Now Arriving: 2006 Gambal Burgundy!

A few of you know my obsession with Alex Gambal and his amazing collection of French Burgundy. Last year, we attempted to use his Bourgogne Rouge in our wine club: BIG MISTAKE as the response was overwhelming but the wines were not to be found (the guy only makes about 200 cases of each style to begin with).

So here we are in 2008 with the release of the 2006 vintage and, dare I say, I am as impressed if not more with the finished products.

The negociant house of Alex Gambal was first started in July 1997. During Gambal’s trip to Burgundy in the 1990’s, he fell in love with the region and its wines. In an instant he decided to move from his hometown of Boston to Burgundy, France. He enrolled in Oenological School in Beaune and six years later, he found his rhythm. Alex produces an assortment of both red and white labels from all parts of Burgundy; he pays careful attention to produce wines true to their terroir.

According to Gambal’s Web site:

Wines
We make all our wines in an artisanal manner in small lots by hand. We bottle by gravity without fining or filtering our reds and only lightly fining our whites. We make approximately 60% white and 40% red. Vintage 2005 we produced about 45,000 bottles of wine. Our objectives are to produce no more than 60,000 bottles a year, in order to maintain a high level of quality, to preserve our mission, and remain humble and respectful of the land. Appellation Alex Gambal wines are produced from grapes (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) grown in the Cote d’Or (Cote de Beaune and Cote de Nuits).

Our grapes are from small lots with low yields and high concentration. We work closely with the vineyard growers to ensure we receive the best grapes possible. Every great wine starts from the best grapes grown. Year over year we produce wine from the same parcels by having long standing contracts and good relations with the wine growers. Some of the appellations we produce wine from each year are: Chassagne Montrachet, St. Aubin, Meursault, Corton Charlemagne, Puligny Montrachet, Chambolle Musigny, Vosne Romanee, Volnay and Clos Vougeot.

Terroir
Terroir is a concept in every region of France that distinguishes the food and wine of that region. In the Cote d’Or possibly the most important element for growing good Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes is the soil and its exposition. Every vineyard has variations in the soil composition. The three principle components that exist are: Limestone (Calcaire), Clay (Argile) and Sand (Silice). The different flavors significant in a wine are generally affected by these principle components and the microclimates.

2006 Vintage Notes
You have all heard me repeatedly talk about how I learn something new each year and this year it has been the magic of Elevage of our wines in barrel. The 06s, both red and white, have a wonderful power and center that makes them very attractive. They are fruity, rich, never heavy, and simply delicious to drink. These wines will probably not close up too much after bottling and will give great near to even long term pleasure.

Back to me talking about wine (vs. Alex) … here is what we are working with:

- 2006 Bourgogne Blanc ($28): More concentrated on the nose, mainly showing some melon character. This medium bodied wine shows nice acidity and a good burst of concentration in the mid-palate. Only about 10% new oak, but you still get some of the flavor in the finish. A well-made Bourgogne (Chardonnay).
- 2006 Chassagne-Montrachet ($66): The nose is bright and forward with a faintly estery background. Ripe, nice texture but backed by very good acidity that helps to keep the finish lingering. 25-30% new oak and a good buy.

- 2006 Bourgogne Rouge ($30): There is some Pommard fruit but this is mainly from Volnay. Medium color with lovely dried red fruit on the nose - cranberry and red currant. Pleasing and nicely expanding in the mouth. Nice clean and fresh with a good finish. A highly recommended Bourgogne (Pinot Noir).
- 2006 Chambolle Musigny ($66): Red fruits dominate a wide and quite fine nose. There is sweetness, slightly forward acidity and a good and very persistent flavor that’s finally bounded by a faint edge of tannin. A nice wine that shows none of its 25% new oak. Only 100 cases of this wine were made!
- 2006 Vosne-Romanee ($75): The nose is a little tight, but it’s wide and shows the spice. More depth and dimension versus the Savigny. It’s not stunningly long, but it’s very tasty and ‘correct’.

* Some tasting notes reprinted from Burgundy-Report.com (A great Burgundy resource)

Stop by and grab a bottle or three before they are all gone!

Cheers!

Michael

Daniel Schuster Wines tasted on 10.15.07

Here is a brief list of what we tasted with Daniel Schuster on Monday evening:

- 2004 Petrie Chardonnay$30/bottle: Burgundy personified! Like the fruit and not the barrel? This Chardonnay is for you. Crisp, clean with a soft minerality on the finish (My favorite style on the Chardonnay by the way). It was even loved by those who favored the big reds. Look out Burgindy ... the pupil may become the master! Available by special order with 24 hours notice.

- 2006 Waipara Riesling $17/bottle: That's right kids: we tasted a Riesling AFTER a Chardonnay. The DS Riesling was slightly-off dry and really possessed what I would want in a a Riesling that was not to be enjoyed for dessert. Wow ... we sold it well and it really showed its style by the end of the night. Great fruit without the sugar! In stock and on sale now (Think Kung Fu Girl with a softer finish!)

- 2004 Twin Vineyards Pinot Noir $25/bottle: The Pinot you drink when you want to drink Pinot! Having tasted it at noon I was blown away by the floral nose at 7 pm. Yes, it needed that long to really open up and showcase all it had. Soft, ripe fruit with a soft lingering finish! This bottle has Thanksgiving dinner written all over it (and yes, it will be around on our shelves at that time too!). Available by special order with 24 hours notice.

- 2006 Waipara Pinot Noir$35/bottle: Now we are talking my kind of Pinot! More floral notes ... more fruit and a bit of spice (just a hint on the finish) This is Burgundy if you have never tasted Burgundy. I think someone even said it reminded them (the nose) of DRC (Domaine de la Romanée-Conti) one of the fiest red Burgundy even created. In stock and on sale now!

- 2006 Omihi Pinot Noir $55/bottle (and magnums): Bigger bottle, bigger flavor (bigger price tag too). This is the bottle DS described as the bottle you open when you want to make a nice dinner for a date and hope you get to make a nice breakfast too (hey, he said it; I am just repeating it). Rich and opulent flavors with a bit of spice on the long, lingering finish. One of the best Pinots I have tasted in a long, long time. This is the bottle for the Pinot collectors' collector. Only 56 cases will make it to the US and we have put our order in for at least one case at Vino 100. Magnum(s) may be available too ... it seems that 20 (twenty) magnums in wodden cases will make it to the US. We have reserved at least one for the store. The box and bottle shuld be here by Thanksgiving and will be priced @ $225!

- 2004 Late Harvest Riesling $33/bottle: So you think you have tasted some really great Sauternes? Some rich and viscous Auslese from Germany? This version has a bit of everything without being too much of anything. Soft, sweet and rich but not overpowering on the sugars or the alcohol. In stock and on sale now!

All of the wines really showed well with some breathing and the Pinot Noir exploded over the day giving us a real treat by night time.

We have the new vintages in stock ... if you missed the tasting be sure to stop by and get some!

Cheers!

Michael