Art of the Table -- Notes from Mike
Products for Entertaining
A specialty food, beverage & tabletop retail store.
606 Wealthy SE Grand Rapids, MI
askus@artofthetable.com

New Spring/Summer Selections

This is (as always) an exciting time of year for the wine department here at Art of the Table. As Spring approaches we get excited for fresh air and move our palates towards white and rosé wines. We will be getting all our spring direct import deliveries soon! First arrival: 2006 rosés, 2005 red Rhone & 2006 white Rhone selections in late April/early May & our 2006 German Rieslings late May/early June!

We are tasting new wines all the time looking for the best values and best varietals from the very best producers from all over the world for you. More than ever are so many amazing wines available to us—and that’s exciting! Here's a brief on some standouts:

REDS
Artazuri 2005 Grenache Navarra, Spain $11.50
Super bright and mondo ripe, this is for you "rock star" wine fans. Sporting fresh aromas of black cherry, blackberry and pie crust, this bursts out of the glass with aplomb. On the palate it's very plush and sleek. Drink this right now with roasted wild Scottish partridge with wild mushroom tartlet and foie gras.

Rotllan Torra 2001 Reserva Priorat, Spain $22.75
This wine is ridiculously super and blew us away from the get-go. A blend of 50% Grenache, 25% Cab and 25% Carignan, this is replete with gorgeously complex aromas of black cherry, coffee, milk chocolate, dried fall leaves and Moroccan olives. Full and rich, please try this wine, even at a couple more bucks than you may normally spend. Pair it with roast leg of lamb with goat cheese potato pancakes and sauce perigueux.

Consilience 2005 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara, California $35.50
This is not your Aunt Sally's typical Pinot. Full-throttle and structured like all Consilience wines, this will spin your head with the thick, complex notes of strawberry reduction and black cherry jam along with notes of spicy vanilla and caramel toast. Try this with your next pepper roasted beef tenderloin with morel and toasted garlic sauce.

Korta 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Lontuè Valley, Chile $10.75
This outstanding Cab from Chile has everything you're looking for: great fruit, nice structure and excellent balance. Perfect for the everyday red.

Korta 2005 Reserve Cabernet Franc Lontuè Valley, Chile $12.50
Can you say Special K? For only a buck or two more you get some nice barrel treatment and super duper fruit. Officially one of the best bargains in the store. Try this for something different.

Bonaccorsi 2004 "Cargasacchi" Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills, California $61.00
Only 100 cases produced, this is virtually impossible to find. Sourced from the famed Peter Cargasacchi vineyard, you will not find a better Pinot Noir. It’s the richest, darkest and most brooding of Bonaccorsi’s Pinots. This will drink now with decanting, but should probably see a few years in the cellar for best results—perfect for the collector or for that special wedding gift.

WHITES
Fort Simon 2005 Sauvignon Blanc Stellenbosch, South Africa $9.75
Way yum, this South African gem sports lilting aromatics of wild plains grass, guava, pepino dulce and fresh herbs. On the palate it's very dry, with juicy tropical flavors and notes of mineral and sweet asparagus. Perfect for those who enjoy European-style whites, pair this up with your next batch of waterblommetjie stew.

Gerard Bertrand 2005 Viognier Vin du Pays d'Oc, France $11.50
This finally what the true Viognier experience should be. Super-aromatic with floral notes of acacia, orange blossom and hyacinth, this is full bodied and juicy with tasty notes of dried apricot, hazelnuts and honey with hints of mineral. Pair this with steamed sea bass topped with Chinese broccoli and spicy black bean sauce.

Balletto 2005 Pinot Gris Sonoma Coast, California $16.50
Really gorgeous, this bursts with aromas of green apple, cinnamon, star fruit and mango with hints of cream and oak. On the palate the aromas echo with additional flavors of lemon-lime with lingering mineral and fennel notes. Very juicy and unctuous, try this with grilled shrimp with Peruvian purple potatoes and plantain crème.

Jean Marc Brocard 2004 Sauv. Blanc Saint Bris, France $17.75
This is a question on the advanced exam. What is the one sub-appellation in Chablis that doesn't produce Chardonnay? The answer? Saint Bris. Got it? Brocard is one of the top Chablis producers and this is a fun little wine from awesome 2004. Consider instead of a Sancerre, and for a few bucks less!

Rocky Gully 2005 Dry Riesling Franklin River, W. Australia $15.50
Everyone must try this wine at some point this summer. Seriously. If you haven't experienced Aussie Riesling you're in for a treat. I usually term them "lime bombs," but this brings even more to your glass, with notes of peach, mineral and a dab of the classic German "petrol." Great on its own, this will pair with virtually everything.

Robert Young 2004 Chardonnay Alexander Valley, California $40.75
From the famous eponymous family vineyard, this is thick and rich stuff. With ebullient notes of creamy pear, fig, honeysuckle and toasty spice, Chardonnay doesn't get much better. Try this with blackened salsify with caramelized lobster tails and mache.