SELECT SIX FOR NOVEMBER 2016

2015 TE MATA SAUVIGNON BLANC HAWKE'S BAY
Most people know about the Sauvignon Blancs from Marlborough on the South Island of New Zealand. It's where the popularity boom came from, and like Shiraz from Australia it's what the industry capitalized on and 'doubled down' to push and promote as the New Zealand style. But the North Island has the longer wine history, and Te Mata is one of the oldest family run and continuously farmed estates in the country. This Sauvignon Blanc is their flagship, indicative of the commitment to sustainability across their production and a distinctly different wine in the bottle than those fro the South Island. Not as pungent and tropical as the Marlborough style, but not lacking for energy either, as the warmer climate allows the grapes to ripen fully each vintage and they don't have to add sugar back in to balance. Lots of zesty stone fruit and flower blossom aromas and flavors, and a Loire-like vibrancy on the finish thanks to good acidity and skin tannins. A great all-purpose food white wine, and a historic look at what New Zealand was all about before the hype kicked in.
Regular Price $18.99, $16.14/case

2015 KELLEREI KALTERN SCHIAVA ALTO ADIGE
Beaujolais is rightfully considered one of the best 'go-to' wines for the holiday season. A lighter, more savory style of wine is able to traverse the diversity of foods encountered at the dinner table, and Beaujolais is well known and popular enough to be easily found. We are also fans here of finding some of the more off-Broadway type wines that do a similar concept but are from lesser known regions and more obscure grapes. Schiava was at one time the most heavily planted grape in the Alto Adige region of Italy, but the more recent popularity explosion of Pinot Grigio has reduced its coverage, reduced to merely being the most heavily planted red grape. Pale brick red, just a few shades deeper than a hearty rose, with a nose full of cherry skins and strawberry leaves, and just a hint of gamey herbs in the background. The palate is very light and smooth in parallel with a Beaujolais, with a slight touch of cured meat type salinity on the finish. A great option for the creative yet budget conscious holiday diners.
Regular Price $12.99, $11.04/case

2015 VILL'D ORVIETO ABBOCCATO
This value line of wines from one of our favorite Italian wine importers has always brought us tremendous values. This off-dry version of Orvietto (or 'Abboccato) may be one of their best deals yet, and it's tailor made for drinking with the foods on the holiday table. The little bit of sweetness left in the wine minimal, even less noticeable than a German Halbtrocken, and at this price point provides much needed weight. Fresh light pear and peach aromas with hints of mint and citrus skin, and a mouthfeel full of juicy white fruit without any signs of hard edges usually found in inexpensive wines, just a freshness of fruit skin and a cleansing pop of acidity on the finish. Not a serious wine needing contemplation, but perfect for splashing around with family and friends.
Regular Price $8.99, $7.74/case

2014 REMHOOGTE 'SOARING EAGLE' RED BLEND STELLENBOSCH
South Africa continues to uncover new producers as sources for quality and values, as well as hitting a flavor profile that's  always just a little bit outside the norm. Remhoogte was established just after the end of Apartheid in 1994 as a family estate winery, with still less than 100 acres under vine, yet already have an impressive lineup; there are at least 1-2 more wines that will be featured in the store within the next month or so, depending on the arrival of new shipments. Soaring Eagle is their entry level red blend, built from various proportions of Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon depending on the conditions of the vintage. Rich, chewy dark red fruits with hints of the South African meatiness on the aroma, and lots more of the same on the palate. This is a wine with lots of intensity for the money, especially for those that don't want any of the jammy fruit to go along with it. Another great cooler weather dinner wine, ideal with roasts and various red meat dishes.
Regular Price $14.99, $12.74/case

2015 QUINTA DE CHOCAPALHA ARINTO LISBOA
(Wine Advocate 91points)
Most of the wine drinking population have not come across the Arinto grape, at least not knowingly. It's fairly widely planted in Portugal but usually appears in the background of blends like Vinho Verde due to its high natural acidity and lemony flavor profile. In the Southern end of Portugal towards Lisbon the temperatures are warmer, which helps lower the acidity and brings out more of the warmer fruits, but even then it is rare to find one that is particularly compelling. This producer deserves special attention as their use of older vines helps bring necessary richness to the palate that the wines usually lack. Zesty citrus and refreshingly tingly melon and pear aromas and flavors abound, extremely clean and zippy on the palate, almost bracingly so. A little bit outside the box, but that's where we like to be, and ideal to pair with seafood or citrus influenced poultry dishes.
Regular Price $12.99, $11.04/case

2015 BODEGAS GODELIA MENCIA BIERZO 'PILGRIM'
Most people identify Spanish red wines with the Tempranillo grape which dominates the vineyards of Old Castile and much of central Spain, or perhaps Garnacha found along the Mediterranean coastline as well as further inland. Mencia is a bit of a forgotten grape, but is making a comeback in popularity as less aggressively alcoholic wines come back into fashion. The grape populates the mountainous areas that transitions between the Galician regions along the Atlantic Ocean and Castile, and at one time was thought to be a predecessor to Cabernet Franc before the Gauls were forced into Bordeaux. Wines like this can make you understand that comparison, because the flavors and character are right out of the Loire or Right Bank Bordeaux. Unoaked and clean in character, the polished fine tannins show off the grape's natural bitter cherry skin and savory berry fruit and exceptionally polished texture for the price point. More robust than a Beaujolais, but equally easy to enjoy, and ideal for the Thanksgiving table, especially the dark meat of the turkey.
Regular Price $15.99, $13.59/case

These wines regularly sell for $84.94
For Select Six November they are $72.99
You Save $11. 95!
Select Six White (2 of each white) is $71.99
Select Six Red (2 of each red) is $73.99
Pick any three different bottles and get 10% off!