 In honor of a recent tasting we were able to have at Bedrock's Joseph Hooker House tasting room in Sonoma (which will bring us a bounty of new wines in the near future), we wanted to feature one of their most popular wines, and one of the more significant California Roses made. Bedrock and owner/winemaker Morgan Twain-Peterson are one of the cornerstones of California's Historic Vineyard Society, dedicated to the preservation, recognition and education of the many family and multi-generational sites in the state. For most wineries, these vineyards would only be used to make the most intensive and highest dollar wines in their portfolio, but Bedrock works in these great sites to even their Rose. Bandol is one of the most famous sources for great Rose thanks to featuring the Mourvedre grape, and Bedrock uses an early 1900s vineyard of Mourvedre as this wine's backbone. The name is an homage to 'Lulu' Tempier, matriarch of the famous Bandol estate of the same name, and this wine aims to make her proud every vintage. Very Provencal style pale pink in the glass, the aromas are immediately unique, full of tart and tangy citrus, pink grapefruit, and layers of savory herbs. The palate is quickly mouthfilling with loads of mineral-driven white stone fruit, orange peel, and again that long lingering herbal tone that stays longer on the palate than anything. This is everything a serious Californian Rose should be about, and all things considered delivers it at a relative bargain.
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 The region of Limoux in the Languedoc has a long history of making fine wines, but primarily in the sparkling wine genre. As far back as the 1500s the regional monastic orders were developing a better sparkling wine methodology using Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and the local Mauzac grape (before that Perignon fella refined it in what is now known as the Champagne region). Bubbles still reign supreme here, but the still wines are gaining note for great values that show much higher quality potential than the rest of the high volume Languedoc production. The cooling effects from the Pyrenees mountains into the Aude Valley (which is closer to Andorra than the Mediterranean Coast) gives the grapes a brighter structure, more natural acidity, and reigns in the alcohol to allow the wines a more Burgundian profile if preferred. Slightly smokey dark cherry and raspberry aromas with lots of herbal notes at first, getting redder fruits and more floral as it opens. The palate is very Burgundian with lots of tart red cherry and fine dusty tannins, lighter in weight but does get a little bit of extra fruit heft over time. This won't replace any 1er Cru wines on the shelf, but delivers basic Bourgogne level pleasures at a fraction of the price.
 This is one of the last Summertime choices for an Insider's Pick, perhaps giving you a chance to reflect on some exotic traveling you may have enjoyed. Many European travelers will at some point visit the Greek island of Santorini, where the Assyrtiko grape makes their signature wine. While there, however, you will pay 'tourist trap' prices, and that can carry over to the wines that get exported. This bottling comes from the mainland region of Lakonia on the southern peninsula, but the coastal vineyards for this excellent organic producer ensure that there is nothing lost here, other than some of the cost to you (which we're SURE you won't miss!). An immediate aromatic pop of fresh white flowers and peachy warm fruits, hinting a bit at Viognier or even Albarino if you're a Spanish wine fan, but with a cooling minerality and zesty citrus tones that takes away any tropical or sweeter sense. The palate has lots of tangy lime and weighty pear tones loaded with minerality and a touch of salinity to the finish. Though many will think of this as a warm weather wine, it has loads of food possibilities and enough in it to be well capable of being an option far into the cooler seasons. And it's so fairly priced you don't have to save it for a special occasion!
 Some of you may be say to yourselves 'What, two French Sauvignon Blancs in the Insider's Pick in back-to-back weeks? How repetitive!' Ah, but these are two VERY different expressions of the grape, about as diverse in style as you will find within the French borders. While the Boyer-De Bar last week was a unique and novel rendition, this is classic, quintessential Sauvignon Blanc, the kind that made the wines famous and desired throughout the world. The nose is all mineral-laden fruit and gunflint, everything you may have heard Pouilly-Fume described as (minus the cat-pee references). There is a little more quince and juicier white fruits as it opens up, but the nose never loses that cool flintiness. The palate is loaded with mouthwatering melon and pink grapefruit notes and a long tingly tart finish that shows off the refreshing side of this area. This is the type of wine that absolutely begs for a pairing with some of the Loire's local chevre, grilled vegetables or some shrimp.
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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
February 2025
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