Here they are... new wines are in da house
"A tout Seigneur, tout Honneur", the mags first :

A couple from Rene-Jean Dard & Francois Ribo, both Crozes-Hermitage, both 2007, one white and one red... The white, the cuvee "K" from very old marsanne on a plot of kaolin witch is a white clay. I didn't taste it yet, but it's the wine that made me discover Dard & Ribo about 4 years ago, it's very complex, mineral, has a very balanced acidity and aromas that change every 5 minutes... Amazing!!!

The second one, the regular Crozes-Hermitage 2007, 100% syrah  with that floral bitterness, that tapenade palate and a finish that never ends!!!

Then, a couple of mags from Audrey & Christian Binner, from Alsace. First, a white -- the Riesling Ammerschwihr 2007, white flower and exotic fruit aromas, very dry with a nice touch of acidity. It's  great to drink now, but I'll sit on a few mags for the future!!!

Pinot Noir "Cuvee Beatrice" 2008. I didn't try this one either, maybe you had the chance to try the pinot Noir 06 last year, with an amazing kirsch taste, very clean and pure. Cuvee Beatrice is made @ the Domaine on any cuvee and any vintage whenever they have big terroir and big maturity. So, what's the story with the name?  Christian only had boys and preferred to reserve "Beatrice," the name of his sister, only for his exceptional vintages.

Now, lets go to Arbois-Pupillin, in the Jura by the border of Switzerland. Philippe Bornard, aka "The Fox," is back in... We picked 3 wines from him. Bubbles to start with  "Tant Mieux," a natural sparkling rose, or pet nat for the aficionados, made of ploussard. It's dry, fruity, yummy, creamy with big bubbles... one piece of advice : 25 cases only for New-York, I was lucky enough to get a few but it's flying out of the fridge, if you wanna try, don't wait.

For white, the choice was tough, but, his Melon, called "Le Rouge Queue" 2006 is off the meter... and for red, a cuvee that I tried last october @ hi estate "Point Barre" which means "that's it"... Very simply made : he harvests, presses, bottles and corks, that's it!!! Drinking those wines for the last 2 days, i can tell you that this guy is one step away from Pierre Overnoy and Emmanuel Houillon.

Have you ever heard of Sylvain Saux from Domaine Pechigo in the limoux region???  This guy is an alien following no other rules than his own... Working with biodynamic methods, his wines shows 2 things : the terroir and the wine maker spirit. Right now, we got only a white, "La Mothe" 2006, a blend of mauzac, chenin blanc & chardonnay that you will crave for if you like a touch of oxidization, dry, very aromatique, ripe and round... It's a "UFO" for wine.

And Christian Venier... @ least, his wines arrived so you can now enjoy, and by the the glass, "Les Hauts de Madon," of course it's a vin de table on the light side,  mineral, nice peppery notes, very dry... you could say it's a pink lemonade without any sugar!!! Small amount of it and by the glass so it won't last...

Julien Courtois... what else can we say about him -- he's his father's son!!! His cuvee "Originel" 2006, a blend of menu pineau & romorantin is to die for. The family touch with a little reduction, it's dry, aromatic, you feel the romorantin with it's typical menthol hint...I want more!!!

And that spanish apple cider from the basque region... After Julien Fremont's cider, the level of quality was pretty high and finding something that would @ least match was quiet a task, Then Big T came with it's Bereziartua and the deal was done!!! Pure, pure, pure apple cider the way we like it!!!

P: S :  the special Sunday will be chicken heart & gizzard stew. Could sound a little "yucky" but it literally melts in your mouth!!!