ROAD TRIPPIN’ D.C.: SUBTERRANEAN PUNCH-DRUNK ALIEN MEETS THE WINE STALKERAZZI

Not many people are aware that Palm Bay has some really great French wines – including the value-conscious wines of Loire producer Remy Pannier, and superstar Rhone producer Jean-Luc Colombo. I had to drop in on Xavier Amirault, the North American Director of Remy Pannier, whom I’ve known for several years now. Dr. Gonzo wasn’t too familiar with these wines, so I had Xavier show him “whassup” with the Sauvignon Blanc, Vouvray, Muscadet, Sancerre, Chinon and Rosé – all exceptional for the price. Along with the still wine stars were the sister wines from Marquis de la Tour, a Brut and a Brut Rosé, which Dr. Gonzo swiftly compared them to Roederer Estate, one of California’s best values in sparkling. And these were half the price! Hold off on the ether boys!

Later in the event, losing Dr. Gonzo to an apparently nubile waif pouring classic-styled Spanish wines across the room, our Palm Bay rep, Michael, introduced me to Jean-Luc Colombo, who for many Rhone Rangers out there, would be the equivalent of meeting Jimmy Paige or Keith Richards. With an extreme penchant for an “it’s-my-world-and-welcome-to-it”, Monsieur Colombo started us with his Les Abeilles Cotes-du-Rhone Blanc and with true bravado and reckless abandon, nearly filled our glass with each wine soon after, from the Les Abeilles Rouge through his magnificent single-vineyard Cornas wines (my favorite is and will always be the La Louvee). In the mix, Mike approached Jean-Luc with the idea of coming to the NKY and doing a wine dinner, which I wasn’t focused on – I was pretty starstruck, and headed face first for a full-on buzz.

Head swimming, I was introduced to Emilie from Laboure-Roi, and my sense of awe initially collapsed beneath a wave of fear and apprehension. I have to concede here that Laboure-Roi, years ago, would have brought serious jeers and vehement laughter at its mere mention, yet as a true trooper (and yes, getting closer to a state of complete inebriation), I manned up for a taste of the flagship wines, as our man Mike would refer to them later.

These wines were appellation specific Burgundies, both white and red, with the standouts being the clean Chablis, the perfumed Pommard and my favorite, the Nuits-St.-Georges. All of these wines were beautifully-crafted, stunning examples of Burgundian winemaking. And all of these were fairly affordable avenues into the typically-expensive realm of Burgundy wines.

Tomorrow, Italy and the recap.