Today’s Deal ~
CV CUSTOMER TASTING PANEL SOLIDIFIES TWO BEST WINES FOR YOU!
Recently, SUPER-STAR Gwenael Laroche, co-owner of Domaine Laroche Winery (Chablis, France), came to California for the Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival. Her primary mission was to visit the PBFWF and secondarily work the Sacramento & San Francisco markets. Due to our outstanding relationship with her distributor (or maybe it was serendipitous) we were able to secure an EXCLUSIVE ONE-NIGHT ONLY tasting event here @ Carpe Vino. With Gwenael in attendance, we paired FIVE classic Chablis wines perfectly with apps produced by Chef Alexander. The tasting lineup covered the entire Laroche spectrum; from their largest produced (delicious & affordable) Chablis to their Premier Cru, and finally not one, but TWO…Grand Crus. The tasting “sold out” two hours after being announced and when all was said and done, was one of the most spectacular evenings at Carpe Vino this year. Gwenael even said:
“The chef did such a good job. I really did appreciate what he made/worked on. It was stunning! I was in SF last night having dinner at Luce talking about your place with Keith -the sommelier- told him it was the best food this week!!”
The wines were amazing as well and the two that reigned supreme were, the Laroche “St. Martin,” and Laroche “Les Vaillons.” Today, we are offering these wines which both received 90 points from Wine Advocate and truly represent the Best of Chablis!
Best-Selling Wine @ Tasting!
The 2015 Domaine Laroche “Saint Martin” is a top-notch value driven Chablis that comes in under $20/bottle. Exhibiting excellent acidity and remarkable finesse the “Saint Martin” is a delightful un-oaky chardonnay that exudes a beautiful crisp minerality perfect for the hot summer days ahead. Not only is it a wonderful aperitif but it will pair excellently with seafood, prawns, or my favorite…OYSTERS! Online Price: $24.95 – 6+ Bottle Price: $19.95
“Wine Advocate” – 90 Points
“The 2015 Chablis St Martin has what you might describe as a “dainty” nose at first, a little timid, but it soon finds it voice courtesy of its apple blossom and fresh pear aromas, perhaps with a hint of peppermint in the background. The palate is well balanced with a crisp line of acidity. I appreciate the tension of this Chablis: taut and linear, quite saline in the mouth and this serves to prolong the finish. This is a well-crafted and very delicious Chablis from Gregory Viennois and his team. This comes recommended.”
Best Value Dollar-for-Dollar Wine!
Want a killer Premier Cru with an extreme value as well? Then look no further because the 2014 Domaine Laroche “Les Vaillons” is where it’s at! While there is no crazy discount, this wine is not to be overlooked. Famous for its Kimmeridgian limestone soils that are consistent with excellent Premier Crus, the grapes in the “Les Vaillons” are from deeply rooted old vines. This promotes an intense flavor of stone fruit, aromas of spice, and gives it a silky vibrant mineral finish. Pair this elegant wine with scallops or veal breast with a creamy sauce and your golden! Online Price: $54.95
“Wine Advocate” – 90 Points
“The 2014 Chablis 1Er Cru Vaillons Vieilles Vignes has a gentle bouquet with hints of popcorn at first, though soon replaced by ripe Satsuma and slightly smoky scents. The palate is fresh on the entry with crisp acidity, modest weight, but with a pleasant salinity that fans out towards the finish. This is a typical Vaillons, but one that is holding itself back for now, so afford this a couple of years in the cellar to get the most from it.”
Domaine Laroche Winery
The name Domaine Laroche is virtually synonymous with Chablis. For more than 160 years, the Laroche family has been dedicated to producing top quality wines from the Chablis region. The history of Laroche dates back to 1850, when Jean Victor Laroche purchased his first parcel of land in Chablis. In 1967, Michel Laroche, who represents the fifth generation, joined the family business at the age of 21. Convinced of the appellation’s potential for high-quality wines, Laroche embarked on a period of expansion, taking the holdings from six hectares (14.83 acres) in 1967 to nearly 100 hectares (247.11 acres) of prime Chablis vineyards today.
What is Chablis?
Chablis (“Shah-blee”) is a Chardonnay making wine region in the northwest corner of Burgundy, France. Unlike other Chardonnay wines, Chablis rarely uses oak-aging, resulting in a very different style and taste profile. It’s because of Chablis’ renown, that the unoaked Chardonnay style is popular worldwide.
Wines from Chablis are frequently described as having citrus and white flower aromas with dry, lean, light-bodied flavors of citrus, pear, minerality and salinity. Chablis rarely displays flavors of butter – an indication of oak-aging. In fact, one of the most desirable traits in quality Chablis is a long, tingly finish of high acidity and flint-like minerality. Much of the lean and elegant taste of Chardonnay from Chablis is attributed to the qualities of the soil, climate, and traditions of the region. Knowing the peculiarities of this area (and there are a few) will help you find better Chablis wine. winefolly.com
Cheers,
Jay