SELECT SIX FOR JULY 2016

2014 SCARPETTA 'FRICO BIANCO' IGT DELLA VENEZIE
Scarpetta is an Italian wine brand started by the renowned chef and sommelier team that, after working together at Napa's French Laundry, started the their own Italian themed Frasca restaurant in Colorado. The wines are created with a mind towards affordability as well as quality at the dinner table, and they overachieve on both counts (so much so we also got in their Tuscan Red from the Frico series, which will definitely be in a future Select Six). A Venetian blend of Pinot Grigio and tank aged Chardonnay, this is all about freshness, with clean crisp white fruits from the Pinot Grigio on the aroma, and the round texture of the Chardonnay on the palate to give some flesh without coming across fruity. A perfect 'Bistro style' white ideal with all sorts of light dishes and Summertime quaffing.
Regular Price $11.99, $10.19/case

2012 GLENELLY CABERNET SAUVIGNON STELLENBOSCH 'GLASS COLLECTION'
Glenelly Estate is the poster child for the modern movement in South Africa, combining tradition and history with new blood and modern thinking. The Stellenbosch property has several centuries of history as farmland, but it wasn't planted to vines until after 2003 when the de Lencquesaing family of Bordeaux purchased the farm. As owners of Bordeaux 2nd Growth Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande the family brought both centuries of knowledge and financial capability to bring the property up to a world class standard very quickly, and in less than a decade of production have developed a stable of both high quality and great values. The wine definitely shows more of its Bordeaux influence, with a cool cassis and dark fruit aroma and savory tannic palate, but shows some rich fruit as it opens up, and thanks to very little new oak used can soften up very quickly. Those that like Chilean Cabernet or the more value oriented Bordeaux will definitely find a lot to enjoy here. 
Regular Price $14.99, $12.74/case

2015 S.A.R.L. LAFAGE 'COTE EST BLANC' COTES CATALANES
(Wine Advocate 90points)
Lafage has been a real standout over the last decade or so in the Catalonian part of France, sourcing fruit for bottling after bottling of approachable, modern style wines at great prices. Working with importer Eric Solomon, many of the wines end up almost exclusively in the American market, and are almost always a bargain hunter's delight if they fit your flavor preferences. The Cote Est is built mostly from tank aged Rhone varieties Grenache Blanc and Roussanne with a touch of Chardonnay, spending a fair amount of time aging on their lees (the fine pulp, yeast and skin that is often filtered out before fermentation) which helps to provide extra richness and fragrance. Loads of fresh citrus flowers and peach aromas as well as cooling zest to keep it out of the 'fruity' realm, and plenty of fresh picked fruit texture on the palate. A warmer climate wine to be sure, so acidity freaks may find it a bit soft in that department, but is otherwise a multi-purpose delight that works as a party cocktail for the adventurous or a match with Mediterranean dishes.
Regular Price $14.99, $12.74/case

2014 ALESSANDRO RIVETTO LANGHE ROSSO
In a region full of producers with centuries of winemaking experience to their name, it's tough for a new producer to get a foothold and make a name. But Alessandro Rivetto, using family vineyard holdings and the help of two lifelong friends, has set out to do just that, and thanks to one of our top local importers those wines are finding their way into Virginia. These aren't going to be wines of high prestige (at least not for a while) but they deliver exceptional quality for the money from lesser known sites, so the talent in the vineyard and the winery clearly shows through. Often a Langhe Rosso is a blend of Barbera, Dolcetto, and/or Nebbiolo, but this example is 100% Nebbiolo that sees only the briefest of time in large Slavonian oak, so it comes across fairly soft and approachable. Loads of Nebbiolo's telltale perfume of lavender and savory purple fruits, but without the austere earthier texture usually found in its youth, as Nebbiolo tends to be a grape to make wines destined for a long life. This is soft and polished with fine tannins that carry the savory red fruit easily though the finish, perfect as a pop and pour with simply prepared yet flavorful meat dishes.
Regular Price $15.99, $13.59/case

2015 AZIENDA SANTA BARBARA VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI
Importer Kermit Lynch has always been one of the finest sources for French wines in the United States, with every producer worthy of recommendation, if not outright love and devotion. The same high standard applies to their smaller and less famous (but not insignificant) Italian portfolio, containing hidden gems from lesser known regions that have just as much appeal as the French ones. Much of the Verdicchio produced comes from fairly large co-operatives, but this is one of the lucky few producers to be both smaller AND focused on value versus creating higher end and more extravagant bottlings. No oak and nothing complicated, just fresh apple and minty, saline racy fruits that come across on a richer texture than a similarly priced Pinot Grigio without a shred of sweetness.A wine that will go extremely well with herb seasoned or citrusy seafood and poultry dishes 
Regular Price $14.99, $12.74/case

2014 JEAN ORLIAC 'LE LOUP DANS LA BERGERIS' VDP VAL DE MONTFERRAND
The Orliac family created Domaine de l'Hortus in the early 1970s with the intention of being close to the famous sheer cliff walls so popular with French rock climbers. After planting vines and developing the quality in their uniquely diverse microclimate, they became the leading producer in their part of the Languedoc, helping to bring attention to what is now the Pic Saint-Loup appellation. The 'Le Loup' represents their entry level bottlings, all of which are grown on their Pic Saint-Loup estate using the same organic winemaking practices as their best wines, but using non-approved grape varieties in the blend (Merlot in this case). For a wine grown is what is traditionally a source of warm and fruit forward wine, this shows a surprisingly savory and restrained character, with lots of red and black fruit skin and savory herbs on the nose and almost crunchy dry fruit on the palate. Also unexpected in the fact it's under 13%abv, providing easy drinking in a region that usually makes wines that are stuffed to the brim with fruit and alcohol. A great all-purpose dining wine, especially with grilled meat.
Regular Price $11.99, $10.19/case

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