If you have recently moved away from Syrah after many disappointments, this is the one wine that ought to bring you back. Domaine Durand is from two brothers, Eric and Joël, whose vineyards lie in France’s Northern Rhône, home of the greatest Syrahs the world has ever seen. The Durands own vineyards in Cornas and St. Joseph, two of Northern Rhône’s choicest sites and their recently released 2010 Syrah is perhaps their finest yet. A blend of younger vines from the estate vineyards, it offers an explosion of flavors which seduce and caress the palate without overpowering it. Black raspberries, anise, bacon come to mind . . . along with a finish that lingers on and on. By far our best-value Syrah.
This recommendation brought you by Rod Johnson, wine team leader in Ann Arbor
Will arrive August 27, 2012 in Ann Arbor and West Bloomfield! Will arrive in Bloomfield on August 31, 2012.
About New Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces nine year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Ranger IPA, Shift Pale Lager, Belgo IPA, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases. It all started when Jeff Lebesch rode through European villages famous for making beer on his mountain bike (with “fat tires”). He returned to Fort Collins with a handful of ingredients and an imagination full of recipes. Check out pictures of the brewery: http://www.newbelgium.com/culture/brewery/brewery-photos.aspx
If you are a rosé lover ―and isn’t this the summer for it ― then your ship has just come in. Cupcake, that California wine company synonymous with value wines from throughout the world, sometimes comes up with real gems. Last summer it was a sparkler from France’s Loire that was absolutely the hit of the summer 0f ’11. Many a patio sported that bubbly to foil the heat, and we still get many requests for it but, alas, Cupcake has moved on.
Not to worry! Just in to add refreshment to a warm sunny day is Cupcake Côtes du Provence Rosé. From the 2011 vintage, bottled in Provence itself, and priced at $5.97 per bottle, this rose is an absolute steal!
This is real Provence rosé ―that beautiful onion-skin color, more orange than pink; the alluring scents of rose petals, lavender and strawberries and the crisp, delicate flavors that are hauntingly pure, clean and penetrating that linger on and on yet refresh the palate and brighten our spirits. Pick up a few bottles before the summer comes to a close, and enjoy!
We’ve teamed up with Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales to create a special collaborative oak aged ale with plums, brewed to celebrate Plum Market’s 5 year anniversary. The special sour blend is aged on organic Royal Diamond plums; it’s an amber with a hint of roast, malty, sweet, and sour, and the delicate aroma and delicious flavor of more plums than you can shake a stick at.
The release date will be Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at noon, and will be available in all Plum Market locations. Bottles will be $14.99/bottle and there is a 3 bottle limit per person because we want as many people to experience this Anniversary Ale as possible.
You’ll find Cinco Anos on tap at Jolly Pumpkin Ann Arbor on Wednesday, May 23 starting at 6pm and Plum Market West Bloomfield will be hosting a release party in CRU Winebar at 6:30pm serving 12oz drafts for $5. We’re thrilled to be working with Jolly Pumpkin, a local brewery in Dexter, MI, and we look forward to celebrating many more anniversaries!
ABOUT JOLLY PUMPKIN | Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales is dedicated to more than the traditions of old world craftsmanship. Everything they do is designed to create ales of outstanding art and flavor. Focusing on traditional rustic country style beers brought to life through labor and love, Jolly Pumpkin strives to create beers to lighten the spirit and soothe the soul. Learn more at www.jollypumpkin.com.
Bell’s starts with 6 varieties of hops in this brew including Simcoe hops. Hops are selected from the Pacific Northwest for their aromatic qualities including grapefruit, stone fruit, and floral notes. Malt and a good amount of honey are added to provide balance, so the result is a remarkable, complex brew that Bell’s fans look forward to every year. Hopslam contains 10% alcohol by volume.
What are hops, anyway? According to Wikipedia:
Hops are the female flower clusters. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine. Hops were cultivated continuously around the 8th or 9th century AD in Bohemian gardens in the Hallertau district of Bavaria and other parts of Europe.However, the first documented use of hops in beer as a bittering agent is from the 11th century. Before this period, brewers used a wide variety of bitter herbs and flowers, including dandelion, burdock root, marigold, horehound (the German name for horehound means “mountain hops”), ground ivy, and heather. Hops are used extensively in brewing for their many purported benefits, including balancing the sweetness of the malt with bitterness, contributing a variety of desirable flavors and aromas, and having an antibiotic effect that favors the activity of brewer’s yeast over less desirable microorganisms. Historically, traditional herb combinations for ales were believed to have been abandoned when ales made with hops were noticed to be less prone to spoilage.
Join us for the Hopslam Release Party at CRU Winebar in West Bloomfield: Purchase tickets here.
We traveled to the Northwest corner of the state to a beautiful winery in Leelanau Peninsula, Black Star Farms. Upon entering the peninsula you leave behind the hustle and bustle of everyday life and find lush farmland, beautiful wineries, and charming local stores.
Driving into Black Star Farms you pass by grapevines growing along the hillside:
For those who want to spend more time exploring the Black Star Farms properties you can stay at the Black Star Inn, which includes eight exclusive Guestrooms:
We made our way to the tasting room and sampled a variety of Black Star wines including the 2010 Arcturos Sur Lie Chardonnay and the 2008 Isidors Choice Pinot Noir. Perhaps the greatest treat was the Leelanau Cheese Company’s award-winning raclette cheese we enjoyed with our wines.
Visiting a winery is an amazing experience and if you have visited Black Star Farms, you can always toast to the memories by picking up a bottle of Black Star (we have several varieties) from Plum Market. What Michigan wineries have you visited? We’d love to hear about your experiences!
We are pleased to announce Madeline Triffon will join Plum Market as our in-house Master Sommelier this September. As America’s first certified female Master Sommelier, she brings a tremendous amount of knowledge, experience, and passion for wine. We are looking forward to some amazing wine tasting events, new and exciting wine selections, and a unique perspective on wine education. Madeline’s ability to reach wine consumers, curious and connoisseurs alike, is welcoming and approachable. She is also developing an exciting wine venture that will be unveiled this fall.
Stay tuned for more information about community and store events featuring Madeline Triffon.
@McCluresPickles recently asked, “Alright, you wine people, what would you serve with Chicken Fricassee, made with our brine?”
Our Wine Sommelier, was quick to respond:
“I’d go with a drier Riesling like Dr. Burklin Wolf Estate 2008 from Germany that has plenty of fruit and bright acidity than would be a nice counterpoint to the dishes salty richness.
An option closer to home that would also work is the 2007 Mercer Pinot Gris from Washington that has a kiss of honeyed sweetness and a creamy palate that would meld right into the dish.”
