Murray Hill Girl

At the beginning of December 2010, our store proudly introduced its first brand – Murray Hill Girl. Murray Hill Girl wines are produced in Slovenia, very close to the Italian border. All the grapes that go into these wines are handpicked with maximal attention and to create all natural, light bodied wines. The winemaker’s philosophy is to let the nature do its job, rather than helping it by adding sulfites, additives and other chemicals. They are wines with a strong character, elegant texture, easy to drink, and playful with their aromas – just like a Murray Hill Girl.

Murray Hill Girl Red

This wine is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes. All the grapes are organic and are handpicked from a single vineyard in 2006. The wine itself resembles a Burgundy Villages style of Pinot Noir, being light bodied and moderately earthy. However, as it opens up it brings beautiful wild cherry aromas. It is a perfect match for lighter meats and cheeses, or simply a companion on a weeknight. So might as well get it since it has a cute label.

Murray Hill Girl White

Murray Hill girl White is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Welschriesling (50%-50%). Welschriesling is not to be confused with Riesling, which tends to be fruitier if not sweeter than Welschriesling, or Grasevina as they call it in Slovenia. Just like her older sister, it is made from organic handpicked grapes. It is a wine perfect for hot summer nights, but also sushi or a salad. So might as well get it since it has a cute label.

INTRODUCING JURA

Jura is one of the smallest wine regions in France--smaller than some personal estates in Chile. It has a winemaking tradition of around five centuries. It is very famous for its white wines, especially Vin Jaune (French for yellow wine) that is aged no less than six years and three months. However, none of the wines produced in the region should be undervalued.

Grape varieties that are found are similar to other cold regions. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, amongst other grapes, were introduced in Jura in the Middle Ages by winemakers from Burgundy. Most common grapes of the region include Chardonnay and Savagnin (grape used in Vin Jaune) for whites, and Poulsard, Trousseau and Pinot Noir for reds. The region also offers Cremant du Jura – sparkling whites usually made entirely of Chardonnay, but some red varieties could be included as well; and MacVin – late harvest fortified wine.

Many experienced drinkers would find the whites very similar to Sherry because of the method of aging. Namely the wines are aged in barrels for years under a film of natural yeast, known as voile in France, or flor in Jerez (region in Spain where Sherry is produced). This film allows a slow oxidation. The difference is that the voile is more beneficial for producing low alcohol wines than Spanish flor. Consequently, the main difference between Jura and Jerez is that Jura wines even though crafted in a related manner, are essentially not fortified like Sherry, with an exception of MacVin.

The reds are very similar to those in Burgundy in structure and balance. They are usually very pale, almost pinkish in color. The main reason for this is the Poulsard grape, which develops a distinctly light color. Pinot Noir and Trousseau are also known for their lighter shades of red. The wines are silky in texture, very elegant and need to be opened for about 2-3 hours before consuming. The most important fact of this region is that most of the producers make natural wines, “at the vineyard”, rather than “in the winery”.

CAVES JEAN BOURDY

This domaine has been in the Bourdy family since 1475. Tradition of this family is what makes their wines exceptional in every sense of that word. The Bourdy Family has been making wine the same way at the same vineyards through 15 generations. The only change was made in 2005 when biodynamic methods of production were introduced. In the winery both the white and the red are made using more or less the same process: they are fermented under the native yeasts and aged for 4 to 5 years in large casks that are up to 100 years old. They are topped up over that period and made without the use of flor. This ancient house also produces an extraordinary Vin Jaune and Chateau Chalon as well as a really amazing MacVin.

Weekend Wined Down

Tonight our free wine tasting fits the weather: gorgeous, creamy whites for sunny skies, and full-bodied sumptuous reds for cool, dark nights. Join us from 6 to 9pm to taste a Bordeaux Blanc (at 15% off), Sancerre Blanc, Australian Cabernet Sauvignon and a Ribera del Duero Crianza (the last three bottles at 10% off each). Whether the weather makes you crave a round white or a big, velvety red, Murray Hill Wines has you covered.
Chateau Bertranon Bordeaux Blanc Sec 2008, $16.99 (15% OFF today!)

The Semillon (55%) in this Bordeaux Blanc brings a calming, round touch to the lively and acidulous Sauvignon Blanc (45%) when blended.

Jean-Max Roger Sancerre Cuvee C.M. 2008, $19.99 (10% OFF today)

Creamy and well-rounded in the mouth, this Sancerre of full-bodied finesse comes from a small family-run estate in Sancerre within the Loire Valley region of France. Fermented with indigenous yeasts, the bright fruits of citrus and gooseberry are present though more mellow than a typical Sauvignon Blanc wine from the Sancerre region.

PONDER Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa Valley 2004, $14.99 (10% OFF today)

Aged in new and old French oak hogsheads for 20 months, this Australian Cabernet Sauvignon is complex and sweet with hints of violet, spice and black fruits. Sublte notes of cedar and oak make this tannic wine that coats your entire mouth even more divine. The wine is grown on single site vineyards in Barossa Valley. The vintage ranked among most outstanding vintages from Australia in last 15-20 years, so grab one of these limited release bottles (only 2,400 produced).

