A few of us are headed out to Northern California tomorrow for a week's journey through wine country!  After a few days in Sonoma we'll head to Napa, and then finish our trip at the great Ridge in Santa Cruz.  Joining me will be my fellow wine consultant Leslie Johnson, and our fearless leader Tom Murphy. This is a little R&D and a little fun all wrapped into one.  Hopefully the fruits of our labor will provide us with some great new juice to offer you.  Stay tuned for pics and updates from our week in wine country!

Cheers,

Michael

We’re slowly unveiling our new Fall Wine List here at Murphy’s, and this new addition is quickly becoming a guest and staff favorite!  We are proud to offer JC Cellars “The Impostor” 2009 at a great, special case price.  You Orin Swift Prisoner fans may have a new favorite wine!

JC Cellars The Impostor 2009 - California
Normal Bottle Price:  $36.99/bottle
*Special Reduced Case Price: $29.91/bottle!! 

(This wine sells many places for $40!)

Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Mourvedre and Viognier.

From winemaker Jeff Cohn, who is known for working intense, rich wines from Rhone varietal and Zinfandel.  This wine blows away the more common “Smoke and Mirrors,” and offers a hedonistic, rich, dense experience that actually manages to work well with food despite its power.

Here is the Wine Spectator 91 Point Review:
“Exotic and altogether distinctive, with aromas of smoky black cherry and Asian spice that lead to rich, lush flavors of huckleberry and date bread. Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Viognier. Drink now through 2017.”

Notes From The Winery

Tasting Notes:  Opaque black purple color with aromas of grilled meats, blackberries, raspberries and touches of black cherries with wisps of Herbs de Provence and  roasted coffee.  Full bodied and concentrated.  Blackberry and raspberry jam ooze from this wine. But then all the wild side starts to show, with Asian spices, smoke meats, cedar and fruit leather finish. 

Pair With:  This is one of those wines that goes with everything from plain roasted chicken, cassoulet au confit, or roasted venison to a great slice of pizza, a bowl of Pasta with a savory tomato sauce, or my favorite is a great rare hamburger with all the fixins.  The perfect wine for all the time.   

Drink now or age 5 to 10 years.

“Once again this wine takes on another personality. In the past it has seen its influence of the Northern Rhône, Southern Rhône, and Spain. This time we are feeling much like a love child, of Chateauneuf du Pape and California.” 
- Jeff Cohn

If you’re a fan of Orin Swift’s Prisoner, or other rich, dense reds from California, you will LOVE this wine!  A few cases currently in stock.

Email me to reserve yours!

Cheers,

Michael

If you're a fan of lean, delicate, subtle wines whose color isn't intimidating, or if you swoon over old vintages of Cote-Rotie, then you may not want to read on (unless of course you're open to guilty pleasures).  Today's offer is a gooey, tooth-staining, dense wine that should probably not be imbibed while wearing a white shirt, and may give your dentist some anxiety.  This Petite Sirah from Lodi was on Murphy's by-the-glass list when I started here last year, and was a crowd and staff favorite until we poured through our allocation.  And this new vintage is showing really well! Mettler Petite Sirah Lodi California 2009 Bottle Price: $22.99/bottle *Case Price:  $19.65/bottle!! * 92% Petite Sirah 5% Cabernet Sauvignon 3% Cabernet Franc 18 Months French Oak 1047 Cases Made The Mettler family has been farming Lodi California since the late 1800s.  The warm, Mediterranean-like climate of Lodi allows Petite Sirah to flourish, and yield wines of intensity and great extraction. The campiest description I have for the '09 Mettler Petite Sirah is to say it's like a Blueberry bacon-cheeseburger in a glass - pickles, onions, and all. Maybe even some BBQ sauce with your fries!  It's been a LONG time since I've had one, but my olfactory memory produced distinct images of a McDonald's Quarter Pounder with cheese somewhere behind the fruit!  The 18 months in French oak adds a toasty, caramel, chocolate note to the dense, gooey fruit, and bacony appeal.  This wine is not shy.  It's simply fat & delicious for fans of the style.  That being said, it's balanced in itself, like a huge, seemingly overweight defensive lineman that still manages to be faster than you were in high-school.  There's a lot to like about this wine.  Buying now will reward you when the temperature drops, and the cool autumnal air calls for wines of this character. Only a limited allocation came to Georgia this year, so please reply now to save yours before they're gone.  First drop arrives Friday. For something on the lighter side, here is our offer from last week: The Four Graces Pinot Noir 2010. Cheers, and thanks for being a friend of Murphy’s! Michael Kunz Wine Consultant -------------------------------- Murphy's Wine Shop 977 Virginia Ave. NE Atlanta, GA  30306 -------------------------------- [email protected] shop: (404)872-0904 twitter: @murphyswine

We currently have a great deal on one of the best, affordable 2010 Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs we’ve tasted so far.  At over 20% off normal price this gets under $25 at case price! Reply back to reserve yours before it runs out.  Small amount in stock now, and there is a dwindling supply at our supplier's warehouse.

