2015 BASA-LORE GETARIAKO TXAKOLINA
A new vintage for this great value from the Basque region of Spain, one of the great undiscovered jewels of Europe with Bilbao and Santander as centers of fantastic culture and some of the finest restaurants in the world. The Txakolina wine regions supply this area with their signature wines that pair perfectly with the regional seafood and meat dishes. The wines are SO popular, in fact, that a large portion of it is drunk there and only a few producers are able to export much out. And if it's a good value, you can almost forget about it because every last drop is getting consumed at the bistros. This is the first example of an 'everyday' Txakolina that we've carried, made from the native Hondarribi Zuri grape. Pale yellow with a tiny bit of pinpoint carbonation similar to a Vinho Verde, the aromas are all tart limes, citrus and seawater, with a lip-smacking raciness on the palate and a clean light finish. French Muscadet has a lot of similarities, but the Txakoli seem to have more lime character. Works great with raw oysters or any fresh or oily seafood dishes. Regular Price $14.99, $12.74/case 2015 CHATEAU HAUT-LA PEREYRE BORDEAUX SUPERIEUR After several vintages in a row where Bordeaux as a whole couldn't hype a super-spectacular vintage across the region, 2015 has shaped up to be a return to that form. Prepare for some 'Vintage of the Decade/Century/Millenia' hyperbole to come from some more aggressive sources. The wines are extremely good, to be sure, but for most people looking to drink Bordeaux on an everyday basis the differences between very good to great vintages isn't that pronounced. What it DOES mean is there will be a lot of options, fewer failures, and lots to play with over the years. This is an exceptional petits Chateaux, a real house with a real family run winery and not just a label conjured up, and also features a higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon which is less common in the less expensive Bordeaux. Deep and dark in the glass, showing off the intense dark fruit and immediate intensity of the warm vintage, and immediately pleasing but also shows some dark layers as it opens up. The palate has lots of dark cassis fruit that Cab fans adore and some stick from the tannins, but is surprisingly easy to get into with only an hour or two decant. Worth cellaring especially for such a low tariff, but great for a weekday/weekend meal. Regular Price $16.99, $14.44/case NV SHEBANG! NORTH COAST WHITE CUVEE IV Morgan Twain-Peterson is one of the most exciting young winemakers working in America today, with his Bedrock label representing some of the finest expressions of old vine California wines available. A lifetime spent learning at the feet of his father, long time Ravenswood winemaker Joel Peterson, Morgan is tapped in to what makes these rare blocks of untouched winemaking history so special. Equally impressive to his lineup of single site wines are his value wines, called 'Shebang!' (as in 'the whole shebang'), which are non-vintage blends built from several older parcels scattered across the state. We've featured the red blend, a classic 'kitchen sink' Zinfandel blend, but we wanted to wait until the warmer Spring weather arrived to feature the more unique white. A blend of tank aged lots using old parcels of Riesling, Semillon, Albarino, and Muscadelle may at first seem potentially sweet, but in Morgan's hands there is virtually no residual sugar present. The use of native yeasts and aging the wines on their skins brings out loads of texture behind the perfume and white fruits, even some racy citrus in the background. If you don't give this a try for what you think it MIGHT taste like, you will be missing out on a real treat. Regular Price $15.99, $13.59/case 2015 SAN MARZANO PRIMITIVO SALENTO 'IL PUMO' Puglia represents the 'heel' part of the Italian boot, and has 4 millenia of wine growing history as it was among the first areas settled by the Greeks. Modern civilization (the last 600 years counts as 'modern' here) has not been favorable as they are cut off from the interior of Italy by the Apennines mountains and much of the cultural prosperity of cities like Florence, Rome, and Naples since the Renaissance. Many factors over the last few decades has seen growth and improvement in the Puglian wine industry, and those that are paying attention are finding many things to be excited about. The region is warmer than most of Italy, and the wines have a much spicier and forward character to them, so those that find most Italian reds too austere now have wines to explore. Zinfandel fans will want to take note as well since Primitivo is the parent to all those fantastic old vines found in California, and is the base for much of the wines here. Priced like many of the inexpensive Zinfandel 'labels' out there that muddy so many shelves with more artwork than wine quality, this delivers quality AND distinction as well as undeniable Italian personality. Spicy, warm red fruits on the nose but without any signs of heat or sweetness (it's still Italy after all, and they like their wines on the drier side), and a juicy texture on the palate that shies away from the melted jelly, even showing some underlying savory black fruit/black spice sides. An excellent red for pizza, red sauces, even barbecue. Regular Price $11.99, $10.19/case 2015 McPHERSON WINE CO. PINOT GRIS VICTORIA Another unique wine from Australia that will help change many people's attitudes on what the country is all about. The Victoria Peninsula extends South reaching across the Bass Straight towards Tasmania, and represents a fairly temperate climate. The wines from here are not the extra ripe and fruit heavy style that so much of the marketing and reputation have been built on, and in fact can be quite vibrant. Fans of the Oregon style of Pinot Gris will be very intrigued by wines like this, with its rich yet clean flavors that hint at Alsatian styles but without the sweetness. Fresh white peach and apple aromas with a light tropical tone underneath as it opens up, and a juicy mouthfilling texture that delivers flavors of freshly sliced white fruits all over the palate. A great pairing for seafood and poultry dishes that can handle a wine with some weight but don't need anything oaky, or Asian influenced dishes where you don't want anything sweet. Regular Price $15.99, $13.59/case 2011 DOMAINE LECCIA PATRIMONIA Corsica is a wild, relatively unknown island to much of the world away from Europe, somewhat remote and more difficult to get to than the more historic mainland. The wines have evolved more or less on their own, with several unique grape varieties that are starting to make a comeback in terms of recognition for their quality and distinct character. Nielluccio is their most noted red grape, and in the hands of the Leccia family who are among the most noted traditional winemaking family on the island, this hits great heights. Thanks to an end of vintage deal, this is a rare exceptional deal for this quality of wine as well. A wild aromatic of almost savory red fruit akin to a Northern Rhone Syrah at first, as well as dark earth and spice, but a surprising citrus zestiness as well, almost a bitter orange tone. The fruit on the palate is dark and herbal with a hint of the tart orange pushing through as well, and the acidity cuts across the palate to show there is plenty of life left here, finishing with just the start of softer maturing tannins to show some of the polished potential. It's a wild, unique ride that deserves some unique meat choices for accompaniment. Regular Price $19.99, $16.99/case These wines regularly sell for $95.94 For Select Six March they are $81.99 You Save $13. 95! Select Six White (2 of each white) is $79.99 Select Six Red (2 of each red) is $81.99 Pick any three different bottles and get 10% off!
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Seasonal Picks at a Great PriceEach month we pick six fantastic wines and give them to you at an even better price when purchased together CategoriesArchives
September 2018
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