The color is a light ruby and the wine has a bright, ethereal quality.  The nose has intense aromas of cherries and raspberries, with underlying floral notes.  There is also a streak of minerality running throughout.  In the mouth, the wine is elegant with surprising tannin and acidity, which suggests to me an ability to age nicely over the next 6-8 years.  It drinks beautifully now though, especially with a half hour of decanting.

This is a very fresh and aromatic wine with a silky mouth feel.  I like to pair it with roasted eggplant and fennel or wild mushroom ravioli topped with shaved Parmesan cheese.

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Rosso 2008, Sicily, Italy $22.50

The Boom Boom Syrah is explosive!  It is smooth, firm, & dark. It has a deep purple color in the glass and exudes meaty dark fruit flavors of blueberry and black currant.  Notes of Asian five spice & sweet tobacco intertwine with savory flavors.  It is intense yet plush in texture.  This wine is fun to drink.  It’s playful and fresh, but seriously delicious.

The Syrah pairs nicely with anything from grilled Hangar Steak with a chimichurri sauce; to pan seared duck breast with an orange glaze.  My best recommendation: if you’re looking for a red to drink with your Chinese take-out, grab this bottle and enjoy!

K Vintner’s Boom Boom Syrah 2008, Washington State $16.75

Our good friend Bruce Neyers wants to help you out. He’s sent along a bit more of his spectacular 2005 Conn-Valley Cabernet at a price that’s just as stunning as the wine. Loaded with blueberry pie, fig, raspberry jam, tobacco, earth and vanilla – and balanced perfectly, this beauty will age for a decade. But you don’t have to wait. Pup open a bottle and decant it for 20 minutes. You’ll be a happy camper.

This wine has been compared – by some highly regarded wine critics – to the legendary estate of Chateau Margaux. For those of us lucky enough to have popped open a bottle of Margaux, the comparison hits the mark. But, as you’ll see by the modest price tag, you don’t have to auction your house or harvest your organs to put a case of this wine in your basement.

All of Bruce’s wines are press darlings – and they’re getting really hard to find. Find out why Robert Parker writes that Bruce “…has one of the most important palates on the west coast…”

Also be sure to ask about our other Neyers bottlings – including the trio of super-rare magnums Bruce recently shipped to us. I’m not going to say that it was like pulling teeth to get them, but I’m also not going to say it was easy.

Neyers Cabernet Sauvignon, Conn-Valley, Napa, 2005 — $45.50

I have recently joined the Dedalus Team…Jason and Tim and I have a history that goes back a ways now, and I am excited to participate in the growth of their (ad)venture!!  I have been around the block once or twice and tasted a few wines…to this day I am still humbled by what I do not know about wine, not by what I do know.  One of my missions, which I can already see will be a lengthy process, is to develop a strong Burgundy presence at Dedalus.  We anticipate that this growth from within (specifically, the inventory of wines we will be bringing in) will be accompanied by education without…as we bring in new selections we want you to have not only the most current information, but also we want you to know what the long rich history of Burgundy’s past can offer.  Appreciating Burgundy is a combination of tasting and education…this, too, is a process that we all can benefit from.

Okay, let’s jump right in!!  I recently attended a tasting with a group I have a long association with in Connecticut (yes, I certainly will travel some distance to share a glass of wine with friends!)…and guess what…this was a Burgundy tasting. Specificallywe were attacking the great whites of Meursault (just a fancy geographical name for Chardonnay).  All blind, the tasting covered vintages from ’96 to ’06, village wines to premier crus (there are no Grand Cru’s in Meursault).  Wine of the night…1996 Meursault “Les Narvaux” from Domaine Leroy (the domaine of the “irascible bitch of Burgundy”, Madame Bize-Leroy).  It was quite yummy, with a dense earthy nose, and an elegant, pure Meyer lemon finish. Nicely complex and a good poke of caramel… this one paired up quite nicely with the tuna tartare I prepared!

