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INSIDER'S PICK: 2013 MARGERUM WINE CO. SAUVIGNON BLANC 'SYBARITE' HAPPY CANYON (VINOUS 91points) $19.99

8/27/2015

Another vintage, another great effort for this Sauvignon Blanc from an up-and-coming growing region that's just about to become 'known'. Happy Canyon sits at the Eastern edge of Santa Barbara County and is one of the warmer areas in the region, which would lead one to believe that their wines would be bigger and more over the top in style. However, their soils are mostly very low in nutrients which reduces the plant's natural growth vigor, and high mineral content brings a lot of natural vibrancy to the juice. The region has only been producing wine since 2001, one of the newest to viticulture in the state, and only achieved an AVA in 2009, so the potential is still relatively untapped. Doug Margerum started his winery in 2001 and as the head of the internationally known restaurant The Wine Cask in Santa Barbara his knowledge of local vineyards lead him to be among the first to feature fruit from this region.

Since we first received access to the Margerum wines this has been by far the most consistent and popular from vintage to vintage. Easy on the traditional grassy or grapefruit aromas, this shows more cooler white fruits like pear or zesty melon, almost minty in the background. On the palate the wine goes full on Loire with racy, penetrating minerality that's extremely rare in California, but as the wine opens up the full ripe fruit comes forward to make the palate more quenching with a vibrant lime note finish. A fantastic food wine with all kinds of seafood preparations

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INSIDER'S PICK: 2014 Bodegas Riojanas Rioja Blanco 'Vina Albina' $15.99

8/20/2015

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In our Select Six from July we featured another white Rioja and spoke of the wine's parallel to white Bordeaux. That version featured a blend of Viura and Malvasia with some barrel aging that shows off the richer, fleshier, more 'serious' elements of the region. This bottling, an entry level wine from one of our favorite Spanish producers over the last year, captured everything that is fun and fresh about Rioja. Made from 100% tank aged Viura, the aromas are all about juiciness, loaded with pears and melons and just a hint of cooling minty spice and melon rind way in the background. The palate is also juicy in texture, but the flavors are much drier and zestier than the aromas, almost shockingly so. The melon rind and grapeskin tannin bring the flavors of the whole fruit into play, not just the sweeter juice and pulp the aromas promised. They also help this wine stand up much better to fleshier dishes where something with just fruit and nothing else would fall flat. Break this out with pork or poultry, and don't be afraid of matching it with something that has a bit of spice.

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INSIDER'S PICK: 2014 Chateau Trinquevedel Tavel Rose (VINOUS 91points)

8/13/2015

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As the school season looms on the horizon for parents, students and teachers alike, we can still steal a bit more Summer in our glass with a classic Rose from Tavel. Despite being surrounded by famous red wine regions like Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Lirac, Tavel is the only AOC in the Rhone that is 100% dedicated to making Rose since it was established in 1936. Not coincidentally, that was the same year this family owned estate was established, making them particularly influential, as well as being one of the longest standing producers in the Kermit Lynch Imports portfolio. This is a Rose that has been influencing generations of wine drinkers, long before Bradgelina caught wind of it and made it hip, and continues to make one of the best versions you can find for the money. While some Rhone and Provence Roses are made from lesser quality or younger vine sites, Trinquevedel has very well established vines in some of the choicest soils of Tavel, allowing the flesh and character to show through.

Though it is fairly ruby colored in the glass, this isn't heavy on Grenache as one would expect from Rhone Rose, which would make for a lower acid wine with lots of soft cherry tones. Tavel allows a maximum of 60%, but this bottling is a fairly broad blend that includes Cinsault, Mourvedre and Syrah as well as the white grape Clairette. The nose is cool strawberry with hints of Provence herbs and refreshing white fruits, and an impressively full texture on the palate that is both rich and vibrant at the same time, providing a long lingering finish of dried fruit skins. A great wine with Mediterranean seafood dishes, cool soups, and backyard sipping.

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Insider's Pick: 2014 Folk Machine 'Parts & Labor' Red

8/6/2015

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Another vintage, another unique blend, and still one of the best values from California for those that prefer a more balanced, restrained style of wine. Over the last few years the many projects of winemaker Kenny Likitprakong have been going from strength to strength, sourcing fruit from under-appreciated vineyards in some of California's cooler growing regions to craft high quality wines that purposely avoid the heavier textures and higher alcohol levels. Not a judgement call to the good or bad, but the image of Californian wines painted with a broad brush is to 'super-size' a lot of the character, and it's nice to see more wines made domestically that reach out to another part of the wine drinking population.
A blend of mostly Rhone varieties Syrah, Carignan, and Grenache with a splash of Barbera into the mix, this showcases an earthy and gamey side of wine not usually seen in Cali. A lot of that has to do with the old vine (@100 years old average) organically grown Carignan, which brings lots of cool blueberry fruit and wild game aromas, and even when fully ripe never gets the sweeter jammy texture Grenache or Syrah can, which in this setting is an absolute benefit. The other varieties kick in hints of their red fruits here and there, and the Syrah gives a bit of extra body, but the Carignan provides the majority of this wine's wild side. The use of native yeasts and aging in neutral large foudre barrels let the distinct character shine through, and the fan base for this style is growing vintage by vintage. It may not be everyone's cup of kombucha, but for others it will scratch an itch that's very hard to reach.

We're offering free tastings as usual, this Thursday August 6th and August 7st, 2015, and a 10% discount off the retail price of $17.99 for the Californian Red through the duration of the day. Stop by between 12 Noon and 7:30pm for a free taste, and bring home some incredible wine.

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INSIDER'S PICK: 2013 MARGERUM WINE CO. SAUVIGNON BLANC 'SYBARITE' HAPPY CANYON (VINOUS 91points) $19.99

INSIDER'S PICK: 2014 Bodegas Riojanas Rioja Blanco 'Vina Albina' $15.99

INSIDER'S PICK: 2014 Chateau Trinquevedel Tavel Rose (VINOUS 91points)

Insider's Pick: 2014 Folk Machine 'Parts & Labor' Red

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