Paris Grocery News 4/22 Friday, Apr 23 2010

A new home.

Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue….

Setting up a new store is a little bit like making a home, and for an auspicious beginning, so the adage goes, you need things old, new, borrowed, and blue. We had plenty of new (cheeses, meat, and wines), lots of blue (checkered butcher paper and sky blue cutting boards), and we borrowed The Spanish Table’s newsletter for a while. But now, we have something old as well: a resurrected wine rack that until 2001 displayed French wines at former restaurant Brie and Bordeaux. After opening Eva Restaurant in the Brie and Bordeaux location, James Hondros tucked the rack away in his garage, where it collected a herd of dust bunnies for nine years. Housing French wines, not dust bunnies, seems to be its true destiny however, as the towering rack is once again filled with wines. Inspired by their road trip from Avignon to Beaune, Steve and Sharon brought it out of James’ garage and gave it a home at Paris Grocery. The wines that grace its shelves come from the countryside of France and have been selected for their quality, value and reflection of the terroir. Sharon and Steve even picked up some cute little metal signs when they were in Burgundy over Easter weekend that direct you to the major French wine regions. By the way, having stopped in the major towns along the Rhone, including Châteauneuf-de-Pape, Gigondas, and Crozes-Hermitage to taste wines (and cheeses), they promise that you will be swept away by the 2007 Rhones.

Wines @ PG

Raise a glass with us and some of our favorite 2007 Rhônes!

Brigitte, the friendly beetle, makes this label easy to remember! (And trust us, you'll want to come back for more.)

2007 Domaine des Escaravailles Les Sabliers Côtes-du-Rhône Villages ($14.99)

Domaine des Escaravailles is known for its fine Rasteau. But Giles Ferran, grandson of founder Jean-Louis Ferran, gives a treat with this affordable and delicious Cotes-du-Rhone. Mostly Grenache blended with 20% Syrah and 10% Carignan, this wine is a lovely addition to any dinner party and will complement grilled or braised meats, roasted root vegetables and hearty stews.
“Shows the richness of the vintage with crushed plum and macerated cherry fruit, with fresh acidity carrying additional notes of mesquite, black tea and mulled spice through the lengthy finish. Grenache and Syrah. Drink now through 2010. 3,000 cases made.”
90 points Wine Spectator

2007 Domaine Alary Cairanne Côtes-du-Rhône Villages ($27.99)
“A brilliant blockbuster … Composed of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, all from a vineyard planted in 1961, this amazing wine possesses an inky/ruby/purple color in addition to a sweet perfume of black and blue fruits, kirsch, lavender, licorice, spice box, and earth. Transcending its appellation and price point, this is a superb wine that should drink beautifully for 10-15+ years.”
93 points Wine Spectator

Cheeses @ PG

We have fresh wheels of customer favorites: Bleu de Bocage, 1 yr Aged Comte, and Le Somport!

A young Bleu de Bocage, in full beauty.

Thanks for reading, we’ll see you soon!D

Leave a Response »

 

Paris Grocery News 4/8 Thursday, Apr 8 2010

One of our favorite parts of this job (besides the yummy free samples we get to take home) is advocating for misunderstood or overlooked products. It’s easy for things to get lost in translation or misrepresented when they leave their native home. Beaujolais wine is often dismissed outside of France, and we often are left wondering why. The Gamay grape flourishes in the mild climate and gravelly soil of the region, resulting in a delicious array of ethereal wines. Perhaps they are misunderstood it because their appeal lies in a certain subtlety and finesse, whereas wines produced and consumed in the States tend to be powerful and brash. Beaujolais’ lightness and grace, however, is what makes them ideal for pairing with food– they match well with fish and fowl alike, and elevate the flavors of sauces, stuffings, and side dishes. It is easy to mistake a dark color and heavy body for complexity, but Beaujolais’ brilliant rubies hold incredible length and a fusion of aromas and flavors that are earthy, floral, and fruity. With the weather turning slowly towards warmth and sunshine, it the perfect time to explore (or rediscover) these undervalued wines, especially since they are available for truly stellar prices!

C'est beau, le Beaujolais !

2009 Pierre Chermette Beaujolais Primeur ($14.99)

The ultimate food wine: this is not a soda pop-style Beaujolais! The Chermettes were among the pioneers of sustainable viticulture in the Beaujolais and their wines are made in a traditional way. Using natural yeasts and little or no fermentation, Chermette Beaujolais Primeur is a true expression of terroir. Unlike many Beaujolais Nouveaus, it improves with bottle age.

2007 Domaine Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais-Villages ($11.99)

Josh Reynolds said, “Fans of graceful, tangy, minerally Beaujolais will find plenty to like from both 2007 and 2008,” and this bottle is a fine example. The great-grandchildren of Joseph Drouhin still run the centuries-old winery. For their Beaujolais-Villages, the grapes are hand-harvested and some of them undergo carbonic fermentation. The resulting wine is graceful, with a refined, highly aromatic nose and silky tannins. Bright red berries, cherries, and peonies dominate, with the fresh fruit persisting on the finish. A convivial wine, ideal for dinners with Cornish hen and flavorful dishes, this wine is also a winner on its own.

2008 Terres Dorées Beaujolais “L’Ancien” ($16.99)

Domaine des Terres Dorées is located just north of Lyon, in the area known as “The Land of the Golden Stones.” The founder and winemaker, Jean-Paul Brun, is a relentless advocate for winemaking à l’ancienne. While Beaujolais has come to be associated with a “fruit candy” genre of winemaking, Brun makes old-style Gamay wines. He does not add sugars to his wine and uses only indigenous yeasts for his fermentation, instead of the lab-developed strain popular in the region for its banana and candy aromas. This Beaujolais is 100% old-vine Gamay, delicate and pure, showing excellent balance, freshness, and acidity. Mineral-driven, with bright cherry, cranberry, and sweet spices melding into a lengthy finesse. A remarkable value: consider it a poor man’s Burgundy!
90 points Wine Advocate

NEW CHEESES AND FOODS AT PARIS GROCERY

We are thrilled to be carrying two kinds of charcuterie from renowned charcuterie maker Creminelli. We can’t pick a favorite so you’ll have to try them both!

Salame Tartufo

This award-winning truffle salame is the perfect example of excess being just enough. The delicate aroma of truffles allows the full pork flavor to shine through. $9.25/ quarter lb

Wild Boar Salame

Made from wild boar meat and pork belly, this Creminelli salame is seasoned with wine-soaked cloves and juniper berries. Lean yet silky, with a full, distinctive flavor, it lends an exotic touch to your recipes and charcuterie platters. $10.75/ quarter lb

Now in Stock!

Fabrique Delices Cured Duck Salami, Gabietou (raw cow’s and sheep’s milk cheese), Boursin Cheese in Roasted Red Pepper and other flavors, Griottines (morello cherries in brandy), and Scharffen Berger Roasted Cocoa Nibs.

Leave a Response »