Featured Wines for August – Mary Taylor Gaillac Perle (Nathalie Larroque) & Mary Taylor Buzet (Christophe Avi), Southwest France

July 29, 2023 · by ·

We have featured many Mary Taylor White Label Wines but there a few more on our list. August wines are from 2 small appellations in the Garonne subregion in Southwwest, France – Gaillac and Buzet. Gaillac, believed to be the oldest vineyards in France, is northwest of Toulouse. Buzet is northwest from Gaillac on the left south bank of the Garonne River. If you follow Mary Taylor Wine, you know she searches for producers who grow and process indigenous grapes. Both of these appellations are only now becoming better known in the wine world.

2020 Mary Taylor Gaillac Perle (Nathalie Larroque), Southwest France, $16

This wine is rich and slightly honeyed with a nose of extreme minerals and earth and a balance of raciness and richness on the palate. The word “Perlé” indicates a slight prickle of nearly imperceptible bubbles in the wine. Enjoy on its own as an aperitif. Pair with rich and spicy foods; Indian Vindaloo, Korean spicy pork, mapo tofu, or Thai curries.Alcohol: 13%

This bold and structured wine is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. It displays rich red berry fruit, coffee beans, and tobacco. The unoaked palate is silky and graceful.The wine has ripe tannins and a generous texture that offers a good mix of black fruits and acidity. This a a wine to pair with summer grilled meats. Alcohol: 13.5%

2019 Mary Taylor Buzet (Christophe Avi), Southwest France $17

This bold and structured wine is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. It displays rich red berry fruit, coffee beans, and tobacco. The unoaked palate is silky and graceful. The wine has ripe tannins and a generous texture that offers a good mix of black fruits and acidity. This a a wine to pair with summer grilled meats. Alcohol: 13.5%

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October Featured Wines – OT Vins El Cep, Penedes, Spain & Maria Cruz Garcia, Tempranillo, Narvarra, Spain

October 2, 2022 · by ·

OT Vins El Cep, Penedes, Spain (2021) $12

This X-arel-lo has fragrant fresh pear and honeydew melon on the nose, along with a subtle floral nuance. On the palate it is silky showing good depth and a touch of waxiness to the ripe orchard and citrus fruit flavors. The melon note comes back on a smooth, persistent finish that features a refreshing bitter orange zest flourish. A lovely all around white. Alcohol: 12.5.%

Maria Cruz Garcia, Tempranillo, Narvarra, Spain (2019) $14

This is a a dark, plump and powerful Tempranillo with lots of intensity due to the blackberry and black plum fruit and accents of wild herb. The tannins are gentle and firm on the finish, amplifying the dark fruit flavors and making your mouth water for a big bite of lamb or steak.it is fermented and aged in steel tanks with no outside yeasts. Alcohol: 14.1%

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August Featured Wines – Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lies (2019) Loire Valley, France & Beaujolais Villages, Marine Descombe (2020) Brouilly, Burgundy, France

July 31, 2022 · by ·

This month we are offering 2 great wines for summer sipping. Once again our red selection is from Mary Taylor Wines” White Label Series. She describes this label as “thinking outside the grape.” Previously we have had 9 nine wines in this series and the reception has been very positive. The white we are offering is produced by Gadais Pere et Fils in the Loire Valley appellation Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine.

Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lies (2019) Loire Valley is produced by the Gadais family who have been in the wine business since the 1950s. The name Navineaux Amphibolite attached to this wine refers to the terroir of the vineyard in the Loire Valley. Muscadet is made from 100% Melon de Bourgogne grapes. This a new varietal for the wine club and a perfect one for summer enjoyment. I have had Muscadet in my inventory by request from 3 customers who find this a perfect compliment to seafood – particularly oysters.

Mary Taylor Wines’ Beaujolais Villages, Marine Descombe (2020) Brouilly, Burgundy is different from what many know as Nouveau Beaujolais. Beaujolais Villages and Nouveau Beaujolais are both made from Gamay grapes. The Nouveau is quickly vinified using CO2 to remove oxygen to speed up fermentation. These are young wines to be consumed young, Beaujolais Villages is produced using the Bordeaux style of winemaking. These wines have a much longer shelf life.

Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lies (2019) Loire Valley, France $16

This Muscadet offers a bright and complex nose of lemon, green apple, wet stone minerality, dried flowers and a lovely touch of gentle nuttiness. On the palate the wine is deep, focused and full-bodied, with lovely balance and grip, a fine core, impressive mineral undertow and a long, zesty and complex finish. It is described as “green and flinty.” Alcohol: 12.%

Beaujolais Villages, Marine Descombe (2020) Brouilly, Burgundy, France $15

This vintage offers deeply concentrated black fruit aromas, and beautiful substance on the palate, with melted tannins and long finish. It is considered a textbook blue stone Brouilly-style Beaujolais-Villages It has a beautiful purity of Gamay Noir fruit showcasing the unique expression of a Beaujolais that can be enjoyed for many years. As it ages, tannins soften. Alcohol: 14%
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June Featured Wines – Arrumaco, Garnacha Rosé, Galicia, Spain & Mary Taylor, Pedro Gonzalez Mittelbrun, Castilla y Leon, Spain

