 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.
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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.
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.  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 time of year we often take a little bit of inspiration from the Tour De France for an Insider's Pick wine, and this year it just happens to coincide with an exciting new arrival. Stages 8 and 9 took place over the 4th of July weekend and featured climbs in the French Alps along the Swiss and Italian borders. At the foot of these mountains is the wine region of Savoie, a long time favorite famous for elegant, delicate white wines and some uniquely savory wines from native varieties like Mondeuse. The villages of Abymes and Apremont are the most famous sites here, as much for the size (relatively speaking) as for the quality. Cruet is part of a string of six tiny Crus known as the Combe de Savoie, producing maybe as much in combination as either Abymes or Apremont do, but with outstanding quality available within them. Here, the Grisard family has been known for several generations; this domaine is under the father's care, but both sons have their own projects as well. This wine features the Jacquere grape, the same as what's found in Abymes and Apremont wines, but carries a bit of extra texture and energy than its counterparts thanks to better exposure in the vineyards. Bright crystalline aromas of white fruits, flowers, and citrus with an Alpine coolness and freshness that is so distinct for the region. Light and delicate on the palate but with a bit more body and length to the finish than usually found from Jacquere, just enough to enhance the intensity a bit without losing any prettiness. A fascinating producer whose got quite a few unique gems in their portfolio, sure to be appearing in our store soon to try by those that become inspired to explore by tasting this one.  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.
Our last celebration of our anniversary month pays homage to one of the handful of Virginia wineries that have been doing it longer than we have been around AND are still going stronger than ever. Jim Law is arguably one of the Mount Rushmore icons for Virginia winemaking, and his work at Linden since their first harvest in 1987 have cemented our reputation as a state that can make serious wines recognizable across the country. The Hardscrabble vineyard on their estate has always been a cornerstone to their wines; the Bordeaux varietal red blend that carries it's name, portions of their single varietal red and white wines, and this Chardonnay. If Virginia were to ever award a 'Cru' designation to individual parcels of land as they do in the French system, this would be among the very first based on its history of excellence. It is in the spirit of this Cru concept that the 'Village' Chardonnay was made in 2017, using the youngest plantings in the Hardscrabble vineyard. Those vines were always harvested separately, declassified out of the Hardscrabble program, and blended into the winery's basic Chardonnay. With the 2017 vintage, the second one using the 'Village' name on the label, the Hardscrabble vines commanded a much higher portion of the blend than usual, and the site character finally is becoming more evident in the maturing vines. This is truly a 'baby Hardscrabble', the same way you can talk of a Burgundy being a 'baby Meursault' or 'baby Echezeaux'. Buy why offer just one or the other? Por que no los dos! Now, you can absolutely try just one or the other for the 10% Insider's Pick discount, but the fun will be trying them side by side and exploring the site character of the Hardscrabble vineyard. Village is made with no malolactic fermentation and using only older barrels, while the vineyard designate does see some malo and a portion of new barrels, but much of the other winemaking methods used are common to both wines. Virginia wine at it's best! |
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
October 2024
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