I sample anywhere from 20 to 40 new wines every week here at the store, and it’s one of the best parts of my job, even if I do have to spit! Equally fun is sharing these new discoveries with all of our loyal, wine loving customers, and that is exactly what we’re going to do this Friday……..and you don’t have to spit!
We’ll start with a crunchy, no oak Chardonnay from the southern part of Burgundy before hopping over to the Basque part of Spain to sample one of the most uniquely delicious dry rosés we stock. We’ll then move into the Dao region of Portugal to try an extreme value, highly rated red wine before heading into Italy’s Piemonte zone to sample a Nebbiolo that will make your head spin. Finally, we’ll cap the tasting off with a muscular southern French red that tastes great now but that could use some time in the cellar. It’s all new wines this Friday so come taste something new. Just $5 to taste 5 wines and it’s free for Grape Nuts!
The Wines
Prices range from $15 to $30
Tasting wines are 10% off by the bottle or 15% off if you buy 6 or more!
1. 2011 Louis Chevallier Macon-Villages (Burgundy, France) – Named after its founder, the great diplomat and former mayor of Puligny Louis Chevallier, who was recognized in particular for his participation in the sale of Louisiana to the United States, the Maison was created by the Chevallier family over 200 years ago. Their Macon Villages is 100% un-oaked Chardonnay that snaps, crackles and pops with fresh apple, pear, citrus, mineral and honeysuckle notes.
2. 2012 Ameztoi Rubentis Txakolina (Getariako, Spain) – Way up north in Spain lies the Basque region of Spain. They speak their own language and enjoy a culture that is all their own, and their wines are some of the most unique in the world. This one is an equal parts blend of the indigenous Hondarribi Beltza and Hondarribi Zuri grapes and the vines are over 150 years old! Light pink, slightly spritzy and very high in acidity, it dispays notes of delicate strawberry, cherry and lime. Super zesty and with a subtle mineralic edge to it, it is yet another wine that begs for a back porch and a warm, sunny day.
3. 2009 Quinta de Cabriz Tinto (Dao, Portugal) – This is the third vintage of this wine we’ve stocked and it’s never scored lower than 89 points in the Wine Spectator. The 2009 is another triumphant effort and it was recently awarded with an 89 point score………….and it’s less than $15! A blend of Alfrocheiro, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional, it is a rather full bodied, full flavored red brimming with wild berry and plum fruit along with notions of dried herb and brown spice.
4. 2009 Paolo Conterno Nebbiolo Langhe (Piemonte, Italy) – The Conterno clan make some of the finest Nebbiolo based wines in Barolo and this wine is basically a “declassified” Barolo. It tastes better and costs less than many Barolos and it has the substance to age gracefully for a decade or more. Dry, structured and complex, it boasts a nose of cherry and currant fruit leading into a palate that shows less fruit, but more complex nuances of tobacco, incense, exotic spices and orange peel. It’s a real treat!
5. 2010 Domaine de Grand Montmirail Gigondas (Rhone Valley, France) – The vineyards of Gigondas are some of the most ancient in all of southern France. In this dry, rocky and rugged land, the vine is stressed to its max resulting in powerful, structured wines. This one blends 80% old vine Grenache with 15% Syrah and Mourvedre and the yields are extremely low and all of the fruit is harvested by hand. The wine is dark and masculine with layers of kirsch, plum and currant backed up by notes of licorice, mineral and suave baking spices. Enjoyable now with lamb and other grilled meats, it could easily last 10 to 15 years in a cool cellar.