June 1, 2022 · by ·

The rose we selected, Arrumacco (2021), is produced in Galicia on the Northwest coast of Spain which borders Portugal to the south. This region offers a mild Atlantic climate and sandy soil. As you know roses can be made from Garnacha, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Syrah, and Carignan. The Spanish call roses “rosado” and this selection is made with Garnacha grapes

The red selection takes us back to Mary Taylor Wines. Once again we will follow her approach to finding wines indigenous to a specific region. Mary Taylor, Castilla Y León Pedro Gonzalez Mittelbrun (2018) is produced by Pedro Gonzalez Mittelbrunn from Prieto Picudo grapes grown in Castilla y León from vines that are up to 100 years old. This region is just east of Galicia. Tempranillo are the most produced wines but Mittlebrunn convinced fellow growers to keep the heritage of the Prieto Picudo “growing.” You can see why Mary Taylor selected his wine as one of her imports.

Arrumaco, Garnacha Rosé (2021), Galicia, Spain $10

Lighter in color and body than many other Spanish rosés. Loaded with intense raspberry and plum aromas that follow to a crisp yet silky palate. A light mix of peach pit and stalky fruit aromas form the opening on this standard summer sipper. Excellent on its own and with a wide range of lighter fare. The perfect summer sipper and tapas wine. Alcohol: 12.5%

Mary Taylor, Pedro Gonzalez Mittelbrun (2018), Castilla y Leon, Spain $11

The unique, rare Prieto Picudo grape is a small grape with big flavor producing wines with bold flavous that age well.  It is well balanced with a beautiful red color. It has ripe and fresh red fruit aromas. While this feels like a light Spanish wine, it is fresh and powerful on the palate with a lingering finish. It pairs with most summer food. A good sipper. Alcohol: 13%
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February Featured Wines – Mary Taylor, Olivier Gessler Winery, Cotes de Gascogne (2020), Gascony, France & Mary Taylor, Jean Marc Barthez, Rouge (2018), Bordeaux, France

January 31, 2022 · by ·

Mary Taylor, Olivier Gessler Winery, Cotes de Gascogne (2020), Gascony $11

Colombard and Sauvignon Blanc blended with optimally ripe Gros Manseng and Ugni Blanc, give a finished mix with a superb balance of fresh vivacious fruit, delicate acidity and surprising length. This blend is bright and crisp with a touch of grapefruit lemon and tropical fruit with a lip-smacking mineral streak. Gascony is known to produce “crunchy, fresh white wine.” Alcohol: 11.5%

Mary Taylor, Jean Marc Barthez, Rouge (2018), Bordeaux, France $13

This “alternative” Bordeaux possesses much of the dark-fruited complexity that makes Bordeaux famous but it renders a brighter, more refreshing profile. It has wonderful “drinkability” highlighted by the absence of oak during the aging process. Mary recommends serving it slightly chilled with anything from rib-eye steaks and pan-seared duck breast to earthy mushroom dishes and even burgers off the grill. Alcohol: 14%

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January Featured Wines – Mary Taylor, Pascal Biotteau Anjou Blanc (2020) & Mary Taylor, Sophie Siadou Valençay (2020)

December 30, 2021 · by ·

Mary Taylor seeks wine producers who have not been discovered by the import market. She seeks sustainable wines that speak of the region. Pascal Biotteau Anjou Blanc (2020) is 100% Chenin Blanc grown in Anjou region where a chalky limestone gives a lighter expression for Chenin Blanc. Sophie Siadou Valencay (2020) is a blend of Gamay, Pinot Noir, and Côt (or a French Malbec grape.) Valencay is a region known for its goat cheese so Ron has included a delicious salmon stuffed with goat cheese in his wine notes.

Mary Taylor, Pascal Biotteau Anjou Blanc (2020) $15

This a lovely young example of Chenin Blanc. The bouquet is bright and nicely high-toned in personality out of the blocks, wafting from the glass in a mix of apple, sweet quince, chalky soil tones, a touch of bee pollen and a top note of white lilies. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied, focused and rock solid at the core, with excellent transparency and cut, zesty acids and a long, complex and beautifully balanced finish.  Alcohol: 12%

Mary Taylor, Sophie Siadou Valençay (2020) $17

This blend is 30% Pinot Noir, 35% Côt (Malbec), 35% Gamay. Expressing all the lightness and elegance of its high percentage of Pinot Noir, plus a wonderful floral quality, it also reveals its leaner, more structured “Malbec” side, expressed through a sturdy wash of tannins that balance its succulent flavors of raspberries, blackcurrant, and spice. A must to drink with wonderful Valencay goat cheese. Alcohol: 13.5%

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