March 2018 Monthly Newsletter
March Tasting Events
This month it’s ALL about California, baby!
On Thursday March 15th
from 5:30 to 7:30 pm we welcome:
Winemaker/Owner Peter Franus
PETER FRANUS WINE COMPANY
WINE TASTING EVERY SATURDAY 2:00pm-7:00pm
‘Whatever we feel like openingâ€
The Last Saturday Wine School THEME: Malolactic fermentation
It’s all about the butter, baby!!
The last Saturday of the month changes from a “whatever we feel like drinking†tasting event to a mini wine school tasting. We’ll pick a topic, theme, etc. and taste with a purpose! The wines we taste will be offered as a package with a discount. This is very informal with no scheduled start or finish time. Each session will be about 10 minutes! Come anytime between 2 and 5 pm on Saturday, 3/31.
MARCH “SHORT SIPS†CLASS
A Single Blind Tasting of Pinot Noir from around the world.
The finicky Pinot Noir grape captures the unique differences in terroir wherever it’s grown. We’ll taste several examples of Pinot Noir from around the world and try to determine the region. These single blind tastings are always one of our most popular events!
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 March– FRIDAY & SATURDAY, MARCH 23th and 24th from 6:00 to 7:00pm ––There is a $10 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.)
MARCH SPECIAL OFFERS: An Iconic California trio
Beringer, Stap’s Leap and Etude; you cannot get more old school than this trio. Beringer since 1876 and since the ‘60’s in Knights Valley; Stag’s Leap since 1893, with a few interruptions; and Etude, founded in 1982, the youngster. Have they gone through some changes? Sure, but then, who hasn’t? And you know what, they still can make great wines.
2013 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Knights Valley, Sonoma, California – “Even better is the outstanding 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Knights Valley, composed of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc aged 18 months in 53% new French oak. This is a big boy at 15.1% alcohol, but beautifully made, with notes of chocolate, crème de cassis, licorice, tobacco leaf and spicy oak. This is serious stuff, rich, full, opulent, and while drinkable now, it is capable of lasting 10-15 years.†(WA #223)
Regular Price: $54.99 / On sale in March: $44.99 (No further discounts.)
2015 Etude Pinot Noir Grace Benoist Ranch, Carneros, California –“Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir Grace Benoist Ranch has a savory, sautéed herbs-laced nose over a core of red currants, cranberries and Bing cherries plus hints of dusty earth and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with savory/earthy flavors, framed by chewy tannins and finishing with a lot of interesting layers.†(WA #233) Regular Price: $39.99 / On sale in March: $34.99 (No further discounts.)
2014 Stags’ Leap Winery Proprietary Red “The Investorâ€, Napa Valley, California – “The 2014 Investor Proprietary Red is a blend of Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and probably a few other grapes. A lot of it comes from their own vineyards, and the result is a bistro-styled, Mediterranean, soft, savory wine with roasted herbs, red and black fruits, medium body and soft tannins. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.†(WA #228) Regular Price: $44.99 / On sale in March: $37.99 (No further discounts.)
MARCH SPECIAL OFFER: An unbeatable Rhone Value
The appellation of Lirac, located directly across the river from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, is one of the oldest Rhone AOC’s (1947). There is a connection to the great Domaine de la Mordorée as Geraldine Saunier, who owns/runs Corne-Loup is a cousin of Christophe and Fabrice Delorme.
2015 Domaine Corne-Loup Lirac, Rhone Valley, France – “A blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre, the 2015 Lirac is a medium to full-bodied beauty that already offers attractive drinking. Scents of garrigue and licorice brighten dark cherry and plum fruit, while the tannins are supple, turning silky on the finish. At the suggested retail price of $20, it’s a solid value.’ (WA #233)
Regular Price: $19.99 / On sale in March: $16.99 (No further discounts.)
NEW ARRIVALS
2015 Escoda Sanahuja “Els Bassotetsâ€, DO, Wine of Spain – A Catalonian blend of Chenin, Parellada, Macabeu, Garnacha, and Sumoll. A natural wine from a biodynamic producer with no added Sulphur and no fining or filtration. Technically it would fall into the orange wine category but really it’s more about the natural style. Aromatic and pungent with apple/pear notes and a dry cidery finish, a perfect wine for sushi and spicy foods. Pretend you are cool for once and buy a bottle. $25.99
1999 Balgera Rosso di Valtellina DOC, Piedmont, Italy – appropriately brick colored for its age and aromatically expressive with roses, dried red fruits and notes of tar. Elegant and delicious with balance and integrated tannins. I believe you could easily confuse this with older Barolo. In any event this is Nebbiolo for the rest of us! $29.99
Estate grown & estate bottled, Philip Togni is one of the best, under the radar, producers in California!
2015 Philip Togni Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Tanbark Hill Vineyard, Spring Mountain, Napa Valley. Ca. “The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Tanbark Hill is soft, succulent and inviting, all of which make it a super-appealing wine to drink now and over the next decade or so. The radiance and fruit intensity of the year comes through nicely, and yet the wine retains its classic, mid-weight sense of structure and overall feel. Crushed flowers and sweet spice add lift in this gracious, pretty wine from Togni.†(AG Vinous 1/18) $71.99
Three 3 Sisters Cheese Straws – LAST CHANCE
We were the first wholesale outlet for Three 3 sisters Cheese Straws and we are sad to hear that Peggy and her sisters have decided to close the business and spend more time with family and friends. We have laid in a good supply and if you enjoy these cheese straws you would do well to purchase several tins.
MONTHLY SPECIALS
Mar 2018 | Usual | Case (cs.btl cost) |
|
---|---|---|---|
*2013 Stephen Vincent Crimson Red, Monterey County, California | $8.99 | $12.99 | $96 ($8.00) |
*2014 Castillo de Monjardin Pinot Noir "El Cerezo," Navarra, Spain | $8.99 | $12.99 | $102 ($8.50) |
*2016 Herencia Altes Garnatxa Blanca, Catalonia, Spain | $9.99 | $12.99 | $108 ($9.00) |
*2016 Orsolani Erbaluce di Caluso "Al Bacio," Piedmont, Italy | $10.99 | $12.99 | $120 ($10.00) |
2014 Dom. des Sauvaire Vin de Pays d'Oc "Mas Sauvaire",Fr. | $10.99 | $13.99 | $120 ($10.00) |
2016 Arona Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand | $11.99 | $14.99 | $132 ($11.00) |
2016 Argiolas Vermentino di Sardegna "Costamolino", Sardinia, Italy | $11.99 | $14.99 | $132 ($11.00) |
2014 Gagliasso Dolcetto d'Alba "Vigna Ciabot Russ," Piedmont, Italy | $11.99 | $16.99 | $132 ($11.00) |
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