Great Drinking Bordeaux For Your Holiday Parties
Sunday, December 2nd, 2012
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Archive for the ‘Jean-Luc’s Articles’ Category
Chateauneuf du Pape 2010
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012Le Du’s Wines & Alain
Junguenet Selections
presents
The 2010
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Barrel Sample Tasting
Saturday, April 7th
4-7 PM
Free!
This is our 4th year hosting this event and it is always one of the highlights of our year. While we have been lucky to showcase some superb vintages in years past (’07 and ‘09 come immediately to mind), the 2010 might outshine them all. Without the spikes in temperature that are a hallmark of both 03 and 09, 2010 was characterized by a cool and dry Summer. Yields were much smaller than usual at 27hl/ha. Quantities are very small but quality is off the charts. This is the Chateauneuf vintage I’ve been waiting for!
The wines are large-framed as can be expected but they have a freshness, vivacity and balance which is truly exceptional.
“Some producers think 2010 eclipses 2007 because of the wines’ vivid freshness and focus. Throughout the southern Rhône, the hallmarks of the vintage are very dense purple, sometimes even blue/black colors as well as higher acid levels that have not been seen since 2004 and 2001. In fact, 2010’s paradox is that I can’t remember a vintage so concentrated, powerful and rich that also has such zesty acidity.”–Robert Parker
“The acidity levels are high in the ’10s but the fruit is ripe, almost like 2007 or even 2003 in some cases. But there’s no roasted character. When those two elements are in harmony the wines are classic, classic Chateauneuf.”–Chistophe Sabon of Domaine de la Janasse
“The 2010’s are devoid of puppy fat and are better at expressing terroir.”–Jancis Robinson
We’ll be offering over 25 different Chateauneuf and other Southern Rhone wines for your consideration, edification and enjoyment. Most of these wines are not yet in the country so this is a unique and exciting opportunity to get a handle on a classic vintage before its bottles hit our shores.
Wines
Domaine Albin Jacumin Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Bosquet Des Papes Cotes-du-Rhone
Bosquet Des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Bosquet Des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape A la Gloire de Mon Grand-Pere
Bosquet Des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Chante le Merle
Domaine de la Charbonniere Vacqueyras
Domaine de la Charbonniere Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de la Charbonniere Chateauneuf-du-Pape Mourre des Perdrix
Domaine de la Charbonniere Chateauneuf-du-Pape Hautes Brusquieres
Domaine de la Cotes de L’Ange Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Moulin-Tacussel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Tradition
Domaine Pontifical Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Olivier Hillaire Cotes-du-Rhone
Domaine Olivier Hillaire Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Classique
Domaine Tour Saint Michel Cotes-du-Rhone
Domaine Tour Saint Michel Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Tour Saint Michel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee des Deux Soeurs
Domaine Tour Saint Michel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee du Lion
Domaine Tour Saint Michel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Feminessance
Domaine Tour Saint Michel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc
Domaine de la Cosonniere Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Pierre Usseglio Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Bertrand Stehelin Gigondas
Domaine Bertrand Stehelin Sablet Cotes-du-Rhone Villages
Domaine Bertrand Stehelin Sablet Cotes-du-Rhone Villages Blanc
Cros de Romet Cairanne Cotes-du-Rhone Villages
and more to TBA
A Very Special Club Champagne
Wednesday, March 21st, 2012<![endif]–>
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Gaston Chiquet Special Club 2004
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“A vast majority of the 330 million Champagne bottles produced annually come from a handful of giant merchant houses, some of which own no vineyards. Instead, they buy grapes from independent growers, who own 90 percent of the 34,000 hectares, or 84,000 acres, of vineyards authorized for Champagne production.” New York Times–December 9th, 2011 ”Champagne with a Capital C”
Over the last ten years, the term “Grower Champagne” has been slowly creeping its way into the public consciousness. Instead of selling their grapes to the “giant merchant houses”, some of the top vignerons of Champagne are producing their own bottles, often with profound results.