Some of the group had recently attended another tasting that, blind, pitted red Burgundy with West Coast Pinot Noir…and the results were interesting.  In each and every pairing, it was clear which was the domestic wine, and which was the Burgundy. And again, in each case, the French was the clear first choice.  Now, it is not my intention to be critical of New World Wines. In fact our group has tended to purchase Northwest Pinots as we have watched the prices skyrocket in the Cote d’Or.  But keep in mind, the French have been making wine for many, many, years. Combine that with the association of the soils of the vineyards with the flavor profiles of the juice and you have something that in many cases is exceptionally special.

What does this mean for you?  Well, as we progress with our efforts at building a Burgundy portfolio, keep in mind that while prices remain high in France, we will be searching for out-of-the-way producers and single vineyard village wines that will deliver big value. And what a prospect! There is little that’s more fun for an old wine geek like me than scoring a great deal on an out-of-the-spotlight producer, or a so-called  “lesser” vineyard, grabbing a case and stashing it in the cellar (yes, many French wines benefit from a bit of ageing)…then going back after a year or two and enjoying the transformation as the components come into harmony!

Obviously, I have a soft spot in my heart for Burgundy Some of my most ethereal experiences have come from this source.  But it takes work, it takes time, and it takes patience to successfully explore its riches.  They are there…they need to be discovered, they need to be explored, they need to be savored.  We look forward to experiencing some of these nuances with you. I should be in the “shop” most every Thursday – officially BURGUNDY DAY at Dedalus. Stop by sometime and talk Burgundy with me!!

So what have we got, and what are we going to get?  Well, as I looked at our inventory, I realized that we are really in need of those wines that your hand reaches out to immediately, and grabs because they’re under 20 bucks.  We bought a few Burgundies just prior to the holidays, and while they are excellent representations of the geography and are very good values, they are not in this price range. So I guess it would make good sense for us to offer a couple of White Burgs and a couple of Red Burgs in this price range…and that is what we are going to do!!

Right now we have only a few – but they’re real good examples!  Starting out with a pair of clean, vivacious whites, we’re loving the 2007 Bourgogne Chardonnay from Domaine de la Cadette for $14.75 a bottle and the  2007 Macon-Villages from Henri Perrusset. On the Red Burg front, we just snapped up a few choice cases of Pierre Guillemot’s classically dirty, bawdy and thoroughly delicious Bourgogne, 2006. Imagine our surprise to find that we could sell this beauty for less than 20 bucks. It’ll only set you back $18.75, and it’s one of the most satisfying values we’ve come across in ages.
We hope to have a plenty more wines in this price range soon. Wines that express the “terroir”, the unique character of the land that nurtured the vines and ultimately the grapes – these are the key wines for us. I want you to experience the range of styles and flavors this region is so well known for. I am on the hunt for a good Givry (again, just a fancy geographical name for Pinot Noir) as they are often juicy and fleshy as well as inexpensive and can be a great “introductory” red.

Guillemot’s Bourgogne has the super-stink up front, like an under ripe red cherry in the middle of a pile of old damp hay and freshly turned topsoil. But on the palette, it’s super-clean, classic Burgundian Pinot Noir. The kind of middle-weight wine that foodies across the country are starting to worship. That red cherry thing is there for sure, but it breaks into a minerally, mouthwatering mossy wine with a really nice hit of spice that pops up right before the mellow tobacco and clove finish sets in. I’ll be loving this wine for a minute, and so will you. At less than 20 bucks for a bottle, I’ll be drinking this one with bone marrow, grilled fish and roasted bird… frequently.

Pierre Guillemot Bourgogne Rouge, 2006   –   $18.75

Henri Perrusset Macon-Villages, 2007   –   $12.75/Bottle

Domaine de la Cadette Bourgogne Chardonnay, 2007   –   $14.75

We like to push the boundaries around here. So this winter season we’re going to give you our top 5 hip & stylish white wines.

