Welcome to Château, a wine blog for regular people. This newsletter is a place to learn, explore, and share our tasting experiences as we develop our palate and have a good time. The format is simple: every week, we’ll share a short list of what we’re drinking, where we’re drinking, and what bottles we’re keeping an eye on.
What We’re Drinking:
‘Riesling Anderson Valley’ / Reeve
Anderson Valley, California
WHITE WINE
Varietals: Riesling
TL;DR: A fine expression of Riesling from California. Refreshing and Citrusy.
Price: $25
Refreshing, full of citrus, and zesty like under-ripe grapefruit peel. You can immediately taste the slate and rock of a typical riesling. It’s a hopeful wine and could complement a lot of things both spicy and savory: south asian or Indian dishes, fennel, charcuterie, vegan lemon risotto w/ peas. (An aside, this wine is always worth complimenting with tobacco or cannabis.) The more she opens up, the more mature she tastes. Despite being grown in California, she is a great entry level example of what a riesling can and should be: Reeve has captured an expressive version of riesling with this vintage. Don’t enjoy it too chilled.
Unfortunately it looks like this is out of stock right now but definitely grab some if you can find it. Here’s the Reeve’s Winery website
‘Amphora’ / Guttarolo
Puglia, Italy
RED WINE
Varietals: Primitivo
TL;DR: An incredible and unique expression of Primitivo that is unlike others.
Price: $25
If you’ve had Primitivo or Zinfandel (it’s American counterpart) then you might be thinking bold and rich but yet this wine comes from a location in Puglia that is cooler than the rest of its surroundings. The land around where the grapes are grown is bountiful with wild herbs and flowers as well as olive trees. This natural energy transfers to the wine with its soft herbaceous character with notes of black cherry on the nose. The palate is blueberry and is certainly pot-like, there is earth and iron and clay. This is a result of aging the grape juice in amphora, clay pots that imbue a specific earthy quality to the resulting wine. Share this with a lover immediately!
Where We’re Drinking:
Myrtle Wines & Spirits
166 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Tucked away between Fort Greene, Downtown Brooklyn and the BQE this shop has one of the largest selections of artisanal wines and spirits in Brooklyn. Unassuming in its exterior, inside is a wonderful display of bottles from all over the globe. Surrounded by vines and plants of all kinds it’s a wonderful energy there. The staff is knowledgeable and always ready to help you find exactly what you’re looking for. They also serve to-go frozen cocktails from their ICEE machines in the back which are “famously strong” and incredibly popular and have a complete cocktail bar named Vine located right next door that serves crafted cocktails from the diverse selection of spirits that the shop offers with a seasonally updated menu.
Bottles to Watch:
‘Clos Paradis' / Domaine Fouassier
Sancerre, France
WHITE WINE
Varietals: Sauvignon Blanc
Tried at the recent Spring Portfolio tasting for Winebow, an importer and distributor. This particular wine was being shown by Heritage and was quite amazing. An immediate overflow of yellow apples on the nose, bringing you to fall orchards. Structured and balanced, the lovely representative pouring the wine said “This is what Sancerre should be.” Truly! And what a great finish that delivers delicate chalkiness. A good one to keep watch for.
‘Pommard 1er Cru , Le Clos des Boucherottes' / Benoît Sordet
Burgundy, France
RED WINE
Varietals: Pinot Noir
Tried at the recent Spring Portfolio tasting for Baron Francois, an importer and distributor. After trying over 40 wines, sometimes the palate can get a little overwhelmed but there are still wines that manage to push through all that turmoil and rise to the top no matter what. It’s balanced and fresh yet bold, it was a great way to finish the tasting and I'll be adding this to my wishlist immediately.
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