Pigeon & Friends: Cellar Sale 8th Round 6 Packs – The Summer Sippers of 2020

Bundle #1: “The” Summer Sippers of 2020 (34 available) $125
Memorial Day, the unofficial first day of summer, just passed, so it only seems appropriate to present “The” Summer Sippers of 2020. This summer may be different than years past, but the sun will still shine, the temperature will rise, and we’ll all still be thirsty. This pack was built around the Trebbiano below. Every Tuesday afternoon for years, Andy and his team sit down with wine reps and tastes dozens of wines. Sometime this past winter we tasted this Trebbiano and knew it was THE wine we wanted to drink all summer, BUT there were only a few cases that made their way to Portland this year, so we are spreading them out in this 6-pack offering with some other wines we have been waiting for summer to drink. (Pssst…. There are a very limited number of 3 packs of just the Trebbiano available as well).Prosecco Superiore, Rive San Pietro Falletto, Frassinelli Gianluca, 2018, Veneto (IT)                      
An appreciation of Prosecco’s true potential has really grown over the last couple decades.  Producers are exploring the ability of the Glera grape to express terroir, and the characteristics of a single growing season. This bottling comes from the Rive San Pietro vineyard in the northern part of the appellation that sits at 220 meters elevation.  It smells of white peach, meyer lemons, white flowers, and is bone dry, perfect for warm weather drinking. 

Muscadet, Clos des Briords, Domaine de la Pépière, 2018, Loire Valley (FR)      
Domaine Pépière is on the short list for best producers in the Muscadet appellation. They bottle several single-vineyard expressions of the Melon de Bourgogne grape. Clos des Briords (a clos is a walled vineyard) is produced from vines planted between 1930-1950 in soil rich in granite with feldspar and clay. It is Pépière’s coolest site that enjoys slow and even ripening. Fermented and aged in large underground vats for 9 months. This wine has notes of spiced apples, lemony citrus, with tons of minerality, and smells like an ocean breeze.  Perfect for seafood NW seafood.  

Trebbiano, “Bianchi Grilli per la Testa”, Torre dei Beati, 2017, Abruzzo (IT)                     
Grilli means cricket in Italian, but “Grilli per la Testa” colloquially means “head full of nonsense,” but in an endearing way.  A great name for a summer wine. Trebbiano is used to refer to about 8 different grapes grown throughout Italy. This strain of Trebbiano d’ Abruzzo is superior to many others.  Controlling its natural vigor is important and Torre de Beati takes extensive measures to reduce yields and improve the quality of the fruit. The organically farmed grapes are fermented and aged in a mix of stainless steel and acacia wood. Broad textured and bone dry with notes of apricot and spiced orchard fruit, chamomile and herbs. The wine has got a great mineral backbone and a clear briny note. We don’t say this often, but get it good and cold, and prepare to have you mind blown. 

Menetou-Salon Rosé, Isabelle et Pierre Clement, 2018, Loire (IT)  If Pouilly-Fumé is Sancerre’s step sister, then Mentou-Salon is the cool cousin who pops by now and again. Whites from Sauvignon Blanc, and Reds and Rosé from Pinot Noir. This bitchin’ rosé is fermented in stainless steel for 10 days to retain brightness in the wine.  Light in color, delicate fruit and über refreshing. 

Pinot Noir, Bow & Arrow, 2018, Willamette Valley 
Scott Frank founded his urban winery in 2010 (the wine is made right up the road from us off Sandy Boulevard). His mission has been to produce approachable interpretations of Loire valley grapes grown in Oregon, and yes, they grow Pinot in the Loire valley as well. This Willamette valley cuvée is sourced from a few small growers that Scott has long standing relationships with. It smells of cherry cola, with pretty floral and spice notes. 

Bourgueil, Grand Mont, Domaine Durfun, 2017, Loire Valley (FR) Bourgueil along with the neighboring village of Chinon is the premiere place for growing Cabernet Franc in the world. The Grand Mont vineyard is located on the northern bank of the Loire river with crumbly limestone soils. This wine is brightly red fruited with lots of peppery notes, great for any type of grilled meat or vegetables, but not too big to drink on a hot day. 

