Puffeney, the Magic Dragon

O

Oswaldo Costa

Oswaldo Costa
2007 Jacques Puffeney Arbois Trousseau Cuve Les Brangres 13.0%
Whenever I fly from New York to So Paulo, I take a case and a half of wine in my checked luggage. The TSA invariably interprets the X-rays as meaning a case and a half of Howitzer shells, and opens my bags to check if there are any fruit bombs, leaving that pesky "Kilroy was here" slip that tells me they rifled through my underwear. This last time they outdid themselves. The unworldly agent in charge of ensuring my airborne security, mystified with the wax seal capsule on the Puffeney Trousseau, began to carve at it with some blunt object until reason put in a word.

Wax_Seal.jpg
Having some time ago decided to treat wax capsules as if they werent there, I make the usual mess over the sink and pour into bowl shaped Burgundy glasses. Liquid is aromatically awake, giving gobs of strawberry with delicate cloves and the sous bois that put the bois in Arbois. I tell Marcia that a message board colleague (Lars) opened one of these a few days ago and it shut down after an hour, so we only have 50 minutes left to drink it. With gusto, we rise to the occasion, fall to the task at hand, remain level, slightly tilted. Light to medium body, tongue puckering and piercingly tart acidity, refreshing and delightfully painful, like icy seltzer scratching down your throat when youre very thirsty. The aromas are all there in the taste, promises delivered. Perfect mix of light and dark, playfulness and seriousness, a spectrum of attitudes become form. I ♥ Trousseau. Out with a drum roll, paradiddle paean paradigm.
 
Vintage?

Sorry to hear that they attacked the wax. I guess it was too obvious to just inspect the outside of the bottle and the label.
 
Great note Oswaldo... Seems like we had similar experiences with it; sure is a great time in that bottle. I think I'm going to make a I ♥ Trousseau pin and wear it on my jacket.

And, jesus, it looks like the TSA were using their teeth to try and get the wax off. Savages.
 
Probably trying to get enough off to sample for drugs. Seriously.

I really, really hope my Oregon distributor comes through with the 07. We've been getting seriously shorted on the Arbois out here in the Pacific Northwest.
 
originally posted by jack hott:
Probably trying to get enough off to sample for drugs. Seriously.

I really, really hope my Oregon distributor comes through with the 07. We've been getting seriously shorted on the Arbois out here in the Pacific Northwest.
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No complaining! the WA Rosenthal distributor doesn't even bring Puffeney at all!
 
As far as 'bringing in' wines like Puffeney... Most of that is done pre-order nationally and unless a specific shop expresses interest-it's too obscure to keep cases of on hand. Talk to your local shop and ask to be informed when the next Rosenthal pre-order sheets come in. You might have to commit to buying in case quantities, but some shops might be willing to pick up 6 for stock if you say you'll take the other stuff.
 
originally posted by Saul Mutchnick:
Ordering RosenthalAs far as 'bringing in' wines like Puffeney... Most of that is done pre-order nationally and unless a specific shop expresses interest-it's too obscure to keep cases of on hand. Talk to your local shop and ask to be informed when the next Rosenthal pre-order sheets come in. You might have to commit to buying in case quantities, but some shops might be willing to pick up 6 for stock if you say you'll take the other stuff.
Click to expand...

In North Carolina, Rosenthal's distributor Haw River Wine Man carries a "core" group of their wines. If you want something not in that group they can get it for you but it costs an extra $2 to break up a solid case on Rosenthal's end and adds a week or so to the delivery time. Since I am the only customer [sic] at my store ordering these wines, it does not have a negative impact on customer service and protects the distributor against gambling on inventory. The proximity of NC to NYC helps in greasing this arrangement, I am sure. I have access to the full Rosenthal book, just a question of how obscure the wine desired is.

Now, if I could manage such an arrangement with another Triangle based distributor... But I ain't going there!
 
originally posted by Marc Hanes:
Another dos centavos
originally posted by Saul Mutchnick:
Ordering RosenthalAs far as 'bringing in' wines like Puffeney... Most of that is done pre-order nationally and unless a specific shop expresses interest-it's too obscure to keep cases of on hand. Talk to your local shop and ask to be informed when the next Rosenthal pre-order sheets come in. You might have to commit to buying in case quantities, but some shops might be willing to pick up 6 for stock if you say you'll take the other stuff.
Click to expand...

In North Carolina, Rosenthal's distributor Haw River Wine Man carries a "core" group of their wines. If you want something not in that group they can get it for you but it costs an extra $2 to break up a solid case on Rosenthal's end and adds a week or so to the delivery time. Since I am the only customer [sic] at my store ordering these wines, it does not have a negative impact on customer service and protects the distributor against gambling on inventory. The proximity of NC to NYC helps in greasing this arrangement, I am sure. I have access to the full Rosenthal book, just a question of how obscure the wine desired is.

Now, if I could manage such an arrangement with another Triangle based distributor... But I ain't going there!
Click to expand...

I think Puffeney certainly has enough cache to justify a distributor stocking a couple cases. Bea is similarly poorly represented. Why represent the portfolio and not try to sell those who I consider to be among the iconic producers of the book?
Lazy sales if you ask me, but let them continue cherry picking the books for the low hanging fruit. I guess I don't need any one else falling in love with these.
Anyhow, problem solved, distributorship just changed hands and my local store just got a stash.
Brian C
 
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