Six Wines for Spring
Friday, April 13, 2012 at 04:14PM 
Craig Perman from Perman Wine Selections
The Boarding House won’t open until later this summer but we paid a visit to Craig Perman from Perman Selections and selected 6 wines that we think pair well with the spirit of the season. We hope you enjoy this as a preview of the types of wines you can expect to enjoy once we're ready to start pouring. With an extreme dedication to customer service, Craig has been selling wine for 13 years. Visit him and we have no doubt that you'll leave with a bottle that you’re absolutely going to love.
100% Pinot Noir
N.V. CHAMPAGNE PIERRE BRIGANDAT BRUT TRADITION $37.99
April brings wedding, brunch and bridal showers. This is the bottle to bring to add a little sparkle to any occasion. Winemaker Bertrand Brigandat produces a small range of Champagne from a small parcel of vineyards in the Aube region. The N.V. Brut Tradition is made entirely of Pinot Noir and features notes of black cherries, red fruits, hints of citrus and a long vibrant finish.
Get to know Grolleau Gris
DOMAINE HERBAUGES GROLLEAU GRIS $11.50
The road less travelled is often the most rewarding. Get to know Grolleau Gris, a rather obscure white grape variety from the Loire Valley region of France. It is known for producing fairly neutral white wines that may form part of the blend of the region's Vin de Pays Jardin de la France appellation. When restricted to low yields as it has been here, Grolleau Gris can produce wines of refreshing finesse somewhat similar in style to a snappy Sauvignon Blanc. With notes of citrus rind, stone fruits and minerals, it’s an excellent white to enjoy as an aperitif or try pairing it with lighter salads, tart & tangy cheese and Asian fare.
Vineyards in Mantinia
DOMAINE TSELEPOS MOSCHOFILERO, MANTINIA, GREECE $14.99
Stop and smell the roses. With aromas of fresh cut flowers and tree blossoms, this is springtime in a glass. Moschofilero is a deep pink-skinned grape used to make strongly perfumed wines in Greece but the shining examples come from the high plateau of Mantinia in the Peleponnese. Conditions here are much cooler therefore the grapes retain a necessary amount of acidity to balance the aromatics and keep the wine from becoming to flabby or cloying. We suggest pairing this wine with first of the season white or green asparagus.
Note the cherry color of this rosato
TORRE DEI BEATI MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO CERASUOLO, ITALY $14.99
In 1992, the year Adrianna Galasso embarked on her career to become a sommelier, her father gave her, as a gift, a vineyard that he planted himself in 1972. Thus began the era of Torre dei Beati (Tower of the Blessed). Cerasuolo means “cherry" in Italian and refers to the the pale red color of rose wines. In this case, the term has a specific meaning as Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo is a DOC reserved for rose wines made from the Montepulciano grape grown in Abruzzo. The Torre dei Beati is cherry pink color, dry on the palate with notes of pomegranates, cherries and a refreshing finish. It is ideal for patio picnics to be enjoyed with charcuterie and pleasant company.
The spectrum of wines from Edmunds St. John
EDMUNDS ST. JOHN GAMAY, CALIFORNIA $16.99
Steve Edmunds and his wife, Cornelia St. John, started Edmunds St John in 1985. They were part of early pioneers who worked with Rhone varietals such as Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre and this is their version of another often overlooked grape - Gamay. Craig mentioned that he was getting this Gamay in stock soon and we both agree that Gamay often gets a bad rap. One can blame nouveau or just bad, grapey renditions but when handled properly, Gamay can rival Pinot Noir in terms of intensity, perfume and elegance. Steve sourced this Gamay from Barsotti Ranch, just to the North of Camino, at a bit over 3,000 feet elevation. The soils are composed, in large part, of decomposed granite, similar to what you'll find in the Beaujolais region in France. The color is a lovely ruby-red with notes of violets, raspberry, a little pepper and crushed minerals. Flavors are very focussed, penetrating, and persistent, with gorgeous texture, and fine length. Serve this slightly chilled and enjoy with a simple roast chicken dinner and if you happen to spot them – morel mushrooms.
Winemaker Cyriaque Rozier
CHATEAU FONTANES COTEAUX DU LANGUEDOC ROUGE, FRANCE $14.99
Cyriaque Rozier, the highly acclaimed winemaker and vineyard manager at Château La Roque, makes his own wine under the label Château Fontanès in Pic St-Loup in the Languedoc. He first started his domaine in 2003, and undertook planting a vineyard according to biodynamic guidelines. The original cuttings for his vines were all selected from his favorite domaines in Côte-Rôtie, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and Bandol. This Rhone style blend of mostly Syrah and Grenache is an excellent wine to stock up on for everyday enjoyment. It’s hearty enough to enjoy with the last of the colder days of the season yet robust enough to pair with any excuse to fire up the grill.
Perman Wine Selections
802 W Washington Blvd
Chicago, IL 60607
312 666 4417
craig@permanwine.com
Tue-Fri 12-8, Sat 11-7
Sun-Mon CLOSED