Burgundy versus California Pinot Noir Tasting at Cafe Maxx

“Every day I spend my time
Drinking wine, feeling fine
Waiting here to find the sign
That I can understand, yes I am”

-Everyday by A$AP Rocky ft. Mark Ronson, Miguel & Rod Stewart

This week is all about Argentina and Chile!  We still have a few spaces remaining for out tasting this Friday at the store that features two of these countries iconic wines, Don Melchor from Chile and Nicolas Catena Catena Zapata!  We will be offering these two wines at the BEST PRICE IN THE COUNTRY FOR THOSE WHO ATTEND THIS EVENT!  Check out the line-up for Friday night on our calendar of events on our web page www.winewatch.com.  Toni’s empanadas are also going to be on the table this evening!!

Generalizations are dangerous; The wines of Burgundy tend to have a structure and earthiness that is unique but with global warming it is harder and harder to tell the New World wines of California from the old world wines found in Burgundy. Every region has vintage variation but one of the things that make Burgundy unique is that the differences between the vintages are more pronounced than most. Distinctive with small producers being the norm, a bevy of microclimates, it is fascinating how individual wineries portray each vintage along with the 600+ villages that exist from the Macon through Chablis. 

California tends to be on the fruit forward end of the spectrum. Whether it’s the bright red cherries and spiciness from Santa Lucia Highlands, or the deeper red fruits from Russian River, Pinot from California offers immediate pleasure drinking.

This tasting will be conducted blind to showcase the difference between the wines of Burgundy and those of California and you can find out firsthand what difference the dirt makes and see if you can tell the difference between the two.

These tastings at Cafe Maxx for $35 are the best value of any event that we do. Eight wines are pre-poured in order to allow them to open up. Master chef Oliver Saucy will be sending out a few small courses to accompany the wines.  These tastings are a great opportunity to get a taste of Cafe Maxx and an education in wine all at the same time.  The fee for the tasting in $35+ tax+ Gratuity for reservations call 954-782-0606.

Burgundy Versus California Pinot Noir Tasting at Cafe Maxx
Wednesday, September 7th
6:30pm

Joseph Drouhin Chambolle Musigny 2012
Price: $75.00  Sale $66.00     Case $765

"Fine lace and silk are the words most often associated with this wine. Bright, intense colour and complex aromas evoking violet, black cherry and damp earth. According to the vintages, there are also notes of truffle and game. Refined tannins coat the palate. Good balance between texture and acidity. Long aftertaste, with notes of cherry and candied fruit".

Joseph Drouhin Gevrey Chambertin 2013
Price: $64.50  Sale $56.76     Case $658

"Gevrey-Chambertin is a wine with a beautiful, bright ruby colour. Intensely fruity on the nose, the aromas are reminiscent of black cherry, wild blackberry and liquorice. The woody character is subtle and marries delicately with the other aromas. As the wine evolves, there are more complex notes, such as mild spice, nutmeg and leather. Later still, mushroom and damp earth nuances make their appearance. Although present on the palate, tannin is never astringent but blends itself harmoniously with the natural freshness and "gras" (velvety texture) of the wine. The same aromas encountered earlier on the nose are found again in the aftertaste".

Joseph Drouhin Santenay 2012
Price: $30.00  Sale $26.40     Case $306

A real "terroir" wine. A deep ruby color and an intense nose of wild fruit: blackberry, blueberry, cranberry. The wine is often tannic in its youth. Long and persistent on the palate, with flavors reminiscent of grenadine syrup or pomegranate. Cellaring 8 to 15 years.

Joseph Drouhin Vosne Romanee  2012
Price: $90.00  Sale $79.20     Case $918

"Supreme elegance! Beautiful colour, with intense and bright reflections. The diversity of the aromas is striking: wild cherry, nutmeg, camphor wood, fine leather...Later on, the wine takes on a subtle aroma of truffle, producing the most varied palette. With its perfect balance between tannin and acidity, the wine has a fleshy, sturdy body. Powerful and long aftertaste. A wealth of harmonious sensations characterizes this great Burgundy".
                       
           

Domaine de la Cote Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Santa Barbara 2012        
Price: $37.50  Sale $33.00     Case $383

(93 Points)  "The 2012 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills wraps around the palate with serious depth and intensity. Crushed flowers, mint, pine and anise meld into a resonant mid-palate. The 2012 is wonderfully complete, with expressive aromatics and plenty of density to balance some of the more savory, floral notes. The vineyard sites are Mesa, La Cote, Bloom's Field and Sirens Call, vinified with 50% whole clusters and aged in neutral oak." Vinous / Antonio Galloni

Failla Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast Sonoma 2014
Price: $40.50  Sale $35.64     Case $414

(92 Points) "The 2014 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) is a fabulous wine at this level. Sweet spices, rose petal, mint and succulent cherry/plum notes all lift from the glass. Supple and beautifully layered throughout, the Sonoma Coast hits all the right notes. A final burst of fruit rushes across the palate on the refreshing, inviting wine. There is so much to like." Vinous / Antonio Galloni

Hansel Pinot Noir South Slope Russian River 2013 
Price: $49.50  Sale $43.56     Case $505