Bundle #2: “The” Summer Wine of 2020 3 PACK (7 available) $75            
We have just a few 3 PACK’s of our wine of the summer.Trebbiano, “Bianchi Grilli per la Testa”, Torre dei Beati, 2017, Abruzzo (IT)

Grilli means cricket in Italian, but “Grilli per la Testa” colloquially means “head full of nonsense,” but in an endearing way. A great name for a summer wine. Trebbiano is used to refer to about 8 different grapes grown throughout Italy. This strain of Trebbiano d’ Abruzzo is superior to many others. Controlling its natural vigor is important and Torre de Beati takes extensive measures to reduce yields and improve the quality of the fruit. The organically farmed grapes are fermented and aged in a mix of stainless steel and acacia wood. Broad textured and bone dry with notes of apricot and spiced orchard fruit, chamomile and herbs. The wine has got a great mineral backbone and a clear briny note. We don’t say this often, but get it good and cold, and prepare to have you mind blown. 

Bundle #3: We Hear You, We Love Them Too 6-pack (21 available) $250      
When we looked back over the last 7 weeks or so at which 6-packs sold the fastest, it tended to be one featuring wines from the Loire and Burgundy. So, we looked in our cellar and spoke to some importer friends and pulled together some wines from both regions, most of which, with same bottle age, that are a huge value for what they are. Every one of these is special, and ready to go, but can certainly age a bit longer… we don’t want anyone to feel rushed.Muscadet, Origine, Domaine du Haut Bourg, 2012, Loire Valley
Muscadet is very delicious when young, and is usually not very expensive. Which may be why there are very few aged examples on the market. However, these are wines that can age gracefully for decades… this one is only 8 years old, and still a baby, frankly. Haut Bourg ages their wines for an extended period of time on the lees (which are the spent yeast cells from fermentation). This provides additional texture to balance out the wines’ naturally high acidity. The primary fruit of this wine has moved into the background and given way to intense mineral character, very savory, but with surprising fruit too. Velvety texture and tons of acid cut. Essentially, there is a whole lot going on in the glass. 

Saumur Blanc, Clos David, Domaine Arnaud Lambert, 2017, Loire Valley
Arnaud Lambert is no longer considered a rising star in the Saumur appellation, because he has firmly demonstrated his mastery Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc.  He is determined to explore the varying soils and expositions of the lauded hill of Brézé. Clos David has Northeast exposure with sandy soils and soft limestone bedrock. The wine is fermented and aged in barrels of various sizes, no more than 10% new.  Racy and acid driven with classic Chenin Blanc aromas of spiced apples, stone fruit, wet rocks, and ELECTRICITY, yes, this wine is what ELECTRICITY tastes like.  

Pouilly Fumé, Vinealis, Marc Deschamps, 2015, Loire Valley
Marc Deschamps has been crafting expressive and age-worthy Sauvignon Blancs since the 1980s.  In the best vintages he makes a selection from his oldest vines planted on kimmeridgian limestone (think Chablis) to vinify and age in oak as opposed to stainless steel tanks. He only produces about 4-8 barrels of this wine and about 2 barrels worth make it to the U.S. We bought 2 cases years ago, and are releasing  21 on this offer (Andy drank 3 already, oops). Imagine if the grassy and fruit notes of Sauv Blanc where crossed with the tightrope fruit-acid balance of a Spätlese Riesling, and the texture of a Grand Cru Chablis… yep. It’s that good. 

Morey-Saint Denis, Domaine Christian Clerget, 2012, Burgundy
Domaine Clerget has a 100-year history grape of growing and owns prime vineyards in the village of Morey-Saint-Denis, as well as Chambolle-Musigny and Vougeot. Still their production is only 1300 cases a year. Organic methods are applied in the vineyards and fermentations occur with native yeasts. This 2012 is in a great spot with vibrant fruit but also secondary notes of wet soil and mushrooms. 

Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Île de Vergelesses, Domaine Rapet, 2012, Burgundy
Domaine Rapet is tucked away in the village of Pernand behind the famous hill of Corton, the only Grand Cru area in the Cote de Beaune.  Their history in the area goes back to 1765 and Vincent Rapet is currently the steward for the families’ 20 hectares of vines. Île de Vergelesses is the most highly regarded vineyard for red wine in the village and they have a tiny .6-hectare plot which yields 10 barrels in a good year. At 8 years old, this wine is still surprisingly young, with some power, but with very silky texture. Île de Vergelesses is famous for its ability to transmit terroir – a distinct sense of soil and minerality – as well as, a lovely dose of fruit. We rode tested this one and it was all smiles. 

