INSIDER'S PICK: 2020 PATRICIA GREEN CELLARS 'DOLLAR BILLS ONLY' PINOT NOIR WILLAMETTE VALLEY $22.999/16/2021  Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount. The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We will be returning to doing just the one wine on Thursdays and Fridays until further notice. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.
The best wineries are the ones that can make delicious wines out of imperfect fruit. Patricia Green Cellars is definitely one of the great producers in Oregon, and what they would call 'imperfect' by their standards is pretty darn excellent for others. This is a value wine Patty Green Cellars doesn't set out to make every year, but some vintages give them enough fruit for it; not QUITE good enough to make it into their long lived single vineyard series, but not so weak that they choose to sell it off. From the 2020 vintage this is built from five vineyard sites (including the esteemed Freedom Hill Vineyard and their own Estate vineyards in Ribbon Ridge) and these lots were separated out early on to go into this easy-drinking treasure. The jukebox picture on the label (taken from a local Dundee joint) says 'Music For Everyone', and Dollar Bills Only takes that spirit to be a wine for everyone. Pure tank aged fruit on the nose is juicy and immediate, loaded with cherry and spiced raspberry, but also shows the breeding of its vineyard sources as it opens up with subtle notes of tar and savory notes. The palate is very soft and polished, full of juicy flavors that have a nice snap to the finish that's almost crunchy. Many wines like this would feel more extracted and saturated, but because the decision was made on these lots early the juice has a lighter body while still fully ripe in flavor, and cozies in under 13%abv without losing a bit of character. This is a great casual wine with some serious pedigree that really propels it well beyond its pop-and-pour nature. Also one of the rare Oregon Pinots we highly encourage you to NOT age, as this is built to consume on the quick.
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 Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount. The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We will be returning to doing just the one wine on Thursdays and Fridays until further notice. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy. Despite all the fame and international attention a wine region like the Piedmont has in Italy, they can still contain some unfamiliar or forgotten treasures that deserve to be re-discovered. Ruche is admittedly a bit of an odd duck relative to the more noted grapes of the region like Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, and Barbera, but that exotic side is what makes it so worthwhile. You also don't find much if any of it made as an inexpensive 'jug wine' as it isn't an easy or high volume grape from a growing perspective, so it's always been a niche wine for those willing to really go off the beaten path. The uniqueness comes from the nose, a surprising dichotomy of white wine flowery aromatics naturally overlaid with savory red tones, so much so you would swear it had been blended versus naturally occurring. Poured in a dark glass (or done blindfolded if you really trust your drinking companions) the burst of wildflowers and red citrus don't call many other red wine comparisons to mind, though after some time open the cherry, dried strawberry and savory tones do start poking through. On the palate the roles are reversed, showing a lot more of the red fruits and wild game with just a touch of white fruits coming through on the juicy texture, finishing on a drying note with fine but firm tannins. This has a similar appeal to a Beaujolais but with more intensity and a bit more body, and can do the same type of pairing of cured meats, as well as stuffed pastas with blue cheese, aromatic meat dishes like strongly fennel-d sausages.  Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount. The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We will be returning to doing just the one wine on Thursdays and Fridays until further notice. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.
This is a callback to when we first got this winery in back in July, available thanks to the tireless efforts of one of our great local importers (get well soon, D!). Savoie has been more known historically for their white wines, and deservedly so as they are such a large part of their production. In recent years the reds from their local grape called Mondeuse have grown in interest, especially as more wine drinkers start looking for less aggressive or alcoholic options. The cool climate and relatively compressed growing season doesn't allow the grapes to develop as much sugar as those in other areas, so the final alcohol tends to run in the 12%-%13.5 range, even when the grapes reach their best potential and are fully ripened. If pushed to compare it to something else, Mondeuse exists somewhere in the theoretical Venn diagram between Pinot Noir and Gamay/Beaujolais, carrying a lot of the textures of the former and the savory fruit profile of the other. So if you're a fan of those two types of grapes, this should definitely be on your to-do list. Youthful and plum colored in the glass, the first aromas are mostly savory dark berry and forest floor, but build to dark cherry skins and wild game with some much needed air. The palate is polished with some firm tannins that need some air to soften out, so patience definitely is needed with this wine, but well rewarded. Excellent with lamb, cured meats or savory pot roasts.  Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We will be returning to doing just the one wine on Thursdays and Fridays until further notice. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.
