The Penny-Pinching Connoisseur Has Arrived!

 

 

 

The Penny-Pinching Connoisseur Has Arrived!

 

$135.00 buys you a box of Domaine Lafage Cotes du Roussillon "Cote Sud"...a wine which Robert Parker describes as "A Mind Boggling Value" and "90 Points".

 

Think of this one as our Saturday Super Saver...on Thursday It's the last of the stock and it'll be here on Friday. Stop by and grab some or let me know when to ship.

 

This too, shall pass...

 

We're hardly unaware of the current status of the economy (Oy, are we not unaware!), however we also know that people are not going to deprive themselves of  life's simple pleasures...they're just going to "adjust" their buying habits a bit in order to compensate.  I'm proud to say that we've always been a good source of disproportionately high-quality/low priced wines and in today's financial climate the deals out there in the wholesale wine world have NEVER been better.   We're going to take full advantage of this situation and double our efforts to bring you really great stuff at prices that won't rattle your teeth or curl your toes.  Today's offer is a good example of that which I quack...   

 

A "90 Point" red that retails for $11 Bucks n'change...

 

Jean-Marc Lafage is one of the most sought-after winemakers in Europe.  Lafage lends his expertise to several top estates in both France and Spain (He makes the world-famous Las Rocas Grenache for Eric Solomon's European Cellars) however his finest efforts emerge from his estate in the hills of the Roussillon. 

 

Caesar Slept Here...

 

The Cotes du Roussillon is one of the oldest Viticultural regions in France with many vineyard sites displaying evidence of cultivation by the Romans.  With some of the most dramatic topography in Europe, many of the zones are composed of extremely steep hillsides.  Much of the vineyard land looks more like that of Priorato in Spain than it does that of France.  The area of French Catalonia still possesses many cultural remnants of being part of the Catalan region including local language, cuisine and art.  Winemaking and Viticultural practices have undergone a renaissance in the last decade bringing this ancient land up to speed in comparison to the rest of central Europe. 

 

Like much of the Roussillon, the vineyards of Lafage are at high altitude and many are on steeply terraced vineyards.  The reds are grown well inland on hillsides replete with schist, red clay and gneiss.  Nearly all of the parcels are quite remote and some are only accessible by tractor or 4X4 vehicle.  Many of these parcels are steeply terraced with retaining walls, requiring regular maintenance and reinforcement due to extensive erosion during the winter months.

 

"The wine takes on an aura of unreality when one sees the price!"

 

All of Lafarge's varietals come from different sites in the eastern and central Roussillon and are vinified separately before blending.  The reds often exhibit a mineral component as Jean-Marc avoids over-extraction, preferring the fruit to take center stage.  Yields are amazingly low for wines at this price-point and all are bottled unfiltered.

 

"A Mind-Boggling Value"....-Parker

 

"90 Points"..."Jean Marc Lafage and his importer are rendering a huge service to consumers with several cuvees that represent outstanding values.  Among the reds, Lafage has scored a MIND BOGGLING VALUE with his 80% Syrah-based (10% each Grenache and Cabernet) 2005 Cote Sud.  Intense aromas of plum paste, cherry and herbs lead into a richly-fruited, deeply mineral, dynamic palate with layering and inter play of black chocolate, lavender, licorice, cherry preserves, singed meat, salts and iodine.  A wine this rich and complex and with a finish this long takes in an aura of unreality when one sees the price!  Even alongside "introductory-level" wines as amazing as Lafage's, those of his more expensive cuvees that I had occasion to taste (both from high-altitude vines in the south of Roussillon) do not have to fear comparison, and should be capable of improving for several years". -Parker

 

The Cote Sud ("South Slope") is a perfect Summer red as it pairs beautifully with grilled meats, Pastas, pizzas, Italian cold cuts on baguette and medium-bodied cheeses.

 

*Full (12 Bottle) Case of Lafage Cote Sud - $135.00

 

 

 

 

This message was sent from Root's Cellar to paul@rootscellar.com. It was sent from: Root's Cellar, 1401 E Grove Street , Healdsburg, CA 95448. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.

 

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