Our favorite French wines are just in time for the heat of Summer!

“How boring the world would be without a Bobby Kacher.”

Cork & Bottle’s long-time customers know Robert Kacher Selections quite well. Our new ones may not know that Bobby Kacher is an importer of French wine who Robert Parker named “one of the world’s most influential wine personalities of the last twenty years” primarily because of “his single-minded obsession with quality.” 

Why are we all hopped up about these wines, you ask?  Well, Jon has been over there, to France, and has had a chance to join these growers in their cellars, view their facilities, walk their vineyards, taste their wine with them. The independent growers that make up this portfolio of wines are real people who love what they do, they grow their own grapes and make their own wines. They have passion for their wines and to them wine is an extension of their own lives, not a commodity with a Kangaroo on the label. Think this is all a bit too much drama over wine? Maybe just a bit, but we definitely invite you to try these wines and see for yourself – you’ll become a believer.

We brought you the wines of Robert Kacher nearly four years ago, our 2008 summer delivery is now here and this is the only place from here to Houston that you can find these labels, all at some of the best prices in the country.  For true.  Cheers!

The Star of (this delivery's) Show:

2004 Domaine de Gournier "Hommage," $12.99
We thought about charging $50 for this wine so people would take it seriously, but (a) we couldn't bring ourselves to do that and (b) we figured that at its legitimate price tag of $13 bucks it would keep people coming back for more. This wine is just AWESOME and is a perfect example of what makes this Kacher book so great. Domaine de Gournier is located in the Cévennes region, family owned by Maurice Barnouin, Kacher says in most vintages Maurice is able to produce only a small amount of the Hommage, which is the prestige or reserve wine of the estate. It is made from a very severe selection of his finest Syrah, Cabernet and Mourvèdre. Each of these varieties are vinified and aged separately in new and one year old barrels. Unmistakably Rhone, a TREMENDOUS value and one hell of a wine. . .that's only available "over by the Cork"

Here's what else is currently in stock at Cork & Bottle:

2005 Dom. Santa Duc Gigondas, $34.99
2005 Dom. Santa Duc Gigondas Prestige, $49.99 (Parker 93+)
2005 Dom. Santa Duc Cotes du Rhone Vieilles Vignes, $13.99
Yves Gras from Santa Duc is one of the top producers in Gigondas (if not THE top) and we are extremely excited about his beautifully structure and massivley powerful 2005 vintage! Of course his Gigondas wines are classic beauties, but the smoking hot wine is his Cotes du Rhone which is essentially de-classified Gigondas. The Cotes duy Rhone is a full-bodied black cherry fruit bomb that shows all the fruit and earth and white pepper you want from the Rhone. Big and meaty with a silky smooth texture, you just don't see this much wine labeled under a simple Cotes du Rhone, for $14 no less! This is a wine that just makes you happy.

2005 Mas Carlot Grenache/Syrah Tradition, $10.99
2005 Mas Carlot Rose, $9.99
If you don't know the tremendous values from Mas Carlot you need to. Trust us!

2005 Domaine de Gournier Viognier, $8.99
2005 Domaine de Gournier Merlot, $8.99
2007 Domaine de Gournier Rose, $9.99
Simply put, a trio of varietal wines that California couldn't dream of touching for this price. GREAT everyday stuff!

2006 Chateau Valcombe Costieres de Nimes Rouge, $11.99 (A C&B house favorite)
2006 Chateau Grand Cassagne Grenache/Syrah "G S" $9.99
2006 Chateau Grand Cassagne Costieres de Nimes Rose $8.99

2004 Domaine Cantarelles Cabernet/Syrah, $12.99
An estate grown Merlot from the western edge of the Rhone Valley, this wine just explodes with dense, dark fruit and is VERY easily a wine you might mistake for a big, bold Napa Merlot, except that it is unabashedly a wine from the Rhone. Great stuff..

2005 Domaine Lalande Sauvignon Blanc, $8.99
2005 Domaine Lalande Chardonnay $9.99
A custom made Chardonnay, only around 2,000 cases of this wine were produced for the US. Fans of Chardonnay who are tired of the over-oaked, buttered popcorn Chardonnays under $10 will love this one. For the Sauvignon Blanc, fans of Bordeaux white wines listen up: Think Graves without oak and half the cost. This is a soft, evenly balanced Sauvignon Blanc and a wine that is tailor made for Southern Louisiana.