(93 points) The 2013 Pinot Noir South Slope once again stands out for its boisterous, explosive personality. Bold, intense flavors race across the palate as this powerful, resonant Pinot shows off its class and personality. Expressive spice notes wrap around a core of dark red fruits in an expressive Pinot that delivers the goods, and then some. Stephen Hansel is one of the most intelligent winery owners in Sonoma. More interested in getting people to drink his wines than in maximizing short-term profit, Hansel continues to offer some of the very best wines readers will find for the money. In particular, the Estate Chardonnay, $25 a bottle, is surely one of the best values in wine. The Hansel wines capture the essence of the Russian River in their exuberant, forward personalities...The Pinots see a five day cold-soak and are vinified, fully destemmed, in open-top wood fermenters, after which they are aged in French oak, about 60% new. After the large crop of 2012, Hansel dropped a significant amount of fruit in 2013, roughly 60% of the Pinot crop and 30% of the Chardonnay crop. Quality is high across the board and pricing remains incredibly consumer friendly throughout the range, making these some of the most delicious and compelling Sonoma wines readers will come across. (AG) (1/2015) Vinous

Cadre Pinot Noir The Architect Edna Valley San Luis Obispo 2013          
Price: $30.00  Sale $26.40     Case $306

Cadre Pinot Noir is grown in the Edna Valley, the coolest AVA in all of California, as cited in a study by Southern Oregon University, and is a mere 5.4 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Growing conditions are extreme, the result is extraordinary – the ultimate expression of cool climate Pinot Noir.

The aromas in this wine are complex and layered; mocha, cinnamon, dark red fruit, hazelnut, red licorice, earth and mushroom. Most all follows onto the palate, along with brighter red fruit flavors and a note of candied red apple. The tannins are silky, and the medium-full body nicely compliments the supple mouthfeel.

This is a seated tasting and is limited to 24 tasters, the fee for this event is $35 + Gratuity + tax, for reservations call Café Maxx at 954-782-0606 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.

A bit about Burgundy:

Burgundy is the most difficult of all wines to buy, there are over 80 vineyard owners in Clos Vougeot (the largest Grand Cru vineyard in Burgundy) and a range of quality from way below average to the greatest expression of Pinot Noir made on the planet earth.  But in order to find these gems from Burgundy, you have to constantly taste the wines to see how each individual producer is doing from year to year.  They could make an outstanding wine one year and then a barely average wine the next.

Maison Joseph Drouhin was founded in 1880 when Joseph Drouhin purchased the business trading rights of a wine house located in the heart of the old town of Beaune.   In 1918, the son of the founder, Maurice Drouhin decided to develop a great estate specializing exclusively in Burgundy wines. He purchased various vineyards, in particular the famous Beaune Clos des Mouches as well as a vineyard in the Clos de Vougeot.   Robert Drouhin took over the company in 1957 and continued to expand the estate and enhance the position and reputation of the company worldwide.  He purchased property in Côte de Nuits, adding prestigious vineyards such as Musigny, Griotte Chambertin, Chambertin Clos de Bèze, Bonnes Mares, Grands Echézeaux.  By 1968, another estate was established in Chablis, including various Grands Crus (Vaudésir, Les Clos) and several Premier Crus.   And in 1988, Robert Drouhin further expanded his holdings with the creation of Domaine Drouhin, in Oregon. Maison Joseph Drouhin comprises over 275 acres, with vineyards totaling 150 acres in Burgundy and 125 acres in Oregon and is considered one of France's most formidable wine dynasties. 

Today, Robert Drouhin's children play a very important role in the company.  Frédéric, 35 and the youngest of Robert Drouhin's sons is the CEO of Maison Joseph Drouhin.   Philippe, 42, manages the estates of Côte d'Or and Chablis and oversees the work in the vineyards (pruning, ploughing, etc.). Véronique, 41, holds a degree in enology from the University of Dijon and is the winemaker at the Oregon winery.  And, Laurent 37, is a regional commercial director. 

From the beginning, Maison Joseph Drouhin has built a reputation for making authentic Burgundian style wines that show their individual terroir and vintage.  The estate strives to produce wines that are reflective of each vineyard site and vintage, and is opposed to tailoring its wines to consumer whims.  A balance of tradition and modern techniques characterizes Joseph Drouhin winemaking and vineyard management.  They have established their own vine nursery, conduct selective leaf removal, and still pick all their fruit by hand and use only open wooden and stainless steel fermenters. Robert Drouhin observes, "A common denominator in the vineyards is our exacting rules governing the culture of the vine.  These rules, not yet fully adopted in Burgundy, are of utmost importance for the production of the finest, naturally grown grapes." This translates to respect of the soil, respect of the environment, respect of the genetic heritage of the vines and respect for the integrity of the grape.  Joseph Drouhin owns several parcels in the prestigious Grand Cru vineyard, Clos de Vougeot. It is in the Côte de Nuits, nestled between Vosne-Romanée and Chambolle-Musigny.  The vineyard is situated on a gentle slope facing directly east. The soil is a mix of limestone with varying amounts of clay. The closest neighbor is Musigny on one side and Grands-Echezeaux on the other.  The only grape variety is Pinot Noir. Joseph Drouhin owns several parcels in this prestigious Grand Cru.  At harvest time, the grapes are picked by hand in small crates and then brought to the winery in Beaune.  Fermentation and maceration are traditional: the grapes ferment in open wooden vats with the cap being regularly punched down and the juice pumped over.  After 18 months of aging in oak barrels, the wine is fined with egg whites prior to bottling.