Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  7/25/2008 (link)

  (LE MEAL Ferraton Hermitage) Ten Dear Friends, Today's Friday list has been re-named the Friday Ten for this week (no relation to Pearl Jam's "Ten" but they do buy wine from us). There's something for everyone below, including terrific prices - all are directly from the source with the finest provenance available. Have a nice weekend everyone - do something to treat yourself like a simple walk or a look at the stars - you deserve it. - Jon Rimmerman 2003 Veraison Cabernet "Stagecoach Vineyard" STRICT LIMIT 3/person We rarely carry Napa Cabernet but this wine is drinking so well right now that I hope all of you try it. It was not easy coming up with a good price on this wine but this gets me excited - it's like top-end Napa pricing in the mid 1990s. If you can find any recent TN's on the 2003 Stagecoach I think they will agree with my assessment that it is an excellent wine with complexity just started to emerge. The best days are yet ahead for this relatively unknown wine and it represents one of the very best buys left in Napa Cabernet (Paul Hobbs' wine from the Stagecoach parcel directly next to this is $140-200 and a WA94 or 95 - this is $100-150 less and it's just as impressive in its own way). HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 2006 Holloran "Le Pavilon" Vineyard Dry Riesling This is another fascinating showcase of Oregon terroir and if you enjoyed last week's Chehalem bottling, this will rightly knock your doors off. Ever so slightly more residual than the Chehalem, this is still a dry example that shows it's Asian spice and ginger root quality in spades. A terrific bargain at this price-level and an educational example as well. 2006 Black Bart's Bride (Stagecoach Vineyard) STRICT LIMIT 3/person 2004 Ferraton Ermitage "Le Meal" STRICT LIMIT 3/person Chapoutier makes a Le Meal Hermitage from the best parcel of the vineyard - he also makes this wine from the same organically farmed parcel. This is pretty special wine in 2004 and I think he was trying to prove a point with the Ferraton (it's better than his own Le Meal, which is decidedly leaner): 122 cases produced. 2006 Ferraton Condrieu "Les Mandouls" STRICT LIMIT 3/person 2006 Ferraton Hermitage Blanc "Les Miaux" STRICT LIMIT 2/person This is another Ferraton wine that has been almost impossible for me to find - it seems that less than 20 cases made their way into the international pipeline - we finally have a small amount (when I say "small" I mean a few bottles - please be patient here) VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: 2004 Nigl Riesling Piri Privat 1.5lt STRICT LIMIT 1/person Not many of these came to the US in magnum, this is the last of it... 1995 Felsina Chianti "Rancia" 3.0lt STRICT LIMIT 3/person If you are looking for a large format, old-world example that is drinking beautifully right now (i.e, you actually want to open one for a party or other), look no further. This is at peak and ready to accompany your evening meal...for 30 lucky guests: 1995 Felsina Chianti "Rancia" 5.0lt STRICT LIMIT 3/person Ditto above but serves 50 or more - an impressive bottle to look at, especially when everyone gathers around to witness the uncorking. 2005 Ramey Jericho Canyon Cabernet 1.5lt STRICT LIMIT 1/person I think a few of you may be interested in this... Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA CA5100 CA5200 CA5300 OR8970 Rhone6501 Rhone6501 Rhone6503 Austr1220 Italy4944 Italy4945