Wine & Words

We had a lot of people interested in our "Chards & Cabs" Featured wines last week, so we're extending it for another week. But we also had a lot of enthusiasts for our Talmard Macon-Montbellet 2005, and they took to heart our admonition that there won't be any more of this vintage. We've got three bottle left (as of this writing). So we're replacing the Talmard '05 with a lovely Domaine Alain Normand Macon La Roche Vineuse 2007.
Before Mary and I tasted this wine a few weeks ago I had never heard of the small sub-appellation of  Macon Burgundy called "La Roche Vineuse."  I have since learned that the name La Roche-Vineuse refers to the huge, nearly vertical outcropping of limestone that the village nestles up against.  And I learned from the fine Vintage '59 Imports website that:
Alain Normand is a young vigneron in the Mâconnais who rents land in métayage, a common practice whereby the landlord is paid in wine. Alain works the vineyards, makes the wine, and sells off the landlord's portion to négociants. He keeps the finest for himself. Alain practices lutte raisonnée, or reasoned fight, which means that at heart he's organic—compost, lots of tilling, using hormones to sexually confuse the bad bugs, and so forth—but will use synthetic sprays if absolutely necessary. He hand-harvests, ferments with native yeast, works extensively (and very well) with lees, and normally does not filter his wines.
I love this picture of the hardworking vigneron fighting the good fight in the lee of the "vinous rock"...but I love the wine even more.  It is lush and rich but with a mineral core that gives it the backbone to hold its own at the feasting table.  Reports are that the 2007 vintage in Burgundy was "tricky," with the winemakers having to do everything just right to create outstanding wines under the strict Burgundian rules.  Well, young Msr. Normand evidently got it right.  I taste a lot of wines in my line of work but rarely do my eyes light up as they did when I tasted this one.  Treat yourself!