 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.
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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.
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!  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.
In a month where we at Wine Warehouse are celebrating our heritage for our 27th anniversary, it would be remiss to not feature a wine that celebrates California's most important expression of it's wine heritage. Old vineyards of Zinfandel, and the other grapes that became part of the 'California Field Blend', tie back over several generations to immigration post Gold Rush, and connect to families that enabled them to survive Prohibition, the Great Depression, World Wars, and even urban sprawl. Wineries like Turley have been instrumental in identifying, championing, and in some cases rescuing these sites by featuring them in their own wines. Sometimes they can be as little as a few hundred cases, but they deserve to be known for their own identity. Not every vineyard they work with is ready or capable of being a solo act, but are still worth saving and integrated into an 'ensemble cast' wine like this one. Built from vineyards running the full length of the state from Mendocino to Paso Robles and from vines anywhere between 50 and 120+ (if Wine Warehouse was a vineyard, we would STILL be only old enough to make it into their Juveniles bottling), this, according to long time winemaker Tegan Passalacqua, 'is no better way to gauge the classic character of old vine Zinfandel in California than through this wine.' Lush and silky with loads of warm juicy red fruits and spice aromas earned through the age of the vines, not through excess sugar added or left behind. The palate is super polished with some tannins and fine acidity framing the background, but is overall a showy and intensely pleasurable modern style wine. Some may find the stated alcohol (>15%abv) a bit intimidating, but is swallowed expertly by the texture and complexity so as to not be jarring or out of balance. The epitome of a robust dinner wine, built to pair with your favorite roast beast, on or off the grill.  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.
At this point in the Summer it sometimes feels like it's as hot here as in Africa, and it can make you wonder how there can possibly be a wine growing climate temperate enough to grow wine anywhere but at the southern cape in South Africa. Yet here we are, able to talk about a wine of this quality from Morocco, a study of micro-climates and a bit of circumstantial luck. Noted Northern Rhone/Crozes-Hermitage and St. Joseph winemaker Alain Graillot was on vacation and cycling many years back in the Zenata area of the Atlas Mountains, when he came across some vineyard parcels. The setting of the vineyard and the uniquely cool aspect of this subzone intrigued him enough to pursue more about the potential here, eventually establishing a partnership with the vineyard and developing his own wine project. You would think that Syrah grown in Morocco would have a much heavier, Southern Rhone or Aussie aspect to it, but at the expert hands of a Northern Rhone specialist like Graillot, the wine turns quite the trick of a North-meets-South character. Warm red and black fruits on the nose, slightly tarry with some sweet spice to it, but also some savory notes as well. The palate is where the Northern Rhone influence really shows itself, far less extracted than expected and a fine vibrancy from the natural acidity, bringing out the blue fruit tones. North Africa is famous historically for heady high test wines, but this is tempered at only 13.5%abv, creating a reserved, refined overall character. Tasty with rich meat dishes that have a bit of spice, or osso buco, something with some heft to it.  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.
During our anniversary special this month, we also like to break out some wines for the Insider's Pick that step things up a notch in quality, but still do things a little bit outside the norm as we always like to do here. This is a Chardonnay that definitely brings the unusual into play, while still maintaining traditional appeal and brilliance. The El Enemigo project comes from the winemaking tree of Catena Zapata, where so many advancements and top wines in Argentina have evolved from over the last few decades. Alejandro Vigil is the chief winemaker at Catena Zapata, and Adrianna Catena is a daughter of winery founder Nicolas Catena (also the namesake for one of Catena's most famous vineyards). Together they created this project to step outside the more traditional restraints of winemaking at Catena Zapata and experiment won a smaller scale with some more unique ideas. For the Chardonnay, they allow/encourage the development of flor in the barrels, a layer of yeast that creates a natural oxygen barrier in the barrel and dramatically changes the acidity and flavor development. Most famously the flor is used in making traditional Sherry and is most prevalent in the Fino and Manzanilla styles, but also plays a part in the distinct white wines from the Jura region. Vibrant gold in color, the aromas are equally energetic with lots classic Chardonnay white fruits and rich pear notes, but also a spice and nuttiness from the flor, almost saline, just hanging out in the background where the more vanilla toasty notes would sit from new oak. The palate is quite broad and mouthfilling, but the acidity retained by the flor takes all the cloying texture out of the picture, finishing quite dry and tangy. Not quite Burgundy, not quite California, still very much Chardonnay, and absolutely brilliant with richer seafood dishes where the acidity can cut through like a hot knife.  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 most iconic wines in the Savoie region are the ones from Abymes and Apremont featuring the Jacquere grape. These delicate and finely tuned wines are emblematic of the Alpine region, but may not be their 'best' wines made here. That honor often goes to the Roussette in many taster's minds, including the legendary author Jancis Robinson who calls it 'Savoie's most exciting white grape'. Often confabulated with the Rhone variety Roussanne (which is a rabbit hole that would triple the length of this email if we went down it), Roussette delivers the same clarity but with a more distinctive perfume and a bit more natural weight. Jacquere wines seem to revel in their lightness, while Roussette just chooses to up the volume a little bit. Beautiful white fruits and distinctive flowers on the nose, almost juicy pears in the background but lots of cool minerality that gives the fruits more mineral tones. The palate is pure crystalline white fruits with a dry but fleshy mouthfeel, fresh and lengthy on the finish. The aromas and palate get more flavorful with some time open, but there is a delightful briskness to the fruit and acidity popping it right out of the fridge on a humid day. Great to pair with delicate fish with creamier sauces, lightly spiced Asian dishes or Indian curries, and aged creamy cheeses that need a little more texture to stand up.  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.
