September 2019 Newsletter

September Tasting Events

Thursday, September 12th    
    5:30–7:30pm
Jesse Becker,  Master Sommelier
Craft + Estate Imports / Winebow
A selection of Austrian and Burgundy from Craft & Estates Importers.

This is one of our favorite Italian Wineries!
Please join us on Tuesday, October 1st   from   5:30–7:30pm as we welcome
Andrea Di Properzio owner of FATTORIA LA VALENTINA
Delicious D.O.C. wines from the Abruzzo region

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

The Last Saturday Wine School – Grüner Veltliner
This spicy refreshing wine from Austria can be quite complex.
The last Saturday of each 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! This is very informal with no scheduled start or finish time. Come anytime you want between 2 and 6 pm on Saturday, SEPT. 28th.

SEPTEMBER “SHORT SIPS” CLASS – Red Wines of Argentina

It’s not just Malbec anymore. Bonarda, Cabernet Franc, Syrah are taking center stage. This is 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 September – FRI. & SAT., SEPT. 20th and 21st from 6:00 to 7:00pm NOTE TIME CHANGE –– Class fee is $8 per person. Sign up in person or call/email to reserve a space!

SEPTEMBER SALE ITEMS

SALE: 2012 Domaine Gourt de Mautens IGP Vaucluse, Rhone Valley, France
Jérôme Bressy helped establish the reputation of Rasteau but when the AOC began to limit the varieties used in the wines labelled Rasteau, he left and bottled his wines as IGP Vaucluse. Made entirely from estate fruit grown in the village of Rasteau, Jérôme’s rouge is a blend of Grenache, Carignan, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Counoise, Cinsault, Vaccarèse, and Terret Noir from vines between 30 and 100 years old. The estate is certified biodynamic. Here is a review from The Wine Advocate:
“A true blockbuster, the Grenache-dominated 2012 IGP Vaucluse comes all from clay and limestone soils around Rasteau, and spent 24-36 months in a combination of foudres and demi-muids. Loaded with notions of black cherries, black currants, crushed rocks, licorice and roasted herbs, this beauty is full-bodied, voluptuous, sexy and gorgeously textured. And while it has tons of richness, it also has notable purity, good freshness and ripe tannin that frame the finish nicely. It’s already hard to resist, but it will continue to knock your socks off for another 10-15 years.” (WA #223)    Regular price $64.99 - On SALE in September for $44.99

SALE: 2013 Sella & Mosca, Marchese di Villamarina, D.O.C.  Alghero, Sardinia,
Founded in 1899, Sella & Mosca were among the first to plant international varieties on Sardinia and make wine that could compete in the world marketplace. This is an opportunity to try an iconic wine from a perfect vintage at a great price. Here is a review from the Wine Advocate:
“The 2013 Alghero Marchese di Villamarina is a pricey wine but it is also an ambitious one. This pure expression of Cabernet Sauvignon was one of the first wines to put Sardinia on the world wine map. It is a symbol of the soaring aspiration of island viticulture in a modern context (remember, archaeological traces of the Mediterranean’s oldest wines were found here). The wine possesses a dark and richly concentrated appearance with lingering aromas of dark fruit, spice and black olive. The mouthfeel is dense and compact with a dry, mineral-driven finish. This is a great wine from a classic vintage.” (WA #234) 
Regular price: $59.99 - On SALE in September: $48.99

SALE:  2017 Chakana Estate Selection Red Blend, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina
A very impressive winery, mostly farming organic and now certified biodymanic. Here is a review from Vinous (7/18) of this very nice Cabernet, Malbec & Syrah blend: “(aged in 50% new French oak): Bright red-ruby. Reticent, distinctly purple aromas of raspberry & violet. A step up in texture from the Estate Selection Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec bottlings, with its primary purple fruits possessing enough extract to support the obvious oak influence. Finishes with tactile, tooth-dusting tannins & lingering notes of purple fruits, flowers, menthol & pepper. A very successful blend that nicely combines Cabernet Sauvignon’s herbs & tannins with Cabernet Franc florality. There’s no hurry to drink this.” Reg. $23.99. On sale in Sept. $15.99

NEW ARRIVALS

2014 Rust en Vrede Estate Red Stellenbosch, South Africa- “Very solid, with a graphite spine running from start to finish, while steeped black currant and blackberry fruit rumbles through. Loam, mint and tar notes fill out the background. Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot. Drink now through 2022. 5,125 cases made.” (WS 7/17)  $44.99
2015 Siduri Pinot Noir (Yamhill-Carlton), Oregon, USA - “Deep red. A highly fragrant bouquet evokes fresh dark berries, rose oil and peppery spices, and a note of cola emerges with air. Juicy, focused and seamless on the palate, offering lively boysenberry and bitter cherry flavors that turn sweeter as the wine stretches out. Shows energetic lift and very good clarity on a long, gently tannic finish that leaves a zesty white pepper note behind.” (Vinous 1/18) $33.99
2013 Bodegas Luis Cañas Reserva Rioja, Spain – “(aged for 18 months in 70% French and 30% American oak barrels, all new) Limpid ruby. Expressive red and dark berry preserve aromas, along with suggestions of vanilla, cola and roasted coffee. Round, sweet and open-knit, offering juicy raspberry and cherry-vanilla flavors that firm up steadily on the back half. Dusty tannins add grip to a long, focused finish that leaves bitter cherry and dark chocolate notes behind.” (Vinous 2/19)

ONE OF OUR FAVORITES: Domaine des Pothiers

2014 Domaine des Pothiers Clos du Puy, Côte Roannaise, Loire Dept. France – From an obscure appellation closer to Burgundy than the rest of the Loire appellations, this mature, Gamay Saint Romain is in a great place. Spicy raspberries, herbs and dirt, medium bodied with nice acidity. This is a balanced wine with refined, aged tannins. A perfect transitional summer to fall wine from an organic/biodynamic grower. $22.99

MONTHLY SPECIALS