Featured wines of the month

 Many of you are already familiar with our very popular Wines of the Month Club. Below are the wines we packed for our members – this was the mixed half case of three white and three reds. The wines are discounted, and each one has been tasted an approved by us, here at the store. It costs nothing to join, and you have a choice of all red, all white, or the combo (which most people select.) Call us anytime to join. You can sign up for 3, 6, or 12 months.  

 Les Vignerons du Castelas    Cotes du Rhone Blanc

 A bright white Cotes du Rhone blend of Clairette, Bourboulenc, Roussanne, and Grenache. At 13.5% alcohol, its impressive taste profile works with just about anything in the seafood/salad/cheese arena. Note of citrus, green apple, and pear with a sensible dose of minerality on the nose and palate. You can even do light pork and poultry dishes. 

  Typical of the region – grapefruit, passion-fruit, melon, pear, and other tropical fruit notes with a nice acidity and long finish, you’ll appreciate this Sauvignon Blanc with seafood, fish, salads, and as a terrific aperitif on its own.  

 La Plancheliere Sauvignon Blanc, Loire, France

This is a dry, light bodied Sauvignon Blanc with nice minerality (not the New Zealand tropical fruit style). The wine is delicate, flavorful, with a nice finish and not a lot of salivary gland action. This pale and expressive floral white develops beautiful exotic fruit flavor without overpowering the palate. Fresh and well balanced, it's best enjoyed young, with seafood or vegetables, and light cheeses.

 The grape – Trebbiano. There’s a slight minerality about this, and on the nose you’ll detect peach, apple, pear and maybe a little honey or pineapple (if you really concentrate.) Pasta pairs well with it, as does shellfish. You’ll also appreciate it with mature and hard cheeses, and again, the antipasto. Slightly acidic and fruity, you’ll appreciate the complexity of this wine as soon as you pop the cork. 

  A very soft Semillon – Sauvignon Blanc blend, it’s sustainably grown (virtually organic but not certified) you’ll note apricots, peaches, and green plums. It has a nice finish and pairs well with light meals, chicken dishes, and cheeses (think quiche, omelettes, etc.)  

The grape?  Inzolia.  What is that?  It’s a white grape grown primarily in Sicily and used mostly for (gasp!) marsala. It's known for its nutty aroma, and pairs magnificently with risotto, salmon, and simple pasta dishes (not red sauced -- but how about brown butter and parmigiano? or shrimp and mussels?)  Some melon, herbal, and citrus notes round out the nuttiness of the grape.  Cin cin!

  Organic! Made from 80% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon:
This deep ruby red color invokes the passion with which it is made. It has intense fragrance notes of ripened red fruits that are well balanced with fresh oak. Great mouth feel, with a boldness that mandates red meat – since the back flavors are aromatic herbs and spice. Grilled and roasted red meat dishes, noble poultry and seasoned cheese are great choices for this wine. Chill it. To about 65 

 Yes, before you tsk tsk “French” Malbec, remember that the grapes originated in France, and an enterprising vigneron from Argentina adopted them. This wine is the perfect expression of Malbec with notes of blackberries, black currant, and plums, and some distinctive flavors evoking tobacco, chocolate, oak and leather. There is some nice minerality/earthiness present, and so it is perfectly paired with beef, lamb, and aromatic poultry (not chicken Milanese). It’s ready for drinking now, and the soft finish will convince you that the French really do know what they’re doing.  

 Pale ruby color, and the notes are cassis, strawberry, and plum. Somewhat acidic, the barbera grape is lighter with medium tannins (in this vintage, especially) and well balanced and very uncomplicated. Drink it, don’t store it. You might also detect a note or two of clove and cinnamon. Have this with your hot antipasto, or the main course.   Pasta. Veal. Pork. 

   The appellation of Valpolicella is known for three grapes – Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara, and by law, the wine must be 46-95% Corvina. This vintage is more smooth than it is tannic; on the drier side, and angling toward a little more acidity. Again, a meal with this one, please. Cherries, red fruits, tobacco, and vanilla on the nose and palate. Pairs well with beef, pasta, veal, and poultry – think sausages, red sauces, green peppers (chicken cacciatore) and a meaty lasagna.  

 60% Shiraz, 40% Cab. Bold, smooth, dry, and softer than it is acidic. But it has a 14% alcohol content and begs for food. Get this Sicilian big one down to 60 degrees and enjoy it with big food. Beef. Red sauced pasta. Lamb. Maybe hang on to it till your first BBQ event. What does it taste like? Oak. Blueberries. Roses! Chocolate. Plums. A long finish, and the aromatics are meaningful.  

