French Club - 7th Allocation
 This month, we return to the Rhone Valley and present 2007 Domaine des Pallières Gigondas Les Racines Vieilles Vignes. Domaine de Pallières is an organically farmed estate in Gigondas, owned by Daniel Brunier (Vieux Telegraphe) and importer Kermit Lynch.
Made from the oldest vines on the estate, the 2007 Les Racines is dense and inky, with a powerful perfume of wild herbs and berries that leads you back to the glass again and again. Each sip reveals something new — a hint of licorice, the taste of raspberries or black cherries. Yet for all its power, this blend of Grenache with a small proportion of Syrah, Cinsault and Clairette is remarkably supple and lush. Drink it with rich, juicy grilled meats, spicy barbecued ribs, a classic beef daube or duck breast.
This primarily Grenache-based wine was awarded 94 points from Parker: "Its dense ruby/purple hue is accompanied by an extraordinary bouquet of black raspberries, kirsch, licorice, crushed rocks, and flowers. Full-bodied with sensational texture, purity, and length as well as remarkable elegance and freshness, this stunning Gigondas can be enjoyed over the next 15-20 years. Bravo! "
The estate takes its name from the lieu-dit of Les Pallières. Most of its vines, and the cellar and residential buildings, have been there for well over a century. But the single, 333-acre plot that forms the estate overlaps some way into neighboring lieux-dits such as Thomas, Poncet, Terrasse du Diable and Pas de Vège: these all back onto the northern end of the Dentelles de Montmirail cliffs, face northwest and are very similar in composition.
The soil is partly covered by limestone scree from the neighbouring rocky peaks; there is also a fairly high proportion of scree (about 30%) in the sandy-chalk topsoil, but also in the thin layer of clay sitting on the bedrock. The higher you climb, the closer you are to the rock: the soil layers become thinner and less distinct. From edge to edge of the estate, the altitude ranges from 250-400 metres.
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French Club - Sixth Allocation
 We were able to source yet another fabulous 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape for you!
Eric Marquis is one of the most respected growers in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, farming substantial holdings in primarily La Crau, followed by Valori, and La Crista. He works alongside his aging but hearty father, who knows the worth of a full-throated red wine after a long day's work in the vines. Eric has supplied fruit to many a great domaine over the years and agreed in 2007, for the first time, to bottle a wine under his own label exclusively for Vintage '59 Imports.
The Marquis de Ravardel 2007 Chateauneuf-du-Pape is a cuvee of 100% Grenache that is an embodiment of the power that can result from the combination of old vines, a ripe vintage, and the unadorned winemaking of a bygone era. No pomp. No scores. No new oak or $100 price tags. Just Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
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Fifth Allocation - French
 This month, we stray away from France to sample a fabulous French-inspired wine, made by a great wine-making family - 2007 Esprit de Beaucastel Rouge.
95-97 Points Robert Parker: The profound 2007 Esprit de Beaucastel (a 4,200-case blend of 44% Mourvèdre, 29% Grenache, 21% Syrah, and 6% Counoise) boasts a glorious perfume of roasted herbs, Peking duck, soy, blueberries, blackberries, and bouquet garni. This elegant yet powerful, dense, multilayered wine saturates the palate, possesses multiple dimensions, beautiful nuances, and a stunningly long finish that lasts over 40 seconds. It should provide plenty of pleasure over the next 10-15 years."
94 points, Wine Spectator: "Rich, dry and full-bodied, with loamy earth, dried berry, mineral, anise and black licorice flavors that run deep and persistent, layered and concentrated, ending with a long, tight finish. Mourvèdre, Grenache, Syrah and Counoise."
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April '10 French
This month, we present an allocation of three red wines, with each representing a different varietal: Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah.
First off is Domaine de Terres Blanches Les Baux Rouge, a wine that has been in the shops since we opened our Alameda shop in 2003. The fruit from this mostly Grenache blend (60%, rounded out by Syrah, Cabernet and Cinsault) has been farmed organically since the vines were planted in 1968 (in fact, with the exception of two growers, the entire Les Baux appelation is organic!). Les Baux AOC is in Provence, located nearby to Arles. Deep fruit driven flavors, but never over the top, this wine has crushed red fruit, tobacco and garrigue nose, an Intense midpalate filled with cocoa powder notes, finishing with plenty of mineral. Offers excellent balance and quality for the money.
Next up is Chateau la Roque Pic St Loup Veilles Vignes Mourvèdre, from Pic St Loup, nearby to Montpellier in the Coteaux de Languedoc AOC. This wine is 100% Mourvèdre, and has brambly blueberry fruit, pencil lead and minerals on the nose, a nice midpalate, medium body, firm acidity, smooth finish.
Our selection for Syrah is also from the Coteaux de Langeudoc - Château Lascaux a mostly Syrah blend that offers great depth and balance. Jean Benoît Cavalier took over the family owned Château de Lascaux in the sleepy village of Vacquières in 1984 and started replanting with Syrah and Grenache. Named Lascaux after the stones in the vineyards, his terroir is composed of pebbly soil ‘caillouts’. He has a genuine passion for and special bond with his environment. He still produces his wine in the Château’s 12th and 13th century caves although the domain has been in a state of evolution over the past few years and now has modern, state of the art wine making equipment. Aromatic nose of dark, ripe fruit, licorice, and garrigue herbs. Plenty of spicy, round and succulent Syrah fruit together with spice and menthol notes on the palate. Smooth tannins with a long and round finish.
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This month, we return to Châteauneuf du Pâpe with 2008 Côte de l'Ange Châteauneuf du Pâpe. 