Wine and fashion have a lot in common.  They’re both trend-driven; when something becomes stylish, something else falls out of favor.  Trends are very seasonal. In the fashion industry that usually means heavy knits and dark colors in the winter and breezy, lightweight materials with bright colors in the warm months.  Wine also follows these seasonal ups and downs.  We tend to sip crisp, light-bodied whites when the thermostat rises.  In the cold winter months we generally reach for robust and hearty reds.  Of course we realize it isn’t as cut and dry as all that, so here’s our list (of wines – we’re leaving fashion to the professionals)

This is our line-up, our own super models of the wine runway.

The Kate Moss – She is slight and a bit on the wild side.  If she were a wine you might say that she is racy and fresh, not unlike…

La Cala Vermentino 2007  $10.75/btl

This crisp little beauty is from the Sardinia region of Italy. Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.  Seafood and lemons are abundant in Sardinia making this wine a natural match for oysters on the half shell which are at their freshest and best in the cold winter months. (CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE)

The Heidi Klum – Her accent is sweet, her features are lovely, and she has fabulous curves.  If she were a wine you could say that she is exotic & lush, very much like…

Frederic Mallo Riesling 2002 $27.95/btl

The sensation you get from drinking a quality Riesling in the winter is like putting on a cashmere sweater; its luxe and smooth and leaves you with a happy glow.  This Alsatian version gives you complexity with its combination of sweet honeysuckle and zippy acidity.  It is a great wine to curl up with. (CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE)

The Cindy Crawford – She is the iconic all-American girl.  She can rock out in blue jeans and a tee shirt and look totally fabulous on any runway, anywhere.  Her wine profile would definitely be the cool classic, similar to…

Bethel Heights Pinot Gris 2008 $18.00/btl

With its fresh and vibrant flavors of citrus, apricot, and Asian pear; and it’s spicy notes and smooth finish, this white is very drinkable no matter the weather.  Also it happens to be a great food wine, so if you find yourself ready to dine on spicy Asian baked salmon or Curry chicken, this is the bottle to grab. (CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE)

The Christy Turlington – She exudes class and style from her big bright eyes and striking facial features.  She positively oozes sophisticated elegance, as does…

Lemenicier Cuvee de l’Elegance 2006  $23.95/btl

This white wine from the Saint-Peray appellation in the Rhone has the romance and elegance to be invited to dinner, (especially if dinner includes bacon-wrapped scallops.) It is also worth mentioning that when it’s cold outside and you are tucked away indoors with someone special, you don’t need a holiday to have a romantic evening. (CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE)

The Claudia Schiffer – She is a true blonde bomb-shell.  She sparkles and radiates beauty.  In the wine world she can be described as bright & lively, as could…

Michlits Gruner Veltliner 2007 $15.00/btl

This Gruner has something I love in a white wine; simple deliciousness.  It’s uncomplicated and just as crisp, lively, and refreshing as you could hope for; the wine drinkers equivalent to cracking open a cold beer.  When you are in the mood to relax, this wine will help you out.  I love to sip it as I cook.  Be careful though, because before you know it, you have an empty bottle and a half-cooked entrée.   (CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE)

Despite Burgenland’s reputation for producing excellent wine, some vintners in Burgenland added illegal substances to their wine in the mid-1980s. When this was revealed, Austria’s wine exports dwindled dramatically. After recovering from the scandal, vintners in Austria, not only in Burgenland, started focusing on quality. The upshot for us? Killer wines at unbelievable prices!
In this wine you will find soft, inviting aromas of lime and mineral notes. It is pleasantly uncomplicated with refreshing effervescence.  It is crisp, thirst-quenching, and easy to drink.  Pair it with light appetizers or nothing at all.

Weingut Michlits Gruner Veltliner 2007, $15.00

The Cuvee de L’Elegance is full of tropical fruit flavors, citrus peel, and hints of toasted almonds.  There is an enchanting floral quality and a zing of acidity that is all rounded out with lots of toasty oak.  Sustainably grown, hand-picked and produced with care, this beautifully textured white comes from old vines. It is both sleek and voluptuous and would be lovely paired with chicken picatta or bacon-wrapped scallops.

Lemenicier Cuvee de l’Elegance 2006, $23.95