This great Shiraz is a perfect partner to beef, lamb, game, and poultry (duck, chicken thighs, richly aromatic dishes).  About Shiraz:  This grape is just a renaming of Syrah, that was brought to Australia by a man who is credited with being the "father of Australian wine," James Busby.  He travelled through France and Spain, bringing cuttings to his home country, which all became the foundation of the Australian wine industry.  It's a rich wine, with great flavor, nice finish, and notes of black currant, tobacco, and plum.  Get some sausage on the plate too.  

   Soft. Some minerality. A little citrus, green apple, and pear. You might detect some grapefruit which is not typical of French sauv blancs. It’s a wonderful taste sensation that truly accompanies all, including red meat. Trivia: The grapes are sourced 75% from the Sancerre district, and 25% outside, so technically, well, it’s “not” a Sancerre, but close.   

 The Garonne River in southwest France, the site of most Bordeaux, is responsible for the great grapes making up Bordeaux -- with the whites being a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion, generally. Semillon tempers the acidity of the Sauvignon Blanc.  The berries are a deep golden, used mostly for Sauternes.  Flavorful, elegant, and complex, pair it with lighter dishes, and don't chill below 50 degrees or you'll lose its complex nose and taste.  

Scotto Family Chardonnay shows the expertise of fifth generation wine making skills. The family's heritage dates back to the 1800's in Ischia, Italy. This Chardonnay shows beautiful ripe notes of melon and pineapple, rounded body and soft hints of vanilla and butterscotch. Enjoy this with appetizers or with your favorite poultry dish.

 If ever there were a truer expression of a grape, we’d be hard pressed to find it. This wine is everything you’d expect from Alsace – elegance, tartness, minerality, and flavor. Honey. Lychee. Cream (yes! – gives it that smooth and soft mouthfeel, but leaving the stone/mineral dryness.) Pair this gem with light pork dishes (wienerschnitzel); fatty fish (salmon, blue); chicken, and spicy dishes.  

A very typical country white wine. This region, Gascony, in the southwest of France, is known for growing a varied cluster of white grapes - and this is a great blend of a few varieties. This white is soft with a little acidity and mildly citrusy (grapefruit and lemon). Dry and smooth, it's perfect with lighter fare (not just light protein, but lighter spices) and easier cheeses and salads. Perfect with quiche or eggs benedict at brunch. Refreshing and dry, it's more complex than the usual and customary "white" wine. Enjoy this on its own too!

This spectacular wine is one of our favorites. It's a glass of fresh grass. You can taste the hay, the air, the Austrian soil. Gruner is the most prolific grape variety in Austria, and the vinification speaks volumes for how much the Austrians revere it. Pair it with fresh young cheeses, shrimp, stuffed grape leaves or falafel. Consider it with veal, chicken, or pork cutlets that you've doused with a squeeze of lemon.

 Please remember that the French did Malbec first. This gem opens with a big aroma of dark fruit, cola and even some spice. On tasting, you’ll notice tannins, but very smooth, and additional dark fruit notes. Give it an hour or so to breathe so it opens a bit – and enjoy it with red meat, tomato-based stews, and big cheeses. (Roquefort, aged cheddar, aged gouda).  This is a great wine!

   Pellegrino “Tareni” Nero d’Avola  is from the island of Sicily. Produced exclusively from the Nero d’Avola grapes, this full red is fruit driven and is often compared to Shiraz, with its plum and pepper flavors and “sweet” tannins. This grapes thrives in Sicily due to the hot climate and hilly terrain; which lends to a dry, warm breezy environment. They just loved it! This wine is aged for four months in oak barrels before bottling; just enough to add some complexity to the wine. This wine will pair well with rich and savory foods. Enjoy it with steak, burgers, hearty pasta Bolognese, or even lamb.

 

Piedmont, the home of Nebbiolo d'Alba, is the delicious more personable brother to Barolo and Barberesco. The ruby-red initial color will likely turn garnet with age. The bouquet is extremely delicate with hints of violets. Nebbiolo d'Alba has good body and fullness, and the taste has light tannins which decrease with age, making it softer and less "dusty". This wine benefits from being served at 60-65 degrees with food accompaniment. 

This medium bodied red has light tannins and is reminiscent of dried fruits - plums, raisins - with some honest red intensity. It's aged in French oak for 1 year and has a long finish. It's richer than most Malbecs and will deliver a decidely different profile from what you might be used to. Remember that Malbec first started in France, where it is used grown and used in Bordeaux, but it has become the "national grape" of Argentina. This particular bottling is elegant, but big.

 Many of you are already familiar with our very popular Wines of the Month Club. Below are the wines we packed for our members – this was the mixed half case of three white and three reds. The wines are discounted, and each one has been tasted an approved by us, here at the store. It costs nothing to join, and you have a choice of all red, all white, or the combo (which most people select.) Call us anytime to join. You can sign up for 3, 6, or 12 months.