The Four Graces Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2010
Normal Price: $32+
Murphy's Bottle Price: $28.99/bottle
*Case Price:  $24.78/bottle!! *

Sourced from Black Family Estate Dundee Hills AVA, and Doe Ridge Estate Yamhill-Carlton AVA, this Pinot Noir is a triumph from the small, inconsistent 2010 vintage.  The entire Murphy’s Wine Shop team was unanimously enamored with this bottle.  Balanced, beautiful, and a classy 13.3% alcohol.  Darker berries, toasty oak, vanilla, meaty mineral, licorice, and a long, focused finish with enough structure for this to hold up for a few years.  This is a steal for fans of Willamette Pinot Noir to get this quality for under $30.

Here is the Wine Spectator 91 Point Review:
“Lithe and open-textured, framing its delicate currant and plum fruit with hints of lilac and cream, lingering gently on the refined finish. Drink now through 2016.”

For you foodies, here are a couple great recipes from the Four Graces Website to pair with this wine: click here for recipes

Please email me if you are interested in ordering any of this great value Pinot.

Cheers,

Michael Kunz
Wine Consultant
--------------------------------
Murphy's Wine Shop
977 Virginia Ave. NE
Atlanta, GA  30306
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[email protected]
shop: (404)872-0904
twitter: @murphyswine

This is pretty much a perfect Summertime white wine.  It’s classic, refreshing, crisp yet with a touch of sweetness, mineral-driven, and nerdy-enough for me to write about to you all!  Everyone in the wine shop has been raving about this since we tasted it, and we’re excited to offer it.  Please email Michael if you are interested in ordering this great wine! Chateau de Montfort Vouvray Demi-Sec 2010 (Chenin Blanc) Bottle Price: $17.99/bottle Case Price: $15.38/bottle! In her book The Wine Bible, Karen MacNeil refers to Chenin Blanc as one of the 9 Classic Varietals, the best of which come from the Loire Valley (Vouvray and Savennieres specifically).  She then offers this ethereal statement that I’ve always found captivating: “If modern life allowed for such seemingly lost pleasures as sitting in a field of wildflowers and reading Madame Bovary or The Age of Innocence, chenin blanc would be the fitting wine to drink.” Chateau de Montfort exemplifies this ideal.  This is the Chenin Blanc for the field of wildflowers, lost in another world. Full of ripe apple, citrus notes, the wet-stone mineral I love from good Loire Valley wines, and cleansing acidity to cut the whisper of sweetness that shines through this wine like the perfect amount of perfume on a beautiful woman.  This is infinitely drinkable, and though labeled demi-sec, it is definitely not too sweet.  It’s just the right amount to enjoy with some front porch gossip, or with a grilled pear and goat cheese salad.  This would also really shine with a fish dish with a cream-based or mushroom sauce, and great for Asian foods like sushi or especially pork fried rice. This historic estate was originally a fortified farmhouse from the 14th Century whose winemaking facility literally sits inside the vineyards, so transportation from vine to press is fast!  Chalk and Limestone soils support an average vine of 50 years. There is still some Chateau de Montfort Vouvray available.  Please email Michael to reserve yours. Cheers, Michael Kunz Wine Consultant Murphy's Wine Shop (404)872-0904

Just wanted to let everyone know about the new Murphy's Wine of the Month program that we just kicked off.  Each month we will feature one special wine that represents great quality at a great value (usually under $20).  The restaurant is also in on this, and will feature each Wine of the Month on the "By The Glass" wine list.  This means you can come grab a taste before you take home a case!

For our inaugural Wine of the Month we chose a wine that I recently wrote about, but due to the overwhelming response and feedback we decided to feature it throughout April.  This is a value gem (it should really be closer to $20) from one of Tuscany's greatest vintages!

Castiglion del Bosco Rosso di Montalcino 2006
Bottle Price: $13.99/bottle
Case Price: $11.96/bottle!!
Only $143.52 for a 12 bottle case before tax!

