Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  3/18/2008 (link)

  (MARGUI BLANC VdP Var) Margui #3 Dear Friends, Third time’s a charm. So, we’ve offered the red and the rose’ - what about the white? If you are like most wine collectors, you will gladly imbibe in white Hermitage when it is presented to you but you will not shell out the insanely expensive prices for the same wine on your own nickel (one wonders who does?). White Hermitage may win the award as the highest rated/most ignored wine in Europe (especially from US consumers) and there is a reason why Chave ties the sale of his rouge to his blanc. With that in mind, what if you could have a peek into the world of white Hermitage or high-end white CdP (another completely ignored wine in the US market) but, instead of paying $50-150, it was much less? That’s a scenario to capture our attention. Leave it to Philippe at Chateau Margui to conquer not only Provence’s finest red and rose’ wines but also its white. Much to the dismay of Americans, they actually sell more rose and white wine than red in Provence (think Cassis et al) and Chateau Margui gives this their best forward - as much as wine costing 3-4 times this amount. While Hermitage may use Roussanne and Marsanne, Philippe tries to get the same qualitative results from Vermentino and Ugni in a mixture that will be very appealing to many of you. Translated from Philippe in my best garbled French - the words of a humble genius: “This new Blanc is quite a wine. It will be featured in Paris at 2-3 Michelin starred spots, humbling for me but it gives me motivation to make it even better. Nature makes it right, not me. This wine has complete organic principles but it tastes like a wine with goals far above what most see as organic. The wine is just better because we don’t fool the soil with chemicals. It is all hand picked Rolle (Vermentino) and Ugni Blanc - it tastes of liquid apricot and almond with a glide on the tongue and very long memory of strength in the taste. I like it very much. Guide Hachette has called that they will be giving it a major honor in the new guide - now what to do? I don’t want all the attention” - I think that’s a little late. Bottled with the most expensive corks he can buy (more than most producers red or any other wine in Provenance for that matter) and the antique clear glass Margui has become synonymous with, Philippe is not messing around and he expects the consumer to take his wine just as seriously as any of the Chapoutier white Hermitage or other - they certainly do at Arpege. I’m not going to say this wine is the equal of Chapoutier’s 2006 Ermite Blanc or anything that foolish but you get the idea - this is a dedicated artisan that has you in mind as his end-game, not his wallet. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED as another superb value and as a southern take on white wine akin to CdP blanc of even white Hermitage from a warm year - at a fraction of the cost. VERY RARE! ONE SHIPMENT ONLY directly from the winery cellar with perfect provenance: 2006 Chateau Margui Vin de Pays du Var Blanc Please give us your maximum number and we will allocate accordingly Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA SOFR4810