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2007 LAS PERDICES VIOGNIER MENDOZA
Viognier is starting to become a white grape varietal
of international recognition, in much the same way Chardonnay
and Sauvignon Blanc have been for many decades. When grown in
the right climates that help balance the grape’s natural
flowery fragrance with refreshing acidity, Viognier can be an
exceptionally high quality wine providing a lot of enjoyment.
The higher altidues of the Andes Mountains in Mendoza have been
the traditional source of Argentina’s most intense Malbecs,
but this is one of the first Viogniers we’ve seen from these
heights, and we couldn’t be more excited. Brilliant fragrances
of peaches and honeysuckle, with a crispness in the background
that keeps everything refreshing instead of heavy. In the mouth
the fruit is ripe and lush textured, but the balancing acidity
keeps everything clean and bright all the way through the finish.
Pretty enough to sip by itself, or match it with spicy cuisine.
Regular price $11.99, $10.19/case
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2006 AVERY QUINN MERLOT LAKE COUNTY
Much like the Corte Gardoni, this is a red wine partner to another
white wine we have used in a recent Select Six, so again some
of the descriptors will look familiar. This wine will please not
only your palate but your soul as well. The owner of local wine
importer Cobblestone Cellars created this wine in association
with Californian producer X Winery in honor of his daughter born
earlier this year. Avery Quinn was born prematurely and spent
several weeks in intensive care (birth footprints on the label
are actual size) before being released home. Now that Avery is
happy and healthy, the wine that bears her name looks to help
give back, donating a portion of the proceeds to the March of
Dimes. The Merlot is sourced from Lake County just north of Napa,
providing surprisingly rich, complex fruit and texture for a Merlot
at this price point. So many sub-$15 Merlots are so soft and tame,
almost neutered, but this has some real intensity. Your taste
buds will be happy you bought this wine, and so will your heart.
Regular price $12.99, $11.04/case
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2006 CORTE GARDONI BARDOLINO 'LE FONTAINE'
In January we featured the partner white wine from this producer,
so you may recognize the label and some of the information regarding
this grower and region. East of the city of Verona in northwest
Italy lies Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy. The lake marks
part of the geographic and cultural border between Lombardy to
the West and Veneto to the East. The white wine region of Bianco
di Custoza and the red wine region of Bardolino overlap along
the banks of the lake, so most wineries feature wines from both
areas. The reds are fairly similar to the Valpolicella wines found
closer to the city of Verona, as the Corvina and Rondinella grapes
are featured in both, but Bardolino tend to be softer, more of
a ‘bistro’ style. The wine is built to be simplicity
in a bottle, easy drinking fun, but still showing great quality.
Immediate aromas of cherry and fresh berries from the first pour,
with hints of earth and spice lingering in the background. In
the mouth the fruit is ripe and chewy, but is surprisingly mild
on the acidity and tannin, especially after some time in the glass.
This is a great all purpose red for all but the heartiest game
or red meat dishes, workable even with herbed pork or poultry.
Regular price $15.99, $13.59/case |
2006 FOURNIER SAUVIGNON VDP du JARDIN DE LA FRANCE
The Fournier winery is a moderate sized producer based in the
upper Loire, focused primarily on wines from Sancerre, Pouilly-Fume,
and Menetou-Salon. These are all regions whose Sauvignon Blancs
are famous for being very crisp and minerally due to the heavy
limestone soils. To make a softer, more fruit forward bottling
to be their value bottling, the Fourniers looked to the opposite
end of the Loire and the regions of Touraine and Anjou. Not only
are the soils less minerally here but the temperatures tend to
be a bit warmer, allowing the wines to ripen faster and develop
less natural acidity. The resulting wine is an ideal expression
of French Sauvignon Blanc, still full of crisp citrus fruit and
herbal notes, but not to the point of austerity. The refreshing
first sip is like the first bite of a ripe Granny Smith apple,
tart with just a hint of sweet pulp in the background. Sauvignon
Blancs like this are like the essence of springtime in a bottle,
fresh and refreshing, bringing images of green grass and new flowers
to mind.
Regular price $12.99, $11.04/case
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2006 DOMAINE DE LA LOUVETRIE MUSCADET SEVRE ET MAINE
Every year we try and find at least one or two
Muscadets to feature in some way, shape or form. These are some
of the most underappreciated wines in all of France, providing
clean, refreshing wines that go with all sorts of foods (especially
some of the trickier seafood dishes like muscles or lighter white
fish), and are sold for incredibly reasonable prices. Even today
there are very few bottlings that sell for more than $15, with
fine artisan bottles like this available by the dozens. Classic
aromas of lemon citrus and seashells, and refreshing cheek-tingling
acidity that gets the citrus flavors into every crack and crevice
of your mouth. Even if you aren’t doing seafood, this is
a wine that can work with poultry as well, or even as a refreshing
springtime sipper. If you ARE doing seafood, however, you owe
it to yourself to try this wine.
Regular price $12.99, $11.04/case |
2005 CHATEAU LES VALENTINES COTES DE PROVENCE
Provence has one of the most picturesque landscapes in France,
if not the world, but their wines can leave a little something
to be desired. With the exception of Bandol and its Mourvedre,
the region suffers from a grape identity problem, in that the
grapes required by the appellation system do not always jibe with
what grows well in an area. The region is very broad with many
changes in microclimate, but the regulations are very broad and
sweeping, ignoring these minute but important changes. As a result
there are many fewer high quality wines that one would expect
from this seemingly ideal region. Chateau Les Valentines is one
of those shining stars, whose red and white wines have been store
favorites for many years. This vintage of the red is one of their
most impressive yet, providing lots of intense fruit and classic
Provencal spice. Primarily Syrah and Grenache with small amounts
of barrel aged Mourvedre and Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine does
not have a Rhone wine’s sappy texture or high alcohol, showing
its fruit in a more reserved and balanced manner, tasting more
of dried berries and Provencal spice, all at a very Bordeaux-like
13%abv that helps give the wine a structure very similar to a
Bordeaux. This is one of Provence’s finest values, ideal
with herbed poultry and roasted meats.
Regular price $19.99, $16.99/case
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