Happy New Year!

Over the years we've scored some pretty darn fun sparkling rosé around here. We would have preferred to receive this one about 2 weeks ago, but the freight and delivery gods woulnd't allow it. Until now. For this reason I'm sending you 2016's final offer. Dan's unloading this one this afternoon and it will be ready to go tomorrow morning. Want some?

Some of you may rembember La Danseuse, a unique sparkler made by an Englishman named Toby Bainbridge. He and his wife Julie live in a quaint village near Angers, the western center of the Loire Valley. Toby's wines are burned into my mind (and my palate) and I'm so excited to see a new offering arrive on our doorstep.

Toby kicked off his winery business about 6 years ago by purchasing just a few hectares of old-vine Grolleau and Cabernet Franc. His winery is, shall we say, simple. He rents an old machine shed from a neighbor and makes only three different wines. Some of his tanks are wrapped in wool blankets and he makes use of all kinds of gadgets and tools to get his work done. There's nothing fancy here. 

When we met Toby this past September, he disgorged a bottle of this sparkling rosé for us on the fly. It had been resting comfortably in his winery since the prior October, bottled immediately after harvest. (photo) We stood right there and drank the whole dang thing and I asked to buy every drop he had. He snickered a little but then kinda, sorta agreed. He has an importer in Australia, I guy in Paris, us, and some guy in Denmark named Redzepi that the rest of us have to share with. To wit:

Toby's first export market was Denmark. He sold the guy some wine and dutifully headed to Copenhagen to "work the market" and try to make some placements at restaurants. Their first visit, this was five years ago, was at the famous NOMA, Rene Redzepi's gastronomic mecca feautring 20 course meals and generally considered among the top 5 restaurants in the world. Evidently the sommelier tasted the wine, loved it, and proceeded to buy it all. Done deal. Sales day complete. Since then NOMA has been a big regular supporter.

But then we came along, and asked for the same thing! Toby agreed to sell us some bottles, and well, here it is. About 1/3 of the whole production!

Okay, enough of this. What is it? Well, this is pink, finely bubbled, naturally-bottled Methode Ancestrale Grolleau Noir (a local grape) that is heady, gorgeous, and downright wonderful. La Danseuse translates to "The Dancer" in French, but the labelling is a little more tawdry than that. La Danseuse can also refer to the barrel of wine that a vigneron would put aside for his mistress (in days past of course!). 

Bainbridge & Cathcart La Danseuse 2015

Toby likes it ice cold, and so do we, preserving freshness and excitement all the way through the bottle. The alcohol tops out at 11.5% but the wine tastes dry and refreshing. At $22.50/bottle its simply hard to beat. But...

Grab a 3-pack for just $57 ($19/bottle)
or
Make it 6-pack for only $99! ($16.50/bottle)

Sound good? Simply reply to this email with your request. The wine will be in stock and ready to go starting first thing tomorrow. But, I'm guessing it won't last long...

Stop by and see us Friday from 11-6 or Saturday between 11-4 to get out of the house, taste some, load up, and go forward into 2017.

Cheers!

Jane