An ideal wine for Memorial Day (and a reminder we will be closed on Memorial Day, so get your beverage purchasing done early!), good Rose is a perfect way to mark the lead in to Summer. But the shelves of most retailers are chocked full of very, very similar things so it can be an extra pleasure when you get a hold of something a little different. Bardolino sits on the Western end of the Veneto on the shores of Lake Garda, sharing the same grape varieties as its neighbors in Valpolicella, but historically making a lighter style wine due to the cooling aspects of the lake. Chiaretto is the local name for Rose made on either side of the lake (a historical boundary line between the Lombardy and Veneto regions) ,and it is especially nice to see one from the 'Classico' designation, meaning the vineyards are from the original Bardolino boundaries closest to the lake. A blend of the classic red grape trilogy for the region -Corvina, Rodinella, and Molinara- the aromas are lovely wild strawberry and strawberry leaf, unique to the grapes used and the cooler climate that brings out the pretty savory tones. Juicy quenching strawberry and watermelon tones on the palate and a tingle of fresh acidity that isn't bracing or edgy, just pretty and enjoyable. Great with a chill for light snacks and a cool salmon salad, and definitely not what everyone else will have in their Rose glass. INSIDER'S PICK: 2019 ALFARO FAMILY VINEYARDS CHARDONNAY TROUT GULCH SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS $24.995/20/2021  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 term 'unicorn wine' is usually reserved for limited production and very expensive items. We like to use the term for wines like this that deliver quality so far above the price point, even when there is every reason for them to be more expensive. And this is the second vintage in a row we've been able to offer this wine at this price, so I guess we are doing a good job of keeping it a secret (but still, shhhh!!). The Alfaro family are custodians of the Trout Gulch Vineyard which sits high up in the fog line of the Santa Cruz Mountains, renowned for producing great Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for culty cool climate specialist wineries like Ceritas, Arnot-Roberts and Kutch. They keep a share to make their own wines, and with no lesser fruit are making wines that are literally half the price of the other producers. Decidedly NOT an oak and butter bomb, this wine revels in its cool climate breeding, even weighing in this vintage under 13%abv. Racy citrus fruits and melon on the nose, cooling and minerally with just a touch of buttery tones in the background. The palate is nicely rounded and full but so vibrant at the same time, natural and distinct to allow all the subtle vineyard character to show through on the palate. This is about as good of a single vineyard Chardonnay experience you will have from California for the money. Just don't tell too many friends about it....  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.
A great wine returning after a long absence, and with a lovely backstory to boot. Owner/winemaker Kenny Likitprakong started Hobo Wine Co. nearly 20 years ago as one of the very few people of Thai descent on the production side of the Californian wine industry. Under the umbrella of the negociant company they have several different labels, representing a focus on different regions of the state (Hobo, Camp) or levels of experimentation (Folk Machine, Banyan). The Banyn lineup was created to construct wines that he felt best complimented Thai or Southeast Asian cuisine, and at one point had several wines to it. Gewurztraminer was always the biggest favorite and continues the name now as a solo act. Even though the vineyards have changed once or twice over the years, it remains a single site wine which helps the winery control the character of the grapes and makes it easier to create exactly what they want. Those wary of a sugary Gewurztraminer need not worry, as this hits off-dry at most, reminiscent of the Alsatian style. The aromas are classic, full of white flowers and tropical fruit, but not overpowering or heady, leaving room for some cooler notes of mint and citrus in the background. The palate is also floral and juicy, but that nice spice comes in with the acidity giving the flavors some extra zip and a cleaner texture to the finish. This absolutely confirms the concept it was built for, perfect for everything from spring rolls and lighter vegetable dishes to meatier dishes with some heat, just hugely versatile. |
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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