May 29, 2008

Schilcher Sekt! Strohmeier Sensational for Summer Sipping

Schilcher Sekt: This may be your new favorite summer wine, if you can pronounce it! Howard Goldberg of the New York Times has fallen in love - now it's your turn.

Schilcher Sekt flows liberally in Austria; the charming sparkling rose is just about the perfect appetite-stimulating aperitif though it can also be paired with a hearty selection of local cheeses and cured meats. Whether you're in Schilcher's hometown of Styria, in southern Austria, or at a Viennese wine bar, in the shadow of the St. Stefan's Cathedral, Schilcher is the perfect summer sipper.

We're proud to carry two fantastic Schilchers: A serious vintage Schilcher (2000) with complex strawberry, potpourri fruits and a stylish acidity and the more rustic NV Schilcher with great fruits, spices, and a burly, textured acidity. Both are tremendous values.

Posted by Stephen Bitterolf at 3:42 PM | TrackBack

May 27, 2008

Edmunds St. John - The Controversy over California

Steve Edmunds is one of our favorite traditional California producers and his 2005 Syrah from the Wylie-Fenaughty Vineyards is superb.

It has also become somewhat of a lightning rod, illustrating the divide that exists between traditionalists and modernists on the battlefield that is California wine. To one group, the Edmunds St. John wines are the epitome of what California should be: Well balanced, nuanced and elegant with a profile that nods to the great wines of Europe. To the other group, the wines are not only underripe and insubstantial, but more importantly they violate the truth of California's "terroir" in their comparable lack of size, fruit and power.

We think the 2005 Wylie-Fenaughty is a classic California Syrah. We also think at about $25 it's an exceptional value and beautifully suited to tame the spoils of a summer's worth of BBQs!

But what do you think?

Posted by Stephen Bitterolf at 2:03 PM | TrackBack

May 15, 2008

The 2008 Rose Champions! The Best-of-the-Best for Summer Sipping...

The world of rose is getting bigger, grander and more diverse than ever!

While we stock - and love - the great classic roses of southern France, there is a brave new world of exciting roses that translate the easy-going, mouthwatering and lip-smacking philosophy of great rose through a wide spectrum of cultures and culinary traditions, not to mention various landscapes and terroirs, grapes and winemaking styles.

A rose made from Pinot Noir in Sancerre? A sparkling rose from Austria's deep south? A California rose with uniquely Italian grapes - Dolcetto and Nebbiolo? (See below for more on each wine.)

Who would have thought that these three unlikely characters would be your best-of-the-best roses for 2008!

Posted by Stephen Bitterolf at 12:37 PM | TrackBack

May 14, 2008

Krug's 1995 Clos d'Ambonnay

Olivier Krug, Crush Managing Partner Robert Schagrin and Crush Director of Fine and Rare Wine, Ian McFadden.

This is the Clos d'Ambonnay.

This is also the Clos d'Ambonnay - styled by the vintage of 1995.

Posted by Stephen Bitterolf at 5:43 PM | TrackBack

May 13, 2008

Veuve Clicquot 2002: Special Pre-Arrival Pricing

Crush is thrilled to announce special pre-arrival pricing for Veuve Clicquot's 2002 Vintage Champagne, to be released this fall.

Based on my experience with the wine at the estate earlier this year, I can confidently say that this is the best vintage Clicquot that has been produced in decades!

2002 is the most anticipated vintage since 1996 and collectors and connoisseurs alike have been waiting for the great releases of the luxury houses. We are proud to offer special pre-arrival pricing both for individual bottles as well as "collector's pricing" for solid cases - click here to see special pricing. Note to all: Kudos to the house of Clicquot for holding the line on pricing in the face of the rising Euro and the weakening dollar, making this a true vintage Champagne steal!

Posted by Stephen Bitterolf at 10:37 AM | TrackBack

May 1, 2008

California Classic: 2000 Mondavi Reserve

There is no doubt that Robert Mondavi changed the American wine psyche and in the process became one of the wine world's most powerful and controversial figures. His life, and the rise and fall of his empire, is a drama fit for the big screen. (Indeed, we're pretty sure the rights to the movie have been sold.)

That said, we're not really into the big egos and backdoor gossip. Instead, what we want to do is focus on what it was once all about: what's in the bottle. And this is where you really have to taste the wine in spite of, and irregardless of, any stereotypes or preconceived notions of what Mondavi is (or was), because the 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a perfectly balanced and elegant Cali Cab that tips its hat to the greats of Bordeaux indulging in a silky finesse and even (gulp) enticing restraint!

At $68.53 - that's a discount of 30% - this quickly becomes one of the no-brainer buys of the season, a wine with real breed that one of those age-worthy Napa Cabs in the spirit of Togni, Mayacamas or even Dunn's Howell Mountain - though granted, it's softer and more supple even at this "young" age. Drink this Mondavi now and over the next decade while your Togni, Mayacamas and Dunn just begin to come into form!

Posted by Stephen Bitterolf at 10:00 AM | TrackBack