Semi-commercial post: These wines were purchased at Wine Watch, a retailer in Fort Lauderdale that buys some of my wines. I often buy wines from customers, but rarely mention it. I make an exception here because I think Wine Watch is one of the best retailers in the country.
It’s chock full of Old & Rare, everything from deeply classic to wildly eclectic, all bought with great care and stored correctly. Another important point is that Andrew does not sell futures. He has a wholly admirable policy: If he offers it for sale, it is physically in the store.
He moved from across the street less than a year ago after ~20 years in the same location. The new space is bigger and better organized. He also does multiple tastings that attract some of the world’s finest winemakers and winegrowers, with superb food to match.
I don’t often list the prices I paid, often usually because I don’t know them or because I bought them long ago. But here they are. I think he gave me a professional discount, but it would not have been much more than 10% and most of these are great values, even if you pay a little more.
2009 Lo Sparviere Franciacorta Brut: $15.75 – Ridiculous price for top quality bubbles. Flavor profile is closer to Champagne than Cava, but while there is obvious age and yeast, there is something of the knife-edge piquancy and white spice hints of top level Cava. Rated 92.5, one of the greatest qpr bubbles ever. Ready to drink, I would not be afraid to cellar it on the cork for another year or two.
2015 Domaine Des Valanges Hors Classe Saint Veran: $26.84 – New producer to me. Aromas feature more apple than pear, very pale color, this is very young although from the depth of flavor I’d guess old vines. The palate has a fine balance between density and brightness. This is excellent now but should improve a point or two with another 3 – 5 years. Tastes half its age. Rated 91.
2015 Paul Blanck Gewurztraminer Alsace: $18.70 – Bought for dinner with family because they don’t like dry wine. This was a pleasant surprise that pleased everybody. Lighter, lacier and drier than most Alsace Gewurz, this was nicely floral without going over to perfumy. I would guess residual sugar at ~0.7 – 0.8%, drier than average, but not dry enough to wrinkle my sister’s nose. This is a crowd-pleaser if not a profound wine. Rated 88.5, drink up.
2017 Mathilde Chapoutier Rose Grand Ferrage Cotes de Provence: $17.38 – Nicely intense strawberry aromas were the best part of this. The palate was medium in body, featured some pleasant red fruit, had adequate acidity, but lacked the vivacity of fine Rose. In this case, lighter would have been better and brighter would have been much better. Still, it washed down some shrimp without causing any problems. Rated 85.5, drink six months ago.
Parte numero tres a seguir.
Dan Kravitz