The sun is shining on Franklin Street!  Tonight, 6-9 pm, we will be pouring 2 wines that are as bright as the blue sky above… Marion, our charming French friend and colleague will be here to answer all of your questions.

DOMAINE FELINES JOURDAN PICPOUL DE PINET 2011:  Picpoul is everyone’s favorite warm weather wine!  Picpoul literally means “lip stinger” for it’s bracing acidity and lean minerality.  It’s as crisp as it gets.  $14

CHATEAU DES MORIERS FLEURIE 2010:  This Cru Beaujolais is 100% Gamay from Fleurie made by Miss Vicky, a young winemaker and blogger in France.  Miss Vicky says “Have a sip, take a deep breath and relax.  This unoaked Beaujolais cru is fresh, full of fruit and elegance and will cheer you up on any occasion.”  There you have it!  $21

Thursday Night Tasting: Terry Theise Estate Selections

Join us tonight, 6-9 pm, for a tasting of three Austrian and German whites from the distinctive portfolio of legendary importer Terry Theise. A wine world deity, Theise is well known for his impeccable taste, devotion to winemakers and terroir, and indefatigable quest to discover some of the best wines in the world. Terry’s manifesto is admirable:

• Beauty is more important than impact. 
• Harmony is more important than intensity. 
• The whole of any wine must always be more than the sum of its parts.
• Distinctiveness is more important than conventional prettiness. 
• Soul is more important than anything, and soul is expressed as a trinity of family, soil, and artisanality. 

Rain or shine, we’re thrilled to share a few of Terry’s gorgeous finds tonight over cheese from Eastern District!

Von Winning Riesling, Pfalz 2011 

New York City is a take-out town. The Dandy crew orders OTT Thai once a week, at the verty least. And what’s dinner without something to drink? Von Winning’s organic, natural, un-fined, unfiltered Riesling is a winner to have on hand (or have delivered) for spicy take-out nights. It’s uber sunny and bright with just a delicate touch of residual sugar to balance out the firiest of foods. $20

H&M Hofer Gruner Veltliner 2011

Gruner Veltliner has for years been everyone’s favorite easy summer guzzler, so much so that even we forgot that the grape can make more exceptional, refined wines as well. Terry Theise, of course, has many stellar Gruners in his book, and this one from H&M Hofer is a fresh reminder. Medium bodied, with sharp minerality and soft aromatics, a true stand-out among it’s watery, colorless pop-top peers. $22

Nikolaihof Gruner Veltliner Federspiel 2011

Nikolaihof is an “organic, bio-dynamic winery whose wines express the earth, the whole earth and nothing but the earth”, and their Gruner is OUT OF THIS WORLD. It’s richly perfumed and absolutely brimming with character, from home-y baking spices to the most fragrant white flowers, with lush pear fruit and a pretty dose of R.S. I think we’ve drank half the bottles we received of this, and it will be a treat to share it with you tonight. $35

One of the (many) fun parts of our jobs is going to industry “walk-around” tastings.  Picture a big room filled with tables, and every table covered with bottles of wine, manned by either a wine maker or an expert who is just waiting to tell you stories about the wine they’re pouring into your glass.  In truth, it’s harder work than it looks… but just barely.  Do it up wine industry style at this awesome tasting/benefit The New York Fine Wine Alliance (made up of many of our distributors) is sponsoring in order to raise funds for the ongoing Hurricane Sandy relief efforts!  There will be over 500 wines to taste from all over the world!

Purchase tickets here —->  http://nyfwatastingforsandy.eventbrite.com/#

STAFF PICKS!

Thursday Night Tasting: Organic Vinos de España

Join us tonight, 6-9 pm, for a special tasting with our friend Chris Barnes from rock star Iberian importer José Pastor Selections! With a focus on honest, sustainable, grower wines from Spain, José Pastor and his team have brought us some of our favorites over the years and we’re delighted to feature a few tonight over cheese from ED. And don’t forget to check out our AWESOME new mural from illustrator Scott Lenhardt!

Benito Santos Saiar Albarino 2011

This brilliant, low-sulfur, organic white from Galicia has long been a favorite of the Dandy staff, and tonight you’ll see why. It’s remarkably herbal and elegant, and perfectly balanced, making it one the fish friendliest bottles on the block. Get out your cookbooks and plan a meal that deserves this wine! $18

Vinos Ambiz Titulciano 2010

This wacky, experimental blend of 60% Tempranillo, and 20% each Syrah, and Graciano hails from just Southeast of Madrid. The grapes are grown organically and fermented naturally- pure, bright, unadulterated, and full of character- it doesn’t get much springier than that! $19

Suriol Negre 2011

Suriol’s organic red is a fruit-forward, easy drinker from Penedes, a region known better for their sparkling Cavas than their still reds. Garnatxa endows this gem with juicy red fruit while Ull de Llebre (Tempranillo) hits it with some earth and spice. I envision drinking this with cheese on my roof in the warm evenings to come. $17

Alfredo Maestro A Dos Tiempos 2011

50/50 Tempranillo and Garnatxa, this time from Ribera del Duero. The organic grapes are hand harvested at two different times (hence the name), and destemmed and crushed immediately, then aged a minimum if five months in French oak barrels. The resulting wine is a more concentrated, fuller bodied style. Time to fire up the grill! $19

Meanwhile, back at the store in Brooklyn, THURSDAY NIGHT TASTING TIME IS HERE!

