Speaking of Kermit Lynch and Robert Kracher

[DCMark]

Recently we discussed where to find Kracher and Lynch wines in DC. Today's Post Food Section has a series on French Country Wines and 5 of the 9 selection are from one of those two. Now where to buy them......

The Real French Deal

[Mark Sommelier]

Any store can order these wines for you. Kacher wines are distributed by Washington Wholesale Liquor, Kermit Lynch wines are distributed by Winebow. Ask the store to call the distributor. They can get you one bottle or a case. It should take 2 days to get the wine.

[JPW]

I like the Valcombe. It, and many Kacher selections, can be found at Total.

I find the Costieres de Nimes provides great value. My everyday red is the Ch. Mas Neuf (approx. $8/bottle).

[mnebergall]

Total in Sterling used to have a section devoted exclusively to Kacher wines. But they reorganized the store and now they are scattered. Usually you can find a batch of them in the Rhone section. One of my favorites is Chateau du Campuguet (sp), Cuvee Prestige.

[DonRocks]

Certainly one of the best lapsus revelateurs I've come across recently: Robert Kacher is the local wine importer, and Alois Kracher is the Austrian wine producer, known for his over-the-top, cloying, heavyhanded TBAs. Coincidentally , both Kacher and Kracher are adored by Robert Parker.

Anyone going to Mondovino on Friday?

[JPW]

Total in Sterling used to have a section devoted exclusively to Kacher wines.  But they reorganized the store and now they are scattered.  Usually you can find a batch of them in the Rhone section.  One of my favorites is Chateau du Campuguet (sp), Cuvee Prestige.

←

I believe it is Campuget.

I, too, enjoy the Cuvee Prestige. I'm not a big fan of the *regular* label.

[JPW]

Anyone going to Mondovino on Friday? 

←

Translation please.

[Alan7147]

Calvert Woodley has a nice selection of Kacher wines, and occasionally has a sale just focused on his wines.

[DCMark]

I just talked to Michael at Calvert Woodley. He has the following in stock:

Valcombe

Antoine

Cantarelles

Martin

Fondreche

Ventoux

966-4400, tell 'em Mark sent you

[mnebergall]

I propose that we morph this thread into a running review of wines imported by local importers such as Kacher and Lynch. Right now I am drinking a glass of:

Chateau Grande Cassagne "G.S." Costieres de Nimes 2003. A blend of Grehache and Syrah. The lable says: On the western edte of the Rhone Valley near the village of St. Gilles is the small estate of Grande Cassagne. This Robert Kacher Selection exhibits the depth of structure of old vines very concentrated in color and authentic richness.

My take: The label is accurate. The color is deep, the flavor rich, the aroma full. I had it with a plate of futuccine bolognese with fresh grated reggiano.

I got it from Total in Sterling and I don't recall what I paid for it, under $20, probably $10-12.

Tag, you're it.

[zoramargolis]

Kermit Lynch is based in Berkeley, CA. He has a wine shop there completely devoted to the wines he imports. I visited there and found a few things that he sells only in the shop, because the production is too small for national distribution. Had the most amazing, over-the-top mourvedre that has ever graced my gullet. YUM doesn't even begin to describe it. Can I remember the name of it? Of course not...

[Miguelito]

...Alois Kracher is the Austrian wine producer, known for his over-the-top, cloying, heavyhanded TBAs...

Please, please, please continue to badmouth the Kracher TBAs--so that more will be left for me!

[jparrott]

Please, please continue to badmouth the Kracher TBAs, so we can get some of the incredible Wachau and Kamptal TBAs in this market!

[Joe H]

Jake, have you ever tasted Avignonesi Vin Santo? In particular the '90? Or Dal Forno Recioto? The '97? Really incredible stuff.

[jparrott]

Man, I didn't have that kind of dosh before I started importing! And they don't pour that stuff at trade tastings.

[cjsadler]

Pearson's just sent out an email-- they have a couple of the wines from the article on sale and open for tasting.

CHATEAU VALCOMBE COSTIERES DE NIMES "CUVEE PRESTIGE" 2003

or

CHATEAU DE SURVILLE COSTIERES DE NIMES 2003

Reg 14.99

EMAIL PRICE $11.24 . . . your choice while they last.

I believe it is Campuget.

I, too, enjoy the Cuvee Prestige. I'm not a big fan of the *regular* label.

←

I agree on this one. The regular Campuget is the one Kacher selection I didn't much enjoy.

[Joe H]

Because I've sold in Europe for so many years and regularly travel there so many times a year I've developed relationships with several places. I've traded Leonetti and Caymus Special Select (for them, impossible wines to find) for allocated bottles of Dal Forno Recioto and Avignonesi ong others. I also found that because we take our vacations in December and January when no one else in their right mind travels it is easy, with a polite e-mail or fax, to get into vineyards that are otherwise almost impossible. Until the last two years buying wine in smaller towns (say Dal Forno or Quintirelli in Soave) rather than a larger town (Alessi in Florence is double for the exact same bottle, Verona priced halfway between) combined with the exchange rate and no middleman would allow me to buy wine for 1/3 to 1/2 of what it sold for here. Unfortunately, with the exchange rate, that is no longer true. The same bottle of '97 Dal Forno Valpolicella that was 28 Euros in Soave two years ago (approx. $26 at then rate of exchange; year earlier it was $23), in December cost 46 Euros in Verona, 60 Euros at Alessi in Florence and between $75 and $120 here. My guess is that with the current Euro the '99 and '00 will be even more.

[JPW]

Pearson's just sent out an email-- they have a couple of the wines from the article on sale and open for tasting.

CHATEAU VALCOMBE COSTIERES DE NIMES "CUVEE PRESTIGE" 2003

or

CHATEAU DE SURVILLE COSTIERES DE NIMES 2003

Reg 14.99

EMAIL PRICE $11.24 . . . your choice while they last.

Not much of a deal.

Regular retail at TotalWine pops up at $13. At MacArthur $12.

CW didn't have the "Cuvee prestige" listed.

[jparrott]

Anyone going to Mondovino on Friday? 

←

Anyone got an extra ticket for Mondovino tonight? I just got the hall pass and the event is sold out. Grrrrrr....

[cjsadler]

I had a glass of the Brunel Rasteau (Kacher Selection) tonight that was M. Franz's top pick in the Post article on Cotes du Rhone on Wed. Pleasant, but I didn't think it was particularly great (not meaty and robust). They have a case of it left at Calvert Woodley, as well as the Kermit Lynch wine (Domaine de Durban) that was Franz's second pick (at an advance sale price of $13.99).

Edited March 25, 2005 by cjsadler (log)

[Alan7147]

I had a glass of the Brunel Rasteau (Kacher Selection) tonight that was M. Franz's top pick in the Post article on Cotes du Rhone on Wed.  Pleasant, but I didn't think it was particularly great (not meaty and robust).  They have a case of it left at Calvert Woodley, as well as the Kermit Lynch wine (Domaine de Durban) that was Franz's second pick (at an advance sale price of $13.99).

←

I have always enjoyed the Brunel Rasteau, one of my top three cotes du Rhones. Last time CW ran out of the Brunel Rasteau, it took them about threee months to get more in