K2′S WINE GRINDHOUSE PRESENTS: AUDREY’S TWOFER VS. DR. GONZO’S DRIVEBY

Wednesday was the usually high-traffic day as usual, with a lot of sales reps show off their wares, and me, put on the perpetual path to an early bedtime again, kicked off with new Vanguard Sales Manager (and one of my favorite people in the world) Audrey, along with Vanguard Brand Manager (and had to be a bluesman in another life with a name like) Sunny Brown, showing off two new direct import wines:

Domaine du Haut Bourg Muscadet de Cotes de Grandlieu 2009 (Grade=Outstanding) is a light-to-medium-bodied white wine that exudes briny lemon zest, green apple, pear, blanched almonds, honeydew melon, sea salt, and chalky mineral tones. It has a rich mouthfeel, yet remains light and ethereal on the palate. Cries out for shellfish.

Domaine du Haut Bourg “Le Pavillon” Muscadet de Cotes de Grandlieu 2009 (Grade=Outstanding+) is a gorgeous, single-vineyard Melon de Bourgogne that is rich, complex and stunning with a display of limes, slight pineapple and starfruit, a bit of limestone, lime and lemon zest, some wet stones and toasted nuts. More viscous than its younger sibling, it possesses an almost unctuousness that resonates quite long on the finish.

And while there were appearances from the usual suspects (I will get to those later this week), the infamous Dr. Gonzo made his presence known with a single wine from the opposite end of the wine spectrum, the Cupcake Pinot Noir Central Coast 2008 (Grade=Outstanding), a pretty nice, value-conscious presentation of light-bodied red and black cherries, pomegranate, Açai berry, cola, and slight truffle notes. For a $10 Pinot Noir, it’s definitely a winner.