Wine Education

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

I have started a new label "Education" that you can hit to read all the education articles (see the right column under the heading "labels".

Region: Minervois

Appellation Highlights:
Minervois: Since being granted AC status in 1985 Minervois has consistently been a source of amazing Red Wine values. Located directly North of the Corbiers within the Cote de Rousillon, inland from the Mediteranean Sea, Minervois has a wonderful climate to grow the main Mediterranean Varietals of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre but in fact focuses on Carignan as it’s flagship varietal. 

Come taste what makes the wines of Minervois so appealing this weekend at all 4 Wine and Cheese Place Locations.
Taste these two Minervois on April 13th from 11am-4pm

2011 Domaine Aime Minervois….$13.99
Rémi’s Minervois is a blend of 70% Carignan, and 30% Syrah, which is an unusually high percentage of Carignan for a Minervois. However, this unique blend seems to add a lot of depth and character to the wine. This is thanks, in part, to the age of his Carignan vines, which are 60 years old. The grapes are sustainably farmed, 100% destemmed, crushed, and vinified using indigenous yeasts. This wine is fermented and aged exclusively in tank.
2009 Domaine Gros and Tollot Minervois La Ciaude…$29.99
This cuvée is made of 4 grape varieties, coming from soils dominated by Assignan sandstone, which face north and west. These small plots, surrounded by scrubland, pine trees, thyme, rosemary and cistus, comprised of: 20 year old Grenache,, 20 year old Syrah, year old Carignan, 40 year old Cinsault. Each grape variety is complete, and brings to the cuvee its own characteristics. One adds fruitiness and freshness, another adds sweetness, another depth and length, and yet another distinction and energy. (We will let you guess which is which.) This is a classic cuvée! It is fulfilling, full of harmony, and wellbalanced. Matured in casks, the Carignan and Syrah bring in a certain distinction.