January 2016 Monthly Newsletter

JANUARY TASTING EVENTS

A VERY SPECIAL TASTING
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13th - 5:30 to 7:30 pm
This year you’ll have a birthday and you will want to drink a wine from Burgundy because you are worth it. We’ll open a few for you to try so you will be ready as the day approaches.
Birthday Burgundy
A Selection of red & white wines from the famous Burgundy Region of France
with special guest R. Moss from The Winebow Group.
Discounts on all Burgundies during the tasting.

WINE TASTING EVERY SATURDAY   2:00pm-7:00pm
Whatever we feel like opening

January “SHORT SIPS” CLASS

Pairing Wine and Cheese

Serving wine with a cheese course is a classic (hence our company name);  but not all cheeses are a complement to wine & not all wines complement cheese. We’ll taste some good and some not so good wine and cheese options.  A one hour educational program, limited to eight people and held in our fine wine room.
Because the demand has been so great we are doing the class twice in JANUARY – FRIDAY & SATURDAY, JANUARY 22nd and 23rd from 5:30 to 6:30pm –– There is a $5 per person class fee and availability is on a first come first serve basis but you can call & reserve spaces at any time.  (A great idea for your group as a prelude to dinner.)

POGGIO ANTICO “Madre” IGT TOCSCANA ITALY

One of the best growers in Brunello, located just outside the town of Montalcino, Poggio Antico, easily straddles the chasm between old and new world wine styles with the “Madre”, their IGT super Tuscan falling deliciously on the new world side with 50% Cabernet/50% Sangiovese, rich and dense with a touch of oak.
2009 Poggio Antico “Madre”, Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy - “The 2009 Madre wraps around the palate with layers of dark red fruit, licorice, smoke and tar. It shows wonderful intensity and depth all the way through to the finish. Madre is equal parts Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.” (WA #200), Regular price: $69.95 On SALE: $54.95 (While supplies last.) (Save add’l 10% on a case.)

DOMAINE LA CASENOVE

Etienne Montès’ Catalan winery located a few miles from the Spanish border in the rugged southern Roussillon. Along with Syrah and Grenache he grows a fair amount of Carignan, which he believes is better suited to that area as the climate warms. Thus his cuvees are blended with a high percentage of Carignan than allowed by the AOC and he bottles his wines as Cote Catalanes as a protest. They are excellent values.
2009 Chateau de Casenove La Garrigue, IGP Cotes Catalanes, France -  “The stunning 2009 La Garrigue (40% Carignan, 40% Syrah and 20% Grenache aged 7 months in tank) is a terrific example of how much wine one can buy for under $20 a bottle. An opaque ruby/purple color is followed by notes of cassis, blackberries, lavender, licorice, pepper and garrigue. Full-bodied, rich and heady, this beauty is capable of drinking well for 5-6 more years. However, as with most of these wines, what’s the point of waiting? Drink: 2012 - 2018” (R. Parker, WA #201) Regular Price: $19.95 On SALE: $15.95 (While supplies last.) (Save add’l 10% on a case)
      You may also want to try a more recent vintage of the second blend:
2011 Chateau de Casenove La Colomina IGP Cotes Catalanes Languedoc Roussillon, France - “is informed by bitter-edged, sappily-concentrated huckleberry and elderberry wreathed in pungent wood smoke. Glycerol-rich and seamlessly dense, its sense of smokiness and integrated bitterness of fruit pit and quinine follow all the way through a downright gripping finish. This is not a wine that intends to charm or cajole, but it certainly invigorates and manages go intrigue me as to how (or if) it will unfold into something more ingratiating and complex over the next few years.” (WA 214)  $9.95

FOR THE FINAL, LAST TIME, SERIOUSLY, WE MEAN IT

2007 Scopone “Il Gregoriano” DOC Sant’Antimo, Montalcino, Italy
In April of 2014 this wine was a newsletter special sale. In April of 2015 it was a monthly special; both times at $9.95/btl. We drank a bottle recently and were once again impressed with how much this wine delivers for the price. We made a deal for the last remaining cases and we are selling it till it’s gone.
A blend 90% Sangiovese Grosso (same clone as Brunello) and 10% Petit Verdot from a ripe and very good vintage in Montalcino; it has evolved nicely with suble floral notes and ripe red fruit with great Sangiovese acidity, There is a richness but the tannins are mild. It drinks more like Montalcino Rosso than Chianti and will make a great pizza/pasta wine. This is a ridiculous price for bottle conditioned wine from Montalcino. Regular price $12.95 Sale: $6.95 (While supplies last. No further discounts.)

NEW ARRIVALS

2014 Thomas-Labaille Sancerre “Les Monts Damnés” (Loire Valley, Fr.) - From 30 year old vines in Sancerre’s most esteemed vineyard site this is always on of our favorite wines. A more subtle nose with touches of citrus and chalk but stripped of overt grapefruit and herbal notes. It finishes pure with edgy laser like minerality.  $29.95
2012 Frank Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa – “The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa is a much more friendly, supple, fruit-forward style of wine with loads of créme de cassis, plum, licorice and spice. This opulent, full-bodied wine is certainly going to be a big hit with consumers. It is broad, savory and pretty much everything one wants in a delicious Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Bring on the grilled meats! This wine should drink well for 10-15 years.” (WA #215)  $56.95
Affordable benchmark Syrah form the Northern Rhone:
2014 Yves Cuilleron “Les Vignes d’à Côté” Syrah IGP des Collines Rhodaniennes France – A notable Condrieu & Cote Rotie grower this is his entry level Syrah. This is an affordable, wonderful example of Syrah from the northern Rhone, the modern day home of Syrah. From vines grown in granite soils this is a medium bodied wine with crushed violets, red fruits, and a touch of white pepper on a lively finish. $19.95
A beautiful winter weight Bordeaux for steak and roasts:
2009 Vieux Maillet, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France – “The finest wine I have ever tasted from this estate, the 2009 exhibits a dense purple color, lots of caramelized black currant and cherry fruit, hints of espresso and earth, and a dense, plump, corpulent personality. It is ideal for drinking over the next 10-15 years. Drink: 2010 – 2025” WA #188 $49.95

MONTHLY SPECIALS