There are a lot of wines out there. Some are great and some are not so great. Without a fair amount of dedicated research or a lot of trial and error, it can be difficult to consistently find good wines at a fair price. That is, unless, you happen to have a trusty guide, with a nose for value-oriented wines, to point you in the right direction. The good news is that Robert Kacher — or Bobby, as he is known inside the trade — has just such a nose.
Fortunately for the wine world, Bobby eschewed a traditional education and instead learned about wines while backpacking through the wine-producing regions of France. His education included more than just tasting wine. He learned about the entire ancillary world of wine, including the vineyards, winemaking styles, the people who craft the wines and the food of each region. Bobby was hooked, and the lifestyle that revolved around the world of wine became his passion.
Kacher returned to the area in 1971 and settled in Washington, D.C., where he took a job in a local wine shop and immediately found he enjoyed working directly with customers. He was enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge with consumers and loved turning people onto his best-kept secrets. After a stint as an executive at a wine importer, he decided to start his own firm, Robert Kacher Selections. His vision was simple; he wanted to align himself with vineyard owners and winemakers who shared his passion for quality. It was his goal to literally scour the European market looking for well-crafted wines that represented a great value and import them to the United States. During the next 20 years, Kacher spent almost 50 percent of his time in France in order to develop his unique, and much-envied, portfolio.
The real secret, however, is Kacher’s ability to work directly with growers and producers on a variety of levels. In the beginning, Bobby was very involved with every aspect of production, from viticulture to vinification. He was the first to introduce several key concepts, including using state-of-the-art grape vine trellising, “dropping” green fruit, lowering overall yields in the vineyards, and sorting the grapes during harvest in order to select only the best grapes for vinification. His innovations and personal touch helped to guarantee the quality of all of the wines in his collection.
Today, Kacher’s name is synonymous with quality. When you open a bottle of Bobby’s wine, you can be sure that it is a wine Kacher is proud of. It’s nice to know that when you’re looking for a great value in international wine, all you have to do is look for is “Robert Kacher Selections” on the bottle. It’s the next-best thing to having your own personal wine guru. Here are my favorites from a recent portfolio tasting. Retail prices are approximate.
2008 Inacayal Pinot Grigio, Mendoza, Argentina ($12)
Wonderfully off-dry with notes of peach, nectarine and pineapple. The bright acidity keeps the residual sugar in check and the stone fruit flavors fresh and clean. The perfect summer sipper.
2007 Domaine Ehrhart “Herrenweg” Gewuerztraminer, Alsace, France ($18)
The Ehrhart family has been making wine in this region since 1725 and farming organically for the last two generations. The Herrenweg is bursting with ripe lychee nut, rose petals and baking spices up front while notes of pineapple cut through the lingering off-dry finish. Great value.
2007 Domaine Belle “Les Pierrelles” Syrah, Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone Valley, France ($29)
Wonderful balance shows off the fresh, juicy red fruits in this delightful wine and shows just how versatile Syrah can be. This is a great “house red” for Rhone Valley lovers.
2007 Domaine Bertrand Ambroise “Les Grechons” Burgundy, France ($35)
This 100 percent Chardonnay is rich and full in the mouth with great balance to support the notes of apple, nectarine and lemon zest — all built on a mineral-laden frame.
2006 Domaine Jayer-Gilles Cotes de Nuits Village Pinot Noir, Burgundy, France ($55)
A soft, seductive Pinot Noir featuring sweet tannins that support pretty flavors of red cherry, ripe strawberry and red plums. The smooth finish lingers long enough to be enticing.
2007 Domaine Marc Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru “Les Caillerets,” Burgundy, France ($70)
This wine is beautifully layered with waves of green apple, nectarine and pear, and pitch-perfect acidity to provide great balance. The 0long, luscious finish features rich notes of baked brioche and buttered toast.
2006 Domaine Michel and Stephane Ogier Cote Rotie, Rhone Valley, France ($116)
Robert Kacher has been working with this estate since 1988 and has seen it rise to superstar status during the past 10 years. This beautifully balanced Syrah features notes of dark raspberry, black plums and rich espresso supported by silky, smoky tannins. The mouthfeel is smooth yet filling and the long finish emphasizes the layers and layers of extravagant black fruit.
