Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  7/8/2009 (link)

  (Le Clos de Vauriou RICARD) UPDATE: San Francisco I had a great day in San Francisco yesterday but the most fun was the chance to meet long-term Garagiste email list members that I know very well by printed name but never had the chance to meet in person - everyone had a lot to say and I listened intently. We met at Cav wine bar at 6:00pm and spent the next four hours chatting and drinking an array of wine and food chosen by the owner of Cav. For me, the chosen wines did not stand out in any way but the company sure did. I awoke this morning with a far better understanding of our consumer base but also of taco trucks, Alice Waters, and the Slow Food versus molecular gastronomy debate (not sure how all of these concepts are related but they are). We also decided to do a "Best of the Bay Area" food/wine review from an underground perspective, narrated in heated debate by three SF email list residents with very different perspectives on the city and surrounding area - should be very interesting (hopefully, we can do this in the fall). Also, a special shout-out to my friends Mollie and Declan who braced the wine geek chatter just to see me for a few minutes - Mollie has the most recognizable hair in SF and (shameless plug to follow) if you are looking for a house in SF, they are the best of the best: http://www.zephyrsf.com/agent_detail.cfm?ID=163 ) Thanks to everyone who attended - we'll do it again soon - - Jon Rimmerman ********************** 2008 Clos Dear Friends, Domaine Ricard has done it again, this time with a magic little $9.99 bistro wine called the Clos de Vauriou that does not require a mad rush to the internet to research its validity - its worth far more than its $9.99 price and that should be enough. If you are searching for everyday, natural wine of the highest order, this small family Domaine with over five generations of experience in Touraine is a very good place to start. We offered the 2008 Trois Chenes (blanc) in the past but this is their top Gamay-based red wine and it will place a big, happy, organic smile upon your face. From a blend of 80% Gamay and 20% Cot, the estate vines are 30-50 years of age and the fruit they produce is deeply colored and textured (this is not a simple and light rendition). The Cot used in the Clos de Vauriou is especially intense - it hails from a micro parcel of less than 1.0 hectare which gives the wine an unmistakable earthen and mineral component that compliments the sheer fruit of the Gamay. As a Monday night imbibement, this is just about perfect but the wine is even better on day two so leave some in the bottle for the next night (with another 4-6 months, it will probably be just as good on day one - this is an 2008 red after all). Fans of Clos Roche Blanch Cot and Gamay should take special note, especially at this tariff. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED as a terrific bargain wine that places varietal and terroir first. ONE SHIPMENT ONLY at this price - we will have a second shipment in October at the regular price: 2008 Domaine Ricard "Le Clos de Vauriou" (Gamay/Cot) (This is not the 2008 Le Petiot blanc, that is $8.99 but it is not available yet in the NW, it may be available already in CA or on the East Coast - it is a great bargain as well if you are looking for white wine) It will ship during the Fall shipping season. Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Loire5668