Spring has sprung (sort of) and we’ll happily drink to that. Join us tonight, 6-9 pm, with our friend Kelli from Polaner Selections, who will be here pouring three awesome, eco-concious wines alongside cheese from Eastern District!

Valle dell’Acate Frappato Vittoria 2011

A brilliant ruby-red wine from mineral rich volcanic Sicilian soil, this organic Frappato is a light, springy refresher. Bright and ripe, with notes of bing cherries and vibrant raspberries. It’s so ridiculously easy drinking that you’ll be tempted not to share. $20

Camino de Navaherreros Bernabeleva 2011

This fresh, medium-bodied, fruit-driven Garnacha hails from a biodynamic and organic vineyard located just outside of Madrid. Hints of pomegranate and dried cranberries make this an awesome wine with pork… like your juicy Easter ham. $15.50

Trapet Beblenheim Gewürztraminer 2008

This delightful biodynamic Alsatian white is about as aromatic as they get. Full-bodied and richly perfumed with hints of white flowers and baking spices, with a flash of acidity and a finish goes on for daaaays. Spicy curry, please! $22

THURSDAY NIGHT TASTING

November first, just a few days after Hurricane Sandy hit our coast, I packed my bags and boarded a flight to Lisbon, stressed out, anxious, and all by myself. Over the next ten days, I fell in love with the landscapes, people, cuisines, and wines of beautiful Portugal. Tonight, 6-9 pm, I’m excited to reminisce over four exceptional values from two different winemaking regions with cheese from ED!

Herdade do Esporão Monte Velho, Alentejano 2011

Monte Velho is a blend of varietals native to Alentejo: Roupeiro (35%), Antão Vaz (35%) and Perrum (30%). This crisp, well-balanced white is our new favorite value in the fridge. With bright tropical notes of pineapple, lychee, and citrus, and a dry, easy-goin’ finish,it’s sure to brighten up this cold start to spring. Chill it down and drink with shellfish, sushi, or all by itself. $10

Adega Mayor Monte Mayor, Alentejano 2011

I spent a few days on the ridiculously pretty island of Madeira, where I visted a farmers market and tried exotic fruits I’ve never heard of before. This white from Alentejo, kind of reminds me of those days. Sunny yellow, lush, and aromatic, with bright tropical fruit flavors I can’t even name. Close your eyes, sip this wine, and pretend you’re somewhere warmer. $16

Murcas Estate Assobio, Duoro 2010

Assobio hails from the sloping banks of the beautiful, winding Duoro river, which I was lucky enough to ride alongside by train one morning, A classic regional red made from Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Barroca. Ripe and structured, with dark purple berry fruit, pair this beauty with pork! $14

Herdade do Esporão Quatro Castas, Alentajano 2011

Four grapes (hence the big “4” on the label), Aragonez, Alicante Bouschet, Petit Verdot, and Syrah, are each vinified seperately before being blended in this deep, fuller bodied red. A good hearty friend to bring to all the bbq’s in your near future. $21

Our Will made a lot of fun new friends at the tasting tonight! Thanks to everyone who came out! See you next Thursday (and hopefully every day in between)!

Tonight, 6-9 pm, we’ve got a bit of a stand-0ff: old world vs. new, with a couple cheeky and cheerful new world whites and two seriously classic French wines. So join us this evening to see where you stand while we taste with our friend Kevin from The Vine Collective, over cheese from ED!

Kerner Estate Splendiferous Marlborough 2011

Adjective: Splendid, “A splendiferous Sunday dinner”

Synonyms: Splendid, Gorgeous

Kerner Estate is a small, family run winery in Marlborough, at the top of New Zealand’s south island. Do yourself a favor and click through for snapshots of one of the most beautiful vineyards on earth. Fittingly, Splendiferous is a transportive wine, a Sauvignon Blanc with lush tropical fruit, sunny vibrancy, and a crisp, lingering finish. 20+ hour flight not necessary! $19

Brouhaha Paso Robles 2011 

Noun: A noisy and overexcited critical response, display of interest, or trail of publicity Synonyms: Sensation

The vineyard describes their Pinot Gris as “an easy-drinking, porch-pounding beauty of a white wine”, and I can’t get that fun description out of my head! I picture drinking this light and bright guzzler on my roof, in the park, on the ferry… the possibilities are endless once the weather co-operates! A great pairing for salads and shellfish alike. $16

Domaine du Pas St. Martin Saumur Brut 2009

No more jokes- this is a serious sparkling from a serious region with centuries of history. 100% Chenin Blanc, grown and vinified organically by a mother and son team on their family estate in the Loire Valley, in soil known for it’s high mineral content. This celebratory sparkler is refined, luxurious, and elegant- a class-act, so you don’t have to be. $25

Mission La Caminade Cahors 2009

The vineyards of Cahors, dating back at least 2,000 years, lay equidistant from the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean, and the Pyrenees, planted on the banks and hills of the Lot River valley. The soil content varies greatly, and viticulture here takes skill. Chateau La Caminade has that, in spades. This blend of 85% Malbec and 15% Merlot is charming and supple, boasting dark fruit and impressive structure. $15

Back to work! Happy Monday!