If we keep saying this is a wine for the last dog days of Summer, we have to be right eventually, don't we? If ever we had a 'no brainer' white wine in the Californian section, it would be this. Founders and husband/wife duo Spencer Graham and Elizabeth Pressler were an integral part of the Charlottesville wine scene in the 80s and early 90s before moving out to Napa and starting this winery in the heart of Rutherford. This Sauvignon Blanc has always been a favorite not only as a great value but one that showcases the oft-forgotten quality of fruit from Mendocino County. Consistently cooler climate to the more tourist driven Napa and Sonoma areas gives their wines some extra nerve, and this serves it up year after year. Fresh citrus and green apple tones on the nose, light of intensity but still giving a tingling of minerality if you sniff deeply enough, much less tropical that found in many other areas of California and completely absent of oak. The palate hints a little bit towards the Loire style of Sauvignon Blanc with the brightness and quenching tartness, but fattens up with white fruit tones that get juicier with each sip and gets more melon and pear into the finish. A great pairing with seafood and Summer salads, for however long they may last this year.  Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount. The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We will be returning to doing just the one wine on Thursdays and Fridays until further notice. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.
Another fun wine to enjoy during what we hope are the last dog days of Summer, and it's a fresh batch of a store favorite for you Pet-Nat fans. The name means 'Unheard Of' and there is a lot taking place with this wine that is definitely unique, in all the right ways and for all the right reasons. La Staffa and its young owner/winemaker has earned a lot of recognition for already making standout traditional Verdicchio di Castelli di Jesi, working entirely organically and with minimal sulfites in some very old and distinctive vineyards. His youth has also enabled him to play around and have some fun with his winemaking, creating one of the few examples of a naturally fermented Pet-Nat wines using Verdicchio on the market (perhaps only example, we certainly haven't found any others yet). What we like so much about this wine is it never loses the character and flavor of the varietal as it delves into the exploration of Pet-Nat and the more 'natural' sides of the process. A still Verdicchio has a lovely green apple and citrus aroma to it, as well as some herbal or almond skin notes, right from the first pour these notes are in full exposure even with the initial yeasty/dusty notes from the low level carbonation. The palate is equally full of citrusy flavors given extra brightness by the bubbles and the higher altitude natural acidity, and the leesy texture also adds a touch of oyster shell type brininess. A great wine to chill down with an equally chilly plate of fresh oysters as well as any other lighter seafood dishes, especially ones with lots of citrus and herbs.  Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount. The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We will be returning to doing just the one wine on Thursdays and Fridays until further notice. we hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.
It's hot out there. Too hot to think, too hot to type, almost too hot to drink good wine..... but not quite. Time for some 'no-brainer' good Rose that's delicious right out of the fridge and is refreshing as all get-out. Vajra is one of our longest-standing favorite producers from the Piedmont, a house we represent up and down the lineup without fail because they are that good and priced that fairly. Roses aren't overly common from here, especially ones based so heavily on Nebbiolo like this one, but they are lovely when they do make an appearance. The winery states the grapes are from 'our blocks facing the Alps', meaning they are facing more North and don't get as much direct sunlight, so the grapes don't ripen as intensely. That's perfect for making Rose! Bright mineral fused red fruits and Nebbiolo's floral herbs with lavender pop on the nose, with a nice touch of weight and juiciness on the palate from the helpings of Barbera and Dolcetto in the blend. Lots of natural acidity that really helps the wine snap right out of the fridge, so cool that the glass starts to sweat minutes after it's poured, puts some leafy tones on the strawberry notes and intensifies the finish. Get a bottle and consider yourself done for the day.  Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount. The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We will be returning to doing just the one wine on Thursdays and Fridays until further notice. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.
Inspired by the use of this winery's Pinot Grigio in the Select Six for August, we wanted to show a little more love to Muri-Gries for one of their exceptional and oft-underrated red wines. The Benedictine monastery dates back to the 1840, when Swiss monks from Muri traveled to the Tyrolian town of Bolzano (then known as Gries) and took over for the Augustine sect there.The Augustines had a long history of wine knowledge and practice in the area, which the Benedictines absorbed and improved upon to make into a sustainable business and highly regarded center of viticulture education in the Sudtirol/Alto Adige. White wines, especially Pinot Grigio, are most prevalent in this Alpine region, and rightfully make up a lion's share of the consumption and reputation, but the red wines can be quite exceptional as well. Pinot Noir (also called Pinot Nero or Blauburgunder) excels here as well as several other unique regional varieties, and Muri-Gries shows mastery in all of them. In fact, their special version of the Lagrein grape from the small vineyard inside the monastery walls, called Weingarten Klosteranger, is considered the best (and most expensive) rendition of that grape made year to year. This is more of a 'Village' bottling made from several sites the monastery farms, and drinks in the company of a good Bourgogne from a quality Cotes de Nuits producer. Polished and lively, the nose is dark and savory at first with currant and blackberry, then builds in more tart red cherry as it opens up as well as nice fresh herbs. On the palate the tannins are still a touch on the young and rustic side, but the weight of fruit and brightness of flavors more than compensate, and eventually catches up over time. Burgundy fans should not 'hold their nose' as they try it, thinking it's a lesser wine in any way, but rather a great opportunity to find values again in a style that's very difficult to come by these days. Fantastic food wine to pair with all forms of red meats, pork dishes, and stronger cheeses.  Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount. The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We will be returning to doing just the one wine on Thursdays and Fridays until further notice. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.
