Beverage Dynamics

Beverage Dynamics Jan-Feb 2016

Beverage Dynamics is the largest national business magazine devoted exclusively to the needs of off-premise beverage alcohol retailers, from single liquor stores to big box chains, through coverage of the latest trends in wine, beer and spirits.

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68 Beverage Dynamics • January/February 2016 www.beveragedynamics.com WINE SELECTIONS R E TA I L E R ★★★★★ Five Stars (92-100) A top-flight wine. Superior in taste and character and providing an outstanding price/value relationship. ★★★★ Four Stars (86-91) A very good wine and an excellent value. A wine for which customers will keep coming back. The Beverage Dynamics National Retailer Wine panelists rate and review their favorite pinots. WE ASKED MEMBERS OF OUR PANEL TO TASTE AND RATE THEIR FAVORITE PINOT NOIRS. As always, these selections include brief tasting notes, a rating and the wine's retail price (which can vary from store to store and market to market). If you're a beverage professional with a specialty in wine and you're interested in participating in the panel, please contact associate editor Kyle Swartz at kswartz@epgmediallc.com or 203-855-8499 x2225. A PLETHORA OF PINOT NOIR (96) Bouchard Père & Fils Beaune Clos de la Mousse 2011 (Burgundy, France). From a top Burgundy house, this exceptional, high-quality wine exhibits fi nesse, and breeding. Delicious now, it could cer tainly improve with a little more bottle-time, to bring out more of its ele- gant characteristics. One of those "don't pass this up" type of wines. ($65) (95) Louis Latour Gevrey Chambertin 2012 (France). Rich black cherry and raspberry, with a touch of earth and subtle tannin. Con- centrated mouthfull of evolving fl avors, with a long elegant fi nish. Very cellar worthy. ($50) (95) Wren Hop Vineyards Pinot Noir Mortal Coil 2012 (Sonoma Coast). Complex black and red fruit aromas jump out of the glass. Medium-bodied with beautifully balanced fruit and acidity. Great varietal character and a long rich fi nish. ($72) (95) Albert Bichot Bourgogne Vieilles Vignes de Pinot Noir 2012. The "old vine" grapes for this consistently stylistic and superb wine come from four estates across Burgundy. A bright ruby color. Aromas of not-quite-ripe berry and cherry meld with hints of chalk, loam, and fl int which says "Burgundy." Deli- cate fl avors of red fruits coat the palate, show- ing strong in the middle, and fi nishing with fi rm tannins and more terroir. This is a classic "old- world" Bourgogne Rouge. The 2012 vintage will develop beautifully for fi ve more years, easily. An excellent value. ($20) (95) Buisson-Charles Bougogne-Pinot Noir Hautes Coutures 2012. Buisson-Charles is a small producer in Meursault who sources fruit from several small proper ties. The color is dark ruby. Aromas of raspberry, apple and cherry blend with fl oral notes and spice. On the palate, sweet/tar t fruit fl avors harmonize with hints of allspice and some ear thiness. The texture is lush and silky, ending with fi rm tannins and a hint of blueberry. This is true Bourgogne Rouge in a modern style that still respects the terroir. Very nice now, it will be exceptional in fi ve to seven years. ($33) (95) Manuel Olivier Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits 2011. Olivier macerates the grapes for 15 days, then matures half of the wine in stainless steel vats and the other half in oak barrels. The fi nished wine is fruit-forward, but perfectly balanced with supple tannins. Richly aromatic and fl avorful with nuances of black- berry and black cherry, tempered with a hint of toastiness. A hint of mocha/coffee shows on the very end. The underlying notes of min- erality throughout tell me that this is real Bur- gundy. If you cellar this for three to fi ve years, you'll be well rewarded. ($29) (94) Frescobaldi Pinot Nero 2011 (Pomino, Tuscany, Italy). From the renowned Fresco- baldi family of Tuscany comes a pinot noir, from a region better known for Sangiovese. Elegant, structured and oh-so-very delicious. More than a mere curiosity, it's a wonderful TABLE WINE SHARE BY VARIETAL, 2014 (Thousands of 9-liter cases) Varietal Cases % Share Chardonnay 58,420 25% Cabernet 46,736 20% Pinot Noir 23,368 10% Pinot Gris/Grigio 18,694 8% Sauvignon Blanc 18,694 8% Merlot 11,684 5% Red Blends 11,684 5% White Zinfandel 4,674 2% Moscato 4,674 2% Others 35,052 15% Total Table Wine 233,680 100% Source: 2015 Wine Handbook. RATING SYSTEM

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