Two Wines Perfect for Summer and upcoming events
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Hello Wine Fans,
We are hoping we haven't skipped right over Spring to Summer, but with the warmer weather we are certainly turning to brighter whites and medium bodied reds. We are fortunate to have two of our favorites, a delightful and refreshing Chenin Blanc from Pascal Janvier as well as the unique and intriguing Fer Servadou bottling from Cros Marcillac returning to the store. This is the perfect one-two punch to add a little uniqueness to your next grilling.
As well, we continue to have some fun and educational events lined up, here is a brief overview, with further details below.
May 19th - Symphony by the Glass
May 20th - Wine Class - Australia! with Legend Wine Imports
May 24th - Wine Class - Italy (Venezia/Friuli) w/ Jay Murrie
June 4th - Prospective??? - Rosé Event - Annual Rosé Event - More details will follow in a later email
Pascal Janvier - Jasnieres
One of our favorite white wine grapes in the summer is Chenin Blanc and one of our favorite sources is the lesser known Loire Valley region of Jasnieres. There Pascal Janvier crafts delicious wines that balance between the ripe fruit of Sauvignon Blanc (but think quince and citrus zest with some sliced apple and apple blossom notes) and the structure of Chardonnay. These are refreshing and appealing wines, to sip on their own or pair with some grilled scallops or other delicate seafood. It is hard to imagine a better culinary wine that keeps so many people happy (from Pinot Grigio drinker to unoaked Chardonnay).
Pascal Janvier Coteaux Blanc 2020, $21This is always the most immediately accessible wine and a glass that invites repeated visits! The wine shows apple, orange blossom, hints of white peach and a little cinnamon or fruity nutmeg and acacia blossom on the finish.
Cros Marcillac
Hard to imagine that a wine from such a lesser known region (Marcillac) and grape (Fer Servadou) is now so popular and in limited supply. It just returned to the distributor and I picked up what I could. It drinks like a rustic pinot noir and is perfect this time of the year. We will be putting it on the shelf soon and certainly pouring it by the glass again when we re-open back up. Before that happens, I wanted to give you a first shot at it.
The Domaine du Cros vines lie at elevations as high as 450 meters on a few different hillsides that surround the village of Clairvaux, in the western Auvergne. Much of the vineyard is terraced and the soil is an iron rich clay known locally as “rougier” with outcroppings of limestone. The 2018 shows a deep red/purple color with vivid aromas of black fruits - cassis, black plum - with pepper, floral and mineral notes. The palate is bursting with fruit, supple and round, but remarkably fresh and bright as well, finishing with a deep and long melange of bright peppery black fruits and minerals. Serve this rather astonishing wine slightly chilled (you can stick it in the fridge for 20 minutes) with grilled pork and lamb, charcuterie and full-flavored cheeses. $19.
Events
Hosting events is a great way to offer a range of wine experiences, from free distributor tastings, to more focused classes, to wine and food pairing events. Looking for any of these, we have you covered in the coming weeks.
Symphony by the Glass
Thursday, May 19th from 4:30 to 6:30
On May 19 we are hosting another fabulous duo from the symphony for some live music, specifically selected wines and a brief preview of the symphony concert. With the weather warming up, it is a great opportunity to enjoy some live music, a glass of wine on the patio and learn a little about the upcoming symphony concert at the Stevens Center. The music is free and the wines are delicious, so join us for a relaxing evening at The Caviste.
Upcoming Classes
Australia
May 20th, starting at 6:30pm - $40
We are always on the lookout for new and intriguing wines. Part of the fun in the wine world is discovering new wines or regions we thought we knew doing things in new and delightful ways. Many people know Australia as a source for grocery store bottlings. But those who have travelled there know this overlooks the small producer bottlings that are as unique and intriguing as anywhere else in the wine world. This class is a great way to experience that for yourself. Jane Lopes is co-founder of Legend Imports, and having passed the Master of Wine exam is incredibly knowledgeable and just plain nice - kind of a 'legend' herself.
So, make plans to join us and learn the Australian definition and use of the term 'legend' as well as taste some of the favorite new additions to the store shelves. This is a limited seating sit down class and will start towards the end of the day on Friday at 6:30.
Italy - Venezia Friuli
May 24th, Tuesday, starting at 6pm
Jay Murrie from Piedmont Wine Imports, $40, RSVP only.
Take a walk through the adventurous and intriguing wines of Venezia and Friuli. Yes, there is a lot of Pinot Grigio and Prosecco made here, but in this class we will explore some more 'local' varietals and styles of wine. This is a great class to expand your understanding and depth of the wines offered in this intriguing region. There will be some sparkling wines to try but also some aromatic whites and a delicious Pinot Nero (pinot noir). Again this class will be guided by Jay Murrie and promises to be part educational classroom and captivating travelogue.
Piccinin Metodo Classico
Visintini Friulano
Alla Costiera Terreni Bianchi
Nicolini Malvasia
Piccinin Pinot Nero
Degli Ultimi Sanguefreddo
Cheers from The Caviste Team
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