INSIDER'S PICK: 2020 AMEZTOI GETARIAKO TXAKOLINA ROSE 'RUBENTIS' (Vinous 92points) $23.99

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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