Montebaco Semele Crianza 2007, $19.99 (10% OFF today)

Smooth, sensuous, medium-to-full bodied and deliciously perfumey and aromatic, this Crianza of Tempranillo (90%) and Merlot (10%) grapes from Ribera Del Duero in Spain is aged for one year in oak casks and one year in bottle -- the required aging period to be designated a "Crianza". At once delicate and yet bursting with dark fruit and oak flavors, this is the wine we'll personally be sipping after work.

Hanging on to Summer

Tonight, Friday, August 27, from 6 to 9 pm, we’ll remind you why you love summer. Take advantage of the last few weeks by bathing in the sunshine and drinking exceptional, cold, refreshing white wines, like our Albariño and Sancerre.

2009 Granbazán Albariño Verde

Rated 90 points by Wine Spectator, this pale yellow Albariño with greenish tints will keep you hanging on to summer. The perfect balance between fruit – green apple, apricot and grapefruit – and a roll in the hay (herbal fragrances of fennel and straw) define this beautifully balanced Spanish Albariño, completed by a fresh, citric, acidic finish. Stainless steel fermented for just under 8 months, it reaches the ideal maturity and softness.

Jean-Max Roger Sancerre Cuvee CM 2008

A Sancerre of undeniable finesse. It tastes natural and floral with minerality from its limestone soil and fermentation with native yeasts. Both floral and fruity, as well as light and fresh, this Sancerre delivers insatiable complexity.

White Cottage Ranch

White Cottage Ranch wines deliver that perfect touch … from the wine’s full body and balanced flavors to the way the labels are torn around the edges and hand-applied for a beautiful and sophisticated appearance. Taste the White Cottage Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 and Sauvignon Blanc 2009 tonight, Friday, June 25, from 6-9pm at MHW.

White Cottage Ranch is an organic, biodynamic estate located on the Howell Mountain appellation of Napa Valley with a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon.

White Cottage Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, $29.99

Powerful, rich and spicy with a fruit-forward body of ripe berry and black cherry, this is a California Cab lover’s dream. It is exceptionally smooth with a long finish – perfect to pair with a steak on your grill or a nice burger.

White Cottage Sauvignon Blanc 2009, $18.99

The high elevation of 1500 to 2000 feet above sea level and the rugged winters reap rich, full flavors in Sauvignon Blanc with a distinct minerality from the soil, which mingles with light flavors of tropical fruit and green pepper. Crisp and refreshing, this well-rounded Sauvignon Blanc needs to top your list of wines to taste this summer season.

Man O’ War

On the coastal hillsides and high cliffs of Waiheke Island in New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf, the Man O’ War family-owned estate has grown grapes since 1993, making beautiful wines of excellent flavor components. Today 6-9pm, we will taste the Man O’ War Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Syrah 2008 and Merlot-Cabernet Sauvginon-Cabernet Franc-Malbec 2008.

Man O’ War Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Grown high on the hilltops of the Man O’ War Station, this is a classic cool climate Sauvignon Blanc: very aromatic, juicy and fresh. It undergoes cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks and is topped with a touch of natural sugar to balance the tannins. Experience notes of lemongrass and fresh herbs with tropical guave notes, leading into a palate of vibrant acidity and slight sweetness with a spicy finish.

Man O’ War Syrah 2008
This Syrah is earthy with flavors of wild game, pepper and black olives, meeting a floral nose of blueberry and spice. The finish delivers dark-chocolate and espresso – dark and lingering. Allow the wine to open up in the bottle and in your glass – the complex flavor profile will surprise you.

Man O’ War Merlot Cabernet Franc Malbec 2008
The make-up: 42% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Franc, 19% Malbec, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon. This Bordeaux-style blend from New Zealand’s Waiheke Island combines florals, dark berry fruits, asphalt and tar for an ideal full-bodied red blend. Each grape was hand-harvested and kept separately in the winery to achieve its best qualities like the softness and fragrance of Merlot and Malbec, the savour and cassis of Cabernet Franc and the structure and power of Cabernet Sauvignon. After 11 months of aging on lees, it was blended and bottled for your drinking pleasure.

*Remember you can purchase wines in-store, over the phone or online at MurrayHillWines.com for free delivery within a 15-block radius in NYC or for shipping nationwide! Just follow the above links or search "Man O' War" on MurrayHillWines.com.

Bordeaux in a Box and a Languedoc Cabernet

Tonight, Thursday, June 10, from 6-9pm, taste two delicious Bordeaux wines straight from the box (one white and one rosé) and also an excellent cabernet sauvignon from South West France.

Wine in a Box: the equivalent of four regular wine bottles fits into a vacuum-sealed bag inside a nice wooden box (the wood is grown in Bordeaux) with a spout – perfect for parties or to keep in your fridge for your daily fix.

Château Les Maines (Box) Bordeaux Rosé is a blend of Cabernet Franc (70%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (30%). A bright pink hue, this rosé is an easy-drinker with flavors of strawberries and herbs. It’s the perfect drink for a summer night gathering. Or keep a box on hand for yourself – it preserves practically forever with its air-tight seal.

Château Les Maines (Box) Bordeaux Blanc "Cuvée Soleil d'Or" is made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Aromas of pineapple and apricot lead you to a rich, medium-bodied wine with a generous finish.

Domaine La Croix Belle Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Languedoc is fire truck red with intense aromas of black fruits and spices. Well-structured and balanced, it is ready for drinking now but can also be kept for several years.