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May 4Pak Special
Here’s a great deal! If the wines are brought separately they are only $58.96…. But wait! Buy a fabulous Ferns 4Pak and save an additional 6.6% which brings the 4Pak price to, by the purest coincidence, $55 and 9 1/1000 of a cent which we will round down to only $54.99 because that’s the kind of people we are here at Ferns.
2009 Domaine La Haut Fevrie, Muscadet $14.99 Sale $12.99
Muscadet Sur Lie is a white wine from the Loire Valley made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape. The Sur Lie part means that after the wine is vinified it is allowed to rest on its lees which are, basically, the dead yeast cells from the original fermentation. This is believed to add clarity, complexity, and creaminess to the resulting wine and the technique is also used to make white Burgundies and Champagne. We brought the regular bottling of La Haut Fevrie in at the end of last year and we sold through it at a respectable clip so when the supplier told me that the Domaine had a top of the line wine I immediately bought it. Very good Muscadet makes an excellent all around white wine for every dish that calls for a white wine and is great for casual sipping. Muscadet is also one of the best wines for all types of seafood and shellfish in particular. When I traveled to France regularly to taste and buy wines I ended my visits in Paris, no fool I, and one of the gustatory treats I would indulge in was a plate of Oysters and cold bottle of Muscadet. The combination of Muscadet and Oyster simply can’t be beat.
2009 Faiveley Bourgogne Rouge $19.99 Sale $16.99
It is a truism in the fine wine trade that Great vintages in Burgundy produce exceptional wine values in the lesser appellations from top flight producers. This wine is a fine example of that hoary old wine truth. The Pinot Noir fruit is finely focused and tasty with more than a hint of red raspberry and beautiful balanced with just the right amount of acidity and tannin. The finish is as sweet as one could hope. Many other regions make wine from this varietal but only in Burgundy, from some wines some of the time, can such a pure and elegant evocation of Pinot Noir in all its subtlety and finesse come about. (I really like this wine both as a wine and as a wine value. I’ve been drinking it on all recent special occasions such as “Thank God it’s Tuesday”. I recommend you do the same.) By the way, I had this wine in before and quickly sold through 2 cases at $22.99 a bottle. How I got the supplier to come up with this deal is a secret that I will take to my grave.
2009 Ferraton Crozes-Hermitage, La Matinière $17.99 Sale $15.99
“The potentially outstanding 2009 Crozes-Hermitage La Matiniere (100% Syrah) exhibits lots of red and black currant fruit intertwined with hints of tomato paste, licorice and pepper in a richly fruity, fresh, medium to full-bodied style. With more depth and power than most past vintages, it should drink nicely for 5-7 years. 88-90Pts”.
The Wine Spectator
This description of Ferraton’s excellent 09 Crozes comes from one of the major wine magazines and while it is laudatory I defy anyone to really find the flavor of tomato paste in this wine or any other wine. Modern wine writing like this leaves me cold to put it mildly. I would describe this wine as medium bodied for a Crozes with a rich mélange of Black fruit Syrah flavors, ripe tannins, and a nice long finish with more than a hint of the terroir of the Rhone. I might also throw in, if I was feeling a touch poetic, that there are hints of white pepper in the wine and the slightest touch of some Provencal spice that, for no good reason at all, reminds me of the smell of fresh Thyme. That would be French Thyme naturally. Beyond tasting great the only positive thing I can write about this wine is that it is grossly under priced ( our Ferns 4 pack price works out to $14.39 a bottle) with most Crozes selling for somewhere between $25 to $40.
2011 Perticaia, Grechetto $14.99 Sale $12.99
Grechetto is the name of an Italian wine varietal that is used to make a wide range of easy drinking and charming white wines that are great for warm weather sipping. The varietal is ancient and the very name Grechetto means Greek or the Greek vine as these vines were brought to Italy in the 700 to 300 BC era. A long, long, long, time ago by anyone’s standards. The varietal has prospered recent times as modern wine making techniques have made it possible to get the best out of this fine varietal. This wine has a nice bouquet with floral notes, flavors of ripe white peaches on the palate and a touch of something on the finish that is traditionally describes as almond. All in all, a very nice and nicely affordable bottle of wine.
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Over 500 fine wines and 150 beers (including 35 Craft Beers!) – something for everyone!
With wines from nearly every major wine producing country and region in the world – and others from the road less traveled – you’ll find our wine and beer department is big on selection. Have you ever tried a Riesling from New York’s Finger Lakes or a sparkling wine from the Jura, France or a Grignolino d’Asti from the Piedmont, Italy? We have them. And more. Much more.
Our main focus is value and ensuring that you get your money’s worth. We feel a $10 wine should be well made and delicious – it should make you smile. And a $50 wine should reflect the time and quality put into the bottle by the winemaker – and, of course, also delicious!
At Ferns, you’ll find a wide range of organic, biodynamic and sustainably farmed wines. These are also selected with value and quality in mind. We won’t choose an environmentally friendly wine just to be politically correct. No siree. It has to meet our high standards and ultimately yours.
We also carry a wide range of beers. We have a terrific local selection as well as brews from further afield. We have Lagers and Ales, IPAs and Porters, Ambers and Browns, Seasonals and Ciders, Organic and Gluten Free selections too. We really try to pack em in!
The bottom line is that while we strive to bring you the best possible wines in their categories, with limited space we can’t carry everything. But don’t fret! If you can’t find your favorite wine on the shelf – just ask! We can special order it for you by the case (12 bottles). We don’t charge extra for special orders and quantity discounts apply. We can also special order cases of beer.
Quantity Discounts on Wines Mix n’ Match Non-Sale items
6-11 Bottles 10% 12 -23 15% 24 – 35 20%
Wine Tastings Every Saturday Ferns hosts a casual, informal wine tasting every Saturday 3 – 6p. It’s a ‘drop-by when you can tasting’ – fun, informative and educational – And you’re likely to bump into neighbors and friends as well!
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- – William Sokolin