It took a little longer this year to get to us, but this stalwart long-time favorite Rose finally made it back in, and we always love showing it off. The Basque region of Getariako Txakolina is mostly slanted towards the production and consumption of white wines, which makes good sense as the region is one of the finest providers of seafood in the world, and the whites are tailor made for pairing. The native grapes here- the twin Hondarribi varieties, Beltza (red) and Zuri (white)- are extremely unique to this culture and climate, with virtually no representation anywhere else in the world. The Ameztoi family has been a long time champion of these historic regional varieties, even during times when they fell out of favor and the Beltza variety especially were replanted with more 'international' ones. Thanks to their devotion they now have some of the oldest red grape plantings in the region, which puts them in position to make one of the best examples of this region's Rose you can find. Very pale in color, it belies the intensity and vibrant character inside. Higher toned red fruits, tart cherry skin, and even a touch of citrus zest to the nose, intense but still in the realm of cooler flavors. The palate is tart and zesty at first with a lot more of the citrus and fruit skin showing through with help of the natural acidity, but the more you sip and get used to the tingle more of the juiciness and red fruits start to show through into the lean and herbal finish. Refreshing and satisfying on its own, this really shines with meaty shellfish and garlic-y seafood dishes, things that need a little more of a punch-up than a white can give.  Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount. The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We will be returning to doing just the one wine on Thursdays and Fridays until further notice. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.
Mallorca is an international hot spot for vacationers, jet setters and power elites, but not as much for wine tourists. While there is a decent amount of vineyards present on the islands relatively speaking, the production tends to be mostly small winery/small volume batches, and is consumed voraciously by the locals and visitors. A very similar plight to getting wines from Santorini in many ways. Anima Negra was one of the first producers (est. 1994) to start looking for ways to transcend those difficulties and still make traditional, thoughtful wines that could be brought to the world stage. Working with multiple small farmers to source from well over 100 individual plots, Anima Negra create several wines from native Mallorcan varieties in their distinctive 'Call Vermell' clay and limestone soils. The signature grape here is Callet, a red skinned grape, but is such a successful grower here it is frequently used as a 'blanc de noir' in white wines, pressing the juice out and avoiding time soaking on the skins to pick up any pigments. In Quibia the Callet makes up about 60% of the wine, with the other 40% divided among various other native white varieties, and is routinely one of the best quality and values for a white wine you can find available from the island. Weighing in at only 12.5%abv, even in a warmer vintage for them in 2019, this shows a remarkably rich mouthfeel and aromatic intensity without losing any freshness or Mediterranean brightness. Big melon and citrus zest notes on the nose with a touch of herbaceousness and salinity in the background, but nothing warm or heady about it. Very round and mouthfilling on the palate with lots of citrus skin texture and minerality, perhaps some pale red fruit tones and apple skin as well appearing in the long lingering finish, this has a lot of body and persistence you usually don't find in a wine that isn't barrel aged. A fantastic wine to pair with weightier seafood and buttery sauces, well poised for mussels or scallops over pasta.  Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount. The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We will be returning to doing just the one wine on Thursdays and Fridays until further notice. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.
July has us planted firmly in the armpit of Summer here in central Virginia, with all the swelter and stink of the season. To combat it, a wine that does well with a chill isn't just recommended, it may well be downright necessary. This local favorite really does the trick, and if you're predisposed to think that all Riesling is sweet, you are missing out. The keys to this wine are the limestone soils under the vineyard near Staunton that boost the minerality in both the aromas and palate, and leaving just a skosh of residual sugar (drier than many Chardonnay out there to be sure) to pop the white fruit flavors while remaining out of a sweet wine orbit. Right out of the fridge, this sings with pears and white fruits pricked with lime and citrus zest, coolness personified without much of anything lost to fridge temps. The palate has lots of refreshing tingle and action, makes the white fruit really come alive through the finish without getting anywhere close to cloying, and a cooler serving temperature only adds to the zippy side. As refreshing as a cold wash cloth or a quick dip in the pool. |
The Best of the Best.We offering free tastings on these wines in the store every Thursday and Friday, and a 10% discount off the retail price through the duration of the day. Come on by and give them a try! Archives
July 2021
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