www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9VHN6KAiFA

We are big fans of the Page Wines and they are always a hit when we have them open at the tasting bar!

Cheers,

Kevin

Here is Justin Hunnicutt Stephens of DR Stephens Estates talking about his wines -- and rolling with the punches. We had a power outage, but he kept on going. His buddy Sean Larkin walkes into the shop to make a video next but Justin keeps on rolling! Thats the spirit that goes into the wines!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNWY11OpCXU

Hunnicutt Wines:

Cheers,

Kevin

Station Plaza Wine just got back from Bordeaux and tasted over 350 Classified wines.  We had dinner and lunch at Vineyards and visited several wine estates. I’ll keep this short and sweet. I’ll list the wine that we are taking in the shop and talk a bit about the vineyard.  The winemakers have also promised when they make it to NY they will stop in and do a customer tasting at the Station Plaza Tasting Bar. (sign up for  our newsletter to keep informed about our events and specials)

1)      Chateau Clerc Milon – We tasted the 2007 and the 2005, these wines were amazing!  We took the 2004, 2005 into the shop as well as a 2006 6 Liter (aka Imperial size)

     The wine is rated a 5^th Growth in the 1855 Classification. Baron Philippe de Rothschild purchased this estate in 1970 for the paltry sum of one million francs after the property fell into disarray. He spent lots of money fixing up the property and now the wine ROCKS!

The little village of Milon is situated near Chateau Lafite, but vineyards of Clerc-Milon themselves are is situated in the northernmost part of the Pauillac appellation, closer to Mousset. Here Baroness Philippine de Rothschild – Baron Philippe’s daughter – can oversee activity at Clerc-Milon, Mouton-Rothschild and d’Armailhac, whilst keeping up to date with progress at her other interests in Chile (Almaviva) and California (Opus One), as well as the branded side of the business – such as the infamous Mouton Cadet. They produce about  14000 cases per annum, the label of which depicts a pair of dancing clowns made from precious stones, a facsimile of a 16th century piece currently housed in the Museum of Wine in Art at Mouton-Rothschild. There is no second wine.

2)      Chateau Clinet, Pomerol – This is not a Classified Estate but the wines ROCK! We visited the estate and met with Ronan Laborde the CEO and tasted a flight from 2001 – 2007. Very, very impressive! This was one of the first wines we took into the shop upon returning to the States and will most likely be a staple for a very long time. I’m already dreaming of paring dinners at our home and who to invite.  – You’ve gotta see the videos of Ronan describing the vineyard and the winemaking process, what a charismatic fellow with charm and enthusiasm for the process and the end product. Thats what it’s all about!

They produce about 3,000 cases and in 1989 received 100 points from Robert Parker.

3,4 and 5) The De Fieuzal 1999 Blanc was AMAZING, unfortunately I have not been able to locate any just yet to take in to the store. But man, was I surprised by a 10+ year old white. I literally could not get over it. Then came the best white I have ever tasted, a 1989 Saduiraut Sauturn ( a sweet desert wine) that we took into the shop faster than you can say caramel, honey, apricot and lemon explosion.  At $50 a half bottle it’s worth every drop.

Lastly I’ll just say that I have a new found appreciation for aged Bordeaux’s. Time really does make a difference with these wines. We saw it over and over in vertical tastings ( tastings of several vintages). It was basically true without exception the older the wine the better.

I’ll have a lot more to follow, including several more winemaker videos and tasting notes.

Chin chin,

Kevin

Kongsgaard Napa Valley Chardonnay 2007

A real Burgundy made in California with a deep nose lemon zest, bits of tropical citrus, mango and butter with a touch of oak. Full bodied with smooth and polished tones of green apple with some mineral, roasted nuts. Great balance and good medium acidity. 

Fifth-generation Napa natives John and Maggy Kongsgaard produce The Judge, Chardonnay, VioRous, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Shy-bearing vineyards and traditional low-intervention winemaking techniques produce powerful, graceful wines — high intensity expressions of vineyard and variety. The core of their endeavor is the ten-acre vineyard they planted in the late 1970s on a rocky hilltop in southern Napa Valley which has belonged to the Kongsgaard family since the 1920s. In addition to these family acres, they direct the farming under long-term contract on another seven acres in the Napa Carneros and three acres near St. Helena. The winery, on the eastern rim of Napa Valley, is a cave drilled into the volcanic rock. Production is limited to what they can make with their own hands.

Kongsgaard Chardonnay 2007 Napa Valley comes from two great Carneros vineyards – Hudson and Hyde. Like The Judge, it is fermented with its indigenous yeast and ages in French oak barrels for 22 months. When most Napa Chardonnays are bottled after 10 months of barrel age, ours is just finishing its fermentations and awakening from adolescence. In the second year of barrel aging, the wine’s more sophisticated qualities evolve. Parker described the 2007 as “beautiful,” displaying “liquid rocks, pineapples, honeysuckle, orange blossoms, and lemon oil.” Tanzer noted “the zesty finish featuring mineral and minty nuances and terrific energy.” $75/bottle, 1000 cases produced.

Wine Advocate

The full-bodied 2007 Chardonnay offers notes of liquid rocks, pineapples, honeysuckle, orange blossoms, and lemon oil. This beautiful effort should turn out as well as Kongsgaard’s superb 2005.

Score: 91-94. —Robert Parker, December 2008. 

Villa Trasqua www.villatrasqua.it

Their Super Tuscan, Trasgaia was awsome!

Di Lenardo Vineyards www.dilenardo.it

Great desert wine, Pass the Cookies.

Villa Calcinaia www.villacalcinaia.it

Great Chianti Classico’s – we took in a few!

Visitors stroll the beautiful landscaped premises, tour the romantic underground cellars and taste a variety of award winning wines.

You can browse through their “History of Brotherhood exhibit. Learn interesting facts about grape growing and winemaking. Tour the underground cellars while their guides briefs you on Champagne making, barrel aging and more!

2)  Don’t rush your tour. A visit to 1 or 2 wineries in the morning. 1 for lunch, 2 or 3 in the afternoon is ideal.

3)  Taste responsibly — its perfectly OK to spit out a wine, even if you like it and don’t forget to snack between visits.

4)  Avoid wearing perfume, aftershave or sunscreen. It will effect the wine’s bouquet.

5)  Do not chew gum, use mints or cough drops.

6)  If you don’t know the difference between wine varieties, don’t be afraid to ask. Winemakers and tasting room staff are happy to explain.

7)  Bring a notebook to record the wines and what you liked about them.

8)  When you find a wine you like, buy several bottles. Bring a cooler especially during the Summer.

9)  Tour hours may vary from one winery to the next so call ahead. If you’re traveling in a group of 15 or more, you’ll need to schedule your tour.

10)  Remember to bring ID. Winery staff will check if you look under 21.

11)  Make the most of your visit. Check out sites like: www.LocalWineEvents.com , www.newyorkwines.org for special events that may be going on in Wine Country.