense flavours and a unique personality that reflects fresh yellow gentian. Born during the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1889, both Suze and the Eifel Tower are linked as French icons. Furthermore Gustav Eifel contributed to the design of the Suze distillery that was constructed in 1922. Suze honored this connection with a special 120 year anniversary bottling in 2009 that was designed in tribute to the famed Eiffel style.

More info and picture from Post Prohibition Hand Crafted Libations
Pablo Picasso “Verre et bouteille de Suze.”
It was Fernand that gave birth to this wonderful liqueur, but in 1912 it was the one and only Pablo Picasso that shot its praise around the world with his piece “Verre et bouteille de Suze.” How about that for a promotion! And it was Henri Porte, in 1896, that designed the iconically slender bottle for Suze.

WHITE NEGRONI
1 1/2 oz gin
3/4 oz Dolin Bianco Vermouth
3/4 oz Suze
Garnish with a lemon twistIn a mixing glass combine the gin, Suze and Dolin Bianco Vermouth. Stir with ice and strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Recipe by Dutch Kills, NYC
A few more drink recipes:
Suze Couture
- 1 measure of Suze
- 1 measure of spring water
- 2 dashes of violet cordial
- 2 or 3 ice cubes

Suze Tonic
- 1 measure of Suze
- 2 measures of tonic
- 2 or 3 ice cubes

Suze Insolite
- 1 measure of Suze
- 2 measures of orange juice
- 1 measure of Crème de Cassis
- 2 or 3 ice cubes