100% Sangiovese
6 months in French Oak (30% new)
This is a delightful wine for the money.  Everyone who has tasted it shares the same confused look when they hear the price.  I myself thought maybe I'd fallen into the punch when I tasted this, and actually asked to re-taste it a few days later to make sure I wasn't crazy!  Beautifully evolved, but not even close to tired.  A modern style with rich cherries, plums, herbs, and chocolate.  Medium bodied, delicious, and at the price it’s pretty much guilt-free.  A nice little wine from a great vintage.  It's also quickly becoming the servers' new "go-to" red wine for themselves so be sure to grab some before it's gone.

Bergstrom Wines is one of the Willamette Valley’s biggest names, and their Shea Vineyard release is consistently one of their best wines (average Parker score over last 5 vintages is 93.6pts).  This wine perfectly exemplifies Bergstrom’s style of rich, yet balanced and elegant Pinot Noir. Cherries, dark fruits, spice, oak, and toasted herbs are packed inside this dense, yet somehow graceful pinot. 

This delicious wine is also the closer at the upcoming Bergstrom Wine Dinner at Murphy's Restaurant where you can meet the winemaker...

BERGSTROM WINE DINNER
Tuesday, March 27th, 2012

Featuring Winemaker Josh Bergstrom and 5 Bergstrom wines paired with 5 incredible courses from Chef Ian Winslade.

Get a chance to taste Bergstrom wines with their winemaker! Try the not-often seen Sigrid Chardonnay with an Asian-inspired scallop dish, and the Cumberland Reserve Pinot with a Foie Gras Brulée. There will also be single-vineyard Pinot Noirs served with Lamb and Spinalis steak courses. It’s going to be a great dinner!

$85/person*
6:30pm
*price does not include tax/gratuity
Reservations required, 404.872.0904
Murphy's Atlanta Restaurant
997 Virginia Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Greetings from Murphy's Wine Shop,

I just had the wonderful opportunity to meet importer Eric Solomon, and taste through his portfolio in Chicago last week.  While the wines are still fresh in my mind, and honestly still stained to my finger, I wanted to offer a pair of amazing Spanish wines that are already here in the state and ready to go!

Quinta Sardonia 2009
(Spain’s next cult wine from Pingus’s Peter Sisseck)
Bottle Price: $51.99/bottle
Case Price: $44.44/bottle!!

Flor de Vetus Toro 2009
(great, modern entry level Tempranillo from the owners of Finca Villacreces)
Bottle Price: $19.99/bottle
Case Price: $17.06/bottle!!
Solid Case: $204.72+Tax

Just reply back, and let me know how much I can hold for you.  Wines will arrive Friday.

The Details:

First, the Quinta Sardonia was one of probably 3 wines at the tasting that really, really moved me. Located on the outskirts of Ribero del Duero, just past Vega Sicilia, this biodynamic project from Pingus’s Peter Sisseck blends international grape varietals with the native Tinto Fino (Tempranillo).  Peter created this project to pay homage to both Bordeaux and native varietals inside a vineyard he could create and plant himself.

51% Tinto Fino, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon,  6% Merlot, 5% Syrah, 5% Petite Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Malbec

Here is the (92-95 Point) review from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate:

“The 2009 Quinta Sardonia, tasted from a barrel sample, is purple/black in color with an enticing bouquet of smoke, game, lightly roasted herbs, blackberry, and blueberry. Supple, ripe, and sweetly-fruited, this lengthy offering should reach its peak 2016 and drink well through 2029 . . . It is already being proclaimed by some as Spain’s next cult wine . . . (92-95 Points)”

Just an amazing wine, and considering the cult status of Peter Sisseck and Pingus, this is very reasonably priced.  I can’t imagine this will be available for very long.

Quinta Sardonia 2009
(Spain’s next cult wine from Pingus’s Peter Sisseck)
Bottle Price: $51.99/bottle
Case Price: $44.44/bottle!!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Next, the Flor de Vetus Toro is a beautiful entry level Tempranillo from Vetus – a new project from the owners of Finca Villacreces (You may remember my Pruno email from last year).

100% Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo)
Aged 10 months in New French and American Oak
This is a superb value, rich and modern in style, and very approachable.  Reminds me of some other well-scored Toros that have skyrocketed in price in the last few years.  A great buy!

Here is the 90+ Point review from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate:

Flor de Vetus Toro 2009
(great, modern entry level Tempranillo from the owners of Finca Villacreces)
Bottle Price: $19.99/bottle
Case Price: $17.06/bottle!!
Solid Case: $204.72+Tax

Please let me know if I can hold these for you!
Cheers, and thanks for being a friend of Murphy’s Wine Shop in Atlanta

Michael Kunz
Wine Consultant
--------------------------------
Murphy's Wine Shop
977 Virginia Ave. NE
Atlanta, GA  30306
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[email protected]