Maranges, 1er Cru La Fussière, Thomas Morey, 2015, Burgundy
Thomas Morey is one of our favorite under-the-radar Burgundy producers.  He farms organically and uses minimal intervention in the winery, he only applies sulfur in tiny amounts when absolutely necessary. The combination of these factors lead to wines of remarkable purity and lift. Maranges is at the southern tip of the Cote d’ Or and most of the vineyards have full southern exposure. In centuries past the area, along with Santennay next door, where famous for their wines, but for varying reasons lost favor over the years. Domaines likes tisare changing that story. The 2015 is bursting with red fruits and exotic spices and is impeccably balanced. 

Bundle #4: Big Flavor/Small Package (6 HALF-BOTTLES) (12 available) $235     
At Le Pigeon, we have always made sure to have a large selection of ½ bottles. It can be a challenge as not every wine is bottled that way, few are in fact. ½ bottles are great though, and finding the good ones are worth the trouble. Opening one up is a little less of a commitment, and a great way to drink a few different things on the same day, or to just open something special with someone special. This 6-pack is made up of some particularly tasty bottles. Each one is 375ml of pick me up and vinous love…the perfect thing for the season.Extra-Brut, Bouzy Grand Cru, Les Parcelles “XIV”, Pierre Paillard, (2014), Champagne
Pierre Paillard exclusively grows grapes in the Grand Cru village of Bouzy in the Montagne de Reims. They grow their grapes as naturally as possible, never using pesticides or herbicides. The chalky soils of the region create chiseled, complex, and mineral driven Champagnes. This cuvee is 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay spends 4 years in their cellars before release… that is a long time for champagne!  While it is not a vintage Champagne, the base of the wine is 2014, which is why they put “XIV” on the label, and why we put “2014” in parenthesis. Floral overtones to the flavors of Honeycrisp apple, biscuit and lemon meringue. The lively bubbles carry ground ginger and anise notes on the lingering, creamy finish.

Vouvray Sec, Les Haut Lieu, Domaine Huet, 2017, Loire
Domaine Huet is one of the greatest producers of both dry and sweet Chenin Blanc, a grape which has been cultivated in Vouvray area since the 9th century. Huet produces 3 single vineyard bottlings. Les Haut Lieu was the original vineyard the domaine was founded on and has rich soils comprised of limestone and clay. This wine has aromas of honeyed apples, spiced pears, lemon curd…it is so vinous that it almost fools the palate into thinking it will be sweet until the bracing acidity kicks in and it finishes dry.  

Chassagne-Montrachet, Domaine Ramonet, 2016, Burgundy
Few names command more respect in the village of Chassagne-Montrachet than Ramonet. They own 17 hectares of vines including holdings of the Grand Cru Montrachet (the greatest chardonnay vineyard in the world). The 2016 village bottling encapsulates the house style which is breadth and precision. The 2016 smells of white peach, sweet mint, and green & yellow apple. Pairing with food will only enhance the experience, try it with roasted chicken!

Aloxe-Corton Vielles Vignes, Edmond Cornu & Fils, 2012, Burgundy
The Cornu family have been fixtures in the area around the hill of Corton since the 1870s. Aloxe-Corton is the Village lent its’s name to the Grand Cru appellation, and sometime the village and 1er cru wines made there are overlooked. This cuvée is produced from vines planted in 1942, 1958, and 1971. The fruit is de-stemmed and aged in mostly neutral oak barrels.  Stewed cherry, meaty, and earthy notes, but with great softer texture. Duck, pigeon, squab, quail, mushrooms would all be great alongside. 

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Les Crau, Domaine Vieux Télégraphe, 2015 Southern Rhône
When many people think of Châteauneuf-du-Pape the first name that comes to mind is Vieux Télégraphe. The Brunier family who owns the domaine would be the first to give credit to the special terroir of Le Crau a vineyard area on a plateau, which they own 70 hectares of. The head trained vines dig deep for water in the famous galets roules which are large rounded stones that cover the entire vineyard. This blend of 65% Grenache, with 15% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, is rounded out by a host of other indigenous varietals (including white) and is fermented in concrete and aged in large neutral barrels. No rush to drink here as it will age gracefully for a decade plus but its dangerously delicious right now. 

Bandol, Château de Pibarnon, 2015, Provence
The late ripening Mourvèdre grape loves basking in the intense Provence sunlight of Bandol.  Pibarnon’s vineyards are at the highest elevation (about 900 meters) and sit in a natural amphitheater with full southern exposure.  It’s altitude and cool breezes from the Mediterranean help retain balance as the grapes suck up the Provencal sunshine. 10% Grenache is incorporated into the cuvée to round out the Mourvèdre. This wine smells of plums, leather, and Provencal herbs. This wine needs Steak and Steak needs this wine.