In 1971, a handful of the most quality minded Growers, made up of some of the oldest families in the region, founded the Club Trésors de Champagne whose sole purpose was to make the public more aware of the powerful virtues of small production Champagne with the limited release of The Special Club. Representing each Growers top cuvee, The Special Club is packaged in specially created bottles and put through rigorous evaluations before it earns The Special Club seal of approval. Any Special Club release is a shining light in modern-day Champagne and Gaston Chiquet is the brightest of The Special Club.
While vines were first planted by Nicolas Chiquet back in 1746, it wasn’t until 1919 brothers Fernand & Gaston opened the family winery. At the time, the concept of Grower Champagne didn’t exist. The Chiquet family helped to invent it. Now, under the auspices of two other talented brothers, Antoine & Nicolas, the Chiquet’s pioneering drive to quality has inspired a whole movement of like-minded grower/owners/winemakers to part ways with the merchant houses and strike out on their own.
To say the Gaston Chiquet Special Club 2004 is special seems a bit redundant but there’s no better way to put it; this is pure truth in advertising. Here is what The Wine Advocate had to say:
If you noticed Mr. Galloni uses the word “class” 3 times, it’s not a mistake. The Chiquet Special Club is one of most refined Champagnes you might ever taste. The closest comparison would be the Sir Winston Churchill Cuvee from Pol Roger, but that will run you Two-Hundred Plus. That this level of quality is available for Under Eighty-Dollars is absolutely ludicrous.
That being said, it always sells out. We will try to keep it on the shelf for as long as we can but as Chiquet goes from strength to strength, the demand will only grow. Please don’t miss the opportunity to taste one of the great Champagnes while it’s still available and reasonably priced.
As always, Le Du’s offers 15% off purchases of 12 bottles or more.
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Sommelier Tuesdays
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012|
Join James Beard Award Winning Sommelier Jean-Luc Le Du for an intimate dinner and wine pairing at La Mangeoire (named 1 of the 20 Most Underrated Restaurants in New York by NYEater.com)
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The first Sommelier Tuesday will be March 6th @ La Mangeoire 8 PM
The Theme will be French Country Wines
Domaine Landron “Amphibolite” Muscadet 2010 (Loire) Jean Rijckaert Chardonnay “En Paradis” 2008 (Arbois) Philippe Alliet Chinon “Noire” 2009 (Loire) Alain Graillot Crozes Hermitage 2010 (Northern Rhone) Domaine Fons Sanatis “Witiza” 2009 (Languedoc) Domaine des Hautes Cances Cairanne 2005 (Southern Rhone)
Tickets are $135.00-All Inclusive Seating is Limited to 10 people.
Call the store @ 212-924-6999 or e-mail wineorders@leduwines.com for reservations. |
Giant Superbowl Pack
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012|
The Giant Superbowl Pack
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We know all of New York will be glued to their T.V. set this Sunday night to watch Elite Eli do it again in the 4th Quarter! In celebration, we’ve put together aGiant Superbowl Pack to service your FAN-tastic gatherings.
Napa Cab Atticus John 2009 Full, Cherry-Raspberry fruit with boatloads of body and a round, cocoa nib finish. Pinot Noir Evening Land 2009 Suave, refined Pinot Noir from a French-California collaboration.
C.G. Di Arie 2006 Perfectly round Zinfandel from the inventor of Cap n Crunch.
Sauvignon Blanc Grieve 2009 Gorgeous, tropical citrus Napa Sauvignon Blanc with extreme refiniement.
Whiskey McCarthy’s Oregon Single Malt
Pure and rich all malt barley flavor explosion.
Champagne: (When We Win!) Pol Gardere NV Orchard fruit and rich yeast with a clean, beautiful Champagne finish.
GO GIANTS! |
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
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Some New Delicious Burgundies for Current Drinking!
Friday, January 27th, 2012
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The Le Du’s Wine Experience - Seminar Series
Monday, January 16th, 2012
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Michel Gros Clos des Reas Dinner
Thursday, January 12th, 2012
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Great Values Just In From France!
Friday, January 6th, 2012
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