November 2018 Newletter

November Tasting Events

                        SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18th – 1:00 to 4:00pm
Mark your calendars for our 12th ANNUAL, often imitated never equaled,
                        WINES of THANKSGIVING TASTING
Please join us for Turkey, Stuffing, Seasonal vegetables and a selection of wines for the Thanksgiving table.

Please join us on
Tuesday November 13 from 5:30 to 7:30pm  
Nate Carlson, winemaker
Center of Effort / FOSSIL POINT
Distinctive wines from Edna Valley

Thursday, November 15th   5:30pm to 7:30pm
Beaujolais Nouveau and more tasting
Taste the new vintage when you stop to pick up this year’s Beaujolais Nouveau!

Please join us on Thursday, November 29th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm as we welcome  
                            Matteo Balgera
                          Balgera Vini di Valtellina
The most elegant expressions of bottle conditioned Nebbiolo from the foothills of the Italian Alps.

WINE TASTING EVERY SATURDAY
“Whatever we feel like opening” 2:00pm-6:00pm

THANKSGIVNG WINES- Pinot Noir – ON SALE in November (no further discounts)

Pinot noir is an excellent wine for the Thanksgiving table and here are two delicious examples, both estate grown and produced and both certified sustainable, one from California and one from Oregon:
2015 Talley Vineyards Pinot Noir Estate Arroyo Grande Valley CA.- “(aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, 30% of them new) Deep brilliant red. Ripe red berries, incense and candied flowers on the seductively perfumed nose, along with a smoky mineral accent that adds vivacity. Sappy, alluringly sweet and focused on the palate, offering powerful cherry, raspberry and vanilla flavors complemented by a building Asian spice nuance. Smooth and seamless in texture, finishing with solid thrust, resonating spiciness and smooth tannins.”
(Vinous 11/17)  Regular price: $37.99 / On sale: $28.99/ btl.
2014 Anne Amie Vineyards Pinot Noir “Two Estates”, Willamette Valley, Oregon – “(38% new French oak) Deep vivid red. Powerful, smoke-tinged cherry cola and blackberry aromas, along with allspice and vanilla notes that build in the glass. Fleshy and appealingly sweet, offering pliant dark berry, spicecake and cola flavors that are given spine by a core of juicy acidity. Closes chewy and long, featuring building tannins and lingering spiciness.” (Vinous 1/18) Regular price: $32.99 / On sale: $23.99/btl.

THANKSGIVING WINES- Chenin Blanc from Vouvray –ON SALE in November (no further discounts)
Chenin Blanc has a richness, balanced by acidity making it a perfect choice for a Thanksgiving white wine.
2015 Mark Brédif Vouvray Classic, Loire Valley, France – “A fresh, open, breezy style, with pear, green almond and pippin apple notes streaking through, laced with a bright honeysuckle edge. Flirts with an off-dry hint but stays dry throughout. Drink now through 2022. 2,322 cases imported.” (WS 9/17)
Regular price: $23.99 / On sale: $19.99/ btl.

New ARRIVALS – (suitable for the Thanksgiving meal)

2017 Clos de la Roilette (Coudert)  Fleurie, Beaujolais, Burgundy, France – “The youthful 2017 Fleurie wafts from the glass with aromas of red cherries, raspberries and potpourri. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with firm but fine-grained structuring tannins and a long, tangy finish. It will demand a couple years of bottle age. In this year’s rendition, the grapes of the Clos de la Roilette are supplemented by some purchased fruit, something that was authorized by the authorities in the aftermath of the hailstorms that struck Fleurie on the 10th and 30th of July.” $24.99
2015 Maison Louis Jadot Volnay “Santenots” 1er Cru, Burgundy France – “A pungent nose offers up notes of oak, menthol, spice and sandalwood on the mostly cassis and plum liqueur-suffused aromas. This is at once finer yet more powerful with a round and seductive mid-palate that contrasts markedly with the dusty, firm and youthfully austere finale. Good stuff with excellent upside development potential that could probably be approached on the younger side too. Outstanding’ (BH #66) $74.99
2016 Domaine François Carillon Puligny-Montrachet Villages, Fr. – “This is firmly reduced & unreadable today. (Barrel tasting) Otherwise there is a plush and very round yet punchy character to the caressing middle weight flavors that terminate in a beguiling and delicious finish that evidences hints of apple, wet stone excellent depth and persistence. Like its Chassagne counterpart, this is a very fine villages.” (BH #71) $89.99
2012 Marcassin Pinot Noir, Marcassin Vineyard, Sonoma coast, US – “The 2012 Pinot Noir Marcassin Vineyard, which comes primarily from the Calera clone (although I suspect there are a few mystery clones in their plantings), always seems to remind me of a grand cru from Burgundy’s Côte de Nuits, particularly Morey-St.-Denis. Dense ruby/plum, its sweet nose of strawberries, black cherry liqueur, fresh porcini mushrooms and forest floor is followed by a dark, full-bodied, rich and concentrated wine that is supple, dramatic, and even flamboyant. Drink it over the next 12-15 years.” (WA 233) $239.99

Our AFFORDABLE RED BURGUNDY just got more affordable, just in time for Thanksgiving!

2015 Domaine Rollin Père et Fils Bourgogne-Hautes Côtes de Beaune, Fr. – “A riper and wonderfully fresh nose combines notes of various red berries and pronounced earth nuances. There is equally good vibrancy to the delicious and refreshing flavors that exhibit touches of minerality and rusticity on the lingering finish that is dry in the best sense. This is a very pretty Bourgogne and would make a good choice for an all-around house red.” (BH 66) Regular price: $28.99 / Now $26.99/ btl. (Case discount will be from the regular price.)

TIME TO PRE-ORDER (The wine is delivered the third Thursday in November, 11/15.)

2018 Domaine Manoir du Carra Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau through 11/7 and SAVE!!

Slightly lower alcohol, ripe fruit flavors, food friendly acidity and mild tannins make this the
PERFECT THANKSGIVING WINE.
Call us at (804) 285-8011 or e-mail us at to place your order! Regular price is $12.99.  Presale price before 11/7: 10/99/btl. or order a case at $112.99 ($9.42/btl.) per case.

FOR DESSERT: Calabrian Vino Passito of Course! (And it’s on sale!)

2016 Librandi “Le Passule” Vino Passito,  Val di Neto IGT , Calabria, Italy- Le Passule, means “raisins” in the local dialect. Made entirely from Mantonico Bianco grapes that are dried for fifteen days. Think elegant and creamy flavors of citrus peel, dried apricots, and figs. Regular price: $29.99 / Now $26.99/btl.

MONTHLY SPECIALS